Chapter 49: Everything Is Ready
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Ling Hanjun stood rooted to the spot, unable to do anything as he watched Chen Fei make his escape. If only the two archers were still alive, they might have been able to slow Chen Fei down to some extent. However, those two individuals had met their demise swiftly.
“You won’t get away!” Ling Hanjun gritted his teeth and turned his attention to tending to his subordinates’ injuries.
Meanwhile, Chen Fei swiftly made his way back to another rented courtyard in Pingyin County. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, Chen Fei had rented multiple courtyards throughout the county to ensure he had alternative places to stay.
“This bow technique is quite effective, but this longbow is a bit lacking,” Chen Fei thought to himself, a smile playing on his lips. He realized that while the bow and arrow were useful against opponents in the Body Tempering realm, they would struggle against those in the Bone Tempering realm, particularly against Ling Hanjun, whose archery skills were top-notch.
“When I venture to other locations, 1’11 have to seize the opportunity to acquire a better bow. And, of course, 1 must not neglect my cultivation level,” Chen Fei resolved. He understood that to truly excel in archery, he needed both the right equipment and sufficient personal cultivation.
Taking a moment to reflect, Chen Fei recognized the significance of cultivating his Internal Strength as the foundation. Without a strong foundation, even the best bow would be rendered useless if he couldn’t draw it properly.
Chen Fei retrieved the wooden cabinet from the space grid and organized the silver into different compartments according to a predetermined ratio. This way, it would be convenient to access and utilize the funds when needed.
…..
The following morning, as the Zhao family went about their routine of delivering medicinal herbs, they stumbled upon a grim scene. Several alchemists were found dead, and when they arrived at Chen Fei’s courtyard, all they discovered was bloodstains on the ground. Chen Fei had vanished without a trace. He was neither seen alive nor found dead.
The Zhao family, consumed by rage, joined forces with the rebel army to launch a thorough search throughout Pingyin County in an effort to find Chen Fei and seek vengeance.
Meanwhile, Chen Fei, disguising himself as an ordinary person, continued to go about his daily activities, purchasing various items in the county. Whether it was food, water, or any other necessities he deemed necessary, Chen Fei made sure to acquire them.
In less than a day, Chen Fei had filled the wooden cabinet within the space grid to its capacity. He paid particular attention to stocking up on food, ensuring he was well-prepared. While finding food in the wilderness was typically feasible, Chen Fei harbored concerns about unforeseen circumstances. With the aid of the space grid, weight was no longer an issue, allowing him to carry as much as he could.
The next morning, Chen Fei looked at the steaming buns in his hands with a strange expression. These were the buns he had put into the space yesterday. After eight hours, the buns were still hot, just like when he had placed them inside.
“This space grid is quite powerful. It’s like time stops inside,” various thoughts raced through Chen Fei’s mind. However, he now only had one space grid at his disposal, so he couldn’t conduct extensive experiments to fully comprehend its capabilities.
Since time seemed to stop inside the space grid, Chen Fei realized that he no longer needed to worry about food spoiling. Deciding to treat himself a little better, he took out all the dry food he had prepared and set off to go shopping once again.
Due to the Zhao family’s intense search throughout Pingyin County, the streets were deserted, and the people remained hidden inside their homes, seeking safety amidst the chaotic atmosphere.
After swiftly purchasing the necessary items, Chen Fei hurried back to the safety of his courtyard, opting not to linger outside any longer. Initially, he had intended to visit Zeng Defang, as Zeng had treated him kindly at the clinic. Chen Fei had even considered helping Zeng Defang and his family leave Pingyin County.
However, with Zeng Defang being gravely injured and having his family with him, it was impossible for the rebel army to allow an alchemist of such value to depart. Considering the circumstances, Chen Fei decided to prioritize his own safety and the completion of his own mission.
Having confirmed the resources in the space grid were intact, Chen Fei settled into a cross-legged position and began cultivating his inner strength. The tranquil sound of his breathing filled the room, and the night passed by peacefully.
In the early morning, Chen Fei concealed his true identity and left the city, appearing as an ordinary person. Passing through the city gate was uneventful, as very few individuals possessed the ability to see through his disguise. Chen Fei had perfected his disguise technique, making it challenging for ordinary people to perceive any discrepancies.
A few miles away from the city, Chen Fei spotted the designated meeting place—Wind Moving Stone. Rather than approaching immediately, he chose to find a vantage point from which to observe. As the appointed time drew near, figures slowly began to emerge at the location.
Surveying his surroundings, Chen Fei found no signs of an ambush, suggesting that it was unlikely to be a trap.
Chen Fei checked the time and wasted no time, swiftly leaping through the treetops until he reached the location. As he arrived, the others present turned their attention toward him. Judging from the deliberate display of his movement technique, it was evident that Chen Fei possessed skills on par with ordinary martial artists in the Bone Tempering realm. Sometimes, one’s strength could be assessed through such demonstrations without engaging in actual combat.
When Chen Fei spotted Chi Defeng, the two nodded at each other without exchanging words. The gathering participants covertly assessed one another. Chen Fei glanced around briefly but soon ceased his observation. It was apparent that everyone present were martial artists with cultivated skills, not ordinary individuals.
“It appears that it’s just us.”
Qian Jijiang’s words reverberated in the air, and a deep silence fell upon the gathering. Everyone’s attention was fixated on him as he declared, “1 won’t say anything else. Three hundred taels per person. I’ll take the lead on this journey to Apricot Fen City.”
His announcement sparked an uproar among the attendees. The price far exceeded most people’s expectations, and even for martial artists, accumulating such a sum was a daunting task.
“300 taels is quite expensive. Can you lower the price?” someone questioned, voicing the concerns of many. “We’re meant to support each other on this journey. Asking for three hundred taels seems excessive.”
The atmosphere grew tense as the participants voiced their reservations and sought a more reasonable arrangement.
Qian Jijiang maintained a smile on his face as he raised his hand and replied, “I understand that it’s expensive, and I won’t force anyone to pay. It’s entirely voluntary.”
The group exchanged glances, realizing that the situation outside was chaotic and there were no caravans available. It would be risky for them to venture to other cities alone, even as martial artists.
One of the participants asked cautiously, “Boss Qian if we pay this money, can you guarantee our safety throughout the journey?”
Qian Jijiang shook his head, his smile fading slightly. “1 can’t make that guarantee. All I can promise is that we’ll stick together and support each other when the need arises.”
A person snorted coldly, questioning why they needed to travel to other places when they could remain in Pingyin County and live comfortably with the money they had. They turned and left. Another individual hesitated briefly before following suit.
After a moment, only six people remained in the group, having chosen to accept the terms set forth by Qian Jijiang.
Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng in surprise, not expecting him to be willing to pay such a substantial amount. Knowing Chi Defeng’s love for money and his desire to offload the counterfeit medicine, it was quite unexpected.
Qian Jijiang smiled as the others departed, stating, “It’s safer with fewer people.”
As the remaining members prepared to pay, Chi Defeng stepped forward and handed over the three hundred taels of silver. One by one, the rest followed suit, paying the agreed amount.
Chen Fei deliberately stuffed five hundred taels of silver into the large bag on his back as a precautionary measure. After counting the silver, he handed it to Qian Jijiang.
“Done. Since we’ll be traveling together, let’s introduce ourselves, so we can watch out for one another along the way,” Qian Jijiang said, accepting the silver. The smile on his face grew even brighter..