Thereās no denying that Mr. Pei truly dotes on his daughter. Just to visit Nine Yin Mountain to take a master, he dispatched three masters alongside her and a hundred cavalry guards. Truly the pomp of a high-status family.
Of course, the Pei Family didnāt want to be too ostentatious; after all, peopleās hearts are unpredictable. A too grand spectacle might invite schemes, and making such a fanfare to acknowledge another sect might also cause discontentment from East Splendor Mountain.
Thus, under Mr. Peiās meticulous plans, Pei Jingās hundred riders were nominally going out of the pass to patrol the border and sweep demons. Along the way, there were also several hundred merchants from Jiangzhou and dozens of carriages to disguise their intentions. Pei Yuhuan and her companions traveled with the merchant convoy, ostensibly visiting relatives.
These people arrived just in time, and Huangfu Yi voluntarily ceded his position beside the ox carriage to the Pei familyās cavalry, finding a momentās respite trailing at the end of the convoy.
Little did he expect this brief respite to be interrupted when suddenly a rider broke out from the merchant convoy, dashing straight at him.
Huangfu Yi focused his gaze and saw a young girl with red lips and white teeth, dressed as a man, riding a chestnut horse. She approached within thirty paces without a word. With a "hula," she raised her hand and launched a shower of flying locust stones directly at his head!
Luckily, Huangfu Yi grew up on the grasslands and was adept in horsemanship. From afar, he observed the girl gritting her teeth, raising her eyebrows, and glaring with hostility. Prepared for her attack, he leaned back, nimbly dodging the stones, and swiftly drew out his nine-section whip to parry.
"Ping!"
A metallic clash rang out, sparks flying everywhere. The girl savagely swung the Mandarin Duck Sabers in her hand, but the blow was blocked by the iron whip, leaving her hands trembling.
"Bastard! Return my fatherās whip!"
The girl shouted fiercely, twirling the saber flowers and slicing at Huangfu Yiās wrist, forcing him to release his grip while reaching out to snatch the whip.
However, Huangfu Yi was far stronger, swifter, and more skilled in horsemanship. With a single hand twist, he trapped the Mandarin Duck Sabers. As the girl lunged forward attempting to seize the whip, her imbalance was revealed, allowing Huangfu Yi to seize the opportunity. He pulled, lifted her by the waist, and with a smooth motion, yanked the girl from her horse, pinning her to the saddle.
"Bastard!"
The girl struggled desperately, yet she was no match for Huangfu Yi. Suspended in mid-air and pressed against the saddle, she found herself unable to move.
"Chief Instructor!"
"Feiluan!"
"Spare her!"
At once, people surrounded them, and with one look at their attire, Huangfu Yi understood.
"Weiyuan Escort Agency... Since it belongs to your father, Iāll return it to you."
With that, Huangfu Yi released the nine-section whip, single-handedly hoisted the girl down from her horse.
"Scoundrel! Die!"
The girl, Feiluan, still wanted to fight, but the Pei familyās cavalry charged forward, separating them.
"Young Hero Bai, the Military Cavalry Captain invites you."
Huangfu Yi didnāt argue further with the girl, instead riding with the cavalry to the front lines, side by side with Leader Pei Yan.
Pei Yan, with his formidable power, naturally knew well of the commotion behind them. However, being part of the Pei family, he knew that they still needed Bai Yiās Immortal Fate on this trip. Therefore, he didnāt waste words and casually tossed a skin sack over.
"Dan Talisman Golden Jade."
Huangfu Yi looked into the skin sack, seeing it indeed contained elixir pills, talisman paper, gold blocks, and jade stones. He furrowed his brow slightly.
"I have already accepted Mr. Peiās gift."
Though they used some underhanded tactics, they did yield a flying sword and only asked for one opportunity in return. How could that not be enough?
Pei Yan coldly responded,
"Itās from the State Mansion. The man you killed at the market was Chen Ba, a loose cultivator from Jiangzhou, a wanted criminal by the government with many murders on his hands. A hero eliminating harm for the people deserves acknowledgment."
The death soldier who did dirty work for the Pei family? Sold out just like that...
Listening to the faint sound of the girlās sobs behind him, Huangfu Yi remained silently detached.
The Gate Valve truly is heartless...
Pei Yan was a lofty General, who, having momentarily subdued the conflict within the convoy, cared little to entangle with a commoner like Bai Yi.
However, since the Family Head intended to win over Bai Yi, they would not allow a minor issue to spoil the relationship. Before long, Pei Zhong caught up, riding alongside Huangfu Yi,
"Brother Bai, apologies, Ren Feiluan acted out of grief, seeking to avenge her father.
But you donāt need to worry about Weiyuan Escort Agency; the Pei family will surely compensate."
Huangfu Yi glanced at him,
"What is there for me to worry about? Wandering the Jianghu, licking blood off the bladeās edge, isnāt it just you kill me, and I kill you?
If she possesses the capability to exact revenge, sheās welcome to try. If you plan to use me and then dispose of me, Iām ready for that too."
Pei Zhong stroked his chin, looking at Ren Feiluan, still sobbing while clutching the nine-section whip.
"Youāre quite interesting. Initially, I thought you were some country bumpkin who had offended the Pei family due to a mere stroke of luck.
But now it seems youāve experienced quite a bit of life and death. Few young men possess the steadfastness you display. Could you be a reincarnated Immortal?"
Huangfu Yi replied indifferently,
"Iām but an ordinary talent, with the only difference being that my parents passed early, and Iāve already shed my tears."
"That being so, why do you still concern yourself with vanquishing demons?"
Pei Zhong inquired curiously,
"Seeking the Dao and Immortality is typically for eternal life and becoming immortal, isnāt it?
Now that demons run rampant, it isnāt like the times of the Immortal Venerable. Whatās the point of slaying demons and eliminating devils?
Moreover, you donāt seem to be in pursuit of riches, so are you aiming to be a hero?"
Huangfu Yi shook his head,
"In the village, itās not just my family. With my parents gone, itās the kindness of others that raised me.
Now, so many old, weak, and women are trapped by freezing snow and ice. How could I abandon them to fend for myself?"