Chapter 43: Hijacking

  The soldiers were neither polite nor courteous, nor was there any arrogance, just a routine affair. At this time, a shout came from the street: "By order of General Feng, the pass is closed today."

  Looking out of the window, a horse is galloping on the central horse path, a soldier holding a flag, running and shouting while riding.

  The diners on the second floor were all discussing in hushed tones: "Catching an adulterer?"

  "There's no spy in Zhentian Pass, it should be a great thief from afar."

  "Look at this woman's delicate eyebrows and eyes, no way."

  "The abbot of Tianlong Temple outside the pass also had a Buddha-like face, but who knew he was a lustful villain, ruining the chastity of many good women? One can't judge by appearances. However, last time he was caught was at Zhen Tian Pass, and there was no lockdown either. It seems that this girl is not ordinary."

  Lin Fan looked at the forbidden word in his palm, secretly sighing. This reversal of heaven and earth had only two hours, this divine ability was not always available for use. According to Ximen Jue, it could only be used again after twelve hours. As for why? It was through divination... Ximen Jue himself didn't understand, he just knew the method of reversing heaven and earth, but didn't know the principle behind it.

  This pass, once two hours have passed, the demonic sect disciples of Zhen Tian Guan will immediately know through the arranged formation that there are two cultivators inside the pass. Trouble! Oh? Calculating it this way... The Inversion of Heaven and Earth technique is a secret method of the Demonic Sect, so nine out of ten times, this woman is a member of the Demonic Sect. En, let's deduce further: This woman attempted to use the Inversion of Heaven and Earth technique to enter the pass and leave Xizhou, but the Demonic Sect received news and immediately sealed the pass. Then, other disciples lay in ambush outside the pass, surrounding Zhen Tian Guan, making it impossible for this woman to fly away.

  Why did they want to capture this woman? Lin Fan could also guess that the demonic sect's internal management was also based on legalist ideas, with strict rules and regulations. From the Demon King down to the lowest disciples, everyone was bound by these rules. Therefore, when some disciples violated serious sect rules, they would immediately flee in secret, because they knew their actions would not be forgiven. These fleeing disciples either joined certain evil sects out of desperation or chose to leave the demonic sect's sphere of influence in Western Continent and become wandering cultivators. Generally speaking, the demonic sect only internally pursued traitorous disciples and did not contact the righteous path for pursuit. The demonic sect also had special squads that hunted down these people. To mobilize civilian forces and seal off the borders to search for someone, their identity must be extraordinary - either a highly cultivated person, or someone with serious crimes, or perhaps someone who stole the demonic sect's treasure.

  Although Xi Men Xiao stole the Nì Xuè Jiàn, because he was the only disciple of the former Demon King, his behavior was also measured by the demonic teachings, so the demonic sect did not carry out a full-scale arrest, nor did they specifically target him.

  "This is not good." A voice appeared near Lin Fan, Lin Fan looked out of the screen and saw a handsome young scholar. The scholar turned his head to see Lin Fan, made a bow with his hands: "Young master please forgive me... dare ask if you have a pass?"

  "Got it!" Lin Feng nodded, pedestrians don't need a pass to enter and exit freely, but transporting goods requires a certificate, which is for tax purposes. Ximen Shuai was familiar with the route and had already prepared the customs clearance certificate in advance. However, since the border was closed, the certificate was useless now.

  The young scholar nodded and said: "I'm disturbing you, sir, forgive me."

  "En." Lin Feng nodded politely in response and then ignored him, starting to eat.

  ……

  After dinner, Lin Fan and Ximen Shuai returned to the carriage. Ximen Shuai still looked unhappy. Lin Fan said: "Let's talk about serious matters, what should we do now? As a legitimate disciple of a prestigious sect, I cannot let people know that I am with someone who is wanted by the Demon Sect."

  Ximen Shuai frowned: "It's not easy to do, the evil sect wants to enter the pass, usually passing through the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, but there are many monsters in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, it's quite dangerous. On the other side is the Devil Mountain, which naturally cannot be crossed. And the Town Tian Guan has a magic array of the Demon Sect, this array will not harm people, but the cultivator must be detected by the main array. I left Xizhou all through the Tiantian Guan with the help of the Inversion of Heaven and Earth technique. Didn't expect to seal the pass today."

  Lin Fan muttered: "The only way is for us to help the Demon Sect capture the girl in the painting within an hour, and then we can open the lock."

  "Hmph, why should I help the Demon Sect?" Ximen Shuai retorted, "What's he going to do? At worst, we can just barge in directly." Ximen Shuai was still worried about Lin Fan, thinking that he himself had a certain chance of breaking through, but Lin Fan would likely be intercepted. Without Lin Fan's help, there would be no one to hold back the Purple Eyebrow Sect's disciple who served the Thousand Year Old Fox.

  "Hey? How can that carriage still get out of the pass?"

  Ximen Chao watched as several horse-drawn carriages left the checkpoint after being inspected and said, "I'll go ask around."

  Soon, Xi Men Shuai returned and said with joy: "The closure only blocks travelers, not goods. We have a pass, so we can get through."

  "Isn't it closed?"

  "The Western Continent is a land of the School of Law, where travelers can leave freely without paying any tolls. However, when merchants are blocked for one day, they will suffer losses. Unless there is an enemy situation, business can proceed unimpeded."

  Lin Fan looked at him with disdain and asked: "You didn't know before?"

  "How could I have known? I only went out once, to Xiaodongzhou." Ximen said: "At that time, I disguised myself as a scholar and took a merchant's carriage into the pass."

  At this point, the scholar who met at the wine tower walked up to the horse carriage: "Both of you have courtesy."

  Ximen Xia didn't move, Lin Fan politely returned a bow and asked: "My father is seriously ill, can I ask you to take me out of the pass?" After saying that, he took out a gold ingot: "Please do us a favor, my father just wants to see me one last time."

  Ximen Shuai was somewhat suspicious, but this was about leaving the pass, not entering it, and shouldn't be a wanted person of the demonic sect. Lin Fan would definitely do this favor for him, being a righteous person... Indeed, Lin Fan said: "Yuanbao doesn't dare accept, please, young master." Filial piety is the most important virtue, so he would naturally make things convenient.

  Ximen Chao urged the horse to hurry, Lin Fan sat behind him, and Shu Sheng got on and sat beside Lin Fan, looking at the goods in the carriage. Lin Fan said, "Let's go."

  It's only a matter of time before he gets a good beating, Ximen Shuai couldn't stand Lin Fan's tone and started whipping the horse. The carriage slowly headed towards the pass. At this moment, the scholar was very friendly... no, too friendly, his right hand rested on Lin Fan's shoulder, his left sleeve stretched out, seemingly embracing Lin Fan's neck. The scholar spoke in a soft, feminine voice: "Don't leave the pass, head to Xizhou instead."

  Lin Fan slightly lowered his head, a dagger pressed against his own throat. Spicy chicken noodles... no, spicy chicken noodles again, this guy is a woman, nine out of ten she's the woman wanted by the demonic sect.

  When Lin Fan hesitated, the dagger was inserted into Lin Fan's thigh. Lin Fan wanted to shout, but was covered by the scholar's hand. The scholar said, "Don't shout randomly, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite. Do you understand?"

  Lin Fan nodded slightly, and Shu Sheng dropped a dan medicine from his left sleeve, which turned into powder after being pinched open and sprinkled on Lin Fan's thigh wound. The bleeding stopped immediately. Shu Sheng said, "Let's go."