The Hermit of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 8

Tong Ying frowned and was about to say something when the horses in front of him suddenly became a little chaotic. After a while, they completely stopped.

Zhang Xiu's face changed and immediately galloped forward. Tong Ying thought for a moment and turned his head to look at Tong Ling. Seeing that she also looked at him, both of them saw the confusion in her eyes. They immediately tightened the horse's belly and hurried to chase her.

"What's going on!" Zhang Xiu came to the edge of the caravan. She glanced at the chaotic team and looked anxious. She pulled a martial artist over and asked. Tong Ying and Tong Ling happened to arrive at his side.

"There's a loser." Tong Ying recognized him. His last name was Jin, and he was also a qualified martial artist. Having been in the martial arts club for several years, Jin Liang said with a bitter face, "He failed to pull the cart and knocked over the truck. Now the cart is in the front, blocking the caravan's way."

"Humph!" Zhang Xiu snorted and let go of her hand which was holding the shiny clothes. She said, "Take me there!"

They rode to the front of the caravan, leaving the original carriage on the muddy road. The carriage was stuck between two bluestones, blocking the way of the caravan. Several workers pushed the cart in a hurry, but it seemed to be too tight for them to do anything even though they spent a long time driving it.

"Elder Bai, what's the matter?" Seeing this scene, Zhang Xiu turned to Bai Chi and asked.

"You don't know that there's something wrong with this beast. In just a while, there are eight horses, eleven TCC, and I'm afraid there's no way to go today." Bai Chi sighed and shook his head slightly.

Zhang Xiu searched around for a moment and saw several animals lying on the ground not far away. Several vet-like animals were walking around these animals. But they were so busy that they were sweating. The animals lying on the ground were still in the same state. It was clear that they couldn't do anything about it.

"Could it be that someone poisoned him?" Tong Ying frowned and softly asked when he saw this.

"It's impossible! I have checked all the people in the caravan in the past few days, including the livestock, food and water. There is no chance that they will be poisoned!" Zhang Xiu said firmly.

"In this case, Mr. Zhang, how can you explain the fact that so many horses and seeds fall ill at the same time?" Deng Mao, who was standing aside, looked at Zhang Xiu with a hint of contempt in his eyes.

Zhang Xiu did not answer and just kept silent. Now the situation was obvious to all. It was definitely done on purpose. Otherwise, it could not be explained. But as an experienced martial artist, how could Zhang Xiu let others poison animals so easily? Perhaps this was a big question in everyone's mind.

"I didn't expect that Master Zhang was afraid of facing the reality. Are you afraid that if you admit it, your prestige will be ruined?" Deng Mao sneered and said, "It seems that a meeting is not as good as a reputation!"

"Humph, my eldest senior brother has no room for a villain like you!" Tong Ling, who had always been outspoken, rebutted Deng Mao.

"Hahahaha, if that's the case, then I would like to see how the famous Zhang Youwei will cope with today's situation!" After that, Deng Mao did not even look at Zhang Xiu and the other two, but turned and left.

"Don't mind him, Youwei. He's always so arrogant and doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. Don't take him to heart." Bai Chi called out to Deng Mao but did not receive any response. He turned his head and cupped his hands apologetically at Zhang Xiu. "I think these animals will recover tomorrow. Youwei don't need to worry too much."

"It doesn't matter. Maybe I was indeed careless today." Zhang Xiu waved her hand and lowered her head in silence, as if she was thinking about something.

"It's late now, but our caravan can't carry cars. Youwei, you see..." Bai Chi glanced at his men, who were trying to push the car out of his way, and looked at Zhang Xiu with some hesitation.

"Well, we can only rest here tonight. We can go on the road tomorrow when the horses are better." Zhang Xiu thought for a while and finally shook her head to make this decision. She looked up at the sky and frowned. "It will rain heavily tonight. Please find a good place to pitch camp for everyone, Elder Bai."

"In that case, I will go and arrange it now. I will first instruct them to prepare a fire and make a meal. Later, I will personally go and find a suitable place to rest tonight." Bai Chi nodded. He turned around and swiftly left.

"Jin Liang, order everyone to be divided into three classes tonight. Be careful and don't let others take advantage of the opportunity." Zhang Xiu sent Bai Hou far away. After thinking for a while, she called Jin Liang and said, "Besides, for tonight's dinner, everyone should eat their own food and water. Don't eat the food of the caravan."

"Yes." Jin Liang nodded. He quickly walked to the most crowded place of the masters and conveyed Zhang Xiu's words to the crowd.

"First Senior Brother, are you afraid..." Tong Ying couldn't help asking.

"It's hard to guard against bandits day and night. I've been worrying that outsiders will covet our escort caravan, so I'm focusing on the surrounding area," Zhang Xiu whispered, "but today's incident reminds me that I'm a wise man, so I'm afraid that something may go wrong. I only focus on outsiders and neglect the possibility of spies among caravans. What's more, these caravans clearly understand the value of the goods we escort this time. It's not impossible that some of them are greedy."

Tong Ying and Tong Ling looked at each other with a trace of worry in their eyes. Obviously, they both thought that Zhang Xiu's words were very likely to be true.

"What's more, he is scheming. This time, we have already fallen into his trap. We must not be careless again." Zhang Xiu said seriously, "So you must be careful tonight..."

"Don't worry, Elder Senior Brother. We won't sleep tonight, either. We'll join the person who is on duty at night." Tong Ying understood the meaning of the song, so he nodded quickly and said.

"First Senior Brother, are you suspecting that Deng Mao might be..." Tong Ling was still able to think of what to say. Without even thinking, she opened her mouth.

"Hey, Junior Sister, be careful with your words." Tong Ying quickly interrupted Tong Ling. He quickly searched the surroundings from the corner of his eyes to make sure that there were no caravans nearby. Then he lowered his voice and said, "There's no evidence. You can't make wild guesses."

"Hmph!" Tong Ling shot him a look of annoyance, but she still complied and stopped the conversation.

"You're right, Younger Brother. It's not the right time to argue with the caravan now. We'd better be prepared. After all, it's safer to be prepared." Zhang Xiu nodded and said sincerely.

"Got it, senior brother," Tong Ling lowered her head and said in a low voice. She then secretly kicked Tong Ying's calf.

Zhang Xiu pretended that she didn't see the boy in pain and said, "I'll comfort the caravan first. You two be careful."

After that, Zhang Xiu did not wait for their response and walked to the place where the caravan was the densest.

"It's all your fault. Now, let elder brother scold me!" When Zhang Xiu went far away, Tong Ling glared at Tong Ying and said angrily.

"What... what does it have to do with me?" Tong Ying asked with a confused look.

"Hmph!" Tong Ling's long, shapely eyebrows shot up. With another snort, she turned and walked away with large strides.

"Hey, Ling'er, where are you going?" Tong Ying was confused by her little temper. When she saw Tong Ling turn around and leave, she quickly chased after her.

###Chapter5,Journey

The mountain wind blew, and the weather was very cold. The young man raised his head and looked into the distance. There was a bright white light on the horizon, but the thick clouds above his head were black like ink. As Zhang Xiu said just now, the heavy rain tonight would probably not escape.

Fortunately, Bai Chi often walked outside, so the terrain he chose was very good. All the caravans had tents on top of them. In this way, even if it rained heavily, it would not hinder his rest.

"Ling'er, that's not a good idea." Outside a huge tent, Tong Ying deliberately lowered her voice and said to Tong Ling, "If someone else finds out, then..."

Tong Ling also lowered her voice and gently leaned her face against the tent. "Oh, why are you so fussy? I've long disliked Deng Mao. Today, he even provoked eldest brother in public. He must have something up his sleeve. If you don't figure it out, how can you sleep well tonight?" The voice inside came into Tong Ling's ears clearly.

Tong Ying didn't dare to say that there was some selfishness in Tong Ling's words, but he was also a little bit confused about today's Dengmao's words and deeds. Originally, under natural disasters and man-made disasters, everyone should work together to help each other get through the difficulties of the city. However, this person took this opportunity to swear to his companions. It was hard to say whether there was a conspiracy in it. Therefore, Tong Ying didn't say much and just like Tong Ling, he put his head on the tent to listen to the voices inside.

"Have you arranged everything well tonight?" A man's voice came from inside. Tong Ying and Tong Ling looked at each other and obviously recognized that it was Deng Mao's voice.

"Reporting to the coach, everything is ready." This time it was Bai Chi who spoke, and his voice was full of respect, which made Tong Ying more confused in his heart. A manager of such a large chamber of commerce of the Bai Corporation was so polite to the vagrant who had been invited by him, which was itself intriguing.

"That's good. When you succeed, I will ask the Sect Master for credit for you." Deng Mao's words were full of confidence under his control. "Such a great contribution. After the Sect Master takes over the world, you will be a meritorious official. The high officials and rich salaries will definitely be yours."

"Thank you, Your Eminence! Thank you, Your Eminence! I'll never forget your great kindness!" Bai Chi's words were full of flattery. "This time, it's all due to your wonderful tricks. Otherwise, how could you succeed in one stroke? Speaking of it, Your Eminence, you should be the first credit!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha..." Their maniacal laughter filled the tent, and when it reached the duo's ears, they felt a surge of disgust.

"Well, lead that embroidery to the back hill later. I'll take care of it myself..." Deng Mao said with a pause.

"Ah, they're going to deal with First Senior Brother!" Tong Ling was so agitated that she forgot to lower her voice.

"Who is it? Come out!" Deng Mao and Bai Chi found the problem at the same time and turned their eyes to Tong Ying and Tong Ling, who were eavesdropping.

"Oh no, let's go!" Tong Ying's face turned cold as he grabbed Tong Ling's hand and ran.

"The teacher?" By the time Deng Mao and Bai Chi came out, the two boys had already left quietly at night. Bai Chi looked at Deng Mao and asked for his opinion.