Clop! Clop!
Sounds of horse hooves can be heard reverberating loudly, as Xian Wu woke up from his slumber. As he tried to sit down, he was shocked to find out that he was unable to do so. Looking at his body, he saw some rope were tied on him, and he was bound to another person, who is position back to back with him.
"Hei buddy. You are awake?" The one at Xian Wu's back asked.
"...Yeah." It took some time for Xian Wu process the question as he was unable to understand his own situation. Xian Wu then tried to ask the other party, "Friend, what is going on here?"
"You don't know? Ah, I forget that you were unconscious when they took you." The man who got tied to Xian Wu was another youth around Xian Wu's age. He then explained, "We are going to be sold as a slave to those Qin nobles."
"Qin nobles? As in the Qin of the Qin Kingdom?" Xian Wu was dumbfounded when he heard that.
How did he end up as someone who is about to be sold as a slave? Morever, a slave to those Qin? Wasn't he in the middle of a struggle after eating the Morning Fortune Fruit?
Wait...
Xian Wu hurriedly checked his body's condition. In the next moment, he found out that there is something different in his new state. He could feel that his body turned a lot stronger. His muscles remained as it is, not bulging out, nor it shaped as bulky as a body builder. However, it released a strong vitality.
Another thing is that his cultivation also advanced to level Three Step Master. This caused Xian Wu to fell into a daze. However, he felt a bit disappointed. This advancement is not as high as when he have an intercourse with a virgin girl...ehem.
Xian Wu then tried to circulate his energy, only to find out that his energy was dispersed as fast as it was regulated.
"Brother, don't bother. These ropes is not normal. It will disperse our energy the moment we try to circulate it. Just bear with it." The man tried to advise Xian Wu. " Who knows, one day you will regain back your freedom."
The man continued talking, "By the way, I'm Sun Zhong. What's your name brother?"
"It's Tian...Tian Wu." Xian Wu didn't want to tell his real name for the time being.
"I see then. Tian Wu, Do you have any kind of metal on you? Preferably something that is thin, long and sharp?"
"What for?"
"Obviously to cut these ropes." Sun Zhong said as if a matter of fact. "Although I said to bear with our fate, I will seize every moment and opportunity that I have to get myself out of this trouble."
"...I don't have any." Xian Wu replied. He somehow admired this guy for being persistent in making his escape.
"Halt! This is the gate entrance to the Qin Kingdom. Inspection is a must for everyone who wanted to enter. Please open your carriages!"
Right at this moment, a voice was heard yelling. In that moment, all the horses which pulling the carriages halted.
"Oh shoot! We are already at the gate entrance of the Qin Kingdom." Sun Zhong despaired when he heard the shout. He looked at Xian Wu and said, "Brother Wu, it seems like our fate is already sealed."
The leader of the merchant hurriedly approached the lead guards on the gate entrance, and handed an emblem, while saying, "Please let us in. This is the token of merchant cooperation from the Qin nobles. Inside these carriages are the slaves that they ordered us to find."
"I see." The leader of the guards inspected the emblem and then nodded. This is the usual thing to happened. Therefore, he didn't feel anything wrong with it. "Just in case, let us inspect your carriages. It will not take long."
"Okay. Please see to it." Said the leader of the slave merchant, Li Zhang. He then told his men to assist the lead guards to inspect their 'goods'.
The lead guards made his round of inspection. Before long, it was the carriage where only two people was placed inside; Sun Zhong and Xian Wu.
Xian Wu can feel Sun Zhong tensing up as they hear those people making their way to their carriage.
Flap!
The cover of the carriage was opened!
Then...
"Er...why is there a carriage with nothing inside?" The lead guards showed a confused look on his face as he looked inside the carriage.
Sun Zhong who was already pale suddenly got shocked. Is the guard feigning not able to see them?
"Nothing inside?" the leader of the slave merchant frowned. He quickly approached, and looked inside. "It's really nothing inside?"
The leader then asked one of his man, "Li Duan, what happened to the two slaves inside?"
"Uncle Zhang, I'm not sure." the man named Li Duan was also got confused. "Just an hour ago, I already checked. There are still two young man inside...I mean, two slaves inside."
"Then where did they go?" Li Zhang looked intently at his nephew.
"I don't know. Wait, they couldn't have fallen down the slope when we climbed the Luzu Hill an hour ago." Li Duan tried his best to come up with a good reason for the two's disappearance. This is the only case where the two slaves could get out of the carriage.
Li Zhang's showed angry face as he yelled, "Li Duan! Do you know what is the cost of having lost these two slave? This will make the Qin nobles to lose trust in us!"
"I'm sorry uncle. Let me go and find those two."
"You better do so."
Li Duan then hurriedly rode his horse and headed back to Luzu Hill.
"Li Mang, go follow your brother. You better help him catch back those two slaves. If not, I will let the two of you replace them as the slaves." Li Zhang warned in anger.
Hearing that, Li Mang face paled. However, he still rode his horse and hurriedly followed Li Duan. In his heart, he cursed his brother and Li Zhang for involving him in this situation.
After that, the carriage cover was once again closed. The guards let Li Zhang and his carriages enter.
Inside the empty carriage, two sillhouette slowly appeared. These two are Xian Wu and Sun Zhong. Right now, Sun Zhong felt incredibly confused. How did those guys didn't manage to see them. Suddenly, he remembered that a few moments ago, a cold sensation washed over him from his back.
"Brother Wu, did you do something just now?"
"Me? Who knows." Xian Wu didn't try to own up, nor try to deny it.
"So it was you brother Wu. What kind of skill is that? Did you see the expression of those guys? It's full of confusion. Hahaha." Sun Zhong laughed loudly when he remembered back the expression of the slaves merchant.
"Whose laughing there?"
At that instant, the driver of the carriage frowned, and stopped the horse pulling the carriage. After that, he came down and checked the carriage. However, no one inside.
"Pai Li, what happened? Why are you stopping?" a carriage driver at the front asked the man.
"Uh... it's nothing brother."
Come on. We don't have extra time to rest. We need to reach the capital as soon as possible. Let's go."
"Ah, on it, brother Lu."
Pai Li hurriedly steered his carriage to follow the others. However, he still feel confused in his heart. Did I misheard it?
Sun Zhong on the other hand was trying his best to not make any sound, as he was afraid to make the same mistake.
...
Three days later, the carriages reached the capital of the Qin Kingdom. Li Zhang instructed Pai Li to bring the empty carriage to the Li household, while he and the rest will bring the slaves to the Qin nobles.
Pai Li brought the carriage into the Living household, and parked it at the usual place. As he was walking away from the carriage, he heard a chuckle from it.
He frowned and looked back at the carriage. He then took out his sword, and slowly approached the carriage. Reaching it, he readied himself. He then quickly opened the cover and looked inside, with his sword in hands, ready to fight.
It's empty.
The carriage was still empty. Pai Li was confused once again. Am I having a hallucinations? He felt that there is something wrong with him today. Why was he hearing some voices? He decided to go find a Shaman, to check whether he got infected by some kind of evil spirit. He then turned, and was about to leave the place, but suddenly...
Thud!
something hit him on his neck. The hit was so powerful that he got knocked unconscious. The last thing he was able to see was a foot that hit him. So, it was an evil spirit in the form of a foot...was the last thought of the man, before he fell on the ground.
"That kick of yours was too hard, brother Wu. You just knocked a peak Step Disciple as if it was nothing." Sun Zhong was full of admiration as he saw Xian Wu attack the man.
Xian Wu didn't dwell on it. Using his right foot, he hooked the sword on the ground, and skillfully kicked it, sending it spinning up. The sword then fall down on them.
"Ahhh!!"
Sun Zhong screamed in fear as the sword is almost upon them.
"Don't move!"
Xian Wu warned, and Sun Zhong obediently stood still. The sword fall and happen to fall between those two, and cutting the rope that bound the two.
Instantly, the two was freed.
"I'm free." Sun Zhong was delighted. He then looked at Xian Wu, and bowed, "Thank you brother Wu. You just saved our asses."
"Don't mention it." Xian Wu waved his hand. "What are you going to do after this?"
"Brother Wu, it's fate for us to meet together. Why don't we go together and find a way to escape from this kingdom?"
"I'm sorry Brother Zhong. Coincidentally, I have some business to do inside this kingdom. Therefore, I won't be getting out of this kingdom anytime soon."
"I see. In that case, we will part ways here." Sun Zhong then departed from that place in a hurry. As he run away he left his words to Xian Wu, "One day if you have a problem, you can find me in the Sun Dynasty. I will certainly try my best to solve your problem."
Xian Wu shook his head. Is the guy trying to expose his identity? He should be one of the Sun Royal descendent. Xian Wu smiled. He just made himself a good ally.
After that, Xian Wu also walked away from that place. However, he changed his mind when he glanced at the Li household. He then walked in the direction of the Li household.
...