Shuojing, as the capital of the Dacheng Dynasty, was the center of politics, culture, and commerce. Even the villages outside the city looked brighter and more spacious than ordinary villages.
On the official road outside the city, a carriage sped by, the driver's eyes gleaming, and several guards on horseback following beside the carriage.
The horses were all top-quality, strong, and fine steeds, and the guards were all muscular and well-trained. It looked like a noble family's master was going out.
Judging from the tire tracks, there should only be one or two people in the vehicle.
While driving, the driver remained vigilant, constantly observing his surroundings.
The group remained silent, focusing solely on their journey.
The carriage turned a corner and entered a narrow path. Ahead lay a grove of trees.
For safety reasons, tall, dense forests are generally not found along official roads. Here, having just left the official road and entered a fork in the road, the grove of trees ahead is no exception.
The grove wasn't large; it was a low thicket of shrubs. Although not tall or dense, they grew on a small slope by the roadside, making it difficult to spot someone hiding among them.
A breeze rustled through the leaves, causing them to sway gently by the roadside.
The group of people on the path became more cautious after the carriage turned the corner, warily observing their surroundings. The speed of the carriage also slowed down slightly.
This place is not far from the city gate, and there are many villas or estates owned by wealthy families in the city nearby.
Although it wasn't an official road, it was still quite flat and wide. The group gradually passed through the thicket of bushes, and perhaps feeling that the danger had passed, they relaxed.
One of the guards looked at the other guard beside him, who was swaying on his horse, clearly relaxed.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a young man's head peeked out. He smiled at the man riding a tall horse closely following beside the carriage and said, "Brother Ping An, after we get back, I'd like to ask for a day off to go back and see my mother."
When Ping An saw him stick his head out, he hissed, "Go back!"
The young man pursed his lips, turned around, and lowered the curtain.
Ping An remained vigilant, observing his surroundings, and whispered, "Alright! I'll inform my wife when I get back!"
His eyes remained alert, fixed ahead, ignoring Song Lin who had spoken earlier. It was as if nothing had happened.
Song Lin, sitting in the carriage, smiled with delight, then muttered, "I don't know why Brother Ping'an is so nervous. There are only a few sheets of paper in the carriage, and we've already passed the easiest place to set an ambush. Why is he so nervous?"
Ping An didn't hear Song Lin's complaints and focused on looking at her surroundings.
They only need to do what their master tells them. What right do they have to interfere in their master's affairs?
This time, they were following Gu Yaoniang's instructions to deliver the box on the carriage to the village outside the city.
Since the last time the money was stolen, he has never transported any money between the Lu family and the Gu family.
Ping An didn't know if his employer distrusted him or what. As far as he knew, his employer and the Lu family had always maintained business dealings, and there must have been financial exchanges between them.
However, the young master would give her a box every month and deliver it to the place she requested.
Although he hadn't opened it, he knew that it contained nothing more than paper or silk.
It's very light.
The young master requested the same method as before: to deliver it discreetly. Their most common practice was for a young servant to sit in a carriage carrying the box, pretending to be a wealthy young master going on a trip, and travel along the carriage.
The same is true today.
Song Lin, sitting in the car holding a box, was the most lively brother in the team. He had only a widowed mother at home, who had arranged a marriage for him, and he would be getting married soon.
Therefore, Song Lin has been more lively and talkative than usual lately.
Seeing that the grove of trees was already a hundred paces behind him, Ping An breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from behind.
Ping An instinctively ducked down, dodging the arrow. His horse, however, was grazed on the scalp by the arrow and, startled, began to neigh wildly.
The group became alert, the horses neighed and galloped, and the situation gradually spiraled out of control.
Ping An shouted, "Don't panic! Song Lin, stay inside the car and keep watch! Don't come out!"
Just then, a group of more than a dozen men in black jumped out from the bushes they had just passed and charged toward them menacingly.
Ping An had already gripped the hilt of his sword, and the surrounding guards also drew their swords.
At such close range, running is no longer an option, and the arrows have lost their offensive advantage.
In close combat, all that matters is the speed of the swords and knives in one's hand.
Song Lin, inside the carriage, also hugged the box tightly and gripped his weapon firmly in one hand.
One of the men in black, leading the group, held his sword horizontally towards Ping An and his companions, seemingly confident of victory, and did not rush to attack: "Hand over the goods! As long as you behave yourselves, we won't make things difficult for you."
Ping An feigned ignorance: "Things? What things?"
The man snapped angrily, "Stop playing dumb with me! I'll take whatever you give me! Are you going to give it to me or not?"
Ping An felt a sense of relief—as expected, they had come for the master's box.
He drew his sword, a smirk playing on his lips: "You want it? I'll give it to you. We're all in this together, where does my pride lie?"
Before the newcomer could speak, Song Lin's sword had already thrust forward. Startled and enraged, he yelled, "You son of a bitch! Don't you have any manners? In the underworld, don't you finish your business before you start fighting?"
He also brandished his sword and charged forward, engaging Ping An in battle. The other men in black also clashed with the Gu family's group.
Ping An sneered: "You've come to snatch things from Grandpa, so whatever Grandpa wants to do is the rule!"
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