Chapter 139: 130 Departure, Part 2

Zhang Rongfang understood her meaning.

He had two identities.

One was Zhang Ying, arranged by his master, with official position and Daoist registration primarily developed under this identity.

The second was his original identity, Zhang Rongfang.

Zhang Rongfang was still that little Daoist at Qinghe Palace.

So, in reality, he had two Daoist registrations.

And traveling to Wushan City, if he went as Zhang Ying, he couldn’t recognize his sister, Zhang Rongyu.

So….

“I will go with my true identity,” Zhang Rongfang knew he couldn’t avoid this relationship forever.

The original was a piece of trash, but he was not.

Moreover, his sister Zhang Rongyu and her husband had given him considerable support even when he was at Qinghe Palace. Now that he had made some progress, he naturally shouldn’t ignore them.

However, if he went using his true identity, he wouldn’t be able to utilize the official position and Zhang Ying’s Daoist registration. These two roles could only remain vacant in Tan Yang for the time being.

Using Zhang Rongfang, the only leverage he could use was the influence of the Golden Wing Pavilion.

’However, this is enough…’

Zhang Rongfang clenched his fist, feeling his body, which had completely recovered to Ninth Grade constitution.

Now, he was no longer the Zhang Rongfang from two years ago, who was powerless to even truss up a chicken.

Just in time, his entire body was smeared with secret ointment, causing bodily changes and eliminating the previously burly and exaggerated physique.

He now more closely resembled how Zhang Rongfang used to look.

“The master foresaw you would make this choice, so in Wushan City, there are two hundred Cloud Smoke death warriors at your disposal.

Normally, two Eagle Level operators oversee everything there. You won’t need to worry unless a special mission is passed down from the main building that requires you to deploy the death warriors to assist in completion,” Weili spoke softly.

“Understood. Anything else?” Zhang Rongfang had realized that Weili’s role was not just as a female guard but more like an assistant.

“No, that’s all.”

Weili slightly bowed at the back and quietly withdrew.

Zhang Rongfang looked at the items on the tray in front of him, falling into silence for a moment.

By now, he had guessed that both Ye Bai and Tong Zhang’s identities were definitely more than just Spirit Level.

It was even possible that the Golden Wing Pavilion, this whole organization, might be serving them.

He just didn’t understand why Tong Zhang was being so nice to him.

Over these days, he had already received the full set of Sixth Grade teachings from the Golden Roc Secret Record.

This was the only complete superior martial art in the Golden Wing Pavilion, yet it was taught to him without any restriction.

Then there were treasure armor, treasure elixirs, and various other items that could aid him, all piled onto him.

He was even given military authority over the Golden Wing Pavilion’s death warriors in a prefecture city.

He still remembered a sentence spoken by Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang.

In this world, any gain must be reciprocated by a price.

So the benefits he was gaining now…

Gently picking up that purple porcelain bottle of Saint One Pill, Zhang Rongfang fell into deep thought.

What would be the price for them in the future?

*

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*

Half a month later….

Mountain Province·Dinghe Road.

Wushan Prefecture.

In the Great Spirit, each route had only one prefecture city.

And Wushan Prefecture was the capital of Dinghe Road, as well as the largest city on Dinghe Road.

Compared to Tan Yang, here there were not as many night revelries; instead, various sculptures could be seen everywhere.

Bamboo carvings, stone carvings, wood carvings, glass carvings, and various sculptures were categorized here.

According to the laws of the Great Spirit, many craftsmen passed down their skills from generation to generation. The father was a craftsman, and so was the son, and the grandson too.

Easily, changing professions was not allowed.

As time went by, Wushan Prefecture became a city with more and more carving craftsmen.

Among these many carvings, bamboo carvings were the most prevalent.

At this time, the sun was shining brightly after a heavy rain, with a flock of swallows flying around the city and chirping.

By the busiest Wujiang Bridge in Wushan Prefecture, on a three-story building with red-tiled pointed roofs and white walls.

The sound of flutes and clarinets harmonized with Western violins.

Wafting out from the music hall behind Zhang Rongyu.

She wore a scarlet cloak, her long hair coiled up and lightly secured with a hairpin embedded with sapphires.

At this moment, she was gazing at the bridge directly opposite the pavilion, watching the large ships slowly passing under the bridge arch. Her eyes were looking out, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

“Are you still worried about Rongfang?” A man with a dark red birthmark on his face gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

“Mm…. Such a long journey, what if something happens on the way…” Zhang Rongyu had recently received news from a person she entrusted, saying they had found her previously missing brother, Zhang Rongfang.

In the past few days, due to the chaos near Tan Yang, communication had been completely blocked, and nothing could get out.

Having waited for so long, finally now….

Immediately, Zhang Rongyu paid someone to arrange for an escort agency to bring Zhang Rongfang over to Wushan Prefecture.

Such a small matter and small expense, with her husband’s standing in Wushan Prefecture, was naturally not difficult.

But once the journey started, and after waiting for a full half month without seeing her brother arrive, she grew a bit worried again.

Now her husband, Suda Heqi Mu Chi, was transferred to handle commerce in Wushan Prefecture.

The position of commerce was below the same level of authority in the prefecture, one of the main officials in Wushan Prefecture, with real jurisdiction over detailed land transportation business matters, a truly lucrative position.

For this reason, whenever he spoke, people in various places in the prefecture would grant him some face.

“Don’t worry. I just sent someone to ask again. According to the schedule, the escort agency should be arriving any day now,” Suda Heqi gently reassured.

He and Zhang Rongyu were genuinely in love, and ever since his political journey smoothed out, that annoying Shalohale Geta had left, and the household had become increasingly tranquil and harmonious.

His affliction was no longer triggered and hadn’t flared up for quite some time.

The family, due to the disappearance of the affliction, had once again accepted him, gradually changing their view and valuing him.

Everything was starting to become better and better….

“Husband… Rongfang has had a bit of a temper since he was a child… if he comes here and makes any mistakes, you can punish Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu apologizes to you in advance.”

Zhang Rongyu turned around, about to bow to Suda Heqi.

“Why do you say this, madam! Your brother is my brother, and we are one family. We should naturally support each other. You have helped me greatly before, and now it’s my turn to help you, as it should be!”

Suda Heqi said earnestly and sincerely.

He had been ugly since childhood and tasted the hardships of the human world, which made him able to see clearly who truly cared for him and who was just pretending to care.

“In this world, there are always some people we do not treat differently because of poverty or wealth.

Whether we are down and out or wealthy, the affection between us remains unchanged. That is family love.”

He looked at the crowds on the Wushan Bridge.

“Once, I also had such familial love. Sadly…”

“Husband…” A trace of pity flashed in Zhang Rongyu’s eyes. She gently cupped her husband’s face.

“We will always be together, and no one can separate us!”

In the beginning, she might have had some thoughts of using him, but by now, she already considered him as her family.

Though her husband is ugly, his sincerity towards her had never changed.

“Speaking of which, when I was young, my sister was the one who treated me best.” Suda Heqi smiled.

“Before she passed away, she gave everything she had to me. You know, among us Spirit People, women can inherit property too.

Back then…. I still remember, no matter what trouble I caused in my madness, she would always stand up and help me. That’s why I loved her deeply.”

Zhang Rongyu fell silent.

She knew about her husband’s sister, a very very good person who had passed away many years ago.

“Every time I asked her: Why do you help me when no one else cares? Why not just let me die in my madness?” Suda Heqi recalled.

“And she always said, ’I am your sister, if I don’t care for you, who will?! In this world, no one is closer to us than family…’

Zhang Rongyu was also drawn into memories of her brother.

Back then, she worked during the day to earn money and returned at night to care for the temperamental Zhang Rongfang.

Similarly, every time Zhang Rongfang got into trouble, she went to apologize and offer compensations, feeling both aggrieved and saddened.

But what else could be done?

Her parents had passed away, and relatives neither cared nor helped.

In this world, her only remaining close relative was her brother.

Money can be spent, power can shift, but blood ties are an unbreakable bond.

Whenever she thought that there was someone in this world who shared her blood, Zhang Rongyu didn’t feel so lonely.

“Don’t worry, I’ll have Meisha guide Rongfang. Meisha is tactful and poised; she should quickly help him adjust to life here,” Suda Heqi said with a smile.

“Okay!”

Zhang Rongyu nodded.

As long as her brother came over, the family would be complete, and her heart settled.

Who knows how many hardships Rongfang suffered alone out there, given his impulsive and volatile nature, constantly getting into trouble…

Surely, he endured a lot?

When he arrives, she’ll make sure to compensate him properly.

*

*

*

In the evening, the sun sank beneath the horizon.

The red glow reflected off the clouds and struggled to stay alight.

Outside Wushan Prefecture, a convoy of ox carts bearing the Wanfu Escort Agency flag moved leisurely along the bustling main road, approaching the city.

Many trade convoys traveled back and forth on the main route, sometimes accompanied by galloping horsemen.

On the sidewalks, farmers carrying vegetable baskets entered the city to sell their produce.

There were palanquins carried by two people in front and back, swaying gently as they moved forward.

Several young men walking dogs hummed tunes, some holding dog whips, others folding fans, walking in groups of twos or threes.

Zhang Rongfang sat in the escort agency’s ox cart, watching the passing scenery outside.

In the distance, rugged mountains stretched endlessly.

In between lay patches of terraced fields.

Closer, on the stone bridge, mischievous children lay looking at the water, chattering endlessly in the local dialect.

A few fishermen, carrying bamboo baskets, lazily cast their lines and baited hooks.

Even closer, on the main road, pedestrians passed by, carrying loads or wearing backpacks.

Out of some backpacks, a child’s head would occasionally pop out, curiously looking around.

“This place is even livelier than Tan Yang…” Zhang Rongfang couldn’t help but sigh softly.

“Indeed, Wushan Prefecture is at least three times the size of Tan Yang. It’s famous for its carvings and is a renowned export city in the entire Mountain Province.”

A few people sat in the compartment.

Among them, an old man holding a smoking pipe smacked his lips and smiled.

“I came here once ten years ago to visit my grandson. It was raining heavily, and the roads were muddy. From the city, they transported stone Buddhas over a man’s height, one after another, onto large boats on the Wujiang River, floating downstream.

There were over a hundred statues, and the scene was truly spectacular!”

“What brings you to Wushan City, old man?” A plump middle-aged man wearing a mandarin square fur hat asked with a smile.

“I’m here looking for my kid who’s working here. My wife passed away before I left, and it’s meaningless living alone, so I sold all the family’s land.

It’s too chaotic this way; the city turned upside down with disturbances everywhere, so many deaths, it’s better to find another place to settle down,” the old man replied.

Listening to the old man’s words, Zhang Rongfang leaned his head out, looking at the front of Wushan City from the carriage window.

The view of the vast grey city walls stunned him slightly.

The city walls were at least ten meters high, with patrols of Spirit soldiers armed with bows and crossbows walking back and forth on top.

Below was a gate over four meters tall, through which vehicles and pedestrians passed in and out.

Outside the gate, a wooden wall enclosed a square area filled with various vendor stalls offering food, drinks, and entertainment.

And within this area, several burly men wearing brown round hats and grey clothing with official swords at their waists looked over from a distance.

One of them even took out a portrait, carefully checking and comparing it.

“He’s here, he’s here! The young master of the Zhang family has arrived!”

From afar, Zhang Rongfang heard voices calling out. Mixed in with the sounds of livestock and people’s conversations, it was somewhat indistinct.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep