Chapter 60 The Cat is Too Simple
After leaving Qingmu Town, the road to Muling becomes rugged.
On both sides are dense primeval forests with towering ancient trees, which block most of the sunlight and make the forest path look a bit eerie.
Bai Qingchen and Mo Li were riding horses, one in front and one behind, their horses' hooves making dull sounds as they stepped on the fallen leaves and mud.
When we reached a narrow valley, we suddenly heard a rapid rustling sound from the depths of the dense forest next to us.
Immediately afterwards, a frightened wild deer suddenly jumped out from the bushes, rushed straight to the center of the road in a panic, and hit the horse that Mo Li was riding.
“Shhhhhhh——!”
The horse was frightened and let out a long, terrified neigh, raising its front hooves high.
Mo Li seemed to be stunned by this sudden change. His body suddenly leaned back, his hands holding the reins loosened, and he was about to fall off the horse.
"careful!"
Bai Qingchen reacted extremely quickly and tightened the reins of his mount almost the moment the wild deer jumped out.
Seeing that Mo Li was about to fall off his horse, he tapped the stirrup with his toes and flew over like an arrow.
At the moment when Mo Li was about to fall to the ground, Bai Qingchen's arm firmly wrapped around his waist, and brought him out of the trampling range of the frightened horses, and landed him steadily on the ground.
The frightened horse turned around a few times angrily before being soothed by a trace of gentle spiritual power released by Bai Qingchen. It snorted and paced restlessly.
Mo Li was half-hugged by Bai Qingchen. His face was a little pale and his body was still shaking slightly. It was obvious that he was very scared.
After he stood firm, he immediately lowered his head, his voice filled with deep apology and fear: "Brother Qingchen, I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being too stupid. I can't even ride a horse properly. I made you worry..."
Bai Qingchen looked at his face, which looked like his Taoist partner, and showed an expression of grievance and self-blame. His heart softened and he felt a little guilty.
"Don't blame me. I was inconsiderate and forgot to ask if you are good at riding."
He held Mo Li's arm and asked with concern: "How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Mo Li tried to move his left ankle, and his brows immediately furrowed. He took a deep breath and said, "Hiss... I think my ankle was twisted... It hurts a little."
"Let me take a look." Bai Qingchen said as he was about to squat down to check his ankle. It was easy for a monk to treat this common sprain.
“No, no!”
Mo Li quickly waved his hands and shrank back slightly to avoid Bai Qingchen's hand.
"Brother Qingchen, it's really nothing, it just hurts a little bit, I can bear it, it will be fine after a while."
He raised his head and forced a smile, trying to prove that he was okay.
Seeing that he insisted, Bai Qingchen didn't want to force him, so he had to give up.
He was just about to ask Mo Li to rest for a while before leaving, but he saw Mo Li limping towards the calmed horse, reaching out to grab the reins, as if he wanted to get on the horse himself.
"Don't be so stubborn."
Bai Qingchen frowned, took a step forward, grabbed Mo Li's arm without saying a word, and with a little force, lifted him up.
He placed him steadily on the back of the stronger and more stable horse he was riding, and let him sit in front of him.
"If you sprain your ankle, just stay still and don't make any more trouble."
Mo Li was stunned by Bai Qingchen's sudden action. Sitting in Bai Qingchen's arms, his back almost touching his chest, he could clearly feel his steady heartbeat and body temperature through the clothes.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, then he quickly lowered his head and replied in a low voice: "Okay, I'll listen to Brother Qingchen." The grievance from before was gone in his voice, but instead there was a hint of imperceptible satisfaction.
Bai Qingchen didn't think much about it. He held Mo Li in front of him steadily with one hand and held the reins of the horse with the other hand. The two of them rode together again and continued to head towards the main city of Muling.
The other horse that stayed where it was…was it there? Regardless, it had to run away. Seeing Bai Qingchen and the other man walking further and further away, the horse kicked its heels in place and ran off as if it was having fun.
Mo Li leaned quietly in his arms, not saying anything, only the sound of his even breathing could be heard.
After rushing for several days, they finally arrived at the gate of Muling's main city before sunset.
There was a long queue at the city gate, including caravans and ordinary people entering the city.
The city gate was heavily guarded, with several guards in uniform armor patrolling back and forth, scanning every person entering the city with sharp eyes.
As soon as Bai Qingchen's eyes swept over the city gate, his pupils shrank slightly.
On the notice wall next to the city gate, there was a finely painted wanted poster.
The person in the portrait had stern eyes and brows. It was none other than Bai Qingchen. Although the portrait had a slightly different temperament from the real person, the outline of his facial features could be recognized at a glance.
The reward was written in bold, large characters below the wanted notice: Anyone who could provide the man's exact whereabouts would be rewarded with ten top-grade spirit stones, and anyone who could take his head would be rewarded with one hundred top-grade spirit stones. The signature was clearly the Zhao family of Muling.
Bai Qingchen's heart sank suddenly. The guards at the city gate had calm auras and their cultivation was at least at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. The leader even had the faintest fluctuations of the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
Their sharp eyes kept scanning the people in the queue, obviously checking them carefully.
Bai Qingchen immediately lowered the brim of his hat, covering most of his face.
He calmly pulled Mo Li to the back of the team, away from the guards' sight.
He patted the shoulder of a caravan worker in front of him who looked like he often went to Muling, and asked in a low voice, "Brother, can you tell me what's going on with that wanted order? Why is it causing such a commotion?"
The guy was very outgoing. When he turned around and saw that it was a young man wearing a bamboo hat and with a calm voice, he immediately started talking.
"Hey! You mean that? This wanted poster has been posted for three or four years. Did you see it? The Zhao family's reward is one hundred high-grade spirit stones!"
"My goodness, that's enough time for an ordinary cultivator to practice for many years!" He clicked his tongue twice, looking envious.
"What crime did this man commit that caused the Zhao family to spend spirit stones to put him on the wanted list?" Bai Qingchen continued to ask, his tone filled with just the right amount of curiosity.
"Hey, there are so many different explanations for what exactly happened!"
The waiter looked around and lowered his voice mysteriously, saying, "Some say he crippled Zhao Long, the second young master of the Zhao family. I heard he did it during some sect trial!"
"Tsk tsk, that's the Zhao family's treasured child. Some say he not only crippled Zhao Long, but also killed a member of the Zhao family's side branch. How daring! Even more outrageous, some say he's a spy sent by the Zhao family's mortal enemy..."
"Anyway, the Zhao family has threatened to find the man alive or dead. Now, inside and outside the city, there are countless eyes watching secretly! It's been three or four years and they still haven't caught him. I guess Bai Qingchen must be a big shot."
Bai Qingchen listened silently, and he already had a clear idea in his mind. So the source was Zhao Long? The Zhao family actually made such a big fuss for this playboy.
"Thank you, brother, for telling me." Bai Qingchen thanked him.
At this time, Mo Li also saw the wanted poster. He tugged at Bai Qingchen's sleeve, leaned close to his ear, and spoke with genuine concern in his voice: "Brother Qingchen, is that portrait of you? It's too dangerous here!"
Bai Qingchen patted the back of his hand, signaling him to be at ease.
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