System: I Can Open Martial Arts Chests

Chapter 271 - 167: Seven Plum Manor

Chu Qing asked Lv Zhi about some details from last night, such as where they stayed and which direction the other party left.

Besides Young Master Mei, was there anyone else?

The person who later rescued you, was there anything distinctive about their martial arts...

After learning as much as he could, Chu Qing then left the inn with Gentle.

He handed the short knife to Gentle, who sniffed it, then led Chu Qing to search.

The heavy snow from last night had yet to stop, and the ground was already covered with a thick layer.

Gentle had learned the Flying Willow Catkin Technique from Chu Qing; though not deeply skilled, it was much more advanced than his previous lightweight technique.

The two of them used their lightweight techniques, with Chu Qing leaving no traces on the snow, while Gentle left footprints with every step.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived at last night’s scene.

But the night-long snow had covered everything, hiding the tracks beneath the snow.

Gentle sniffed the air:

"The wind and snow affect the scent somewhat, but I can still smell the owner of that short knife.

"Apart from that... there’s another scent we’ve encountered before."

"Nianxin Nian’an’s?"

They had met Nianxin and Nian’an before, back when they were at the Chu Family, and had even pursued Xin Youhen together.

Gentle shook his head:

"Not them. Their inner power, if I must describe it, is as clear as glass, with a faint sandalwood fragrance."

Chu Qing couldn’t fathom how ’as clear as glass’ could also be a scent.

The sandalwood part made some sense, as those two were nuns practicing with hair.

Endless nights with Buddhist lights...

Chu Qing grinned, thinking of Buddhist lights and then of Nianxin Nian’an’s plan to unite the Green Forest under them, he couldn’t connect these elements.

It’s almost blasphemous to Buddha.

"It’s the scholar we saw that night!"

Gentle revealed the answer.

Chu Qing was taken aback, touching his chin:

"That’s right. Lv Zhi said someone later came to the rescue, giving him a chance to escape.

"The scholar and the woman in black are intricately linked. The person he wanted to save wasn’t Lv Zhi... it was that woman."

This incident left a deep impression on Chu Qing.

One had exceptional martial arts, the other mediocre skills.

One wanted to kill the other, while the other could easily have killed with a single strike but chose to flee.

Seeing that the other couldn’t catch up, they even stopped and waited...

What kind of interest is that?

If it was that scholar here to save someone, then things make sense.

"Interesting."

Chu Qing chuckled as snowflakes landed on his fingertips; he gently rubbed the cold snowflakes and suddenly grew curious:

"Does this freezing weather affect your nose?"

Gentle glanced at Chu Qing and nodded silently:

"Yes, but not too much."

"Then let’s keep looking."

"Alright."

Gentle continued leading Chu Qing, following the scent to search.

The traces left from last night’s events were all buried under the snow, and the footprints they left quickly disappeared in the falling snow.

The path underfoot gradually veered off into a secluded area.

Suddenly, their footsteps stopped; not far ahead, a tree lay across the path.

Snow piled up, blocking the normal route.

Though it caused no hindrance to people, several wagons had fallen by the large tree.

The wagons had no carriages and were for transporting goods. Now, the goods and horses were gone, likely taken by the escort when the route was blocked, and the wagons temporarily left there.

Chu Qing looked up at the flag on the wagon, where four large characters were written: Weiyuan Escort Agency!

"The Weiyuan Escort Agency’s wagon?"

Chu Qing’s expression was peculiar as he looked at the four characters ’Weiyuan Escort Agency’.

"Third Brother knows of the Weiyuan Escort Agency?"

Gentle was curious.

Chu Qing nodded:

"The Weiyuan Escort Agency is one of the major agencies in the South Ridge area.

"The Chief of the Escort is ’Southern Ridge Iron Sword’ Chen Zhengnan... He hails from the Taiheng Sect."

"Taiheng Sect?"

Gentle recalled the previous Ling Beichen, who was killed by Chu Qing at Luochun Manor, and he was also from the Taiheng Sect.

The top sword of Taiheng twenty years ago.

Chu Qing clicked his tongue:

"I thought I wouldn’t encounter people from the Taiheng Sect so soon, not until after passing Ghost God Gorge, beyond the Blazing Hall’s range, that I’d cross paths.

"I forgot that many Taiheng Sect disciples venture into the Martial World.

"Chen Zhengnan and Ling Beichen seemed to have a brotherly relationship...

"During the Taiheng Sect leader dispute, he stood by Ling Beichen, which is said to have led him to decide to establish his own agency, thus founding the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

"Let’s go. The escort agency wouldn’t leave the wagons on the roadside lightly.

"They shouldn’t be too far. Perhaps after the wagons got stuck, they found shelter from this snowstorm."

If fate allows, it wouldn’t hurt to meet this Chief Escort Chen.

If not, so be it, especially since he’s still carrying Ling Beichen’s ashes.

Ending the ties with Ling Beichen and the Taiheng Sect should wait until inside the Taiheng Sect.

Gentle followed the trail further into the forest; though covered in snow, there was a narrow path among the trees. Passing through it, their field of view suddenly widened.

An estate nestled within the dense woods appeared before them.

This manor was hidden among the trees, heavily obstructed by foliage, making it hard to notice until one was up close.

Above the manor’s gate, a plaque hung high, inscribed with four characters: Seven Plum Manor!