I Can Devour Spirits-Chapter 129: The Scholar’s Predicament
Once a human escort dies, there will be many troubles to follow. Not to mention the compensation claims from the family, any incident with the human escort will greatly affect the reputation of the Yuan Shun Escort Agency.
Duan Rong’s swift and clever adaptability was witnessed by everyone, even the usually aloof Liu Ao couldn’t help but glance at Duan Rong.
Sun Huang’s expression was solemn as he looked at everyone and said, "No rest tonight! Quickly eat, and after dinner we will set off immediately!"
As soon as Sun Huang finished speaking, the sound of soup being slurped echoed in the dilapidated temple. The Escort Masters finished eating without even washing their bowls, only wiping them with a rag once before piling them into the pot.
Lu Feng placed the cooking equipment back into the net pouch beneath the Escort Vehicle!
The Escort Masters led their horses back from outside the temple, hitched them to the Escort Vehicle, and pulled it out!
Then, everyone held torches and rushed along the official road overnight!
As the sky started to lighten, after a night of rushing, the torches in their hands had burnt out. In the hazy dawn, they could see in the distance the walls of Sheqi County, looming like crouching beasts.
Just as everyone’s hearts were slightly relaxed, suddenly the sound of hooves behind them roared like thunder, faintly audible. In the blurry dawn, a team of light cavalry quickly approached like black dots!
The Escort Team was towing the Escort Vehicle, and the horses were exhausted after a night of rushing, clearly unable to outrun the light cavalry behind them!
Sun Huang immediately reined in his horse and shouted deeply, "Stop! Form a formation!"
The Escort Team stopped at the signal, and Porter Tang Dejin and Ren Tiewa jumped off their horses to untie the horses from the Escort Vehicle, tying them to trees by the roadside to prevent the horses from being startled and dragging the goods into the wild!
Then, the two of them pulled out crossbows from the Escort Vehicle and, along with Li Yuliang, hid behind the Escort Vehicle, crouching low with fingers on the triggers of the crossbows!
The Escort Masters reined in their horses and drew their swords, surrounding the Escort Vehicle in a ready formation!
The team of light cavalry approached quickly, the chaotic sound of hooves dense as drumbeats, growing clearer...
About ten riders, dressed in tight outfits and riding swift horses, with a curtain of dust rising on the official road with the sound of clattering hooves!
Within moments, they had reached!
The leader of the group, about in his early thirties, with a sullen expression and thin face, reined in his horse a Zhang away, his sharp eagle-like eyes sweeping over the members of the Escort Team and then fixating on Li Yuliang hiding behind the Escort Vehicle!
Seeing the newcomer, Li Yuliang’s originally pale face instantly flushed as red as a monkey’s behind.
The man suddenly reined in his horse and shouted, "Li Yuliang, you got someone’s belly big and want to walk away? Where is there such an easy thing in the world? And you claim to be a scholar! If you have any shame, come out yourself!"
Li Yuliang, shouted at so severely, wished he could find a crack to hide in, but seeing the other’s posture, how could he dare to go out?
Hong Yan did not really expect those few words to provoke Li Yuliang out; he was partly speaking to the people of Yuan Shun Escort Agency.
This Hong Yan is the chief hospital guard of the Wang Family in Qingchuan County!
This Qingchuan County is a neighboring county to Xianggu County, and the Wang Family in Qingchuan County is considered one of the major powers in the county.
The patriarch of the Wang Family had married several wives and concubines before turning thirty but had no offspring, and as he approached forty, he finally had a son, whom he cherished like a treasure.
At the age of eight, he invited a private tutor to teach him some literacy knowledge at home.
That person invited was Li Yuliang standing before us.
Unexpectedly, Li Yuliang, frequenting the mansion, got involved with one of the Wang Family Patriarch’s concubines over time.
Even got her belly big.
The Wang Family Patriarch, aging and often experiencing symptoms of blurred vision and weakness over the past six months, had been advised by the physician to abstain from intercourse and rest for a year.
He hadn’t touched that concubine in over half a year, yet she suddenly got pregnant. How could the Patriarch not be angry?
Immediately, the woman was hanged and whipped for interrogation!
But that woman, surprisingly full of affection, stubbornly refused to reveal Li Yuliang’s name!
Li Yuliang, hearing some rumors, fled in panic without saying farewell, thus exposing himself!
Though Li Yuliang fled in panic, he had some calculations, not directly seeking escort protection in Qingchuan County, as the Wang Family had significant influence there, often connecting with major powers!
First, he rode fast to Xianggu County, then in Xianggu County, he asked Yuan Shun Escort Agency to escort him to seek refuge with his aunt in Ruyang Prefecture.
His aunt’s family holds some sway in Jianghu, and since she loved him since childhood, once he escapes there, he would surely be protected!
The Wang Family Patriarch instructed Hong Yan to intercept and kill Li Yuliang, ordering that Li Yuliang must not escape to his aunt’s place.
When Hong Yan arrived at Xianggu County, the Escort Team protecting Li Yuliang had already set off!
Though Yuan Shun Escort Agency was based in Xianggu County, it extended to surrounding prefectures and counties, traversing several treacherous escort routes, indeed running a sizable business.
Hong Yan did not wish to directly confront Yuan Shun Escort Agency and thus hired an assassin to ambush in the dilapidated temple, hoping to assassinate Li Yuliang and conclude the matter. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
However, unexpectedly, the assassin failed! Now he had no choice but to show up himself, hoping to negotiate the matter with Yuan Shun Escort Agency and see if there was room for maneuver.
Hong Yan on horseback gazed solemnly at Sun Huang and saluted with fists, "Is this Sun Huang, Escort Master of Yuan Shun Escort Agency?"
Sun Huang did not answer him but coldly asked, "Who are you?"
Hong Yan said, "From Qingchuan County, Wang Family’s chief hospital guard, Hong Yan!"
Sun Huang said, "Chief Hong, you’ve made such a big fuss; what’s your intention?"
Hong Yan pointed at Li Yuliang hiding behind the Escort Vehicle and said, "This guy has done disgraceful and immoral things in our Wang Family. I implore Escort Leader Sun to be magnanimous and allow us to bring him back!"
"Okay!" Sun Huang said in a deep voice.
One "okay" terrified Li Yuliang at the back, making his heart and liver tremble, nearly wetting himself...
"Bring it!" Sun Huang suddenly reached out toward Hong Yan.
"What?" Hong Yan frowned, puzzled, looking at Sun Huang.
Sun Huang said, "Sea Arrest Warrant!"
Hong Yan’s temper flared upon hearing that. Sun Huang was playing tricks on him and coldly said, "Don’t have it!"
"Without a Sea Arrest Warrant, you wish to take people from Yuan Shun Escort Agency? Chief Hong, are you assuming that I, Sun, am so agreeable?"
"I treated you courteously. Why is Escort Leader Sun being so aggressive?"
"Courteously? The assassin in the dilapidated temple last night—was it arranged by you?" Sun Huang said, his anger rising, and his eyes were red.
Hong Yan hesitated, his expression flickering, and retorted, "This guy, so disgraceful! Yet you protect him? Doesn’t Yuan Shun Escort Agency conduct background investigations before accepting a human escort?"
"Whether Yuan Shun Escort Agency conducts background checks is none of your concern!"
"So, no chance for negotiation?"
"Negotiate with your mother!" Sun Huang cursed, "You damned murderers came charging in here, still pretending to act courteously!"
Hong Yan, furious, with a fierce expression, drew a long spear from his back, sprung airborne from the horse like a giant eagle soaring, and with a shake of the spear, he thrust at Sun Huang...
