Despite the complaints, we still have to keep moving forward.

After breakfast, the group continued their journey.

Gu Shaoqing sent two people back to meet Zhou Yi, and then quickened his pace to move forward.

After all, Lu Qiqi had to get to the border before the doctors arrived, otherwise she would lose the meaning of setting an example.

The carriage was much faster than Lu Qiqi and the others had traveled on foot.

In just seven days, they arrived at the area where Lu Qiqi had once gone up the mountain to kill bandits.

Lu Qiqi was finally free from the torment of her period. She had been huddled in the carriage, and even walking a few steps made her back ache unbearably.

For seven consecutive days, Monday, he still hadn't caught up. Lu Qiqi couldn't care less about anything else; she just hoped he would be safe and sound.

Around noon, Gu Shaoqing found a flat spot to rest.

Lu Qiqi found the flat ground somewhat familiar, and suddenly, a memory flashed through her mind.

This is the camp where she and Song Yanqing once joined forces to kill the Tartars.

Li Changlong also remembered that many villagers had died or been injured here.

Thinking of this, his mood became somewhat heavy. He never expected to return to this place in his lifetime.

The area, which had been suffering from drought for two years, suddenly started receiving rain.

The small pond was full, and the vegetation grew lush.

Everything is coming back to life, as if those bitter days have long been forgotten.

During this period, the bodyguards ate with Lu Qiqi and the others, so Li Changlong didn't have to cook every day.

Instead, it was done by a dozen or so people taking turns.

Don't let their burly appearance fool you; these bodyguards are all incredibly skilled cooks.

Lu Qiqi brought a lot of grain and dried goods.

Shiitake mushrooms, dried meat, dried bamboo shoots, green beans, and shredded radish.

Passing by the forest of corpses, Gu Shaoqing ordered his bodyguards to go hunting.

We ate all kinds of wild animals, including pheasants, rabbits, wild boars, and roe deer.

Compared to the days when we were fleeing famine, eating bitter herbs and drinking vegetable porridge, it felt like a spring outing.

"These two rabbits are too fat!"

Biaozi carried a rabbit in each hand as he walked to his spot, loudly boasting about his hunting spoils for the day.

Gu Shaoqing smiled and told Biaozi to take care of the rabbit, and that they would stay here tonight.

Hearing this, Lu Qiqi was a little confused. "Aren't we going to keep going?"

Gu Shaoqing explained, "You can rest here for now, I need to go up the mountain."

Should we go up the mountain?

Why?

After listening to Gu Shaoqing's explanation, Lu Qiqi finally understood that the escort agency was not a reckless team.

All the escort agencies have always been known for winning people over with virtue.

When Gu Shaoqing said he was going up the mountain, he was actually referring to paying respects to the powerful figures behind the mountain.

After he explained, Lu Qiqi noticed that the red banners of the Tianlang Escort Agency that had been hanging high along the way had been taken down.

As the saying goes, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake; it's best to keep a low profile when you're on someone else's turf.

Seeing that Lu Qiqi was very interested, Gu Shaoqing asked, "Do you see the woodcutter over there?"

Lu Qiqi looked in the direction he pointed and nodded.

She had noticed that person a long time ago.

He spent half a day chopping firewood, his eyes glancing in their direction every now and then.

They didn't look like law-abiding farmers at all.

Besides, there were so many people fleeing famine a year ago that there wouldn't be any farmers living here.

Therefore, it can be inferred that this person must be a bandit.

Gu Shaoqing said, "I'll go ask for directions. You wait here. Biaozi will protect you."

Lu Qiqi nodded, watching Gu Shaoqing walk towards the woodcutter.

While Gu Shaoqing was asking the woodcutter for directions, Lu Qiqi began to ponder.

On their journey to escape famine, she and Song Yanqing led the villagers of Lijia Village to destroy a mountain stronghold.

This place is still some distance from the mountain stronghold. Could it be that these bandits turned to banditry here after fleeing famine?

This idea doesn't make sense either. Since Gu Shaoqing knows there are bandits here, he must have been here for a long time.

Otherwise, Gu Shaoqing wouldn't have hesitated and instead asked for directions.

Therefore, these bandits must have been aware that the Tartars had set up camp here, eating human flesh and blood.

Because they were afraid of the Tartars' iron hooves, they hid away and now they intercept caravans and passersby here for a living.

It perfectly portrayed a scenario of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

While Lu Qiqi was still making wild guesses, Gu Shaoqing came back.

He walked up to her with a troubled expression and said, "Miss Lu, the woodcutter would like to invite you back into his house for a bowl of tea."

Lu Qiqi glanced at the woodcutter from afar and asked, "Has this ever happened before?"

Gu Shaoqing said, "Not many."

"Our escort agency rarely brings female relatives when transporting goods or people."

Very few hilltops have made this request.

"What will happen if we don't go?" Lu Qiqi asked.

Gu Shaoqing stated bluntly, "When the mountain bandit is in a good mood, the things can be left behind and the people can pass through. When he is in a bad mood, both the things and the people must be left behind."

So, even if we don't want to go, we have to go!

"If that's the case," Lu Qiqi said in a low voice, "Then let's go!"

......

Gu Shaoqing took a gift box and, with Lu Qiqi in tow, followed the woodcutter toward the mountain stronghold.

The woodcutter had a machete slung at his side; the blade gleamed and looked extremely sharp.

No wonder you were chopping wood so slowly; you were afraid of chipping the blade.

The three walked for most of the hour before finally arriving at a thatched hut.

Gu Shaoqing reminded him, "It seems they don't intend to let us know where the stronghold is."

After saying that, Gu Shaoqing walked ahead of Lu Qiqi and entered the house first after the woodcutter opened the door.

Lu Qiqi followed closely behind.

As soon as she entered the house, she saw eight or nine people inside.

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