Chapter 17

The next morning, Qingchen set out for a major shopping trip with two Daoist boys and Fan Wucheng, while the rest of the group, led by Miss Zhong, left the eastern gate of Liangxiang County and walked for more than a mile to visit the Haotian Pagoda at Liaoshi Gang. According to Miss Zhong, the pagoda was over ten zhang (about 33 feet) tall, built during the Sui Dynasty and later renovated during the Tang Dynasty. The group estimated it to be nearly forty meters high, looking quite magnificent. Zhang Weixin, hearing the name, recalled a folk tale—the story of Meng Liang stealing bones. It was said that during the Song-Liao wars, the Golden Saber Marshal Yang Yeyi was killed by the Liao army, and his remains were hidden in the Haotian Pagoda. Later, Song General Meng Liang stole the remains and burned the Haotian Pagoda. Of course, that was just a folk tale. Although the Haotian Pagoda was later destroyed during the Song-Liao wars, it was definitely not burned by Meng Liang. The Haotian Pagoda seen by later generations was rebuilt during the Liao Dynasty. For the group to see its original appearance today was truly a stroke of luck.

At noon, those who had gone shopping and those who had gone sightseeing all returned to the inn. After a quick lunch, they packed their things and, despite the scorching sun, set out in carriages and on horseback through the western gate of Liangxiang County, heading for the Yuxu Palace. Everyone was excitedly discussing, but they didn't notice a pair of resentful eyes staring at them from a teahouse not far from the city gate. Soon after they left the city, three or four riders, led by a dark-faced giant, also galloped out of the western gate, following in their direction.

Riding on horseback, Miss Zhong and Wang Feng were still chatting and laughing, while Zhang, Fan, and Yang, sitting in the carriage, were engaged in a lively discussion. Fan Wucheng first reported to Zhang Weixin the information he had gathered during the shopping trip. According to his observations, the commercial activities in Liangxiang County were quite developed, as it was a key passage to the south of Youzhou, with many people coming and going, naturally leading to a thriving market. Opening a shop or a tavern here could be quite profitable. Fan Wucheng was inclined to open a tavern, as it could help them accumulate experience and popularity before their team's own products were ready. It would also allow them to leverage their advantages in business management, quickly establishing a reputation in the area. This would also make good use of the local connections provided by Mr. Zhong, creating a favorable environment for their initial business. The final decision would depend on the committee and the general assembly. Additionally, during his shopping, he had inquired about the market for glass, known as liuli at the time. According to the pawnshop and jewelry shop, a common small wine glass, depending on its quality—color, transparency, etc.—could sell for four to five thousand guan. Based on this, the bottle of wine and the set of cups brought by the group could potentially sell for two to three hundred thousand guan. With this amount of money, they could easily start other businesses. Of course, this was just an estimate based on market conditions, and the actual price would depend on the buyer's capabilities and the sales method. Despite the uncertainties, the prospect of having a fortune was quite satisfying. Zhang Weixin was also pleased, as having sufficient funds would provide a solid foundation for realizing his plans.

After Fan Wucheng's report, Yang Xin was also optimistic about the team's financial prospects. However, during his stroll, he paid more attention to the terrain, streets, and the distribution of government offices in Liangxiang County. He took out a map from his pocket, a simple map of Liangxiang County he had drawn based on his memory the previous night. It marked the location of the county office, the main streets, and the major shops along them, as well as the locations of important buildings. This could serve as a reference for future life in the area. Zhang and Fan were genuinely impressed by his memory and sense of direction, praising him to the point of embarrassment.

As they were chatting, they heard the rumbling of hooves behind them. Turning around, they saw four or five riders galloping towards them, all of them burly men, with the leader being particularly imposing, his black face shining in the sunlight. Among those who had come out from the Yuxu Palace, only the eldest disciple Qingchen had more experience in the world. Seeing that these men seemed to have ill intentions, he quickly ordered everyone to move their carriages and horses to the side of the road and be on guard. As everyone tensed up, the riders galloped past them without even a glance. However, the dust raised by the hooves covered everyone's heads and faces. If not for Wang Feng's restraint, the furious Miss Zhong might have chased after them to argue. Realizing it was just a false alarm, everyone, though angry at the rudeness, didn't want to start a conflict over such a trivial matter, especially since they were traveling and needed to be cautious.

After tidying up their clothes, they continued on their journey. After about an hour, they were more than twenty li (about 10 kilometers) from the city. It was almost mid-afternoon, the hottest part of the day, and everyone was feeling quite exhausted from the heat. Fortunately, there was a grove of trees not far ahead. Qingchen called everyone to speed up and rest in the shade until the sun set and the heat subsided. Everyone agreed and urged their mounts and animals to move faster, quickly reaching the edge of the grove. Once inside, they found shady spots to sit, drink water, and wipe their sweat. Some even closed their eyes for a nap to make up for their early start.

Wang Feng naturally joined Miss Zhong, holding a bottle of iced green tea he had brought from the carriage—brought from the穿越地点, with all removable labels removed. Although they had been traveling for some time, the bottle had been kept in the inn's well water since the night before, so it was still quite cool. Zhong Ziqi watched as Wang Feng twisted the cap on the strange bottle, and the lid, which she thought was unbreakable, opened easily. Surprised, she insisted that Wang Feng teach her the trick. Wang Feng, naturally, didn't refuse the request of the classical beauty and taught her how to open the bottle, taking the opportunity to wrap his arms around her delicate body. From the front, it looked like Zhong Ziqi was leaning into his embrace, creating a rather intimate scene. In the scorching summer, sitting in the cool shade, breathing in the unique fragrance of the young woman, and holding her soft, smooth hand, Wang Feng couldn't help but feel a bit distracted. Zhong Ziqi, feeling the intimacy, also seemed a bit uncomfortable, though she usually acted boldly and was fond of Wang Feng. However, she couldn't maintain such an intimate posture in front of everyone, as she still had a sense of shyness. After Wang Feng taught her to open the bottle a few times, she escaped from his embrace and sat beside him, her face still flushed, staring at her toes as if trying to see a flower there.

The awkward atmosphere lasted for a moment before Wang Feng broke the silence, moving closer to Zhong Ziqi. Seeing him approach, she tried to move away, but he secretly grabbed her hand. Zhong Ziqi struggled a bit but, seeing no one was paying attention, gave up and let him hold her hand. Wang Feng, seeing her consent, was overjoyed. In his previous life, he might have leaned in for a French kiss, but he didn't dare to be so bold now, knowing it would likely result in Zhong Ziqi chasing him with a sword. Holding her soft hand was probably the most he could do. Seeing her remain silent, he tried to start a conversation, asking, "How does the water taste? Is it drinkable?"

Zhong Ziqi, hearing his question, finally looked up, took another sip, and softly replied, "It's good. It's cool, sweet, and has a tea flavor. But it seems the water used to brew the tea wasn't boiled, so it lacks the usual aroma."

Wang Feng couldn't help but smile. He thought, the water in the iced green tea definitely wasn't boiled, and it probably wasn't even heated. No beverage factory would use boiling water, as it would be too costly. Of course, he couldn't let the classical beauty see him smiling, so he calmly told her that the tea leaves used in the drink were made by craftsmen on the island they had lived on, using a special method. They didn't need boiling water but used the island's high-quality spring water, adding some special ingredients to ensure the drink wouldn't spoil for a year, making it an ideal choice for travel. Hearing that the drink could last a year, Zhong Ziqi was once again amazed, unable to understand how a bottle of tea could remain fresh for so long. She could only believe that the craftsmen on the island used a secret family recipe, which even Wang Feng didn't know. This wasn't a deliberate omission; he genuinely didn't know the modern preservatives used in beverages.

After finishing the bottle of iced green tea, Zhong Ziqi felt much refreshed and asked Wang Feng if he had more. Unfortunately, he had only brought one bottle this time, and they would have to wait until they returned for more. Although Zhong Ziqi didn't drink her fill, she didn't insist on more, not wanting to trouble Wang Feng. They continued chatting softly, and Wang Feng's humorous and witty conversation always made her laugh, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. She even began to hope they could stay and chat forever, without returning to the Yuxu Palace. Unfortunately, reality always has its way of interrupting such romantic moments. Qingchen's call to "get moving" broke the spell. Reluctantly, Zhong Ziqi and Wang Feng stood up and walked to their mounts. They had already rested for nearly an hour, and if they didn't leave soon, they might not reach the Yuxu Palace before dark.

Everyone got back into their carriages and on their horses, reorganized the group, and left the grove, continuing down the main road. The road ran along the edge of the grove, and after a short distance, there was a left turn. As they turned the corner, they all pulled their horses to a stop. About thirty steps ahead, more than twenty men were lined up in two rows, blocking the road. In the center, a man on a large blue horse, tall and muscular with a dark face, was the same man who had led the group that had passed them earlier. Some of the men behind him seemed to be the same burly men from the morning. Seeing these men blocking their path, looking cold and silent, everyone from the Yuxu Palace felt a sense of foreboding. As the leader, Qingchen naturally had to approach and negotiate. He spurred his horse forward, bowed, and said, "May the Buddha of Infinite Life bless you. This poor Daoist greets you. Why have you blocked the road, sirs?"

The dark-faced man looked Qingchen up and down, then clasped his hands and said loudly, "Greetings, Daoist. We are here to wait for you and your companions."

Qingchen was startled, thinking, "I thought they were just looking for trouble and would leave if we said a few nice words. But it seems they are after us. This is strange; we haven't offended anyone, so why would someone want to take revenge on us?" He asked, puzzled, "May I ask your honorable name? We don't know each other, so why have you blocked our path?"

The dark-faced man waved his hand and said, "I am just a nobody, and you don't need to know my name. There is no grudge between us. The reason I have blocked your path is that I have been paid to take something from you Daoists. Since I have been paid, I must do the job. I hope you don't take it personally."

The dark-faced man spoke casually, as if discussing a business deal, but the heavy killing intent in his eyes was clear to everyone.

Qingchen, hearing this, was even more shocked. He couldn't think of anyone they had offended to the point of hiring assassins. Although the man said he only wanted something from them, the killing intent in his eyes suggested it wasn't just about money or possessions. Qingchen steadied himself and asked, "May I ask who paid you, and what exactly do they want from us?"

The dark-faced man said nonchalantly, "I can't tell you the name of the person who paid me; that would break the rules. As for what I need from you, I can be straightforward. I need one hand and one foot from each of you to take back to my employer. Oh, and my employer only wants the Daoists; he doesn't want the pretty girl or the laypeople. Will you hand them over, or do we have to take them by force?" As he spoke, his casual demeanor vanished, replaced by a fierce expression. The burly men behind him also drew their weapons, ready to attack if Qingchen refused.

Hearing this, Qingchen, though still unsure who had such a grudge against them, knew they couldn't reason with these men. Despite their disadvantage, they couldn't just surrender and let themselves be cut to pieces. Without further ado, he drew his sword from behind his back and shouted, "Since that's the case, this poor Daoist will have to offend you." The others from the Yuxu Palace also drew their weapons. They had heard the conversation and knew they had no choice but to fight to the death. Even the servants sent by the Zhong family, led by Zhong Fu, picked up the poles used to lift the carriage. Zhong Ziqi had already drawn her sword, confident in her martial skills despite the odds.

The dark-faced man nodded, saying, "I didn't expect you to have such backbone. I admire that. If I hadn't been paid, I might have shared a drink with you." He then waved his hand, and the first row of burly men shouted and charged at the Yuxu Palace group. Qingchen let out a long whistle, leaped from his horse, and swung his sword, engaging the two men in the center. The two Daoist boys, Wang Feng, and Zhong Ziqi also joined the fight. The others, though not skilled in martial arts, joined the fray with whatever weapons they could find, determined to fight to the end.