Chapter 27

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"That will be tough for Lu Jing then." Wang Shouzhe didn't want to delay any longer, causing the Lu family to suffer unnecessary losses.

Moreover, the two uncles of the Lu family had always been good to him and his sister, Wang Luoyi. Even if they could only meet once or twice a year, the Lu family would often send family guards to deliver gifts to Wang Shouzhe and Wang Luoyi, and even to Wang Luomiao, the daughter of his aunt, Gong Sun Hui.

"Not tough at all, I've been eating too much good food these past few days." Wang Luojing smiled faintly, "I feel like I have boundless energy." As she spoke, she even made a gesture to show how strong she was.

"Alright, you skinny little thing, don't show off in front of me. Let's get going." Wang Shouzhe felt a warm feeling in his heart and smiled, "You can have a sip of spirit wine and get some rest in the carriage later."

"Fourth Brother, I will grow up, you know." Wang Luojing pouted, a bit dissatisfied, "Don't underestimate me, Fourth Brother."

"I wouldn't dare, I really wouldn't." Wang Shouzhe held her small hand and helped her into the carriage, "Our Luojing will be a great spirit insect master in the future. Maybe Fourth Brother will even need your protection. How could I dare to underestimate you?"

"Then it's settled. If anyone dares to bully Fourth Brother, I'll send my insects to bite them."

"Alright, alright, whatever you say. Now, go to sleep."

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The carriage slowly moved along the flat road.

Wang Shouzhe rode a black steed, guarding the carriage alongside several other family guards. There were two main routes to the Lu family in Yingxiu: one through the sunny side of Longji Mountain, and the other around the shady side of Longji Mountain.

It was impossible to go to the shady side where the Liu family was, so they had to take the sunny side route.

This was also one of the main reasons why Wang Shouzhe prioritized helping the Gong Sun family on the sunny side to stabilize the crisis.

Originally, Gong Sun Qiang wanted to come and see them off, but Wang Shouzhe refused. First, he couldn't really stand Gong Sun Qiang's low emotional intelligence, and second, the Gong Sun family was busy with disaster relief and had few people to spare.

Additionally, his aunt, Gong Sun Hui, had decided to stay temporarily in the sunny side, saying she wanted to spend some time with her parents. In reality, she was aware of her status and knew it wouldn't be appropriate to go to the Lu family.

As the convoy moved forward, they entered a dense forest, and the road gradually became bumpy and uneven.

Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly: "Wang Zhong, this road is not easy to travel. How much farther until we reach Yingxiu?"

"Master, this forest is the boundary between the sunny side and Yingxiu, about seven to eight li wide," the family guard Wang Zhong, who knew the area well, explained. "After passing through the forest, we'll reach the famous Yingxiu Lake. You haven't been to Yingxiu for several years, and the last time you came, you took the road on the shady side. You might not be familiar with this route."

"Everyone, forests are usually dangerous. Stay alert."

With his shout, all the family guards became more vigilant.

"Wang Zhong, is there something wrong with this forest?" Wang Shouzhe also became more cautious. "Is there a rumor about fierce beasts?"

This world was not a game. If a powerful fierce beast appeared, it could cause casualties in the group.

"Master, at such a boundary, the Xuanwu families of the sunny side and Yingxiu take turns to patrol. Any slightly dangerous wild animals are cleared out, let alone fierce beasts," Wang Zhong shook his head. "However, as family guards, we usually do some training. In areas with poor visibility, we must be more cautious to fulfill our duties and prevent any mishaps."

The convoy continued to travel for several more miles without incident. As they passed a small stream that flowed over the road, Wang Zhong's expression suddenly changed, and he raised his hand to stop the group.

The carriage driver, Wang Laoshi, quickly stopped the carriage, and the other family guards drew their weapons, highly alert.

Wang Zhong dismounted and walked to the side of the small stream, picking up a small piece of fabric. His expression turned serious as he reported to Wang Shouzhe, who had just arrived: "Master, this piece of fabric has been cut by a sharp blade and is stained with blood. There are also some uncleaned bloodstains on the rocks by the stream."

It seemed something had indeed happened.

When traveling in the wild, the worst thing was unexpected incidents. Wang Shouzhe's expression turned serious: "Wang Zhong, what's your assessment?"

"From the fabric, it's a fine gray cotton, which is relatively expensive. Ordinary tenant farmers, commoners, and hunters wouldn't afford such expensive clothing. Even if they did, they would only wear it during festivals and celebrations," Wang Zhong, trained by family guards since childhood, was familiar with such matters. "Therefore, this person is likely a Xuanwu practitioner of higher status than commoners. However, his status is not too high. Someone of your noble status would typically use more expensive brocade fabric."

"So, it's a family guard or a common member of a Xuanwu family," Wang Shouzhe nodded. "Or perhaps a traveling merchant."

"Traveling merchants usually travel in groups," Wang Zhong shook his head. "Master, look at these footprints. They all belong to one person, and they lead deeper into the forest, as if trying to avoid pursuit. Therefore, this person is likely a rogue cultivator or a traitor from a family. He probably heard our voices and hurriedly fled into the forest without covering his tracks."

"Can we catch him?" Wang Shouzhe asked solemnly. "We haven't heard of any rogues or traitors coming from the sunny side, so this person is likely from Yingxiu. Regardless of the situation, we should capture him first."

"Master, rest assured." Wang Zhong's eyes flashed with determination. "This person is injured and his tracks are hard to hide. I'll take two brothers to bring him back."

"Wang Yong, Wang Wu, you two go with him," Wang Shouzhe instructed. "Safety first. If the target is too tough, request immediate assistance."

"Yes, Master."

The three family guards set out, maintaining a triangular formation as they followed the tracks. Within a short while, a faint, pitiful cry echoed from deep in the forest.

Soon, the three Wang family guards returned to the carriage, carrying a man bound and gagged.

"Master, mission accomplished," Wang Zhong threw the captive to the ground and bowed. "This man is roughly at the fourth level of the Qi Condensation stage. From his appearance, he seems to be a rogue cultivator."

"Ugh, ugh, ugh~" The man's eyes were filled with fear, his mouth gagged and his body bound, he could only wriggle to get Wang Shouzhe's attention.

"Let's hear what he has to say," Wang Shouzhe ordered.

"Yes, Master." Wang Zhong removed the gag from his mouth.

"Sir, no, Master." The middle-aged man, who looked somewhat sleazy, immediately begged for mercy, "I was just passing through your territory, I haven't committed any crimes. Please let me go. I have some Dry Gold and a Xuanwu cultivation technique. Consider it a ransom for my life."

"Whether you've committed a crime or not, you can't just say it yourself." Wang Shouzhe gestured to Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong quickly searched the man. He had 5 Dry Gold, 17 Large Copper, and 56 Small Copper, and a tattered Xuanwu cultivation technique in his bag.

*The Small Zhou Tian Qi Blood Circulation Technique*.

Wang Shouzhe flipped through it, frowning. It was a common cultivation technique, one that the Wang family used to train their servants and guards. Moreover, there were obvious errors in the technique.

However, it generally matched the profile of a destitute rogue cultivator. Rogue cultivators prioritize cultivation advancement and would spend any money they had on cultivation resources.

"How did you get injured?" Wang Shouzhe noticed a deep knife wound on his shoulder.

"I was attacked by bandits," the rogue cultivator said with a seemingly honest face. "I fled into the forest in a panic and was just about to clean my wound when I encountered you, Master."

"Lying! This is the boundary between the sunny side Gong Sun family and the Yingxiu Lu family. Which bandit would dare to commit a crime here?" Wang Zhong shouted angrily. "Confess, or I'll cut off your head."

"Master, I'm innocent, I'm innocent!" the rogue cultivator cried out. "Those bandits disguised themselves as traveling merchants and usually target passing rogue cultivators. They wouldn't dare to attack a Xuanwu family like yours."

"It sounds reasonable," Wang Shouzhe said, unmoved. "Take him to Yingxiu and have the Lu family investigate. If what you say is true and you're not a criminal, we'll return your belongings and let you go."

Xuanwu families have their own principles. Even if the man had more Dry Gold, Wang Shouzhe wouldn't rob or kill him for short-term gain. Such actions would undermine the family's reputation and morale, and could lead to a brutal and ruthless mindset among the family guards and members, distorting their values.

If such a family or force acted on self-interest and committed atrocities, they might thrive for a while, but they wouldn't last long.

Any Xuanwu family that has survived for hundreds or even thousands of years must have a good reputation and strict behavioral standards and principles.

However, when Wang Shouzhe said this, the rogue cultivator's face turned ashen, and he cried out: "Master, I was wrong, please don't take me to Yingxiu. I beg you, I have some hidden things. If you let me go, they're all yours."

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