Chapter 120: Underworld Slang
Before long, Gu Zhang and the village head returned.
The city entrance fee was still the standard: three hundred copper coins per person.
Having been through this once, everyone was used to it, and no one questioned the entrance fee. Gu Zhang figured Gu Rong must have spent all his silver by now. He was just thinking of secretly giving him some when he saw his older sister walk over, press something into Gu Rong’s hand, and leave.
Gu Zhang relaxed and called for everyone to enter the city.
After a brief stop in Xin City, the group continued on their way.
They traveled like this for several more days. One morning, before setting out, Uncle Ma spoke with a grave expression. "Today, we have to pass through Qinglong Gorge. A band of mountain bandits, about a hundred strong, is holed up there. First, we all need to move quickly and try to get through Qinglong Gorge’s territory before dusk."
"Second, everyone stay sharp. These mountain bandits aren’t like the refugees we’ve met before. They’re career criminals who’ve been robbing and pillaging for years. They all know a bit of how to fight. If a brawl breaks out, it’s every man for himself. If you don’t fight for your life, you might not make it out of there alive."
Hearing this, everyone grew anxious.
But they still had to go.
They hurried as best they could, but were delayed by refugees blocking the road. By dusk, they had only just entered the territory of Azure Dragon Mountain.
Seeing that the sky was about to turn dark, everyone was deeply worried. Gu Zhang asked Uncle Ma, "Can we turn back a few miles and pass through here tomorrow during the day?"
Uncle Ma shook his head. "Whether we pass today or tomorrow, we have to pass eventually."
"If they’re going to rob us, they’ll do it in broad daylight just the same. It’s just that during the day, everyone feels a little safer."
"This stretch of road is less than ten *li*. If we walk quickly, it’ll only take half an hour."
Uncle Ma shouted, "Everyone, stay close and pick up the pace!"
Not long after they entered the mountain pass, the sky seemed to darken all at once, perhaps due to the cover of the surrounding trees.
Wind-lanterns were hung on the mule carts. No one dared to speak. For a time, the only sounds on the mountain path were the CLOP-CLOP-CLOP of the mules’ hooves and the rustling of dry leaves in the mountain wind.
The children had already been placed inside the carts. Ms. Qian shoved Bao’er in, and no one said a word. Gu Zhang just gave him one instruction, "You stay put in there. Don’t move and don’t make a sound."
Bao’er didn’t make a peep. The last time he cried out, not only was he scolded by everyone, but he also received a harsh beating from Gu Zhong. He had learned to be afraid.
After traveling for a little over a quarter of an hour, Uncle Ma saw a thorny barrier blocking the road ahead. His heart skipped a beat. He halted the mule cart and called out, "Are the honorable men of Qinglong Gorge ahead?"
His voice had barely faded when a man emerged from the darkness beside the road.
The man who appeared had a bushy beard and carried a large saber. He eyed Uncle Ma askance.
Uncle Ma dismounted and cupped his fists. "A hard night’s work for you, sir."
The bearded man lazily returned the fist-and-palm salute. "A hard night for you too, Shopkeeper. Whose banner do you fly under?"
Uncle Ma took an escort flag from his bundle and stuck it on the mule cart. "Old Ma, of the Zhenwei Escort Agency. I hope the chieftain will show us some courtesy."
Every year, Zhenwei Escort Agency paid a fee to the bandits on their regular routes, and the ones in Qinglong Gorge were no exception.
The bearded man hesitated. "It’s not that I won’t give your esteemed escort agency face, but times are hard. We all have to eat. If I let you pass, my brothers will starve."
Uncle Ma’s voice was grave. "The grandmasters left enough food for everyone. While you chieftains feast, brothers like me only get a mouthful. I ask that you be merciful."
Just then, Gu Sanlang muttered in a low voice, "What’s Uncle Ma going on about? Why is he wasting time going back and forth with this bandit? It’s just one man. What’s there to be afraid of? I bet we could take him down easily!"