Protect Our Patriarch

"That's too much trouble for Luo Jing," Wang Shoujie said, not wanting to delay any further and let the Lu Clan suffer unnecessary losses.

Moreover, the two uncles from the Lu Clan had always been kind to him and his sister Wang Luoyi. Even if they only met once every one or two years, the Lu Clan would still send gifts to Wang Shoujie and Wang Luoyi, including gifts from their aunt Gong Sunhui's daughter Wang Luomiao.

"It's not too much trouble, I've been eating well these past two days," Wang Luojing said with a shallow smile, "I have plenty of energy to spare." As she spoke, she even made a gesture to show off her strength.

"Alright, you're just a skinny little thing, don't show off in front of me," Wang Shoujie said with a warm heart, smiling, "Let's hurry up and get going. You can have a drink of spirit wine on the carriage and take a good nap."

"Fourth Brother, I'll grow up eventually," Wang Luojing pouted, "Don't look down on me."

"I'm not looking down on you, I dare not," Wang Shoujie said, helping her onto the carriage, "My Luo Jing is going to be a future Great Spirit Insect Master, maybe Fourth Brother will even need your protection, so I wouldn't dare look down on you."

"Then it's settled, if anyone dares to bully Fourth Brother, Luo Jing will send insects to bite them."

"Okay, okay, you can say whatever you want, now go to sleep."

...

Wang Shoujie rode a black horse, accompanied by several other family guards, protecting the carriage on both sides. There were two main routes to Yingxiu's Lu Clan, one going through the sunny side of Longji Mountain, and the other going around the shady side.

Since they couldn't go to Shanyin's Liu Clan, they naturally had to take the Shanyang route.

This was also one of the main reasons why Wang Shoujie prioritized helping the Shanyang Gongsun Clan stabilize their crisis.

Originally, Gong Sun Qiang was supposed to send someone to escort them, but Wang Shoujie had refused. Firstly, he couldn't stand Gong Sun Qiang's low emotional intelligence, and secondly, the Gong Sun Clan was busy with disaster relief and didn't have many people to spare.

Moreover, their aunt Gong Sunhui had also volunteered to stay in Shanyang, saying it was a good opportunity to accompany her parents. In reality, she was aware of her own identity and knew it wouldn't be appropriate to go to the Lu Clan.

As they rode along, they entered a dense forest, and the road became increasingly bumpy.

Wang Shoujie slightly furrowed his brow: "Wang Zhong, this road isn't easy to walk on, how much farther until we reach Yingxiu?"

"This forest is the border between Shanyang and Yingxiu, about 7-8 miles wide," Wang Zhong, who was familiar with the route, replied, "Once we get through the forest, we'll reach the famous Yingxiu Lake. You haven't been to Yingxiu in several years, and previously you took the main road on the Shanyin side, so you might not be too familiar with this route."

"Everyone, be on high alert, the forest is usually more dangerous."

As he shouted, the family guards all perked up and became more vigilant.

"Wang Zhong, is there something off about this forest?" Wang Shoujie also became more alert, "Could there be rumors of fierce beasts?"

In this world, it wasn't a game, and if a powerful fierce beast appeared, it could cause casualties to the team.

"Master, at border areas like this, the Martial Clans of Shanyang and Yingxiu take turns to patrol, and some slightly more powerful wild beasts would have been cleared out, not to mention fierce beasts," Wang Zhong shook his head, "We, as family guards, usually do some training, and in areas with poor visibility, we need to be even more cautious to prevent any accidents."

The team continued on without incident for several miles, until they crossed a small stream that flowed across the road.

Suddenly!

Wang Zhong's face changed, and he called out to stop.

The coachman, Wang Lao, quickly stopped the carriage, and the other family guards also drew their weapons, on high alert.

Wang Zhong dismounted and walked to the side of the stream, picking up a piece of torn fabric, his face becoming grave as he looked at Wang Shoujie, "Master, this fabric was cut by a sharp blade and has bloodstains. There are also some unclean bloodstains on the rocks by the stream."

Something had indeed happened.

When traveling in the wilderness, the most feared thing was the occurrence of unexpected events, and Wang Shoujie's expression turned serious, "Wang Zhong, what's your judgment?"

"From the fabric, it's a high-quality gray cotton cloth with fine patterns, quite expensive. Ordinary farmers, commoners, and hunters wouldn't be able to afford such expensive clothing, even if they saved up for it, it would only be for special occasions," Wang Zhong, as a family guard, had received training from his seniors and was familiar with this aspect, "Therefore, this person is likely a martial artist with a relatively high social status, but not too high, like a master like you, who would usually use even more expensive brocade fabric."

"That means it's a family guard or an ordinary member of a Martial Clan," Wang Shoujie nodded, "Or maybe some traveling merchants."

"Wandering cultivators usually travel in groups." Wang Zhong shook his head and said, "Master, look at these footprints, they should all be from the same person, and they went deeper into the dense forest, um, it seems like they are trying to evade pursuit. Therefore, this person has a high possibility of being a fugitive cultivator or a traitor from some clan. He must have heard our voices and hurriedly rushed into the forest without even bothering to cover his tracks."

"Can we catch him?" Wang Shoujie asked solemnly, "We came from the Shanyang direction and have not heard of any fugitives or traitors, so this person is most likely from the Yingxiu side. Regardless of the circumstances, let's capture him first and then deal with it."

"Don't worry, Master." A cold glint flashed in Wang Zhong's eyes, "This person is already injured, and his tracks are hurried and difficult to conceal. I'll take two brothers to bring him back."

"Wang Yong, Wang Wu, you go with him." Wang Shoujie instructed, "Safety is the top priority. If it gets tricky, immediately call for reinforcements."

"Yes, Master."

The three retainers set out, keeping a slight distance and forming a V-shape as they followed the trail. In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a miserable cry was heard from the depths of the forest.

Soon, the three retainers of the Wang Clan returned, carrying a man who was tightly bound.

"Master, we have succeeded." Wang Zhong threw the captive to the ground and cupped his hands, "This thief seems to be at the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, and based on his attire, he appears to be a wandering cultivator."

"Mmm, mmm~" The man's eyes were filled with fear, his mouth gagged, and his entire body bound, but he struggled to draw Wang Shoujie's attention.

"Let's hear what he has to say." Wang Shoujie ordered.

"Yes, Master." Wang Zhong removed the rag from the man's mouth.

"My lord, no, my good sir." The middle-aged man, who had a somewhat unsavory appearance, immediately began to plead for his life, "I was just passing through your esteemed land, I have not committed any crimes. Please, spare me. I have some gold and a martial arts manual on me, consider it as my ransom money."

"Whether you have committed a crime or not, we will have to determine that." Wang Shoujie gestured to Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong quickly searched the man, finding a total of 5 gold, 17 large copper coins, and 56 copper coins, as well as an old martial arts manual in his belongings.

《Lesser Heavenly Circulation Blood Transference Technique》.

Wang Shoujie looked through it, frowning. This was a common cultivation manual, and the Wang Clan's family inheritance had a collection of such texts, used as a foundation for the cultivation of their servants and retainers. There were even a few errors in this manual.

Overall, it was consistent with the state of a destitute wandering cultivator. Wandering cultivators focus the most on improving their cultivation, and as long as they manage to obtain some money, they will purchase cultivation resources.

"How did you get injured?" Wang Shoujie noticed the deep knife wound on the man's shoulder.

"I encountered some bandits, my lord." The wandering cultivator said honestly, "In my panic, I fled into the forest, and just as I was about to tend to my wound, I encountered your lordship."

"Lies, this area is the border between the Gongsun Clan of Shanyang and the Lu Clan of Yingxiu. What bandit would dare to commit a crime here?" Wang Zhong angrily rebuked, "Confess the truth, or I'll cut off your head."

"I'm innocent, my lord, I'm innocent." The wandering cultivator cried out in anguish, "Those bandits were disguised as wandering merchants, they usually target passing-by wandering cultivators like myself. They wouldn't dare to target lords like you from a Martial Clan."

"That sounds plausible." Wang Shoujie remained unmoved, "Take him to Yingxiu and have the Lu Clan investigate the situation. If what you say is true and you are not a criminal, we will return your belongings and release you."

Martial Clans generally have their own principles of conduct. Even if this man had several dozen or even hundreds of gold, Wang Shoujie would not arbitrarily rob or kill him for the sake of immediate gain. This is a matter of family tradition and education. If they were to do such things, it would sow the seeds of a bloody and cruel bandit-like mentality among the clan members, and their moral compass would be severely distorted.

The next time they encounter a similar situation, killing and looting would become a matter of course. Any Martial Clan that can endure for hundreds or even thousands of years must have a good family tradition and reputation, and its members must have strict behavioral guidelines and ideological principles.

However, as soon as Wang Shoujie said this, the wandering cultivator's face turned deathly pale, and he began to wail, "My lord, I was wrong. Please don't take me to Yingxiu. I beg you, I've hidden some things, and if you let me go, they will all be yours."

[Heartfelt thankyou for the support! SlaySaga]