The Journey North 13

Then he felt his face twitching, as he tried to keep himself from grinning. Well, that was probably the reason why his grandmother had more or less insisted on his bringing Qin Feng along with him. And to keep the younger man at his side. From his experiences with the fellow so far, Li Changhai had to admit that Qin Feng was very good luck!

For him, at least. He would have to send one of his Bodyguards to the fellow later, to help him with his injuries. And perhaps, share some of the medicines that he was carrying with him. It seemed only fair, seeing how Qin Feng had saved his life.

Again!

Li Sanlang sighed as he remembered how the younger man had managed to pull him back from the Death God's grasp once again. It seemed to be becoming a habit, his relying on Qin Feng like that. And he also knew that it wasn't a healthy one.

Especially for the former Heaven Sword School disciple. Qin Feng had been getting rather badly hurt, every time that he had to thrown himself into the fray. And this was the second time that the younger man had almost died, wasn't it? To save him from his enemies.

Which should be enough to start Qin Feng wondering if it was safe, to continue traveling with him and his little army, towards his father's City.

After all, who could say when Qin Feng would decide that it was not worth his trouble? To put his own life at risk? Most people would not to bother with all of this conflict, would they? Didn't that mean that he was likely to perish, without this young expert at his side?

Then he paused, and considered the reason why he was traveling with such a small group of soldiers. Was it really so that he could learn how to handle a troop on his own? Or did his grandmother have some other idea in mind, when she pushed this small troop, and only two Bodyguards, out of her son's fief?

And told him to make certain that he had Qin Feng at his side?

For some reason, he had the impression that this was not by chance. And that his maternal grandmother had her own plans in motion, when she pushed Qin Feng at him, with the excuse of having the former Heaven Sword School disciple engage his father about the Green Shadow Sabre.

"I think you should take a look at this."

Looking up, Li Changhai saw that it was Qin Feng who had stepped up to his side. The expression on the young man's face was enough to warn the Second Ducal Prince that the former herb-grower had just learned something. And something unpleasant at that.

"They have set a price on your head, I believe. If the reference that they have fixed for you makes any sense. The price is rather tempting too."

Qin Feng was holding out a single sheet of paper that had been folded into quarters, based on the creases that Lin Changhai could see. And the characters that had been scrawled on its surface, in a rather loose and informal script, was a little harder to read than normal. Still, he did not have too much trouble making sense of it, although he took a little longer.

The words were enough of a shock that his fist tightened around the sheet, crumpling it slightly as his eyes took in the message written:

"So. You are right. They have set a price on my head. And a very generous one at that. A hundred thousand silver coins."

Li Sanlang turned to face the shorter, younger man at his side, and saw Qin Feng nodding back at him. The self-proclaimed trader had two of those Qiankun pouches in his hand. Which was likely where he had found that particular message, hidden on the bodies of the false Barbarians in their rough fur-coats.

Was this a hint? That he was about to end this unrecognized, unpaid duty of his? That Qin Feng was not going to go on protecting him?

Honestly, Li Changhai could not bring himself to blame the young fellow. Not after how Qin Feng had almost died a second time, saving his life. And he hadn't received a single piece of silver for all of his trouble!

Qin Feng's expression, on the other hand, seemed to indicate that he was not too bothered by that. His almost nonchalant look certainly supported Li Sanlang's original guess that his grandmother had quietly arranged for the former Heaven Sword School disciple to take care of him on this particular journey.

Which left him to wonder what sort of deal she had made. And if Qin Feng would hold to it, after what he had just learned about the bounty that had been offered.

But the young man was pointing to where the bodies lay, after he had thoroughly searched them. And his voice was calm when he spoke again.

"They seem to be more organized than I would have expected to see, setting up a trap for us like that. The way that they are doing this seems to hint that they are after you, Prince. Or that they are trying to slow you down.

"I don't think that they would simply send out this quality of assassins, if they truly wanted you dead."

The Second Ducal Prince's head whirled to fix his eyes on the youth at his side, and his mouth hung open as he saw what Qin Feng meant. He was right! If they had truly wanted him dead, wouldn't they have sent more powerful practitioners? That would make his death certain, wouldn't it?

Which begged the question: why hadn't they done that?

Li Sanlang scowled as he took in the younger man's hints. This Qin Feng was quick to see that. Was that the real reason why his grandmother had set this up? That Qin Feng was not only there to see that he survived the trip? That he was also there to open his eyes to other possibilities?

"This may be ploy, you think? To slow me down?"

Qin Feng did not answer, but his silence, and the way that he stared at the exposed traps that were laid out in front from him seemed to give a hint as to what he thought.

So he waved a hand at the two injured Bodyguards that were on either side of him, and gave the command to regather the men, and to push on towards Yanyun City at once. Only when that was done did he turn back to Qin Feng.

"You think that this was one of those maneuvers where they would run away, and drag our people into a trap? Or something more devious than that?"

Qin Feng's scowl, and his continued scrutiny of the so-called fleeing Barbarians, gave Li Changhai the impression that he was considering his question very carefully. So when he finally shook his head at the Second Ducal Prince, the latter almost breathed out a sigh of relief.

"I believe that this was a simple scouting maneuver, to see just what sort of troops would be waiting for them, if they should attack again. You are right. They are likely to keep coming, if we give them the chance.

"We shall have to forget about all our maneuvers and such, and rush on to Yanyun City at once!"

Li Sanlang's words were a probe of sorts, to see if it matched with what Qin Feng had in mind. After all, if his grandmother had sent him along to watch over him, it would be prudent to listen to what he had to say, wouldn't it?

As it turned out, Qin Feng did have a suggestion. Of sorts.

"You should change into fighting gear. The sort of common fighting gear that the rest of the Bodyguards are wearing. And get one of them to put on that flashy armor that the New Marquis gave you back at Changqing City. That should draw the enemy's attention away from you. .

"Of course, if their intentions are to slaughter us all, that little trick isn't likely to work. But ... it might make it easier for you to make your escape."

For a moment, Li Sanlang was stunned. To think that Qin Feng had already made such a plan! Had he already considered the worst case already? Then he recovered, and nodded gratefully at the young man:

"You are right. We know that I am a target, and that my head is worth ten thousand pieces of gold. That is enough reason to take up your suggestion, that I mix myself into the crowd of these new soldiers, so that I do not stand out.

"And we had best make better time across these empty wild lands, and hurry to Yanyun City, where I would be safer with my father's troops around me. So let's get everyone together, and get back on our way!"

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