Chapter 292: Why Have the Blood Crystals Reappeared?
After eating and drinking their fill, the bandits of Overlord Mountain went down the mountain to patrol as usual. If they spotted a convoy, they would intercept it. They would rob those on Ao Wu’s list and let the others pass.
Gu Da was the captain of this patrol squad. While he was leading his men on patrol, he spotted a convoy passing below.
"Well now, that’s quite a sight."
"One, two, three... Captain, there are twenty-three carriages!"
Gu Da’s spirits lifted. He pointed to one of his men and sent him up the mountain to report back, while the rest went with him to intercept the convoy.
As one of the Tian Family elders, Tian Rong was not as capable as the others. He was basically just coasting among the elders, waiting to die.
But to keep up appearances, he would take on some less important errands.
For example, transporting the Tian Family’s supplies. This kind of task looked difficult, but in reality, all he had to do was sit in his carriage like a mascot. The Steward worried about everything.
This was the umpteenth time Tian Rong had been out transporting supplies. Just like always, he sat in his carriage, sipping tea and enjoying the scenery. If the mountain roads were a bit smoother, it would be no different from being at home.
There was also a woman in the carriage, his wife Guo Min. Guo Min had recently returned to her maiden home for a visit. As it happened, the supplies were being transported from the city where her family lived, so Tian Rong picked her up to take her home along the way.
"My dear, try this tea. The Steward gave it to me as a bribe. The yield is extremely low; most people could never dream of drinking it."
Tian Rong eagerly poured tea for his wife, Guo Min, and carefully tried to beat around the bush to ask how long she planned to stay with the Tian Family.
Guo Min shot him a sidelong glance. "I’ll leave in a few days. With Shu not at home, the house is cold and empty. I’d rather be at my parents’ place watching my grandnephews."
Tian Rong’s face fell instantly. His son wasn’t home, and now his wife wouldn’t be home either, leaving him all alone. He felt so dejected he wouldn’t even have the energy to hang himself.
Seeing his pathetic expression, Guo Min grew angry. "What, you can’t live without me?"
"Anyway, for some reason, these supply transport jobs have become more frequent lately. You should take on a few more. Your food and lodging on the road are covered by the clan, so you can save some Silver for our Shu to get a wife."
"I can’t do that," Tian Rong said, waving his hand dismissively. "It’s not as good on the road as it is at home. Besides, this job isn’t so easy."
Guo Min said irritably, "Oh, give me a break. The Clan Leader has always favored you. If it weren’t a good assignment, would it have been your turn to do it?"
As the one who managed their finances, Guo Min knew better than anyone how many benefits came with each supply run. Their private savings were about to overflow!
If Tian Rong’s father hadn’t died saving the Clan Leader, he never would have gotten the elder position, let alone this cushy supply transport gig.
Tian Rong said nothing. He lifted the carriage curtain and kept peering outside, his heart heavy with worries his wife couldn’t see.
The Tian Family had to transport supplies back every month... or at least every quarter. In the past, he would put on a show of inspecting the goods a few times, and they were always just ordinary items.
But on these recent trips, he had never seen the true nature of the cargo. The Steward would inspect and load the supplies, and they would be sent directly to the Tian Family warehouse.
This time, however, while the supplies were being moved, he accidentally saw what was inside the sacks.
It was blood-red. He had seen it before. It was the main culprit that had caused countless members of the family to die, become disabled, or lose their minds.
—Blood Crystals.
’Hasn’t its use already been banned? Why is it showing up again?’
’And so much of it has already been transported to the Tian Family, with this batch about to arrive as well.’
’Without the Clan Leader’s permission, this kind of thing could never be transported back so openly. Does that mean... the Clan Leader knows about this?’
’But Blood Crystals nearly destroyed the Tian Family. Why would the Clan Leader allow them to reappear?’
For the rest of the way, Tian Rong barely spoke. Guo Min gave him several strange looks, feeling that something was weighing on his mind.
But at home, she managed internal affairs while Tian Rong handled external ones. As long as Tian Rong didn’t bring it up himself, she wouldn’t ask and risk being annoying.
’Oh, whatever. What kind of earth-shattering trouble could a loafer like Tian Rong have? At most, he’s probably just worrying about who to go drinking with when he gets home.’
When the convoy reached Overlord Mountain, the Steward came to ask if they should take a detour.
"Why a detour?"
Tian Rong was confused. "The road ahead is wide, and the weather is good. Why not go straight?"
"Elder Rong, you may not know," the Steward said with a helpless smile, "but the mountain ahead is called Overlord Mountain. A new group of bandits has appeared on it recently, and they specialize in robbing passing convoys."
"They have a lot of men, and their leader is a peerless master of Martial Arts, said to have Divine level Spiritual Power. For safety, passing convoys have been taking the forest path."
"It’s a bit farther, and the road is bumpier, but the advantage is safety. You don’t have to worry about being robbed."
Tian Rong had always cherished his life and was about to agree to the Steward’s plan without a second thought. However, he paused just before speaking.
"Why would we take a detour?" he said, displeased. "I refuse to believe they would dare to rob a convoy of the Tian Family!"
"What’s so special about Divine level Spiritual Power? Aren’t the Clan Leader and several elders at the Divine level, too? If they dare to rob us, I’ll report it to the Clan Leader and lead men to flatten this damn Overlord Mountain!"
Tian Rong spoke with such bravado that the Steward couldn’t argue with him, inwardly regretting that he had even asked.
’I should have just taken the other route without saying anything,’ the Steward thought. ’It’s not like this master calls the shots anyway.’
But Tian Rong was a master, after all, and he had to be given some face in public.
The Steward looked at the road ahead and saw many people traveling on it. This was his first time passing Overlord Mountain, and he figured it would probably be fine.
Other convoys got robbed because their backing wasn’t strong enough. But their Tian Family was a top-tier family from the Upper Realm. Even people from the Five Great Divine Palaces would have to show them some respect.
’The leader of Overlord Mountain ought to have some discernment, right?’
’Even if he doesn’t, it’s fine. The Tian Family’s guards aren’t just for show.’
With this in mind, the Steward ordered the convoy to continue forward. To be honest, he didn’t want to take an unmarked trail that wasn’t on the map either.
Not only was it bumpy and hard to travel, but it would also waste time. If they ran into wild beasts, it would be even more trouble.
As the carriage curtain fell, Tian Rong noticed his wife’s gaze was fixed on him.
"Wh-what is it?"
He touched his face. "My dear, is there something on my face?"
"No," Guo Min said with a frown. "I just think you’re acting a bit strange."
"Strange?"
"Yes. You used to be timid and afraid of trouble, not daring to provoke anyone, scared they might fly off the handle and smash a brick over your head. Now you dare to challenge bandits?"
That was a bit... blunt.
Tian Rong gave an awkward smile. "My dear, I’m just afraid that if we’re late, the Clan Leader will blame us."
"Outsiders always exaggerate. They’re just a few bandits, how tough can they be? They’ll probably see the Tian Family’s banner and our numbers and be too scared to even stop us."
’Please, please come!’ Tian Rong thought. ’It would be best if you robbed the convoy and took all the Blood Crystals!’
Though he said one thing, in his heart, Tian Rong was praying for the bandits to come quickly.
Guo Min still felt something was off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
As if in answer to Tian Rong’s prayers, when the convoy reached the spot where the bandits usually ambushed travelers, the bandits appeared right on schedule.
"This mountain path I own, these trees by me were sown! To travel on your way, a toll you first must pay!"
Gai Yi recited the special bandit slogan that Ao Wu had taught them, then roared menacingly:
"Hand over your money, or you’re not going anywhere!"