The night enveloped the scene.
Carrying the slumbering Li Junqing, Chen Tang finally walked out of the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, crossed several more mountain ridges, and arrived on the main road.
The surroundings were silent.
Chen Tang glanced around to determine his position.
While the two were chatting earlier, Li Junqing had mentioned that she was from Wu'an County.
But this place was over two hundred li from Wu'an County. Carrying her all the way there would be too tiring, and Chen Tang didn't know where her home was either.
This place was closer to Changze County, just a few li away.
Chen Tang planned to take her home and settle her down first, then have her join a caravan to Wu'an County after she awoke the next day.
He had stayed on the Snow Mountain for a month, guessing that the fat old man and the pretty woman had likely left long ago.
Once Li Junqing fell asleep, she quieted down and stopped moving.
Chen Tang let out a long breath, carrying Li Junqing as he headed toward Changze County.
He hadn't walked far when he heard hurried hoofbeats behind him.
Horses galloping on the main road were normal enough.
However, riding horses in such cold, late at night, likely meant something urgent.
Chen Tang glanced back but didn't pay it much heed, just stepped aside on the road and continued walking along the edge.
As the rider and horse approached, their speed gradually slowed.
Chen Tang frowned slightly and glanced sideways.
He saw a man in brocade and cotton robes with a long sword slung at his waist, wearing a crown over bound hair, a clean-shaven and fair face, with refined features, appearing around thirty years old, looking more like a scholar.
While Chen Tang was observing him, the fair-faced scholar was also examining Chen Tang, with his gaze lingering on Li Junqing for a moment.
"What is your name, young brother, and where are you from?"
The fair-faced scholar advanced with his horse, blocking Chen Tang. He cupped his hands slightly from horseback and asked with a smile.
"My name is Su Mo."
Chen Tang casually made up a name, then asked, "Who are you, and what do you want by stopping me?"
Seeing Chen Tang's reaction, appearing genuinely not to recognize him, the scholar thought to himself, "Better to test him."
"Heh."
The fair-faced scholar chuckled lightly and said, "I'll be straightforward. I want the woman you're carrying. Name your price."
Chen Tang raised an eyebrow slightly.
These people really were persistent.
However, unlike Bo Yan's group, this one didn't start with combat.
Chen Tang said, "Ten thousand taels."
"What?"
The fair-faced scholar was momentarily taken aback, then smirked, "That's a steep price. What woman is worth ten thousand taels!"
Chen Tang replied, "She is worth that much."
The fair-faced scholar pondered for a moment, then said, "It seems you and my employer might be on the same side. We are fellow travelers."
Chen Tang felt a stir and asked, "That's not certain; who is your employer?"
"Naturally, it's the Huo Family."
The fair-faced scholar paused slightly, then said with a smile.
The Huo Family?
Never heard of them.
Chen Tang certainly didn't want to get involved in these matters.
However, he had promised to escort Li Junqing down the mountain safely.
Chen Tang said, "I was just about to deliver her to the Huo Family, but you're too late."
"Is that so?"
The fair-faced scholar smiled slyly, "The Huo Family is in Wu'an County, but you are heading toward Changze County."
Chen Tang knew he was caught.
There was no point in pretending any longer.
Carrying someone while fighting was truly inconvenient.
Furthermore, he didn't know this fair-faced scholar's cultivation, leaving him uneasy.
After all, it wasn't the Immortal Martial Realm, and there was no system to scan his level.
In this world, to assess someone's cultivation, one had to rely on their known reputation, visible cultivation, or personal experience and insight.
Or by actually engaging in combat with them.
Like Li Junqing previously judging Chen Tang's cultivation as around Ninth Grade after observing his fight with Bo Yan.
For Chen Tang and the scholar, meeting for the first time, he hadn't heard of the scholar's reputation.
He couldn't discern the scholar's level.
He even found it challenging to ascertain his cultivation.
After calculating the risks, he saw only one solution.
Escape was the best strategy!
Even in fleeing, he needed the best escape route.
Running along the main road, he couldn't outrun a horse.
Especially with someone on his back.
Realizing this, Chen Tang looked behind the scholar, feigning surprise, and shouted, "Brother Huo, you're here!"
"Hmm?"
The fair-faced scholar's heart sank, drawing his long sword from his waist and looking back.
Behind him was empty, no Brother He.
Turning back, he saw Chen Tang had already leapt off the road, heading into the Snow Ridge forest!
The scholar laughed silently.
Clever from childhood, known for his strategic mind in Wu'an County, today he was tricked by a youngster.
"Where do you think you're going!"
The fair-faced scholar shouted, slapping his mount and leaping several zhang in pursuit of Chen Tang with elegant body technique.
Chen Tang glanced back, seeing the scholar with his long sword, robes fluttering elegantly.
Was this the legendary Lightweight Skill?
Honestly, it was quite impressive...
And his speed was indeed faster!
Originally thinking to use the snowy terrain to reach the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, Chen Tang barely covered much ground before the scholar caught up.
Buzz!
The sound of the sword humming came from behind, emitting a chilling presence!
The long sword lunged toward Li Junqing as though to pierce through both, killing them with one strike!
Chen Tang was shocked, quickly lunging forward while placing Li Junqing in his arms and continued sprinting ahead.
Seeing this, the scholar felt reassured for the most part.
He chased with a smile.
Before long, he caught up with Chen Tang again.
Seeing no other escape, Chen Tang shouted, "Stop! I'll put her down and fight you!"
"Alright."
The scholar indeed halted.
Chen Tang set Li Junqing aside, inhaling deeply, preparing to seize a chance to use Divine Light Power, hoping to possibly defeat him!
This fair-faced scholar's strength was far beyond his own.
Perhaps even at Eighth Grade, he couldn't stop him.
Even with Divine Light Power, Chen Tang had little confidence.
After a brief standoff, they suddenly attacked!
However, Chen Tang dashed toward the scholar, while the scholar aimed for Li Junqing, sword glinting fiercely.
The sword was incredibly fast, slicing toward Li Junqing's throat!
"Wretched scoundrel, how vile!"
Seeing this, Chen Tang shouted, leaping into Divine Illumination State, Spirit Platform Clarity!
Everything around became exceptionally clear, and even the scholar's sword seemed to slow!
Chen Tang threw himself over Li Junqing, rolling over the snow to dodge the scholar's blade.
"Oh?"
The scholar let out a mild exclamation, showing surprise.
In fact, he had already pulled back once Chen Tang lunged at Li Junqing.
But just now, Chen Tang's speed increased significantly, and even had he not held back, he likely couldn't have harmed him.