Chapter 221: Longling Mountain Range

Lu Bai asked, “Who’s here?”

“Your sister-in-law.”

Mo Tang led Lu Bai out of the Royal Palace and to an inn. Inside, Luo Qing was waiting. Seeing the two of them enter, she hurried over to greet them.

The Black Dog and Ah Ming were there as well.

Having not seen him for many days, the Black Dog rushed forward and sniffed around Lu Bai for a long while.

Ah Ming had the same dazed look as always, eyeing Lu Bai from the side.

“Sister Luo.”

Lu Bai greeted her, then asked, “How did you get here?”

Jing State and the Capital City are separated by a thousand li. He had only been able to reach the Capital in less than a day by riding Duke Wei’s Ancient Ship through the sky.

“Daoist Yun Luo of the Four Seas Pavilion was coming this way on a Spiritual Boat and brought me along.”

Luo Qing said, “My father and the others know the difficult situation you’re in, but they couldn’t get away. Madam Lu was worried about you, but it’s not convenient for her to travel, so she had me come see you instead.”

As she spoke, Luo Qing picked up several packages from the side.

Two of them were wrapped in black cloth and were clearly the shape of weapons.

Luo Qing said, “There are two swords inside. One is the Cyan Cloud Sword. The other is one that Daoist Yun Luo asked me to give you. She said it’s the Five Emperors Gold Coin Sword.”

Lu Bai unwrapped them to take a look.

The Cyan Cloud Sword was unchanged.

The one hundred and eight Five Emperors Coins he had left with Yu Daoxuan had now been forged into the shape of a Treasure Sword, the ancient coins stacked layer upon layer.

Lu Bai lightly circulated his Blood Qi, and a faint, crimson thread appeared on the Five Emperors Gold Coin Sword, binding every coin tightly together.

‘Yu Daoxuan helped me again.’

‘Even though a small favor like this was probably nothing to Yu Daoxuan…’

‘…for me, right now, it’s a huge help.’

In another package, hidden among some clothes, were three Storage Pouches.

Those were the ones Lu Bai had looted from corpses before.

Lu Bai asked, “Are Daoist Yu and Daoist Yun Luo in the Capital City?”

“Daoist Yu?”

Luo Qing paused for a moment, then shook her head. “I didn’t see the Daoist Yu you mentioned. Daoist Yun Luo dropped me off in the Capital City and left. I don’t know where she went either.

Oh, right. It wasn’t good for Madam Lu to stay at the Four Seas Pavilion any longer, so she has returned to the Luo Family estate.”

Lu Bai’s brow furrowed slightly.

Mo Tang noticed the worry in Lu Bai’s heart and said, “Don’t worry. The Governor of Jingzhou is now Li Qian. The Wu Family has been stripped of their titles; they can’t make any big waves.

In a little while, I’ll be returning to Jing State. I’ll help keep an eye on things for you then.”

Luo Qing nodded and said, “Yes, my father and the others opened a workshop in Jing State. The Lord Governor helped a great deal and even attended in person.”

“Being exiled to the frontier… can I even take these things with me?”

Lu Bai asked, glancing at the packages before him.

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”

Mo Tang said, “Your situation is a bit different from other prisoners being exiled for military service. However, I’m afraid it will be difficult to bring this pair of Chicken and Dog Spirit Beasts of yours into the military camp.”

Lu Bai hadn’t planned on bringing the Black Dog and Ah Ming anyway.

Lu Bai looked at the Black Dog and Ah Ming and said, “Ah Mo, Ah Ming, go back and watch over the Luo Family. Don’t let any trouble start.”

Even though Marquis Jingzhong had been stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner, Lu Bai still couldn’t rest easy.

‘A centipede doesn’t collapse even in death.’

‘What’s more, Wu Lan isn’t dead yet.’

‘That man is ruthless and shares a blood feud with me. He’s capable of anything.’

The Black Dog could detect Ghost Souls and other evil spirits.

Ah Ming could identify the Gu Insects of the Witch Race and was a Tier Three Exotic Beast itself.

With them protecting the Luo Family, Lu Bai could feel a little more at ease.

“What about Shi Kai?”

Lu Bai asked.

Luo Qing replied, “He went back to the Luo Family estate with Madam Lu. Xiaoben and Xiaoxiao practice martial arts with him every day.”

Lu Bai said, “That boy has a tragic history, having lost both his parents. Please take good care of him.”

“Mm, don’t worry.”

Luo Qing nodded.

After a moment of silence, a worried look appeared in Luo Qing’s eyes. She added, “You’re heading to the frontier, and you’re bound to suffer there. With no one around to look after you, you have to be extra careful.”

“By the way.”

Mo Tang said, “I can see that Miss Luo has excellent character, temperament, and aptitude. I’ve already recommended her to the Martial Arts Academy in the Capital City. She can cultivate the Martial Dao here afterward.

The Evil Exterminator Guards are short on people. If Miss Luo’s cultivation is successful, she can join the Evil Extermination Bureau in the future.”

“Thank you, Lord Mo.”

Lu Bai said with a cupped fist salute.

Mo Tang said, “It’s about time. We should go.”

The three of them left the Capital City.

Outside the city, the officials tasked with escorting Lu Bai were already waiting.

“Sister Luo, Lord Mo, you should head back.”

Lu Bai smiled. “This isn’t a final farewell. Perhaps after a while, once I’ve earned enough military merit, I’ll be back.”

Mo Tang said, “I’ll see you there.”

“Lord Mo?”

Lu Bai asked.

The journey to the frontier was long and distant.

As an exile being sent to the army, he wouldn’t be getting the same treatment he received on the way here, riding Duke Wei’s Ancient Ship.

If Mo Tang were to escort him, the round trip would take up a considerable amount of time.

“It’s fine.”

Mo Tang said, “I’m just worried something might happen on the road. I’ll return after I’ve delivered you to the military camps of the two frontier towns.”

A warmth spread through Lu Bai’s heart.

Although he had managed to save his own life this time, he had caused too great a commotion and offended too many people.

Mo Tang was worried he might meet with a mishap on the road, which was why he was personally escorting him over a thousand li.

“Lord Mo, what is the meaning of this…?”

Seeing Mo Tang’s posturing, one of the officials asked tentatively.

Mo Tang said, “I have some free time recently, so I’ll travel with you all to see him there.”

“My Lord, isn’t this against the rules?”

One of the officials frowned slightly.

Mo Tang said coolly, “This is Duke Jing’s will.”

Hearing the name ‘Duke Jing’, the officials fell silent.

After saying goodbye to Luo Qing once more, Lu Bai and the others set off, heading south.

Ordinarily, as a condemned criminal, Lu Bai should have been shackled and forced to walk.

Part of the punishment of being exiled to the frontier was the suffering endured on the journey itself.

It was common for some to wear through the soles of their shoes halfway through, their feet festering from the abuse.

But with Mo Tang around, all of that was avoided.

They each rode a horse, which greatly increased their travel speed.

In every state they passed through, they would be met by local officials who would continue the escort.

Mo Tang stayed by Lu Bai’s side the entire time, telling him about the situation on the frontier so he could be prepared.

The southernmost part of the Wu Country is Xia State.

Beyond Xia State lie two major garrisons: Longxiang Town and Huben Town. These are the stationing grounds for the Longxiang Army and the Huben Army.

The Duke of Chen is stationed in these two towns year-round to defend against the Great Li.

The Great Li is one of the Four Great Dominator Countries. In terms of national power and territory, it far surpasses the Wu Country.

Between the Wu Country and the Great Li lies the Longling Mountain Range, which stretches for ten thousand li.

This mountain range serves as a natural barrier between the two countries. It has existed since Ancient Times and is filled with countless demons, making it extremely perilous.

Of course, the Longling Mountain Range also holds all sorts of heavenly treasures and earthly resources, and even some ruins from distant antiquity and the Ancient Times.

As they continued their journey south, the temperature gradually rose.

By the time they reached Xia State, Lu Bai and the others had all changed into single-layered clothing.

After passing through Xia State, they arrived at a post station.

Someone was already waiting for them there.

The leader of the group sat tall and straight atop a magnificent horse, clad in a battle robe embroidered with a lifelike Divine Dragon!

The four soldiers beside him were all dressed in Battle Armor, with sabers at their waists, their spirits high and full of energy!