While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 131 You Can't Be Indifferent

It was late at night when Yue Feng came out of Yue Buqun's room. He went back to his room and slept for a while, then got up as soon as dawn broke. Xie Tianqing and the others were already ready to set off. The group bid farewell to the people on the mountain and descended together.

Horses had been prepared for Yue Feng and his group at the foot of the mountain. They were all strong and well-fed, with two horses for each person, one to ride and the other to take turns. The group mounted their horses and galloped up the official road like a whirlwind, heading south along the road before turning southwest.

They arrived in Hanzhong that day, exhausted. They decided to stay overnight in the city, buy new horses, and provisions and water for the journey before continuing. Yue Feng learned that the best inn in the city was called "Sifang Inn," so he invited Xie Tianqing and the others to go with him.

Although Xie Tianqing and his companions came from prestigious sects and were known for their frugality, Yue Feng spent money lavishly, consuming only the finest of everything. Furthermore, he never asked Xie Tianqing and his group to contribute any money along the way, spending all his own. Xie Tianqing and his group couldn't argue with him, so they had no choice but to comply.

When Xie Tianqing heard Yue Feng say he was going to the Sifang Inn, he quickly said, "Brother, I appreciate your kindness. However, I have a friend in Hanzhong who runs a security escort agency. I'd like to stay at his place. Why don't you come along? I'd also like to introduce you to the martial arts figures of Hanzhong."

Xie Tianqing's explanation was reasonable and well-founded, and Yue Feng, also quite curious about his friend, agreed. The group arrived at the west side of the city, where Xie Tianqing inquired with passersby about the location of the "White Horse Escort Agency" before leading Yue Feng and his disciples there.

The group arrived at the entrance of the White Horse Escort Agency. The agency was quite large, but the entrance was deserted; apart from a few servants sweeping and cleaning, there wasn't a single person in sight. Xie Tianqing and Yue Feng exchanged a glance, and Xie Tianqing went inside first.

A servant approached, bowed, and asked, "Sir, who are you looking for?"

Xie Tianqing asked, "Is your Chief Escort Ma in the station?"

The servant bowed and scraped, saying, "Yes, yes. May I ask your honorable name, sir? So I can pass on your message."

Xie Tianqing said, "Just tell your Chief Escort Ma that your old friend Xie Tianqing has come to visit, and he will understand."

The man readily agreed and hurried inside. After a while, a man in his thirties came out with a broad smile: "Oh my! What brings our Qingcheng Sect's Grand Master Xie here? And who is this?"

Xie Tianqing said to Yue Feng, "Brother, this is the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of the White Horse Escort Agency that I mentioned to you before, Brother Ma Liangcai. Brother Ma, this is Brother Yue Feng, the young master of the Huashan Sect. You two should get to know each other better."

Ma Liangcai was taken aback. He looked Yue Feng up and down and praised, "I have long admired Young Master Yue's name, but I did not expect to meet him in person and find it even more impressive."

"Both of you are among the most prominent figures in the martial arts world today. Your presence here today truly honors my humble abode. Please come in! Let's drink to our hearts' content!"

Yue Feng and Xie Tianqing exchanged a few words of thanks and followed Ma Liangcai into the escort agency's reception hall. Ma Liangcai gave a series of instructions, and the servants quickly set up several tables of food in the hall.

Ma Liangcai sat at one table with Yue Feng and Xie Tianqing, while the other tables were occupied by the head镖师 (bodyguards) and镖师 (bodyguards) of the White Horse Escort Agency.

After several rounds of drinks, Ma Liangcai was about to order the servants to serve more dishes when a commotion suddenly erupted from the entrance of the escort agency. The living room fell silent instantly, and the atmosphere became extremely tense. Yue Feng and Xie Tianqing sensed something was amiss and slowly put down their chopsticks and wine cups.

Ma Liangcai frowned at the head镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) at another table and said, "Go out and see who's so blind as to cause trouble at this time?"

The镖头 (bodyguards) hesitated before rising, but before they could leave their seats, a burly man with several followers burst in through the hall entrance: "Well, you, surnamed Ma, you sent men to rob my goods, and you're throwing a big banquet here? Is this a victory celebration? Why didn't you invite me to have a drink?"

Ma Liangcai's face was extremely ugly. He said, "Lu Yong, what the hell are you spouting? Even if I, Ma Liangcai, am the worst, I wouldn't do something as 'giving birth to a child without an anus.' You're the one who's framing me without even knowing the facts. I want to ask you, whose power are you relying on?"

Lu Yong said, "My Fuwei Escort Agency has a young chief escort, so who else do we need to rely on? I see you have guests today, so I won't waste any more words with you."

"Hand over the lost shipment within three days and compensate us with five hundred taels of silver, and this matter will be considered closed. Otherwise, hmph, the White Horse Escort Agency will cease to exist in Hanzhong City!"

The head镖师 (bodyguards) of the White Horse Escort Agency were enraged. Several of them who were close to Lu Yong shoved him. Several loud bangs were heard, followed by a whooshing sound, and those men were sent flying backward.

One of them flew straight towards Yue Feng's table. Xie Tianqing was closest to that person and pressed his hand on the person's shoulder. The person immediately stood upright on the ground, his head still spinning around in a daze.

Lu Yong squinted at Xie Tianqing for a long while: "Well, Lu, no wonder you're so tough today. Turns out you've found a tough buddy. Kid, I don't know who you are, and I don't care. If you want to survive in Hanzhong, you'd better keep your eyes open. You know the Fuwei Escort Agency, right?"

Xie Tianqing smiled faintly, drank a cup of wine, and was too lazy to talk to this brute. Lu Yong was hot-tempered to begin with, and immediately stepped forward. The people from the White Horse Escort Agency tried to stop him, but he knocked them back with a few punches and kicks.

Lu Yong strode up to Xie Tianqing and reached out to grab him by the collar. Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared before his eyes, a chill ran down his throat, and goosebumps rose on his neck. He froze instantly, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Xie Tianqing had somehow already grasped his unusually long sword, the tip of which was now only a hair's breadth away from Lu Yong's throat. Lu Yong couldn't help but swallow, his Adam's apple bobbing, and a thin line of blood immediately appeared on his neck.

Xie Tianqing said, "You may not care about me as a person, but you cannot disregard this sword. I ask you, what is your young head镖师's name? Where is he now? Did he send you here?"

Lu Yong stared at Xie Tianqing's sword and said, "There's no harm in telling you these things. My young master镖头 (bodyguard/escort) is named Lin Pingzhi, the only son of Chief镖头 Lin. He just arrived at the Hanzhong branch today and is resting there. This matter was decided by me, Lu, on my own initiative; the young master镖头 was unaware of it."

Xie Tianqing snorted and withdrew his sword. Lu Yong raised his hand to wipe his neck; his hand was covered in blood. Xie Tianqing said:

"Go back and tell your young master Lin that within three days, the White Horse Escort Agency will find the real culprit who robbed the caravan and give you an explanation. Young master Lin might as well wait quietly and see if the truth is as you say."

Lu Yong glanced at Xie Tianqing with some skepticism. Knowing that with Xie Tianqing in charge of the White Horse Escort Agency, he realized he had no chance of getting away with it, he said, "Alright, I'll pass on the message. Anything else?"

Xie Tianqing looked at Yue Feng: "Brother, is there anything you want to say?"

Yue Feng said, "Just one sentence: Tell him to perform well and not disappoint certain people."