Chapter 525 - 307: Your Boss is Truly as Elusive as a God Dragon!

Run?

How could Liu Lang run away just because Xiao Jinghong was in the Prefecture City?

Not only would he not run, but he would also deliver himself right to her doorstep.

It wasn’t that he was particularly brave; rather, the letter he had just received explicitly stated a few instructions:

[Zhang Dabao has Li Sanyuan of the Ji State Trading Company in his custody. This person is the puppet master behind several grain trading companies in Shu State.]

[You and Dabao must conspire to extract information from him using the name of King Landu to discern his intentions. Afterward, take Xiao Jinghong to see him.]

[As for Xiao Jinghong’s whereabouts... you only need to go outside Liu Hong’s residence on South Street and reveal your true face.]

[Remember to answer Xiao Jinghong truthfully when you see her. She already knows my identity.]

[Additionally, relay to her that there is one other person who might know something, and that person is—Mr. Lingchuan of Guiyun Academy!]

After reading this, Liu Lang felt immensely relieved.

Since Xiao Jinghong already knew the boss’s identity, what did he have to panic about?

The things he and the boss had done previously carried no intention of harming the Xiao Family.

With this in mind, Liu Lang briskly skirted the Prefecture City and headed west toward the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. Now, he only needed to pry the truth from this Li Sanyuan of the Ji State Trading Company, and then he could openly go and meet Grand General Xiao.

"That works out well," Liu Lang muttered to himself. "You spared my life last time. One Liu Jing wasn’t enough, so I’ll repay you with Li Sanyuan.

"If that’s still not enough, there will always be opportunities to pay off the debt in the future."

Liu Lang had likely forgotten that he was ordered by Chen Yi to bring the man to Xiao Jinghong; it wasn’t his own merit. Even if he hadn’t forgotten, he would probably just shamelessly declare, "What’s the boss’s is mine."

Before dawn, hurrying along without pause, Liu Lang bypassed a watchtower and traveled three hundred miles to reach Zhang Dabao and the others.

As the morning light gradually brightened and the eastern sky turned the color of a fish’s belly, deep within the lush, forested mountains, several figures dressed in coarse Poshisu Country clothing crouched in the trees, looking entirely cautious.

Liu Lang scanned the area and blew a whistle.

At the sound, the foliage rustled. Dozens of figures emerged one after another. Like the sentries from earlier, they were all dressed as Poshisu Country horse bandits.

One of them, a short and stocky man with brown curly hair and brown eyes, asked in the Poshisu Country language, "Who goes there?"

"One of your own," Liu Lang replied with a smile. "Where’s Dabao? The boss sent me."

Hearing this, the "Poshisu Country horse bandits" in the trees visibly relaxed. "Is that Guard Liu?"

"It’s me. Cut the chatter and take me to see him," Liu Lang said, following a Celestial Sect disciple disguised as a Poshisu Country horse bandit deeper into their hideout.

Several ancient trees, so thick it would take five men to embrace them, had been hollowed out, their interiors extending all the way underground.

"You’ve been hiding in this cramped little hole all these days?" Liu Lang asked.

"Please don’t laugh," the disciple replied. "We had to improvise. We were truly worried about being discovered, so we dug out a secret chamber right here on the spot."

"I have to admit, it’s quite exquisite."

"Small but perfectly formed..."

Descending about a thousand feet underground, Liu Lang finally saw Zhang Dabao. Zhang Dabao was similarly dressed as a Poshisu Country horse bandit. His youthful face was intentionally smeared pitch-black with mud, and a fake mustache was stuck above his lip.

"Dabao?"

"Brother Liu, did the boss send you?"

Liu Lang grunted in affirmation. "Where is he?"

Zhang Dabao pointed behind him and lowered his voice. "He just fell asleep. If you hadn’t come, I was planning to take him back first thing tomorrow morning."

Previously, Chen Yi had sent a messenger with a letter ordering him to depart immediately. If Li Sanyuan hadn’t happened to stumble upon them, he would have already led the Celestial Sect disciples back to the Hundred Herbs Hall by now.

Liu Lang nodded and also lowered his voice to explain, "The boss wants you to help me put on an act..."

After a brief exchange, Zhang Dabao nodded and smiled. "That’s easy. I’ll give you a disguise first."

"Alright."

Zhang Dabao led Liu Lang to change into a horse bandit outfit, though it was slightly different from the others. Aside from the coarse cloth tunic underneath, it included an outer robe tailored from silk, with iron armor plates on the shoulders, elbows, and other areas.

"This is the attire of a commander among the Peacock King Banner horse bandits."

Hearing Zhang Dabao’s words, Liu Lang twirled his small mustache in the Copper Mirror and grinned. "Good craftsmanship."

After the disguise, not only had his hair and facial structure changed, but even the color of his eyes was different. According to Zhang Dabao, this was achieved using a special alchemical dye.

Confirming his appearance was flawless, Liu Lang thought of a problem. "I don’t know the Poshisu Country language. What should I do?"

Zhang Dabao smiled. "That’s easy. The commanders of the Peacock King Banner all know a bit of the Wei Language. Just speak as stiffly as possible and add a touch of a Poshisu Country accent to your tone.

"That man firmly believes in our identities; he shouldn’t be able to spot any flaws."

Liu Lang nodded, strapped on his long Blade, and motioned for Dabao to lead the way. Zhang Dabao didn’t waste any words, calling over a man who spoke the Poshisu Country language to follow them.

"This is..."

"Da Shan. He spends his time mingling in the East Market, dealing with those human traffickers."

"Is that so?"

The man named Da Shan flashed a mouth full of yellow teeth, bowing and scraping. "Sir, if you need anything, just give the order."

Liu Lang didn’t doubt him and walked ahead. After turning down a narrow passage, he paused, looking at the people scattered haphazardly on the ground inside. Suspicious, he asked, "Who are they?"

"The boss ordered me to intercept all passing merchants without killing them," Zhang Dabao chuckled. "I had quite a headache over it at the time.

"Later, the boss sent over some medicinal powder. It’s incredibly effective! Even a Middle Three Grades Martial Artist will pass out within three breaths of inhaling it."