Immortal Travel of Longevity

Yan Nantian also felt his presence was ill-timed.

Setting aside whether he had brought Ruyi any benefits, he had so far offered her nothing but trouble.

At times, he felt like a burden.

The thought tormented him.

That very night, Yan Nantian packed his bags. Taking his fifty-odd taels of silver, he prepared to leave Shangjing. The hidden agents he had previously planted in the capital all mobilized to escort him out of the city.

But just as he was about to depart, Ruyi intercepted him.

"Oh? Traveling by night?"

Ruyi crossed her arms, looking him up and down.

Yan Nantian smiled and nodded. "I have to travel by night. I can't get out during the day."

Yan Nantian merely smiled and nodded.

She made perfect sense. He really was fleeing in disgrace.

"Want me to see you off?" she asked.

"Better not."

Yan Nantian said, "All sorts of demons and monsters are crawling out of the woodwork. Don't drag yourself into this mess."

"Underestimating me, aren't you?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Hmph."

Yan Nantian said no more. He took one last look at Ruyi and said, "I'm off."

"Go on."

Ruyi did not follow him.

To her, Yan Nantian was indeed trouble—fatal trouble.

As he walked out, Yan Nantian hesitated for a moment and looked back at her.

Ruyi blinked. "What is it?"

Yan Nantian said, "There is one thing I want to say. I didn't come rushing to Shangjing with any ulterior motives. I just wanted to tag along and travel with you for a bit."

Ruyi frowned. "Me?"

Yan Nantian smiled, offering no further explanation, and waved his hand as he walked out of the estate.

Once his escorts arrived, they followed their prearranged route out of the city.

The night ahead would be fraught with murderous intent.

Yan Nantian knew he had taken a massive risk. He had ultimately overlooked a few details, allowing his whereabouts to be exposed. Whether it was the North Desert People or Prince Jin's men, if he lost his head here tonight, his subordinates would undoubtedly descend into chaos.

Getting out of the city went smoothly, but once beyond the gates, things grew complicated.

A group of death warriors suddenly ambushed them on the official road. Faces masked and brandishing sabers and swords, they charged at the escort.

Fortunately, Yan Nantian's men possessed extraordinary martial skills and managed to fend them off.

After a fierce battle, the official road was left littered with corpses.

"We haven't even traveled a few miles, and there's already an ambush?"

Yan Nantian furrowed his brows tightly, wondering what else lay ahead.

Moreover, these death warriors were incredibly difficult to deal with. After the bitter struggle, the Butcher and the others escorting him were in rough shape. Some had sustained injuries, and despite a brief rest following the life-and-death clash, their arms were drained of strength.

If another wave came, things would get extremely tricky.

The Butcher gasped for breath and said, "Master, we need to hurry. We must make it out of Shangjing territory before dawn."

Yan Nantian nodded, and they resumed their journey.

Along the way, they were intercepted by two more groups.

Upon inspecting the corpses, Yan Nantian made a discovery.

"These people aren't from the same faction?"

The first wave of death warriors seemed like the secretly trained forces of a noble family. The second wave's methods had been much rougher, relying on wide, sweeping strikes and brute strength. Much like the attackers in the alleyway that day, they carried a distinct gamey stench, marking them as North Desert People.

And this third group was different again. Judging by their undergarments, they looked like people from the coastal regions.

"It seems quite a few people are after my life."

Yan Nantian looked back at his panting men.

"Can you still hold on?" he asked.

The Butcher nodded. "Rest assured, Master!"

"Then let's keep moving," Yan Nantian said.

He suspected that demons might show up next.

He naturally had countermeasures, but he still needed to tread carefully.

It was just as he expected.

When they reached a mountain path, a bald monk draped in a kasaya appeared on the road ahead.

"Amitabha. This poor monk is Hui'an. Greetings, benefactors."

Knowing the man harbored ill intent, the Butcher immediately stepped forward to guard the horse carriage.

"Monks don't block roads, let alone in the middle of the night!"

The Butcher snorted coldly and drew his saber.

Hui'an offered a warm, gentle smile. "You misunderstand, benefactor. This poor monk is here to persuade you all to turn back."

"Turn back my ass!"

The Butcher was a ruthless man by nature. Raising his saber, he prepared to strike.

"Wu Dao."

A voice called out from within the horse carriage.

Only then did the Butcher halt.

Yan Nantian lifted the curtain of the horse carriage and looked at the monk.

Yan Nantian said, "Master Hui'an of Prince Jin's camp. I have seen your portrait."

Hui'an chanted an Amitabha, then replied, "This old monk pays his respects to His Highness, Prince Yu."

Yan Nantian studied him. "Why does Master Hui'an wish to persuade me to turn back? Do you have a reason?"

"This old monk is no longer in Prince Jin's camp," Hui'an said. "I have come for the sake of the common people."

"Oh?"

Intrigued, Yan Nantian said, "I would gladly hear your explanation, Master."

"Thank you, Your Highness, Prince Yu."

Hui'an let out a long sigh. "This old monk resided in Prince Jin's camp for many years. To repay His Highness Prince Jin for saving my life, I abandoned the Dao to become a Buddhist monk, cultivating countless abilities just to repay that debt of gratitude and settle the karma. But now, this poor monk has suddenly discovered that Prince Jin is no longer the Prince Jin of the past."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The Prince's soul has already departed. What remains is merely a husk—a body possessed by a demon."

Yan Nantian immediately froze at those words.

His arm trembled slightly. His gaze shifted as he said, "I cannot trust your one-sided story, Master."

Hui'an's tone was calm. "This old monk has no proof. I came today because I do not wish to see demons throw the world into chaos. Therefore, I implore Your Highness, Prince Yu to temporarily retreat to Shangjing and preserve your life for now."

Yan Nantian raised an eyebrow. "According to Master Hui'an, there are likely villains blocking the road ahead?"

Hui'an nodded slightly. "The high priest of the Northern Desert has come personally, and Prince Jin has also invited the celestial official Lord Tushan. Should Your Highness proceed, it will be a path of certain death."

Hearing this, everyone present wore grave expressions.

The Butcher, however, retorted, "Monk, stop talking nonsense! The Northern Desert priest is vastly far from here; it's utterly impossible for him to cross the pass. And as for that celestial official, he is a Human Dao Immortal Official. Why would he harm humans?"

Hui'an let out a long sigh. "The Northern Desert priest possesses the art of spirit projection, allowing him to cross tens of thousands of miles. As for Lord Tushan, he abandoned his position as a celestial official long ago, and over these past few years, he has committed numerous atrocities."

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