However, just as Xiao Jian's sword was about to land on Zhang Hao, Zhang Hao's feet shifted, taking a mysterious and profound misstep, avoiding Xiao Jian's attack.
"How is that possible?" Xiao Jian was greatly startled.
Xiao Jian simply did not see how Zhang Hao had avoided his sword.
Zhang Hao stood three meters away, hands behind his back, and looked at Xiao Jian, saying lightly, "Zhang Brother, what is the meaning of this?"
Xiao Jian gave an awkward smile and said, "Zhang Brother, that was a misunderstanding."
"Oh, that sword from Zhang Brother just now was really sharp. If I hadn't learned a few farming moves, I probably would have been injured," Zhang Hao said with a very innocent expression.
"Brother, he bullied me. You must teach him a good lesson for me," Xiao Lin said coquettishly, holding Xiao Jian's arm.
"Shut up, if you do that again, I won't bring you into the Mercenary Group next time," Xiao Jian said sternly to Xiao Lin.
Xiao Lin was a little depressed, and snorted, saying, "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. What's so great about it?"
After scolding his sister, Xiao Jian apologized to Zhang Hao, saying, "Brother, I did not discipline my sister strictly enough. You must be laughing at me."
"Mm, alright! I hope this misunderstanding doesn't happen again next time. Sometimes too many misunderstandings can be fatal," Zhang Hao said lightly to Xiao Jian.
After speaking, Zhang Hao returned to the carriage.
Xiao Lin said to Xiao Jian, very displeased, "Brother, why are you so afraid of that scoundrel? With your cultivation, taking him down shouldn't be a problem. No matter how powerful he is, he won't be a Martial King, right?"
Xiao Jian shook his head at Xiao Lin and said, "Xiao Lin, with your temperament, you are really not suited to walk in this deceitful world. Didn't you notice how he was able to advance and retreat freely under your sword just now, as if strolling in a leisurely garden?"
"Hmph, so what? He still didn't do anything to me, did he?" Xiao Lin said unconvinced.
Xiao Jian shook his head and said, "Xiao Lin, that's because the other party didn't actively attack. Otherwise, do you think you could have retreated completely unharmed? Don't mention you, even the sword Brother used just now was with eighty percent of my strength, but the other party still easily avoided it."
"That only shows his movement technique is excellent, not that his attack is excellent. Why didn't he fight back?" Xiao Lin said unconvinced.
"There is some truth to what you said, but our priority now is to escort this merchant group. We must not create any more trouble," Xiao Jian said.
Although Xiao Lin was unconvinced, seeing her Brother's earnest look, she could only say, "Understood, Brother."
In the carriage
"That scene just now was quite exciting! How I see it, it looked like a play where a wicked young man teases a virtuous young girl?" Gao Xinyu teased.
Ye Yunshang, however, said angrily, "That girl is too reckless. I think Zhang Hao, you should have taught her a good lesson just now."
"It's just that some playboy Young Masters cherish and pity beautiful women!" Ning Xue teased with a smile.
Zhang Hao shook his head and gave a wry smile, "I do have some pity for beautiful women, but the most important thing is that the leader of this Mercenary Group is her Brother. If I hit his sister, it wouldn't be good in the end."
"Alright, you have a point." Ye Yunshang thought about it and admitted that Zhang Hao's words made sense.
Zhang Hao said seriously, "Actually, what I'm most worried about right now is when the Sky Punishment assassins will appear, and if they are hidden within this Mercenary Group. But there are so many people in the Mercenary Group, I haven't found any clues for now!"
Ye Yunshang looked at Zhang Hao and asked, "Zhang Hao, you said, will the Sky Punishment assassins be hiding in the merchant group?"
Zhang Hao shook his head and said very certainly, "Probably not."
"So certain?" Ye Yunshang looked at Zhang Hao strangely.
Zhang Hao said, "I have some unique methods."
Of course, Zhang Hao wouldn't say that he relied on Little Dragon's sense of smell to distinguish them. However, on the Mercenary Group's side, because there were too many people mixed together, the scents were chaotic, and even Little Dragon would have difficulty finding someone by smell.
Liu Sanjin has rarely appeared during this period. He only occasionally shows up during meal times. However, Zhang Hao observed that Liu Sanjin spends most of his time hiding inside the carriage.
"This merchant group is very strange. It's definitely not this simple," Zhang Hao muttered.
The next few days went smoothly. Even mountain bandits did not appear again. Despite this, Zhang Hao did not relax his vigilance. Instead, it gave him a feeling of an impending storm.
After several days of traveling, they were still five days away from Watt Country. On this day, the merchant group arrived outside a gorge. This is First Line Gorge, where the mountains on both sides are extremely steep.
At this moment, Zhang Hao, who was sitting cross-legged in the carriage, suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp light shot out from his pupils. Because he suddenly sensed someone he had somewhat forgotten.
"Blood Robe, is that you?" Zhang Hao said in his Sea of Consciousness.
"Young Master, you... are you here too?" Blood Robe's voice was very surprised.
Blood Robe was the Heavenly Demon Sect grunt who had a slave mark planted on him by Zhang Hao in the Divine Dragon Space. However, after the Divine Dragon Secret Realm left, Blood Robe was never seen again, and unexpectedly appeared here.
Zhang Hao confirmed it was Blood Robe, and his expression suddenly changed. Because Blood Robe would appear here, it was undoubtedly to ambush this merchant group.
"Blood Robe, are you going to ambush the merchant group?" Zhang Hao asked.
"Young Master, we received instructions. It seems to be to seize something within this merchant group. Is Young Master also in the merchant group?" Blood Robe asked.
"Mm, I am in the merchant group, but don't expose yourself. Just stay hidden," Zhang Hao said in his mind.
After Blood Robe's voice fell silent, Zhang Hao immediately walked out of the carriage. He said to the Tianhai Mercenary Group, "Stop."
Xiao Jian was somewhat startled upon hearing this and immediately had the team stop. He looked at Zhang Hao with a puzzled expression and said, "Zhang Brother, what is the meaning of this?"
Zhang Hao said seriously, "The First Line Gorge is ahead. I'm worried there's an ambush."
"Heh heh, you think you're a brilliant strategist? You say there's an ambush, and there's an ambush? Haven't we passed several First Line Gorges like this before, and there were no ambushes? Why would there be an ambush here? Are you just finding an excuse because you're scared?" Xiao Lin looked at Zhang Hao and said mockingly.
Seeing the other party's sarcasm, Zhang Hao immediately sneered and said, "I'm just reminding you. It's up to you to decide what to do. If you don't believe me, go in yourselves. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me."
Xiao Jian fell silent. In fact, he didn't quite agree with Zhang Hao's words either. From this distance, even a Martial King couldn't detect enemies.
"What's wrong?" Liu Sanjin came out from inside the carriage.
Xiao Lin would absolutely not miss any chance to strike at Zhang Hao, and said to Liu Sanjin, "Old Liu, these freeloaders said there's an ambush ahead, do you believe them?"
Liu Sanjin looked at the First Line Gorge, which was still a hundred meters away, and also had some doubts about Zhang Hao's words. Although Zhang Hao was a Martial King, he didn't believe that Zhang Hao had the ability to predict the future.