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墨書 Inktalez
"Hey~~!"
As Thirteen urgently pulled on the reins, Luzi, who was deep in thought, nearly flew out of the carriage. Before he could straighten his clothes and ask what was happening up front, he saw a dozen Wanderers standing on the road.
They were drawing bows and brandishing weapons. The muscles beneath their animal hides were well-defined, with prominent veins indicating they were skilled fighters. The so-called Golden Bell Cover and Iron Cloth Shirt were not available at that time, but it seemed they had something similar.
It was broad daylight, and they had indeed run into highway robbers; it seemed the security in the State of Chu was quite poor! While he sighed at the situation, negotiation was inevitable. Luzi jumped down from the carriage to inquire about their intentions, but Li Xin and Thirteen quickly stopped him and shielded him from behind.
Prime Minister Jiang! Didn't you always struggle to understand Meng Wu's situation back then? Well, now it's a case of tit for tat!
When Li Xin found Meng Wu in the State of Qi, he did not follow Luzi to the Tavern. However, upon hearing Thirteen mention how their master deliberately made things difficult for Meng Wu, he was furious. Why should they try to harm him right upon meeting? In broad daylight, flaunting wealth in front of so many people—how could they put Meng Wu in such a predicament!? This person could easily become impoverished locally, yet suddenly a friend appears flaunting wealth with a gold coin. Do you know how much a gold coin can buy!? Even a monk would be tempted by it, let alone ordinary folks!
Luzi's initial intentions were good. By showing off his wealth, he aimed to earn respect for those in the Woodcutter profession who were often looked down upon. However, he overlooked a crucial issue: the timing, location, and people involved were all wrong.
In the State of Qi, only copper coins circulated as currency; gold and silver coins were used solely in the State of Chu. Precious metals like gold and silver were known to be valuable but were rarely used for transactions. At that time, giving a gold coin to the Innkeeper for a bracelet would still leave plenty left over; having such an item could even lead to marrying off a daughter!
If there hadn't been that misunderstanding involving murder later on, perhaps this matter could have been brushed aside. But everything that followed spiraled out of control and nearly cost Meng Wu his life. To save him, Luzi even exposed his own identity. This desperate escape in the State of Chu was likely due to Luzi's earlier display of wealth in the State of Qi. News travels fast; that's what the elders say!
Now it was ironic! Luzi displayed gold in the State of Qi to give his brothers face while Chunshen Jun also brought out gold in Chu for the same reason. Where did all this money come from? Back then, Luzi could appear to save someone; this time it seemed he would have to rely on himself! Just as Li Xin made up his mind to take action, he was pulled back by someone behind him.
"If one does not know how to save themselves, no one will come to their rescue! Before fighting, it's best to clarify whether the other party is friend or foe!" After saying this, Luzi pushed past Thirteen and Li Xin, stepping forward.
The group blocking the road lowered their bows immediately upon seeing him appear. One of their leaders stepped forward and loudly asked, "Is the person before us really Luzi!?"
This was a classic case of asking a question when they already knew the answer!
Luzi had already recognized that these people were indeed those who had dined at the inn last night; the discrepancy in numbers suggested some were hiding behind to block any escape routes. Looking up at the steep cliffs on both sides made it clear that this place was a dead end. If they intended to trap him from both sides, there would be no way out! Since he was already here, he might as well accept it; what was meant to happen would happen anyway. However, from their tone, it didn't seem like they intended to collect tolls—what did they want?
"Indeed! I am exactly who you say I am! I apologize for keeping you waiting; if I had known earlier, I would have arrived sooner."
Chuchu, hiding behind Luzi, scrutinized the group of wild men across from them. Each one looked unfriendly and terrified her greatly. Hearing this remark made her want to laugh; encountering friends might warrant such words, but these were robbers who might resort to violence for money or worse! And here they were complaining about being late—who behaves like that!?
However, despite the laughter, serious matters must not be delayed. Although no longer the daughter of a wealthy family, this body must not be sullied by thieves! With this thought in mind, she reached to touch the small knife hidden at her waist to confirm it was still there, but her arm was immediately stopped by Li Xin. In the current environment, it was better to minimize movement. If someone misunderstood her intentions, the archers hidden on both sides could shoot arrows at any moment.
The opposing leader clearly understood this situation and raised his hand to signal the archers on both sides to remain calm. Then he pushed Gold Mountain down to kneel and said, "Scoundrel Wang Jian, from Pingyang County in Guanzhong. I come here with no other intention than to respectfully welcome you back to your homeland!"
As for who Wang Jian was, Shisan and Li Xin were not clear. However, they knew about Guanzhong; since he was from the Qin State and bowed to Luzi, he must be one of their own. They had just been worried that they would be captured and roasted, only to find out he was here for security duties.
In terms of age, Wang Jian was fourteen years older than Luzi and sixteen years older than Li Xin and Shisan. When he officially started his career, these three were just two years old or had just been born. They were still in their infancy and certainly did not know each other.
Given Luzi's status as a high-ranking official, he recognized this person. If one were to consider the timeline of their careers, Wang Jian was actually his senior. Seeing the other party bowing deeply, what could he do? He hurried over to help him up and said, "Thank you! It should be me paying my respects to my elder brother!"
"Too kind!" Wang Jian knew who Luzi was; he was the head of the organization. In front of all the brothers, this simple statement from the leader gave him enough face. It was said that this man had no airs about him, and it seemed true at this moment. Since their identities had been confirmed, the encirclement lost its meaning. He waved his hand to signal that except for those on guard duty outside, the other brothers should come over to pay their respects.
This was a legendary figure; being fortunate enough to meet him in this life felt like a blessing earned from a previous life! Everyone was cheerful, instantly transforming the previously serious atmosphere into one of camaraderie.
The brothers did not know the identity of Chuchu beside their leader but saw her always following Luzi and noticed Li Xin trying to stir trouble. After paying respects to their elder brother, they went on to greet Sister-in-law, making Luzi feel embarrassed as if he had nowhere to hide his face. He glared at Li Xin but found him looking utterly confused, which left him even more flustered.
Was it rare for Shisan to cause trouble and fail!?
The brothers left the mountain pass and arrived at a camp set up on the hillside. Wang Jian personally led Luzi to the Main Tent in the center. There was no need to worry about safety; judging by the small display of skill from Wang Jian's subordinates at the inn, they were all top-notch experts. Unless an army was mobilized for encirclement, even a hundred or eighty men would be useless.
As mentioned earlier, mobilizing local troops required King of Chu's Tiger Tally. Moreover, local officials knew that Luzi was an old friend of the Chancellor; only a madman would mobilize troops! Even if Li Yuan faked a Royal Decree to deploy troops, it would take time for news to travel. By then, they would have already returned home.
Furthermore, Chunshen Jun was quite attentive to this matter; how could he be unaware of any small movements from Li Yuan? Using military force without King of Chu's knowledge would be a grave crime of treason. If this matter truly escalated, even Li Yan—who was about to become Mother of the Nation—would be implicated.
Thus, at present in Chu State's territory, it was safer than anywhere else. Even if Luzi suddenly decided to visit the capital of Chu State, he would still feel as if walking on level ground along the way. However, he wasn't considering such things right now because there was simply no need. What concerned him most were Wang Jian and his subordinates sitting beside him; why did they all look like wild men?
"I have something unclear I wish to ask."
Seeing Luzi as if seeing King Qin —this was indeed an Edict—Wang Jian immediately stood up and bowed upon hearing these words. "Luzi is too kind! Please speak freely!"
Luzi waved his hand indicating not to stand while speaking; once Wang Jian sat back down, he asked: "Why are you dressed like this?"
"Ah! It's really hard to explain! I feel quite ashamed about it! But since so many years have passed, it doesn't matter much now." Hearing Luzi's question, Wang Jian couldn't help but sigh deeply. Outside, it was getting late, and there was no way to continue traveling today. Since everyone had just returned to the camp, it would take a while for the meal to be ready. So, after getting Luzi's consent, he began to recount what happened when he was sixteen.
When Wang Jian had just completed his studies and received his master's approval, he hurried to find Sister Ji. He wanted to share this joy with the girl he liked the most. He had been secretly in love for a long time, and it was time to express his feelings! What he didn't expect was that when he arrived at Jifu, he found the wedding procession coming out from inside. It looked like the grand occasion of King Qin, and there was only one girl from the Ji family—his little sister!
Could it be...
Wang Jian dared not think that this was all true, nor did he dare to obstruct the wedding procession of the Wang family. As the bride stepped out of the gate, he hurriedly hid among the crowd to take a look.
Sure enough! It was Sister Ji!
The Qin Law was strict, and several of Wang Jian's elders were officials in the same court. If personal gains were disregarded, his family and master would be implicated. Hiding in the crowd, he almost ground his teeth in frustration but found himself at a loss.
Sister Ji gracefully walked to the side of the sedan chair and stopped, looking around with a proud expression on her face. It was a demeanor of superiority, looking down at the common people beneath her feet. Her pride, stemming from being more exceptional than others, radiated from her beautiful appearance, suddenly making her seem close yet as distant as thousands of miles.
Is this what they call happiness? To look down on those hardworking individuals who should be respected? Is this your source of pride? To live a life of extreme nobility and feel proud about it!?
Seeing his once deeply admired little sister behave so mercilessly made Wang Jian suddenly see things clearly. As a man of Great Qin, he should explore and pursue life's infinite possibilities in a broader world. This is what he should focus on now—not waste precious time liking someone who is not worthy of his affection!
From that moment on, Wang Jian resolved to actively seek out a lost family once his probation period ended. This family was almost just a legend; it seemed as if it had never existed in reality. When his master heard about this plan, he was stunned into silence. After careful consideration, he ultimately agreed to this unimaginable request.
Little did he know that this journey would last over ten years.
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