Chapter 158: A One-Way Trip (Part 1)

Early the next morning.

Following his usual routine, after practicing a set of Tai Chi and bathing and changing into fresh clothes with Yue'er's assistance, Li Yi called for Yue'er to accompany him, preparing to leave the estate for the Zheng family residence.

Unexpectedly, Cheng Chumo, who was just about to leave for the imperial court, caught sight of the two of them and asked curiously, "Brother Bo'an, why are you not wearing your court robes today?"

Li Yi glanced at Cheng Chumo, who was fully dressed in his official attire, smiled, and replied, "Brother Chumo, I am merely a humble physician. Why would I need to attend court every day like you?"

"Uh..." Cheng Chumo was instantly at a loss for words.

He gave it some thought, and indeed, it made sense. Generally speaking, unless there were special circumstances, physicians were not required to attend morning court audiences.

However, seeing Li Yi leaving the estate with only Yue'er by his side immediately piqued Cheng Chumo's curiosity.

"Brother Bo'an, where are you... planning to go?" Cheng Chumo walked over with a grin, stepping close to Li Yi, raising an eyebrow, and saying, "Leaving me behind like this isn't very kind of you, is it?"

"..." Li Yi rolled his eyes speechlessly.

Yet, considering that their trip to Lantian County might indeed involve a degree of peril, Li Yi thought that since Cheng Chumo was volunteering to go, bringing him along might actually be a wise decision. After all, Cheng Chumo had inherited the formidable martial arts of Cheng Yaojin and was quite formidable in his own right. Having an extra person meant having an extra helper.

With this in mind, Li Yi suddenly dropped the smile from his face, stared solemnly at Cheng Chumo, and said, "Brother Chumo, you should go to court instead. I am planning a trip to Lantian County, and the journey might be fraught with danger. If... if anything were to happen to you, Brother Chumo, I wouldn't know how to face Elder Cheng."

With that, Li Yi glanced at Yue'er beside him, and the two of them turned around to set off.

Hearing this, Cheng Chumo widened his eyes in disbelief, stared fixedly at Li Yi, and bellowed, "Brother Bo'an, are you looking down on me?!"

Li Yi inwardly chuckled. However, maintaining a completely expressionless face, he turned back to look at Cheng Chumo and said in a deadpan tone, "Brother Chumo, it's not that I look down on you, but this journey truly might be dangerous!"

"Hmph!" Cheng Chumo flicked his sleeve, squared his shoulders, lifted his chin, and declared, "Do you take me, Cheng Chumo, for a coward who fears death? Just wait; let me go change my clothes, and I'll accompany you right away!"

Having dropped these words, Cheng Chumo turned on his heel and rushed inside to change his attire posthaste.

Watching this, Li Yi couldn't help but smile faintly.

Beside him, Yue'er covered her rosy lips with a delicate smile and whispered softly to Li Yi, "Young Master, this Master Cheng... is really quite easy to fool."

Li Yi immediately feigned displeasure, turned to Yue'er, and asked with a slight frown, "Yue'er, did I deceive him?"

"Uh..." Yue'er blinked in surprise, shook her head honestly, and replied, "No, Young Master, you didn't."

"That settles it!" Li Yi said with a stern face and absolute earnestness, "He insisted on going of his own accord, and I even tried to talk him out of it! How can you say he's easy to fool?"

"..." Yue'er nodded, looking half-understandable, before obediently sealing her lips and speaking no more.

At that moment, Cheng Chumo, having changed into more suitable clothing, strode quickly back to Li Yi's side, gave Li Yi a hearty slap on the shoulder, and said triumphantly, "Don't you worry, Brother Bo'an! With me here, no one will be able to lay a single finger on you!"

"Heh..." Li Yi gave him a speechless look and said, "Let's go."

"Let's go! I'd like to see what dangers await us today!" Cheng Chumo laughed heartily, then swaggered ahead of Li Yi, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

Seeing Cheng Chumo strutting like that, Li Yi was left between laughter and tears.

After walking through two long streets, the trio arrived before the gates of the Zheng family residence.

By this time, Zheng Ann had already assembled the carriages, horses, and attendants.

However, upon seeing Li Yi arrive accompanied by Cheng Chumo, Zheng Ann pondered for a brief moment before a look of pure joy spread across his face.

*As expected, the Young Master is resourceful indeed. With General Cheng joining us, this trip will undoubtedly go much smoother!* Zheng Ann thought to himself.

He knew very well that Cheng Chumo's martial prowess was among the absolute best, even within the imperial palace.

Pulling his thoughts together, Zheng Ann quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly to the three of them, and said with a delighted smile, "This humble servant greets the Young Master and General Cheng."

Li Yi nodded, glanced over the caravan of carriages and horses, and asked Zheng Ann, "Brother Zheng, is everything prepared?"

"Everything is ready," Zheng Ann replied with a smile and a nod.

"Then shall we set off?" Li Yi asked.

"Indeed, Young Master!" Zheng Ann grinned and nodded, then waved grandly to his trading caravan. The group of dozens set off in high spirits toward Lantian County.

...

Meanwhile, deep in a small grove along the only route to Lantian County, fifteen Tang operatives and one Japanese swordsman lay in ambush.

"Are you certain that this Li Bo'an will pass through here today on his way to Lantian County?" asked the Japanese man, Yamana Kazuo.

Beside him, a Tang bandit leader grinned broadly, patted his chest, and replied, "Rest assured, Mr. Yamana. We only ambushed their soap caravan yesterday. If Li Bo'an doesn't show up today, I'll write my own name backwards!"

Hearing this, Yamana Kazuo glanced at Boss Hong beside him and nodded, saying, "Let us hope so, otherwise our plans of many days will come to nothing."

Boss Hong smiled, looking rather smug. "Mr. Yamana, you must not understand this Li Bo'an."

"What do you mean?" Yamana Kazuo asked, blinking slightly and turning to look at Boss Hong with a puzzled expression.

Boss Hong grinned, making the scar across his face look rather ferocious, and sneered, "Since Li Bo'an is extremely greedy for wealth, now that his soap caravan has been plundered, how could he possibly not come?"

"Besides, if he fails to show up today, a rift will surely grow between the Zheng family and Li Bo'an! Mr. Yamana, rest easy; Li Bo'an will definitely come!"

Boss Hong stared at Yamana Kazuo with a self-satisfied smile.

Hearing this explanation, Yamana Kazuo furrowed his brow, pondered for a brief moment, and then nodded with a smile, "Well said. Boss Hong, instruct your men to remain well-concealed."

"Later, as soon as their party arrives, send five men to intercept the female guard by Li Bo'an's side. Our primary target today is the assassination of Li Bo'an."

Yamana Kazuo gave solemn instructions to Boss Hong, his eyes flashing with cold, sharp light.

"Consider it done, Mr. Yamana. If Li Bo'an dares to show his face today, I'll ensure he never returns!" Boss Hong smiled, nodding, and immediately passed the orders down the line.

...

Li Yi rode on horseback, accompanying the Zheng family's caravan toward Lantian County.

Beside him, Cheng Chumo noticed that the journey had been entirely peaceful and safe so far, without a hint of danger. He shot Li Yi a reproachful look and muttered, "Brother Bo'an, is this the danger you were talking about?"

Li Yi glanced at Cheng Chumo and couldn't be bothered to dignify him with a response.

Zheng Ann, however, noticed Cheng Chumo's attitude and gently cautioned, "General Cheng, we are approaching the area very soon. The bandits here possess extraordinary martial arts; it would be best for us to remain vigilant!"

"Ha!" Cheng Chumo suddenly burst into laughter, looked at Zheng Ann, and waved a hand dismissively. "They are merely petty thieves. With the General here, what is there to fear?"

"..." Zheng Ann found himself utterly speechless and wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.

The procession moved forward slowly.

Before long, they entered the ambush zone of the Japanese operatives. Zheng Ann immediately called out to warn the caravan, "Everyone, be on your guard and keep watch on your surroundings!"

"Understood, Proprietor!" the caravan members chorused, continuing forward while scanning their surroundings intently.

Just then, a whistling sound cut through the air. A cold arrow shot out unexpectedly from the grove, striking a caravan member directly in the head with a dull thud.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

In an instant, countless hidden arrows rained down from the trees. Terrified, the caravan members scrambled for cover, while Li Yi and Cheng Chumo quickly dismounted and took shelter on the side.

At last, Cheng Chumo realized the danger was real.

"Damn it! To think someone actually dares to make a move against me!" Cursing fiercely through clenched teeth, Cheng Chumo rolled to the side, drew a bow and arrow from his pack, and fired back into the woods.

A miserable cry echoed from the trees.

"Yue'er, locate the enemy positions!" Li Yi ordered, crouching low beside a carriage.

"Understood, Young Master." Yue'er closed her eyes, listening intently to the trajectories of the incoming arrows. A moment later, she pinpointed a direction and reported, "South-southwest, forty-five degrees."

Li Yi immediately drew his bow, aimed at the indicated bearing, and loosed an arrow.

Another agonizing scream rang out.

"South-southwest, sixty-nine degrees," Yue'er called out again.

Li Yi drew his bow and fired once more. Another wail pierced the air as the hidden assailant was instantly dispatched.

"South-southwest, one hundred and nine degrees."

Li Yi loosed another arrow, taking down yet a fourth foe.

The remaining men hiding in the grove stared in absolute horror at their comrades who had suddenly been picked off one by one, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Just as one of them readied his bow to shoot, another arrow pierced straight through his glabella.

*Thud!*

The man dropped dead on the spot, utterly bewildered by his fate.

Seeing this from the brush, Boss Hong gritted his teeth furiously and hissed to his accomplices, "No more hiding! Charge them and execute the plan!"

"Understood, Boss!" With that shout, all the hidden men brandished their Tang sabers and charged directly toward the horse-drawn caravan.

Boss Hong and Yamana Kazuo charged forward alongside them. However, their eyes ignored everyone else; they were locked solely on Li Yi. As they surged out of the woods, they made a beeline straight for Li Yi's position.

"Charge!"

"Kill them!"

Battle cries rent the air, echoing across the entire landscape.