Chapter 15: Heading Towards Tiger Mountain (Part 2)

  After this storm, the Jiangzhou Branch of the Escort Bureau strengthened its nighttime vigilance. Xiao Si volunteered to spend three days setting up a 28-constellation array in the bureau, supplemented by various mechanisms and hidden pits, making the bureau's internal and external defenses as solid as gold and impervious to wind and rain.

  Everyone couldn't help but look at Xiao Si with increasing admiration, and even fewer people were willing to believe Long Chao's words. They thought that this young man was consumed by jealousy and had become overly suspicious, treating Xiao Si as a romantic rival.

  But this is the most impossible thing, think about those Xiao Si and Chi Zhong Xia, Geng Nan Yi, Chu Lie and others who are on an equal footing, how can they be as affectionate with Wanyi?

  Although everyone is considerate of Long Tian's face and doesn't dare to say much, in private they can't help but mock and tease Long Chao Yuan.

  Since the 28 constellations array was laid out, nothing has happened in the agency again. On the contrary, several spies from the Daba Mountain Tiger Ge Village who tried to sneak into the mansion to gather information were caught.

  At this point, Xiao Si's status in the agency rose sharply, and everyone was grateful for his hard work in arranging the formation to keep the agency safe. However, Xiao Si had his own calculations in doing so.

  Firstly, his head had already been marked by the dark and sinister forces, and for the sake of his own life, he absolutely could not let anyone sneak up to his bedside in the middle of the night; secondly, he was still exploring the various uses of the 28 Constellations Array, and this was a good opportunity to practice it, anyway, the cost would be borne by the agency, and he only needed to give orders, why not?

  After arranging the Twenty-Eight Constellation Formation, he once again dove head-first into researching the Thirty-Six Heavenly Star Formation. In order to avoid Yu'er and Long Chao Yuan's revenge, Xiao Si became even more reclusive, rarely going out and not daring to cause any trouble. As a result, the various heroes who were unaware of the situation couldn't help but think to themselves: A true master is indeed low-key!

  On this day, Geng Nan Yi stole a leisurely visit to Xiao Si. The two chatted in the study for a while, and Geng Nan Yi said: "Brother Xiao Si, I have been studying the twenty-eight constellation array you set up these past two days, and I couldn't help but feel both joy and shame. I'm joyful because your innate talent in Qimen Dunjia is so high, truly one of the best I've ever seen. I'm ashamed because I'm already old and my learning is shallow, I have nothing to teach you, and from now on, you can only rely on yourself to explore the way forward."

  Xiao Si smiled and said, "Old Master Geng, you're praising me again? As the saying goes, 'Ginger is old and spicy', you've crossed more rivers than I have walked roads, I still have a long way to go."

  Geng Nan Yi smiled and said: "Fourth brother, have you ever thought of creating a symbol array?"

  "Fu Zhen?" Xiao Si thought for a moment and said: "You mean to carve the talismans of the Fu Zhen into the symbol paper, so that it can be carried with you at all times, and set up an array to repel enemies as needed?"

  "Not bad, but limited to the quality of the talisman paper, this is still a relatively superficial kind of talisman array. In fact, the Taoist symbols commonly used in the Jianghu are also a kind of talisman array at the root."

  Geng Nan Wing patiently explained: "The formation is the shape of the Tao, and it is said that nothing cannot enter the Tao, so nothing cannot enter the formation. Therefore, the materials for making talismanic formations are far from limited to ordinary talismans, various magical treasures and immortal instruments, as well as common flowers, grasses, trees, mountains, stones, water, and even daily utensils and farm tools can be used to make talismanic formations."

  Xiao Si nodded and said: "Right, just like the true energy circulating in my body - uh, it can be considered a variation of an array!"

  Geng Nan said, "Little Fourth Brother, you can raise one and infer three, linking the truth of Qi circulation. Such insight is truly admirable. It seems that I no longer need to make a fool of myself, as it appears you already understand everything in your heart."

  Xiao Si smiled and said: "That's because Old Man Geng taught well, so I learned quickly."

  The two of them looked at each other and burst out laughing. Xīao Sì thought to himself, "This old man must have seen that my cultivation is low, so he's teaching me how to use the symbol array to defend myself against enemies, lest one day I get cut down by someone with a single slash."

  Geng Nanxing changed the subject and said, "Fourth brother, in two days we will set off to Mount Ba in batches. Will you stay at the security firm to wait for Red Vajra Hero or go with us?"

  "Of course we'll go together."

  As he calculated in his heart, this time the heroes would be out in full force, and the situation at the bureau would inevitably be empty. In case a demon like Yin Shengyang appeared, his head couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. In comparison, following the main troops was actually safer.

  Geng Nan nodded and said, "In that case, it's a bit of trouble for Fourth Brother to follow the Jade Commander-in-Chief and Old Chu from the General Bureau. We'll set off the day after tomorrow at noon and meet up under Mount Ba on the 19th."

  "What about you, old man?"

  Geng Nan said: "I and Long Zhuang's master are traveling together, but we're taking a different route."

  Xiao Si suddenly woke up and realized that Geng Nan had deliberately separated the two of them, fearing that she would feel awkward if she saw Long Zhao Yuan.

  Geng Nan Yi paused for a moment before continuing: "Wan Er will also be with you, so please take good care of each other along the way, Fourth Brother."

  Xiao Si didn't think it was strange either, after that incident, if Yuanyuan was willing to follow Long Chuyuan, it would be a miracle. At the same time, wasn't this an opportunity for Geng Nanxing to make it clear to outsiders that he and Yuanyuan had nothing to do with each other, and that Long Chuyuan was just being paranoid and unreasonable?

  On the third morning, the heroes began to set out one after another according to their plan. The vanguard was led by Geng Nanxing and Long Zaitian with more than 100 Jianghu fellows, mainly consisting of escorts from Jiangzhou Branch Bureau and elite troops from Wodulong Mountain Villa; Yulinglong and Chu Lie led the second batch of people, including escorts drawn from Huitong General Bureau and other branch bureaus, to set out at noon. By nightfall, Jian Ge Pavilion Master Qiu Junyi and Zhao Baiquan, the leader of Chao Tian Gang, led the heroes from all over the world to break camp and hit the road as reinforcements.

  These three troops are no more than thirty or fifty miles apart from each other, and they are connected by fast horses at all times. If an emergency occurs, special means such as smoke and fire signals will be used to maintain communication.

  Xiao Si followed Yu Linglong, Chu Lie's team marched day and night towards the northeast, passing through Changshou, Dianjiang, and Liangshan. Today, they successfully arrived in Yunyang territory, not far from Mount Daba.

  At this time, two escorts were sent by Geng Nan to deliver a message, saying that no traces of the Tiger Hook Gang had been found along the way, and asked Yuling and Chulie to stay overnight in Yunyang Town according to the original plan.

  This Yunyang Town is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, with about 100 households, but because many merchants and travelers pass through here to cross the river from south to north, there are many inns and wine houses along the street, and business is booming.

  It is said that "the army has not moved, and the grain and grass have gone first". Three days ago, Geng Nan Yi had already ordered people to book the largest guest house in the town, Hongfu Inn, so as to avoid the trouble of finding a place to stay after a long journey.

  Yu Linglong and Chu Lie led a group of over 70 or 80 escorts, fortunately, everyone had been on the road for a long time, eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew, they were not picky about food and lodging, five or six people, seven or eight people squeezed into one house and settled down.

  Xiao Si's treatment was slightly better. He and Chu Lie lived in the same house, next door to Yu Linglong and Wan'er.

  Just as they were about to go out for dinner, a quarrel broke out between someone in the main house and the innkeeper.

  Everyone heard the sound and looked over, seeing a young couple standing in front of the counter, apparently intending to stay overnight.

  The man was barely over twenty years old, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, dark skin, sturdy build, carrying a sword on his back, wearing very simple clothes. The young woman beside him was about the same age, beautiful as a flower, although she wore plain clothes and no makeup, but couldn't hide her elegant and noble demeanor, and was asking in a clear voice: "What makes you not let us stay at the inn?"

  The shopkeeper smiled and said, "I'm really sorry, sirs. Our humble inn has indeed been fully booked by someone else. All four courtyards are fully occupied. You might as well walk a few more steps, there's a Hongshun Inn just around the corner."

  "That woman angrily said: 'Half a month ago when we passed by here on our way south, we had already booked an upstairs room with you. You agreed at the time, why did you lend it to someone else now? If they want to leave, let them leave, I insist on staying in this hotel!'"

  The young man beside her frowned slightly and advised, "Ning Mei, let it go. It's all the same wherever we live, why bother arguing with him?"

  The young woman gave a glance at the youth and said: "You're always so good, every time helping others to ruin my performance."

  The young man chuckled and pulled her sleeve, saying: "Let's go, I'll take you to the riverbank to watch the sunset later."

  The young woman glared at the youth for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing and turned her head to say: "Who wants you to accompany me? I'll go myself."

  Chu Lie was born with a generous and open-minded nature. Seeing the young man's honesty and kindness, and the young woman's sharp tongue but also her knowledge of books and etiquette, the two were deeply in love, like a pair of divine lovers. He couldn't help but feel a desire to befriend them, and immediately boomed out: "Young fellow, when we booked this inn, we didn't know you'd already reserved one of the upper rooms. If you don't mind, I'll arrange for another room to be vacated right away, and I'll take care of the rent myself."

  The young man was taken aback and looked at his wife, apparently this kind of thing had always been decided by the young woman.

  The young woman looked at Chu Lie in surprise and asked: "May I ask how to address you, sir?"

  Chu Lie didn't hide it either and said: "My surname is Chu, my name is Lie, I am the deputy general of the Huitong Bureau Jiangzhou branch."

  The young woman let out a soft "ah" and said: "So you are the famous Chu lao biao tou of Bashu, please forgive my husband and me for our disrespect!" After a pause, she continued: "My surname is Chai, this time I accompanied him back home to visit relatives, just preparing to return to Jin Yang, did not expect to meet the heroes of the Tong Biao Bureau, it's really a great fortune in three lives."

  Yu Linglong listened to the young woman's conversation, which was not common, and she was also quite familiar with Jianghu affairs. She secretly suspected: "Chai Gongzi, I think you should be a Jianghu person too since you carry the Xianjian sword. Who is your master?"

  Chai Gongzi muttered: "I just learned a few moves of swordsmanship from the bodyguard hired by my family, and I haven't taken any master."

  Mrs. Chai smiled and said, "Old Master Chu, thank you for your kind invitation. If we have the chance to go to Jin Yang again, my husband and I will definitely welcome you with open arms. Let's part ways for now, and we'll meet again in the future." She had noticed that Yuling was suspicious of them and had stirred up her own pride, so she politely declined Chu Lie's kindness.

  Chai Gongzi also seemed to have let out a sigh of relief, and with a bow to the crowd, he said: "We'll meet again." He turned around with his wife and left the inn.

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