"Oh, Mountain City has four gates: East Gate leads to Sunset City, South Gate to Moonflow City, and West Gate to Starswater City. The area outside the North Gate is now a wilderness. If you follow the main road, you'll end up at the foot of a mountain with no further way!" Mr. Han exclaimed loudly.
"Oh, I see! Then I'll head to Sunset City tomorrow," Tianhua said.
"Why the rush? I'm short of hands here. If you leave, where can I find such a diligent young man to work for me?" Mr. Han regretfully remarked.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Han. I've finished things here, so it's time for me to go!" Tianhua replied.
"Do you really have to go?" Mr. Han asked.
"Yes, I must go!" Tianhua affirmed.
"When?" Mr. Han inquired.
"I'll leave at dawn tomorrow!" Tianhua said.
In the forest, one person gestured slightly while another approached. The gesturing person whispered a few words to the newcomer, who nodded. Then, cautiously, they moved backward, pointing at five individuals. A wave of the hand, and they proceeded gently in the direction of Tianhua in the sky. The other five understood and followed.
The six individuals were approaching the sleeping place of Tianhua. As they neared, the person in the front raised a hand, and the five behind stopped. The person took out a hidden weapon from their bosom, turned to look at the others, and, in agreement, they too retrieved concealed weapons. The weapons were in their hands.
With a swift motion, the person's hand went down!
All six simultaneously released their hidden weapons.
The weapons filled the sky, dangerously close, and hitting the target was inevitable!
Just as the hidden weapons were about to hit Tianhua, at that very moment, Tianhua suddenly disappeared into thin air! The hidden weapons hit the ground and the tree behind.
What!!!!
The six were stunned, staring at the spot where Tianhua had been lying just moments ago, now empty!
Thud!
One person suddenly fell to the ground. The remaining five, alarmed by the sound, turned around. To their surprise, Tianhua was now standing behind them, and in front of them lay their comrade who had just been knocked unconscious!
The five looked at him in horror: When did he get behind us?
Tianhua glanced at the five, then smiled and suddenly vanished again. The five were bewildered!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three more individuals fell to the ground. The remaining two turned around in a panic, and there stood Tianhua again, but this time, in front of him were his three unconscious companions!
Fear struck the hearts of the two, questioning whether the youth before them was human or ghost. In their minds, they preferred to believe he was a ghost, as how could a person possess such speed?
The two looked at Tianhua in terror, their legs trembling uncontrollably. Tianhua glanced at them, and suddenly, they felt a heavy blow to the back of their heads. In an instant, they lost consciousness. At the moment they fell, they saw Tianhua still standing there without moving!
The six had no chance to retaliate; they didn't even know how their opponent struck, and were instantly subdued.
Captain Cao, hidden behind a tree, witnessed everything. At first, he was confident that leading over fifty people, they could easily capture Tianhua. However, when he saw the hidden weapons miss, his confidence wavered. When one person was knocked out, Tianhua appeared; his initial thoughts were shaken. When three more were knocked out, his plans crumbled. Finally, when the last two were knocked out, and Tianhua stood still, his heart turned cold!
"You can come out now!" Tianhua shouted towards the forest.
As soon as he spoke, four individuals emerged from the woods, surrounding Tianhua. Tianhua looked at them and asked, "Where is Kong Xu?"
"There's no need for Lord Kong to take action to capture you. We are sufficient!" Captain Cao said, but from his tone, one could sense his lack of confidence.
"Kong Xu hasn't come. Your presence here is useless. Go back and tell Kong Xu to come here. I'll wait for him!" Tianhua said.
"If you want to meet Lord Kong, we will take you to him!" Captain Cao declared.
Tianhua heard this and smiled.
"Why are you laughing?" Captain Cao asked in confusion.
"I'm laughing at you. You saw those six individuals just now! Subduing you would be a piece of cake for me. You have no chance to fight back! So, staying here is utterly meaningless. You better go back and let Kong Xu come to me!" Tianhua said.
After Tianhua spoke, Captain Cao was left speechless. He had begun to realize that they were no match for these people, and perhaps, they couldn't even touch Tianhua.
The others started whispering to each other, and Tianhua, seeing them, felt relieved. He didn't want to engage in any more violence, even though he hadn't harmed them physically, just incapacitated them. He hoped they would leave without further conflict.
Captain Cao, having snapped out of his thoughts, saw the remaining twenty or so people whispering. He became furious, drew his long sword, and said, "Stop talking! Attack, and capture this kid for me!"
With a swing of his hand, he lunged at Tianhua. Tianhua deftly avoided the attack, and the others rushed towards him. Wherever Tianhua went, people fell silently. In no time, half of the forty or so individuals were lying on the ground!
Tianhua stopped and said, "I suggest you stop. Take them back with you. Go back and ask Kong Xu to come find me."
Captain Cao, looking at his subordinates on the ground, was getting anxious. Why wasn't Tianhua attacking him?
He looked at the remaining twenty individuals, who were hesitating and terrified. They didn't want to fight anymore; they just wanted Captain Cao to leave as Tianhua suggested. Captain Cao made up his mind; he had to fight Tianhua to the end. At the same time, he hoped Tianhua would knock him out, so he wouldn't have to worry about reporting back to Kong Xu.
Captain Cao swung his sword, and Tianhua effortlessly dodged the attack. The others rushed at Tianhua, but just as they were about to strike, they felt a heavy blow to the back of their heads. Before they could cry out, they collapsed.
Now, Captain Cao stood alone, looking at Tianhua. He suddenly threw down his long sword and said, "Please, help me pass out as well!"
Tianhua, puzzled, looked at him and asked, "You're going back anyway. Isn't it better to go back now? After you wake up, you can take these people back with you. Why do you want me to knock you out?"
"If you knock me out, when I wake up and return, maybe I still have a chance to live. But if I go back like this, I'm definitely on a dead end!" Captain Cao said helplessly.
"Why?" Tianhua asked in surprise.
"The mission to ambush you today was a must for Lord Kong. If I return alone with no accomplishments, Lord Kong will definitely blame me. At that time, I'll have no chance of survival!" Captain Cao explained in agony.
"You can go back with my message, let Kong Xu come find me. That way, you're just a messenger, and Kong Xu won't harm you," Tianhua suggested.
"If I do that, I'll die even faster!" Captain Cao said.
"Why?" Tianhua asked in confusion.
"If I truthfully tell Kong Xu what happened here and deliver your message, Lord Kong will be furious. He might think I'm useless, and then what's the point of keeping me alive? That's why I've decided. I must fight you to the end. At the same time, I hope you'll knock me out quickly. That way, I won't have to think too much!" Captain Cao said.
Tianhua, hearing this, suddenly felt a deep sympathy for them. They risked their
lives for their master, and in the end, for a failed mission, not only did they not receive rewards, but they also had to sacrifice their lives!
Tianhua looked at him sympathetically but said nothing. Suddenly, he turned and left.
Captain Cao, surprised, watched Tianhua walk away. Then, in anxiety, he said, "If you still won't act, fine! I'll go back like this and deliver your message to Kong Xu. When the time comes, whether he kills me or lets me go, it won't matter..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head. Quickly, he lost consciousness. However, in that moment, he felt that being knocked out felt surprisingly good. In the instant he fell, a smile appeared on his face!
Tianhua didn't look back at the fallen Captain Cao. At this point, he couldn't bear to watch him anymore!
Tianhua looked at the fifty or so unconscious individuals lying on the ground, sighed softly, walked to the tree where he had rested, picked up his bundle, and continued walking forward.
As he walked, Tianhua thought, "Why hasn't Kong Xu come? After thinking for a long time, he couldn't figure it out. Finally, he shook his head, muttering to himself, 'What's the use of thinking about this now? Anyway, I'm about to leave this place!'"
The sound of hoofbeats...
Tianhua sensed urgent hoofbeats in the distance, and a horse was approaching in his direction. Tianhua wondered, "Could it be someone coming to chase me?"
The sound grew closer, and Tianhua realized there was only one horse. He was surprised, thinking, "Could it be Kong Xu?"
A fast horse rushed past Tianhua and came to a stop. Tianhua looked at the rider and asked, "Are you Kong Xu?"
The person looked at Tianhua and then shouted loudly, "No, but Master Kong asked me to bring you something!"
"What is it?" Tianhua asked in confusion.
"You'll understand when you see it!" the person said.
After speaking, the person reached into their pocket and took out something, tossing it to Tianhua. Tianhua caught it – it was a string of bells. Tianhua held the bells in his hand, looked at them, and suddenly his face showed an angry expression. He shouted at the person, "What did you do to the little bells?"
"Don't worry, they're fine. But if you come back late, who knows? Now, be a good boy and come with me..." the person happily said.
Before they finished speaking, the person, as if struck by a heavy blow, fell off the horse and landed heavily in the distance. On the ground, the person clutched their chest in pain, spat out a mouthful of blood, and looked at Tianhua in horror – Tianhua seemed to have not moved at all!
Tianhua glanced at the person, then turned and quickly ran towards the town.
The person lay on the ground in pain!
Tianhua arrived at the tavern, where it was full of people, not dining but sitting quietly. Tianhua looked at them and then anxiously walked towards the backyard. Those people simultaneously looked at Tianhua.
In the backyard, it was also quiet!
In the courtyard, a table was placed in the center, and four people sat around it: Boss Han, Little Bells, an old man, and a stranger!
Tianhua entered, Boss Han was sitting with his back to him. Tianhua could see Little Bells sitting quietly there; at this moment, he felt relieved!
Little Bells saw Tianhua appear, ran over joyfully, and Tianhua reached out to pick her up, holding her tightly in his arms, as if afraid she would disappear.
"Tianhua, where did you go? I wanted you to take me kite flying this morning, but you weren't there. Dad said you left, and I cried for a long time! Until that uncle came and said he was looking for you. But I don't like him; not only did he make me sit there and wait for you, not letting me play, but he also took the string of bells from my head!" Little Bells pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.
Tianhua, upon hearing this, laughed and then took out the string of bells from his pocket, saying, "Here are the bells. Let your brother tie them for you."
Little Bells, seeing the string of bells, smiled happily! After Tianhua tied the bells for Little Bells, he continued, "I also don't like that uncle!"
Tianhua stood up, and at this moment, Boss Han also stood up, looking at him. Tianhua said, "Sorry, Boss Han, for causing trouble to you all!"
Boss Han smiled and nodded, then turned to Little Bells, saying, "Come here, Little Bells! Brother has something to discuss with this uncle!"
Little Bells looked at Tianhua, then walked over to Boss Han's side. Boss Han held her and walked to the side, and the old man, seeing this, also stood up, joining Boss Han!
Tianhua looked at the people sitting in front of him: slightly chubby, wearing sturdy clothes, with thick arms – obviously a power type. He carried two long knives behind his back. The man was smiling at Tianhua.
Tianhua walked forward, sat down, and the man, seeing him sit down, restrained his smile, saying, "You're the young man who defeated Zou Ming and Cheng Kong, right? It seems as expected: those subordinates couldn't stop you at all!"
Tianhua glanced at him and asked, "Are you Kong Xu?"
The man nodded, "Indeed! Unexpectedly, you know me!"
"Even if someone doesn't know you, just by looking at the two knives behind you, they would know!" Tianhua said.
"Since we're all straightforward people, I won't beat around the bush! As long as you reveal the whereabouts of Lu Yunshan, we'll each go our separate ways. I can guarantee that we won't come looking for you again!" Kong Xu said.
Boss Han, hearing the words "Lu Yunshan," was surprised. He looked at Tianhua in confusion.
"If I were to say it, how could Zou Ming and Cheng Kong have been defeated by me?" Tianhua said.
"Do you really need to do this? Risking so much for someone you don't even know?" Kong Xu said.
"As long as it can save a life, I think it's worth it!" Tianhua said.
"Don't even care about your own life?" Kong Xu said.
"Yes!" Tianhua affirmed.
"It seems we have no need to continue talking!" Kong Xu said.
"There was no need to talk from the beginning!" Tianhua said.
Kong Xu stared at Tianhua, Tianhua didn't look at him but gazed into the distance. Distant green mountains were invisible, and in the sky, only white clouds scattered with the wind...
At this point, Mr. Han fell silent, raising his wine cup to take a sip with Tianhua...
"Since you're setting off early tomorrow, let's call it a night!" Mr. Han declared loudly.
"Uncle Han, it's fine now. That person has left!" Tianhua said.
"Gone?" Mr. Han looked around in confusion.
"Yes, gone!" Tianhua confirmed.
"Tianhua, where was that person hiding? How did you know? I didn't sense anyone!" Mr. Han asked, puzzled.
"Well... I don't know how to explain. Even if I can't see him, I can somehow feel his presence in my heart!" Tianhua explained.
"Oh, that's quite impressive!" Mr. Han commented.
Late at night, with the wine flowing, people already intoxicated!
In a well-lit room, someone was reporting the day's gathered information to Kong Xu.
"Are you sure you weren't detected?" Kong Xu asked.
Considering the situations of the two during the day, I stayed far away from them at night. Given the distance and the darkness, I don't think they noticed me!" the informant confidently stated.
"That's good. I assume you weren't detected either; otherwise, you wouldn't be reporting to me so soon!" Kong Xu remarked.
The informant nodded and then asked, "Master Kong, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"This person is not ordinary. Both Zou Ming and Cheng Kong have fallen to him, so we have to outsmart him. Bring more people tomorrow, and make sure to choose skilled individuals. Ambush outside the East Gate; if you see that kid, use any means to capture him for me!" Kong Xu instructed.
The informant, impressed, said, "Master Kong is indeed formidable!"
"Alright, go make the arrangements now!" Kong Xu waved dismissively.
"Yes!" The informant left.
Watching the departing figure, Kong Xu muttered to himself, "Zou Ming, Cheng Kong, what you two couldn't accomplish, I won't need to get involved personally tomorrow. Let's see who gets the last laugh in front of the town master in the future!" He chuckled smugly.
"Summon someone!" Kong Xu shouted in the room.
A person entered, asking, "Master Kong, what are your orders?"
"Prepare the carriage! I'm going to the town master's mansion!" Kong Xu said.
Overjoyed, Kong Xu was eager to report this news to the town master!
The day was breaking, and Tianhua, who had drunk the night before, surprisingly woke up early. Mr. Han was also up and about early.
"Tianhua, are you really going to the outskirts of the East Gate today?" Mr. Han asked.
"Since I've said it, I'll definitely go today!" Tianhua replied.
"But alone?" Mr. Han expressed concern.
"Don't worry, Uncle Han! I'll be fine!" Tianhua assured.
"Why come back here then?" Mr. Han questioned.
"Well..." Tianhua didn't know how to respond.
Although Tianhua initially planned to stay here for some time, looking at the current situation, he had no choice but to leave!
"If you encounter any trouble outside in the future, you can always come back here!" Mr. Han said.
Tianhua nodded and said, "Uncle Han, one day I'll come back to see you all!"
Mr. Han personally cooked breakfast for Tianhua, along with a bowl of sobering soup.
Looking at the sobering soup, Tianhua regretfully said, "I just became your disciple yesterday, and today I have to leave. I haven't even learned how to make this sobering soup yet!"
Mr. Han laughed and said, "You'll come back in the future, and then you can learn!"
Tianhua also smiled and said, "Yes!"
After finishing breakfast, Tianhua was ready to leave. Although Mr. Han wanted him to stay a bit longer, he knew it was impossible. He handed Tianhua a package, saying, "Here is some money and food. Keep it with you on the road."
Tianhua took the package and said, "Thank you, Uncle Han! Take care!"
After saying that, he turned and left. Mr. Han escorted him to the door but refrained from following him to the East Gate!
Mr. Han watched Tianhua's figure until it disappeared and then turned back into the house.
The sun was slowly rising. Little Bell and the old man were still sound asleep!
At this moment, in the town, only a few shops were open for business. You could see shop assistants bustling inside, but the streets were sparsely populated.
Tianhua quickly arrived at the outskirts of the East Gate. The city gate was already open. Tianhua passed through it, walked a distance, looked back at Mountain City, and thought to himself: Ali, Grandpa, Yunshan, Uncle Han, Master, Little Bell, goodbye! Wait for me here, and when I come back, I'll take you away from here to live freely in a peaceful place.
After gazing for a while, he turned around and continued walking. As he walked, the sides of the road were covered with trees. Tianhua looked at the woods on both sides, then walked to a tree, sat down, and rested.
He sat there for a while, feeling like there was nothing to do. He plucked a piece of grass, put it in his mouth, lay down, rested his hands behind his head, looked up at the sky, and slowly closed his eyes.
"Cao Captain, it seems like that guy has fallen asleep! Should we act now?" A voice quietly sounded from the woods.
There were almost fifty people hidden in the woods!
"Wait! That kid is very alert. Instruct everyone to be careful and not get noticed!" the leader said.
"Yes!"
Tianhua seemed to be truly asleep!
"Oh, Mountain City has four gates: East Gate leads to Sunset City, South Gate to Moonflow City, and West Gate to Starswater City. The area outside the North Gate is now a wilderness. If you follow the main road, you'll end up at the foot of a mountain with no further way!" Mr. Han exclaimed loudly.
"Oh, I see! Then I'll head to Sunset City tomorrow," Tianhua said.
"Why the rush? I'm short of hands here. If you leave, where can I find such a diligent young man to work for me?" Mr. Han regretfully remarked.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Han. I've finished things here, so it's time for me to go!" Tianhua replied.
"Do you really have to go?" Mr. Han asked.
"Yes, I must go!" Tianhua affirmed.
"When?" Mr. Han inquired.
"I'll leave at dawn tomorrow!" Tianhua said.
In the forest, one person gestured slightly while another approached. The gesturing person whispered a few words to the newcomer, who nodded. Then, cautiously, they moved backward, pointing at five individuals. A wave of the hand, and they proceeded gently in the direction of Tianhua in the sky. The other five understood and followed.
The six individuals were approaching the sleeping place of Tianhua. As they neared, the person in the front raised a hand, and the five behind stopped. The person took out a hidden weapon from their bosom, turned to look at the others, and, in agreement, they too retrieved concealed weapons. The weapons were in their hands.
With a swift motion, the person's hand went down!
All six simultaneously released their hidden weapons.
The weapons filled the sky, dangerously close, and hitting the target was inevitable!
Just as the hidden weapons were about to hit Tianhua, at that very moment, Tianhua suddenly disappeared into thin air! The hidden weapons hit the ground and the tree behind.
What!!!!
The six were stunned, staring at the spot where Tianhua had been lying just moments ago, now empty!
Thud!
One person suddenly fell to the ground. The remaining five, alarmed by the sound, turned around. To their surprise, Tianhua was now standing behind them, and in front of them lay their comrade who had just been knocked unconscious!
The five looked at him in horror: When did he get behind us?
Tianhua glanced at the five, then smiled and suddenly vanished again. The five were bewildered!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three more individuals fell to the ground. The remaining two turned around in a panic, and there stood Tianhua again, but this time, in front of him were his three unconscious companions!
Fear struck the hearts of the two, questioning whether the youth before them was human or ghost. In their minds, they preferred to believe he was a ghost, as how could a person possess such speed?
The two looked at Tianhua in terror, their legs trembling uncontrollably. Tianhua glanced at them, and suddenly, they felt a heavy blow to the back of their heads. In an instant, they lost consciousness. At the moment they fell, they saw Tianhua still standing there without moving!
The six had no chance to retaliate; they didn't even know how their opponent struck, and were instantly subdued.
Captain Cao, hidden behind a tree, witnessed everything. At first, he was confident that leading over fifty people, they could easily capture Tianhua. However, when he saw the hidden weapons miss, his confidence wavered. When one person was knocked out, Tianhua appeared; his initial thoughts were shaken. When three more were knocked out, his plans crumbled. Finally, when the last two were knocked out, and Tianhua stood still, his heart turned cold!
"You can come out now!" Tianhua shouted towards the forest.
As soon as he spoke, four individuals emerged from the woods, surrounding Tianhua. Tianhua looked at them and asked, "Where is Kong Xu?"
"There's no need for Lord Kong to take action to capture you. We are sufficient!" Captain Cao said, but from his tone, one could sense his lack of confidence.
"Kong Xu hasn't come. Your presence here is useless. Go back and tell Kong Xu to come here. I'll wait for him!" Tianhua said.
"If you want to meet Lord Kong, we will take you to him!" Captain Cao declared.
Tianhua heard this and smiled.
"Why are you laughing?" Captain Cao asked in confusion.
"I'm laughing at you. You saw those six individuals just now! Subduing you would be a piece of cake for me. You have no chance to fight back! So, staying here is utterly meaningless. You better go back and let Kong Xu come to me!" Tianhua said.
After Tianhua spoke, Captain Cao was left speechless. He had begun to realize that they were no match for these people, and perhaps, they couldn't even touch Tianhua.
The others started whispering to each other, and Tianhua, seeing them, felt relieved. He didn't want to engage in any more violence, even though he hadn't harmed them physically, just incapacitated them. He hoped they would leave without further conflict.
Captain Cao, having snapped out of his thoughts, saw the remaining twenty or so people whispering. He became furious, drew his long sword, and said, "Stop talking! Attack, and capture this kid for me!"
With a swing of his hand, he lunged at Tianhua. Tianhua deftly avoided the attack, and the others rushed towards him. Wherever Tianhua went, people fell silently. In no time, half of the forty or so individuals were lying on the ground!
Tianhua stopped and said, "I suggest you stop. Take them back with you. Go back and ask Kong Xu to come find me."
Captain Cao, looking at his subordinates on the ground, was getting anxious. Why wasn't Tianhua attacking him?
He looked at the remaining twenty individuals, who were hesitating and terrified. They didn't want to fight anymore; they just wanted Captain Cao to leave as Tianhua suggested. Captain Cao made up his mind; he had to fight Tianhua to the end. At the same time, he hoped Tianhua would knock him out, so he wouldn't have to worry about reporting back to Kong Xu.
Captain Cao swung his sword, and Tianhua effortlessly dodged the attack. The others rushed at Tianhua, but just as they were about to strike, they felt a heavy blow to the back of their heads. Before they could cry out, they collapsed.
Now, Captain Cao stood alone, looking at Tianhua. He suddenly threw down his long sword and said, "Please, help me pass out as well!"
Tianhua, puzzled, looked at him and asked, "You're going back anyway. Isn't it better to go back now? After you wake up, you can take these people back with you. Why do you want me to knock you out?"
"If you knock me out, when I wake up and return, maybe I still have a chance to live. But if I go back like this, I'm definitely on a dead end!" Captain Cao said helplessly.
"Why?" Tianhua asked in surprise.
"The mission to ambush you today was a must for Lord Kong. If I return alone with no accomplishments, Lord Kong will definitely blame me. At that time, I'll have no chance of survival!" Captain Cao explained in agony.
"You can go back with my message, let Kong Xu come find me. That way, you're just a messenger, and Kong Xu won't harm you," Tianhua suggested.
"If I do that, I'll die even faster!" Captain Cao said.
"Why?" Tianhua asked in confusion.
"If I truthfully tell Kong Xu what happened here and deliver your message, Lord Kong will be furious. He might think I'm useless, and then what's the point of keeping me alive? That's why I've decided. I must fight you to the end. At the same time, I hope you'll knock me out quickly. That way, I won't have to think too much!" Captain Cao said.
Tianhua, hearing this, suddenly felt a deep sympathy for them. They risked their
lives for their master, and in the end, for a failed mission, not only did they not receive rewards, but they also had to sacrifice their lives!
Tianhua looked at him sympathetically but said nothing. Suddenly, he turned and left.
Captain Cao, surprised, watched Tianhua walk away. Then, in anxiety, he said, "If you still won't act, fine! I'll go back like this and deliver your message to Kong Xu. When the time comes, whether he kills me or lets me go, it won't matter..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head. Quickly, he lost consciousness. However, in that moment, he felt that being knocked out felt surprisingly good. In the instant he fell, a smile appeared on his face!
Tianhua didn't look back at the fallen Captain Cao. At this point, he couldn't bear to watch him anymore!
Tianhua looked at the fifty or so unconscious individuals lying on the ground, sighed softly, walked to the tree where he had rested, picked up his bundle, and continued walking forward.
As he walked, Tianhua thought, "Why hasn't Kong Xu come? After thinking for a long time, he couldn't figure it out. Finally, he shook his head, muttering to himself, 'What's the use of thinking about this now? Anyway, I'm about to leave this place!'"
The sound of hoofbeats...
Tianhua sensed urgent hoofbeats in the distance, and a horse was approaching in his direction. Tianhua wondered, "Could it be someone coming to chase me?"
The sound grew closer, and Tianhua realized there was only one horse. He was surprised, thinking, "Could it be Kong Xu?"
A fast horse rushed past Tianhua and came to a stop. Tianhua looked at the rider and asked, "Are you Kong Xu?"
The person looked at Tianhua and then shouted loudly, "No, but Master Kong asked me to bring you something!"
"What is it?" Tianhua asked in confusion.
"You'll understand when you see it!" the person said.
After speaking, the person reached into their pocket and took out something, tossing it to Tianhua. Tianhua caught it – it was a string of bells. Tianhua held the bells in his hand, looked at them, and suddenly his face showed an angry expression. He shouted at the person, "What did you do to the little bells?"
"Don't worry, they're fine. But if you come back late, who knows? Now, be a good boy and come with me..." the person happily said.
Before they finished speaking, the person, as if struck by a heavy blow, fell off the horse and landed heavily in the distance. On the ground, the person clutched their chest in pain, spat out a mouthful of blood, and looked at Tianhua in horror – Tianhua seemed to have not moved at all!
Tianhua glanced at the person, then turned and quickly ran towards the town.
The person lay on the ground in pain!
Tianhua arrived at the tavern, where it was full of people, not dining but sitting quietly. Tianhua looked at them and then anxiously walked towards the backyard. Those people simultaneously looked at Tianhua.
In the backyard, it was also quiet!
In the courtyard, a table was placed in the center, and four people sat around it: Boss Han, Little Bells, an old man, and a stranger!
Tianhua entered, Boss Han was sitting with his back to him. Tianhua could see Little Bells sitting quietly there; at this moment, he felt relieved!
Little Bells saw Tianhua appear, ran over joyfully, and Tianhua reached out to pick her up, holding her tightly in his arms, as if afraid she would disappear.
"Tianhua, where did you go? I wanted you to take me kite flying this morning, but you weren't there. Dad said you left, and I cried for a long time! Until that uncle came and said he was looking for you. But I don't like him; not only did he make me sit there and wait for you, not letting me play, but he also took the string of bells from my head!" Little Bells pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.
Tianhua, upon hearing this, laughed and then took out the string of bells from his pocket, saying, "Here are the bells. Let your brother tie them for you."
Little Bells, seeing the string of bells, smiled happily! After Tianhua tied the bells for Little Bells, he continued, "I also don't like that uncle!"
Tianhua stood up, and at this moment, Boss Han also stood up, looking at him. Tianhua said, "Sorry, Boss Han, for causing trouble to you all!"
Boss Han smiled and nodded, then turned to Little Bells, saying, "Come here, Little Bells! Brother has something to discuss with this uncle!"
Little Bells looked at Tianhua, then walked over to Boss Han's side. Boss Han held her and walked to the side, and the old man, seeing this, also stood up, joining Boss Han!
Tianhua looked at the people sitting in front of him: slightly chubby, wearing sturdy clothes, with thick arms – obviously a power type. He carried two long knives behind his back. The man was smiling at Tianhua.
Tianhua walked forward, sat down, and the man, seeing him sit down, restrained his smile, saying, "You're the young man who defeated Zou Ming and Cheng Kong, right? It seems as expected: those subordinates couldn't stop you at all!"
Tianhua glanced at him and asked, "Are you Kong Xu?"
The man nodded, "Indeed! Unexpectedly, you know me!"
"Even if someone doesn't know you, just by looking at the two knives behind you, they would know!" Tianhua said.
"Since we're all straightforward people, I won't beat around the bush! As long as you reveal the whereabouts of Lu Yunshan, we'll each go our separate ways. I can guarantee that we won't come looking for you again!" Kong Xu said.
Boss Han, hearing the words "Lu Yunshan," was surprised. He looked at Tianhua in confusion.
"If I were to say it, how could Zou Ming and Cheng Kong have been defeated by me?" Tianhua said.
"Do you really need to do this? Risking so much for someone you don't even know?" Kong Xu said.
"As long as it can save a life, I think it's worth it!" Tianhua said.
"Don't even care about your own life?" Kong Xu said.
"Yes!" Tianhua affirmed.
"It seems we have no need to continue talking!" Kong Xu said.
"There was no need to talk from the beginning!" Tianhua said.
Kong Xu stared at Tianhua, Tianhua didn't look at him but gazed into the distance. Distant green mountains were invisible, and in the sky, only white clouds scattered with the wind...
At this point, Mr. Han fell silent, raising his wine cup to take a sip with Tianhua...
"Since you're setting off early tomorrow, let's call it a night!" Mr. Han declared loudly.
"Uncle Han, it's fine now. That person has left!" Tianhua said.
"Gone?" Mr. Han looked around in confusion.
"Yes, gone!" Tianhua confirmed.
"Tianhua, where was that person hiding? How did you know? I didn't sense anyone!" Mr. Han asked, puzzled.
"Well... I don't know how to explain. Even if I can't see him, I can somehow feel his presence in my heart!" Tianhua explained.
"Oh, that's quite impressive!" Mr. Han commented.
Late at night, with the wine flowing, people already intoxicated!
In a well-lit room, someone was reporting the day's gathered information to Kong Xu.
"Are you sure you weren't detected?" Kong Xu asked.
Considering the situations of the two during the day, I stayed far away from them at night. Given the distance and the darkness, I don't think they noticed me!" the informant confidently stated.
"That's good. I assume you weren't detected either; otherwise, you wouldn't be reporting to me so soon!" Kong Xu remarked.
The informant nodded and then asked, "Master Kong, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"This person is not ordinary. Both Zou Ming and Cheng Kong have fallen to him, so we have to outsmart him. Bring more people tomorrow, and make sure to choose skilled individuals. Ambush outside the East Gate; if you see that kid, use any means to capture him for me!" Kong Xu instructed.
The informant, impressed, said, "Master Kong is indeed formidable!"
"Alright, go make the arrangements now!" Kong Xu waved dismissively.
"Yes!" The informant left.
Watching the departing figure, Kong Xu muttered to himself, "Zou Ming, Cheng Kong, what you two couldn't accomplish, I won't need to get involved personally tomorrow. Let's see who gets the last laugh in front of the town master in the future!" He chuckled smugly.
"Summon someone!" Kong Xu shouted in the room.
A person entered, asking, "Master Kong, what are your orders?"
"Prepare the carriage! I'm going to the town master's mansion!" Kong Xu said.
Overjoyed, Kong Xu was eager to report this news to the town master!
The day was breaking, and Tianhua, who had drunk the night before, surprisingly woke up early. Mr. Han was also up and about early.
"Tianhua, are you really going to the outskirts of the East Gate today?" Mr. Han asked.
"Since I've said it, I'll definitely go today!" Tianhua replied.
"But alone?" Mr. Han expressed concern.
"Don't worry, Uncle Han! I'll be fine!" Tianhua assured.
"Why come back here then?" Mr. Han questioned.
"Well..." Tianhua didn't know how to respond.
Although Tianhua initially planned to stay here for some time, looking at the current situation, he had no choice but to leave!
"If you encounter any trouble outside in the future, you can always come back here!" Mr. Han said.
Tianhua nodded and said, "Uncle Han, one day I'll come back to see you all!"
Mr. Han personally cooked breakfast for Tianhua, along with a bowl of sobering soup.
Looking at the sobering soup, Tianhua regretfully said, "I just became your disciple yesterday, and today I have to leave. I haven't even learned how to make this sobering soup yet!"
Mr. Han laughed and said, "You'll come back in the future, and then you can learn!"
Tianhua also smiled and said, "Yes!"
After finishing breakfast, Tianhua was ready to leave. Although Mr. Han wanted him to stay a bit longer, he knew it was impossible. He handed Tianhua a package, saying, "Here is some money and food. Keep it with you on the road."
Tianhua took the package and said, "Thank you, Uncle Han! Take care!"
After saying that, he turned and left. Mr. Han escorted him to the door but refrained from following him to the East Gate!
Mr. Han watched Tianhua's figure until it disappeared and then turned back into the house.
The sun was slowly rising. Little Bell and the old man were still sound asleep!
At this moment, in the town, only a few shops were open for business. You could see shop assistants bustling inside, but the streets were sparsely populated.
Tianhua quickly arrived at the outskirts of the East Gate. The city gate was already open. Tianhua passed through it, walked a distance, looked back at Mountain City, and thought to himself: Ali, Grandpa, Yunshan, Uncle Han, Master, Little Bell, goodbye! Wait for me here, and when I come back, I'll take you away from here to live freely in a peaceful place.
After gazing for a while, he turned around and continued walking. As he walked, the sides of the road were covered with trees. Tianhua looked at the woods on both sides, then walked to a tree, sat down, and rested.
He sat there for a while, feeling like there was nothing to do. He plucked a piece of grass, put it in his mouth, lay down, rested his hands behind his head, looked up at the sky, and slowly closed his eyes.
"Cao Captain, it seems like that guy has fallen asleep! Should we act now?" A voice quietly sounded from the woods.
There were almost fifty people hidden in the woods!
"Wait! That kid is very alert. Instruct everyone to be careful and not get noticed!" the leader said.
"Yes!"
Tianhua seemed to be truly asleep!
