TGCFNM -Chapter 280 Lost

That very night, Yuan Luo personally escorted the young messenger back. After making arrangements with Uncle Wu regarding the medicinal herbs, he returned to the city.

Three days later, news spread through the city that the Palace Master of the sect would personally lead a group to Tianjian Mountain to demand an explanation. Many figures from the martial world were invited to accompany them as witnesses.

On the fifth day, Bai Xiaosheng sought out Wan Sanjin and informed him that it was not Bai Xiaosheng who had spread the news that Wan Sanjin possessed an invitation—it had been someone else.

As for who that “someone else” was, Bai Xiaosheng initially refused to say. In the end, Wan Sanjin bought the information for one thousand taels of silver.

At the same time, Wan Sanjin also sold off, one by one, the explosive bits of news that had burst out during the chaos at the divine hall—when those fighting had gone red-eyed and careless with their words—earning himself two thousand taels of silver.

The two men exchanged a knowing smile and agreed to keep in contact should future business arise.

After seeing Bai Xiaosheng off, Wan Sanjin’s expression darkened slightly as he strode swiftly toward the rear courtyard of the Fortune Inn.

In the courtyard—

Uncle Wu was discussing with the others whether they had packed enough supplies. After all, they would be leaving the next day, and the journey to Ningzhou would take at least ten days. If they hurried, they needed to ensure everything was fully prepared.

Wan Sanjin pushed open the courtyard gate heavily, then slammed it shut with a bang before striding toward them.

“The one who sold the news about our invitation wasn’t Bai Xiaosheng.”

Yan Sheng and Cao Tong exchanged glances, both confused.

“Master Wan,” Yan Sheng said, “most of those who tried to snatch the invitation at the inn that day were martial artists. Martial artists spread rumors carelessly when they see someone, but their reach can’t compare to Bai Xiaosheng’s. They have their own channels of communication—only Bai Xiaosheng could have spread the invitation news so widely.”

Wan Sanjin replied, “That day, it was indeed a martial artist who sold the news about the invitation—but he didn’t sell it to Bai Xiaosheng. He sold it to someone from the imperial court.”

Chu Ling’s brows knit slightly before she spoke softly, “No need to panic. After leaving Sishui County, we only went to Chengyang. We kept a low profile and didn’t draw much attention. It may not have been targeted at us—perhaps it was simply a coincidence.”

Uncle Wu suddenly understood. “That reminder from Yuan Luo… It seems the court is deeply entangled with certain people in the jianghu.”

Chu Ling’s eyes narrowed faintly. “Most likely.”

Uncle Wu struck his palm. “This world truly is in chaos. I wonder what the Eldest Young Master plans to do.”

Wan Sanjin sat down. “There’s no need to worry about my elder brother. But he must be informed about this matter.”

Uncle Wu nodded gravely and turned to leave at once.

Wan Sanjin then addressed the others, “I’ve made an agreement with Bai Xiaosheng. Any valuable information can be sold to the Fortune Inn—just say it’s for the Wan family’s young master.”

Su He spoke in a low voice, “Even if we don’t need to be drawn into the whirlpool, having more information and knowing more about what’s happening can only help.”

Chu Ling gave a soft hum of agreement. “Once we finish selling what we need to sell, we’ll return to Sishui County. The riverworks there should be nearly complete by then. We’ll just guard Sishui County.”

Wan Sanjin nodded lightly. Going back would be best.

—

The next day.

Two carriages were parked outside the Fortune Inn. In the rear carriage were Uncle Wu, Yan Sheng, and Cao Tong. In front, as before, the five of them rode with Zhuifeng pulling the carriage.

Once everything was ready, Zhang Dong gave Zhuifeng’s rump a light slap. “Zhuifeng, let’s go.”

Zhuifeng happily broke into a light trot, and behind them Uncle Wu flicked his whip gently and followed.

After leaving the gates of Tianjian City, Zhang Dong followed the same road they had taken on their way in, jogging all the way. After running for nearly half a day, he turned at a fork in the road.

The moment he turned, Zhang Dong knocked on the carriage and called out, “My lord, it looks like a large group of people is coming from the fork ahead.”

Chu Ling lifted the curtain and took a glance. “Zhang Dong, hurry and move!”

Without asking further questions, Zhang Dong immediately shouted, “Zhuifeng, run!”

Uncle Wu behind them quickly reacted as well, snapping his whip and following close behind.

After they had run quite a distance past the fork, the large group from the other side continued straight toward Tianjian City.

Chu Ling lifted the rear curtain of the carriage and called out to Uncle Wu, “Is Yun Palace really making such a huge commotion this time?”

Uncle Wu replied, “They have their reasons. They stand on solid ground.”

“This looks like they’re about to trample the Tianjian Sect flat,” Wan Sanjin remarked.

Uncle Wu laughed loudly. “If it were her elder sister, I’d believe it. She was truly a brilliant and extraordinary woman, with a firm hand in everything she did. But this one merely inherited everything after her sister passed away. She has always wanted to secure Yun Palace’s standing in the martial world. Challenging the Tianjian Sect this time is her opportunity.”

Chu Ling understood. After this, Yun Palace and the Tianjian Sect would hold equal status, and she herself would stand on equal footing with Sect Master Xie. At the same time, she would firmly secure her position as Palace Master of Yun Palace.

That woman was extremely clever—and her methods were formidable.

Uncle Wu called out, “Enough about them. Where are we heading next?”

Chu Ling had the carriage stop, then stepped down with the map in hand. She gathered everyone around and spread it open. “This is the route Young Master Wan drew for us so we could reach Tianjian City smoothly. Now that we’re departing from Tianjian City, we’re taking… this road, I think. If we follow it like this and make a loop… does that lead to Ningzhou?”

She looked doubtful, and no one else seemed entirely confident either, so they all crowded closer to examine the map.

After studying it for quite a while, Chu Ling realized that each person seemed to be pointing to a slightly different route.

Chu Ling turned to Uncle Wu. “Uncle Wu, you traveled far and wide in your younger days, didn’t you? Do you know the way?”

Wan Sanjin elbowed Chu Ling lightly. “Don’t bring up Uncle Wu’s embarrassing past. Back when he was an escort chief, he got lost—with both people and cargo. In the end, my father had to send someone to bring them back.”

Uncle Wu coughed awkwardly and looked up at the sky.

Chu Ling then turned to Yan Sheng and Cao Tong.

The two of them silently pointed at the money pouches on their waists and said in unison, “If we knew the way, we wouldn’t have spent so much on travel expenses along the road.”

Chu Ling glanced at the utterly confused Zhang Dong and Xiao Hua, then at Wan Sanjin, who was just as clueless as she was. Finally, she placed her last hope on Su He.

With a straight face, Su He took the map and analyzed it carefully. “There’s a mountain here. And another mountain here. Deep forests are prone to bandits, so we’ll follow this road straight ahead. After passing this point, there’s a river. Where there’s a river, there are boats. And if there are boats, someone can ferry us to Ningzhou.”

Chu Ling exclaimed in delight, “That makes perfect sense!”

Wan Sanjin happily patted Su He on the shoulder. “In the end, we have to rely on Su He.”

At that moment, Cao Tong leaned in and pointed at a spot on the map, muttering, “Why is the road drawn so twisty here…?”

Yan Sheng overheard and replied, “Maybe it’s because this map was expensive, so they made it look nicer.”

Cao Tong suddenly understood. “I see.”

Chu Ling folded the map back up and cheerfully announced, “Let’s go! We’ll hurry to Anma County, rest there for a night, and then take the water route to Ningzhou!”