Li Qiang was not wrong. Since the first day he moved into the prefectural government, Feng Kaiyun had sent an urgent official document to the capital through the post station.
Feng Kaiyun could not be blamed. No matter which country Li Qiang appeared in on Tianting Star, as long as the local officials found him, they would report it immediately.
The power of a cultivator is an important resource for any country, especially the masters among cultivators, who are the objects of every country's pursuit.
Feng Kaiyun's report directly alarmed the emperor. The reason was that Li Qiang could speak the official language of the palace, and it was the kind spoken by the royal family members in the palace.
The emperor ordered to inquire about Li Qiang's birth. The official document had been sent back and forth several times, but it was still to no avail. Finally, it was determined that he might be a descendant of the royal family members scattered among the people.
Li Qiang showed great power in Hanlin City and severely damaged the Black Flag Army. After the leader of the Black Flag Army, En Gang, was seriously injured and had to withdraw from Hanlin City, Feng Kaiyun hurriedly activated the sound transmission array set up by the royal family and reported the situation to the palace.
Li Qiang was in a state of panic. He didn't want to accept any imperial edict, so he asked quietly, "Master Cheng, what will happen if I don't accept the edict?"
Cheng Zizhong was sweating coldly and said in a panic, "No, you will be beheaded if you disobey the edict. Not only you will be beheaded, but also the heads of Master Zhao's family. You must not do that." He thought, "If he doesn't obey the edict, I'm afraid I won't be able to save my head either. If he really doesn't want to accept the edict, who can stop him?"
Li Qiang thought, "What is a dictatorship? This is it. It's unjust. If I want to escape, no one can do anything to me, but my old apprentice... The whole family is finished. Oh, forget it, just accept it and talk about it later. "
Cheng Zizhong looked at Li Qiang nervously, and saw that his face was uncertain, and advised: "You should accept the decree and listen to what it says before making a decision, okay?"
Li Qiang could only nod and say: "Okay."
He turned around to call Zhao Hao, and saw that the incense table in the hall had been set up. The official who announced the decree stood behind the incense table and stretched out the imperial decree like singing: "The imperial... decree... is... issued, Li... Qiang... accepts... the decree."
All the people standing knelt down, except Li Qiang who stood there straight.
Cheng Zizhong was so anxious that he kept pulling Li Qiang's pants from behind. Li Qiang lowered his head and said: "Old Master, stop pulling, your pants are about to be pulled down." Cheng Zizhong almost fainted.
Li Qiang said with a smirk, "Brother, my knee is injured and I can't kneel. I'll help you. Let's just be careless. Give me the imperial edict and I'll accept it. It's convenient for you, for me and for everyone, okay?" He thought, "No, no, the last sentence is wrong. Convenience is just going to the toilet, right? Hey!"
Cheng Zizhong knew it was not good. Seeing the official announcing the imperial edict shaking with anger, he was about to get angry, so he kowtowed and said, "My lord, I have something to tell you."
The official announcing the imperial edict said, "Tell me!"
Cheng Zizhong stood up and walked to his side, whispering in his ear.
The official announcing the imperial edict nodded and said, "Okay, you can handle everything." He handed the imperial edict to Cheng Zizhong.
Who is Li Qiang? As long as he wants to hear it, it doesn't matter how low your voice is. He heard Cheng Zizhong say to the official announcing the imperial edict, "I have received a secret order. Everything is done at your convenience. Please give me the imperial edict and I will announce it." Li Qiang looked at Cheng Zizhong with understanding.
Zhao Hao gave the official who announced the imperial edict a lot of silver, and watched him leave with a smile on his face. He wiped off his sweat and muttered to himself: "My master is really different. He doesn't take the imperial edict seriously."
Li Qiang patted Cheng Zizhong on the shoulder and said: "Master, I underestimated you. Tell me, what did the imperial edict say?" Li Qiang didn't want to expose him, but just nodded at him lightly, meaning that I know everything.
Cheng Zizhong blushed and said, "You are going to Beijing to see the emperor."
Li Qiang didn't understand: "What do you mean by seeing the emperor? I don't understand."
Cheng Zizhong said, "You are going to see the emperor."
Li Qiang thought, "It would be fun to see the old emperor. I have never seen a real emperor in my life. I must go and see and broaden my horizons." Li Qiang smiled and said, "I was just thinking about going to Beijing to have some fun. Go, I will definitely go."
Zhao Hao said, "Master, I have opened a silver shop in the capital. You can stay at your home when you get there."
Li Qiang asked, "Aren't you going?"
Zhao Hao said, "I have decided to practice Taoism with you. No matter where you go, I will never leave." He thought, "It's not easy to find someone who is really willing to teach me how to practice. Master, this opportunity is fleeting, how can I let you leave. "
Zhao Hao said again: "Lingji Business has a batch of local mountain products to be transported to the capital. Just now in the hall, the big man in a blue shirt is called Ling Hongxuan. Master, do you think you can go with him?"
Li Qiang felt indifferent: "Okay, please make arrangements and see what else needs to be prepared?" He said meaningfully to Cheng Zizhong: "Old Master, you are going to the capital too, right?"
Cheng Zizhong was just trying to find a reason to go with Li Qiang, and he smiled and said: "Haha, yes, with a great master like you, it will be much safer along the way." He thought: "Good guy, he is really not simple."
Li Qiang returned to the house and fell into deep thought. After the sudden battle in Hanlin City, Li Qiang woke up and realized that he was not strong enough to fight against cultivators, and killing ordinary soldiers was meaningless. They didn't even have a chance to fight back. It was really an unfair victory.
Li Qiang thought to himself: "I can't kill people like this. I'm just a traveler. I'm just a passer-by on this planet. There's no need to participate in the disputes of this world." In fact, it's impossible for Li Qiang to stay out of it. Unless Fu Shan takes him away immediately, he can't help himself.
From Fengling Town to the capital, you have to pass through three extremely dangerous places. These three places are Qichaling, Jinghunpo, and Mihu Lin. The caravans passing by must gather and form a large group before they dare to pass.
Qichaling is where more than a dozen bandits and robbers appear. Jinghunpo often encounters unknown monsters. And in the forest of Mihu Lin, there is an abandoned Star Secret Array built by cultivators. If you step into it accidentally, you will be trapped to death.
Ling Hongxuan felt very at ease when transporting the goods this time because Li Qiang and Mr. Zhao were with him. He felt that Li Qiang was very mysterious. He often gave them things they had never seen before. He was not arrogant at all. He laughed all day long and looked very happy. He was interested in everything and kept asking questions. Everyone in the caravan liked him.
Li Qiang was really happy. The scenery along the way was really picturesque and pleasing to the eye.
Li Qiang pestered Cheng Zizhong and Zhao Hao to learn about the local customs and practices.
Zhao Hao said, "Master, the Qicha Ridge is ahead."
Li Qiang asked curiously, "Is it the place where robbers often appear?"
Ling Hongxuan interrupted, "What our caravan fears most is walking along the Qicha Ridge and encountering a small group of robbers. That's good luck, and we can give some silver. Otherwise, we can force our way through with our large numbers. We are afraid of encountering a large number of bandits. If we fail to negotiate well with one of them, the goods will definitely be gone. If we can't escape, it will be miserable."
Li Qiang suddenly thought of a question and asked, "We went from Fengling Town to the capital. How many days does it take to reach the city?"
Ling Hongxuan smiled and said, "If we hurry, it will take about 40 days. If we go slowly, it's hard to say."
Li Qiang shook his head and thought, "How could the imperial envoy reach Fengling Town so quickly?"
Cheng Zizhong said on the side, "The royal family has built small teleportation arrays in various places, but they can only transport important people and things, and they must be activated by imperial order."
Li Qiang looked at Cheng Zizhong and thought, "Hey, he's quite smart. I guessed it."
Cheng Zizhong smiled and said nothing more.
Arriving at the foot of Qichaling, Ling Hongxuan waved to stop the convoy and said to Zhao Hao, "Grandpa, you make the arrangements."
Li Qiang looked at him curiously. Zhao Hao jumped onto a cart: "Listen, this is not the first time for everyone to cross Qichaling. Without further ado, listen to my instructions. Each horse driver should just keep an eye on his own car and don't fall behind. Brother Hongxuan will be in the middle to coordinate. Ten men will lead the way in front. Bring your weapons and the others should take bows and arrows. Also, tie up the goods on the cart tightly. Qichaling won't have time to wait for you. Go there quickly. If you are lucky, you can reach Panshi Town in the afternoon. I will treat everyone to a drink when you get there. Is that clear? Speak louder! I can't hear you clearly!"
The men shouted loudly: "It's clear!"
Zhao Hao whispered to Li Qiang: "Master, you and your disciples should walk in front of the caravan, okay?"
Li Qiang smiled and said: "There won't be any robbers, will there be?"
Li Qiang's luck was really unspeakable. Not only did he encounter robbers, but also...
The terrain of Qichaling is very peculiar, as if a giant fork fell from the sky, smashing the earth deeply and leaving seven deep trenches. These seven trenches stretch for more than ten miles, converge at the fork handle, merge into a road, and then lead to the front. For robbers and bandits, this criss-crossing terrain can be used for attack and defense, and it is also a must-go for merchants and travelers. It is really ideal to gather here.
Ling Hongxuan's caravan entered from the second road. Li Qiang and Zhao Hao, the master and apprentice, explored the way in front, and ten guys with knives followed not far behind. Li Qiang is not nervous at all now. He knows clearly that as long as he is not fighting with fellow practitioners, ordinary people cannot hurt him, even martial arts masters. And Zhao Hao didn't want Li Qiang to take action at all. He still remembers everything that happened in Hanlin City.
Walking on the road at the bottom of the valley, Li Qiang's head was like a rattle, looking around and asking, "What kind of people are these bandits here?"
Zhao Hao, holding a precious sword, replied, "There are all kinds of people, including escaped prisoners, defeated deserters, and civilians who can't survive. The bandits here are very famous in the Green Basin. They come in groups with complicated backgrounds and are from all kinds of countries."
"Oh, why doesn't the country come to clean them up and let these bandits run rampant?" Li Qiang felt a little incredible. "Isn't this the throat of the capital?"
Just as Zhao Hao was about to answer, he heard a sharp whistle of "squeak..." Zhao Hao shouted, "It's a whistle!" He immediately waved to the guys behind him, and one of them turned around and ran back to report the news.
Li Qiang asked curiously and excitedly, "Are there any robbers coming?" Before he finished speaking, he heard the sound of gongs. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's quite lively, with whistles and gongs. Haha, why don't they beat drums?"
Zhao Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry after hearing this. He thought, "Most people are scared to death when they see robbers, but Master is just watching a play. He doesn't take it seriously."
Zhao Hao smiled bitterly and said, "I hope it's not a large group of bandits. Master, don't do it yet, let me do it."
Li Qiang didn't want to kill anyone anymore, so he said, "Okay, I'll watch from the side."
A large group of people rushed out from the forest by the roadside. Li Qiang couldn't help laughing when he saw them.
The robbers were dressed better than beggars. They were tattered and had decent weapons. They had knives and sticks. The leader was a big man nearly two meters tall, with a scruffy beard, dark face, big eyes, a lion nose, a wide mouth, a cloth band of unknown color tied on his forehead, and tattered clothes. He held a big axe in his hand. This axe was very outstanding, two meters long, the axe head was as big as a washbasin, and it was so black that it was hard to tell what material it was made of.
Li Qiang suddenly got playful and jumped in front of the big guy, laughing and shouting: "Hey! I opened this mountain! I planted this tree! If you want to die, leave money for passage!"
Zhao Hao laughed and said: "I'm wrong, I'm wrong!"
Li Qiang scratched his head and said: "That's right, it's written in the book."
The black big guy raised the axe and shouted: "Hey! I opened this mountain! I planted this tree! If you want to pass through here, leave money for passage!"
Li Qiang couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed out loud: "Haha, hahaha, am I wrong or is the big guy right?"
Zhao Hao said: "That's right, that's right, he wants both life and money, that kind of robber is too cruel."
The black big guy confused the two of them and muttered in his heart: "Who is the robber? They are not afraid at all."
The big black man swung his axe and shouted again: "Leave your silver, goods, and clothes, I won't kill you, hurry up!"
The minions behind him shouted: "Put down the silver!", "I want that man's clothes!", "Hey! I want that pair of shoes, don't fight with me!"
The big black man turned his head and cursed: "Damn it, shut up!"
Li Qiang asked with interest: "Hey, big black man, why should I give you my silver? It's better for me to keep it for myself."
The big black man answered very straightforwardly: "Because I am a robber, my fist is big, my axe is powerful, so you have to listen to me, put down the things and I won't kill you."
Li Qiang said with a smile: "If I My fist is bigger than yours. If my sword is more powerful than yours, and you can't beat me, what can you do to me? Om!"
Zhao Hao laughed and thought: "Master is not just a chatterbox. I'm going back and forth, and I'm dizzy."
The black guy looked at the axe in his hand with a silly look, and said with doubts: "Impossible! I can cut you in two with one axe. I think you are so handsome, it's a pity to kill you. If you don't put down your things, I will spare your life!"
Li Qiang thought: "This black guy has a good heart, seems a little silly, quite funny."
Pointing at Zhao Hao, Li Qiang said with a smile: "Big guy, do you dare to bet with me? I bet you can't even beat my apprentice, you Dare you? "
The black man looked at Zhao Hao and suddenly laughed: "Haha, don't fool me, I know, this old man can't be your apprentice, I think he's old enough to be your father."
Zhao Hao was a little angry and said: "Hey, black man, don't talk nonsense, my master is easy to talk to, but I'm not!"
The black man was surprised and said: "Hey, is he really your apprentice? Okay, what do you want to bet? I, Zheng Peng, will bet with you!"
Li Qiang smiled slightly and said: "Just bet that you can't beat my apprentice. If you win, we will give you everything, but if you lose, what will you do?"
The black man Zheng Peng said: "I won't lose. If I lose, I will give you my life. Look at the axe!"
Zhao Hao put away the sword and went up with empty hands. He had heard that Li Qiang had a good impression of this black man, so he didn't want to hurt him with the sword.
After the two of them started fighting, Zhao Hao immediately realized that Zheng Peng was just relying on his natural strength and only had three kung fu moves. He was far inferior to himself and it was a bit unfair to win.
Zheng Peng was furious. The old man was hiding faster than a ghost and he couldn't hit him. He put away his axe and screamed, "Old man, stand still and don't move. Give me an axe!"
Li Qiang laughed so hard that his legs became weak. He said, "Yes, yes, just give him an axe."
Zhao Hao also laughed and said, "Okay, you chop!"
Zheng Peng got excited and shouted, "Take my axe!"
He held the axe with both hands from top to bottom, swung it in a circle and chopped it down wildly. The force of this axe could split a big stone in half. Zhao Hao's martial arts can be regarded as first-class. He didn't care about this kind of unskilled brute force at all. He used the "four ounces to move a thousand pounds" technique to gently flick the side of the axe, "bang!" Most of the axe chopped into the ground. Zhao Hao stretched out his hands and rubbed the axe handle. Zheng Peng let out a scream and let go of his hands, which were covered in blood.
Li Qiang laughed and said, "You lost!"
Zheng Peng looked at his bleeding hands in disbelief, and said with a bitter face, "Well, I lost, I'm willing to accept the loss, you chop me." Not only Li Qiang but also Zhao Hao began to like this honest and straightforward man.
The minions behind Zheng Peng made a noise. "The third leader lost, go and inform the big leader.", "It's not good, this old man is so powerful.", "Run away quickly, the old man wants to kill us but we can't beat him." The minions dispersed.
Li Qiang said seriously: "Big guy, I don't think you are cut out to be a robber. Go home and stop being a robber. I won't kill you."
Zhao Hao shook his head and said: "Master, I think he is homeless, otherwise he wouldn't be a robber. If you don't want him to be a robber anymore, you must take him in."
Zheng Peng is honest, but he is not stupid. He can still tell whether others treat him well or not. Hearing what Zhao Hao said, he hurriedly said: "Young man, since I lost the bet, I will let you do whatever you want. If you don't kill me, I will follow you."
Li Qiang thought: "Hey, this big guy is quite good at climbing up the ladder!"
Li Qiang felt that it was a pity for a man like Zheng Peng to be a robber, so he might as well take him away, so he said: "Okay."
"Hey, who beat my brother? Little black man, tell me who bullied you, I will teach him a lesson!"
Li Qiang was surprised and said: "There are also female robbers?"
Zheng Peng blushed and said: "She is the leader of the village, much more powerful than me."
A girl came out from behind the tree, swinging a whip in her hand, and walked over gracefully.