Immortal Travel of Longevity

Investigating the salt and iron trade proved exceptionally difficult. The moment Xie Huan and Tong Nianyi arrived, the locals made a show of force to put them in their place. The officials hid daggers behind their smiles, and the great aristocratic families laced their words with veiled threats.

It was like an impenetrable wall, fiercely guarding the salt and iron trade.

On their very first day, this crowd demanded the two of them declare their stance.

Either join them in the mud, or never leave this place alive.

"Clang!"

They had just been conversing with arrogant ease.

Xie Huan drew the sword from her waist and slammed it into the center of their table.

In that instant, the crows and sparrows fell silent.

"Lord Xie, what is the meaning of this?"

With that, she wasted no more words on them.

"Lord Tong, let's go."

They strode straight out of the restaurant.

The atmosphere in the private room turned heavy.

As the officials and aristocrats exchanged glances, they suddenly erupted into roaring laughter.

In their eyes, Xie Huan's declaration was an absolute joke. She sounded like an ignorant child spouting nonsense.

They thought Xie Huan was nothing but a complete fool.

Tong Nianyi glanced back. Hearing the uproarious laughter drifting down from the upper floor, she said, "It seems they are fully prepared."

Xie Huan scoffed. "You think I'm afraid of them? The one with nothing to lose doesn't fear the ones with everything."

Tong Nianyi considered this and nodded. "They do have strength in numbers. We still need to be careful."

Xie Huan looked at her. "Are you scared?"

Tong Nianyi shook her head. "If I had a weapon in my hands, this bunch would be nothing but clay roosters and tile dogs. I could slaughter them with ease."

Xie Huan stared in surprise, never expecting Tong Nianyi to say such a thing. She sized her up. Her skin was smooth and her features were delicate; she didn't look the least bit robust, let alone the fact that she was a woman.

"Since when do you boast so loudly?"

Tong Nianyi only offered a gentle smile, not bothering to defend herself.

"What weapon are you good with?" Xie Huan asked. "I'll find you a good one to keep on hand for self-defense."

Tong Nianyi thought for a moment. "An axe, I suppose."

Xie Huan was taken aback again. "What?"

"An axe."

"Sabers, spears, swords, or halberds won't do? You want to swing an axe?"

"I'm good with an axe. Why?"

"It's completely inelegant."

"And you drawing your sword to stab a table was elegant?"

"That's different. I just can't picture what you'd look like swinging an axe. Like an old woodchopper?"

Tong Nianyi gave a helpless smile. "It's the only one I know."

Xie Huan waved her off. "I'll see what I can find."

Sabers, spears, swords, and halberds were easy to find, but an axe was a tall order.

"How big of an axe?"

"An axe blade five cun wide, with a handle seven chi long. Can you find that?"

Xie Huan's jaw dropped. "You're just trying to make things difficult for me! Who makes an axe that huge?!"

"Why wouldn't they? In the previous dynasty, there was a general who wielded a broad axe—six cun wide and seven and a half chi long. He was unstoppable."

Xie Huan's mouth twitched. "I can't find something like that."

Tong Nianyi crossed her arms. "I suppose Lord Xie isn't all that capable after all."

"Keep talking," Xie Huan said helplessly, "and I'll tear your mouth off."

Tong Nianyi just smiled, entirely unbothered.

Yet a mere two days later, Xie Huan actually managed to find a giant axe in the city.

The blade was four and a half chi wide, and the handle was six chi long.

It had taken her a great deal of effort, finally tracking down such a broad axe in the black market.

But watching Tong Nianyi swing the axe, Xie Huan completely lost the will to speak.

She didn't look like someone who knew how to use an axe at all.

Xie Huan muttered a few complaints, then simply decided to stay in the same room with her, likely afraid that Tong Nianyi would get stabbed to death in the middle of the night.

"..."

When Xie Huan saw Tong Nianyi undo the bindings tightly wrapped around her chest, she couldn't help but stare, her eyes wide. She clicked her tongue. "How on earth do you manage that? Doesn't it hurt to bind yourself so tightly?"

Tong Nianyi looked confused. "Are you not the same as me?"

Xie Huan froze at her words. A sudden burst of irritation flared in her chest, and she smacked her lips together. "I really don't know if you're trying to provoke me on purpose."

Tong Nianyi blinked, not quite understanding.

Xie Huan shook her head, only tossing out a single phrase: "I'm going to sleep."

She had likely taken a blow to her pride.

...

The investigation into the salt and iron trade had caused a massive uproar, and quite a few people within the Imperial Court were just waiting to watch the show.

Xie Huan was not well-liked in the Imperial Court. Her relationships with many officials were downright terrible; she was a loner, so naturally, many wanted to see her make a fool of herself. Some even wished she would never return.

The emperor, however, took the matter very seriously and frequently asked for updates. The civil officials offered their strategies and advice, but in reality, they were just going through the motions. Everyone knew that the salt and iron trade was virtually untouchable. The corruption was too deeply rooted. Completely uprooting it would require iron resolve, but most importantly, it required hard evidence.

But finding that evidence was no easy task.

...

Five days after Xie Huan and Tong Nianyi offended the local officials and aristocratic families, the two of them spent the day examining accounts at the Magistrate's Office. They seemed to have found something and planned to head back to discuss it.

But that night, assassins came for them.

A group of assassins smashed through the door. They struck with overwhelming force, making absolutely no attempt to hide their presence.

The sudden assault caught Tong Nianyi off guard.

Xie Huan, on the other hand, remained somewhat calm. The moment she heard the commotion, she sprang up and grabbed her sword.

"Stay behind me!" she yelled to Tong Nianyi.

She had survived life-or-death situations countless times; she couldn't be more used to this kind of assassination attempt.

"Assassins!"

"Ah!"

Agonized screams rang out from the courtyard.

Their accompanying guards stationed outside were being butchered.

"Leave no one alive!"

With that single order, the assassins began a ruthless massacre throughout the manor.

Xie Huan listened to the commotion, her brow furrowing.

"This won't work," she said to Tong Nianyi. "We have to run. There are too many of them!"

She could clearly hear the approaching footsteps. If it had been seven or eight men, she might have been able to hold them off. But judging by the chaotic footfalls, she estimated there were at least twenty assassins.

Tong Nianyi nodded.

Xie Huan immediately led her out through the window, ready to make a run for it.

"Why are you dragging that axe along?!" Xie Huan demanded.

Tong Nianyi pointed ahead.

Xie Huan followed her gaze, only to see that the path ahead was already blocked by assassins. It looked as though they had been waiting for them.

Xie Huan glanced back; their retreat was cut off as well.

The moment they had vaulted through the window, they were trapped, with nowhere to run.

Xie Huan gripped her sword, a slight tremor in her heart. "I'm afraid this is where we die."

Tong Nianyi hoisted the massive axe. "I wouldn't be so sure. Stay close to me."

As Xie Huan stared in shock...

...Tong Nianyi swung the axe and charged straight ahead.

"Hey, you—!"

Xie Huan raised her sword and hurried after her.

But in the very next instant, the massive broad axe seemed to become light as a feather in Tong Nianyi's hands.

"Kill them!!"

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