Chapter 42: Canghe County

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The burly man with the Wolf Fang Club spoke rudely and showed no courtesy even after Gu Dajiang introduced himself, startling everyone present.

The villagers who had been relaxed moments ago suddenly became uneasy, craning their necks forward to see what was happening.

Gu Sheng couldn’t help but grip the longbow in his hand tightly.

If a conflict truly broke out, this would be his lifeline.

Gu Dajiang’s expression shifted slightly. His dark face showed no anger as he held back the fury rising in Gu Xiaojiang’s face beside him. He smiled and said:

"Ah, so it seems a ’dragon crossing the river’ has arrived. Please forgive me for failing to recognize you."

The burly man grinned, baring his sharp teeth.

"I’m from Yun Province; of course you wouldn’t recognize me. Enough nonsense—pay up to pass!"

With that, he swung the massive Wolf Fang Club from his shoulder, the weapon’s pointed spikes gleaming coldly. It slammed into the ground with a force that made the earth shake.

"Two hundred taels. Not a single tael less. If you don’t pay, I’ll take it myself!"

Gu Dajiang’s eyes narrowed gradually.

He thought to himself, "Since when did Canghe County have a Blood Refining Realm martial artist I’ve never heard of? Could he be a runaway force from the wars in Yun Province?"

Judging by the demeanor of the people behind the man—very different from ordinary mountain bandits—he quickly deduced their identity.

Two hundred taels wasn’t a negligible amount, nor was it a fortune. Gu’s Manor’s annual earnings barely reached ten thousand taels.

Gu Dajiang dismounted his horse and walked toward the opposing strong archers.

His demeanor was steady, showing not a trace of fear.

The burly man opposite him was momentarily stunned, beginning to view this seemingly ordinary farm elder in a different light. He had met many people, but few possessed such courage.

Gu Dajiang stepped forward slowly, his strides wide and deliberate. Clear and deep footprints appeared behind him, causing the burly man’s pupils to shrink. A Blood Refining Realm expert!

"Meeting a hero for the first time, let me offer a hundred taels of silver for you and your brothers to enjoy some refreshment. From now on, I hope Gu’s Manor’s caravans will receive your care and consideration when passing through Bull Mountain."

Gu Dajiang smiled warmly, exuding an almost spring-like demeanor, though no one could ignore the presence of this elder farmer.

In this region, a Blood Refining Realm martial artist was undeniably a formidable force.

Gu Dajiang advanced alone, balancing power and sincerity. Watching him, Gu Sheng silently nodded; anyone who had climbed and clawed their way to fame wasn’t a simple character.

The burly man hesitated, his fierce aura visibly subdued.

He stared intently at Gu Dajiang before bursting into laughter.

"Alright! Gu Dajiang, right? You’ve got guts!"

"I, Wang Chong, respect men like you. I’ll take this hundred taels and call you a friend."

Gu Dajiang laughed heartily.

"So it turns out you’re Wang Chong, the hero. Forgive me for my oversight."

"Brothers, make way! Let them pass."

His followers immediately stepped aside, and the caravan from Gu’s Manor hurriedly passed through.

Gu Sheng kept his eyes forward, maintaining his composure despite his curiosity; he didn’t want to stir up trouble. As an expert in archery, he sensed that those holding the strong bows weren’t ordinary mountain bandits.

Once everyone was safely through, Gu Dajiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and instructed someone to bring over the hundred taels of silver.

If a fight could be avoided, it was better not to resort to violence. The opponent was also a Blood Refining Realm martial artist, and he wasn’t confident in a confrontation—besides, they were secretly carrying precious materials such as demon wolf blood for refining Blood Strengthening Pills; losing them was out of the question.

Wang Chong and his men broke into smiles.

The two exchanged fist salutes and a few polite words before Gu Dajiang followed the caravan forward.

Watching Gu Dajiang’s retreating figure, Wang Chong’s smile gradually turned cold.

One of his underlings leaned over and asked:

"Boss, a hundred taels is too little—it’s not even enough for the brothers to spend on women. That fat sheep clearly has more than that!"

Wang Chong smacked the man’s head and cursed with a laugh:

"You itching to get under a woman’s skirts already, you idiot? Don’t rush. These people are clearly heading into town for supplies; it’s not like they won’t return. You, send someone to investigate this Gu Dajiang’s background."

"We’re new here, unfamiliar with the place; we can’t afford to kick an iron plate by mistake."

"Yes, yes! Boss, you’re the wise one!"

...

Meanwhile.

The atmosphere in Gu’s Manor’s caravan felt somewhat subdued. Everyone realized that even Gu Dajiang’s reputation wasn’t all-encompassing, and their admiration for him waned slightly. Gu Xiaojiang, in particular, looked like a defeated rooster, utterly crestfallen.

Gu Sheng shook his head faintly.

He thought Gu Dajiang’s approach was correct. If they acted tough and started a fight, the cost would be far more than a hundred taels of silver.

With so many burdens in tow, casualties wouldn’t just be one or two.

If a hundred taels could secure peace for future crossings of Bull Mountain, it wasn’t a bad deal—it was just worrying that the bandits might not know when to stop.

Images of the bandits flashed through his mind.

Though they appeared disorganized, there was a subtle sense of formation about them. Some among them gave off a distinctly sinister and bloodthirsty impression.

"Refugee soldiers from Yun Province? Even the Canghe County government can’t handle them?"

Gu Sheng’s heart raced.

"Let’s hope everything goes smoothly..."

As the caravan slowly exited Bull Mountain, the terrain ahead opened up. Mountain bandits weren’t foolish enough to rob people directly under the watchful eyes of government officials—that would be suicidal.

Gradually nearing Canghe County, the gloom from the forced toll earlier started to dissipate, and a lighter mood spread through the convoy.

"Asheng, once we get to Canghe County, I’ll take you to an interesting place!"

Gu Erniu winked mischievously.

Gu Sheng’s mouth twitched.

"Look! The city of Canghe County is ahead!"

Gu Sheng raised his gaze, his spirit instantly lifting. In the distance stood an ancient city rising from the earth, its massive walls exuding a profound sense of history, towering five to six zhang high, with corner towers and defensive bastions fully intact.

Gu Sheng marveled inwardly—this was merely a county city, yet it boasted such imposing walls.

Then again, considering the presence of extraordinary martial artists in this world, it didn’t seem out of place.

Some tenant farmers entering the city for the first time stared in awe and admiration, deeply moved by the sight. The walls radiated a sense of security; to live within them someday would surely feel like divine fortune.

But that was wishful thinking—the cost of housing in the city was exorbitant, beyond the imagination of lower-class tenant farmers. Even ten lifetimes wouldn’t be enough to afford a house.

The closer they got to the city, the denser the crowd became.

At the city gates.

Lines stretched long as people waited to enter.

On the walls, soldiers stood watch with vigilant gazes. Above the city gate hung a plaque engraved with "Canghe County City," and a team of black-clothed guards patrolled the entrance, maintaining order.

Gu Renxu approached and exchanged a few words with the patrol captain, allowing the caravan from Gu’s Manor to pass through without issue.

Inside the city.

The scene transformed entirely: bluestone roads stretched ahead; stores and street vendors lined the sides, calling out their wares amidst bustling crowds and carts. Though it couldn’t compare to the bustling cities of Gu Sheng’s past life, it was worlds apart from Gu’s Manor.

Canghe County had been spared from war; everything remained intact.

Gu Sheng observed his surroundings in fascination as the caravan arrived at a secluded courtyard. This was a property owned by Gu’s Manor in the city, used as a place to rest when needed. Gu Renxu’s voice rang out:

"For the next few days, feel free to move about the city. Keep your temporary authorization slip with you to avoid being expelled. Once the purchasing tasks are complete, return here to leave together—don’t be late!"

The tenant farmers hurriedly nodded, collected their slips, and dispersed in different directions.

Gu Renxu then found Gu Sheng and arranged a resting spot for him and Gu Erniu in the courtyard before leaving to attend his own matters.

Gu Sheng thought he saw Gu Dajiang departing with Gu Xiaojiang alone, possibly to address something private.

He didn’t dwell on it, instead accompanying Gu Erniu to wander the county city. By then, the sky was beginning to darken; they decided to sell their furs the following day.

A short while later.

Gu Sheng’s face froze in surprise:

"This is the interesting place you mentioned?"

He looked up to see a group of people gathered in a circle—at the center was a storyteller.

"""