Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 190
>Chapter Title: On the Road
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Listening to the old man boast on and on, Li Huowang gradually pieced together the life story of that gong-beating youth.
It was quite an inspiring tale. The Hou family hadn't always been so wealthy—they'd been dirt poor in the past.
Those few acres of lowland fields back home couldn't support the whole clan, so he'd had to go out begging for food.
Li Huowang still had his doubts about this "general" the old man kept mentioning, though. To hear him tell it, anyone who was an officer in the camp counted as a general.
"Ai, we never had it this good back then. No food, no drink at home, and only one pair of pants to go around—whoever headed out got to wear them."
Li Huowang mumbled vague agreement as the old man sighed nostalgically.
After chatting for a bit, the old man's ego thoroughly stroked, he shuffled off toward that courtyard in the distance, hands clasped behind his back, his back hunched over.
Watching the old man's retreating figure, Li Huowang let out a breath of relief and turned to leave.
Having learned all this, Li Huowang's wariness toward that gong-beating Hou Lao Er had eased considerably.
It wasn't because of the man's status. The guy had simply left for real. Whatever else he might be thinking, it no longer mattered.
Just then, Li Huowang spotted Gouwa returning with the grain and went to meet him.
"Senior Brother Li! Look what I got! A map made of hide!"
That night passed without incident again. After sleeping soundly till dawn, they set out once more, rested and ready.
As the wagon wheels rolled slowly over the ground, the surrounding Gobi began to fade. The terrain grew hilly, gradually giving way to jagged stone peaks.
The one upside was that the stone mountains blocked the wind and sand—no more of those brutal Gobi gales. Brownish scrub grass even started appearing along the roadside.
"Go this way... then this way." Li Huowang's finger traced over the weathered hide, finally stopping on a city wall icon.
"If we haven't gone wrong, this is Jicheng. Once we're there, we'll have delivered the escort cargo, and Later Shu will be halfway done. Though this place seems smaller than the first two nations—a minor kingdom."
As Li Huowang mulled this over, he felt someone tug at his sleeve. "Senior Brother Li, look—people up ahead."
He looked up and spotted shadowy figures walking along the distant roadside.
As they drew nearer, he saw it was an elderly scholar type, leaning on a bamboo staff.
The man looked on in years, but he moved nimbly enough. A square bamboo basket hung from his back without weighing him down in the slightest.
The sound of hooves made Jinshan Xun glance back. Spotting the group behind him in black-veiled conical hats, he hurriedly shuffled aside to clear the road.
"Why are these folks dressed like that? Especially that young Daoist in the red robe—with copper coins dangling over his mouth and chin. He looks like trouble. Better steer clear." Jinshan Xun thought to himself.
He'd been planning to slow down and let them pass first, but unexpectedly, that young Daoist spoke up to him.
"Excuse me, sir. Mind if I borrow your map? I'd like to check if mine matches."
Jinshan Xun eyed him carefully before reaching back into his bamboo basket and pulling out a sheet of paper.
"This map's my own drawing. I've wandered far and wide for years—not to brag, but it's accurate to the inch. Feel free to take it, Daoist."
"Thanks, but no need. I just want to cross-reference. I'll give it right back once I'm done."
Hearing the young Daoist's polite tone and easy manner eased Jinshan Xun's mind a touch.
"Where are you headed, Daoist? Oh, just idle curiosity—maybe we're bound the same way."
"Escorting cargo to Jicheng."
Jinshan Xun didn't buy that answer for a second. What kind of escort master doesn't know his own route? Obvious lie.
"Oh? You too, Daoist? That's getting mighty worldly."
"Even Daoists need to eat. Gotta find ways to earn travel funds. Out here in these wild hills, where are you off to all alone, sir?"
Jinshan Xun chuckled at the probing but was just pondering a good deflection when massive boulders suddenly tumbled from the nearby mountain. A huge rock crashed down with a roar, landing smack in the middle of the road.
Hoofbeats exploded from behind right after.
Glancing back at the masked horsemen, Jinshan Xun's heart sank. "Damn—highwaymen, and we're trapped like rats!"
Instinctively, he turned to the young Daoist beside him, but the man just stood calmly by the wagon, unfazed.
"This guy's got no fear at all. Must have a plan."
After a moment's thought, and with the bandits closing in, Jinshan Xun edged subtly closer to the young Daoist.
"Clop-clop-clop." Amid the hoofbeats and dust, the gang of highwaymen bore down on them, looming with menace.
"Brother! I ain't no outsider—wanna talk straight?"
"Hm?" Jinshan Xun glanced in surprise at the Daoist who'd uttered that line. The man knew jianghu cant? Not your average traveler.
Just as Jinshan Xun figured they'd respond in kind, the lead cyclops bandit yanked out his blade. "Charge! Brothers! Cut 'em down!!"
Hooves thundered instantly. No one saw that coming—the horses surged forward, barreling straight at Li Huowang and company.
Ignoring what was unfolding, Jinshan Xun scrambled toward the boulder behind, hoping to slip away during the fight.
After much struggling, he finally clambered atop it, only to hear the hoofbeats and clash of battle dying down behind him.
Looking back, he saw the highwaymen in full rout!
Corpses of bandits and horses lay scattered every which way, while the young Daoist's side had only a dented wagon—no casualties.
"Hm? What'd I miss?"
Li Huowang ignored the tagalong old man for now. He pressed his dripping sword across the neck of an armless bandit.
"Your bandits around here all this rude? Can't even match the cant?"
But facing Li Huowang's threat, the bandit was defiant as hell. He even threatened right back.
"Taoist dog!! You kill my brothers, and you're done for! I tell ya, you're finished!"
"Shwick." Off came one of the bandit's ears.
The sight made Jinshan Xun's eye twitch.
"Mercy! That easygoing act earlier was all fake—this Daoist's a ruthless killer through and through!"