After crossing several more hills, Qin Sang drew near the main road and found a spot with an open view, reining in his horse to wait in silence.
According to his intelligence, Princess Dongyang's caravan had camped in Kun City the previous night and set out at dawn. It was now past the middle of the Hour of the Snake, so they should be arriving soon.
Qin Sang picked up his ironwood staff. Its wood came from the dense core of an ironwood tree, purchased by Qin Sang at the ferry crossing. It was as hard as an iron rod yet possessed exceptional resilience. He had hired a craftsman to polish it into a handy quarterstaff.
A socket had been bored into one end. All he needed to do was wrap up the cloth of the Yanluo Banner, insert it into the socket with the spike pointing outward, and bind it tightly with cloth strips to form an improvised spear.
Qin Sang had verified that mortal eyes truly could not see Yanwang, but he could not afford to be reckless. In front of others, he still had to conceal it. Otherwise, if he inadvertently drew the attention of an Immortal Master out to vanquish demons, his death would be a grievous injustice.
East of Sanwu City, endless mountains rolled on and on. This road wound over rugged peaks and crossed several rivers along the way, making it exceedingly treacherous. Traveling merchants preferred to take the northern route around Linwu City—spending two extra days rather than braving this trail—so travelers here were few and far between.
Qin Sang watched not only the road ahead but also swept his gaze across the surroundings, yet he spotted no one resembling a lookout from Jiangshan Tower.
As the sun approached its zenith, its midday heat remained blistering despite the arrival of autumn. Qin Sang silently recited the Clarity and Stillness Scripture to wait patiently. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he sat up straight.
A caravan appeared at the far end of the road.
Several cargo wagons were draped in black oilcloth, followed by two passenger carriages, flanked by more than twenty mounted guards.
These guards were disguised as caravan escorts, bearing sabers and swords. Their eyes were sharp, their bearing disciplined and formidable.
Their formation was orderly, maintaining seamless alignment as the caravan advanced. Positioned systematically around the wagons, they covered every angle, prepared to react the instant danger arose from any direction.
Yet on closer inspection, one could tell that their priority was not the cargo, but the passengers in the carriages.
Though still far off, Qin Sang saw clearly that the man leading the way at the very front was Bai Jianglan!
Zhou Ning, nicknamed the Water Monkey, was there as well.
It truly was them.
Qin Sang immediately mounted his horse and snapped the reins. The steed let out a long neigh and leapt from the forest, galloping down the slope to the rapid clatter of hooves.
"Who goes there?"
"Halt!"
Before Qin Sang even drew near, he heard Bai Jianglan and the others shout.
Catching sight of Qin Sang, the caravan halted abruptly. The guards instantly formed a protective ring around the carriages, drawing their blades with a crisp rasp and leveling them at Qin Sang from afar.
A glittering wall of steel met his eyes, backed by cocked crossbows in the shadows, radiating chilling intent.
"Whoa!"
Qin Sang hurriedly pulled the reins and shouted, "Brother Bai, Zhou Ning, it's me! I'm Qin Sang!"
Bai Jianglan froze in surprise. Looking closer, he found the rider's face indeed somewhat familiar, and he suddenly remembered the youth he had rescued from the wooden raft the year before.
Back then, Qin Sang had just escaped from a den of tigers, drenched in blood and looking thoroughly wretched.
Now, having cultivated the Nether Scripture and trained daily in boxing, his appearance and bearing had transformed dramatically from the year before.
It was for that reason that Bai Jianglan had failed to recognize him at first.
Beside Bai Jianglan, the Water Monkey also remembered and cried out in delight, "It really is Brother Qin! Brother Qin, didn't you go back to your hometown? I thought we'd never see each other again! Who would have guessed..."
Bai Jianglan placed a hand on Zhou Ning's arm and waved behind him. Gripping his sword, he stepped forward two paces, looked Qin Sang up and down, a glint in his eye, and asked politely, "Brother Qin, what brings you to block our path?"
He could tell that Qin Sang had come specifically for them.
Qin Sang could sense the distance and wariness in Bai Jianglan's tone, but he paid it no heed. Dismounting, he unfastened his crossbow, soft sword, and wooden staff in plain sight, walked over to Bai Jianglan, and whispered, "Brother Bai, I have an urgent matter to report to Princess Dongyang!"
Bai Jianglan's expression changed instantly. "You!"
Qin Sang waved his hands quickly, glanced at the guards behind, and said, "Brother Bai, do not misunderstand. I only deduced the princess's identity later on, and I truly have grave news to report. There are too many ears here. If you trust me, step over this way."
Confident in his martial skill, Bai Jianglan signaled back to his men and followed Qin Sang to the roadside.
"The princess's itinerary is no longer a secret. Jiangshan Tower assassins are lying in ambush at Mount Luoma ahead, and their target is none other than the princess. I came upon this information by chance, and remembering the debt of life I owe to her and you, Brother Bai, I rode out specially to warn you."
Having said this, Qin Sang quietly looked at Bai Jianglan.
Bai Jianglan's face remained impassive as he scrutinized Qin Sang for a long moment, while Qin Sang met his gaze openly.
Right then, an old woman walked over from behind and said in a raspy voice, "Commander Bai, the young mistress sends me to ask who this visitor is and what urgent matter he has to report."
Keeping his eyes fixed on Qin Sang, Bai Jianglan took a few steps back and whispered into the old woman's ear for a moment.
A sharp light flashed in the old woman's eyes. She cast a glance at Qin Sang and said, "Commander Bai, please search the young brother first. I shall return to inform the young mistress."
The old woman turned and walked back.
Qin Sang allowed Bai Jianglan to search him. The Nether Scripture, the Yanluo Banner, and the ebony sword were all wrapped in a bundle left on his saddle, which Bai Jianglan naturally did not examine too closely.
A moment later, the old woman called out, "All hands hear the order: halt and rest!"
Next, the old woman accompanied a young woman dressed in men's attire as she walked over.
This was Qin Sang's first time seeing Princess Dongyang. She wore an exquisite skullcap studded with precious gems. Her features were delicate, her figure tall and slender, and she was draped in fine silks. Her waist was remarkably slender, bound by an embroidered cloud-patterned sash adorned with a fine piece of jade. At first glance, one might easily mistake her for an elegant young gentleman of high society.
Qin Sang bowed and said respectfully, "Qin Sang pays his respects to the Princess."
As Qin Sang secretly observed Princess Dongyang, she was studying him as well.
Princess Dongyang nodded, smiled faintly, and said to Bai Jianglan, "Commander Bai, to think that someone you saved on a whim would possess such a sense of gratitude."
Bai Jianglan remained composed. "Your Highness flatters me. Back then, it was only with Your Highness's tacit permission that your subordinate dared enter the water to save him. Brother Qin was moved by Your Highness's great kindness, which is why he took this righteous step."
Only then did Princess Dongyang turn her gaze to Qin Sang, saying to the old woman beside her, "Granny Li, find a secluded spot so this brave young Qin can explain the whole matter in detail. A drop of kindness repaid by a gushing spring is something I have only read about in books, never witnessed with my own eyes."
Granny Li looked left and right, pointed toward a clearing in the woods, and said, "Miss, follow me."
Flanked by Bai Jianglan and Granny Li, Qin Sang followed them into the woods. His attention remained on Princess Dongyang throughout. Seeing that she remained entirely unruffled even after learning of an assassination plot—showing neither panic nor fear—he could tell that her composure was far from ordinary.
Since they were not in a hurry, Qin Sang was in even less of a rush. Only after reaching the deep woods did he begin to recount the story.
On the way here, he had already prepared a draft in his mind, erasing all trace of the Nether Scripture and the Yanluo Banner.
As for how he, someone who had practiced martial arts for only a single year, could manage to slay an assassin of Jiangshan Tower?
Naturally, it was all due to innate talent.
Chapter 23