Within a canyon about twenty meters wide, the river suddenly churned as if stirred awake.
Two heads emerged from the water.
Sopping wet, Wu Jinliang shouted, "Brother Chun, there's something in the water!"
But before he could even finish, Shi Chun had already leaped from the water onto the cliff wall.
Clinging to the stone, he looked around and realized that not only was there something in the water, but there was also something—no, a crowd—on the banks.
Two rows of people lined the riverbanks, staring at them as if they'd lost their minds.
They were almost all clad in uniforms of chestnut color, easily recognizable as people from Wukang Mountain.
Wu Jinliang, who had followed Shi Chun onto the cliff, looked up with speechless dismay.
Out in the Exile Lands, the difference in cultivation wasn't too great.
At worst, they could fight their way out.
Here, there was no room for desperation; this was a sure path to death.
With a splash, two giant pythons' heads emerged from the water, their greedy eyes fixed on the two small figures on the stone wall, their massive bodies roiling in the depths below.
More people continuously gathered on both sides of the shore, watching the two in "prisoner" garb clinging to the cliff.
Among them were the furious Duan You and Zou Xingbao.
In this moment of realization, with water dripping steadily off them, the two on the cliff felt a prickling numbness.
Whatever they thought was an opportune moment to escape had clearly been misunderstood.
"The Sect Master is still waiting for a response," someone issued the command.
Instantly, a group of Advanced Martial Realm disciples from Wukang Mountain leapt down.
Seeing the fierce predicament, Shi Chun yelled, "Let's talk this out!"
But once they had caught you, who would bother negotiating? They were immediately pulled into the water, barely managed to take a dip before they were grabbed by the ankle and yanked back out, tossed onto the bank.
Wu Jinliang suffered no better fate, dragged out by the neck.
Once hauled ashore, they were surrounded and thoroughly thrashed, left with bloodied noses, swollen faces, and shredded clothes.
Bashfully curled into a ball, their cultivation was sealed, and they were dragged off like two dead dogs.
The crowd dispersed afterward.
Seeing such a swift end to the sudden but futile escape attempt, the incident quickly concluded.
High on the cliff, the sect’s leadership had gathered, wanting to see what these audacious individuals looked like.
How could anyone presume that the grand Wukang Mountain Sect’s domain was a place outsiders could wander in or leave at will?
They were genuinely concerned; if someone had really escaped, Wukang Mountain would have been a laughingstock.
Seeing the team return from the mountain below, the leadership collectively sighed in relief, knowing the captives were likely recovered.
If news hadn't arrived, some high-ranking members present would have personally joined the hunt.
Pang Tiansheng, steward of the Punishment Hall, was fuming, holding a cudgel, eager to hit someone but lacked the standing to approach the matter himself.
He’d already received a scolding for letting the prisoners escape after they were handed over.
Who else could be blamed but him? The stricter the ties, the harsher the reprimands.
Humiliated in front of everyone, he naturally loathed Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, plotting to harshly deal with them once they were back in the Punishment Hall.
Soon, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, in a miserable state, were brought before a group of high-ranking officials.
Both spitting blood, their injuries were evident.
Edge of the crowd, Bian Weiying was surprised, contemplating errors in his judgment.
Elder Xia Fuli stood stern-faced.
"Reporting to the Sect Master, the two fugitives from the Punishment Hall have been apprehended," announced the Wukang Mountain disciple, cupping his hands in submission.
Bian Jixiong walked over to inspect the captives, nodding for them to be manhandled, dragging their faces out for all to see.
The group noted the unique duo, not for their dilapidated state, but their notably dark skin.
Normally, such low-level delinquents wouldn’t even merit a glance from Bian Jixiong.
Now, he asked curiously, "Why did you two attempt to escape?"
Why attempt an escape with such weak cultivation and unfamiliarity with the territory, disregarding the alert defenses of Wukang Mountain?
Paralyzed and struggling, Shi Chun glanced at the assembled crowd, discerning Elder Xia’s expression, realizing their escape was misunderstood.
He blurted out, "If you wanted us dead, of course we’d flee."
This statement piqued curiosity, even Wu Jinliang stared at Shi Chun, unsure of his angle.
Bian Jixiong inquired, "Who said they wanted you dead?"
"Coughing blood," Shi Chun answered loudly, "Forcing us to work is one thing, but to make us run barefoot up and down the mountain, is this not trying to kill us?" Wu Jinliang, emboldened, echoed, "Right, they even deliberately scattered stones on the ground to hurt our feet, isn’t that trying to kill us?"
The crowd instinctively glanced at the two's feet, noting they were barefoot.
Whether they lost them while fleeing was uncertain, confirmation was needed.
Bian Jixiong called out, "Pang Tiansheng!"
“Yes, here.” Pang Tiansheng squeezed through the crowd, looking like a scolded cat.
Bian Jixiong asked sternly, "Is it true you made them work without shoes?"
Cringing, Pang Tiansheng wished to blame Elder Xia, who handed over the barefooted captives.
Yet with Elder Xia present, voicing it wasn’t wise, especially since the fact that Elder Xia hadn't instructed him to withhold shoes from them.
Accusations implicating Elder Xia would only heighten his master’s wrath, worsening his plight.
Accepting blame seemed wiser.
Weakly, he admitted, "Shoes, I forgot."
Truly, they were made to work barefoot, leaving many exchanging glances.
Naturally, understanding abounds; aware of Pang Tiansheng's ties with Wei Bian.
Bian Jixiong’s face darkened before asking Wu Jinliang, "Who scattered stones to hurt you? Point them out."
Wu Jinliang, though beaten, met the query with righteous indignation, "I don't know the people of Wukang Mountain; how would I know?"
Knowing enough was fine, understanding the event sufficed.
Bian Jixiong saw no need to delve deeper, knowing revealing the perpetrators would lead nowhere.
Exploiting the ambiguity, injuries unidentified, he let it slide.
He addressed his group, leading them away.
Before departing, Elder Xia specifically instructed to see that Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang received medical care.
Passing the Punishment Hall, Pang Tiansheng sought revenge but found the captives headed straight for the cells.
His reprisal was short-lived, as a deduction of three months’ stipend soon hit him, stirring new rage.
He snapped his cudgel in frustration, turning his wrath on Duan You and Zou Xingbao, scolding them fiercely, ordering them to fulfill Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang’s water-fetching tasks.
At the Peaceful Joy Inn, a servant knocked on Xiang Lan’er’s door, finding Bian Weikang present.
After exchanging hints with Xiang Lan’er, the servant departed, prompting Xiang Lan’er to send Bian Weikang off as well.
Soon, clad in a cloak, Feng Chi arrived, exchanging brief pleasantries with Xiang Lan’er.
She delivered the message, speaking quietly, “Miss, new tasks just came in for us.”
Xiang Lan’er frowned slightly, “Everything here isn’t even settled yet. Aren't we supposed to focus on Wukang Mountain and ignore other matters?”
Feng Chi laughed, “That’s a privilege reserved for you, Miss. Others would only receive instructions, without being told the background. In the Exile Lands, as the higher-ups dug deeper into Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang’s backgrounds, they discovered some new details.
The relationship between Shi Chun and the Bowang Pavilion appeared much more than just a one-sided pursuit of Lan Qiaoyan's daughter by Shi Chun. Records show, before leaving the underground prison, they were accused of theft at the gates of the Bowang Pavilion, promptly arrested by city guards.
At that time, Wu Jinliang called out to the Pavilion’s ‘mother,’ imploring for help. Further investigations revealed, shortly after both were captured, Lan Qiaoyan entered Eternal Dawn City’s inner city. Subsequently, these two, presumed doomed, walked away alive, while the accuser disappeared.”
Xiang Lan’er, surprised, asked, “Lan Qiaoyan is Wu Jinliang’s mother? Was it Lan Qiaoyan who rescued them?”
Feng Chi replied, “Unlikely a biological mother. That’s the interesting part. Some claim Wu Jinliang recognized Lan Qiaoyan as a foster mother long ago, a claim Lan Qiaoyan denied, yet she allowed her daughter to associate with Shi Chun.
Despite Bowang Pavilion’s usual noninterference with city guards in Sheng Prefecture, Lan Qiaoyan seemed to make an exception for these two. She wasn't in the inner city earlier nor arrived later, entering right when they were captured; them surviving isn't coincidental. Reports indicate Shi Chun’s men in Eastern Nine Plains, were recommended by Lan Qiaoyan to Bowang Pavilion.
Furthermore, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were recorded leaving Sheng Prefecture with a Bowang Pavilion delivery team. Considering the timing, they couldn’t have reached Sky-Illuminating City so quickly on their own; they must have been transported by the delivery team, and Lan Qiaoyan’s daughter was recently moved to the Sky-Illuminating City branch.”
Xiang Lan'er nodded thoughtfully, “Their relationship with Lan Qiaoyan indeed seems extraordinary on further scrutiny.”
Feng Chi concluded, “Lan Qiaoyan’s husband holds a high position in the Pavilion, attracting the top's interest in their ties. Bowang Pavilion’s worth surpasses Wukang Mountain. They suggest, whether Shi Chun is an outsider or aligned internally, fostering them matters. Understanding their purpose at Wukang Mountain remains crucial, albeit not notably impacting your plans to take control there.”
(End of Chapter)