Chapter 481: Accidental Encounter
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yan Liqiang was like an old horse who knew the way home when he was on this old road again. He led everyone and made a beeline to the Hui Clan Gathering. Since the Blackwind Bandits no longer posed a threat, Yan Liqiang and the rest used the road in Wolf Fang Valley that Sun Bincheng didn’t use last time.
The terrain of Wolf Fang Valley was dangerous and treacherous. Both sides of the long and narrow valley were like intertwined wolf fangs on the bare mountain ridges and cliffs. There was only a small pathway that was not even ten meters wide in between the ridges and cliffs — only a few carriages or seven to eight steeds were able to pass through side by side.
The small road in the valley was no longer deserted like before and it became more lively again with the disappearance of the Blackwind Bandits. At least during broad daylight, there were a few caravans that would use this road to travel from Gan Province to Lan Province.
When the people in those caravans heard the sounds of horseshoes echoing behind them, they all felt a little nervous. However, when they saw Yan Liqiang and his troops with their horse carriages, they felt relieved. Yan Liqiang’s troop consisted of an all-man troop and they all appeared formidable, equipped with blades and bows. When those caravans saw Yan Liqiang and his troops approaching, they all stopped at once to give way to Yan Liqiang. It was the same for other caravans that they met along the way.
The four-wheeled carriages traveled a lot faster compared to two-wheeled carriages. There weren’t that many people in the party. The four-wheeled carriages were light and fast, so Yan Liqiang and his troops were able to reach the Hui Clan Gathering before sunset.
Underneath the setting sun, the Hui Clan Gathering was like a destitute and dejected old man in his late days crouching in the wilderness, revealing a bleak aura. It had been two years since his visit the Hui Clan Gathering with Sun Bincheng, and there was barely any change to the Hui Clan Gathering. Several silhouettes were closely watching Yan Liqiang’s direction on the dilapidated mud brick wall outside of the Hui Clan Gathering. Just when Yan Liqiang and his troops were about two hundred meters away from the Hui Clan Gathering, someone on the mud wall raised his bow and shot an arrow toward them.
The arrow was not aimed at anyone but toward the ground. It landed a few steps in front of Yan Liqiang and his troops, causing them to halt. Everything was exactly the same as before.
“Who are you?” shouted the person on the mud wall.
“Decent people. I stayed in the Hui Clan Gathering two years ago, Chief Chang has seen me before!” Yan Liqiang raised his hands to signal everyone to halt and replied loudly to the people from the Hui Clan Gathering.
“What’s inside your carriages?”
“Valuable goods!”
“Do not rush over, ride your steed over slowly. If you rush over, the arrows in our hands have no eyes!”
“Everyone follow me. Do not rush lest they misunderstand!” Yan Liqiang spurred Snowstorm Cloud on again and led everyone toward the Hui Clan Gathering slowly.
“I didn’t expect that the Hui Clan Gathering would be so cautious!” said Shi Dafeng.
“People in the Hui Clan Gathering live in an inhospitable natural environment. They deal with bandits since young so they know all the techniques those bandits use since they have experienced it all. If it wasn’t for that, they would not be able to survive in such a desolate place as they would have been slaughtered!” Yan Liqiang explained, “Last time we encountered the Blackwind Bandits, those bandits couldn’t even take down the Hui Clan Gathering.”
“I see!”
“Teacher Shi was right. It’s better to travel ten thousand li than to read ten thousand books to increase one’s knowledge. I could tell that the deployment and tactics of the Hui Clan Gathering are similar to that of a military base. They seem to be quite capable. No wonder you wanted to visit this place first!” Shen Teng exclaimed in amazement beside him.
Yan Liqiang smiled.
When Yan Liqiang and his troops reached the entrance gate, about thirty to forty men had gathered inside the Hui Clan Gathering, waiting for them. Those men had grayish faces — their eyes were the only things that sparkled. They were all holding spears and bows with fierce expressions.
When they saw Yan Liqiang’s carriages approaching, two of them tried to get into the carriages to inspect them without saying anything.
“What are you doing?” Zhou Yong raised his eyes and his hand was already on the handle of the sword on his waist. A few soldiers who were with Zhou Yong also had their hands on their weapons, ready to draw their blades at any time.
“According to the rules of Hui Clan Gathering, any carriages entering the Hui Clan Gathering must be inspected. We need to check if anyone is hiding inside the carriages!” A man around his forties glared at Zhou Yong fiercely. At the wave of his hand, dozens of men at the side immediately surrounded the carriage like a bunch of wolves as they pointed their weapons at Zhou Yong, Yan Liqiang, and the rest.
“Zhou Yong, open the compartments of the carriage and let them inspect!” Yan Liqiang said calmly.
Zhou Yong took a deep breath and jumped off his rhinodrake steed. He opened a lock on the compartment of the carriage, “See for yourself!”
There was no one inside the carriage, only bundles of bows and arrows. Those men who had surrounded the carriage were shocked as there were at least three to four thousand arrows inside. With just a glance, anyone could tell that those were premium arrows.
“Why are there so many arrows inside your carriage? What do you trying to do?” The man from the Hui Clan Gathering who spoke earlier asked Yan Liqiang with a frown.
“They are for killing someone, of course. As for why do we have so many arrows is none of your business. We let you conduct the inspection to honor the rules of your Hui Clan Gathering. All you need to know is that there is no one inside the carriage!” Yan Liqiang smiled as he responded briefly, “Do you still need to check?”
“Of course!” That man clenched his teeth and looked at the few other carriages. His eyes suddenly lit up as he walked directly to one of the carriages with its wheels sinking the deepest into the ground, “Open up the compartment of this carriage. We want to see what’s inside!”
Zhou Yong glanced at Yan Liqiang. Yan Liqiang gently waved his hands, and Zhou Yong then opened the carriage door.
Inside the carriage were four wooden boxes lined with bronze metal sheets. After the carriage was opened, a young man from the Hui Clan Gathering jumped onto the carriage and opened one of the wooden boxes.
Dazzling silver light immediately blinded the eyes of countless people outside the carriage.
The boxes inside the carriage were completely filled up with shiny silvers that radiated an alluring splendor.
At that instant, the group of men from the Hui Clan Gathering who stood outside the carriage were stunned as they gulped audibly. Truth be told, they had never seen a carriage full of silver being transported into the Hui Clan Gathering in their entire life. There should be around twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver in that carriage, and to the people of Hui Clan Gathering, this was a huge amount that could make them lightheaded.
These carriages were filled with either weapons or silver. Who in the world had such nerve to bring along so much silver with them?
The man from the Hui Clan Gathering swallowed hard. Just when he was about to say something, the person beside him who had been staring at Yan Liqiang’s face suddenly moved closer and whispered something into his ear. Only those who stood closest to them could barely make out a few words —”Two years ago…Sun Bincheng…Blackwind Bandits…cannot provoke…”
The man’s expression suddenly changed as he listened. He frowned and gazed at Yan Liqiang deeply as though Yan Liqiang had flowers blooming on his face. He took a deep breath, then waved his hand, “Alright, you may go inside now!”
Yan Liqiang knew at that the people from the Hui Clan Gathering had finally recognized him, after all, it hadn’t been long since he left. Despite the changes in his appearance and figure within these two years, he should still be recognizable. Besides, he had left a strong impression on the Hui Clan Gathering last time, so it was natural for them to recognize him.
Yan Liqiang waved his hands then led the rest into the Hui Clan Gathering, then toward an inn.
The man who blocked Yan Liqiang earlier stared at Yan Liqiang’s disappearing silhouette through his squinted eyes for a while, then ran somewhere in the opposite direction.
Half an hour later in the room, Yan Liqiang was once again reunited with the chief of the Hui Clan Gathering, Chang Lu, who had a hunched back and a wrinkled face. In Yan Liqiang’s eyes, he was like a shedding coyote. Though his body was hunched over, there was still an indistinctive, invasive power in his sly eyes.
“Hui Clan Gathering Chief Chang Lu greets Lord Yan!” Chang Lu greeted Yan Liqiang before Yan Liqiang could do so.
“Haha, you remember me!” Yan Liqiang looked at him with full of interest.
“If we were unable to recognize the person who became world-famous after following Sun Bincheng to the Imperial Capital, then everyone in the Hui Clan Gathering should be stabbed blind!” Chang Lu let out a sigh. “What brings you here, Lord Yan?”
Ever since Chang Lu walked in, Yan Liqiang had been staring at him. He had also activated his Psychic Serpent ability so every thought inside Chang Lu’s mind was transmitted to Yan Liqiang.
Yan Liqiang had initially prepared a speech, but the thoughts he received from the Psychic Serpent shocked him. He was so stunned that he stared blankly at Chang Lu for half a minute, unable to utter a single word.
“What’s wrong, Lord Yan? Why do you remain silent?” Chang Lu blinked his eyes and asked.
Yan Liqiang wanted to speak, but he was overwhelmed. He quickly made an important decision based on the thoughts that were delivered by Psychic Serpent.
“Chang Lu, do you believe that spirits exist in this world?” Yan Liqiang suddenly asked an unexpected question.
Chang Lu was taken aback while he gawked at Yan Liqiang. Numerous thoughts flashed across his mind. He then smiled humbly, “An old man like me already has one foot in the grave. Of course I believe in that. I am even looking forward to touring around heaven after I die. I’m just worried that the guards of heaven will deem me unworthy of doing so. I heard that Lord Yan can meet deities in your dreams. Can you help plead a deity to see if he could accommodate me to let me have a tour around heaven?!”
Yan Liqiang let out a sigh and looked at Chang Lu seriously, “A few days ago, I dreamed about my great grandfather. He told me that he had an old subordinate named Fu Changde who changed his name to Chang Lu and lived in seclusion in the Hui Clan Gathering since then. My great grandfather wanted for me to look for him and said that when that person knew my identity, he would definitely help me!”
As soon as Yan Liqiang uttered the name ‘Fu Changde’, Chang Lu’s aura immediately changed. He suddenly began exuding a dangerous and powerful aura. He lifted his head and was staring at Yan Liqiang with his burning eyes. At this very moment, the shedding coyote suddenly transformed into a ferocious lion.
