noffsinger Chapter 59 The forest is deep and the road is long; people's hearts are not yet settled.
Chapter 59 The forest is deep and the road is long; people's hearts are not yet settled.
After passing through the forest on the south slope, the road widened again.
Sunlight streamed through the woods, falling on the path where dirt and gravel mingled, as if draping the road in a thin layer of warmth.
But no one in the team relaxed because of this.
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The animal-drawn cart moved forward slowly.
The wheels rolled over the ground, making a regular "creaking" sound.
Li Yuanshan sat by the car, holding an account book in his hands, but he didn't read a single word.
He would occasionally look up at what was in front of him, and then couldn't help but look back at the grove of trees he had just been in.
I felt a little uneasy.
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"Are you still watching?"
The guard next to him said in a low voice.
"Everyone has run away."
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Li Yuanshan hummed in agreement, but his gaze remained fixed on the scene.
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After a few breaths, he slowly turned his head back.
He pursed his lips, his voice very low:
"If I had been any slower just now, I would have been finished."
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The guard didn't respond.
That's a difficult question to answer.
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Li Yuanshan himself felt a little embarrassed. He coughed and pressed the account book into his arms, as if trying to hide something.
But the truth became clearer and clearer in my heart—
For a brief moment, he truly panicked.
It wasn't acted.
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"Was I too complacent before...?"
He muttered to himself.
It was not said aloud.
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In front.
Li Xuan's back remained steady throughout.
Riding on horseback, with a straight back and almost no unnecessary movements.
Just like how complicated this road is, it doesn't affect him.
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Looking at that figure from behind, Li Yuanshan suddenly felt a strange sensation.
It's not envy.
More like—
Down-to-earth.
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"As long as he's around, it seems like nothing serious will happen."
The moment the thought popped into his head, he was stunned for a moment.
He then gave a wry smile.
"When did I start thinking like this...?"
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the other side.
Chen He stayed close to the flank of the group.
His steps were not fast, but each step was firm and steady.
His gaze kept scanning.
Tree shadows, grass, stones, and the ground.
He even paid attention to the direction the wind was blowing.
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That exchange just now confirmed one thing for him.
—This road is not clean.
Moreover, it wasn't just one group of people.
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"Young clan leader."
He took a step forward and lowered his voice.
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Li Xuan tilted his head slightly.
"explain."
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Chen He hesitated for a moment before speaking:
"Those three people weren't very aggressive."
"It's like a test."
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Li Xuan nodded.
"It's not like it."
"that is."
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Chen He frowned slightly.
"And then..."
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"It will be even stronger."
Li Xuan immediately took over.
The tone of voice was flat.
It's as if they're talking about something they already knew.
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Chen He fell silent.
He had actually guessed it.
But after confirming it with Li Xuan, her heart sank even more.
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"Should we...?"
He paused for a moment.
"Change the route?"
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Li Xuan glanced at him.
"The fact that it's changed means we're afraid."
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Chen He was taken aback.
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Li Xuan continued:
"They are watching us."
"We're watching them too."
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"There's no turning back on the first step."
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That statement wasn't too harsh.
But it is very clear.
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Chen He didn't say anything more.
Just nodded.
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He actually knew it in his heart.
This is not just a matter of route.
It's an attitude.
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Once refunded.
It will keep regressing from there.
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And the Li family now—
No refunds.
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The procession continued onward.
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Not far away, a crooked stone tablet appeared by the roadside.
The writing on it is blurred, and only the character "驿" can be vaguely made out.
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"There's an old post station ahead."
Li Yuanshan glanced at it and couldn't help but speak.
"I've heard people say that before."
"It seems to still be in use."
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Chen He glanced at it.
His gaze tightened slightly.
"There's someone there."
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Li Xuan remained silent.
We just slowed down a little.
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The group is approaching.
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The post station was small.
Two rooms and a shed.
Several pieces of dried animal meat hung under the eaves.
There was a middle-aged man chopping wood at the door.
The movements were slow, one step at a time, as if they were very casual.
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Hearing the noise, he looked up.
His gaze swept across the queue.
No surprise.
There was no enthusiasm either.
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I just smiled.
"Just passing by?"
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Li Yuanshan instinctively wanted to reply.
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he hesitated for a moment.
He suddenly realized—
This is not Qingyun County.
It wasn't a place he was familiar with.
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He glanced at Li Xuan in front of him.
There was no sound.
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Li Xuan dismounted.
The movements are slow.
He walked up to the middle-aged man.
"Can I find a place to rest?"
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His tone was calm.
Neither polite nor forceful.
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The middle-aged man stared at him for a moment.
His eyes changed for a fleeting moment.
Very subtle.
But Li Xuan still managed to catch it.
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"You can rest here."
The middle-aged man put down the axe and clapped his hands.
"The stables are empty."
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He turned his body slightly to the side as he spoke.
It's like they're making way.
But it didn't completely give way.
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A subtle, tentative probe.
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Li Xuan didn't look at it much.
He nodded.
Thank you.
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He turned around and gestured to the team.
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"Enter."
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The group slowly entered the area of the post station.
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When Li Yuanshan got off the bus, his legs were still a little tight.
He deliberately acted naturally, patted the hem of his clothes, and slowly walked in.
But his eyes couldn't help scanning around.
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"Something feels... off."
He whispered to the guard beside him.
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"What's wrong?"
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I can't quite explain it.
Li Yuanshan frowned.
"It's just...too quiet."
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The guard didn't say anything more.
But his hand was already gripping the gun tightly.
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Chen He walked last.
He glanced back at the way he had come.
He glanced around the post station again.
His gaze gradually turned cold.
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He moved closer to Li Xuan, his voice very low:
"There are people watching here."
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Li Xuan did not turn around.
He simply gave a faint reply.
"Um."
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Chen He was taken aback.
"You know?"
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"Start from the first time he looked at me."
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Li Xuan's gaze fell on the middle-aged man.
The other party had already picked up the axe again.
Continue chopping wood.
It was as if nothing had happened.
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But the rhythm of each axe strike—
That's too stable.
He was unusually steady.
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Li Xuan knew this very well.
This place is not something you "pass by".
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Yes--
node.
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They came here.
It is equivalent to—
They came into the center of attention.
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"Then we..."
Chen He wanted to ask another question.
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Li Xuan gently raised his hand.
Stop him.
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"Since you're here..."
His voice was very soft.
"Sit down for a while."
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Chen He did not speak again.
Just nodded.
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Li Yuanshan was already sitting on a stone bench to the side.
It appears they are flipping through account books.
I didn't actually read a single word.
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He glanced at Li Xuan secretly.
Then I looked at the middle-aged man again.
My heart started to beat faster.
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He suddenly had a feeling.
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The wave that just came from the woods.
This is just the beginning.
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The real thing.
it's here.
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The wind blew through the eaves.
Blow on the dried meat pieces.
Gently shake it.
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It's like a reminder of something.
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The air was so quiet it was almost oppressive.
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Li Xuan sat down.
He didn't speak.
I tapped the table lightly with my finger.
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a bit.
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Two times.
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Then stop.
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He is waiting.
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Wait for the other party to make the first move.
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Also waiting—
The true "owner" of this road has shown himself.
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And at this moment.
No one spoke.
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But they all knew it in their hearts.
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This trip.
It's no longer just about transporting goods.
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But -
Enter the game.
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Chapter 59 (The End)