Cultivators Are So Weak in This World-Chapter 80 - 78 Return, Part 2

The marketplace was filled with shouts, and some who knew a bit of writing used charcoal to draw on wooden boards, standing behind them, waiting.

Even if you couldn’t read the words on the boards, you could still understand the drawings.

Like inn workers and tavern workers seeking jobs, they drew rough sketches of a wine cup.

For those selling goods or people, they directly hung the price on the person being sold.

The man looked left and right and quickly stopped in a corner.

"Collecting herbs on Red Mountain, a day’s round trip from the forest! Local hunters, registered with the authorities, quick arrival!"

"Miao Mountain and Red Western Valley, if you need to go, hurry up, team of ten, leaves when full."

"Zhao family’s caravan heading to the capital, three spots left, departing in four days. Self-supplied food."

"Tonghe Prefecture’s leaving, last person, came and go quickly! Thirty-person team, round trip in a month! Silver coins three taels! Self-supplied food!"

Behind one wooden board after another stood groups of people, varied in attire and age, shouting.

The noise initially made the man frown, nothing else but it was too loud.

After circling once, he gradually adapted, starting to look for his target.

This man was Zhang Rongfang, who had already circled the city once.

Upon receiving word from Golden Wing Pavilion, he first went to verify it, then went to the Judicial Department to request leave.

Thanks to the Li family’s connections and the recent large elimination of people, security was excellent.

The headquarters promptly granted him a week’s leave.

After requesting leave, Zhang Rongfang immediately came to the marketplace.

He had heard during casual chats with subordinates, many in the marketplace were seasoned travelers, and to go somewhere and gather detailed information about that place, the best way was to ask around here.

But at the moment, Zhang Rongfang circled once and couldn’t find anyone going to the Seven Counties.

"Anyone going to Huaxin County?" Left with no choice, he approached an attendant sitting cross-legged, playing some game with stones.

The attendant had a board in front, indicating a destination called Jian Nong.

The attendant looked up at his question.

"Can’t go there now; the main road’s closed."

"What about side roads?" Zhang Rongfang frowned and asked.

"Side roads? Few know them. They’re a bit dangerous, generally not advisable." The attendant sized up Zhang Rongfang’s strong build, then shook his head.

"Though, Sir, there are others wanting to go to the Seven Counties; it’s mostly those with family over there unable to cross. If you’d like to go, you can join them."

The attendant pointed beside him, several steps away.

At that spot, there were several wooden boards painted red.

The people standing beside them were mostly silent, contrasting sharply with those shouting.

Zhang Rongfang walked over and asked.

"Huaxin County? We’re going!"

The speaker was a thin man with a three-part mustache.

His face was somber, hands tucked in his sleeves, grasping tightly in front of him.

"The main road can’t be traveled now, only the side roads; are you aware?" He assessed Zhang Rongfang and asked.

"I know. What’s the cost?" Zhang Rongfang breathed a slight sigh of relief; not many traveled to the Seven Counties, even fewer to Huaxin.

Finally, he had found someone.

"Ten taels a person." The man with the mustache replied grimly.

"Ten taels!?" Zhang Rongfang was astonished.

Huaxin County was just three days via the official road from Tan Yang.

When he had traveled with a caravan before, it only cost three taels per person.

"Special times, your choice whether to go or not." The man said impatiently.

Zhang Rongfang glanced at those behind the man, some pale-faced and red-eyed. Some held Buddhist beads, murmuring. Some squatted with heads low, their expressions unseen.

"When?" Zhang Rongfang asked.

"Departing early tomorrow, bypassing Qingding Mountain." The man with the mustache replied, lightened perhaps due to Zhang Rongfang’s potential wealth.

Needing to return within five days, Zhang Rongfang was disinclined to bargain.

In situations like this, they clearly priced high; not much to be said.

He promptly paid the deposit, received the location, exchanged names, and left.

Returning, he was uncertain of his master’s and senior brother’s conditions, preparations were necessary.

*

*

*

Huaxin County.

Inside a private residence.

Two groups of burly, weapon-equipped men faced each other.

The leaders on each side sat at opposite ends of a wooden table, unmoving.

The left man bore a white-speckled beard, middle-aged with black shiny armor, a curved saber at his waist, and a scar descending from his right eye, nearly blinding him.

This man was Zhao Yuetian, Sea Dragon’s main representative in Huaxin County.

Behind him stood Sea Dragon’s elite in Huaxin County.

Facing him sat a man, the intelligence head, Red Dog King, who had rushed from Tan Yang.

Red Dog King was past thirty.

His skin held a reddish hue, with little hair on his head, resembling a stray dog losing fur, hence people called him Red Dog King.

This man was from Huxi people, with many fellow Huxi gathering together as a group, living by selling intelligence.

His presence here naturally aimed at collecting more intelligence. Moreover, it was to sell more information to the Spirit Court stationed troops.

Fortune favors the bold; in such times, intelligence held great value.

"How is it? Did you discover the source behind these rogue troops?" Zhao Yuetian asked sternly.

He’d been stationed here to investigate the rebel army’s logistical weaknesses for over a month now.

Unfortunately, progress remained slow.

"Ha ha, if there was no breakthrough, would I invite you here to deal?" Red Dog King accepted a pipe from an aide, carefully lighting it with flint, taking a deep inhale.

Only when the tobacco glowed did he lower it, leisurely puffing smoke.

"I not only found clues about the logistics but also got you the most important intelligence. I guarantee you’ll get a promotion and make a fortune when you go back!"

Zhao Yuetian felt a stir in his heart but remained composed. The Red Dog King had always had this exaggerated style, and he was used to it.

"Let’s hear it? The price is still the same as before."

"Alright." The Red Dog King nodded. "This rebel army calls itself the Vigorous Army, among its six leaders, three from the Han family are responsible for military affairs, and part of the resources are supported by the Han family out of their own pocket. You should know this, right?"

"Naturally." Zhao Yuetian nodded.

"Moreover, this Huaxin County is located behind the seven counties. Hey, guess which force has the most grain in this place?"

"You mean??" Zhao Yuetian’s face changed slightly.

"Just the one you’re thinking of." The Red Dog King laughed. "How about this time, I’ll also give you another breakthrough point, but you Sea Dragon must do me a favor!"

"Depends on how valuable what you give is." Zhao Yuetian replied gravely.

"Good." The Red Dog King laughed, "Your Sea Dragon’s credibility is good enough. We’ve been cooperating for years, and I trust you."

He leaned in a bit closer, bent over, and said,

"In charge of the rebel army’s grain and logistics is precisely the Qinghe Palace Transmitter, Zhang Xuan, and his son Zhang Xintai."

"Him?!" Zhao Yuetian’s face darkened. "Zhang Xuan is at least of fourth-ranking strength, and was a fifth-ranking expert when young. Plus, protected by the rebels, even if we know it’s him, it’s not much use. So, what’s the breakthrough you mentioned?"

"I found out that within the rebel army, some are dissatisfied with Zhang Xuan. They want to take him down."

The Red Dog King smiled mysteriously.

"And coincidentally, that person is on good terms with Zhang Xuan and is also one of the leaders in the rebel army."

"You mean that person wants to defect?" Zhao Yuetian immediately understood.

"Exactly! We just need to wait for him to create an opportunity."

"Furthermore, the strange thing is, Zhang Xuan’s son Zhang Xintai should have been newly married not long ago, but his bride, Yang Hongyan from the Yang family, is now missing." The Red Dog King continued.

"Additionally, I also found out, Zhang Xuan recently took on a disciple named Zhang Rongfang. Now Zhang Rongfang is also missing.

I suspect all these people have been arranged to go to some safe place."

"Yang Hongyan, Zhang Rongfang... If we’re talking about safe places, which place in these seven counties is the safest?" Zhao Yuetian gently shook his head.

"Don’t worry, I’ve already gone to investigate the Yang family. The Yang family had been doing small business in the county, sourcing goods always from Tan Yang, with their hometown in Xuyang Town, just these three places. I’ll trace this line, I’m bound to find clues."

The Red Dog King laughed, "By then, we’ll capture them together. If we can’t directly solve Zhang Xuan, we’ll threaten him with the lives of his daughter-in-law’s family and his disciple. There’s always a way through."

Zhao Yuetian nodded with a smile, also feeling somewhat relieved.

This so-called Vigorous Army, from the start, was doomed to be insignificant.

"When does he plan to act?"

"The appointed time is three days later. Then, he’ll come to us with Zhang Xuan’s head." The Red Dog King laughed.

*

*

*

Early the next morning, as the sky started to brighten.

The gates of Tan Yang City slowly opened.

A small group of people mixed in with the outbound crowd, queued up for document checks, and left the city gates.

Among the group, including Zhang Rongfang, were a total of six people.

Leading the pack was Chen Guocao, with a three-pronged beard, and a woman named Xiaohuan.

The two appeared to be a couple, with Chen Guocao being thin and weak, while Xiaohuan was sturdy and brawny, her arm as thick as her husband’s leg.

The other three were people Zhang Rongfang had seen before.

After leaving the city, no one in the group spoke, they just meticulously checked their luggage before leaving the main road, heading left into a narrow path.

They traveled from morning until almost noon, when they finally rested at a creek for water.

Chen Guocao and Xiaohuan sat alone on one side, while the remaining four separated to rest.

No one had the mind to care about anyone else.

Spending a large sum of money to return to Huaxin at this time, the anxiety and worry in everyone’s hearts were almost palpable.

Zhang Rongfang also took out a boiled egg from his bundle, peeled it, and began eating, occasionally sipping milk tea.

This milk tea had a lot of sugar, millet, and black glutinous rice added.

The flavor was rich and pure, not much different from the milk tea he had in his previous life, even thicker and creamier. It was perfect for staving off hunger and replenishing nutrients.

He furrowed his brow, contemplating what to do upon arriving in Huaxin County.

What exactly was the situation there? What was the rebel army’s approach towards the county seat? How to quickly find his master and senior brother?

All these needed to be considered in advance.

Meanwhile, Chen Guocao and Xiaohuan were sitting not far away, by a large stone, munching on scallion pancakes.

"How much further do we have to go?" Xiaohuan asked.

"It’s still early. Even if the shortcut is faster, it will take at least until tomorrow night to arrive." Chen Guocao shook his head.

"Where do we make a fire?" Xiaohuan rubbed her hands, feeling a bit cold.

"We’ll make one when we get to the next ditch, don’t be in a hurry." Chen Guocao replied impatiently.

"Alright."

With that, the two stopped talking and each ate their pancakes alongside their water bags.

After resting for a while, the team continued on their journey.

Chen Guocao and Xiaohuan led the way at the front, the others followed behind.

But no one noticed the eye contact exchange between the couple as they walked.

From the beginning, the two had planned on using the guise of guiding the way to scam high road fees.

After all, Huaxin County was facing rebel uprisings, human lives were like grass, going there was akin to seeking death, wasn’t it?

The couple originally intended to leave Tan Yang, but due to insufficient travel funds, they had devised a plan to make a big score by leading people out and then sneaking away with the money in the wild to start anew elsewhere.

And the most crucial point.

They actually did not know how to get to Huaxin County.

Nor did they know any shortcuts to Huaxin County.

They were just heading in the general direction, using a path they had walked before for gathering herbs.

Since they didn’t know the route, there was no way the fools behind them knew either.

As long as the general direction was right, it would suffice to muddle through.