Chapter 240: 219 Falling into the Trap, Part 1

Thin mist enveloped the forest.

In the early hours, the official road resembled a grayish-yellow python, winding through the dark green ocean of trees.

The sky was washed azure blue, with distant tiger and leopard roars, and deer calls echoing.

The white caravan moved neither fast nor slow, steadily proceeding on the smooth official road.

The white oxen occasionally snorted, burying their heads and advancing forward.

As the caravan reached a curve in the mountain forest, a melodious flute sound drifted from the heights of the forest on the right side.

The flute sound was elegant, resembling the cries of eagles, with an undertone of valor and gallantry.

Zhang Rongfang paused his steps, raised his head, and gazed in the direction of the sound.

But over there, the white mist was swirling, nothing could be seen.

“There’s no village ahead, no inn behind, who would purposely play the flute here?” he muttered in a deep voice.

“Perhaps a master traveler passing by, taking a moment’s rest?” Chen Han responded quietly from the side.

Recently, since Zhang Rongfang had conversed with him, the two had gradually grown familiar.

He no longer seemed as dull and aloof, occasionally speaking a few words.

“A master?” Zhang Rongfang slightly nodded, reckoning that in such wilderness, only a true expert would dare to travel alone.

Just as he intended to continue on his journey.

Suddenly, the caravan ahead slowed and came to a halt.

With a clamorous sound, the carriage in the middle belonging to the Commandery Princess opened, and a figure leaped out, quickly disappearing into the mist with a few agile steps.

Immediately, two people from the caravan chased after.

“Halt!” The leading guard commander raised his hand, shouting loudly.

Thus, the entire convoy came to a complete stop.

Zhang Rongfang, puzzled, furrowed his brows and looked ahead.

“Ah Yi, go ahead and inquire what’s happening? Why the sudden stop?”

Among the three responsible for guarding, only Chen Han was known by name to Zhang Rongfang; the other two, based on their strength ranking, were called Ah Yi and Ah Er respectively.

Both were Super Grade Spiritual Veins, absolute elite, but were willing to obey him as a Daoist.

If faced with outsiders, both could easily suppress a region as formidable experts.

Much like the Snake King dispatched by the Black Ten Sect to Tan Yang.

Arguably even stronger than the Snake King.

Such experts were assigned to guard Zhang Rongfang, showing Chongxuan’s considerable effort and resources.

While awaiting the inquiry from the front, Zhang Rongfang quietly waited at the back of the convoy, simultaneously cultivating the Cultivation of Literature.

Shortly, Ah Yi quickly returned, bowed and reported to him.

“Daoist, returning…”

“Outside, there’s no need for such formalities, lest others discern our details. Address me as ’junior brother,’ Zhang Rongfang interrupted him, advising.

“Understood,” Ah Yi nodded, “The leading guard ahead said the Commandery Princess accepted a friend’s invitation for a brief gathering, and should return shortly.

Moreover, the Commandery Princess left a message, asking you to oversee the caravan’s safety until her return.”

“Overseeing is no problem, but, a friend?” Zhang Rongfang recalled the earlier flute sound, its hidden spirit and high momentum did not resemble that of a female friend.

After all, women generally lack the competitive spirit and drive seen in men.

Ultimately, he found a stone, cleaned it, and sat meditating upon it.

The height allowed a view of the entire caravan while providing stable rest, awaiting the Commandery Princess’s return.

Minute by minute passed.

The mist in the morning forest gradually dissipated, sunlight poured down, and the heat increased.

Countless moisture evaporated, the air grew stifling.

Two hours swiftly passed.

Zhang Rongfang opened his eyes, looked at the still stationary Commandery Princess’s caravan ahead, his brow slightly furrowed.

Swish!

Suddenly, a dark shadow darted through the left side of the forest.

“Who is there!?”

The guard commander shouted fiercely, though he was not a Spiritual Vein, just an ordinary Ninth-Grade expert.

Spiritual Guards attain their status through divine worship, but the success rate carries the risk of mortal failure.

Hence many Ninth-Grade experts avoid divine worship, some having never heard of it.

Those lacking qualifications have nobody to inform them, leaving them to age, weaken, and decline in power.

This is the boundary, the class.

Zhang Rongfang noticed clearly, the shadow seemed a swift-moving animal.

As it darted past, the guard commander from the Commandery Princess’s caravan, being Ninth Grade, naturally reacted.

Additionally, two strong women responded as well.

Evidently, their skills were not low.

Whether ordinary high grade or post-worship Spiritual Guard and Spiritual Vein is unknown.

Remembering the two experts immediately following the Commandery Princess earlier, their speed was such that to ordinary onlookers they seemed mere phantoms, beyond Ninth Grade capabilities.

Clearly, they were of Super Grade level.

Zhang Rongfang now understood.

After the shadow passed, nothing else occurred; the caravan gradually regained its peace.

Time flowed on, the weather grew sultrier, soon reaching noon.

Under the direct sunlight, everyone sought shelter in the shade.

The caravan remained calm, but many began to sweat slightly under the heat.

Not everyone in the caravan were experts, aside from guards, the rest were mostly attendants and maids.

Many were untrained in martial arts, or trained at very low levels.

After all, martial arts is a skill demanding immense resources, beginning at a young age.

Not everyone has the means.

“Why hasn’t the Commandery Princess returned yet?”

Zhang Rongfang felt slightly impatient.

Arriving in Citong a day earlier means he can find the medicine sooner to refine the pills, and then enhance his Golden Toad Skill.

Just left the Great Capital, and there’s a halt for two hours. If they wait longer, it will be dark, making it impossible to travel, requiring another day to proceed.

Ah Yi goes to inquire again.

The response received is that the Commandery Princess has a wide circle of friends and often travels like this, not for a short time, but there’s no need to worry.

Zhang Rongfang furrowed his brow slightly, but royalty is royalty, so he can only suppress his thoughts, calm his emotions, take a Fasting Pill, drink some water, and begin meditating again.

Time passes once more.

In the blink of an eye, another two hours pass.

Four hours have passed, and the sun is beginning to set. The temperature is no longer stiflingly hot, but rather refreshing.

The maids and attendants in the convoy mostly lean against the carriage, resting and chatting leisurely, with none feeling impatient.

Some people laugh and chat as they go for a walk, some take out their drinks and boast, and others start fires and gather wood, preparing their meals.

Zhang Rongfang opens his eyes again, looking at the scene, furrowing his brow.

“Ah Er, please go ahead and ask when the Commandery Princess will return?”

“Yes.” Ah Er nods and proceeds to inquire among the guards of the convoy.

This time, Ah Er returns with a strong woman clad in leather armor.

“Yongchun greets the Daoist.” The woman bows slightly, “To inform the Daoist, when my princess visits friends, it can take up to three days or as little as one day, there is no need to worry about safety. Just ensure the convoy is well-guarded.”

Three days? One day?

Zhang Rongfang is speechless.

They’re supposed to suppress sect disturbances in Citong, not going on a sightseeing tour, what exactly is Princess Yongxiang thinking?

“I see. Thank you for clarifying.” Left speechless, he can only wait, as she is royalty after all.

The sturdy woman nods, says no more, and returns to the convoy.

Her master belongs to the Spirit Court royal family, the most noble bloodline in Great Spirit, surpassing anyone else, naturally superior to everyone around.

This attitude has long become customary.

After all, the Commandery Princess is beautiful, powerful, with high potential, even favored by the emperor.

Many seek to win her favor.

These people simply wish to cling to the royal family, hoping to quickly rise in status, needing not be polite to them.

Even if she’s a Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching, joining the royal family is truly stepping into the highest echelon of the empire.

Below the royal family, everything else is merely in service to the top. As for the once mighty Eastern Sect, it crumbled merely from a word from the emperor.

Thus she knows these people’s aspirations well.

A group of people continues waiting in place.

Soon, night descends, guards spread out to patrol on all sides, driving away poisonous creatures and wild beasts.

One by one, the fires are lit, and Zhang Rongfang and the others also light a fire, looking at each other, feeling helpless.

The next morning.

Princess Yongxiang still has not returned.

The group continues to wait in place for another day.

By evening, an expert beside Princess Yongxiang returns to inform everyone to continue onward, and wait on the road fifty miles ahead.

The Commandery Princess will directly meet everyone there.

The group finally departs, speeding overnight.

By noon the next day, they reach the official road fifty miles away.

There is an abandoned tea house by the roadside.

Everyone stops, continuing to wait.

After waiting another day, by noon the next day, Princess Yongxiang returns with another expert guard.

Without seeing Zhang Rongfang, she directly returns to the carriage, stating her fatigue, and falls into a deep sleep.

Zhang Rongfang requests an audience but is blocked several times.

The response is that the Commandery Princess is resting.

He feels dissatisfaction but can only endure for now.

From the attribute column, he’s long realized that Princess Yongxiang’s power is likely extremely strong.

Typically, only experts much stronger than him can continue to be inaccessible in the attribute column after prolonged contact.

Fortunately, now that she has returned, the convoy can finally proceed.

Immediately, the group sets out again.

Day by day, time passes.

After supplying at two towns, the convoy gradually approaches Yongxi Town.

At this moment, Princess Yongxiang runs off again, and this time, for a full four days!

On the woodland official road over a hundred miles from the town.

The entire convoy halts once more, setting camp and resting on a vacant spot by the roadside.

The night sky is brilliant with stars, surrounded by the chirping of insects.

Zhang Rongfang sits beside the fire, furrowing his brow, looking at his newly accumulated attribute points, feeling unwell.

Originally thought it’d be an ordinary travel journey, but unexpectedly… so soon into the journey, such troublesome affairs have arisen.

Beside him, Chen Han is roasting a wild boar that was just caught.

The wild boar has been skinned and gutted, sprinkled with spices and salt, just enough to satiate.

After all, with limited spice on hand, it was impossible to apply large quantities.

Tearing apart, Chen Han rips off two most golden yellow pig legs and hands them to Zhang Rongfang.

“Daoist, have some.”

“Thank you.” Zhang Rongfang accepts, eating heartily while drinking mare’s milk wine.

“Continuing like this is impractical. Who knows how long the Commandery Princess plans to pause?” Ah Yi beside him speaks helplessly.

After getting familiar, he’s no longer as silent as he was initially.

Guarding the Daoist is a task, a job, but he is nevertheless human.

Humans need communication and interaction.

Before, he refrained from speaking for fear of offending others with excessive speech.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep