"Jiang Yu, regarding the matter of the Jinshui Tower, it's better to entrust it directly to Hu Li. No need to pick another escort. Hu Li is familiar with the place and can quickly send them out of Yanran without delay," White Huai Shui suggested.

"White Huai Shui, your mind is sharp as ever," Jiang Yu replied, raising an eyebrow but not directly addressing White Huai Shui's suggestion.

After talking for a while, White Huai Shui finally laid out his intentions step by step. It seemed like he had a foolproof plan and a seemingly impeccable reason.

"You flatter me," White Huai Shui chuckled, taking the praise seriously.

Hu Li glanced at White Huai Shui, understanding his intentions. Although Jiang Yu and this person seemed to have known each other from their time in the capital, their relationship was peculiar, neither enemies nor friends.

"Don't follow us anymore. Let's chat, brother," White Huai Shui said, looking at Hu Li.

Jiang Yu glanced at Hu Li but didn't say much, then turned and left.

Watching Jiang Yu's retreating figure, White Huai Shui narrowed his eyes, then put on a casual smile and draped his arm around Hu Li's shoulder, saying, "Master, your senior brother and I will chat. You go ahead."

Hu Li wasn't one to be obedient. He immediately threw the question back at his senior brother, "Is it because senior brothers have higher status that they can roam around the yamen freely?"

White Huai Shui pulled Hu Li to a secluded spot and advised, "You should take this job. Jiang Yu, from the capital, is a favorite of the Emperor. Dealing with him is like playing with fire. If you don't handle it well, you won't know how you'll end up. But if you do well, there are benefits."

"Such as what? What benefits have you gained, senior brother? That you want to drag your junior nephew into this pit?" Hu Li retorted, once again shouldering another task from White Huai Shui.

"Me?" White Huai Shui chuckled. "Just being caught by the tail and ordered around, accompanying him for a few days."

"Why does the Embroidered Uniform Guard need an escort?" Hu Li asked.

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"To escort the criminals to Yi Ling. It's a good job. If done well, you'll be rewarded," White Huai Shui explained.

Hu Li's finger moved, and he turned to look at White Huai Shui. His heart stirred slightly, fulfilling his wish.

"Earlier, Jiang Yu didn't agree," Hu Li said.

"If you don't refuse, this matter might fall on you. Just wait and see," White Huai Shui said.

"Later..." Hu Li began.

"Later, you go back first. When things settle down in Yanran, I'll return to the sect," White Huai Shui patted Hu Li's shoulder and pinched it twice. Seeing Hu Li's serious expression, he teased, "You've gained some weight since childhood."

"Heh, senior brother has aged quite a bit," Hu Li retorted nonchalantly.

That night, the team escorting the criminals arrived at the gate of Yanran City.

Apart from the red lanterns hanging high at the city gate, the rest of the area was pitch black.

Among the group, many were walking slower due to exhaustion. A dark figure crept along the city wall, making no sound that could alert anyone in this desolate area.

The figure swiftly moved from behind the team to the middle. As the team reached the gate, the person hastily wiped the mud from his palms onto his face and tried to blend in.

The guard at the city gate glanced at the long line of people after checking the documents. With a wave of his hand, the gate slowly opened.

In the darkness, Hu Li turned to watch the team slowly move towards Changhong Street. As the gate closed, the area returned to silence. Hu Li released the hand covering Hu Yue's mouth.

"Brother, I have to go save them," Hu Yue said after a moment of silence, then chuckled softly, "What's the difference between exile and execution? In the end, it's still ending up buried in a foreign land. The cold of Yi Ling..."

Hu Yue couldn't continue.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has sought the Black Horse Escort Agency. With this escort of the criminals, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Yanran Prefecture Yamen, and the Black Horse Escort Agency will all send people to Yi Ling," White Huai Shui had said during the day. Later, Hu Li was informed by someone from the Black Horse Escort Agency to report to them early the next morning. Although the purpose was not explicitly stated, Hu Li was certain it was related to the exile of the criminals to Yi Ling.

Hu Li pondered for a moment and said, "Senior brother will follow the Black Horse Escort Agency to Yi Ling."

Hu Yue looked at the team as it slowly moved away and the city gate closed. He then let go of the hand covering his mouth, and his body slumped against the wall once more. The force suppressing him felt like a thousand pounds, pinning him firmly against the wall. He struggled weakly for a moment, his eyes flashing with an unusual light, redness in his eyes.

Background noise finally came from the gate.

The guard saw a vast procession heading towards Yanran City and checked the clearance documents before waving them through. As the gate slowly closed, the area returned to deathly silence. Hu Yue loosened the hand covering his mouth.

"Brother, I have to go save them," Hu Yue said after a moment of silence, then chuckled softly, "What's the difference between exile and execution? In the end, it's still ending up buried in a foreign land. The cold of Yi Ling..."

Hu Yue couldn't continue.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has sought the Black Horse Escort Agency. With this escort of the criminals, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Yanran Prefecture Yamen, and the Black Horse Escort Agency will all send people to Yi Ling," White Huai Shui had said during the day. Later, Hu Li was informed by someone from the Black Horse Escort Agency to report to them early the next morning. Although the purpose was not explicitly stated, Hu Li was certain it was related to the exile of the criminals to Yi Ling.

Hu Li pondered for a moment and said, "Senior brother will follow the Black Horse Escort Agency to Yi Ling."

Hu Yue looked at the team as it slowly moved away and the city gate closed. He then let go of the hand covering his mouth, and his body slumped against the wall once more. The force suppressing him felt like a thousand pounds, pinning him firmly against the wall. He struggled weakly for a moment, his eyes flashing with an unusual light, redness in his eyes.