Chapter 210: Nine Linked Slopes

Inside the tea stall, the waiter and the shopkeeper trembled in fear.

Outside the tea stall, Chief Escort Cao and Gu Ning’an sat facing each other.

After hearing Gu Ning’an’s casual “What’s the matter?” Chief Escort Cao’s expression turned somewhat amused.

He pressed his hand down and said, “Alright, everyone sit down. No need to make a fuss over a small matter.”

Upon hearing this, the escort guards resumed their seats, sheathed their blades, and continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Once Liu Da and Liu Er had settled down again and started eating, Chief Escort Cao finally spoke: “Mr. Gu might not be aware, but for us escorts, it is taboo to reveal our destination to others…”

“Anyone who asks that kind of question is often a scout for bandits planning to rob us. That’s why my men reacted so strongly.”

At the end of his explanation, Chief Escort Cao cupped his hands with a polite smile and said, “If we startled you, I hope you can forgive us.”

Gu Ning’an returned the gesture and replied, “No harm done. I’ve never interacted with escorts before, so I didn’t know the rules. It was my fault for disturbing you all.”

“Ah, not at all!”

Chief Escort Cao chuckled. “Today’s tea is on me.”

Gu Ning’an had just placed a few large copper coins on the table when he heard this. He shook his head with a smile and said, “I appreciate the kindness, but let’s keep things fair. I’ll pay for my own tea.”

After speaking, he rose from his seat, bid them farewell with a polite “I’ll be on my way,” and quickly left.

Only when Gu Ning’an’s figure disappeared into the distance did the escort guards finally withdraw their gazes.

Liu Da wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at Cao Cheng with a puzzled expression. “Chief Escort Cao, do you think that gentleman was suspicious?”

Cao Cheng smiled. “I don’t think so. He’s just an outsider who doesn’t know our trade’s rules—it’s normal.”

“Besides, he treated us just like anyone else, unlike some people who look at us as if we were tigers ready to pounce.”

“In the future, let’s not overreact when someone treats us with respect. Otherwise, we’ll only add to the negative reputation of our profession…”

Scattered murmurs of agreement rose around him.

Chief Escort Cao’s gaze fell on the copper coins on the table, lost in thought…

…

As the sky darkened, the setting sun gradually gave way to a vast expanse of twinkling stars.

Under the moon and starlight, a series of undulating slopes came into view. Though not very high, the steep drop between the slopes and their peaks made them resemble mountains, even though they were just a series of consecutive inclines.

Because of its many slopes, the place had been named “Nine Linked Slopes.”

Upon entering Nine Linked Slopes, the moonlight was soon obscured by dense pine and cypress trees.

Due to the terrain, the lower areas of the slopes rarely saw sunlight, making the place perpetually damp and chilly. Walking through it gave an eerie feeling.

Guided by the faint glow of fireflies near the trees, Gu Ning’an swiftly navigated up and down the slopes until he reached the third one.

Here, he decided to stop for the night. Gathering some firewood, he lit a bonfire, took out his water pouch and dry rations, and had a simple dinner.

Lying on the slightly damp grass, he inhaled the faint scent of fresh greenery while gazing at the vast, starry sky. At that moment, he couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of this world.

No matter where he traveled, he always seemed to stumble upon breathtaking scenery.

However, his moment of peace did not last long.

A series of hurried footsteps, accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of horses and carts, broke the stillness of the night.

“Hey, why is there a fire at the top of the slope?”

“Stay alert, everyone!”

“This place is creepy… Could there really be ghosts here?”

“Ghosts, my ass. If anything, it’d be demons.”

Hearing the chatter from the approaching group, Gu Ning’an guessed that the newcomers were most likely from the Tiger Head Escort Agency—the same people he had seen earlier that day.

Thinking that lying on the ground might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, he chose to sit up and looked toward the slope.

Liu Da and Liu Er, the youngest and fastest of the group, took the lead as pathfinders and were the first to reach the top.

As soon as they arrived, they saw a lone figure sitting by a bonfire.

The firelight flickered over his white robes, making his face appear faintly illuminated. Though partially obscured by the shifting glow, the man’s expression was visible enough—he was smiling.

A man in white, smiling at them in the dead of night…

The combination of factors sent a chill down the Liu brothers’ spines.

“Wait! There’s a guy in white up here, and he’s smiling at us!”

Chief Escort Cao frowned. “Just one person?”

The Liu brothers answered in unison, “Yes, just one.”

“Then what the hell are you scared of?”

“Besides, if ghosts were real, would they be sitting around a bonfire for everyone to see?”

With that, Cao Cheng shoved the two aside and strode up the slope in just a few quick steps.

“Chief Escort Cao, what a coincidence!” Gu Ning’an waved with a smile. “It’s damp and chilly here—care to warm up by the fire?”

Mr. Gu?

How did he get here so fast?

Was he waiting for us on purpose…?

Cao Cheng returned the smile and cupped his hands. “I appreciate the offer, Mr. Gu, but we have a lot of people—one bonfire won’t be enough for us.”

Then, he turned to his men and called out, “Everyone, come on up. This is Mr. Gu, whom we met earlier today.”

His tone was casual, but the escort guards immediately went on high alert.

Years of escorting goods had trained them to instinctively prepare for unexpected situations.

Earlier in the day, they could chalk up Gu Ning’an’s question about their route to an outsider’s ignorance of escorting etiquette.

But now, meeting him again—out here, in the middle of nowhere…

Had he been waiting for them?

The escort guards moved quickly, coordinating with practiced efficiency.

Some gathered the carts and horses together, others set up additional bonfires, and a designated few kept a close watch on Gu Ning’an.

Soon, the once-quiet hillside became lively with the arrival of the Tiger Head Escort Agency.

They lit several fires and arranged themselves in a defensive formation, ensuring that every direction was under watchful eyes.

A middle-aged escort guard approached Cao Cheng and murmured, “Chief, this guy’s suspicious. We’ve been traveling for hours, and even the best of us are showing signs of fatigue. But he—he doesn’t look tired at all.”

“Not to mention, we’re fast, right? Even if he left before us, there’s no way he could’ve gotten this far ahead so quickly…”

Cao Cheng discreetly motioned for silence, then took two roasted flatbreads from the fire, stood up, and walked over to Gu Ning’an with a grin.

“Mr. Gu, have a taste—these flatbreads have pickled vegetables inside. They’re quite flavorful.”

“Much appreciated, Chief Cao.”

Gu Ning’an accepted the flatbread without hesitation and started eating immediately.

“Mmm, tastes great.”

Not even the slightest worry about poison or knockout drugs?

What kind of person has the nerve to travel alone for so long without a hint of fear?

Cao Cheng chuckled. “Enjoy, Mr. Gu. I’ll be heading back to rest—we still have a long way to go.”

As he ate, Gu Ning’an smiled. “Chief Cao, you’re certainly hardworking.”

“Just used to it.”

With a wave of his hand, Cao Cheng returned to his men. After a brief moment of thought, he finally spoke:

“We rest for half an hour. If you need to eat, drink, or relieve yourselves, do it now. We’re pushing through Nine Linked Slopes in one go.”