Chapter 75

In the southern part of the Yan State, the 800-mile-long Yunmeng Mountains are a primeval mountain range rarely visited by people. This mountain range is characterized by its towering peaks and is shrouded in mist all year round, as if a light veil covers the mountains, hence the name Yunmeng.

The Yunmeng Mountains are majestic and perilous. Besides the vast primeval forests, some areas have beautiful scenery, with waterfalls and clear, flower-filled valleys, and the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers and the chirping of birds.

Legend has it that there are many hermits and seekers of enlightenment in the mountains, but people from outside have never seen any transcendent sages emerge from the mountains.

If one wants to cross the 800-mile-long Yunmeng Mountains, the most convenient and time-saving method is to travel by boat along the waterway. The Yan River, a major river, runs from north to south, cutting through the rugged and cold mountains of Yunmeng, connecting the north and south, and is a necessary route to the southern wilderness of the Yan State.

Whether it's merchants trading goods between the north and south or people visiting relatives and friends, they all travel by boat along the river, which is much more comfortable than traveling by land and crossing mountains and ridges.

The Yan River, which stretches for a thousand miles, sees a lot of passenger boats. Merchant ships that buy precious herbs and various animal furs from the southern wilderness are especially frequent.

Ordinary passenger boats are one thing, but merchant ships loaded with goods from the southern wilderness carry a considerable amount of wealth, and naturally, there are desperados who are willing to risk their lives and families to target these merchant ships.

Therefore, some merchant ships have many skilled martial artists to protect them. Of course, these martial artists only know some basic martial arts techniques, and the true essence of martial arts has long been lost in the secular world.

Large merchant convoys or merchant groups do not need to hire bodyguards or martial artists to protect their goods, as they have their own guard teams.

On this midday, three large ships were sailing down the river, with brocade flags fluttering. Teams of guards in light armor, armed with weapons, patrolled the decks, maintaining strict vigilance.

At the bow of each of the three large ships, a large flag was flying in the wind, the flagpole reaching several zhang high, with a blue background and yellow characters, bearing the words "Huatian."

On the deck of the leading large ship, three figures leaned against the railing, pointing and admiring the scenery on both sides of the river.

"The cries of apes on both banks never cease, and the light boat has already passed through thousands of mountains. The scenery on both sides of the Yunmeng Mountains is indeed beautiful, something rarely seen elsewhere!" A young man, dressed in the style of a noble family, with a fair complexion and a handsome appearance, sighed softly.

The young man's voice was clear and pleasant, and if it weren't for his noble family attire, one might have mistaken him for a woman.

"Master!" A maid dressed in a light green dress, with a cute and charming appearance, called out and then suddenly giggled, covering her mouth. "The wind is strong outside, Master, why don't you come inside?"

"Hehe! Xiao Cui, my cultivation is among the best among the disciples of the noble families in Yanjing. I am not a weakling, so don't worry so much." The handsome young man lightly tapped the maid's head with his folding fan and laughed.

It turns out that this young man, dressed in the style of a noble family, is from the capital of the Yan State, Yanjing.

"Hey! Miss, ah! No, Master, look, what is that!" Suddenly, another maid dressed in a light yellow dress, who was standing beside the young man, pointed to the river ahead in surprise.

"Xiao Yue, how many times have I told you to call me Master when we are outside, not Miss, do you understand?" The young man said to the maid named Xiao Yue, somewhat displeased.

"Yes, yes, yes, M... Master, there seems to be someone on the river ahead!" The maid named Xiao Yue, somewhat panicked, pointed to the river ahead.

It turns out that this handsome young man is actually a tomboy, a girl dressed as a boy.

At this moment, the large ship was approaching, and about ten zhang ahead on the river, there seemed to be a white figure floating in the water.

"That is..." The young woman dressed as a boy and the maid Xiao Cui also saw the white figure on the river ahead, and they were both extremely surprised.

"Zhong Bo!" The young woman dressed as a boy suddenly called out to the cabin, and instantly a breeze arose on the deck. As the breeze passed, a figure suddenly appeared on the deck.

This person, who came and went like the wind, was definitely an expert, at least a rare expert in the secular world.

This person, who appeared like a ghost, was an old servant, dressed in a green shirt, with a hunched back and white hair. From his appearance, he looked like an ordinary, unremarkable old man. However, his ordinariness was only his outward appearance.

"Zhong Bo, look!" The young woman dressed as a boy pointed to the river ahead and said to the old man, speaking with great respect, not treating him like a servant but like an elder.

"Hmm?" The old servant named Zhong Bo followed the direction the young woman pointed and frowned, his cloudy eyes flashing with a sharp light.

With a wave of his right hand, a silver light immediately shot out from his sleeve. It was a silver whip, which moved like a snake in his hand, extending dozens of zhang to wrap around the person in the water. Then, with a sudden pull of his right hand, "Wala!" the person floating in the water was pulled out and flown toward the ship.

Zhong Bo took two steps back, then reached out to catch the person being pulled by the silver whip and placed them on the deck.

The person who had been rescued was wearing tattered clothes, with closed eyes, and was unconscious.

"Still breathing, seems there is a chance to save him!" Zhong Bo quickly examined the person's condition and found that not only was he not dead, but there was also a faint force surging within him.

"Even if this person can be saved, what does it have to do with us?" As he spoke, Zhong Bo put away the silver whip, then lifted the person with one hand, intending to throw him back into the river.

Zhong Bo seemed to want to avoid any trouble. This person was seriously injured, with both arm bones seemingly broken. Who knew who had beaten him to this state?

This person floating on the river looked rather strange. Zhong Bo, who had been in the world for a long time, was much more cautious about such strange occurrences than the average person.

"Zhong Bo, wait! Since this person is not dead, let's save him first." The young woman dressed as a boy, seeing that Zhong Bo was about to throw the person back into the river, quickly spoke to stop him.

"Since this person survived a great disaster in the river and met us, it is a kind of fate. Besides, there are many empty rooms on the ship, so we can arrange for him. Do we, so many people, fear a dying person?" The young woman said softly.