Longevity: Starting from the Qi Tags

Black Wind Tribe.

At this moment, the tribe was brightly lit, filled with a cacophonous din, a sight akin to a carnival of demons.

Lei Zhan raised his wine glass and said, “Big brother, come, drink up! Congratulations on the full recovery of your injury and the return to the ninth level of the Body Forging Realm.”

A bald muscular man at his side burst into hearty laughter.

“All thanks to Jiang Zhenyuan! Without him, I don’t know how long I would have had to wait for the recovery of my injuries!”

Then he spoke to those below, “Today I’m in good spirits, everyone must get drunk before they leave.”

“Oh! Oh! Oh…”

A chorus of wild cheers erupted from the followers below.

Lei Zhan wore a regretful expression as he said, “If we knew big brother could completely recover, we should’ve asked that kid to contribute more silver, improve the meals for the brothers.”

“Ei!” the bald man waved his hand: “Wealth is an external possession, enough is fine, there is no longevity in being greedy. Do not belittle the heroes of this world, even in a small county like Lin’an, there might be stronger existences than me now.”

“I stand corrected, big brother!”

Lei Zhan acknowledged, then raised his glass again: “Here’s to big brother’s successful breakthrough into Immortality after recovery, so that he can lead us brothers to live a life of good food and drink.”

“Naturally!” the bald man burst out laughing: “It’s more carefree to stay here with brothers. Now that I think of it, the past twenty or so years, it was truly stifling and dull!”

Lei Zhan nodded in agreement, “Big brother! Where is the joy in adhering to rules and precepts compared to doing as one pleases?”

…

The next day.

As the early market of Lin’an County just started bustling.

The enormous iron gate of Zhenyuan Escort Agency slowly opened.

Everyone’s attention was once again attracted by the resonating gates opening.

“That is…” some people paused as their expressions hardened.

“So many coffins, what is the Zhenyuan Escort Agency up to?”

During this time.

Old Ma, sitting in the carriage, softly asked, “Young Master, is this a bit too ostentatious?”

“Without coffins, how will we transport my father’s remains? How will we transport the remains of the twenty or so brothers from the escort agency?” Jiang Yuan said indifferently.

“Let’s get moving!”

Jiang Yuan closed his eyes and said.

Following Jiang Yuan’s command, several young escorts raised their whips, driving several carriages toward the city gate.

Meanwhile, this news rapidly spread to various forces within Lin’an County.

…

Half an incense stick’s burning time later.

The city gate.

Jiang Yuan sat in the carriage, eyes slightly closed, hands clutching his sword.

Suddenly,

“Huh!”

The carriage abruptly came to a halt.

The sound of Old Ma’s angry yell filled his ears.

“Jia Wandao, what do you think you’re doing?”

Jia Wandao stood in front of the cart, his eyes narrowed slightly, and spoke in his usual manner, “Here to see my dear nephew, of course! The rumors outside say that Brother Zhenyuan has met with a mishap. After hearing this, I was greatly saddened and couldn’t believe it, so I came to see my dear nephew, hoping that he is okay.”

“You are talking nonsense! Who made up this rumor? The skill mastered by the Grand Old Master was not normal; how could something have happened?” Old Ma yelled angrily.

“Then this is what?” Jia Wandao glanced at the coffins, implying something, and smiled.

Simultaneously, information about Jia Wandao appeared in Jiang Yuan’s mind.

Jia Wandao, the wealthy tycoon of Lin’an County, had a hand in everything – clothing, food, and shelter, as well as in grain, rice, and oil.

He was short in stature and was always beaming with a kind face which has naturally strong deceptive qualities. People referred to him as the “smiling tiger,” and the majority of people had a certain degree of dread for him.

But that did not include Jiang Zhenyuan.

In the entirety of Lin’an County, there were hardly any people that Jiang Zhenyuan regarded highly. All those that he did either possessed remarkable capabilities, or were people such powerful as to make Lin’an tremble. Naturally, Jia Wandao was not included.

Jia Wandao was only at the sixth level of the Body Forging Realm, depending on his wealth to enlist Body Forging Realm seventh level masters. However, his personal strength was limited, and he held no significant ranking in Lin’an County.

Jiang Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

“Move aside!”

“Dear nephew, why are you being so impersonal? Leaving the city at this time is extremely dangerous. I’ve brought along several capable men for you to command, and they can also ensure your safety.”

After speaking, he moved closer.

“Could it be that the rumor is true, are these coffins for Brother Zhenyuan’s remains?”

Jiang Yuan kept silent, his eyes cold as he watched him.

The formerly smiling Jia Wandao suddenly turned solemn.

In an instant, cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

At this moment, there was a sudden strong sense of danger in his heart.

This sense of danger was unparalleled in intensity.

He has a gift for sensing danger, he was extremely sensitive to its approach.

This inexplicable sensation which often saved his life countless times in the past.

At this moment, he experienced this long-lost vigilance again.

The danger of death was imminent.

The next moment,

he hastily retreated, instantly blending into the crowd.

He laughed awkwardly, “Since dear nephew does not require them,let it be then!”

After uttering this, he disappeared into the crowd using his small stature.

Meanwhile, within the crowd.

Someone gritted their teeth, “What does Jia Wandao mean? Why pull back at this crucial moment? Even if Zhenyuan Escort Agency’s assets have been transferred to the County Honor, he still has the Wind Thunder Sword Arts! This sword technique is no ordinary feat.”

On the city wall, a burly man dressed in bronze-colored armor stroked his chin and said, “Interesting, this son of Jiang Zhenyuan managed to frighten Jia Wandao.”

“General, are you saying that Jia Wandao was scared off by this son of Jiang Zhenyuan?”

The burly man nodded slightly, “That’s right, I saw it clearly; he was scared to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat just now. It is said that Jia Wandao has an innate ability to sense incoming danger. This action of his clearly indicates that he perceived a great danger.”

“That… seems incredible!”

“Indeed incredible! Despite Jia Wandao’s short and fat stature, his strength is not weak. He is one of the best among those at the sixth level of the Body Forging Realm!”

The armored burly man agreed.

Down below.

Seeing Jia Wandao’s departure, Jiang Yuan closed his eyes, “Let’s move!”

“Yes, Young Master!”

Old Ma responded, and then he drove the cart toward the city gate.

A moment later, Jiang Yuan and the others moved further and further away.

On the city wall.

“General, where do you think they are they heading after leaving the city?”

“To collect corpses!”

“Ah? Did something really happen to Jiang Zhenyuan?”

“Are you stupid? Didn’t you see the official of the county taking over the assets of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency yesterday?”

After speaking, the burly man wearing the armor jumped down from the city gate.

“Halt! There are orders from the County Honor, no one is to leave the city for the next two days!”

“On what grounds?”

“On what grounds?” The man snarled, revealing gleaming white teeth, “On the basis of my strength! If I get to know of anyone sneaking out of the city in these two days, I will directly crush your land!”

As soon as this statement came out, the crowd could not help but deflate a little.

This city guard was at the eighth level of the Body Forging Realm, a formidable master cultivating the spirit.

There were few in Lin’an County who could rival him.

No one dared to disregard the words of this man.