Early morning.
Qingshan Town, Stone Gate Tower.
Cheng Bu Zheng had arrived early to await the caravan, and although it was still early for the appointed time, at this moment, he could not afford to be careless in the slightest.
Half an hour later.
A team of carriages slowly drove out of the town. The lead carriage had a black flag with white characters, embroidered with a large 'Qian' character. This flag was the symbol of the Qian Family's caravan.
There were few pedestrians on the town streets. Seeing the large flag fluttering in the wind, they quickly hid to one side. Even the ruffians in town dared not cause trouble for the caravan, because they knew this caravan belonged to the Qian Family, a powerful Family in the town.
Suddenly.
"Stop!"
A clear voice came from the most luxurious carriage in the middle.
The caravan slowly, unhurriedly, came to a stop. The coachmen of the caravan were all experienced veterans; otherwise, a sudden stop would have caused panic.
From the luxurious carriage in the middle, a window curtain on one side was suddenly lifted, revealing a handsome face. It was a youth who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old.
This person was Qian Zhe, the young master of the Qian Family, who had an appointment with Cheng Bu Zheng.
"Bu Zheng... hurry up and get in!" Qian Zhe called out to Cheng Bu Zheng below the Stone Gate Tower.
"Thank you, Brother Qian!" Cheng Bu Zheng cupped his fists in salute to Qian Zhe inside the carriage.
Amidst the envious gazes of the surrounding pedestrians, they watched Cheng Bu Zheng enter the luxurious carriage.
Immediately.
The caravan slowly started again, gradually moving further and further away, until it was out of sight. The onlookers dispersed again, each busy with their own lives.
Once out of town, the caravan's speed increased another notch, which Cheng Bu Zheng felt particularly clearly while sitting inside the carriage.
Qian Zhe and Cheng Bu Zheng shared a carriage. One sat in the center, eating delicacies from the small table and occasionally sipping fine wine, while the other sat cross-legged to one side, pulling back the curtain and looking out with great curiosity.
"Brother Qian, is that the Cangqing Mountain Range?" Cheng Bu Zheng pointed out the window and asked.
Upon hearing this.
Qian Zhe glanced out the window, a smug expression on his face, and said, "Yes, that is the Cangqing Mountain Range. Only the Cangqing Mountain Range would be so treacherous! Many bandit forces are entrenched there. Most caravans have to pay a sufficient toll, or else they'll have to hand over their goods.
Of course, they wouldn't dare collect tolls from my Qian Family's caravan. Otherwise, they'd have the life to collect it, but not the life to spend it!"
Cheng Bu Zheng was quite surprised upon hearing this. He hadn't expected the Qian Family to have such strength. He wondered what they relied on to disregard so many bandits.
"Young Master..." Outside the carriage, the old Qian Family servant driving the carriage couldn't help but remind him.
Upon hearing this, Qian Zhe stopped talking and boasting. He then casually glanced at the old servant outside the carriage, a flicker of resentment in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
Cheng Bu Zheng, being very perceptive, no longer asked about this sensitive topic:
"Brother Qian, after passing the Cangqing Mountain Range, how long will it take to reach Yaoshan Town?"
Qian Zhe silently calculated for a moment and said, "Hmm, it should be about another hour until we arrive!"
"By then, it will be almost dark. If you're not in a hurry, Brother, why don't we go to the county town tomorrow? Traveling in the dark isn't very convenient!" Cheng Bu Zheng spoke as if considering his 'good brother's' safety.
Qian Zhe said indifferently:
"After reaching Yaoshan Town, it's about half an hour to the county town. We can make it before dark, my dear brother, no need to worry!"
After hearing this, Cheng Bu Zheng felt a sense of calm in his heart. He roughly knew the distance between the county town and Yaoshan Town, and he no longer had to fear that time would be insufficient.
Before long.
The caravan's speed slowly decreased, gradually driving into the canyon passage. This place was the only way to pass through the Cangqing Mountain Range, and it was also where bandits were entrenched.
Suddenly, the caravan stopped.
Cheng Bu Zheng lifted the curtain and peered outside, only to see a small caravan of only three carriages not far ahead, blocked by bandits.
"Young Master... The caravan ahead doesn't have enough toll money and is currently using goods as collateral. Please wait a moment."
The old Qian Family servant driving the carriage outside the compartment said.
"Mmm!" Qian Zhe lightly responded, then smiled at Cheng Bu Zheng and said, "I guess there's a newcomer who doesn't know the rules! This time, it'll be a problem for their caravan just to break even!"
"Every trade has its own rules, Brother Qian, you know so much!"
Cheng Bu Zheng flattered him seamlessly.
"That's right..." Qian Zhe's face showed pleasure, and his tone was quite proud.
Not long after, the caravan started again. Without any surprise, their caravan was not stopped by the bandits. It seemed they knew who the owner of this caravan was.
On the mountainside not far away, a newcomer who had just ascended the mountain saw the caravan with the fluttering 'Qian' flag passing through the canyon unhindered. He curiously asked a burly, full-bearded man beside him.
"Brother, this large caravan clearly has a lot of profit, why did you just let it pass?"
The burly, full-bearded man forcefully slapped the back of the newcomer's head and said fiercely:
"That's the master's caravan. Are you tired of living and want to go drink with King Yama early? Then go! I won't stop you."
The newcomer glanced at the caravan at the foot of the mountain and muttered:
"How dare I? I wouldn't dare even if I had the guts of a bear and a leopard!
It's just that I didn't know, right?"
After passing through the Cangqing Mountain Range, the wild beasts encountered along the way became increasingly scarce. Those beasts that tried to approach the caravan were hunted down by the cavalry on both flanks of the caravan before they even got within ten zhang.
Cheng Bu Zheng personally witnessed those fierce beasts, including wild boars, tigers, and leopards. He felt quite fortunate to have caught a ride with the Qian Family's caravan.
Otherwise, he probably wouldn't have even made it to the Cangqing Mountain Range before his bones were gone.
An hour later.
Inside the carriage, Qian Zhe instructed the old servant driving outside:
"Master Liu, stop the caravan!"
The old servant driving the carriage outside heard him and said, "Yes, Young Master!"
"The Young Master has ordered! The caravan is to stop immediately!" The old servant outside the carriage's clear voice echoed across the empty wilderness.
Immediately, the caravan slowly came to a halt.
Inside the carriage, after Cheng Bu Zheng bid farewell to Qian Zhe, he got off the carriage and walked towards Yaoshan Town according to the map in his memory.
Qian Zhe in the carriage lifted the curtain, watched Cheng Bu Zheng walk away, and coldly said to the old servant outside,
"Master Liu, call Qian Qi over!"
A moment later.
A Black-Clothed Strongman, riding a tall horse, arrived outside the luxurious carriage. Qian Zhe lifted the curtain and said expressionlessly to Qian Qi outside.
"You go follow that boy who just got off the carriage. If he's not going to Yaoshan Town, and changes his path midway towards the county town, kill him on the spot. If he's going to Yaoshan Town, return immediately and don't cause any trouble! Understand?"
The Black-Clothed Strongman, riding a tall horse, was expressionless and respectfully cupped his fists, saying:
"Yes, Young Master!"
Not long after.
Cheng Bu Zheng, who was walking towards Yaoshan Town, suddenly crouched down at a bend, pressing his ear to the ground. He heard the vibration of the ground, and then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He stood up and silently walked towards Yaoshan Town.
"As expected, fortunately, I was careful, otherwise, I would surely have died today!
Qian Zhe, I, Cheng Bu Zheng, will remember this great 'favor'!"