The Hermit of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 7

However, during the time of the Martial Emperor of the Han, due to the hatred of the Martial Emperor, under the pressure of the Imperial Court, the prosperity of the peregrinating hero was no longer the same. However, there were still many people who considered themselves as peregrinating heroes and carried out deeds of punishing the evil and carrying out the good. Moreover, many chambers of commerce were also willing to hire a small number of peregrinating swordsmen to protect the safety of caravans. This was because, although these kinds of people's teamwork abilities were inferior to that of the martial artists in martial arts schools, they were able to win in a one-on-one fight. It was likely that this Deng Mao was valued in vain because of this reason.

Tong Ying quietly looked at the man named Deng Mao. He was not powerful, tall, with thick eyebrows, a straight nose, and a broad nose. He was not handsome and unrestrained, but it was easy to tell that he was not a mediocre man at first glance.

"Oh, brother Deng Mao, please take care of me." Zhang Xiu gave Deng Mao a kind smile.

Deng Mao ignored her and pretended to look up at the sky, pretending that he did not see Zhang Xiu's show of goodwill.

Zhang Xiu smiled lightly as if she didn't care about it. However, Tong Ling, who was behind her, raised her beautiful eyebrows and was about to speak, but she was stopped by Zhang Xiu's eyes.

Fortunately, the white-haired old man came out to mediate the dispute. "Alright, it's about time. It's time to set off."

Zhang Xiu looked at the somewhat different merchant caravans again. She jumped onto her beloved horse, waved the spear in her hand, and walked to the front of the line. Tong Ying looked at his back and was stunned for a long time. Finally, he followed with a pursed mouth.

The whole caravan was hundreds of meters long. Zhang Xiu took the lead, followed by Tong Ying and Tong Ling. The dozens of martial arts masters of the Tong Martial Arts Club were on both sides of the team. The people in the middle were naturally the ankles and goods of the Bai Trading Company, and Bai Chi and Deng Mao were in the last.

"Dean, you see..." At this time, Bai Chi changed his appearance. Riding on his horse, he looked at the two people, Tong Ying and Zhang Xiu, and respectfully said to Deng Mao beside him in a low voice.

"Don't worry about it. We'll do everything according to Sect Master's plan. There are only two more people, so we can't make any big waves." Deng Mao still had an indifferent face. His tone was cold, but his eyes were always fixed on Zhang Xiu. A hint of provocation flashed in his eyes. "I'd like to see what kind of ability this legendary Gun King has."

###Chapter4,Journey

There were two roads to go from Chang'an to Chang'an. The first was to go to the east, crossing Hua County over Tongguan, crossing Spiritual Treasure, Xin'an, and other places, and then to Luoyang, then to the south, crossing Shuchuan to Xuzhou. Wherever this road went, it was capital. The official road was guarded by Imperial Guards, which was very safe. The only difference was that the long way was more difficult. The second road to the south was to go through Shang County to get out of Wuguan, and it went through Wan City, Fang City, and Ye County to Xuchang. It was a short way, but it was full of bandits along the way. It was also a place with many yellow-scarved rebels, so it was not safe.

Originally, Zhang Xiu proposed going to Luoyang to transfer Xuchang's road. Although it took a lot of time, the important thing was security, and walking outside was absolutely the most important word. Moreover, the goods of the Bai Clan's Trading Company this time were very expensive and valuable. If something went wrong, no one could afford this responsibility.

However, Bai Chi, as the manager of the Bai's Trading Company, tried his best to take the road of Wan City to Xu Chang. The reason was that since the goods of this trip were of great value, they should be sent to Xu Chang in the shortest time, so that he could reduce more risks. Moreover, he said that he believed in the ability of the martial arts masters of the Tongs Martial Arts Club led by Zhang Xiu, so there would be no accident.

After all, Bai Chi was the principal of the caravan while Zhang Xiu was just an outsider. The result of the discussion between the two sides was naturally based on Bai Chi's opinion. Although Zhang Xiu felt helpless when the caravan walked into Xu Chang's road from Wan City, she could only be more careful on the way. Besides, she had to test the daily food and drinking water by herself before leaving it for everyone to eat and drink. At night, she had to do it herself and arranged for the people who were on duty at night. In short, she had done her best to do everything in case of accidents.

Fortunately, they didn't encounter much trouble along the way. Although a few small thieves came to harass them, they were repelled by the crowd. Even Tong Ying and Tong Ling didn't have a chance to fight, which made Tong Ling very depressed.

Because of the large number of goods, the caravan marched very slowly. They could not walk dozens of miles a day. Until the third day, a long blue river appeared in front of them, and Tong Ying knew they had arrived.

Zhong Shui, also known as Jun River, was one of the tributaries of Han River. It was called Beitong Hong Nong, Nanda Zhong County, also a main road of destiny. After the confluence of the lower river and the Xun River, there was the famous Dan River.

Zhang Xiu ordered everyone to rest here for a while and let the horse rest for a day. She herself rode to the banks of the Tong River and stood on her horse for a long time, staring at the slowly flowing river. She seemed to be lost in thought.

"Elder brother, have some water." Tong Ying and Tong Ling came to Zhang Xiu slowly. Tong Ying took a leather pouch from the horse and handed it to Zhang Xiu.

"Oh, thank you." Zhang Xiu took the water bag, took a sip and gave it back to Tong Ying.

Tong Ying took the water pouch. After hesitating for a moment, he said in a soft voice, "Senior Brother, I think you seem to have something on your mind. Why don't you tell us about it and have a discussion with us?"

Hearing this, Zhang Xiu glanced at Tong Ying and paced back and forth. A bitter smile appeared on her face.

"Junior Brother, don't you think it's too peaceful on the way these two days?" After a moment of silence, Zhang Xiu said quietly.

"Is it not good to be calm?" Tong Ling asked in confusion.

"As the saying goes, there must be demons." Zhang Xiu shook her head and said slowly, "I have walked from Chang'an to Xu Chang more than ten times. Although it is not too dangerous along the way, it is definitely not as peaceful as this time. There are only one or two waves of thieves."

"What do you mean, Senior Brother?" Tong Ying seemed to have realized something. She raised her head and happened to meet Zhang Xiu's eyes.

"You two take a look at them." Zhang Xiu looked past Tong Ying and Tong Ling and looked at the crowd in the distance. The two also turned their heads. They saw those martial artists gathered in twos and threes. Perhaps they were chatting or playing, and there was no trace of nervousness on their faces.

"This time, the people I brought out were all old martial artists who have been with me for the past few years. I thought that their experience and martial arts are better than those young men, so when they come out, they will get twice the result with half the effort." Looking at those martial artists who were absent-minded, Zhang Xiu frowned more tightly. "But I didn't expect that their success in the past few years has become their inner demons. Their over-proactivity self-confidence has made these people lose their motivation to make progress, and even their essential caution has been reduced a lot..."

Tong Ying and Tong Ling listened quietly to Zhang Xiu's words. Both of them could hear that Eldest Brother was upset at this moment.

"Besides, the journey has been peaceful these two days. I'm afraid these people have lost their most fundamental vigilance. If a large group of thieves attack us now, we will be doomed eternally!"

Tong Ying thought for a moment and tried to say, "Since they have been under your command for many years, I think they will definitely follow your words..."

Zhang Xiu interrupted Tong Ying before she could finish her sentence. "It's because they've been helping me for so many years and I've been listening to them every day. I'm afraid they're very lenient with my words. Even if they try to remind me now, I'm afraid they won't be able to pull themselves together. Besides, these are just my guesses. How can they believe me?"

Tong Ying was silent. He naturally knew that Zhang Xiu was telling the truth. If he told these things to the martial artists now, perhaps anyone would think that Zhang Xiu was just exaggerating. However, Tong Ying had been with Zhang Xiu for many years and had already known the mind of this elder brother. He would never say anything he didn't have confidence in. Now that he said so, it was afraid that there would be no peace in the future. This was not some kind of prediction ability. It was just a wariness that had been honed by the martial artists who had been traveling outside for many years.

"Forget it, forget it. I just said something to you two. You should keep it in mind, and you don't have to tell others. After all, it's the first time you two guard the caravan. I'm afraid these people won't believe it. Just be more careful." Zhang Xiu whispered a few words to the Ladder and Heying Yang. Then she got on the horse and waved the whip at the people who were still sleeping, shouting, "Get ready to leave! Before sunset, you must rush to the Last County!"

Hearing his words, everyone stood up lazily and led their horses to go on the road leisurely. They glanced at each other, with a strange smile on their faces.

It rained in the sky for a few days, just like Zhang Xiu's face, which was so gloomy that it scared people. He didn't say a word even when there were only Tong Ying and Tong Ling in the field. He had scolded several martial artists who had made a little mistake, but most of the people in the team were still so slack and scattered.

Tong Ying and Tong Ling knew what Zhang Xiu was upset about, but they couldn't think of a solution. They had no choice but to stay away from him so as not to get into trouble. Therefore, they had a lot of time to spend alone, but they didn't know whether it was a good thing or bad thing.

"Our big brother's caravan will arrive at Ye County tomorrow, and Xu Chang will arrive in three days." Tong Ying glanced at the caravan slowly moving forward, and whispered to Zhang Xiu beside him.

"Okay." Zhang Xiu just replied faintly and looked up at the sky. "The peace before the storm!"