At the third quarter of the hour of the Tiger (around 3 AM), the sky still dark, Hu Li, having not slept all night, tidied up and arrived at the entrance of the Black Horse Escort Agency. Although it was still early, the Black Horse Escort Agency was brightly lit, and there were people speaking in hushed tones inside the courtyard.

As Hu Li stood there, he noticed Jiang Yu, whom he had only seen yesterday, standing not far to his left.

Jiang Yu glanced at Hu Li and hesitated for a moment before shifting his gaze away.

After a cup of tea, the Black Horse Escort Agency began to orderly assemble the gathered escorts, with the steward holding a roster and screening them one by one.

The hall was already filled with people before Hu Li arrived. Xu Cheng from the Golden Saber Sect was among them. Seeing Hu Li's indifferent expression, Xu Cheng snorted lightly, probably still holding a grudge.

This matter was of great importance, and all the escorts that the Black Horse Escort Agency could call upon in Yanran Territory were summoned. Hu Li had nothing else to do these days in the city, and without the words he had said to Jiang Yu on the day of the White Water incident, he would surely be part of this journey as well.

Hu Li swiftly signed his name in an empty space.

Back at the No-Form Zen Dojo, Shi Yue changed into a black outfit for him.

"Elder brother, how do I look in this outfit for escorting?"

"For what escort?" Hu Li glanced at Shi Yue. He knew exactly what was on Shi Yue's mind.

"Since there are so many escorts, I can just blend in halfway. Who would recognize me once we're out of Yanran City?"

"Do you really think the Embroidered Uniform Guards won't follow?" Hu Li chuckled, "Jiang Yu will definitely find a way. If this goes wrong, the Embroidered Uniform Guards won't let it slide."

"You just stay in the sect and don't go anywhere else."

"Master, I entrust my younger brother to your care."

Xu Ji sighed lazily, pontificating, advising Shi Yue to consider the sect more and not wander around outside all the time.

Before Shi Yue could retort, Hu Li had already made the decision, got up, shouldered his blade, and left for the yamen.

Shi Yue sat quietly for a while but couldn't stay still and followed. Xu Ji, with one eye open and the other closed, couldn't be bothered and simply pretended to sleep in the rocking chair.

He was ten meters away from Hu Li, watching as Hu Li raised the Black Horse Escort Agency badge and entered the yamen.

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Shi Yue hid behind a shop, sneaking a look around the outside of the yamen.

Each entrance was guarded by two Embroidered Uniform Guards, with swords at their sides.

The interior was even more heavily guarded. Shi Yue gritted his teeth; it seemed even a fly couldn't fly out.

In the yamen's main hall, the escorts of the Black Horse Escort Agency gathered, discussing in a clamor. These people were used to roaming the jianghu and had signed long-term agreements with the Black Horse Escort Agency to earn some extra money for their families. Now, with sudden involvement with the court, they were still in it for the money, but they also grumbled in their hearts.

"Why would the court involve us jianghu people in its affairs?"

But these words had to be kept to themselves, as speaking out might cause trouble.

Hu Li found a position near the door and sat quietly, observing the people in the hall. They sat or stood, all showing signs of unease.

Some of them Hu Li recognized, while others were strangers to him.

Xu Cheng sneered at Hu Li, and immediately Hu Li snorted back, his expression unchanged.

Xu Cheng from the Golden Saber Sect had somehow managed to sneak in. Hu Li thought Xu Cheng's identity must have been thoroughly cleansed, otherwise, he would have been picked out by the Embroidered Uniform Guards long ago. Hu Li glanced at the corpulent yamen official sitting in the center.

After about a cup of tea's time, Jiang Yu entered the hall.

His eyes were sharp as knives, quickly scanning the hall, glancing at Xu Cheng, then shifting his gaze to the yamen official.

The yamen official smiled awkwardly and stood up to greet Jiang Yu, "Lord Jiang, all the escorts are here."

Hu Li cursed inwardly at the official's sycophantic behavior.

"Very well," Jiang Yu instructed.

The yamen official signaled to the assistant behind him. The assistant took out a roster and cleared his throat, reading out more than ten names before closing the roster and stepping aside.

"Those called by name, join the team and depart immediately. The rest stay in Yanran City, await further instructions, and follow me," said the man standing on Jiang Yu's left.

He held a significant position, likely a deputy. Hu Li sized him up before following the crowd outside.

Two Black Horse Escort Agency wagons were parked at the yamen's entrance, and the group set off without delay.

It would take at least three days to reach the Yiling Mountains from Yanran City. Along the way, there was nothing but yellow sand. Fortunately, there was a small inn to rest at night. The innkeeper was quite capable and had managed to buy a rundown inn in the middle of nowhere despite obstacles in the past few years.

Normally, people would curse someone for being foolish and wasting money, but now it turned out to be a blessing for Hu Li and the others.

At least there was a place to rest at night.

With more than a hundred exiled officials headed to the Yiling Mountains, Jiang Yu divided them into two groups. After this trip, the other group, led by Yu Qiu from Yanran City, would depart immediately.

The wheels of the wagons rolled over the gravel, and the escort flags fluttered in the wind.

Most of the people in the group were middle-aged men, and they rarely stopped once they were on the road.

Hu Li held the reins and glanced back.

The figure following steadily behind the group, dressed in black with a straw hat on his head and a finely carved short sword at his waist, furrowed his brows lightly. When Hu Li looked back, he quickly shifted his gaze over, alert.

Hu Li turned his head back, understanding in his heart. As expected, Jiang Yu was indeed among the group.

If there were any mistakes during the escort, Jiang Yu wouldn't be able to escape either.

Walking in the middle of the group, Xu Cheng carried a big knife, completely regaining the momentum he had on Mount Gold Saber. He didn't look like a protector but rather like a bandit, causing a commotion and making the whole team uneasy.

Hu Li tilted his head slightly, and the scabbard touched his forehead.

"That one in front, hurry up, haven't you eaten lunch yet?" Xu Cheng couldn't find anyone to argue with around him and didn't want to lose face, so he shouted at Hu Li.

Hu Li pressed down his straw hat with his hand, not giving any reaction to Xu Cheng. It was too hot at the moment, and he didn't feel like arguing with Xu Cheng. Besides, there was no need to argue with someone like Xu Cheng.

Seeing that Hu Li didn't respond, Xu Cheng became even more pleased. He threw his knife over his shoulder and raised his eyebrows triumphantly, shouting, "See that? He's scared. The great disciple of the renowned No-Form Zen Dojo from Yanran City, and he's acting like a coward, ah?"

He shouted for a while but got no response from anyone, so he stopped.

Just a moment ago, that big man in the front mentioned No-Form Zen Dojo. He was walking ahead with his son. Was his son also among the group? With the great disciple of the No-Form Zen Dojo here, was there some connection between them?

He was somewhat worried, but he didn't dare to make any unnecessary moves to attract attention.

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