Chapter 1, Freedom

At present, there are still two days' journey to Wanjian Mountain, and it seems that the young hero does not have a mount. My carriage has a few empty seats; if the young hero does not mind, we might travel together. It would be good to have someone to look out for each other along the way. What does the young hero think?

Among them were three individuals: a middle-aged man, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, and a woman dressed as a guard, approximately twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Their relationship is likely that of father, daughter, and bodyguard.

Upon seeing the young man in blue respond, a hint of joy appeared on Xu Hu's face as he quickly said: "Young hero, please come inside the vehicle"

The first type, he is completely unaware of the dangers of the outside world, having never set foot beyond the city or sect, to the extent that he can regard the renowned Yandang Lake as if it were nonexistent

White clouds

Moments later, the young guard, who addressed Xu Hu as senior brother, slowly approached Xu Hu's side and whispered, "Senior brother, why are we allowing that person to get on the carriage? He hasn't even paid for the ride, we..."

The location of this reed marsh is called Yandang Lake, and Yandang Lake is one of the most dangerous spots along the route from Qinghong City to Wenjian Mountain

It is evident from the profound sense of experience and weariness emanating from this man that he is certainly not one of those inexperienced young individuals.

Next, there remains only one Level 2 danger zone, the Good Night Forest. However, that forest is frequently swept by many disciples of the Linmen Sword Sect from Sword Mountain. At present, the reputation of the Level 2 danger zone is likely just a formality, as there are hardly any mid-level magical beasts left inside, with the majority being low-level magical beasts.

Xu Hu is also an old hand in the field. The journey between Qinghong City and Wenjian Mountain requires him to make two or three trips every month. He possesses some ability in assessing people. This young man in green gives off a refined and gentle impression, clearly not someone of great malice. Considering his earlier speculation, he quickly spoke again: "This young hero, this road only leads to Wenjian Mountain. You must also be heading to Wenjian Mountain, right"

Despite the numerous heroes from the Linmen Sword Sect sweeping through the beasts of the Good Night Forest, that expanse of forest is ultimately quite vast, covering an area of over 200 kilometers. Even if we merely pass by the edge, we must not underestimate it. I, Xu Hu, traverse the wilderness relying on caution. If it were not for my constant vigilance, I would likely have met the same fate as those predecessors within the sect, lying dead in the wilderness. You must also remember, do not let your guard down just because this month's few journeys have gone relatively smoothly.

In addition to the two guards, the other four individuals were also divided into two groups

... ...

The scene is as beautiful as a poetic scroll

In the future, sharpen your eyesight a bit; as we seek our livelihood outside, it is essential not only to hone our skills but also to pay attention to how we perceive others.

The footsteps are slowly moving forward

Under the vigilant guard of four sentinels, we safely traversed the eight kilometers of Yandang Lake without incident

Once outside the boundaries of Yandang Lake, the four guards outside the carriage visibly breathed a sigh of relief, their tense expressions relaxing considerably.

The fair and delicate arms, gliding continuously through the reeds...

Xu Hu laughed heartily and expressed his speculation. In the end, he added, "Moreover, a truly sinister person, when faced with the many powerful figures of our Holy Light Empire, particularly those from the First Sword Sect established on the Sword Mountain, would be too busy avoiding us to take the initiative to approach."

Moments later, the middle-aged man leading the way in front of the carriage suddenly narrowed his eyes, keenly spotting a figure walking slowly along the roadside, moving steadily forward beside the reeds.

The three guards beside him quickly responded

Blue sky

Yes, senior brother

The young man in the blue attire walked along the edge of the reeds, his expression filled with tranquility and calmness. Standing there, he seemed to merge with the entire expanse of reeds, harmonizing to the point where one could find no fault.

Do not speak recklessly

The carriage is a rather large commercial vehicle, designed with an exceptionally reasonable use of space, allowing for seven or eight people to sit comfortably without feeling cramped. At the front and rear of the carriage, there are four middle-aged knights, each with a sword at their waist, vigilantly scanning the reeds as if they were guards, ensuring the safe passage of the carriage along the main road

Upon thinking of this, the middle-aged man slightly urged his horse forward, cupped his hands towards the young man in green, and politely said: "I am Xu Hu from the Broken Knife Sect in Qinghong City, I greet you here."

The reason is none other than...

A long time.

Another one is a young man around eighteen or nineteen years old. Judging by his appearance and attire, he possesses quite a bit of the demeanor of a young hero. Beside him lies a finely crafted steel sword, but it remains uncertain what his true abilities are

Ah ... ...

In this picturesque expanse of reeds, a figure exuding an air of leisure, nonchalance, and tranquility slowly emerges from within.

It also seems that, amidst this tranquility and gentle breeze, one savors the elevation of the soul

Yes

Then, there is only the second possibility

The man in the blue attire chuckled lightly as he looked at Xu Hu before him and said: "In this chaotic world, with magical beasts rampant and systems in disarray, are you not afraid that I might be a person with ulterior motives?"

However, it is precisely this harmonious scene, which leaves no room for criticism, that constitutes the greatest problem.

The man in blue, walking along the reeds, heard a voice, slowed his steps, turned around, and looked at Xu Hu, who introduced himself, with a slight smile and a nod.

Upon leaving Yandang Lake, the four guards relaxed their expressions and began to feel inclined to chat

Qinghong City is approximately 560 kilometers away from Wenjian Mountain. Although the performance of this carriage is quite good, it is estimated that it can only cover around 200 kilometers in a day. Considering the time needed for cooking along the way and resting at night, it will take a full three days.

In the swaying, the soul also dances with the constant sway of the reeds, flying towards the distance, flying towards that vast and boundless horizon

Step by step, treading on the ground, bending the tender grass.

It seems to be enjoying the softness of fingers brushing against the reeds' fluff, and also seems to be relishing the rare clear sky stretching for miles under the vast heavens

The man in the blue attire did not linger his gaze on Xu Hu, but instead walked over to the nearby reeds. After observing the reeds for a moment, he selected a particularly well-grown one, broke it off, and held it in his hand. Only then did he glance at Xu Hu and give a slight nod, saying: "Thank you for your trouble"

The carriage stopped for a moment and then started moving again

The arrival of the man in the green robe did not cause any commotion inside the carriage. After nodding to him, the two guards resumed their focus. The middle-aged man, however, wanted to engage in some pleasantries with the man in the green robe, but upon seeing the two guards with their eyes closed in rest, he felt it inappropriate to disturb them. He merely nodded in acknowledgment to the man in the green robe. The remaining few glanced at him a few times but did not continue to stare.

He was a young man in a blue robe who appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. His appearance could not be described as handsome, yet he possessed an indescribable aura, especially with his slightly snow-white hair swaying in the wind, which added an unusual charm to him

Hoo.

I see!

Blowing gently ... ...

Yes, senior brother

Saying this, he led the young man in blue into the carriage

The man in the blue attire remained silent, merely nodding his head.

In this land ravaged by monstrous beasts, even the wilderness that is not specifically marked is fraught with danger, let alone the Yandang Lake, which is inherently classified as a Level 3 hazard

Haha, I, Xu Hu, have been wandering in the cultivation world for over ten years. Although my cultivation level is average, I still have some confidence in my ability to judge character. The young hero possesses a calm and peaceful demeanor; such a person is certainly not a great villain or evildoer.

In the wilderness ravaged by the beasts, it is impossible to rest at night without someone keeping watch, which naturally leads to instances of insufficient sleep and the necessity for shift changes.

Standing amidst this boundless expanse of reeds, the mind and thoughts are freely soaring without restraint

Under the gentle breeze, it seems as if one is connected to the earth, forming a patch of reeds that sway continuously with the wind

The grand ceremony for the succession of the leader of the Linmen Sword Sect, the foremost sword sect of our Holy Light Empire, is approaching. Recently, many skilled individuals have been seen coming and going along this road, and formidable magical beasts have been dealt with several times. Otherwise, how could Yandang Lake be so tranquil

A carriage, gradually approaching along the main path beside the reeds, moved swiftly, the sound of the axle turning was so clear in this quiet environment

There were six people in the car, among whom two were clearly bodyguards like Xu Hu.

The young guard, seeing Xu Hu's stern expression, did not dare to continue speaking and quickly responded affirmatively.

He is exceptionally skilled and bold, completely disregarding the Yandang Lake, which is only classified as a Level 3 danger. Even though he is fully aware that there may be high-level magical beasts in the lake, he still strolls leisurely by the lakeside with a carefree attitude.

In a level three danger zone, where high-level magical beasts roam, a man who can proceed unharmed and at ease here has only two possibilities

Understood, Master Xu

Gentle breeze

Have you considered that if that man had no strength at all, would he dare to wander alone in the wilderness? Moreover, near Yandang Lake, there are no villages or shops, and the nearest resting point is a day's journey away. This means he has already been walking in the wilderness for a day. In recent years, with the increasing prevalence of magical beasts, is it possible to go an entire day without encountering any? Yet, he appears to be in no distress. From this, we can deduce that this man is most likely a true expert, someone whom ordinary magical beasts cannot even approach, as they would perish under his sword. Such a master, when faced with danger, would be an immense asset. If he is willing to ride with us, that would be our good fortune. Do you still want to charge for the ride?

This commercial carriage has a spacious interior, capable of comfortably seating seven to eight people. At this moment, there are only six individuals inside the carriage, including the man in the blue attire, making a total of seven, which does not feel crowded at all