Chapter 108 - 104: Hong Ming’s Wish, Map, Tan Family Trading Team

Chapter 108: Chapter 104: Hong Ming’s Wish, Map, Tan Family Trading Team

"Why is that?" Tan Xu asked.

"Red Forest Mountain spans dozens of miles and is plagued by bandits year-round," Tan Run explained. "If we run into the type who just take the money and leave, we can get by just paying a small toll. But if we encounter those unreasonable, murderous thugs, how are we supposed to fight them if we haven’t eaten, drank, and rested well?"

"I see," Tan Xu nodded thoughtfully. Then, lowering his voice, he added, "Wait, that doesn’t make sense, Uncle Run. Didn’t you say Red Forest Mountain is very dangerous?"

"That’s right. Why?" Tan Run nodded, following Tan Xu’s gaze. He froze. Behind them on the road, a young man armed with a saber was traveling on foot. Dressed entirely in black, the man had a hard, stony expression. Noticing the gazes of Tan Run and the others, he glanced over.

"Xu, there is something I must warn you about in advance," Tan Run said, turning his head back to look at Tan Xu, his tone grave.

"Please tell me, Uncle Run."

"If you ever run into this kind of person in the future, absolutely do not provoke them!"

Watching Su Chen leave, Tan Xu nodded solemnly, quickly guessing the reason. Without exceptional skills, no one would dare travel the martial world alone. He had already mentally categorized this man as someone not to be trifled with.

Deep within Red Forest Mountain, hidden among the bushes.

Several pairs of dark, sinister eyes peered through the gaps in the foliage, locking onto the rugged mountain road.

"Boss, didn’t you say the Tan Family Trading Team would be coming? It’s almost dark, and they still aren’t here," a deep voice grumbled.

"Don’t worry. They’ll be here soon. Just wait patiently," another voice replied.

Suddenly, someone else hissed, "Shh, be quiet! Someone’s coming. Get ready!"

"Why is there only one person?"

At the end of the road, an aloof and solitary figure gradually came into view, stunning the bandits lying in ambush. As Su Chen drew closer, they could clearly see the empty road behind him, deepening their confusion.

"Boss, I suspect this guy belongs to the Tan Family Trading Team. They deliberately sent a lone scout to throw us off." Someone spoke up as Su Chen neared their ambush zone. Having been bandits for so long, this was the first time they had encountered such a situation. In the past, any traveling group consisted of at least three to five people, or at the very least, a pair. For someone to be entirely alone was highly suspicious.

The man they called their boss stared intently at Su Chen’s figure. After assessing him for a moment, he looked at the one who had just spoken. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

The subordinate pondered briefly before suggesting, "Why don’t we just kill him and be done with it?"

Hearing this, another bandit immediately retorted, "No! If he really is from the Tan family, killing him will tip them off and ruin the element of surprise."

"Then what do you guys suggest we do?"

"I actually have an idea," someone else said. "Let him go for now, but send two capable men to tail him. If he turns back, it proves he’s part of the Tan Family Trading Team. If he doesn’t, they can just kill him. What do you think?"

The boss nodded. "That works! The two of you, go keep an eye on him."

"Understood!"

The mountain road was rugged, so Su Chen’s pace wasn’t particularly fast. Several days of continuous travel had left him looking somewhat travel-worn and dusty. White Stone City was over a hundred miles away from Dafeng City, with much of the journey consisting of exceptionally treacherous mountain roads. If it weren’t for the map Fang Rou had given him, he feared he would have gotten lost in this vast mountain range.

"Hmm?"

As he walked, Su Chen’s expression subtly changed. He detected faint sounds of breathing deep within the dense forest. Ever since his five senses had been vastly enhanced, he could hear a person’s breathing from up to a hundred meters away. The closer he got, the heavier the breathing sounds in his ears became. One of those breaths sounded particularly deep and prolonged.

Su Chen continued walking without batting an eye. When he passed right in front of them, he could feel several stealthy, probing gazes fixed on him.

The bandits didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking him, merely watching him leave. However, not long after, Su Chen sensed two of them trailing behind him.

"Two people are following me," he thought.

"That guy is gone." Seeing Su Chen leave, the rest of the bandit group quickly shifted their attention away from him.

Not long after, the rumble of horse-drawn carriages echoed from afar. Hearing the noise, the bandits jolted with excitement. "The Tan Family Trading Team is here."

A short while later, a caravan slowly made its way up the road. Seeing this, the ambushing bandits lit up with joy. Exchanging glances, they prepared to strike at the perfect moment.

"Crap, they seem to have spotted us!"

Before the boss could even give the order, the Tan Family Trading Team suddenly ground to a halt. One by one, they drew their swords and sabers, looking around vigilantly.

A middle-aged man leading the group loudly declared, "May I ask which group of bandits is lying in ambush? We are the Tan Family Trading Team, and we are willing to pay a toll. Please let us pass!"

"Charge!"

Seeing that their cover was blown, the bandits no longer bothered to hide. Howling and shouting, they charged out and surrounded the members of the Tan Family Trading Team.

Their leader, a burly man with a greenish complexion, stared at Tan Run and chuckled. "You’re quite tactful, I’ll give you that. But today, we don’t want a simple toll—we want money to buy your lives!"

Hearing this, Tan Run and the others visibly paled. However, Tan Run maintained his polite smile and said, "We can negotiate. Why don’t you give us a number so we can gather the funds?"

"One hundred taels per person!"

The green-faced brute, quite satisfied with Tan Run’s attitude, held up a single finger and then observed the changing expressions on their faces.

Upon hearing this price, both Tan Run and the people behind him grimaced. This trading team, including all its scattered members, consisted of over a hundred people. At that price, it would cost them at least ten thousand taels. Although this escort mission would bring the Tan family a handsome profit, coughing up ten thousand taels all at once was simply asking the impossible.

"Sir, isn’t this ’life money’ a bit too steep? I’m afraid we can’t afford that." Tan Run narrowed his eyes, completely ignoring the vicious and menacing postures of the bandits.

The green-faced brute snorted coldly. "If you can’t afford it, then leave your pathetic lives here! I finally managed to corner your Tan Family Trading Team. Do you really think you can escape this time?"

With those words, the bandits brandished their weapons, ready to strike the moment their leader gave the command.

"Uncle Run..." Tan Xu was about to speak, but Tan Run stopped him.

Glancing around, a smile suddenly blossomed on Tan Run’s face. He sighed and said, "Why? Why must you force my hand? Why must you court death?"

"What?" The green-faced brute was taken aback, blurting out his confusion.

However, the only response he received was Tan Run’s lightning-fast sword thrust. Seeing this, a savage grin spread across the brute’s face as he roared, "Kill them!"

While a massive battle was erupting on one side, another fight had already concluded elsewhere.

Su Chen had swiftly dispatched the two bandits tailing him when he suddenly heard the sounds of combat echoing from behind. He knew it was the clash between the trading team and the bandits, but he paid it no mind. Pausing only for a moment, he continued on his journey.

The sky was growing dark, and the mountain roads would become increasingly difficult to navigate at night. According to the map, there was a temporary resting stop for travelers at the foot of Red Forest Mountain. Su Chen’s goal for tonight was to reach that spot before darkness completely set in, so he wouldn’t be left without a place to rest.

After walking for about half an hour, Su Chen spotted a dilapidated inn standing in the distance and instinctively picked up his pace.

He soon arrived at the inn. It was completely empty and looked as though it had been abandoned for a long time. However, some of the tables and chairs were relatively free of dust, suggesting that passing travelers frequently stayed here. Despite its rundown appearance, it still provided shelter from the wind and rain. It would do for a single night’s stay.

Su Chen set down his luggage, threw together a makeshift bed for himself, and lit a fire. He then began roasting a wild hare he had caught in the forest earlier.

THUD THUD THUD.

At that very moment, the hurried sound of approaching footsteps rang out from outside the door. Looking toward the source, Su Chen saw a group of people rushing over.

"Huh? Why are you here too?"

Su Chen hadn’t planned on paying attention to them, but as soon as Tan Xu walked in and saw him roasting meat, he blurted out the question.

"Xu, what nonsense are you spouting? This isn’t our territory." Tan Run’s clothes were stained with blood, but his breathing was steady. Glaring at Tan Xu, he turned to Su Chen and apologized. "Please do not take offense, young friend."

Su Chen threw a brief glance at Tan Xu but didn’t say a word, minding his own business as he continued eating his roasted meat.

Tan Run and the others didn’t mind. They pulled dry rations and jerky from their bags. Smelling the rich aroma of the roasting meat, they slowly chewed on their own food.

GULP.

Seeing how much Su Chen was enjoying his meal, Tan Xu practically drooled. Unable to hold back any longer, he stood up and said, "Uncle Run, I’m going to go catch some wild game to eat too."

Before Tan Run could even reply, Tan Xu dashed out the door and vanished from sight.