Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang blinked, one listening with confusion, the other completely bewildered.
None of them were good people; they were all putting on an act.
Things had been explained so clearly to them, and they even knew the real inside story, so how could they not understand?
Both of them now understood the point that the Qi family feared, and they were quite pleased. They hadn't expected that after being falsely accused, a bad thing would turn into a good one; their luck was so good, and the dark clouds over their future had dispersed in such a way.
Now, it seemed the suffering of being arrested and tortured in prison was worth it.
Just then, a waiter from the tower ran up, scanned the group, and reported, “Proprietress, Zhixu City has lifted the blockade, and the passage to the outside world is clear again.
Our prepared goods can be sent out at any time.”
Lan Qiaoyan nodded slightly, stood up, and commanded, “Then let’s depart.”
“Yes.” Old Tan responded, then looked at Shi Chun and the other man.
“Are you two continuing together, or do you plan to stay and continue to amuse yourselves?”
Wu Jinliang quickly said, “Let’s go, let’s go.”
Shi Chun also nodded, “Let’s go together, let’s go together.”
This cursed place, everything that needed to be concluded had been, and all the suffering had been endured. Neither of them wanted to stay for another moment.
The legendary glamorous world outside had long been yearned for, and at this moment, their eyes couldn’t help but gleam.
Fortunately, they hadn’t become dizzy with joy yet.
Shi Chun again put on the gentle smile he had practiced countless times and bowed to Lan Qiaoyan, “Thank you, Proprietress, for your care over the years. Shi Chun bids farewell now.
Your great kindness will be repaid later!”
“That…” Wu Jinliang, who also bowed, hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he brazenly called out, “Mother, I’m leaving, take care. Same for me, your great kindness will be repaid later!” Then he lowered his head somewhat fearfully, picked up the large saber he had just put down on the ground, and dared not look up.
Still daring to call her mother? Lan Qiaoyan rolled her eyes again at his words, intending to scold him, but for some inexplicable reason, she herself didn’t know why, that big man’s “Mother” made her nose sting a little. She pursed her lips, feeling like she had seen a ghost.
She uncharacteristically did not scold the big man again. She turned around, moved to the window, and said with her back to them, “The living conditions outside are better than here, but people always want too much.
For the road ahead, you two must take good care of yourselves. All right, you may all go.
Old Tan, take them.”
“Yes.” Old Tan responded, then extended his hand to invite the two.
Shi Chun and the other man successively bowed again to the woman’s back at the window, then turned and followed Old Tan.
There weren’t many people from Far-Gazing Tower delivering goods, just ten. They looked empty-handed, with nothing on them.
Old Tan entrusted Shi Chun and the other man to them, personally seeing them off. He only returned after sending everyone into the entrance of the barbican.
When he turned around, he found Lan Qiaoyan had also arrived, with the bare-chested, bearded blacksmith beside her.
Old Tan was a bit surprised.
It was one thing for the proprietress to be worried about the goods, but why was the blacksmith here? He walked over, and before he could speak, Lan Qiaoyan explained first, “The blacksmith said he wanted to see the big man off.”
Old Tan was immediately puzzled, staring at the blacksmith, sizing him up and down.
“See Wu Jinliang off? When did you two big men become so close?”
The blacksmith blew his beard and glared. “Close, my foot! When he forged that big saber back then, I told him he used too much material and the weapon was too heavy, that fighting in the Land of Exile with it was suicide.
But he said I was wrong, that not only would it not lead to death, but it contained the secret to survival. I didn’t believe him then, so he made a bet with me, saying that when he left alive, I would believe him.
The wager was that when he left, I would personally see him off.”
Now, it wasn’t just Old Tan who was curious; Lan Qiaoyan asked, “So you lost?”
The blacksmith grumbled, “I lost to that big man’s shamelessness.”
Old Tan couldn’t help himself. “Quickly, tell us, what secret to survival was hidden in his big saber?”
“Heh.” The blacksmith revealed a look of vexation mixed with amusement. “Before, when he came to the blacksmith shop to bid farewell, and I heard he was leaving, I asked him to reveal the secret.
That’s when I realized that scoundrel had long forgotten the bet. I’ve been thinking about it all these years, and he only remembered when I reminded him.
What’s hateful is that after remembering, that fellow actually reneged! He didn’t want to reveal the saber’s secret to survival, saying it was a joke and to let it go. How could I be so easily fooled? Of course, I had to count him as having lost the bet and settle the score to punish him.
He couldn’t take it anymore and then revealed the truth.”
As he said the words “truth,” his expression was somewhat contorted.
With such anticipation built, Lan Qiaoyan personally urged, “Quickly, what happened?”
The blacksmith let out another cold chuckle, shaking his head. “He said that these years he had more than just experienced a hundred battles.
Every time two groups of people rushed into battle, he was always the first to jump out, shouting and charging ahead. Everyone praised his bravery, but in reality, he was always the last one to arrive.
There was nothing he could do; everyone understood, who could blame him when his saber was too heavy, and he couldn’t run fast?”
Lan Qiaoyan and Old Tan were speechless, instantly understanding.
Especially Lan Qiaoyan, a shiver ran down her spine.
This was the cheap son who called her mother; she had just felt a pang in her nose because of him and couldn’t help but follow the blacksmith to see him off.
“He said that running at the very end allowed him to avoid strong enemies, and he could choose opponents that were advantageous for him to fight.
He said that he could live until now, and that precious saber deserved great credit.
He even asked me to keep it a secret for him, saying that if he met someone he liked in this Land of Exile in the future, he could teach them this life-saving method.
This shameless scoundrel, I am truly impressed by him. I admit defeat and kept my promise to see him off, but he actually forgot again.
I ran over and couldn’t even clearly see his back, only his butt.”
“Alright, alright, don’t be angry.” Old Tan, trying to suppress his laughter, quickly urged him to calm down. “Maybe it’s not that he’s forgetful; he was caught by the city guards before and put through a rough time.
He’s covered in injuries, and it was quite a bit of suffering, so it’s normal for him not to remember this for a while.”
“Hmph.” The blacksmith flung his hand and left.
Lan Qiaoyan looked up at the sky, her face also tight, and then she left.
Only Old Tan remained at the entrance, watching, guarding against anything that might prevent a normal departure.
Returning to Far-Gazing Tower, Lan Qiaoyan found a distinguished guest in the room.
Du Huoguan stood alone by the window with his hands behind his back, the shadow of the window frame on his face.
Lan Qiaoyan waved her hand, dismissing her subordinates, and smiled, “What wind brings the Prison Inspector here?”
Du Huoguan did not turn around, and said indifferently with his back to her, “The big and small affairs within these twelve cities of the Living Prison, if one were to truly compare, even I might not be as clear as you.
This is also a testament to your Far-Gazing Tower’s capability. You generally don’t interfere in matters outside of business, especially when it involves the city guards.
You wouldn’t act rashly without knowing the depth of things. Since you mentioned that batch of supplies, you must already know how they entered.
Tell me, who is the internal spy in the city guards?”
Lan Qiaoyan’s smile vanished. Her eyes flickered for a moment, then she smiled again, “The Prison Inspector overestimates me; I truly do not know.”
Du Huoguan: “The reason I came alone is that I don’t want a third person to hear. You can rest assured and speak freely.”
Lan Qiaoyan smiled, her reply firm, “I truly do not know.”
Du Huoguan suddenly turned, staring coldly at her.
“You came to me, and I gave you face. If you conduct business this way, I’m afraid you won’t last long.”
Lan Qiaoyan paused slightly, then sighed, “The Prison Inspector already has a target in mind for who the internal spy is. Why trouble me? I truly do not know.”
Du Huoguan’s eyes flashed with a thoughtful expression. He said nothing more and strode away.
Lan Qiaoyan respectfully saw him off.
Inside the barbican, the group of delivery people from Far-Gazing Tower all took out the Universe Bags hidden on their bodies and poured out a large amount of items for inspection.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances. It wasn’t the first time they had seen Universe Bags; they had seen one in Qi Ziru’s hands.
Unlike Far-Gazing Tower’s large quantity of goods, which took a long time to inspect, the small amount of items on the two of them were quickly cleared after being casually swept over by magic.
Afterwards, the two followed instructions to a small government office at the base of the wall.
Inside sat a white-bearded old man who verified their identities and asked them to confirm if the recorded Merit for them was correct.
The Merit they had accumulated was exactly six thousand, no more, no less.
In the previous distribution, they had given all other Merit to the rest of East Nine Plains, keeping a round number for themselves.
And the amount of Merit sufficient for departure was exactly five thousand.
After confirming the amount was correct, the white-bearded old man took out a large roll of something resembling light, white silk gauze. He spread out a portion of it on the desk, immediately revealing neatly attached, densely packed gold dust.
Each grain of gold dust was of uniform size and appearance, like osmanthus petals, golden-red yet emitting a purple flame-like aura.
Their eyes lit up.
Although it was their first time seeing it, they had heard of it for a long time and knew it was the currency used in the cultivation world outside, called Sandalwood Gold, commonly known as Wood Gold. The purple flame-like aura inherent to it could be used to verify its authenticity and was also a frequent component in refining treasures.
It could also be used for illumination; one grain in hand could light a dark room.
The white-bearded old man pointed at the gold dust on the white silk, gesticulating up and down.
“One vertical line is one hundred gold. Cutting sixty lines for you will be six thousand gold.”
As he spoke, he counted out sixty lines in front of them, then swiftly cut them. He handed them to Wu Jinliang first, telling him to count them on the spot and sign for them.
Once they left, if they found the amount was short, it would not be acknowledged here.
Shi Chun’s portion was naturally not left out; sixty lines were cut for him as well.
After confirming the amounts were correct, both thanked the old man.
After that came the wait, waiting for those from Far-Gazing Tower to leave together.
Although Lan Qiaoyan had said the Qi family wouldn’t dare to make a move again, who knew if the Qi family was aware of this situation right now? The two felt it was better to be cautious.
Far-Gazing Tower had too many goods.
The two waited for a full hour before they could finally depart together.
The exit passage was a wide corridor within the barbican.
The deeper they went, the darker it became, until they couldn’t see their hands in front of their faces, but a point of white light always remained ahead.
Although Shi Chun and the other man were walking this path for the first time, they had heard about it countless times.
That white light was the exit to the outside world. Their hearts swelled with emotion, becoming more and more excited as they walked…