On the other side, the Black-Clothed Strongman Qian Qi, riding a tall horse, watched from afar, personally seeing Cheng Bu Zheng enter Yaoshan Town. He then immediately returned the way he came without any delay.
The moment the Black-Clothed Strongman turned his horse and returned the way he came, Cheng Bu Zheng, who had already entered the medicine town, walked out from a corner and quietly watched the departing Black-Clothed Strongman.
He recognized this person; he was one of the mounted guards on either side of the Qian Family's convoy.
Cheng Bu Zheng silently turned and walked into the town. Nearly a day of continuous travel had made him very tired, and besides, this was definitely not the best time to leave Yaoshan Town.
He found an inn in a secluded corner of Yaoshan Town, filled his stomach, and then collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
At night, in the early hours of the morning.
In Yaoshan Town, a small figure walked out of an inn in a secluded corner.
Cheng Bu Zheng walked out of the town in the dark. Fortunately, the moonlight provided enough light that it wasn't too dark to see the road roughly. He walked along the main road towards the county town, stumbling and falling countless times along the way. What should have been an hour's journey took a full three hours.
Through the moonlight, Cheng Bu Zheng saw three large characters carved above the city gate tower: 'Ping'an County.' At this moment, he was disheveled, his clothes covered in mud, and even his face was smudged.
At first glance, he was indistinguishable from a little one, the only difference being the muddy bundle he carried in his hand.
Cheng Bu Zheng saw that the city gate was tightly closed and knew that at this moment, a young man who looked like a beggar could not persuade the gate guards to open the city gate and let him enter the county town.
Only the powerful families of the county, or high-ranking officials, had this privilege. Ordinary people would be ignored, unless enough money was offered; otherwise, a few coppers would not even warrant a glance.
Cheng Bu Zheng knew it was impossible to enter the county town now; the guards would only open the gate at Maoshi (5-7 AM). He silently calculated that it would take about another hour.
The night wind was cold and biting, making him pull his clothes tighter as he prepared to find a place out of the wind.
Before long, he found a recess in the city wall that could block the night's cold wind. He squatted down in a corner, quietly waiting for the city gate to open.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but Cheng Bu Zheng silently endured the night's chill, his entire body trembling from the cold.
Suddenly.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak."
It came from the city gate. Cheng Bu Zheng looked up. Having been squatting for a long time, he struggled to stand up and stretched his limbs. Although his face was still a bit stiff, he could at least move.
At this moment, the Golden Crow had not yet risen.
He slowly walked to the city gate and saw some old women selling vegetables and old men selling charcoal already queuing at the city gate to enter.
As time passed, the line moved forward, and it wasn't long before it was his turn. After a brief inspection by two guards, he was allowed in.
Cheng Bu Zheng knew that the conduct of these guards was no different from those in the town; every copper coin could potentially be stolen. Therefore, he had long ago hidden the money he carried in a hidden compartment in the sole of his shoe, thus escaping their grasp.
This money was his usual pocket money, probably enough to last until the Immortal's arrival; otherwise, he would have to beg for a living.
To meet the Immortal, he had to at least keep his clothes clean and his face tidy, so as not to cause any displeasure to the Immortal. Cheng Bu Zheng could only do his utmost; the rest was up to fate.
The Golden Crow had just risen, and the sky was faintly bright.
Cheng Bu Zheng wandered through the county town, eventually finding the cheapest inn. Although it was in a corner of the county town and the inn was quite simple, its price was comparable to that of an inn in Yaoshan Town.
It was considered a fair price.
Cheng Bu Zheng opened the room door and unfolded the muddy bundle, revealing clean shoes and clothes, three porcelain bottles, and a washed brush, all placed on the bed.
After fetching some hot water and washing up.
He took the brush and the three porcelain bottles from the bed, looked at his clear reflection in the wooden bucket, opened the porcelain bottles, dipped the brush in the pigment inside, and continuously painted his face.
At this moment, the sky had already brightened, and Cheng Bu Zheng had completed his disguise.
Cheng Bu Zheng's originally sallow face became very fair, his sword-like eyebrows looked heroic, and his entire countenance was completely different from before. Unless someone familiar came close, they would definitely not recognize him.
The pigment in the porcelain bottles was an essence he obtained from processing herbs; clear water could not wash it off. It could only be removed with specially made medicinal water.
Cheng Bu Zheng did this because he was afraid that someone from the Qian Family would recognize him. Given Qian Zhe's harsh personality, if he saw him in the county town, the consequences would be unimaginable!
At that time, not only he but also his family would be implicated. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
After tidying up his belongings.
Cheng Bu Zheng lay on the bed, silently contemplating, and unknowingly fell into a deep sleep.
In the evening, the setting sun shone through the window, casting golden light on Cheng Bu Zheng's face.
His sword-like eyebrows twitched slightly, and soon after, he opened his sleepy eyes, looked at the sky outside, and felt a bit hungry. After tidying up, he left the inn.
Many hawkers were shouting loudly in the streets, creating a bustling scene. There were many small stalls on both sides of the street, selling steamed buns, baked flatbreads, and Chaos.
Cheng Bu Zheng bought two of the cheapest baked flatbreads to satisfy his hunger.
Afterward, he wandered around the county town, slowly familiarizing himself with the terrain, making all necessary preparations.
He knew that the Immortal's arrival in the county town would cause a huge stir. For the next few days, he would tour the county town once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Fortunately, the county town was not large, so there was enough time.
Cheng Bu Zheng ate baked flatbreads daily to solve his three meals, trying to spend the least amount of money to last longer. Although the inn's fee was not high, it couldn't withstand a long stay!
Otherwise, he would have to sleep on the streets, and then he would likely be driven out of the county town by the guards. After all, at this critical moment when the Immortal was about to arrive, those officials would want to save face and wouldn't care about the lives of beggars.
At a critical moment, he wouldn't have time to earn money, and at his current age, even if he did earn money, he wouldn't be able to keep it, like a little one carrying gold through a bustling market, seeking his own death.
This day, in the morning.
Cheng Bu Zheng, who was wandering, walked on the street, secretly pondering, and said:
"With the money I have now, it's only enough for seven days of inn accommodation, and I still need to buy baked flatbreads every day..."
"Sigh... I wonder when the Immortal will descend!"
Although he felt a bit troubled, his expression remained like still water, undisturbed!
Suddenly, shouts of surprise came from afar.
"The Immortal is here! The Immortal has really come!"
Immediately, a crowd surged, all looking up at the distant sky.
"It really is the Immortal! I saw one ten years ago!"
"I want to become a disciple of the Immortal!"
At once, almost everyone's faces showed great excitement, and then they all started discussing.
Cheng Bu Zheng looked up at the distant sky and saw what was originally only a ten-foot-long white jade boat. As the white jade boat approached from afar, its size also continuously grew.
He finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"They've finally come... If they didn't, I'd soon be homeless!"
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