Chapter 121: Road Money
True to her second brother’s words, the rain shadow effect started to wear out on the second day after leaving the Eternal Night Valley. Although it was still rather brown and barren, thicker grass grew to half the horse’s height. Thanks to the little humidity, the weather was no longer as scorching as it was. However, they still had to ration their water until they could locate any streams or wells. Anji thought all would be well and that she would take a short nap after lunch.
When Bai Dajin, who was usually riding in the back, urged his horse forward ahead of Mingshen and halted it, Gu Ying and Anji’s older brother followed the White Tiger Sect Leader’s action. The sudden halt confused Anji, but she quickly realised something was wrong after noticing their reaction.
Before Anji could ask what was happening, the tall grass around them moved weirdly, and many men on horseback appeared. There were so many of them that Anji wondered how she had not realised them. All these men looked rugged with thick muscles, sunburned skin and scars. Unlike Bai Dajin’s rugged appearance, which gave off the vibes of a lofty tiger, these men who did not wear shirts reminded Anji of a pack of hyenas with their cunning grins.
The man who rode a black steed and carried a huge axe stepped up and pointed his weapon at the travelling group. He was missing an eye hidden behind an eye patch and had to be the leader of these criminals.
"This path was created by me; these trees were planted by me. If you wish to pass through here, leave behind some road money!"
Although Anji had never heard this phrase used by anyone in person, she immediately recognised the situation. However, it still felt like an unreal situation. Did these highway robbers not understand who they were dealing with? Unless they had a secret cultivator in their ranks, smarter folks would not dare to approach them with Bai Dajin around.
Truthfully, Mingshen thought this might happen. Even if he could dispatch this dumb group of bandits easily with Gu Ying, highway bandits in the grassland were known to be as cunning as they were bold. Anji might be taken as a hostage, or they could become ambushed by poisonous secret weapons that were difficult to guard against. Bai Dajin’s presence was both a deterrence and an insurance for such a scenario. Ideally, the scholarly teen wished they did not encounter any bandits. However, they should follow his second plan now that it has come to this.
Gu Ying prioritised Anji’s safety without needing instructions and drew her sword. She usually kept her sword sheathed as a sign of restraint and mercy when she fought. Not many cultivators were on Gu Ying’s level. Unsheathing her blade could only mean one thing, and reality finally sank in for the weak princess.
"Young mistress, please hold onto the reins tightly and close your eyes. Keep your head down until you don’t hear them anymore," the Manchurian bodyguard advised, pushing Anji’s head down so that she was breathing into the horse’s mane.