"If they insist on extortion and commit evil even after receiving the toll, both of you are young and agile. When the time comes, abandon us and escape on your own."
Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing held Li Ping'an's hand, carefully instructing him.
Seeing that this old Merchant Official Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing was knowledgeable, kind-hearted, and warm-hearted, Li Ping'an, who was pondering how to repay their kindness, pointed to Zixia who was silently looking out the window at the scenery and proudly said:
"Merchant Official, have no fear. This female cultivator is my benefactor and the proud disciple of the Qingyun Sect Leader. She excels in subduing demon monsters and catching bandits. Speaking of bandits, even demon beasts can't get close to her, let alone those robbers. Isn't dealing with that gang just like child's play?"
Of course, these words were meant to reassure the old Merchant Official Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing. As for the praise he showered on Zixia, Li Ping'an was speaking against his conscience.
Firstly, Zixia's cultivation was the same as his; she only had mana and knew some spells. In an actual fight, it was still uncertain whose deer would die.
Secondly, he himself looked exactly like the Head Chief of Wuxing Mountain, Supreme Treasure, and shared the same thought as old Merchant Official Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing, which was to avoid the bandits of Wuxing Mountain at all costs, lest they couldn't clear their names even with sound reasoning.
Zixia, who was prideful and cared about her reputation, felt extremely satisfied with her vanity. She also coldly returned a few compliments to Li Ping'an.
"Ping'an, in the future, you must not recklessly reveal our identities to strangers. Always remember to be humble when you're outside, remember! Remember!"
"Aiya! Who would've thought that you two are great hermits and Taoist cultivators! Now it makes sense why you two dare to venture towards Wuxing Mountain!"
Old Merchant Official Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing immediately became excited, as if he had found a lifesaving star for both his life and wealth. Holding Li Ping'an's hand tightly, his voice trembled as he said:
"To meet two immortals is indeed a fortune for this old man. If we encounter those bandits today, if they collect the toll and let us pass, then all is well. But if they are determined to kill and plunder my entire family, I hope the two immortals will take action and save us!"
"Of course, of course. Right, Master?"
Li Ping'an had just finished speaking to Zixia when the carriage suddenly came to a halt.
The three of them stuck their heads out of the window and saw that they had arrived at a spacious plain on the waist of Wuxing Mountain. On both sides of the carriage were dilapidated villages with about two hundred houses, devoid of any signs of life. Two barriers lay on the road ahead, blocking their path.
"Why aren't you removing the barriers quickly? How long do we have to wait?"
Old Merchant Official Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing prompted, and four servants were about to lift the barrier away.
"Something's not right!"
Zixia immediately sensed something amiss through the villages on both sides, but it was already too late. Before the people could react, dozens of small fry emerged from the residential buildings and tunnels of the villages on both sides of the road. Each of them was wielding an ax, shouting:
"The Axe Guild's great king is here! If you want to live, surrender without resistance!"
About forty small fry attacked, and in an instant, they surrounded Li Ping'an, Zixia, Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing, and the others with no way out.
"Master, should we..."
Feeling the exact fear he dreaded, Li Ping'an anxiously asked, sensing that something was amiss.
"Have you forgotten what your master said before? 'If others do not offend me, I do not offend them.' Just sit tight and stay calm."
Zixia scolded the impatient Li Ping'an with a stern voice.
But what she didn't know was that Li Ping'an was worried that he might be mistaken for the Axe Guild's Gang Leader of Wuxing Mountain, Supreme Treasure!
"Immortals, perhaps this old man should go out and deal with them first. If that truly doesn't work, then I might ask the immortals for help?"
Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing looked at Zixia with hope.
"We are us, and you are you. You are free to do as you please."
After Zixia said this, she closed her eyes and began meditating. Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing dared not speak any further.
"Invite the Second-in-command and the Third-in-command!"
The crowd of underlings shouted in unison, a fierce-looking and slightly overweight bandit made his way through the path they cleared, followed by a skinny man with a Mediterranean-style mustache.
Both men, with grass in their mouths and axes on their shoulders, walked slowly towards the carriage, one in front and the other behind.
"Blind man, this carriage looks like it belongs to a rich family!"
"Second-in-command, robbing this once would be enough for our brothers to live on for months!"
The Second-in-command and the Third-in-command stroked their beards and examined carefully, while Wang Lang, the Protector of the Cen family, immediately dismounted and respectfully said to the two:
"Gentlemen, I am Iron Staff Wang Lang, who also has some modest reputation in Jianghu. Today, I am escorting the master's family across Wuxing Mountain. Could you gentlemen give me some respect and convenience?"
After speaking, Protector Wang pulled five taels of gold from his sleeve and stuffed them into the hands of the Second-in-command.
"Go to hell! What iron staff? In the presence of me, the Second-in-command, they all turn into soft whips. Stand aside for now!"
The Second-in-command accepted the gold but didn't give Wang Lang any face, making Wang Lang quite embarrassed. However, since his master, Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing, had not yet spoken, he could only endure and dared not lash out.
"Everyone in the carriage, roll out quickly! Or else I, the master, will get angry and kill all of you!"
The Second-in-command and the Third-in-command, feeling invincible, stood between the two carriages and commanded.
"My lord, what a loud voice you have, you scared me to death..."
From the first carriage descended two women dressed in gorgeous but extremely seductive attire, an older and a younger one, precisely the wife and daughter of Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing.
"Second-in-command, whatever orders you have, your servant is here to obey."
The daughter and wife of Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing began to act provocatively as soon as they alighted from the carriage, grabbing the arms of the Second-in-command and the Third-in-command with one hand, while the other hand wandered over their chests, exerting their charm to the fullest.
"Damn, it's so lewd!"
The Second-in-command and the Third-in-command shivered uncontrollably under the relentless temptation, with envious looks from the surrounding underlings who also became restless. Those who were close began to touch the backs of Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing's wife and daughter, allowing themselves to be teased freely.
"Are the people in the back carriage deaf? Get down quickly!"
While hugging Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing's daughter, the Second-in-command shouted towards Li Ping'an, Zixia, and Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing.
"Second-in-command, that carriage contains my father, who is naturally timid and also advanced in age. With such heroism from the Second-in-command, my father would surely be frightened to death. If there's anything, just tell me."
After speaking, Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing's daughter planted a kiss on the face of the Second-in-command, which nearly drove him mad with torment.
"Indeed, speaking to me is just as good."
Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing's wife also seductively tempted the Third-in-command.
Li Ping'an, peeking from the carriage, was stunned by this scene and turned to look at Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing, who seemed unperturbed:
"Old Merchant Official, I see you are a wealthy scholar, surely from a family of scholarly tradition. How could your wife and daughter be so wanton and lewd?"
"To speak the truth and not to make the two immortals laugh, my wife and daughter are naturally flirtatious and lewd, they love to provoke men and are fond of sneaking around with them. Alas, I cannot control them."
Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing shook his head helplessly.
"Then aren't you afraid that these bandits will rape your wife and daughter?"