Chapter 99 - 98: Ambushed (2nd Update)

Chapter 99: Chapter 98: Ambushed (2nd Update)

Originally, both Chen Hu and Wu Xiangui said they wanted to go to the Western Capital with Xu Jing, because Xiao Yi’s previous order was for them to stay by Xu Jing’s side and work hard to atone for their sins for a month.

However, Xu Jing was a bit uneasy thinking about the pressure from Guangming Hall, and in the end, she only took Chen Hu, asking Wu Xiangui to stay behind to help look after Cheng Qingqing and the others.

The road from Anping County to the Western Capital had official roads all the way. This was the first time Xu Jing had ventured far since coming to this world, and she couldn’t help but lift the curtain of the carriage to look at the scenery outside.

Many people were heading to the Western Capital. Along the official road, people came and went in an endless stream. There were merchants with cartloads of goods, unknown dignitaries traveling in luxurious carriages with great pomp, causing the common people to instinctively make way when passing by, and there were also ordinary folks like them heading to the capital. Some sat in various vehicles, while others walked on foot, making the road lively.

Xu Jing couldn’t help but quietly marvel, the Western Capital truly lived up to its reputation as the capital of Great Chu. They hadn’t even reached it yet, and it was already so prosperous, it wasn’t hard to imagine what kind of flourishing scene awaited in the capital itself.

The original host’s memory had glimpses of the Western Capital, but back then, her mind was consumed with thoughts of revenge, and she never truly appreciated the scenery.

To her, the lively prosperity was far less impactful than the impression left by the Xu Family, so in her memory, those scenes became mere backdrops without much significance.

Pitiful, and also sorrowful.

Xu Jing and Cheng Xianbai, eager to save time, hadn’t stopped to rest for half a day. As the sun was about to set, Cheng Xianbai, sitting in the driver’s seat, suddenly raised his voice, "Miss Xu, in about two more quarter-hours, we should reach the next county town. If we don’t stop there, it’ll take at least half an hour to reach the next one. Do you think we should rest in the upcoming town?"

Xu Jing looked up at the sky.

Anping County was under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou, separated from the Western Capital by Lin State. They were now in Lin State’s territory.

The two counties Cheng Xianbai mentioned both belonged to Lin State, and since they weren’t on the edge of Lin State, it didn’t involve the issue of closing city gates at night, unlike their Anping County which was directly connected to Qingzhou’s city wall. The city gates closed before sunset daily, and if they didn’t enter before then, they’d have to spend the night outside the city.

There were no city walls between these two counties, both conveniently located alongside the official road. It was easy for them to find a place to stay overnight in either county, the only difference being the time of arrival.

Xu Jing quickly made a decision and said, "Whether we sleep more or less at night, it doesn’t matter, I don’t want to waste time on the road. Let’s stop at the next county, as long as we find a place to stay before the curfew."

If ancient public security wasn’t so mediocre, Xu Jing would’ve preferred not to rest at all.

Chen Hu, sitting next to Cheng Xianbai, suddenly turned to look at Cheng Xianbai with an expression as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Cheng Xianbai looked at him puzzled, "Da Hu, are you trying to say something? It’s just that today, you’ve barely spoken!"

Chen Hu, who stayed by Xu Jing’s side every day and had a naturally outgoing personality, quickly became familiar with the Cheng brothers and sisters, especially Cheng Xianbai. It took only a few days before they were interacting like brothers with each other, able to talk a lot about trivial topics whenever they met.

That made Chen Hu’s unusual silence today quite peculiar.

Xu Jing, nestled inside the carriage, heard this and moved slightly forward, pushing the carriage door open a crack to look at Chen Hu through the gap. She asked, "Chen Hu, is there something or someone in Anping County you’re worried about? Wouldn’t it have been better to speak earlier so I could..."

"No, I haven’t married yet, and at home, my old mother is taken care of by my brother and sister-in-law. What would I have to worry about!"

Chen Hu hurriedly replied, but his brows furrowed involuntarily, "Miss Xu, just consider me paranoid!

Actually, for the past few days, Xiangui’er kept saying that he felt someone was following Miss Xu. I didn’t feel anything, but Xiangui’er’s senses are the keenest among our county government’s officers. Even though Xiangui’er and I scrutinized for several days and found no one tailing Miss Xu, Xiangui’er never wavered in his claim. He insisted that the sense of someone following Miss Xu was growing stronger.

I couldn’t ignore Xiangui’er’s words, but we truly found no evidence to prove someone was indeed tailing Miss Xu. Besides, how long has Miss Xu been in Anping County? She’s always been doing great deeds through her medical practice. Who would be so sneaky to track Miss Xu?

When Miss Xu asked Xiangui’er to stay, I already felt uneasy.

But I understand Miss Xu’s concern for Lady Cheng and the others. Though Xiangui’er has sharp senses, he’s a bit dull and not as nimble as I am, so I couldn’t say to let Xiangui’er escort Miss Xu to the capital instead.

I couldn’t stop Miss Xu from going to the capital either, as the matter of someone tailing Miss Xu had always been just Xiangui’er’s feeling; who knew whether it was true or not!

Yet, a thorn was planted in my heart, and I remained inexplicably uneasy the entire way, my nerves unconsciously tense.

Xu Jing was slightly startled, and her brows furrowed involuntarily.

Someone was following her? Currently, in Anping County, the only potential party to behave so sneakily towards her would be the Lin Family from Guangming Hall.

But the Lin Family was just a normal medical family. If they had sent someone to follow her, how could Chen Hu and Wu Xiangui, whose main job is to catch people and investigate cases, not notice!

If Wu Xiangui’s feeling wasn’t wrong, the person or people tailing her must be top-notch experts, undetectable by ordinary means!

By this point, the sky had dimmed somewhat. In the grayish light, listening to Chen Hu’s words, Cheng Xianbai inexplicably got goosebumps, maintaining his composure with effort, "If someone is truly following Miss Xu, and you can’t detect them, what kind of supreme experts must they be?

Miss Xu is an ordinary law-abiding citizen who has never actively sought trouble; how could she have offended such people? Surely, it must be a mistake!"

Xu Jing glanced at Cheng Xianbai but remained silent.

She shared Cheng Xianbai’s thoughts; if they were such formidable figures, then how did she come to offend them?

Chen Hu didn’t know how to respond, tugging at his lips, "I also think maybe Xiangui’er made a mistake, Da Bai, Miss Xu, don’t take my words too much to heart..."

"Wait a moment!"

Xu Jing suddenly seemed to perceive something, moved to the window, and lifted the curtain to look outside, her heart sinking, "Why is there suddenly no one on the road?!"

Clearly, all day long, the spacious official road was never devoid of companions traveling with them.

Even as it grew darker, though their companions in travel dwindled, there was never a time like now, where their carriage was the only one on the entire length of road!

Xu Jing’s words felt like a heavy hammer, striking harshly upon the already uneasy hearts of Cheng Xianbai and Chen Hu.

They quickly looked around, in all directions, and an unexplainable fear arose in their hearts.

There was really no one within sight in any direction!

Though this couldn’t prove anything, combined with Chen Hu’s previous words, their hearts all sank heavily.

Xu Jing pressed her lips together and decisively said, "Chen Hu, Mr. Cheng, let’s speed up and rest in the next county..."

Before she could finish, there was a "crash" from the woods on both sides.

Dozens of black-clad figures, bearing swords glinting with cold sharpness, leapt out like birds taking flight from their hidden perch, suddenly breaking the tenuous peace maintained earlier.