The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 245: Chapter 245: A White Horse Leaves Ling Province

Huanglong City, Yang Mansion.

"Ah Yuan, thank you."

Yang Fangyu lay weakly in bed. After a full month of recuperation, he was finally awake.

Yan Hongxiu was diligently massaging Yang Fangyu’s calves.

Yang Fangyu had been bedridden for a month. If not for Yan Hongxiu’s meticulous care, he likely wouldn’t have woken up so soon.

An ordinary person would have suffered muscle atrophy after lying in bed for so long, and even a Martial Artist was no exception. The only reason Yang Fangyu could still get up and walk was because of Yan Hongxiu.

It was said she had even sought out the city’s best massage master to learn. For the legitimate daughter of a great clan to go to such lengths was truly admirable.

Bai Yuan first cupped his fist toward Yan Hongxiu. "Sister-in-law, you’ve worked hard during this time."

He then turned to Yang Fangyu, who was lying in bed. "Old Yang, you’re finally awake."

A look of relief washed over Yang Fangyu’s face.

He was thankful to have a brother like Bai Yuan.

While he was unconscious, if Bai Yuan hadn’t single-handedly suppressed the demon uprising in Huanglong Prefecture, even though he had been injured in the line of duty, he surely would have lost his hard-won position as Prefect of Huanglong Prefecture.

He would have been left with a good reputation but a ruined career—that kind of fucked-up thing happened all too often in Xuan Yang.

"As for the matter with the Celestial Profound Sect, since it’s a misunderstanding, my Yang Family has some people familiar with them. Perhaps we can mediate."

Yang Fangyu had already learned from Yan Hongxiu about the recent events in Huanglong Prefecture.

Aside from the Soul Chasing Tower Lord’s attempt to assassinate them, the biggest incident was the disappearance of the Celestial Profound Sect’s Jiu Zhen True Man.

Of course, this matter was a secret known to very few. The fact that Yan Hongxiu knew the full story was a testament to her impressive capabilities.

Yang Fangyu often said he had a capable wife at home, and it was no empty boast.

In fact, if Yan Hongxiu hadn’t been born a woman, her accomplishments might have been even greater.

But even as a woman, her strength was enough to earn the respect of many.

Bai Yuan was secretly pleased and didn’t refuse. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Yang."

Although Du Qinghui had already stepped forward to block the Celestial Profound Sect, it was easy to dodge King Yama, but hard to fend off his demons.

The Celestial Profound Sect certainly wouldn’t make a big show of things openly, but they would definitely make plenty of moves in secret.

If the Yang Family stepped in to mediate, there would be far less trouble.

The reason Yang Fangyu was willing to do this was, of course, out of gratitude for the debt he owed Bai Yuan.

At that moment, Yan Hongxiu also spoke up. "My father happens to be acquainted with a Grand Elder of the Celestial Profound Sect. He should be able to put in a good word."

Bai Yuan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

"And I must thank Brother Bai for his care these past days."

Yan Hongxiu said with a small smile.

During the time Yang Fangyu was unconscious, Bai Yuan had rarely visited, but he had well and truly resolved Yang Fangyu’s troubles in the political arena.

A gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his intentions. Yan Hongxiu felt that Bai Yuan was someone worth befriending deeply.

The Yang Family and the Yan Family were both great clans, and Yang Fangyu and Yan Hongxiu held high standing within them.

Through their maneuvering, the pressure from the Celestial Profound Sect did indeed lessen considerably.

Jiu Zhen True Man had gone to Huanglong Prefecture on a personal matter to begin with, and with no conclusive evidence, the sect had no just cause for their actions.

Moreover, the Celestial Profound Sect was already rife with factions, so in the end, only the faction to which Jiu Zhen True Man belonged sent people to investigate in secret.

The pressure on the Divine Mansion Sect was greatly reduced.

...

"Sister Qiao is about to arrive in Yan Province?"

Bai Yuan stared at the letter from Yan Province, overjoyed.

He originally thought it would take Sister Qiao at least another month to reach Yan Province, but she was arriving much earlier than expected.

The situation in Huanglong Prefecture was currently stable, and with Yang Fangyu presiding over things, no major trouble was likely to erupt.

Bai Yuan immediately decided to head south.

"Sect Leader, you’re going to Yan Province?"

Yu Hui was surprised when he heard Bai Yuan’s decision, but he quickly understood.

He chuckled. "Go ahead, Sect Leader. Leave the sect to me and the other Peak Masters."

"I’m counting on you."

Bai Yuan nodded.

Yu Hui specially brought him the best horse from the Divine Mansion Army, and Bai Yuan left Huanglong Prefecture that very day.

...

Yan Province was located at the southernmost tip of the Northern Territory. Due to frequent exchange with the Central Plains, its prosperity far surpassed that of the other provinces in the north.

As a vital trade route between the Northern Territory and the Central Plains, it was crowded with merchants from all over, a motley crowd of saints and sinners alike.

"Heh heh, Junior Sister Liang, we’ve arrived at Yanzhou City."

An old man dressed in a sheepskin coat with disheveled hair spoke with a fawning expression to the old woman beside him.

The old woman acted as if she hadn’t seen him and walked straight toward the city gate.

Behind the old woman and the old man was a woman with a graceful figure and a beautiful face. She was called a woman because of her hairstyle.

Xuan Yang had inherited the customs of the previous dynasty, using coiled hair to distinguish married women from unmarried maidens.

It was said that married women in the Central Plains, in their efforts to outshine one another, loved to create elaborate masterpieces in the small space atop their heads. There was even a saying about them wearing pavilions and towers on their heads.

Hairstyles like the "peony head" and the "heart-plucking chignon" were all inventions of those women from the Central Plains.

This woman seemed accustomed to the Jianghu life. Though her hair was also coiled, it was done in a simple, neat twist, held in place by a single wooden hairpin. Yet, this gave her a unique charm that the women of the Central Plains lacked.

If not for the hairstyle indicating her marital status, no one would have guessed she was a woman of a certain age.

"Qiaoniang, be careful about everything after we enter the city."

The old woman said slowly.

"Yes, Elder."

This woman was none other than Xiao Qiaoniang, who had traveled from Linzhou to Yan Province.

And the old woman was her master, Liang E.

One look at the old man’s ghastly white pupils was enough to know he was undoubtedly Zhou Siming.

Liang E hadn’t intended to bring Zhou Siming along, but somehow he’d gotten wind of her plans and eagerly tagged along to Yan Province.

The reason Liang E had come to Yan Province was to hunt down a traitor from their line of Demon Hunters.

That Demon Hunter had stolen something very important.

She had to get it back.

The three of them arrived before the gates of Yanzhou City.

A long line had already formed, full of people waiting to enter the city.

Although Yan Province was far from the Northern Border Battlefield, had barely been touched by the flames of war, and had never even seen the monsters and Demons of the Northern Plains, the Lord Governor still strictly inspected anyone entering the city.

Without a Passage Document issued by the Court, it was impossible to enter Yanzhou City.

Liang E was here to hunt a traitor, and before she found him, she naturally didn’t want to stir up any trouble, so she had already prepared their Passage Documents.

Speaking of which, she had Zhou Siming to thank for these Passage Documents.

If not for Zhou Siming’s connections in the Linzhou Prefecture Magistrate’s Office, getting the Passage Documents would not have been easy.

The three of them waited for a full two hours before they finally saw the city gate guards.

"Your documents?"

A guard in light armor asked, a hint of weariness in his voice.

Xiao Qiaoniang handed the prepared documents to the guard.

The guard glanced at them and a look of surprise crossed his face. "From Linzhou?"

Linzhou was in the far south of Xuan Yang, thousands of miles from Yan Province.

Even as a city gate guard who had seen all sorts of people, this was the first time he had ever met someone from Linzhou.

However, the Passage Documents were not forged, so he naturally wouldn’t stand in their way.

You couldn’t be a city gate guard if you weren’t sharp-eyed. How could people who traveled all the way from Linzhou to Yan Province possibly be weak?

If some reckless fool gave them a hard time, he would just be inviting a fatal disaster.

These Jianghu People were ruthless characters who lived on the edge of a blade. Even with his official status as a guard, he could still be secretly dealt with. There was no need to cause extra trouble.

Xiao Qiaoniang took back the Passage Documents. "Thank you, Lord Official."

Hearing himself addressed as "Lord Official" put the gate guard in high spirits. He waved his hand and let Xiao Qiaoniang’s group pass.

The moment they stepped through the gate, they were hit by a wave of bustling energy.

The streets of Yanzhou City were filled with merchants from all corners of the land, as well as acrobats and street performers.

Xiao Qiaoniang had originally been a simple village woman. Even after spending a long time in Qinghe, she had never seen such a vibrant, bustling city.

You would never see such liveliness in Linzhou.

In fact, most Demon Hunters lived in seclusion deep in the mountains. After becoming an apprentice, she had rarely entered a city, so she was completely captivated by the sight.

"Let’s find a place to stay first."

Zhou Siming said, ignoring the strange looks from the people around them.

Liang E nodded.

Overjoyed, Zhou Siming immediately led Liang E and Xiao Qiaoniang to the best inn in Yan Province.

It was true that Demon Hunters didn’t concern themselves with worldly affairs, but it was also true that they were rich.

The monster meat alone, obtained from Demon Hunting, made them far wealthier than the average Martial Artist.

The inn’s Shopkeeper’s eyes lit up at the sight of the glittering gold ingots. He immediately called for a waiter to arrange for the Sky-grade room.

Xiao Qiaoniang stepped into the room, which was over a hundred feet across, and felt like she was in a dream.

She had never stayed in such a luxurious place.

"Qiaoniang, you stay here and rest. I’m going out to scout the city."

The old woman had only just entered the room but was already impatient to investigate the traitorous Demon Hunter’s whereabouts.

Seeing the old woman leave the room, Zhou Siming, who was standing by the door, scrambled to follow her.

Xiao Qiaoniang watched the two of them head downstairs and shook her head.

Her master was extremely strict with her, and she had suffered greatly during her apprenticeship, but she was also extremely good to her.

Perhaps because Demon Hunters spent their years in the company of monsters, their minds were much simpler than those of other people.

With Zhou Siming following her, she didn’t have to worry about anything happening to Liang E.

Xiao Qiaoniang lay down comfortably on the red sandalwood bed. It was so soft, it felt like sleeping on a cloud.

Life in the mountains was simple; there were certainly no beds as fine as this.

Fortunately, Xiao Qiaoniang had never been the delicate type, so she felt right at home.

Xiao Qiaoniang stayed in her room until dusk.

There was still no sign of Liang E and Zhou Siming returning.

A waiter from the inn knocked on the door, bringing several plates of exquisite food.

Xiao Qiaoniang couldn’t help but think back to her days in the courtyard on Wan Jun Peak of the Divine Mansion Sect. It had been a long time since she had lived the life of a pampered matriarch, with clothes handed to her and food brought to her lips.

She picked up a glistening piece of soy-braised beef, put it in her mouth, and chewed thoughtfully.

’It’s far worse than Brother Yuan’s cooking.’

Xiao Qiaoniang gazed at the crimson clouds outside the window.

’I wonder if Brother Yuan has received my letter yet...’

But Ling Province was thousands of miles from Yan Province. Even if he rushed, it would still take him many days to arrive.

She found herself hoping her master’s investigation would go slowly, giving her a chance to meet with Brother Yuan.

Just as her imagination was running away with her, there was another knock on the door.

Xiao Qiaoniang looked puzzled.

’The waiter just left. Why is someone knocking again?’

She cautiously approached the door and slowly pushed it open, only to see a man’s face—one she hadn’t seen in a long time—appear before her.

"Sister Qiao, I’m here."