The group of four people and four horses started marching all the way to Jubao Town in the north in the morning. The road was very smooth and they encountered almost no obstacles.
It was noon, and the sun suddenly became violent, making everyone feel tight in their chests and sweating profusely.
Jimo Qiao's tired body was soaked with sweat, so he couldn't help but said: "Brother-in-law, let's take a break and have something to eat."
Chai Yan turned his head and glanced at Jimo Qiao. Seeing that she was already very tired, he said, "We can't do it here. Go further ahead and find a shady place to rest."
"Drive!" After saying that, Chai Yan pinched the horse's belly and accelerated the riding speed.
Next, the four of them continued to ride forward for a while, and finally found a small forest that was relatively shady.
As soon as he got off the horse, Jimo Qiao panted and sat under the tree, fanning himself with his hands, as if his bones were about to fall apart.
"It's so hot. How can it be so hot?" Jimo Qiao shouted in confusion.
Chai Yan walked over and handed her a water bag and said, "Look at the way you are suffering. If I had known better, I would have let you stay in Jiezhou."
"No, I don't want it." Jimo Qiao took the water bag, straightened his neck and said, "I'm just hot, I don't feel guilty, don't understand me wrong."
Chai Yan couldn't help but smile when he heard what she said. Cheng Jiu and Yu Tie next to him also secretly smiled at each other.
In fact, in the eyes of Cheng Jiu and Yu Tie, Jimo Qiao's performance was already very good. They thought she was spoiled and had many problems, but they didn't expect that she could persevere after setting off all morning. This also made the image of the arrogant young lady suddenly disappear.
There have been some changes.
Jimo Qiao took a sip of water and suddenly asked: "Brother-in-law, we came all the way, but why didn't we see any checkpoints of Muyue Kingdom? Don't their soldiers care about the border in this area?"
After Chai Yan finished drinking the water, he was taking dry food from the bag. After hearing this, he said: "In my estimation, it's not that I don't care, but that I can't control it."
"Can't control it?" Jimo Qiao said.
Cheng Jiu then answered: "Miss Qiao, you have forgotten that Muyue Kingdom is currently fighting the enemy at Qingyuan Pass. All their troops must have been transferred to Qingyuan Pass. How can they still have the manpower to take care of the south?"
In this area, if there are any, they must be very few, so it’s normal that we haven’t encountered them.”
Chai Yan said: "Yes, Cheng Jiu is right, and I think so too. Half of the land in the north of Muyue Kingdom has been annexed by the Piz people. Only by guarding the Qingyuan Pass can their country continue to exist, so they probably gave up the south.
military deployment to fully support the north."
Jimo Qiao immediately said: "If that's the case, wouldn't those horse bandits become more rampant and more domineering?"
"It will definitely be like this, but there is nothing we can do about it, what do you think?" Chai Yan said and handed Jimo Qiao two pieces of cake.
Jimo Qiao was already hungry. As soon as he took the cake, he took several bites in succession, making his cheeks bulge.
"Tsk, look at the way you eat." Chai Yan frowned slightly and said something disgusting.
Jimo Qiao ignored Chai Yan at all and continued to go his own way and ate.
The four of them sat in the shade and ate for a while, then Jimo Qiao asked again: "Brother-in-law, when they get to Qingyuan Pass, how are you going to help them guard the pass?"
Chai Yan said: "Don't worry about things you shouldn't worry about."
"Why is it none of my business? Let me tell you..." Jimo Qiao's voice suddenly became louder.
Just when Jimo Qiao was about to discuss this issue with Chai Yan, Chai Yan's expression instantly became serious.
"...Be careful, there's something going on." Chai Yan reminded in a deep voice.
As soon as the words came out, the expressions of Cheng Jiu and Yu Tie changed instantly.
Immediately afterwards, the two put down the dry food in their hands, quickly stood up and ran to draw the steel knife from their horses.
Jimo Qiao stood up quickly when he saw this, looking nervously at both ends of the road.
Chai Yan said: "There are a lot of people here, and the smell of blood is very strong. If I guessed correctly, they should be horse bandits."
"Horse bandit?" Jimo Qiao was startled and quickly held the butterfly dart in his hand.
Seeing that everyone was facing a formidable enemy, Chai Yan said: "Don't be nervous, let's finish the food first, otherwise we won't have the energy to fight in a while."
After saying that, Chai Yan continued to eat the cake. Seeing Chai Yan like this, Cheng Jiu and Yu Tie also went back to pick up the dry food and ate it with big mouthfuls.
While he was eating, many men on horseback appeared at one end of the road. At a rough glance, there should be no less than twenty men on horseback. Soon these people blocked the road.
"Sir, it is indeed a horse bandit." Cheng Jiu subconsciously held the steel knife as he spoke.
Immediately, the attire and appearance of these men clearly showed their profession, they were horse bandits.
"Uh! Well!" Yu Tie also made a low voice, staring into the distance without showing any signs of weakness.
Jimo Qiao also tightened his grip on the butterfly dart, frowned and stared at the horse bandit in front, and said: "Brother-in-law, let me come first!"
Chai Yan said calmly: "Don't worry, there is still another batch."
With that said, Chai Yan pointed to the way he came.
Jimo Qiao and the other two people immediately turned around and saw that a large group of horse bandits had appeared on the way. The costumes of these people were not much different from the group on the road. The difference was that the arms of this group of people were all tied with trousers.
Wearing a red armband.
Seeing this scene, Chai Yan suddenly remembered what the old man said yesterday.
The old man said that there are two groups of horse bandits, one group is headed by Zhang Shui, and the other group is headed by Zha Wang. It seems that they are the two groups now, but it is not clear yet, which side is Zhang Shui and which side
It's Zawwang.
In the following time, it was extremely quiet in front of the grove, and the only sounds could be heard from the approaching horse hooves at both ends of the road.
Not long after, two groups of horse bandits approached at the same time to a position more than ten feet away. The two groups formed a corner and blocked Chai Yan and the four of them in front of the grove.
Chai Yan stood at the front with a big gourd on his back, took a rough look at the two groups, and then said loudly: "I am a poor Taoist who has met all the heroes."
After the words fell, someone from the group of horse bandits wearing red armbands spoke up: "This little Taoist priest is so courageous. He can still keep his expression calm despite being like this. I admire him..."
The man speaking had very dark skin, probably caused by long-term exposure to the sun. He had some beard on his chin, which was messy and uneven.
"Who is your Excellency?" Chai Yan asked in a neither humble nor overbearing tone.
The horse bandit smiled and said loudly: "I am Zhang Shui. You must have heard of me before coming here, right?"
Chai Yan nodded and said: "So this is Leader Zhang. One of the people opposite must be Leader Zha Wang."
After Zhang Shui heard this, he raised his hand and pointed: "Here, that guy is Zaw Wang...Zha Wang, why don't you come out and show your face?"
When Chai Yan looked, a burly man had already come out of the team on horseback.
"Zhang Shui, if I can't get out, should I call you?" Zha Wang's voice was quite deep, and the first impression he gave people was that he was rough and tough.
Zhang Shui was not angry, and smiled and said: "Zha Wang, we are no longer opponents, why are you always fighting with me?"
Zha Wang snorted and said disdainfully: "Zhang Shui, stop talking nonsense and get down to business quickly."
Zhang Shui raised his eyebrows slightly, turned to look at Chai Yan, and said, "Brother Taoist priest, where are you from?"
Chai Yan said calmly: "Sheng Guo."
"Oops, it turns out he's an immortal from Sheng Kingdom. I'm disrespectful." Zhang Shui said and clasped his fists.
"Blessings and Immeasurable Heavenly Lord." Chai Yan formed a Tai Chi Yin and Yang Seal in a stylish manner.
Zha Wang said impatiently: "Zhang Shui, didn't I tell you to stop talking nonsense?"
Zhang Shui suddenly became unhappy and turned around and said: "I said Zha Wang, he is a monk, can't you be a little more polite?"