Chapter 469: Escape to the Western Regions
On Baihu West Road, east of Jincheng City, there is a most ordinary courtyard for civilians.
It was late autumn, and the wind in the western frontier was already bone-chillingly cold.
It rolled up the yellow fallen leaves on the ground and swirled towards the mottled wall.
The courtyard was cramped, and in the corner stood a clay medicine stove emitting bitter green smoke. The rich, indissoluble smell of medicine permeated the cold air.
These are a pair of brothers from other places who just moved here seven or eight days ago.
My brother is very sick and has been bedridden all day, like a broken bellows that will fall apart at any moment.
My younger brother was busy running around, looking for doctors and medicine everywhere.
Just as the sun was getting higher, a heart-wrenching cough suddenly came from inside the tightly closed, dilapidated wooden door, as if it was going to cough out all the internal organs.
Yang Wuhui, who had been guarding the medicine furnace in the yard, suddenly changed his expression, dropped the palm-leaf fan in his hand, and rushed into the house like an arrow.
The room was dimly lit and poorly furnished, with only half-worn bedding covering the earthen kang by the window.
Yan Wujiu was curled up on it, his whole body was so thin that he looked unrecognizable, with prominent cheekbones, deep eye sockets, and a lifeless sallow face.
At this moment, his body was heaving violently due to a violent cough, and every breath he took was accompanied by a hoarse sound like a broken gong.
The dark red blood flowing from the corner of his mouth stained the dirty pillowcase, and the scene was extremely miserable.
Yang Wuhui took a quick step forward and half-supported and half-carried his frail body.
With his palm against his back, a stream of pure and gentle true energy slowly flowed in, trying to help him straighten out the violent and chaotic breath.
After a long time, the horrific coughing gradually subsided, leaving only intermittent and weak breathing.
"Brother, this...how come it's even heavier?"
There was an unconcealable worry in Yang Wuhui's voice.
Yan Wujiu did not answer immediately. He closed his eyes and his chest rose and fell weakly.
His forehead was covered with fine beads of cold sweat, and his eyes were filled with lingering fear and deep worry.
In the battle of Zhenbei Pass, he relied on the opportunity created by Master Yun Miao at the cost of his life, and wanted to take advantage of the blood and chaotic murderous energy caused by the fall of the pass and the fighting between the two countries' armies to break through the mysterious barrier of the first level in one fell swoop.
However, at the last moment, success failed.
Although he had clearly touched the door and felt the vast power behind it, he was still one step away and failed to truly set foot inside.
What's even more terrifying is that when he tried to regroup and plan again, he was actually hit by the backlash of Pei Ran Mo Yu's luck!
The foundation of the second-level realm's cultivation was shaken in an instant, and the true energy in his body rushed wildly like a wild horse, causing extremely serious internal injuries.
Fortunately, he had already prepared for evacuation and fled to the rendezvous point with his last breath.
With the help of Yang Wuhui, they left the northern border, a place of trouble, without stopping.
However, his injuries did not improve after escaping. Instead, he could not maintain his realm during the escape and fell all the way back to the third level.
After years of hard training, almost everything has returned to the starting point.
Although he was unwilling, he comforted himself that since he had truly realized that he was at the second level, it was only a matter of time before he could cultivate back.
But Yan Wujiu ultimately underestimated the horror of the backlash of luck.
The true Qi in his body could never be completely straightened out, and was always in a chaotic state that could explode at any time, causing his injuries to linger and recur.
As a result, they had to wander around like stray dogs.
Ironically, most of the cases of "herbal medicine thieves" in the north and even in many states in the central and northern parts of the country, for which the government offered rewards, were related to them.
In order to prolong his life and heal his wounds, he had to take a risk and steal the old medicine.
Some of the store’s treasures, which were once the shop’s veterans for two or three generations, were also stolen quietly.
After tossing and turning all the way, he finally arrived at the Golden City on the White Tiger West Road, and only then was he able to suppress his injuries by 70% or 80% with the help of the rare medicinal herbs he had stolen.
Who would have thought that such a drastic recurrence would happen again today!
Yan Wujiu raised his hand with difficulty and wiped the blood that kept flowing from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, feeling deeply exhausted and powerless:
"I'm locked in..."
Yang Wuhui's face turned pale in an instant.
Deducing from the three plates of heaven, earth and man, even if my senior brother was in his prime, he might not be able to avoid it, let alone the current situation where he is at the end of his rope.
"Can...can you tell me where they are?" Yang Wuhui's voice was tense.
Yan Wujiu slowly shook his head, his eyes empty: "I can't sense the direction, I just know that I've been spied on."
"If they were in Fengjing, a second-grade realm could travel at full speed and it would only take a few hours to get here."
Yang Wuhui's expression was extremely grim. "Brother, we can't hesitate any longer. We must leave immediately!"
They finally chose to settle in Jincheng, of course not to look for a famous doctor.
Just as Qin Zhaoyue and others expected, this place is very close to the Western Regions, only a two-hour drive away.
However, taking refuge in the Tantric Buddhism of the Western Regions was the last resort.
Tantric practice is very different from that in the Central Plains. The internal rules are very strict and difficult for outsiders to understand.
But if you want to find a shelter that can avoid the three-plate deduction, it seems that this is the only way left in the world.
Taoists are aloof from worldly affairs and never care about worldly disputes. Yan Wujiu asked himself if he had the confidence to convince them.
It is not easy for the Xuanji Guard to infiltrate the solid Western Regions.
However, if one wants to obtain the protection of Tantra, one must pay an unimaginable price.
Yan Wujiu raised his heavy eyelids and looked calmly at his fellow apprentice who worked hard for him and never left him.
"Wuhui, you don't have to follow me into this muddy water.
Once you choose to join the Tantric Buddhism, your future is uncertain, and life and death are unpredictable. You still have a future..."
Yang Wuhui immediately interrupted him, his tone firm:
"Brother, why do you have to say such inappropriate words?
All my skills were taught by my senior brother. He is both my teacher and friend, and we are like brothers.
Do you want me to abandon you and live alone now?"
Seeing Yan Wujiu was still trying to persuade him, he suddenly stood up and said resolutely:
"No need to say more! Every minute of delay will increase the danger. Let's set off immediately."
Now that he has been locked in by three disks, any attempt to conceal his whereabouts is futile.
The two men made a prompt decision and simply left everything unpacked. They sneaked into a nearby carriage shop and "borrowed" a carriage that looked fairly sturdy.
He whipped his horse and galloped towards the western border.
The Western Regions are different from Shuofeng and Southern Xinjiang, and have never had large-scale military conflicts with the Dagan court.
This is related to the unique geographical environment and political structure of the Western Regions.
The power of Tantric Buddhism is so deeply rooted that it almost surpasses the secular royal power.
There is no large standing army in the territory, but monks are everywhere and faith is supreme.
There is frequent border trade between the two sides, and mutual markets are set up.
Western Region caravans could enter the White Tiger West Road with local passes, and it was common for them to even travel to Fengjing for trade.
Therefore, border checks are not very strict. Usually, you only need to pay a small head tax and complete the procedures to be released.
Yan Wujiu and Yang Wuhui naturally did not have any legal procedures, and their arrest warrants were posted on the wall of the checkpoint.
But at this moment, Yan Wujiu looked haggard and completely different from the person in the portrait. Even if he compared it with the portrait, he might not be recognized.
In addition, after all, the two of them were proficient in magic and had a foundation of cultivation at the third level, so it was not difficult for them to pass the inspection of ordinary garrison soldiers.
After galloping all the way for two hours, the carriage finally bumped past the tall earthen rampart that marked the border and officially entered the territory of the Western Regions.
Looking around, the scenery has changed drastically.
Yellow sand and oasis are intertwined, and the wind carries a dry smell and spicy flavor that is very different from the Central Plains.
The location of the Tantric mountain gate is no secret. It is a magnificent complex of buildings located deep in a huge canyon.
The two men did not dare to stop and drove straight to the Grand Canyon, leaving their involvement with Da Gan behind in the wind and sand.
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