It was Liu Qi who spoke up to call Fang Wen back.
With an awkward expression, he said, "Young Hero... Feixue City has just been breached by an assassin, and all four city gates have been closed. No one may enter, nor may anyone leave.
"Please, Young Hero, stay one more night within Feixue City. Come tomorrow morning, if the assassin still hasn't been captured, I will personally escort you all out of the city."
As he spoke, there was even a trace of pleading on his face.
After all, Fang Wen commanded immense face; even the Book Immortal had paused his hand over a single word from him. Furthermore, he had escorted two physicians across thousands of li who could treat Wu Lingxiao. He had done Feixue City a great kindness.
As for forcing a guest to stay, he neither could do it nor dared to, so begging was his only option.
Fang Wen looked at him twice and let out a light laugh. "And what if I say that I must leave?"
"This... If that is the case, then naturally I would not dare stand in your way."
"Then lead the way, or have someone guide us out of the city," Fang Wen said softly. "Feixue City is a den of troubles; I have no desire to linger here. As for this so-called Seven-String Ancient Chapter you speak of, I have not the slightest interest in it... So it is best that we leave as early as possible."
The leading man glanced at Liu Qi and said in a heavy voice, "Since that is so, Chief Steward Liu, escort our distinguished guests out of Feixue City yourself. Young Hero, we shall also engrave Feixue City's immense gratitude toward you in our hearts."
"No need," Fang Wen replied, waving a hand. "The ones who took on this job were Lu'an Escort Agency; I was merely helping them. If you wish to remember anyone's kindness, remember theirs."
The leader was taken aback upon hearing this. He cast another glance at Lu Guiyan before nodding deeply.
Lu Guiyan looked toward Fang Wen with deep gratitude. Regardless of what happened next, this job was finally complete. Without Fang Wen on this journey, they never would have pulled it off. What Fang Wen had just said gave Lu'an Escort Agency tremendous face.
If Feixue City emerged from this crisis unscathed, Wu Lingxiao would surely remember this favor. In the future, when Lu'an Escort Agency traveled the jianghu, having even a shred of goodwill from Feixue City meant countless people would show them respect, making their path far easier.
Even if Feixue City truly collapsed after this and Wu Lingxiao died... with Fang Wen's words, it could still guarantee Lu'an Escort Agency's safety.
Because whether it was the battle at Autumn Moon Nunnery half a month ago or the scene in Feixue City today, Fang Wen's name had already been etched into many minds. For Lu'an Escort Agency, this was by no means a bad thing.
Naturally, they might also draw the attention of entities like Hundred Ghosts Hall because of this... but even those fiends could not truly kill whoever they pleased whenever they wished. The Seven Great Sects of the Eastern Domain were hardly decorations; this jianghu was still under the dominion of the righteous path!
Even taking a step back, if the people of Hundred Ghosts Hall truly wanted to cause trouble, they would target Fang Wen first, not a small agency like Lu'an Escort Agency. And if their luck was truly so wretched that Hundred Ghosts Hall decided to wipe out Lu'an Escort Agency over Fang Wen, then that would simply be their fate.
After reaping someone's benefits, did they expect not to shoulder even a sliver of risk? Where under heaven could one find such a good deal?
Not to mention, Fang Wen's grudge with Hundred Ghosts Hall had originated because they took on this escort mission in the first place. Without Fang Wen, they would have died who knew how long ago. Lu Guiyan had always kept a clear head, which only made her feel all the more grateful toward him.
Fang Wen paid little mind to any of this. Guided by Liu Qi, the group easily departed Feixue City. Without lingering to exchange further words, Liu Qi cupped his fists, then hastily channeled his lightness skill to rush back toward the City Lord's Estate. Murong Qingchen was still intent on seizing the Seven-String Ancient Chapter; by now, there was no telling what was unfolding inside the estate. Naturally, Liu Qi had no time to fuss over Fang Wen and the others.
Only when the city gates swung shut did Lu Guiyan feel as though she had awakened from a dream. She let out a long breath. "We're finally out."
"Aren't you disappointed that you didn't see the Book Immortal fight?" Fang Wen asked with amusement.
"Junior Brother... stop joking," Mo Beidou said, rolling his eyes dramatically. "In a situation like that back there, I barely dared to breathe, let alone watch a fight..."
Fang Wen chuckled. "If Eldest Senior Brother wants to watch, I can take you back right now. I guarantee no one will dare lay a finger on you."
"Forget it," Mo Beidou said, shaking his head vigorously. "I know how much I weigh; it's better to behave myself. By the way, Chen Qi didn't follow us out."
Lu Guiyan started. Knowing he was unwelcome, Chen Qi had kept as quiet as possible all along the way to minimize his presence. She hadn't even noticed when he had slipped away from the party.
Fang Wen waved a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. The man probably has his own agenda, but none of that has anything to do with us anymore. Let's go... time to head back to Julu City. I truly miss Master a bit."
He touched the small box tucked inside his robe; the Ten-Year Dust-Shattering Pill inside had remained ungifted all this time. Hearing his words, the others from the escort agency also showed touches of homesickness on their faces. Immediately, Lu Guiyan waved her small hand. "Let's move."
Departing Feixue City at this hour was hardly ideal. Feixue City stood aloof and isolated, far from any other towns, so leaving at this time meant they would certainly have to camp out in the wilderness tonight. Yet compared to the bristling hostility and scheming undercurrents inside Feixue City, spending the night in the wild was by no means intolerable.
Before they had traveled very far, night fell. The party found a spot to set up camp. Free from the burden of the client escort, everyone felt much lighter at heart. Even so, Lu Guiyan still urged them to stay sharp and not let down their guard.
Fang Wen told Mo Beidou and the others not to disturb him. Finding a quiet spot, he quietly brought up the system interface, looked at the unclaimed reward, and selected to claim it.
The very next instant, the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art flowed through his mind. At the same time, another internal force, vastly different from both the Yijin Jing and the Beiming Divine Art, welled up from his dantian.
The same situation occurred once more:
[Conflict detected in Host's internal force. Commencing automatic fusion!]
With the three internal skills as its foundation, slender threads of connection began linking them together. Soon, another brief mnemonic formula surfaced. Comparing this mnemonic formula with the previous one, Fang Wen felt quite amazed.
This formula born out of thin air linked every vital juncture of the three internal skills with exquisite precision. Though it possessed no power of its own, the subtlety within it was far beyond ordinary comprehension.
With a shift in thought, following the internal skill formulas of the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art, he circulated his inner breath, guiding the qi back to its origin.
Chapter 86