Chapter Seventy-Three: Reunion with an Old Acquaintance

  He Feng Zhen is a small town with over 500 people in the south of Chu Nan County, and there are seven inns in this small town. It is a transportation throat for entering the southern mountainous area of Chu Nan County.

  He Feng Zhen is also a must-pass place from Nanba County to Shangyuan City.

  At dusk, a man wearing a bamboo hat and a black cloak, riding a sorrel horse, slowly passed through the gate of Hefeng Town.

  The man seemed quite familiar with the town and walked straight to the largest inn in the town, where a waiter warmly welcomed him.

  He threw the reins to Xiao Er, walked into the gate, and took off his bamboo hat, revealing a face with distinct features. This man was Xiao Ziyang.

  Xiao Ziyang handed the bamboo hat to another young servant who came up, while sizing up the guests in the inn's main hall. It was just dinner time and the hall was almost full of customers. Most of the diners were traveling merchants from south to north. Xiao Ziyang was about to walk towards the only empty table when he suddenly froze.

  At the table by the east wall, four people were sitting, drinking and chatting. On one side facing the door, a young man with clear eyebrows and eyes was sitting. Feeling someone coming in, he subconsciously raised his head to glance at the door, then withdrew his gaze to reach for his wine cup. His outstretched hand suddenly stopped, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

  "Wen Jin, I didn't expect to run into you here." A familiar voice with a hint of a smile entered the young man's ears.

  "Wu Daxia, it's really you! Where have you been for the past two years? Master often mentions you." Wen Jin hastily stood up and walked towards Xiao Ziyang.

  "Oh, what a coincidence! I've been wandering around for the past two years, without a fixed abode; how did you end up here?" Xiao Ziyang was thrilled to see a familiar face and asked with a pat on Wen Jin's shoulder.

  Wen Jin pulled Xiao Ziyang's hand towards his own table, "Thanks to the old master's support, I was able to learn how to do business at the Wen family firm. Recently, the big boss saw that I was diligent in my work and sent me out to be in charge of transporting a batch of leather goods to Shangyuan City. Boss, take away all the dishes on the table and bring up another set according to the previous menu. And bring two more jars of good wine." Wen Jin said as he pulled out a stool, "Wu Xiake, please sit down."

  After Xiao Ziyang sat down, Wen Jin introduced to the people at the same table: "This Wu Daxia is a friend of our Master Wen's, who helped our master out of a big trouble in the past." The three stood up and saluted Xiao Ziyang with their fists.

  "This is Ma Biao, the leader of the Black Tiger Escort Agency. Not only has he mastered the Eagle Claw skill to perfection, but he also has a wide network in the Chu State martial arts world, especially in the Jingnan region. When Ma Biao shows up, even the outlaws will give him some face."

  "This is Zheng Biao, the new leader of the Black Tiger Escort Agency. He's skilled in using dual knives," Wen Jin introduced, pointing to the tall and slender young man.

  "This is Li Tou, the leader of our company's vehicle fleet."

  Xiao Ziyang stood up and exchanged a few pleasantries with several people.

  After the crowd dispersed, Xiao Ziyang smiled and said: "It's been two years since we last met, Wen Jin. You've changed from a young man to a shrewd businessman. Not bad, not bad at all. I'm sure you'll become the head of the Wen family business in the future."

  "Big shopkeeper, I dare not think about it. If I can sit on the manager of that branch, I will be satisfied for this life." Wen Jin smiled and said.

  The dishes were served quickly, "Come on, Wu Da Xiaojun, I'll toast you a cup. If it weren't for you back then, I really don't know what would have happened. This time, Wu Da Xiaojun must come with me to visit Wenjiazhuang. Old Master has mentioned you several times, saying that you left in a hurry and didn't have time to thank you properly." Wen Jin said, raising his wine cup.

  "Not bad wine!" Xiao Ziyang drained his cup, "I'm heading to Shangyuan City, and I'll drop by to see Wen Yuanwai on the way. I don't know if you're going to the southern mountains to collect goods or returning."

  "What a coincidence, I was just about to return to Shangyuan. Why don't you join us, Wu Da Xia? With your exceptional martial arts skills, I'll feel more at ease with you by my side." Wen Jinxi was overjoyed.

  Wen Jin turned to the two escorts and introduced, "Master Wu wielded a 72-jin heavy Wuyi thick-backed knife with great fanfare, making our leader of the Martial Arts Hall admire him greatly."

  Zheng Bao heard Wen Jin say that the unassuming long knife behind Xiao Ziyang actually weighed seventy-two catties, and he couldn't help but look at Xiao Ziyang in shock.

  Ma Biao's face was full of disbelief as he smiled slightly.

  Wen Jin asked about Xiao Ziyang's experiences over the past two years. Xiao Ziyang mumbled something incoherently. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the two agreed to set off together early the next morning before retiring to their respective rooms for rest.

  The next morning, Xiao Ziyang and Wen Jin had breakfast together. At the entrance of the inn, the Wen family's carriage team was already prepared and could set off at any time.

  The caravan was not large, with only five big carts, each with a carter and an apprentice. The escort agency sent two escorts and five porters. In fact, for a caravan of this size, it would have been enough to hire just one escort. However, Zheng was new and had come along with Ma to get familiar with the route, so he only charged the fee for one porter. The Wen family business naturally agreed to this good deal.

  Under the command of Captain Li, the fleet slowly set off.

  "Join me!" "Join me!" Amidst the loud shouts of the porters, the fleet of carts with fluttering banners headed north.

  While taking a break on the road, Zheng Biao Tou, under Ma Biao Tou's instigation, proposed to Xie Ziyang to engage in a martial arts match. Xie Ziyang naturally had no interest in competing with this kind of escort leader who was on the same level as the small mountain bandits from Cangshan Village, and casually declined his proposal.

  This made Ma Biao even more convinced that either Wen Jin was boasting on his behalf, or this Wu Daxia was simply a swindler.

  Xiao Ziyang naturally saw through his thoughts and didn't bother to argue with him.

  More than ten days later, the convoy entered the Shangling Mountains, and the escorts and porters became visibly tense.

  Chu State is located in the plain, except for the southern mountains, there are not many big mountains in the territory. The Shangling Mountains are the largest mountain range on the Jingnan Plain. It divides the Jingnan Plain into two parts and is a must-pass place for those who come from the south to the north. Although the terrain of this mountain range is not high, it has many trees and dense forests, and often there are good bandits in the mountains who rob goods on the commercial roads.

  The Wen family's merchant team traveled south and north, naturally knowing that there was a hidden killing machine in the mountains; everyone quietly quickened their pace.

  Xiao Ziyang rode his dark red horse slowly behind the merchant caravan, looking somewhat distracted. The mountain road, the vehicle team, the escorts, and the familiar cries of the porters made him feel as if he had entered a dream.

  The cavalcade passed through several passes that were often frequented by mountain bandits, but nothing happened, and as they approached the halfway point of the mountain road, the escorts' expressions gradually relaxed.