Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Youth on a White Horse, Safety First

The affair with Zhao Yi had no impact on Yang Chan. He was currently examining a map to Yun City, studying the various routes—the fastest ones and the detours alike.

All things being equal, Yang Chan would naturally have chosen the fastest path to save time. However, he ultimately settled on a compromise: a route that would take one day longer. This was because the fastest route passed through a canyon called Heaven’s Needle and across treacherous, high mountains.

The weather had been poor recently, and Yang Chan worried about potential mudslides or ambushes. In the end, he chose the safer road. It was wide and didn’t present any major risks. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Natural disasters were impossible for mortals to predict, and Yang Chan wasn’t about to gamble with his life. Since he was traveling alone this time with no deadline, safety was his natural priority.

Although it meant wasting one Potential Point, which pained him, the choice between Potential Points and safety was an easy one for Yang Chan. In fact, it wasn’t even a choice, because for him, there was ever only one option.

Safety above all else.

With his preparations complete, Yang Chan was no longer in a hurry. His daily life went on as usual, full of simple pleasures—especially the heavy pomelos, which were delicious.

One should eat plenty of fruit; the vitamins are very good for the body. Yang Chan naturally ate some every day, which was why he was in such great shape.

If there was any downside, it was their high water content. Eating too many made him sweat easily, requiring his bedding to be aired out daily. Thankfully, these minor chores were left to his Maid, so they didn’t take up any of his time.

After sweating, however, Yang Chan enjoyed a bath to wash away the perspiration.

At the same time, Yang Chan kept an eye on the Cyan Yuan Sect’s expedition to Silver State. He needed to know if they departed early or were delayed. ’I must avoid them at all costs this time,’ he resolved. ’I absolutely will not get involved.’

He also followed the news about the political marriage from White Jade City. According to reports, the alliance had been finalized, and the delegation was now on its way back to the Jin Meng Empire. The bride-to-be was none other than Princess Lan Yue, the very same one he had seen dressed in blue. She was slightly younger than him, perhaps by a few months.

She was an outstanding person, but her luck was clearly poor; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been used for a political marriage. After all, those sent to the Jin Meng Empire for such alliances were not treated well. In the past, when the two nations went to war, one such bride was publicly beheaded as a ritual sacrifice for the war banners—a truly miserable fate.

The fates of the others weren’t much better.

Yang Chan knew all this because Han Bingyu’s intelligence reports had mentioned the circumstances of these political brides.

She had fallen into a pit of fire, so to speak.

Of course, none of this had anything to do with him. What mattered to Yang Chan was that with the marriage alliance settled, there would be a period of peace. This meant he could safely remain in Qing State—or better yet, stay within the Cyan Yuan Sect and quietly work on his cultivation.

’It would be best if things like Secret Realms opening up happened less often,’ he thought. ’That way, I can avoid all this trouble.’

...

The safest route from the Cyan Yuan Sect to Yun City was the Huayun Dao. It was a major road, but it wasn’t a direct path, requiring a detour. However, even in heavy rain, one didn’t have to worry about natural disasters like mudslides or floods. It also lacked dangerous areas like Heaven’s Needle, making it significantly safer.

Yang Chan set out five days before the Cyan Yuan Sect’s party was scheduled to depart for Silver State. The Han Family had already made arrangements for him in Yun City. They had also handled the auction in Yu State on his behalf; the six Cyan Spirit Pills had been delivered to them, and all he had to do was wait for the results.

The Han Family was also helping him inquire about Ghost Spirit Grass and the Fragrant Celestial Flower, promising to send word if they found anything. Yang Chan was very satisfied with their diligence.

Furthermore, Han Bingyu was very capable and handled things well, which also pleased Yang Chan.

Leading a sturdy, white Qing State steed, Yang Chan left the Cyan Yuan Sect at an unhurried pace.

This was actually his first time leaving the Cyan Yuan Sect alone. On all previous occasions, he had been with other members of the sect. It was a new experience for him.

Yang Chan had prepared rations and water for the journey and had even drafted a detailed travel itinerary.

He mentally reminded himself of the rules of the road: avoid isolated inns, deserted mountain temples, and solitary households. ’You never know if you’re dealing with people or something else. Treacherous inns, trouble, and deadly traps are most common in such places.’

Even with a set schedule, he had to remain vigilant. ’Don’t eat food from others. Don’t drink from unknown water sources.’

’No matter how outstanding I become as a Pharmacist, I must never overestimate my own Pharmacist Ability. Some Poisons are colorless and odorless, making them nearly impossible to detect.’

These were all strategies for surviving in the Jianghu. Some he had concluded from his own experience, while others were admonitions from his predecessors, which he had read about in books.

Yang Chan was one to heed the wisdom of his elders; he had no desire to learn his lessons the hard way.

Under normal circumstances, he shouldn’t encounter any danger within Qing State. Still, Yang Chan preferred to plan for every contingency. That way, if the unexpected did happen, he would have a way to deal with it.

He glanced back at the entrance to the Cyan Yuan Sect. The three large, carved words were as imposing as ever. Then, he once again started down the mountain.

But unlike the last few times, he was leaving of his own volition, and he was leaving alone.

He mounted his horse, descended the mountain path to the main road, and spurred his steed into a gallop. He needed to reach his prearranged lodging before nightfall; he had no intention of sleeping in the wilderness.

He had originally considered traveling with the ore transport convoy for safety in numbers, but they only departed once a month. To join them, he would have had to wait another ten-plus days, which conflicted with his plans. Thus, he had no choice but to travel alone.

A young man entered the Jianghu—not with dashing heroism or a song on his lips, not drunk on the spring breeze or thundering across the land. He simply melted into the world, becoming just another traveler on the road.

Yang Chan rode on, his figure slowly vanishing from the road leading away from the Cyan Yuan Sect, disappearing into the Jianghu.

...

"We have to go faster, or we won’t make it in time," urged a middle-aged man dressed in black leather.

They were already spurring their horses on, constantly pushing for more speed.

"Lord Nalan, must we be in such a rush?" a young man in a white fox-fur cloak asked, his face a mask of confusion. This behavior was just too strange.

Ever since their arrival in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, he’d felt something was off. They had come to secure a marriage alliance, yet the process had been inexplicably delayed. When he inquired, he was always given vague excuses. Now that the marriage was finalized, they should have been returning at a leisurely pace. After all, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had been quite generous with its gifts.

A Commandery Princess’s dowry was incredibly lavish. And even though this princess wasn’t the one he’d originally hoped to marry, he had seen her; she was exceptionally beautiful, and her Martial Arts Cultivation wasn’t weak. She was a fine, spirited beauty—he could accept that.

Yet this Lord Nalan was now leading them away at a frantic pace, even arranging for the dowry to be sent along later. He claimed something had happened back in the Jin Meng Empire, but he wouldn’t specify what it was. Naturally, the young man was baffled.