Chapter 690: Chapter 361: The Flower Thief Confesses, Where Is Li Xian, The Jade Girl Is Furious, Daring to Defy My Will (Part 2)
The merchant said, "Why exactly have you been following us, O heroic woman?" Bian Qiaoqiao stubbornly replied, "Humph, did your family build this road? Can’t I walk on it?" In her heart, she felt uneasy, having realized the misunderstanding. Following close behind the caravan could indeed arouse suspicion, but it wasn’t entirely her fault.
The merchant hesitated but finally resigned himself to his bad luck, as the guards were injured, making it difficult to continue trading, with injuries ranging from serious to minor. As the caravan discussed turning back, Bian Qiaoqiao felt guilty and said, "How about this, since it’s a misunderstanding with shared blame, I’ll admit my hand was heavy; I can accompany your caravan and help if we encounter enemies. You pay me in silver."
The merchant was taken aback but, upon consideration, realized it was indeed feasible and invited Bian Qiaoqiao to join them, treating her well along the journey. Keeping her word, Bian Qiaoqiao chased off any enemies encountered along the way, her actions swift and decisive. She was both lively and beautiful, quickly winning the favor of the caravan members.
The most perilous encounter was with a particularly fearsome demon. Though the caravan sounded the Exorcism Bell, it had little effect. Bian Qiaoqiao stepped in and chased it away, saving the entire caravan. Henceforth, she was highly revered, treated like a living goddess by everyone.
As the journey continued, they traveled by boat over water, and Bian Qiaoqiao proudly thought, "Traveling like this is far quicker than my legs could ever manage step by step. I’m truly ingenious to have come up with this method."
When the trading journey was finally over, they left Yu Nan Dao behind. As Bian Qiaoqiao parted with the caravan, she felt a sense of bewilderment, unsure how to proceed. The vast world was inscrutable to the human eye. The merchant perceived her predicament, knowing this girl, though strong in Martial Arts, had little experience and was unsure why she’d left home or how to find her way back. Observing her behavior along the way, she seemed unlike ordinary folk, probably a noble family descendant or a sect prodigy, so he introduced her to an Escort Agency. He said, "Following the merchants leads inevitably to bustling places. Where there is prosperity, there will be dense crowds, making it easier to gradually piece together clues."
Listening to the advice, Bian Qiaoqiao temporarily joined an Escort Agency, following the consignment heading north. This way, she traveled north for several rounds, gradually gaining some Jianghu experience and accumulating a bit of silver. In her spare time, she bought hairpins and traded for a few pairs of silk socks.
She was young in age but high in cultivation. Though travel-worn, her beauty remained.
However, she dared not indulge in pleasures, her heart tightly tied to Nangong Liuli. One day, she followed an escort to a place called "Floating Scene Town," staring at the plaque in contemplation for a long time, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "It’s Bian Xiaoxiu!"
It turned out the name "Floating Scene Town" was inscribed by an inept descendant of the Bian Family. Bian Xiaoxiu had been earlier appointed as a County Magistrate for a remote county settlement. Bian Qiaoqiao quickly found the Government Office and met Bian Xiaoxiu.
Bian Xiaoxiu was deeply moved and invited Bian Qiaoqiao to reside for a long time. Naturally, Bian Qiaoqiao declined, stating she needed to quickly return to her family and asked Bian Xiaoxiu for directions to return. Bian Xiaoxiu, having returned to the family annually, knew the route well. He immediately provided the funds, maps, and directions, along with several letters, asking Bian Qiaoqiao to deliver them to the family elders.
Bian Qiaoqiao was overjoyed and naturally agreed. She immediately followed the route back, traveling by boat and carriage, swiftly returning home despite the obstacles. Once at the Bian Family, she didn’t pause for a moment and immediately informed the family elders.
Flower Cage Sect was located in a remote area, and Bian Qiaoqiao knew only how to summon reinforcements, not how to actually move them. She immediately gathered several close sisters and friends, fiercely determined to eradicate Flower Cage Sect.
Her father immediately scolded her, saying she was adorably foolish; the girls were inexperienced with unformed wings. Even if they could best the Flower Cage thieves singly, confronting them would undoubtedly lead to trouble. Was she intending to keep Flower Cage Sect company by bringing sisters along?
He immediately summoned "Bian Bianyun" and "Bian Chengfeng," two older cousins. Though they appeared young, they were nearing forty. Several years ago, they successfully advanced to the Third Realm, possessing worldly experience and capable techniques.
Bian Qiaoqiao then went to the Nangong Family for help, gaining Nangong Xuanming and Nangong Wuyang’s assistance. The Flower Cage Sect thieves were numerous, and the terrain concealed, with a distant route; they were inadequate to breach it alone.
Bian Qiaoqiao then sought assistance from Daoxuan Mountain. Though Nangong Liuli was not a disciple of Daoxuan Mountain, and they technically needn’t help, considering the ethics and eradication of evil, one of their four great talents, "Young Master Feng · Su Lanfeng," was dispatched to assist.
The hope for this endeavor remained bleak; without overwhelming force, they couldn’t overturn things as desired. Saddened but aware that such a distant journey meant the family and sect couldn’t send elite forces, they had already contributed much. Bian Qiaoqiao, close with Zhao Ranran, gritted her teeth to ask Zhao Ranran for help. Zhao Ranran, hearing this, readily agreed, saying casually, "I’ve wanted to enter the world to eradicate Flower Thieves and make my name; this works out perfectly."
With seven people in total, on the departure day, Tai Shu Yuzhu joined them temporarily, making it eight traveling together, aiming to eradicate Flower Thieves. Upon reaching near Dongran Lake in Huaiyin Prefecture on Yu Nan Dao, it was already deep winter, and the weather was bone-chilling.
Among the group, Bian Qiaoqiao was the youngest, followed by Zhao Ranran. Zhao Ranran never revealed her appearance and was calm like a virgin; idle days she amused herself with the Jingyao Divine Bird. Occasionally conversing with Bian Qiaoqiao, other people were unspoken.
Dongran Lake was vast and expansive. Upon arriving, Nangong Xuanming immediately called upon Jianghu chivalrous men, communicated with the Government, and contacted local friends for assistance. All noble family disciples had their connections, with families dispatching silver for thief eradication, playing their roles well, able to gather a formidable force.
Bian Bianyun furthermore made acquaintances with several Celestial Patrol Bureau members whom he found nearby, inviting them to assist. Bian Qiaoqiao, observing the formations, was exceedingly delighted, questioning herself repeatedly, "Strange, why do I lack this capability?"
Zhao Ranran shook her head, smiled with helplessness, and replied, "Though your status is noble, your fame hasn’t yet emerged, nor have you accumulated networks. When others know your identity, having you yield is enough; why would they heed your commands easily? They call upon storms because the family has laid the foundation, and then their own abilities stir the winds and clouds."
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