8mi Chapter 60 An Encounter on the Roadside
Chapter 60 An Encounter on the Roadside
Chapter 60 An Encounter on the Roadside
In the dead of winter, the sun shines brightly overhead.
On the vast land, the north wind howled, and when it blew onto the bodies and faces of pedestrians, it caused a faint, knife-like pain.
A lone rider galloped from afar, completely ignoring the bitter cold and north wind, galloping wildly like a black lightning bolt.
A boy who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old sat on the seat, dressed in a thin shirt, his eyes and brows full of excitement.
This young man was none other than Mo Zheng.
As dawn broke, he set off on horseback from the martial arts hall.
As expected of the Blackscale Horse, which possesses the bloodline of a demon beast, its speed far surpasses that of ordinary horses, and its stamina is also exceptional. Mo Zheng felt extremely happy riding it.
As for the cold wind like a knife and the chill in his face, even real swords and blades could hardly harm him, let alone a little bit of cold air, as he was a Stone Skin Realm martial artist.
In just an hour and a half, a large city suddenly appeared in the distance. What else could it be but Jinqing Prefecture?
After passing Jinqing Prefecture, at the speed of the Black Scale Horse, it will take at most two more hours to reach Shangyin County.
As the earth warms up and the sun shines, making one feel comfortable all over, and being closer to home, Mo Zheng is in an excellent mood.
The closer I am to home, the stronger my longing for it becomes.
Big brother, Xiaotian, sister-in-law, Xiaoqiu ———
Thinking of his family's faces, Mo Zheng immediately spurred the horse's belly again, and the black-scaled horse understood and galloped forward at an even faster speed.
However, as they got closer to Jinqing Prefecture, the official road gradually became more and more populated, and Mo Zheng had no choice but to slow down his horse and proceed slowly.
The closer it gets to the holidays, the more lively Jinqing Mansion becomes.
It took Mo Zheng half an hour to cross the large city. He spurred his horse onward and, after traveling only two or three miles, a roadside inn appeared.
A large crowd had gathered in front of the inn, surrounding it in layers, blocking the main road. No one knew what kind of excitement they were watching.
Mo Zheng wasn't curious; he'd seen similar scenes quite often along the way.
Some were selling their children on the roadside because they couldn't pay their debts as the year-end approached; others were selling themselves to be buried after their elders passed away.
There were clashes that broke out, with people picking up weapons and fighting on the roadside.
There are countless examples.
It's impossible to manage, and we can't handle it all.
He dismounted, took the reins, and whispered, "Make way, please make way," as he tried to pass through the crowd.
However, as soon as they entered, they heard someone say, "The Zhao family seems to be bewitched lately, with one bad thing after another happening."
Someone else chimed in, "I heard that this Miss Zhao is a top student at the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall, and even the prefect's son is infatuated with her. What a pity, this old man is going to get her."
"This is what they call a fallen phoenix being no better than a chicken; who told her to suffer from her ancestor's illness?"
Another person gloated, saying, "Look, she's kneeling down! Heh heh, Zhao Xiuxiu was so arrogant just now!"
Zhao Xiuxiu?
Mo Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he stopped in his tracks.
Could it be that something happened to the owner?
Thinking this, he turned and walked towards the inner circle.
The person in front felt his body slip and involuntarily swerved to the sides, quickly pushing him to the very front.
Inside the roadside inn, there was only one table of customers.
An elderly man, who appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, was drinking tea. Behind him stood two burly men carrying knives as bodyguards.
Not far in front of him, a woman in a dark green dress was kneeling on the ground, looking anxious.
The woman appeared to be around twenty years old, with a beautiful face and elegant demeanor. She was a rare beauty and was none other than Zhao Xiuxiu, whom Mo Zheng had met briefly two months prior.
"Haha, niece of the Zhao family, this matter is beyond my control. I must consult my nephew before a decision can be made. As for money, my Luo family is not short of funds, so there's no need for that," the old man said with a smile.
He was ugly, with triangular eyes, a bulbous nose, and a sparse beard. At this moment, his eyes were filled with a lewd smile as he looked Zhao Xiuxiu up and down, making her feel disgusted and lewd.
Although Zhao Xiuxiu felt disgusted, she knew she had no other choice at the moment and dared not get angry. She pleaded, "Please, Uncle Luo, for the sake of our family relationship, give it a try. As long as Young Master Luo is willing to sell one Hundred Herbs Pill, my Zhao family is willing to pay five thousand taels of silver."
Baicao Dan?
Mo Zheng racked his brains but couldn't recall what this cheap senior sister wanted the Hundred Herbs Pill for.
"I told you, the Luo family has no shortage of money, hehehe, Zhao family niece, do you really not understand?"
The old man surnamed Luo leered and said, "It's a pity that my wife died early, and I've lived alone for more than twenty years, which is quite lonely. Zhao family niece, if you really want the Hundred Herbs Pill, come to Tingyu Pavilion at midnight tonight. If you become my nephew's aunt, the Luo family and the Zhao family will naturally be one. My nephew has always been filial to his elders, and he will certainly not hold such a small matter against him. He will definitely offer you the Hundred Herbs Pill with both hands."
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd immediately began to whisper among themselves.
Someone muttered under their breath, "Pah, that old lecher, he has seven concubines and he's still so lonely."
"It seems that this Master Luo wants to use a pear blossom to overshadow a crabapple. Well, with Miss Zhao being so beautiful, I would also choose beauty over money."
"What a pity, such a beautiful flower is stuck in cow dung."
"Um?
""
Hearing the discussion, the old man surnamed Luo glanced coldly at the crowd.
"How dare you!"
Two guards, armed with knives, stepped forward simultaneously, gripping their sword hilts, and shouted angrily.
In an instant, the murmurs vanished without a trace, clearly the crowd feared the power of the Luo family and did not want to get into trouble.
Zhao Xiuxiu's face was pale as she looked at the old man surnamed Luo with a look of despair.
She knew all too well the old lecher's reputation, but alas, only the Luo family possessed the Hundred Herbs Pill. If she didn't trade it, her brother's life would be in danger—
"Haha, niece of the Zhao family, there's no need to rush. There's still some time before evening, so take your time to think it over. I still need to collect medicinal herbs, so please excuse me."
Having said that, he stood up and walked outside with his guards.
Zhao Xiuxiu wanted to speak up and stop them, but when she thought of the conditions they had offered, she opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. She watched helplessly as they disappeared into the crowd, leaning against the bench next to her with tears welling up in her beautiful eyes.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
Without hesitation, Mo Zheng called out, "Waiter, keep a close eye on my horse and bring me another pot of good tea."
"Okay!"
The waiter, who had been worried about having no business because of the earlier commotion, happily agreed and hurriedly led over the horse, asking warmly, "Where would you like to sit, sir?"
"I'll sit there."
Mo Zheng pointed to the table where Zhao Xiuxiu was.
"Hey, sir, you'd better not cause any trouble."
The waiter kindly advised, "The Zhao and Luo families are both prominent families in Jinqing Prefecture. Since you're traveling, it's best not to interfere."
"Thank you, waiter."
Mo Zheng smiled, walked straight forward, and sat down next to Zhao Xiuxiu.
The waiter was about to try to persuade him further when his eyes suddenly lit up. He saw clearly that the horse he was leading had a layer of jet-black scales growing on its four legs, making it a priceless Black Scale Horse. He immediately gave up trying to persuade it.
Those who can afford to ride a black-scaled horse are either rich or noble, so why should he meddle in other people's business?
Mo Zheng smiled and said, "Senior Sister Xiuxiu, it's been several months since we last met. How have you been?"
Zhao Xiuxiu was lost in thought, feeling confused and helpless, when she suddenly heard a familiar voice. She immediately came to her senses and looked closely. She saw a handsome young man with delicate features and fair skin. Her expression changed instantly, filled with surprise.
"Junior Brother Mo, it's you!" Zhao Xiuxiu's tone was also filled with surprise.
"I took a few days of annual leave and was just about to go home to visit my family when I unexpectedly ran into you, Senior Sister Xiuxiu, while passing through Jinqing Prefecture. It's truly fate."
Mo Zheng smiled and said, "Senior Sister Xiuxiu, why don't you get up and sit down? It's freezing cold outside, and it's a bit chilly to sit on the ground."
"Oh----"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiuxiu realized what was happening, and her pretty face immediately turned red. She hurriedly got up, gently patted off the dust, and then sat down, her eyes still revealing a hint of embarrassment as she looked at Mo Zheng.
"Junior Brother Mo, you tricked me so badly last time."
She laughed, but couldn't help recalling what happened two months ago.
He was supposed to be reporting to the Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy, but he lied and said he was there to deliver a message. When he fought Liu Jiang, he made her worry.
If she hadn't written to her father later to ask, she probably wouldn't have known the boy's identity.
"Hahaha, Senior Sister Xiuxiu, you didn't even ask me, so how can you say I lied to you?" Mo Zheng replied with a laugh.
"You little rascal, you're so cunning."
Zhao Xiuxiu shook her head, her beautiful face full of smiles, clearly very happy to see her junior brother Mo Zheng.
Seeing this, Mo Zheng asked, "Senior Sister Xiuxiu, have you encountered some difficulties?"
Zhao Xiuxiu's smile froze, and she asked in return, "You saw everything just now?"
"I only saw a little bit."
"well----"
Zhao Xiuxiu sighed and said, "It's my younger brother. He's been poisoned and needs the antidote."
The antidote seems to be the Hundred Herbs Elixir.
Mo Zheng suddenly understood, but still asked in confusion, "I've long heard that your Zhao family is a prominent family in Jinqing Prefecture. Who would dare to poison your brother?"
Zhao Xiuxiu's brows furrowed with worry as she said, "This matter cannot be explained in just a few words."
"No rush, no rush, take your time. I have nothing else to do right now anyway," Mo Zheng said.
He would get involved in the affairs of gamblers like He Xiong, let alone the Zhao family, who had been a great benefactor to him in his swordsmanship enlightenment. Although they were not formally master and disciple, they were in fact master and disciple.
If he were still a lowly constable in Shangyin County, he naturally wouldn't meddle in other people's business. But now that his strength and status are different, he should help if he can.
The Jinqing Prefecture is so small that at most the martial artists in the Bone and Tendon Realm are the strongest. With the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall behind him, the great master Liu Qing in the Visceral Realm supporting him, and his own trump card of mental power, what is there to fear?
"Um.
'
Zhao Xiuxiu hesitated for a moment, then, thinking of the other party's identity, said, "This matter has to start from half a month ago. In the past few generations, my family has produced experts at the Bone and Tendon Realm, so we have quite a reputation in Jinqing Prefecture. This generation is my grandfather, but he is sixty-seven years old this year. Half a month ago, his old injury suddenly relapsed and he became bedridden."
"Oh?"
Mo Zheng vaguely guessed what was going on.
Without reaching the Internal Organs Realm, a martial artist's condition gradually declines after the age of forty. If they break through to a higher realm without reaching perfection, not only will they be weaker than others of the same level, but their bodies will also suffer some irreversible internal injuries. Of course, these could also be injuries sustained in their youth when fighting other martial artists or demonic beasts.
These injuries may not bother you when you're young, but as you get older and your blood and energy become insufficient, they will naturally manifest.
It doesn't matter which type of martial artist Old Master Zhao is, but the fact that the Zhao family no longer has a martial artist at the Bone and Tendon Realm is very important.
"Although Jinqing Prefecture is not particularly prominent among the eighteen prefectures of Liangzhou, it is still quite prosperous. There are also the Liu and Luo families in the city, which are similar to my family. They are families with Bone and Tendon Realm martial artists for generations. The three of us are considered local bullies in Jinqing Prefecture. Although there are occasional disputes, things are generally stable."
"However, all of this changed after Grandpa became bedridden. The Liu and Luo families repeatedly stirred up disputes, trying to take over my family's business and shops."
"But my uncles, like my father, are all martial artists at the entry level; none of them can shoulder the responsibility of leading the family."
At this point, Zhao Xiuxiu's expression became even more worried.
Mo Zheng frowned and said, "Then why not give it to them? You are a disciple of the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall. You should know that a martial artist's strength is everything, and everything else is meaningless."
Jinqing Prefecture, encompassing more than ten counties and with a population exceeding ten million, naturally boasts abundant wealth, business opportunities, and resources.
The Zhao family has been established for many years and, as a local power, has naturally gained considerable benefits. Now, without a martial artist at the Bone and Tendon Realm to oversee things, they clearly cannot hold on. They should yield when necessary and endure when necessary.
"I understand this principle, but there are many people in my family, and it's inevitable that some of them won't be able to change their ways in a short time. Besides, those two families sometimes really go too far in bullying us."
Zhao Xiuxiu said with a bitter face, "My family has already given them many shops and businesses, but they are still not satisfied. They provoke us in everything. My poor father and other elders are busy running around looking for medicine for my grandfather's illness and have no time to take care of anything else. So these two families are becoming more and more arrogant."
"As for my younger brother, he was injured because he was young and hot-blooded and couldn't stand it for long, so he got into a conflict with the Luo family."
"The Luo family started out as a pharmacy and are extremely skilled at making and using poisons. My younger brother was poisoned by the Luo family's Seven Snakes Bone-Corroding Poison, which is why this happened today."
Mo Zheng asked, "Isn't the government doing anything about this? This isn't in the wilderness."
Warriors can fight freely in the wild, but once they enter the city, they can no longer harm others at will.
It should be noted that there is also the Six Doors, an official department specifically targeting martial artists.
"The prefect is also involved here. The He family seems to want a share of the pie, so the government just said it was a fight between us and let us go back."
Zhao Xiuxiu said helplessly, "Business and money are all fine, but I only have this one younger brother, and I can't just watch him die. But this Seven Snakes Bone-Corroding Poison is extremely difficult to cure. Only poison makers know the seven types of snake venom used. To cure it, we need a Hundred Herbs Pill specially made for each of the seven snake venoms."
"I begged the Luo family to find Luo Ping, who poisoned my brother, for medicine, but they refused to see me. I finally managed to catch Luo Zheng here, but he refused to accept any money and even made such rude demands."
"I—I don't know what to do."
Mo Zheng nodded, having already understood the whole story. He asked, "What is Luo Ping's strength? Who are some of the powerful martial artists in the Luo family?"
"The Luo family is similar to my family. Their patriarch is also over sixty years old and lives a secluded life. The other clansmen and the invited retainers are only at the superficial level. As for Luo Ping, he is hailed as the number one genius of the Luo family this generation. He is not yet thirty years old, but he has already cultivated to the superhuman level." Zhao Xiuxiu gave a brief introduction, then asked with some confusion, "Why are you asking about this?"
"Let me find out what's going on and see if I can help," Mo Zheng replied with a smile.
At this moment, the waiter brought over the tea. Mo Zheng said, "Don't think about these unhappy things anymore. Have a cup of hot tea first. By the way, does Jinqing Prefecture have any special pastries? I'd like to bring some for my younger brother and nephew."
As he spoke, he poured a cup of hot tea for each of them.
After a moment's thought, Zhao Xiuxiu said, "There's a shop in the city called Liuxinfang that makes pretty good lotus flower pastries and layered cakes."
"Okay, senior sister, wait a moment, I'll go buy some tea for you."
Mo Zheng stood up, left the inn, mounted his horse, and galloped away, covering three miles in the blink of an eye to reach the city gate.
He stopped a well-dressed businessman and asked, "Brother, could you tell me how to get to the Luo family's place?"
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