Cultivators Are So Weak in This World-Chapter 50 - 49 Helplessness, Part 1

The jingling sound of sheep bells kept coming as the caravan moved forward.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

On the winding forest official road, the Bai family caravan, led by hired escort guards, dragged a long convoy, rushing towards Tan Yang.

Among the mid-rear carriages, there were some fellow travelers going to Tan Yang along the way.

These people all paid a fee to obtain the caravan’s escort protection.

In one of the ox carts, a young woman with delicate features was leaning against the ox cart window with the curtain rolled up, looking out.

The young woman’s face was lightly blushed, her skin fair and tender, but there was a faint hint of worry between her brows.

At the back of the ox cart carriage, on the edge of a cargo cart.

There was a young Daoist in blue clothes and a white jacket, carrying a round, wheel-like cloth strip, following the road step by step.

The Daoist had a strong build, with particularly muscular arms. His facial features were sharp and distinct, not conventionally handsome but with a unique charisma.

These two were Yang Hongyan and Zhang Rongfang, traveling with the Bai family caravan to Tan Yang.

Yang Hongyan said she was going to Tan Yang for supplies, so she brought an ox cart from home.

While Zhang Rongfang was traveling on foot.

The mountain roads were rugged, and even with official roads, they were difficult to traverse.

He had spent all his money on medicine, so it was natural he couldn’t afford a horse.

Zhang Rongfang looked along the caravan; there were only a few horse riders in the entire convoy.

Most of them were ox carts or riding donkeys, and there were even some riding sheep...

’Indeed, the old TV shows were deceiving... In this world, even the cheapest horse costs at least seventy taels, and there’s no ceiling for expensive ones. At such a price, even the cheapest horse could buy two oxen.’

Ordinary families couldn’t possibly waste so much money on buying a horse.

Aside from pulling carriages and riding, horses don’t have as many uses as oxen. Oxen are stronger and can help plow fields.

In movies and TV shows, protagonists would often ride horses, and Zhang Rongfang understood the difference.

It’s just like how the streets are filled with luxury cars costing seven to eight hundred thousand yuan.

Once you do the math, you realize how unrealistic it is.

He looked forward.

In the ox cart carriage, his sister-in-law Yang Hongyan had already lowered her head, holding a small Silver Victory in her hand, carefully wiping the pattern with a silk cloth.

The ornament was a lotus flower, and seemed to have some characters engraved on the side.

"This is from your senior brother, he gave it to me before he left," Yang Hongyan said softly.

"He... seems a bit odd."

"Did senior brother mention any details to you?" Zhang Rongfang also felt something was off; he suddenly had to escort his sister-in-law away from Huaxin County to Tan Yang. This sudden move seemed too unusual.

"No... he didn’t say anything." Yang Hongyan shook her head.

Zhang Rongfang furrowed his brows slightly.

Before leaving, his master Zhang Xuan had him memorize all the martial arts talismanic skills, as if trying to cram all the key points into his head.

This behavior also seemed a bit off.

"When we return this time, Brother Rongfang, if you have time, please advise your senior brother more. I feel..." Yang Hongyan paused, her brow furrowed with worry, "I feel he’s holding a lot inside, but he won’t tell me when I ask."

"I’ll give it a try." Zhang Rongfang nodded.

Soon it was noon. The sun was blazing, making people sweat profusely.

The caravan found a shady spot by the road to rest temporarily.

Someone in the front led the way to fetch water from a fixed nearby stream.

"Anyone who needs water, come together; there are only two places along the way where you can get water. Past this village, it’ll be the day after tomorrow before you can get more. Everyone, be prepared."

A worker from the front of the caravan came to the back shouting.

"Also, for those who need to relieve themselves, men go left, women go right. The spots have all been set up with markers, everyone just handle your business."

The ’spots’ referred to the areas, marked by a small flagpole on each side with gray cloth tied to it, indicating men or women.

Zhang Rongfang calculated his water amount, took a few empty water sacs, and also grabbed Yang Hongyan’s canteen.

"Sister-in-law, I’ll go fetch water up ahead, I’ll be right back. You rest in the carriage for now," he reminded.

"Thank you, Rongfang. I have some freshly made osmanthus cakes here, let’s have some together when you’re back," Yang Hongyan quickly said.

"Alright, thank you," Zhang Rongfang responded, glanced around, and spoke a few words to two nearby escort guards.

He asked them to watch over his sister-in-law while he left, then carried the empty water sacs and departed.

The intense sense of insecurity made him very cautious about everything he consumed.

With something like water, he had to handle it personally to feel assured.

As for those two escort guards, Zhang Rongfang had agreed with them; once they reached Tan Yang, he would give them two taels of silver each.

Inside the carriage, Yang Hongyan watched Zhang Rongfang disappear into the woods, sighing gently.

Compared to her previous trips alone for supplies, she had to admit that having Zhang Rongfang there did make her feel much more at ease.

If nothing else, just Zhang Rongfang standing there, with his strong physique, gave a significant sense of security.

Right after Zhang Rongfang walked away.

The two escort guards conscientiously moved a bit closer to the ox cart, each carrying a Mountain Opening Daoist Knife. Having taken the money, they were quite diligent in their duties.

At this moment.

A few miles away from the official road where the caravan was located.

On a hill shaped like a graveyard, about a dozen burly figures in old mismatched clothes, all with gray cloth covering their faces, appeared on the slope.

The leading figure was tall and sturdy, with a black beard on his face that even the mask couldn’t quite hide.

It was Qi Mountain Daoist, bringing people to rob.

"I’ve already coordinated secretly with the caravan; the Black Wolf Escort Agency guards will secretly cooperate when they see us approaching.

Don’t touch the cargo carts, just grab the people and leave, understood?"

"Understood!"

The others replied in unison.

Most of them were household servants from Qi Mountain, while the rest were Martial Cultivator Daoists from Qinghe Palace.

The group then took out one sturdy wooden stick each from their backs.

Qi Mountain himself also took out a stick about the thickness of a forearm. He primarily practiced the family’s traditional stick techniques, supplemented by Qinghe Palace martial arts, and was innately strong.

So on this occasion, even if the Black Wolf Escort Agency did resist, regardless of prior arrangements, he was confident he could grab their target successfully.

"Let’s move. Be quick!"

In an instant, the group rushed towards the location of the caravan.

*

*

*

Gulp, gulp.

A series of bubbles drifted downstream along the creek.

Zhang Rongfang soaked the water pouch in the water, filling it while also washing the outside of the pouch.

The spot where he collected water was about two miles from the resting place of the caravan.

While fetching water, he pondered the odd behavior of Zhang Xintai and his master Zhang Xuan.

They definitely had something to hide from him, wanting him to take his sister-in-law and leave, hinting at some worry about the future.

Once the pouch was filled, he secured it to his lower back and stood up.

Just then, not far away, several guards also fetching water suddenly threw their mountain-opening knives, hitting a fat rabbit running in the woods.

The men laughed heartily, walked over, and picked up the gray rabbit knocked out by the knife handle.

’Maybe I should get some mountain goods to eat on the road?’ Zhang Rongfang thought.

With his body technique, getting some mountain goods would be effortless.

Watching the men cheerfully carrying the rabbit, already starting to skin and gut it.

Zhang Rongfang immediately decided to hunt some prey nearby.

With the water pouch in hand, he turned and walked toward the woods on one side of the stream.

Of course, before doing so, he adhered to the old rule of checking the surroundings for any dangers.

After all, he promised his senior brother to protect his sister-in-law.

Given the strange reactions of his senior brother and master, he naturally needed to be extra careful along the way.

Walking into the forest, Zhang Rongfang took the Yuan Wheel from his back and casually hung the cloth wrapping it onto a tree branch.

Swish.

He gave a gentle flick, and the sharp edge of the Yuan Wheel started to spin.

The two newly inscribed characters gradually blurred in the forest light.

Dong.

The wheel abruptly stopped, revealing the characters "Departure" and "Wound".

Before the sound faded, Zhang Rongfang’s figure vanished, silently blending into the forest.

*

*

*

In the mountain forest.

Qi Mountain quickly led his team rushing towards the caravan.

One towering tree after another passed by him, hinting at the outline of the caravan’s ox carts in the forest ahead.

"It’s just up ahead, get ready! Once we grab the person, don’t linger. Any theft of goods or silver coins will be severely punished!"

Qi Mountain issued his final command.

"Yes!"

The others responded in unison.

Just then, from the side of the forest ahead, someone abruptly charged out.

It was a young Daoist, muscular, holding a strange, circular weapon.

The Daoist glanced at Qi Mountain and his group.

"Huh?" The person was puzzled for a moment, "Qi Mountain Brother? What are you...?"

It’s not surprising he had good eyes, as Qi Mountain’s physique and signature large black beard were too conspicuous.

So Zhang Rongfang recognized him in one glance.

Qi Mountain was also stunned.

Instinctively, he touched his face; luckily, the mask was still on.

"You’ve mistaken me, I’m not Qi Mountain."

He instinctively refuted.

"..." Zhang Rongfang was speechless. He stared at the other’s beard, saying nothing.

Qi Mountain immediately realized his slip.

His face reddened as he angrily tore off the mask.

"Damn it! This ridiculous mask is useless! Wearing it is the same as not wearing it!" Qi Mountain grumbled angrily.

"All of you take off your masks, it’s useless anyway!" He felt it unfair that he was the only one to remove it and shouted at his men.

Everyone looked at each other, but none moved.

Are you kidding? With Qi Mountain’s physique and beard, there really isn’t much difference whether he wears it or not.

But they are different.

The masks effectively conceal their identities.

Seeing no one listening, Qi Mountain was about to explode but saw Zhang Rongfang standing before him.

He decided not to waste words.

"Forget it. I don’t know how you ended up here, but since we met...."

With a swipe, he raised a wooden stick, pointing at Zhang Rongfang.

"If you don’t want to die, come with me obediently."

"Qi Mountain Brother, are you planning to... fight me?" Zhang Rongfang asked, surprised, looking at Qi Mountain and the others behind him.

*

*

*

Near Huaxin County, in a valley called Earth Dragon Slope.

At this moment, a dozen men and women in varying attire gathered together.

Chen Lianqing stood on a rock, his face covered, surveying the crowd.

"We’ve just received news; the other counties are all prepared, only ours is left."

"Around two hundred people in the city are mobilized, dispersed in various parts of the town," a scholarly-looking man spoke.

"Outside the city in the villages and towns, we can mobilize a thousand people. But weapons are lacking; we’d suffer greatly if we had to fight," another countered.