Chapter 8: Encounter

Gu Mo's heart stirred with delight upon hearing the system's prompt.

The reward for hunting down this Feilong was actually the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

This martial art was legendary to Gu Mo. Reputed as the ultimate in masculine power, it was incredibly fierce and potent. Its moves were concise yet surprisingly varied. The eighteen palm forms, with their eighteen distinct moves, offered eighteen combat capabilities, each prioritizing offense and fully demonstrating that "offense is the best defense."

While this palm technique was incomparably fierce, it demanded a huge expenditure of internal energy. Those with insufficient internal energy would find it very difficult to use.

But it was perfectly suited for Gu Mo.

His Nine Yang Divine Skill generated endless internal energy, making it a perfect match for the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

This palm technique could also compensate for Gu Mo's current shortcomings.

Though he possessed the powerful Nine Yang Divine Skill, his only offensive technique was the Profound Void Saber Art. While exquisite, this art emphasized feints and stances, excelling in subtlety but lacking raw offensive power, almost wasting his abundant Nine Yang true qi.

Hearing Gu Mo accept the task, Yan Sanniang quickly handed a stack of Xuan paper to Gu Chudong. "This contains detailed information about Feilong and the Flying Horse Gang," she said, "including each member's martial arts expertise, personality, and other aspects. I've gathered everything as thoroughly as possible. You two siblings should study it carefully."

Gu Chudong nodded. "Don't worry," she said, "we'll read it thoroughly."

Yan Sanniang continued, "Feilong is currently in Zhushan County, but the Flying Horse Gang is operating in the Pingze County area. Everyone's attention has been drawn to Pingze County. My intelligence should give us about a five-day head start. Therefore, you must go to Zhushan County as soon as possible, or we will lose the initiative. Once you reach Zhushan County, you need to find someone."

"Who?" Gu Chudong asked.

Yan Sanniang replied, "An underground merchant in Zhushan County named Wen Yong, nicknamed 'Night Mouse.' He's quite well-known and runs a pawn shop, so he shouldn't be hard to find. He's one of Feilong's collaborators and has been helping him fence stolen goods; many of Feilong's valuable jewels were resold through him. Now that Feilong is in Zhushan County, only he knows Feilong's precise whereabouts."

"Understood." Gu Mo nodded.

Gu Chudong, standing nearby, asked doubtfully, "Since he's one of Feilong's collaborators, will he really tell us Feilong's whereabouts?"

Yan Sanniang smiled confidently. "Yes, he will," she said, "because he's now one of my Buer Villa's informants in Zhushan County."

Gu Chudong was stunned for a moment, then praised, "Boss Yan, you're truly impressive!"

Yan Sanniang chuckled lightly. "Without connections," she said, "how could I dare to run a Chasing Wind business?"

"But why doesn't he just tell you where Feilong is hiding?" Gu Chudong asked.

"It's no use," Yan Sanniang said. "People like Feilong are very vigilant. They don't stay in one place for long; they're constantly changing locations. We can only track his latest position once we're there." She thought for a moment, then added, "All other information is recorded on those Xuan papers. You can read them as you travel. So, when do you plan to depart?"

"Anytime," Gu Mo replied.

"Then I'll arrange a carriage for you," Yan Sanniang said. "Chudong, can you drive a carriage?"

Gu Chudong responded, "No problem. When my brother and I used to escort escorts, I was often the one driving the carriage."

"Then it's settled. I'll send someone with a carriage shortly," Yan Sanniang said. "I've prepared dry food, changes of clothes, and everything else for you. You just need to be ready to leave."

With that, Yan Sanniang stood up and left.

Gu Chudong escorted Yan Sanniang to the door, then suddenly asked, "Boss Yan, you have wide connections and extensive knowledge. I'd like to ask you something."

"What is it? Speak."

Gu Chudong cautiously asked, "Do you know any skilled divine doctors?"

Yan Sanniang glanced into the courtyard and said, "You want to know if anyone can cure your brother's eyes, don't you?"

Gu Chudong nodded. "I don't want my brother to be blind his whole life," she said.

Yan Sanniang said, "It would truly be a pity if a person like Young Master Gu couldn't see the beauty of the world. I don't know such a divine doctor myself, but I do know someone who can cure it."

"Who?" Gu Chudong asked.

"In Qingzhou, the Medicine Sage, Qi Miaoxuan," Yan Sanniang said. "He has a precedent of curing blindness, even for someone born blind. However, he is unpredictable, and many people seek his treatment, but very few succeed because his rules are very difficult to fulfill."

"What's so strange about them?" Gu Chudong asked.

Yan Sanniang said, "Three rules. First, ten thousand taels of silver. It must be actual silver ingots, not banknotes, and every single ingot must be one tael. He supposedly enjoys throwing silver into the river for fun. Second, you must present him with a rare heavenly treasure that piques his interest. Third, you must be a friend he acknowledges."

Gu Chudong said, bewildered, "I can understand the first two, but the third rule—who knows what counts as a friend he acknowledges?"

Yan Sanniang said helplessly, "That's why it's so difficult to get him to treat someone. The first two rules are tough for ordinary people, but not for high officials, nobles, or wealthy merchants. The third rule is the real challenge."

Gu Chudong nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Boss Yan," she said. "At least there's hope, no matter what."

"I'll do my best to think of ways to help you and make inquiries."

"Thank you!"

Yan Sanniang smiled and turned to leave.

Ah Qi, still coldly clutching his sword, followed beside Yan Sanniang. As they walked, he suddenly asked, "Boss, is Gu Mo really blind?"

"Yes, he is. Why do you ask?" Yan Sanniang inquired.

"I just saw him counting ants."

"Hmm?"

Ah Qi explained, "I've heard that when martial arts cultivation reaches a certain profound level, one can achieve a state called 'Cicada's Awareness Before Autumn Wind,' which refers to having greatly enhanced perception. For someone like me who practices swordplay, that state is also referred to as 'intent,' or 'sword intent.' For internal energy practitioners, it's called 'Not a Feather Can Be Added, No Fly Can Land,' meaning that at a certain level of internal energy cultivation, protective true qi automatically forms around them."

"Are you saying Gu Mo has reached such a state?" Yan Sanniang asked, surprised. "Internal energy masters at that level are probably rare even across the entire Linjiang Commandery, aren't they?"

"Not just internal energy masters," Ah Qi corrected, "but all martial arts masters who reach that level, combined, number no more than ten."

Yan Sanniang acted quickly, arranging a carriage in no time. Inside, all necessary travel items like changes of clothes and dry food were fully prepared.

Gu Mo sat inside the carriage.

Gu Chudong took the reins, heading towards Zhushan County.

Zhushan County was one of the eleven counties under the jurisdiction of Linjiang Commandery. Its remote location, at the outermost edge of Linjiang Commandery, was about five hundred li away.

Fortunately, both Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were seasoned travelers, accustomed to wandering the martial world, so eating and sleeping outdoors didn't affect their journey. The only drawback was that Gu Mo couldn't ride a horse and had to travel by carriage, which significantly slowed their pace and made the journey feel much longer. Due to poor road conditions, the trip would take about three days.

However, the weather turned against them.

On the evening of the second day, dark clouds suddenly filled the sky.

Gu Chudong sped up. Just as the rain began to fall, she finally found a shed in the mountains, likely built by local hunters for emergencies.

Gu Chudong immediately covered the carriage with a tarpaulin to protect it from the rain. Then she tied the horse under a tree and led Gu Mo inside the shed.

Just as they had started a fire, the sound of horse hooves and commotion came from outside. Judging by the noise, quite a few people had arrived.

Gu Chudong immediately gripped her Tang saber. She then heard a loud voice from outside: "Friends inside, we are from the Changfeng Escort Agency. We are escorting a shipment and passing through this area. Would it be convenient for us to come in, rest our feet, and take shelter from the rain?"

Upon hearing "Changfeng Escort Agency," Gu Chudong immediately bristled with anger.

The siblings had been unjustly expelled by the Changfeng Escort Agency, and what a coincidence it was to encounter them here.