TRWSB – Chapter 132 Through the Misty Forest

Zhuang Qian and Zhuang Hao had a conversation and then emerged, announcing the journey ahead.

Upon hearing they were departing, Yun Hu was immediately filled with excitement. Like many men, he harbored a desire to explore the world and broaden his horizons.

Sitting beside Qi Heng, who was driving the carriage, Yun Hu began bombarding him with questions like an eager brother.

• “Where are we headed?”
• “Will there be bandits along the way?”
• “What kind of business does the master do? How much money does he make?”
• “How much is your salary? I currently make twenty gold coins a month. When do you think I’ll get a raise?”

Qi Heng turned to Yun Hu, visibly annoyed, and snapped, “Kid, can you shut up for a moment?”

Embarrassed, Yun Hu chuckled nervously and said, “Fine, I won’t talk anymore.”

But not long after his promise, Yun Hu couldn’t help but start talking again.

• “Hey, kid, you’re so skinny. Do you not get enough to eat? I heard pork is super expensive in big cities. Will my salary even cover my meals when we get there?”

Qi Heng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said venomously, “Yep, pork in big cities is ridiculously expensive. With your measly salary, don’t even think about eating meat. Get ready to survive on coarse grains and weeds—you’ll be as skinny as me in no time!”

Yun Hu gasped in shock. “What?! Not enough to eat? Does the boss provide meals?”

Qi Heng cast a sidelong glance at Yun Hu and said coldly, “Nope.”

Yun Hu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Not even meals? That’s way too stingy!”

Qi Heng bowed his head and thought to himself, The young master has it tough, dealing with an idiot like this for over ten days without losing his mind. Truly remarkable.

After scaring Yun Hu, the chatterbox finally quieted down, giving Qi Heng a rare moment of peace.

After two hours of traveling, a black-clad, masked cultivator suddenly appeared in front of the convoy, blocking their path.

“Enemy attack!” Yun Hu shouted, grabbing a machete and charging forward without hesitation.

Watching Yun Hu’s retreating back, Qi Heng muttered, “Idiot.”

“Little thief, step aside and let me handle this! Today, with your Grandpa Hu here, you’re doomed!”

The black-clad cultivator waved his hand, summoning a water dragon that surged toward Yun Hu.

Yun Hu’s enthusiasm was instantly doused—literally. The water dragon sent him flying, rolling him across the ground several times. He ended up drenched and bedraggled.

Yun Hu warily eyed the masked man while Qi Heng, recognizing the figure, sighed and said, “Stop messing with him. Get in the carriage.”

Yun Hu froze in confusion as the black-clad man glanced at him before stepping into the carriage.

Baffled, Yun Hu sat beside Qi Heng and asked, “What’s going on?”

Qi Heng glanced at Yun Hu and said nonchalantly, “Nothing. He’s one of us.”

Frowning, Yun Hu replied, “Dressed like that? Doesn’t look like someone from the right side of the tracks.”

Qi Heng nodded. “Yep, that’s just how he likes to dress.”

Yun Hu: “…”

“He’s really strong. His salary must be pretty high, huh?” Yun Hu speculated.

Qi Heng gave him a look and said, “Yep, it’s sky-high. So high he eats shark fin, abalone, and gourmet delicacies every day.”

“He’s so powerful—do you think I could become his apprentice?” Yun Hu asked hopefully.

“No,” Qi Heng replied curtly.

“Why not?”

“He only takes on smart people. You’re too dumb, so you don’t meet his standards,” Qi Heng said flatly.

Frowning, Yun Hu muttered, “I’m not dumb at all. Just recently, I managed to hunt a wild boar this big.”

Looking at Yun Hu, Qi Heng thought, Nothing shuts this guy up. How did the young master and Zhuang Hao survive this far with him? Hopefully, the Misty Forest will quiet him down.

Inside the carriage, Qi Shaorong observed Yi Fan and smiled. “I’m so glad you came. Where’s Ting Xuan?”

“He’s still in Li Country. The young master and Zhuang Hao were believed to be in this region, but we needed someone to keep an eye on Li Country as well,” Yi Fan explained.

Qi Shaorong looked at Yi Fan and said, “Ting Xuan staying there alone… is that safe?” Although Mu Jia’s influence had waned, a cornered beast could still be dangerous.

“Mu Hangzhi is with him,” Yi Fan said.

“Hangzhi is there?” Qi Shaorong mused. Mu Hangzhi, a ninth-level cultivator, was formidable. With him around, Ting Xuan’s safety was assured.

“Have they reconciled as father and son?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Yi Fan shook his head. “Not entirely, but Ting Xuan seems to be softening a bit.”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “Hangzhi might be rigid, but he’s not beyond redemption.”

Yi Fan nodded. “Indeed.” Compared to Yi Xun, Mu Hangzhi was far more respectable.

“What’s the situation with the Mu family?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Mu Yueshan’s powers have been crippled. Ting Xuan originally wanted to destroy the family entirely, but Mu Huai offered up two Heartwood Spirit Cores and begged for mercy, so Ting Xuan relented,” Yi Fan explained.

Qi Shaorong sighed. “Two Spirit Cores?”

Yi Fan nodded. “Yes.”

“A man like Mu Yueshan managed to produce a son like Mu Huai. Remarkable,” Qi Shaorong remarked with some irony.

Mu Yueshan’s meticulous scheming was ultimately for Mu Huai’s sake, but…

Yi Fan looked at Qi Shaorong and said, “Let’s not dwell on that. Young master, how have you been lately? Qi Heng mentioned that your days have been… colorful.”

With a dark expression, Qi Shaorong replied, “Not bad, I suppose.”

Title: Through the Misty Forest

The carriage entered the forest.

Yun Hu frowned as he looked at Qi Heng and asked, “Did we take a wrong turn?”

Qi Heng shook his head without hesitation. “No, we didn’t.”

“But…” Yun Hu hesitated as he looked at their surroundings, his voice uncertain. “This forest… isn’t this the Misty Forest?”

Qi Heng smirked mischievously. “That’s right. We’re traveling through the Misty Forest.”

Yun Hu’s teeth chattered as he stared at Qi Heng in disbelief. “You… you’re joking, right?”

Qi Heng simply smiled, put away the reins, and climbed down from the carriage. The uneven mountain path was no longer suitable for the carriage, and from here on, they would have to proceed on foot.

“We’ve reached the end of the road. Get everyone out; it’s time to walk.”

Yun Hu: “…”

One by one, the members of the convoy got out. With a flick of Qi Heng’s hand, the carriages disappeared into his spatial ring.

Yun Hu’s eyes widened in shock. “You… you have a spatial ring?!”

His heart pounded. Yun Hu had only heard of spatial rings but had never seen one in real life. And now, to his amazement, a mere coachman owned one.

Qi Heng glanced at Yun Hu. “Yes, I do.”

Yun Hu stared at Qi Heng’s hand with envy. “Where did you get that ring?”

“My young master gave it to me.”

“Your young master is so generous! Giving away a spatial ring like that—he must be filthy rich!”

Qi Heng, slightly impatient, replied, “It’s just a spatial ring. Spend enough time with my young master, and you’ll realize how generous he really is.”

Yun Hu looked at Qi Heng, his curiosity bubbling over. “Kid, what’s your level of strength? I’m a third-level warrior, but you seem stronger—probably a fourth-level, right? How long would it take for me to earn a spatial ring like yours?”

“In your next life,” Qi Heng said bluntly.

Yun Hu frowned. “What did you say?”

“I said,” Qi Heng replied, “if you want a spatial ring, try again in your next life.”

Yun Hu’s face fell. “You… you don’t have to be so brutally honest!”

Yun Hu followed Qi Heng and the others deeper into the forest.

Being a chatterbox, Yun Hu quickly grew restless when no one responded to his incessant questions. Turning his head, he saw Zhuang Hao carrying Qi Shaorong on his back, moving at an impressive pace.

Curious, Yun Hu cautiously approached Zhuang Hao and asked, “Hey, thief, why are you carrying Shaorong? Is he injured?”

“No,” Zhuang Hao replied succinctly.

Yun Hu blinked. “No? Then why are you carrying him?”

“He doesn’t like walking.”

Before their engagement, they’d agreed that if they entered the forest and Qi Shaorong didn’t want to walk, Zhuang Hao would carry him.

Yun Hu stared at the relaxed Qi Shaorong, who was resting on Zhuang Hao’s back, and muttered, “You spoil him too much!”

Zhuang Hao glanced at Yun Hu and said, “This is nothing.”

“Hey, thief, do you know where we are?” Yun Hu asked.

“Misty Forest,” Zhuang Hao answered.

Yun Hu’s eyes widened. “You knew?”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Of course.”

“Then why would your cousin choose this route? Is he tired of living or something?” Yun Hu grumbled.

“You’re mistaken,” Zhuang Hao said calmly.

“Mistaken? About what?”

“It was my decision to take this route, not his.”

Yun Hu’s jaw dropped as he stared at Zhuang Hao. “You… you’re trying to get us all killed! Don’t you know the Misty Forest is dangerous? It devours people alive!”

Zhuang Hao looked at him. “You’re overthinking it. It’s just a forest; it doesn’t eat people.”

Yun Hu’s face twisted in frustration. “You… you… you’re insane!”

Zhuang Hao glanced at him. “We’re already here. If you want to turn back, it’s too late.”

Yun Hu: “…”

“Enough about that,” Yun Hu said, changing the subject. “That guy with the spatial ring—he’s one of your cousin’s subordinates, right? I can’t believe even his subordinates have spatial rings!”

Zhuang Hao shook his head. “He’s not my cousin’s subordinate; he’s a business partner.”

Yun Hu nodded thoughtfully, realizing there might be an even more powerful figure behind Qi Heng.

“That explains it. No wonder he’s so arrogant for just a worker.”

Qi Shaorong tilted his head and looked at Yun Hu. “Ah Hu, how do you feel about being a guard?”

“It’s fine. The boss is generous, but he’s too easily swayed. Listening to that thief and choosing the Misty Forest? That’s suicide! I haven’t even gotten married yet—I don’t want to die!” Yun Hu wailed.

Qi Shaorong looked at Yun Hu and said earnestly, “Ah Hu, one must have a spirit of adventure. The Misty Forest is just a forest—what’s the big deal?”