The next day, the sky barely showed a hint of gray.
Chen Anshun led four horses to the entrance of the residence.
He hadn't slept much the night before. It wasn't that he couldn't sleep, but he was reluctant to. He stood in a stance for two hours until his whole body was warmed by qi and blood before he rested.
Today, following them out, he wouldn't be able to practice for at least a whole day. Twenty pounds of strength a day, lost just like that.
But with a hundred taels of silver, it was a big profit.
Footsteps came from inside the residence gate, three people, one in front and two behind.
Zhao Youdao had changed into a narrow-sleeved outfit, Tian Wu was still in his stone-blue short robe, and Zuo Qingqing had swapped her dress from yesterday for a light gray riding outfit, her hair tied high, with a blackwood hairpin replacing the white jade one, looking much more agile.
Zhao Youdao walked to the horses, his gaze sweeping over the four horses, nodding slightly.
"Good horses."
Chen Anshun didn't respond, handing over the reins one by one.
The four of them left the residence gate, turning towards the north of the city along South Street.
Qingquan County was not fully awake in the early morning, with only a few early vendors setting up stalls on the street. The steam from the tofu shop drifted out from the alley, carrying a sour and astringent smell of brine.
Zhao Youdao rode ahead, only speaking after they exited the north city gate.
"Last night, I went to the county yamen and got the latest news from the registrar."
Tian Wu spurred his horse to catch up.
"Have they found the person?"
"The direction is confirmed." Zhao Youdao tugged the reins, slowing down to let Chen Anshun get closer. "A month ago, an outlander escaped from the Commandery City, heading south, passing through two counties, and killed two Second-rate Martial Artists."
Two Second-rate.
Chen Anshun listened from behind, unconsciously tightening the reins in his hand by half.
Someone who could kill two Second-rate Martial Artists would be a force to be reckoned with in Qingquan County. Even someone of Lin Wei's level might not escape unscathed if they encountered him.
"The registrar's people tracked him for half a month, finally losing the trail near White Goat Mountain outside the north city."
Zhao Youdao turned his head slightly, glancing at Chen Anshun. "Old Chen, are you familiar with White Goat Mountain?"
"Familiar."
Chen Anshun answered crisply.
He was very familiar with White Goat Mountain. In his early years as a constable, he had raided the bandit hideouts north of the city no less than ten times.
Later, while tending horses at the Zhao Residence, he personally led the team every spring and autumn when the horses were taken to the mountain for grazing. He could navigate the paths where horses could pass, those only wide enough for a single person, and the mountain hollows with streams, even with his eyes closed.
"Then you lead the way."
Chen Anshun nudged the horse's belly, and the chestnut horse trotted ahead.
The journey was uneventful, and the three behind started chatting.
Tian Wu's voice was loud, clearly audible even across two horse lengths.
"Junior Sister Qingqing, I heard from people in the alliance recently that there's some great opportunity discovered near the Imperial Capital, even Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters are heading there. Is it true?"
Zuo Qingqing rode leisurely, one hand on the reins, the other resting on her knee.
"It's true. In the Zhongnan Mountain Range west of the Imperial Capital, someone found an ancient ruin. It's said to contain remnants of martial arts techniques left by unknown figures, possibly involving realms beyond Innate. Once the news spread, experts from half the world flocked there."
Tian Wu clicked his tongue.
"Did Master go?"
"Father received an invitation."
Zuo Qingqing's tone turned slightly indifferent, "The leader of the Basalt Alliance personally wrote a letter, inviting him to form a team. However, the prefectural government sent a secret message, saying the risks in the Zhongnan Mountain ruins are immense, and two Grandmasters have already perished inside. After much consideration, Father decided not to go."
Two Grandmasters perished inside.
A Grandmaster. What kind of concept is that?
Above a First-rate Martial Artist, a Postnatal Grandmaster, capable of collapsing a wall with a single punch. A place where such figures could perish, what could it possibly contain?
At this point, Zhao Youdao interjected.
"The matter of Zhongnan Mountain is too distant for us, not even a word written. But the prefectural government's bounty is worth pondering."
Tian Wu turned his head.
"What bounty?"
"Our Shanbei Prefecture's Prefectural Governor broke through to Great Grandmaster half a year ago."
Zhao Youdao lowered his voice when saying this, but Chen Anshun's senses had long since surpassed the ordinary, missing not a single word.
Great Grandmaster, Innate Realm.
It's said that a martial artist of this realm can fight against a thousand troops alone. The last Great Grandmaster in Shanbei Prefecture was a century ago.
"After the Prefectural Governor's breakthrough, he resolved to sweep out the outlanders lurking within the prefecture and the bandits entrenched in various places. This search is part of that effort."
Zhao Youdao patted Wuzhui's neck, "To motivate all parties to contribute, the Prefectural Governor offered a batch of rewards. The topmost reward is a Millennial Vermilion Fruit."
The sound of hooves echoed, and Zuo Qingqing remained silent for two breaths.
"A Millennial Vermilion Fruit?"
Zhao Youdao nodded.
Zuo Qingqing turned her head to look at him, a slight smile on her lips.
"If Brother Zhao obtains that fruit, he might reach the Grandmaster realm within ten years."
Zhao Youdao waved his hand.
"It's not that easy. The Millennial Vermilion Fruit is indeed precious, but breaking through to Grandmaster requires more than just external items; it also depends on talent, foundation, and opportunity, all indispensable."
Though he spoke of the difficulty, Chen Anshun, riding ahead, glanced back out of the corner of his eye.
Zhao Youdao's lips curled slightly.
A very subtle curve, unnoticed by others unless they paid close attention.
But Chen Anshun had been observing people for decades, and he had some skill in it. The Eldest Young Master was modest in words, but he had some confidence in his heart.
In other words, Zuo Qingqing's remark wasn't just polite.
Zhao Youdao truly had the potential to break through to Grandmaster.
Chen Anshun turned his head back, focusing on the dirt road ahead, his mind churning.
According to jianghu sayings, martial arts realms ascend from Third-rate to First-rate, above First-rate is Postnatal Grandmaster, and above Postnatal is Innate Great Grandmaster. When he studied at Hongyang Martial Hall, his master was at the Second-rate Peak, never reaching the threshold of First-rate despite a lifetime of effort.
Ten years ago, when he left the residence, Zhao Youdao was just over ten years old. In ten years, this boy had grown from a half-grown child to a First-rate Martial Artist, with hopes of reaching Grandmaster.
Chen Anshun had trained for sixty years, barely touching the ceiling of a Third-rate peak.
That's the difference in talent.
Comparing oneself to others is infuriating.
But this thought only lingered for a moment before he suppressed it.
Envy was useless, jealousy even more so. He now had a Fate Mandate, an Octogenarian Reverse Scale, a day equaling a year for others. As long as he had enough silver and time, First-rate wasn't the end.
The dirt road ahead began to climb; they had reached the foot of White Goat Mountain.
Chen Anshun put aside his thoughts, focusing his mind. White Goat Mountain wasn't large, but it was full of ravines and overgrown with shrubs. Truly hiding someone here was almost as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.
"There are two paths on the mountain where horses can pass." He reined in his horse, turning back to speak to Zhao Youdao, "One goes up from the east at Shepherds' Slope, circling half the mountain to the hunter's hut on the north slope. The other cuts in from the west at Stonebeak Ridge, leading straight to Old Well Village at the mountainside."
Chen Anshun thought for a moment.
"If I were to hide, I'd take the west. The path at Stonebeak Ridge is narrow, with many shrubs, making it hard to pursue, but there's Old Well Village nearby for water and dry food supplies. The east at Shepherds' Slope is too open, not suitable for hiding."
Zhao Youdao glanced at Zuo Qingqing and Tian Wu, both nodding.
"Let's go west."
The four horses turned onto the mountain path towards Stonebeak Ridge. The path was indeed narrow, barely allowing two horses to walk side by side, with branches from the shrubs occasionally scraping against the horses, making a rustling sound.
Chen Anshun led the way, controlling his horse while keeping an eye on the road.
The mountain path's soil had been softened by recent rains, leaving clear hoofprints and footprints.
He saw several sets of old footprints, their directions chaotic, likely from nearby villagers. There were also signs of wild boars rooting around, the soil turned over messily.
After about half an incense stick's time, the mountain path split into two at a fork.
The left path descended towards Old Well Village in the valley, while the right path ascended into deeper forest.
Chen Anshun reined in his horse.
His gaze fixed on the muddy ground at the fork.
On the left path, there was a set of fresh footprints. The tread pattern was clear, the stride large, and the prints deeper than those of an average person. Heavy, yet the gait was steady, without dragging.
Not a farmer, not a hunter.
A martial artist's steps.
"To the left," Chen Anshun said in a low voice.
Zhao Youdao rode forward, glancing at the ground in the direction Chen Anshun indicated, his pupils narrowing.
The four of them descended along the left path, the shrubs growing denser, the path narrowing until even the horses couldn't proceed, forcing them to dismount and lead the horses.
Chen Anshun tied the reins of the four horses to an old locust tree by the roadside, following the others on foot.
Rounding a bend, the view opened up.
At the bottom of the valley was a flat area, with seven or eight adobe houses scattered around, forming Old Well Village.
The village was small, with only about ten households. At the entrance stood a dilapidated temple, its roof tiles mostly broken, exposing blackened rafters. The stone steps at the temple's entrance were covered in moss.
Chen Anshun halted.
Under the temple's eaves, a man was leaning against a pillar, sitting.
Dressed in white, hair disheveled, with a sheathed long knife resting by his feet.
He looked to be in his early thirties, with a lean build, a short beard on his chin, his complexion sallow, and a large dark brown stain on the fabric over his right shoulder.
Dried blood.
The man seemed to be dozing, his head slightly bowed.
Zhao Youdao, Tian Wu, and Zuo Qingqing simultaneously stopped. The three exchanged glances, silently communicating.
Tian Wu's right hand was already on the edge of his arm guard.
Zuo Qingqing's hand silently reached for her waist pouch.
At that moment, the man under the temple eaves suddenly lifted his head.
His eyes met Zhao Youdao's gaze directly.
A moment of confrontation.
The man in white sprang up from the ground, grabbing the long knife with his left hand. The wound on his right shoulder split open, oozing fresh red. He didn't draw the knife, clamping it under his arm, and turned to dash into the forest behind the temple.
His movement was extremely fast. His toes barely touched the ground as he skimmed along, disappearing into the underbrush behind the temple in three steps.
"Chase!"