Chapter 1126: 路见不平

Chapter 1115: Seeing Injustice on the Road

From his humble exterior to his simple nature, "commoner" was an apt description.

This outwardly simple and honest man, upon hearing He Lingchuan had come to "buy red rope," immediately shooed away his curious neighbors.

He dared not close his courtyard gate, as several burly men stood behind He Lingchuan.

Fortunately, these big men did not enter the courtyard; only He Lingchuan spoke with him.

"Red rope from the Mingdeng grass? Yes, yes, I even have the password," Old Liu said earnestly. "But this is a valuable item, and the price won't be cheap."

He Lingchuan politely said, "Mr. Liu, please tell me your price."

Old Liu's lips moved, and he uttered a number as if making a firm decision:

"Five..."

He had barely spoken a word when his voice cracked. He quickly coughed twice and blurted, "Fixed price, five thousand taels!"

"That's an exorbitant demand," He Lingchuan countered with three thousand taels, proposing an immediate transaction.

Old Liu rubbed his hands. Three thousand taels of silver—a fortune he couldn't earn in two lifetimes.

His fingers trembled. He Lingchuan could see he desperately wanted to agree, but Old Liu's wife suddenly coughed loudly inside the house.

Old Liu flinched, then quickly regained his composure. "Uh, we... we need to think about it. Could you come back in a couple of days?"

"I'm heading into the mountains very soon," He Lingchuan said, staring at him. "What's not satisfactory about three thousand taels?"

"We just... need to think about it again."

He Lingchuan could tell he genuinely wanted the three thousand taels but was now forcing himself to hold back. The only reason could be—

"Oh, has someone else made an offer?"

Old Liu's eyes flickered twice as He Lingchuan revealed his hidden motive.

Indeed, just two days prior, someone had offered five hundred taels for the red rope. Old Liu and his wife had been stunned by the figure and agreed without thinking.

The buyer had requested them to accompany him up the mountain after the White Bear King was killed, so no money had been exchanged yet.

Today, He Lingchuan had also come to purchase it. Old Liu had tried to demand five thousand taels, and He Lingchuan had countered with three thousand!

This was a rare commodity! If they waited a few more days, could they get an even higher sum?

Or perhaps it would be good to let them bid against each other? Old Liu and his wife's hearts suddenly livened up.

He Lingchuan smiled. "The more people who know you have the red rope, the more dangerous it becomes for you. Frankly, if it weren't for a secret password that requires going up the mountain to verify its authenticity, you'd already be dead."

Old Liu's face changed, but before he could speak, the woman inside the house rushed out. "Under broad daylight, you dare threaten us? Believe it or not, we'll go to the authorities right now and have all you outsiders arrested!"

"Then these three thousand taels will be gone," He Lingchuan said. Knowing that seeing was believing, he pulled a pouch of gold from his bosom and tossed it onto the bamboo table.

The pouch opening was wide, and several gold ingots, gold bars, and gold coins tumbled out, glinting attractively in the sunlight and making both Old Liu and his wife swallow.

Wasn't this what people pursued their entire lives?

"Do you know how many pouches of gold three thousand taels is?"

The couple didn't know.

"I'm willing to give three thousand taels, but others might not be. What do you think they'll do if they want the red rope but don't want to pay?" He Lingchuan chuckled. "The public order in your Dao Town has only improved in recent years, hasn't it? Have you forgotten what it was like before so quickly?"

"Before?" The couple exchanged glances, then whispered a few words to each other off to the side, finally agreeing.

Old Liu was overjoyed by this windfall, his mood lifting, and he answered every question.

It turned out his father had once been prominent and, by chance, had formed a connection with the Mingdeng grass. However, he had fallen ill and died within two years of returning from the mountain, passing on the secret of the Mingdeng grass to Old Liu before his death.

Old Liu himself had little ability, and caught in years of warfare, he had struggled just to live an ordinary life.

"Who were the people who ordered the red rope from you before?"

"I don't know, about seven or eight people. They said they were from the east and needed this item to save their lives. I asked for upfront payment, but they refused, agreeing instead that we'd go up the mountain together after the White Bear King was eradicated in a few days."

Old Liu added, "They didn't look very wealthy either, from what I saw."

To verify the authenticity of the red rope and the password, He Lingchuan naturally intended to take Old Liu to Baomao Mountain himself, while his wife could wait there.

Old Liu was very reluctant. "You have the red rope and the password; you can just go up the mountain yourselves. I'm not tricking you; I'll wait for you here!"

He Lingchuan gave them only one response:

"Do you really think it's that easy to earn three thousand taels just by staying home? Don't worry, the White Bear King is currently near the capital, not on Baomao Mountain."

This was true; the Liu couple had recently heard news of the White Bear King harming people near the capital. But the thought of entering Baomao Mountain still made Old Liu nervous.

Just for the sake of... for the sake of three thousand taels! They could never earn that much money in their lifetime.

So, He Lingchuan first paid a thousand taels as a deposit, then took the red rope, leaving the remaining money with the local conservator. In ten days, whether Old Liu returned or not, his wife could claim the remaining two thousand taels from the conservator with a written agreement.

The Kingdom of Julu had established special "conservator" agencies in towns for honest transactions between merchants and common folk. To He Lingchuan, it was like a third-party platform with official credibility.

This way, Old Liu didn't have to worry about He Lingchuan and his companions killing him to save money after obtaining the Mingdeng lamp.

The next morning, Jin Bo and his group set off for Bolu Capital, with He Lingchuan accompanying them.

After a night of deliberation, Jin Bo seemed to have understood the necessity of the investigation and braced himself to answer He Lingchuan's questions.

Of course, the main reason was that he had to cooperate with He Lingchuan to find evidence of Bolu's theft of the tribute.

When dealing with matters between nations, evidence was crucial.

Even if Mou State were to act later, it needed to do so with clear justification.

"From Xiaoyao Sect to Julu Port? During the escort of the tribute, I barely closed my eyes," Jin Bo stated earnestly. "I was mostly awake those days. Only on the night we arrived at Julu Port did I meditate and recuperate for two hours. But six brothers were guarding outside the door, and besides, I was meditating, not sleeping, and had set up a barrier. How could anyone approach without my knowledge?"

In short, the tribute had vanished under his watch, and he was completely baffled by the incident.

Dong Rui leisurely commented from the side, "There are thousands of divine abilities in this world. Perhaps you were caught in an illusion that night, believing you were still in Julu Port."

The Shadowfang Guards, having arrived in Bolu, couldn't utilize much of their spiritual energy. Illusions that would normally be easily seen through might now become obstacles.

"We considered that possibility too," Jin Bo replied matter-of-factly. "But for a thief to steal the tribute, they'd have to incapacitate the senses of over a dozen of us simultaneously. How could they achieve that?"

The stolen light, the invisible thief.

Hmm, this case was indeed interesting. He Lingchuan thought for a moment. "Is it possible that the tribute was tampered with from the very beginning?"

"Are you saying what I took from Xiaoyao Sect was a fake?"

If that were the case, no matter how careful Jin Bo and his group were during the escort, their efforts would have been futile.

"You haven't retrieved a Mingdeng lamp before, have you?" The last time the Mingdeng lamp matured was thirty years ago, and from Jin Bo's age, He Lingchuan doubted he could have been there twice.

"No, this is my first time. But before I set out, I saw an 'echo' of the Mingdeng lamp and reviewed its detailed information. The Mingdeng lamp I saw on Xiaoyao Sect's snowy peak was no different from the 'echo'."

"'Echo'?"

"It's an image stored in a jade slip, a complete replica of the real object, more comprehensive and detailed than a drawing."

He Lingchuan let out a long "Oh." "That advanced?"

"I also considered that possibility," Jin Bo sighed. He desperately hoped it was true. If the Mingdeng lamp had been stolen before he even arrived at Xiaoyao Sect, he wouldn't be held accountable for dereliction of duty. "But the Mingdeng grass I saw had several 'lamp moths' resting on its leaves. According to the records, these moths only seek light from the Mingdeng grass when the Mingdeng lamp is mature. So—"

Even the associated moths were there; how could it not be real?

"Furthermore, when I personally retrieved the Mingdeng lamp, Sect Master Li of Xiaoyao Sect was watching. Surely he wouldn't be mistaken?"

"How old is this Sect Master Li?"

"He's over sixty. The last time the Mingdeng lamp matured, he also accompanied the Mou State guards to collect it."

So, Sect Master Li had seen the Mingdeng lamp more than once, and it was a treasure guarded by his own sect. Could he have been mistaken?

Jin Bo continued, "I also secretly inquired if anything unusual had happened recently at Xiaoyao Sect. But apart from someone breaking into the back mountain a few months ago, there's been nothing new."

He Lingchuan analyzed, "So, the immediate priority now is to ascertain whether Bolu's Second Prince's recovery is truly due to the Mingdeng lamp."

There were few travelers on the road.

Not to mention Daofeng Port and Yangshan Archipelago, even compared to the Long River trade route, the number of travelers on this official road was truly sparse. They had only encountered a dozen or so groups along their journey.

Halfway through their journey, they reached a three-way intersection. On the right side of the road, a signpost stood with an arrow pointing and the words:

Xuncheng.

Xuncheng was the capital of Bolu.

Jin Bo didn't even glance at the signpost and continued straight ahead.

Dong Rui asked curiously, "What's with that signpost?"

Wasn't the purpose of a signpost to give directions? Why did the sign indicate that Xuncheng was to the right, yet Jin Bo and the others continued straight?

"It's fake," Jin Bo said, pointing at the sign. "Notice it? It's newly made."

Indeed, though the wood of the signpost was old, the characters carved on it were new, and the wood shavings hadn't even been blown away by the strong winds at the intersection.

"Last time we took this road, we hired a local guide," Jin Bo explained. "There are several dens of mountain bandits around this trade route. They often remove the official road signs and put up fake ones at crossroads, misleading travelers and groups off the main road."

Once unsuspecting travelers fell for it and ventured onto unknown mountain paths, what good outcome could they expect?

"Doesn't Bolu manage this? This counts as a major road for Bolu, right?"

It was incredible that such chaos existed on an official road connecting the capital to a port.

The Long River trade route in the Panlong World, though previously plagued by river pirates, was very long and bordered the Long River itself, with complex geographical conditions that fostered the problems faced by Xiji and Yuheng City.

But Bolu's trade route was only a few tens of miles long, yet it had several dens of mountain bandits!

He Lingchuan wondered, with such a high density, wasn't banditry fiercely competitive? Could these mountain bandits really make a living off this one road?

"This trade route is the only way for merchants and goods from many inland states to reach the sea; they have no choice but to pass through here. Bolu earns a lot of tax silver from this road, and it's said they usually send troops to patrol back and forth to maintain order," Jin Bo said, then pointed to a winding mountain path that had just appeared beside the road. "But they completely ignore these smaller paths. If anyone complains, they'll just say you weren't careful, and who told you not to take the main road."

He Lingchuan mused, "No wonder the local produce transported out of here is ridiculously expensive."

Ya State prohibited the export of ore to the Yangshan Archipelago, forcing the latter to find alternative sources. Besides Mou State, the best ore came from the Shanjin Plain, easy to purify and with few impurities.

However, the price of ore from the Shanjin Plain was over fifty percent higher than that from Ya State, even without additional unforeseen circumstances. If there were mountain closures, political upheavals, or even a blockade of Julu Port, ore prices would fluctuate.

Now He Lingchuan understood why the ore here was expensive.

High costs and significant uncertain risks.

If it weren't for these regions in Shanjin Plain being eager to sell ore for cash and the low labor costs, the price of ore could be even higher.

Jin Bo nodded. "That's why large merchant caravans always hire guides and escort teams."

And this part of the cost would ultimately be reflected in the price of the goods.

Dong Rui chuckled, "With official patrols, it's still like this?"

"Bolu has had bad luck these past few years, fighting several internal and external wars, and they even had a locust plague two years ago. I heard from a guide that the King of Bolu has implemented two new policies since ascending the throne, but not only has the livelihood of the people not improved at all, it has instead allowed officials to line their own pockets. The King of Bolu, in a fit of rage, then went on a killing spree, executing many officials."

It wasn't that Bolu didn't want to manage it; it was that they couldn't manage it well.

A gust of wind blew, and the ghost ape on Dong Rui's shoulder suddenly straightened up, sniffed several times intently, then leaped onto a nearby branch and swung away.

Dong Rui and He Lingchuan stopped to wait for it.

About ten breaths later, the ghost ape swung back and chirped a few times into Dong Rui's ear.

Only Dong Rui and Ling Guang could understand this monkey speech.

Dong Rui translated, "It says that deep in the dense woods beside the road, about fifty zhang away, there are over a dozen exposed, rotting skeletons. And a few wild dogs are eating there."

The group did not venture in, continuing their journey. Jin Bo said, "That's what happens when you take the wrong path. The people I hired said that some local guides charge very little, but they're actually in cahoots with the mountain bandits, deliberately misdirecting travelers. This way, after the bandits rob them, they'll share a cut."

"Those who hire these shady guides are usually small, poor merchants, and their groups aren't large, which suits the bandits' intentions perfectly."

"Some roadside inns are even 'black inns'—they drug guests and rob them blind, or kidnap women and children to sell them. So, when traveling this road, it's best not to stop at inns but to go straight to your destination."

He Lingchuan listened, but his thoughts drifted to Yuan State.

Back then, when he accompanied He Chunhua's army from Blackwater City to Dunyu, he had witnessed countless human miseries along the way.

Mountain bandits, black inns, displaced people, desolate villages—all were present.

They say harsh lands breed unruly people, and poverty breeds malice; it seems to be the same everywhere.

The mountain bandits here dared to openly kill people right by the main official road, just as the fierce bandits and defeated outlaws from Xianling Village once chased He Chunhua's several-hundred-strong regular army for dozens of miles through the mountains.

In contrast, Bailie and Qing State, though smaller in territory, were much more prosperous and peaceful.

As they were talking, a childish voice suddenly cried "Help!" from the dense woods beside the road.

Immediately after, a small figure rushed onto the main road, blocking their horses.

He Lingchuan and his companions had already heard the snapping of branches and deliberately reined in their mounts; otherwise, this person's reckless obstruction might have led to them being trampled by hooves!

Upon closer look, it was a four- or five-year-old boy, wearing a coarse short tunic with two patches. He had a well-formed face, but it was covered in scratches from branches, and a large bruise had formed on his forehead, with blood trickling down his cheek.

"Help!" As He Lingchuan's mount stepped aside, the boy tried to rush forward again towards the horses' hooves. "Save my parents!"

He Lingchuan patted his horse's neck to calm it, while asking the boy, "Where are your parents?"

"They want to catch me!" Tears and blood mixed on his face as the boy pointed behind him. "They've caught my parents!"

There was a rustling in the woods, as if more footsteps, but no one emerged.

He Lingchuan glanced in the direction of the sound, raised his wrist, and a sleeve arrow shot out with a whoosh.

The next instant, a scream echoed from the woods.

The ghost ape on Dong Rui's shoulder immediately leaped into the woods.

After only three to five breaths, a person was flung out, rolling twice on the ground, landing right beneath He Lingchuan's horse.

It seemed this person had chased the child to the roadside and, seeing He Lingchuan and his towering companions, dared not emerge.

A short arrow was embedded in the hollow of his knee. He struggled to get up, and then He Lingchuan casually produced his Dragon Spear, pressing it against the man's throat, instantly immobilizing him.

He Lingchuan asked him, "Where are this child's parents?"

The man cautiously pointed deeper into the woods: "Th-that way."

"Are they still alive?"

"Alive, alive!" the bandit quickly replied. "We didn't hurt them seriously!"

Ling Guang, on horseback, interjected, "Why were you chasing this child?"

The bandit stammered, unable to speak.

Jin Bo, arms crossed, remarked, "Presumably to abduct and sell the child for money."

He Lingchuan asked again, "How many of you are there?"

"Fifty..."

Before he finished speaking, the spear tip flickered, piercing a hole in his shoulder. The bandit shrieked, "Sixteen! There are sixteen of us in total!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a spear thrust pierced his throat, going straight through.

He Lingchuan shook the dead man off his spear and calmly told Jin Bo, "Please wait here, I'll be right back."

"What excellent spear work from the Flitting Cloud Envoy," Jin Bo thought, then picked up the boy and placed him on his saddle before nodding, "Alright."

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui galloped into the woods, reaching the scene within seventy or eighty zhang.

It was a gentle slope here, not far from the main road, but the forest was too dense for cries for help to carry through.

The victims were a small group of traveling merchants, seven men and one woman. The men were all tied to the ground, and the woman was being assaulted, presumably the boy's mother.

Another bandit was already unfastening his trousers.

Still ten zhang away, He Lingchuan drew his Fusheng Blade and casually threw it.

The cold light spun, passing through a gap between trees without harming a single leaf, yet slicing across the neck of the assaulting bandit.

The man's head flew high into the air, and blood splattered all over the woman!