RWNEFE -Chapter 139 Arriving at the Exile Area, Baihe County!

Even though they could figure it out themselves, just a few words on paper were enough for others to voice it.

Even though they were full of knowledge, without a tongue, they couldn’t express it.

Only people like them, silenced, truly understood that sense of frustration!

Cheng Zheng and the others stood up and saluted Shen Lanxi.

Their master had shown them kindness as if reborn—this lifetime, they swore to follow her to the end.

Shen Lanxi walked through the warehouse and returned carrying a bag of pencils and erasers, handing them out to Cheng Zheng and the others.

She had given them full freedom to practice, letting Liu Yanhui and the others handle things themselves.

The sky remained gloomy, the north wind sharp as blades. If there was nothing pressing, everyone preferred to stay indoors, huddling to keep warm.

Every day, Liu Yanhui and the others went out early and returned late. Some noticed, some didn’t care.

“They must be sent out to buy supplies, better to buy extra so we can get some on the way!”

“Buying supplies doesn’t take all day—why are they gone the whole time?”

“What’s the matter? You want to follow them?”

“Who knows Mr. Liu personally? These past two days, my hands and feet have been itching—probably from frostbite. Ask Mr. Liu to bring some ointment?”

“Good idea! My ears feel frozen too, got a big lump…”

In Wei Dongzhu’s room: “Big brother, should we follow them and see?”

Wei Dongzhu hesitated, then shook his head. “No need. None of our people should act.”

Earlier, a constable had gone missing at Qingsong Mountain. Since then, Liu Laohu kept a tight watch. If his people went out, they might alarm someone. If Shen Lanxi heard, how would she view him?

If he was curious, wouldn’t others be curious too?

…

Feng Wu jumped down from the roof and blocked Xiao Fang and his nephew.

“Stop here. Go no further!”

Xiao Fang’s expression changed—he had been discovered?

This Feng Wu might be stronger than him!

“Fifth Brother, misunderstanding! I’m just walking around,” Xiao Fang said with a conciliatory smile.

Feng Wu showed no expression. “If you’re bored, go somewhere else.”

“Alright, Brother Five, I’ll go. No need to see me off!”

Xiao Fang knew when to bend and when to stretch, and he turned to leave.

Even Feng Wu, head of the assassination unit who killed without blinking, was speechless.

“Uncle, why are you so scared of him?”

Xiao Fang slapped him across the face.

“You don’t understand! He’s way stronger than you. With your skill, you wouldn’t survive one move!”

The little henchman’s eyes widened. “Whoa, Uncle, you used to say you were number one in the world! All lies! Even a random constable could make you vomit blood!”

Xiao Fang shot a side glance at his big nephew. This kid was going too far!

Three days later, Liu Yanhui and the others reported to Shen Lanxi.

“The whole of Dongchuan is under snow. According to locals, this year’s snowfall is about half a month earlier than usual. Merchants say northern regions have also seen snow. Some southern regions have abnormal temperatures, not cold but hot!”

Weather-savvy elders knew the colder period would follow.

Shen Lanxi nodded in agreement.

Liu Yanhui said, “Selling now would get poor prices and we’d compete with local merchant guilds. After discussing with Cheng Zheng, we decided not to sell, but to collect instead.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at them and smiled, impressed by their wisdom.

No wonder the old saying goes, “Three cobblers with their wits combined beat Zhuge Liang.”

“This plan is excellent!”

She had intended it as practice, but they had treated it as a solution—an ingenious one.

Hearing Shen Lanxi’s praise, Liu Yanhui and the others breathed a sigh of relief, thrilled.

Their abilities had been recognized once again!

The warehouses were checked, prices confirmed, and now they just awaited Shen Lanxi’s signal to purchase.

“Wait a moment!”

Shen Lanxi opened a chest, using it as cover, and carried out two smaller chests.

The large chest contained gold, the smaller one silver notes!

Both were placed on the table and opened.

“Record these in your accounts. Tell me if it’s not enough!”

Liu Yanhui and the others were shocked by the sheer amount.

How could she dare carry so much on the road in such dangerous conditions?

Liu Yanhui’s mind froze. Instinctively, he said, “We also have lots of gold, silver, and jewels.”

Shen Lanxi: “Those can’t be touched yet.”

Finally, his mind started working—of course. They were acting in secret; the exiles must not know!

They quickly carried the chests away.

Purchasing was easier than selling. Over the next days, the team split into groups, buying up charcoal and grain aggressively.

In the blink of ten days, though the weather remained overcast, no snow fell. They prepared everything needed for the road and set out again.

Three days later, they encountered the previous exile groups, now even smaller.

“See that? Their bodies are frostbitten!”

“Keep your voice down!”

“That person probably won’t keep those legs!”

“Surely more will die!”

Even the constables struggled in this weather. Too many deaths could reflect badly on them.

If someone fell, they just cursed into the air, flicked their whips, and dared not strike.

When encountering them, Liu Laohu and the constables immediately hid inside the cart.

The cart occupants cooperated eagerly, hiding.

In the ice and snow, neither the constables nor the prisoners wanted to suffer, especially after seeing the tragic fates of other exiles.

They wished Liu Laohu would act this way.

Snow on the road made it slippery. Though the cart couldn’t go fast, it was faster than walking.

Soon, they left the exiles far behind.

Xiao Fang and the little henchman quietly left the group.

“Fifth Senior Brother, they’re gone,” Nihong whispered.

Feng Wu had seen Xiao Fang’s murderous glare at the constables.

“Don’t worry about it!”

Following Feng Wu’s orders, it wasn’t long before Xiao Fang and the henchman caught up again.

The secret guards smelled blood but acted as if nothing happened.

They repeated this with several exile groups they encountered.

Liu Laohu and the constables, feeling guilty, dived into rooms to avoid going outside at rest stops.

After several stops and another snowfall that delayed them for ten days, they finally arrived at Baihe County at the end of October.

On the day of arrival, the sky cleared, lifting everyone’s spirits.

“A good omen. Let’s go to the office for registration!” Shen Lanxi said, looking at Liu Laohu.

Liu Laohu adjusted his even larger belly and smiled sheepishly. “Alright!”

If the roads had been easy, he might have been home for the New Year with his brothers.

Thinking of that, the endless white snow along Dongchuan couldn’t stop Liu Laohu from wanting to reunite with his family.