vstars Chapter 74 The Wind of Linhe Town
Chapter 74 The Wind of Linhe Town
In the late spring of the 133rd year of the Qingyun calendar.
On the third day after the Battle of Duanshikou, as dawn broke and a light mist still lingered over the mountain roads, the Li family's convoy slowly made its way along the dirt road, the wheels churning over the gravel with a low, muffled thud.
Several blue-maned horses were clearly exhausted, with white breath constantly coming out of their noses.
After several days of continuous travel, coupled with the fierce battle at Duanshikou, the entire group was visibly exhausted.
Li Xuan rode at the very front.
A gray robe was draped over his shoulders, and his left shoulder was still wrapped in white cloth. Although the wound had stopped bleeding, he still felt a sharp pain whenever he moved slightly.
Chen He walked beside him, carrying a knife, observing his surroundings discreetly the whole way.
After walking for a while, he suddenly spoke in a low voice:
"Young clan leader, those two are still following behind."
Li Xuan did not turn around.
"From last night until now?"
"Hmm." Chen He sighed. "They don't seem like the Black Stone Gang, but more like the spies watching caravans on the outskirts of Linhe Town."
Li Xuan nodded slightly.
This is normal.
Linhe Town is an important transit point on the outer medicine route, with many caravans coming and going every day, so there are naturally many people who make a living by keeping watch.
Li Yuanshan glanced back.
really.
Two figures hung far behind the mountain road, neither too close nor too far, yet they followed us the whole time.
This feeling made him very uncomfortable.
It was as if they were being watched by something.
He had encountered many troubles when he was a merchant before, but at that time he was only worried about losing goods. Now he realized that on these outlying routes, many times the loss was not of goods, but of lives.
"They won't actually do anything, will they?"
Li Yuanshan couldn't help but ask.
Chen He chuckled.
"If they really wanted to take action, they would have come last night. Now they're following us, most likely to see where we're staying."
Li Yuanshan's face immediately turned even uglier.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly whispered:
"I used to think that the outside world was just a dangerous place."
"I'm only realizing now, it's really a mess."
Chen He glanced at him.
"You're only finding out now?"
Li Yuanshan gave a wry smile.
"Didn't we always stay in Qingyun County before?"
"Even if we try to smuggle the goods, the Wang family will be there to block our way."
He paused for a moment at this point.
The Wang family is gone.
Today, the Li family has become the largest family in Qingyun County.
All that pressure from before has finally fallen on their own shoulders.
Thinking of this, Li Yuanshan suddenly felt a sense of unease.
Li Xuan seemed to have sensed his emotions.
"It's normal to be afraid."
His voice was calm.
"No one is afraid when they first enter the outer perimeter."
Li Yuanshan was stunned.
"And what about you?"
Li Xuan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
"I'm scared too."
"But we can't afford to make a mess of things now."
Li Yuanshan stood there, speechless for a long time.
He had always felt that Li Xuan was different from others, and was frighteningly calm no matter what happened.
But at this moment, he suddenly realized that Li Xuan could also be afraid.
He just never showed it.
After walking for another half an hour, a large area of buildings finally began to appear ahead.
We've arrived at Linhe Town.
The town is built along the river, and from a distance, it looks much more lively than the villages and towns on the outskirts of Qingyun County.
A large crowd had already gathered at the entrance of the town.
There were medicinal herb caravans, demon hunters, and even several burly men covered in blood carrying the corpses of demon beasts into the town.
The air was filled with the smells of earth, blood, and medicine.
Seeing this, Li Yuanshan couldn't help but whisper:
"Why are there so many different kinds of people here..."
"Because you can make money here."
Li Xuan spoke calmly.
"People can die from it too."
Li Yuanshan immediately shut up.
The procession slowly entered the town.
As soon as he entered the street, Li Yuanshan could clearly sense that something was different.
The way people look at each other here is completely different from that in Qingyun County.
In Qingyun County, most people knew each other and maintained a certain level of courtesy. But Linhe Town was different. When the cultivators on the streets looked at the Li family's convoy, their gazes were more of a scrutiny.
It's like they're appraising something.
Almost everyone would take a second look at those trucks loaded with medicinal herbs.
Some people had no expression.
Some people's eyes lit up.
Some people even glanced at it and then turned and left.
He was obviously going to deliver a message.
"Don't keep looking at them."
Li Xuan suddenly spoke.
Li Yuanshan immediately looked away.
"This place is different from Qingyun County."
"If you stare at others, others will stare at you."
Li Yuanshan's throat moved, and his heart suddenly tightened.
It was only at this moment that he truly realized they had entered the outer realm of cultivation.
Nobody here cares whether you're from the Li family or not.
There is only one rule here.
Whoever is stronger has the final say.
Soon, the group found an inn on East Street.
"Yunlai Inn".
The shopkeeper was a chubby middle-aged man.
He was all smiles when he saw the caravan enter.
"Please come in, esteemed guests! Would you like to stay at the inn?"
But when his gaze fell on the flag of the Li family's convoy, his voice suddenly paused.
The smile on his face had noticeably faded.
Li Yuanshan immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Shopkeeper, is there a problem?"
The fat shopkeeper quickly waved his hand.
"No, no, it's just that rooms are tight in town lately, so we might have to squeeze in."
Li Yuanshan frowned.
He glanced at the second floor.
There are still quite a few empty rooms.
But before he could speak, Li Xuan calmly began:
"Ten rooms, and a backyard too."
The chubby shopkeeper hesitated for a moment.
"The backyard... has already been booked."
Li Xuan looked up at him but didn't say anything.
The inn suddenly fell silent.
Sweat began to bead on the fat shopkeeper's forehead.
After a long while, he managed a couple of dry laughs.
"However, if you guys really need it urgently, I can help Tengteng."
Li Xuan nodded.
"You won't be shortchanged on spirit coins."
"Of course, of course."
The chubby shopkeeper quickly put on a smile.
But just as he turned around, Li Yuanshan saw the shopkeeper secretly wink at a shop assistant behind the counter.
The man lowered his head and quickly slipped out through the back door.
Li Yuanshan's heart sank immediately.
"Young clan leader, did he go to report the news?"
"Um."
Li Xuan's tone remained calm.
"Then why are you still living here?" Li Yuanshan asked anxiously. "Can't you find another place?"
Li Xuan glanced at him and suddenly smiled.
"The entire town of Linhe probably knows we've entered the town now."
"It's the same no matter where you go."
Li Yuanshan was speechless.
Upon closer reflection, it does seem to be true.
With such a large convoy entering the town, there was no way they could hide it.
Li Xuan slowly walked towards the backyard, his voice remaining calm:
"Since it can't be hidden..."
"Let them see."
Li Yuanshan stood there, suddenly feeling somewhat dazed.
I don't know when it started, but Li Xuan's aura became more and more intense.
It's not about cultivation level.
Rather, it's the feeling of being able to stabilize the situation no matter what happens.
In the backyard, the guards were finally able to sit down and catch their breath.
Many people collapsed on the ground as soon as they relaxed.
After several days of travel and the fierce battle at Duanshikou, everyone's spirits were stretched to the limit.
After checking on the wounded, Chen He walked over to Li Xuan.
"Young clan leader, several brothers' wounds have started to get infected, and we don't have enough medicine."
Li Xuan remained silent for a moment.
"Don't rush out to buy medicine."
Chen He frowned.
"Afraid someone might sabotage it?"
"It's not fear."
Li Xuan looked up at the courtyard.
"Someone will definitely tamper with it."
In a place like Linhe Town, the least valuable thing is rules.
Just then, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open.
A waiter, about sixteen or seventeen years old, carefully walked in carrying tea.
After putting down the tea, he didn't leave immediately, but looked around.
Finally, lower your voice:
"Gentlemen...it's best not to go out at night these days."
Chen He's gaze instantly turned cold.
"What do you mean?"
The waiter was clearly a little nervous.
"I...I was just trying to be helpful."
"Recently, there have been quite a few unfamiliar faces in the town."
"Some people...are not here to do business."
After saying that, he quickly lowered his head and ran out.
The courtyard was quiet for a few moments.
Chen He gave a cold laugh.
"It seems we're really being watched."
Li Yuanshan's face was somewhat pale.
"Is the Blackrock Gang really that capable?"
Li Xuan did not answer immediately.
He simply raised his head slowly and looked at the street outside the courtyard.
It's still bustling there.
People come and go.
But for some reason, he always felt that many eyes were watching this place from the shadows.
After a long while, Li Xuancai spoke softly:
"Starting today."
"Only now can we say that the Li family has truly entered the outer circle."