C87

The terrain of the wild mountain range was quite special. Two continuous mountain ranges extended into the distance, and there was naturally a slender mountain path between them. Normally, few people would go deep into the mountains, and other than the caravan, there was only the woodcutter hunter and the doctor who occasionally went to the mountains to pick herbs.

Due to the medicinal herb ranking competition that was about to begin, in the recent few days, the Shangguan Family's herb collecting team had also been going in and out of the wild mountains frequently. Today was no exception.

"Sis, this Nangrong family is truly stingy. Those who participate in this Medicine List must prepare their own medicinal ingredients." This was the third day since he had accompanied the group into the mountains to gather herbs. The roads were bumpy and the cliffs were steep, so it was naturally not as comfortable as staying at home.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Who told Daddy to have the heart to fight for the name of the medicinal herb board?" The yellow-haired woman in front of the young man looked around and replied, "Mu Er, stop complaining. If Uncle Jing can really leave his name on the medicine list, it will be of great benefit to our Shangguan family."

With that, the woman took the lead and waved her hand, indicating that everyone should continue along the mountain path.

"I'm just afraid that if I get too tired, Fan Jing might fail to make it into the top ten. When the time comes, wouldn't he be working for nothing?" After muttering to himself in a low voice, the young man looked up at the blazing sun in the sky and sighed. Finally, he helplessly chased after the woman.

"Uncle Li, do you see the Sky Immortal Vine that Uncle Jing wants?" The girl raised her head and looked around for a while before she suddenly pointed at the cliff not far away with a joyful expression on her face.

"Miss, you'll know when I get up there to take a look." The middle-aged man next to her cupped his hands as he followed the girl's finger and climbed up the cliff with a few leaps.

He took out a piece of thin paper and compared it with the drawing on the paper before saying loudly, "That's right, Miss. This is the Sky Immortal Vine that Senior Jing wants. I'll pick it right away."

"I've finally found this damn thing. I've been here for three days just for this thing. It's finally over." The young man let out a long breath. The displeasure on his face had also lessened considerably. "Uncle Li, hurry up and get that damn thing off. Let's go home!"

Just as the group of over a dozen people were chatting and laughing loudly beneath the cliff, they suddenly heard a loud shout. "Everyone, you seem quite carefree and happy in this wilderness."

Uncle Li frowned slightly when he heard this. He didn't bother to pluck the Sky Immortal Vine and directly landed in front of the yellow-clothed girl. A few guards also drew their sabers as they stood on guard with a serious expression.

"Who is acting so atrociously here? I wonder if we are the Shangguan Family's herb collecting team? " The youth had originally been displeased to be sent by his father to search for medicine. However, when he heard this loud shout, his happy expression immediately darkened. He coldly snorted and loudly responded.

After the young man shouted, many big men with black silk cloths covering their faces jumped off the cliff one after another and quickly surrounded the Shangguan family members.

The yellow-clothed girl was also calm at this moment. She looked around and was surprised to find that there were over thirty people with extraordinary skills. She wondered, 'When did this group of criminals appear in the wild?'

"May I ask which hero he is? We're the Shangguan Family's herb collecting team, not some passing caravan. " He used one hand to block the yellow-clothed girl and the young man behind him. Then, he pulled out his saber and spoke in a deep voice.

A young man walked out from the group of masked men. Looking at the Shangguan Family members who were waiting solemnly, he immediately lightly smiled and said, "What we are robbing is the Shangguan Family's herb collecting team."

"Impudent! To think that there are arrogant people like you in the territory of the Northern Chi Prefecture!" Seeing that the masked youth didn't have any fear, the yellow-clothed girl blocked the attack as she shouted in anger.

"Could it be that this is the young miss of Shangguan family, Shangguan Jingxiang? "Tsk tsk, it's better to be reputed than to meet, you are truly beautiful." Although the black cloth covered his ears and nose, the greedy look in the masked youth's eyes was noticed by the Shangguan Family members, which attracted a burst of angry curses, but he didn't care at all.

"Good sir, I have three thousand taels of silver. If you are willing to hand over a friend of mine, how about I treat you all to wine?" At the same time, he looked around in his peripheral vision, as if he wanted to find a place where he could break out of the siege.

After muddling along for many years, Uncle Li, who was already at the peak of the Houtian realm, faintly realized that he could not see through the cultivation of the masked youth in front of him.

Although his side was full of the Shangguan family's elite guards, they were all in the Elementary Realm. Including the ordinary medicine masters and young misses, there wasn't even half of them.

If they were willing to sell him and the Shangguan family a favour, that would be for the best. If that didn't work, he could only fight with them.

"Tell me, if you were to die, would the banknotes you had on you fall into my hands?" As if he had heard some huge joke, the masked youth looked at Uncle Li with a gaze full of ridicule: "Also, stop looking around, you have already been surrounded by my men, you want to escape? "Hrmph."

Uncle Li's face changed slightly when he heard this. He secretly thought, "Miss, we'll stop the bandits in a while. You and Young Master should escape along the way. Don't bother about us."

"Uncle Li, you …" Hearing Uncle Li's words, the yellow-clothed girl cried out in surprise. She wanted to retort, but Uncle Li shook his head, signaling her not to say anything more.

"Brothers, killing one today won't be a loss, killing two will earn us money!" Uncle Li turned around and roared, simultaneously signalling two guards to protect Shangguan Jingxiang and her brother while they waited for an opportunity to escape.

"Kill!" With a roar, the Shangguan Family guards' eyes turned red and their aura also surged.

It was just as Uncle Li had said. Killing one wouldn't be a loss, but killing two would earn them profit. No matter what kind of bodyguard they were, since they were responsible for being a bodyguard, they would have one day of awareness of their master's death.

"Hmph, even someone at the peak of the Houtian realm dares to be impudent. You can just leave behind the life of the young miss of the Shangguan Family. As for the rest, kill them!" Snorting coldly, the masked youth looked at the Shangguan Family members with disdain in his eyes.

The masked men who had received the order immediately started to press towards the people of the Shangguan Family. The cold sternness in their eyes even frightened the few pharmacists to the point that they collapsed on the ground.

"Sis, I'll block them later. Even if you escape on the mountain path, they might not be able to find you." Looking at the bandits who had already attacked him, Shangguan Mu's eyes were calm. He drew his sabre and moved in front of Shangguan Jingxiang to block.

Slightly shaking her head, Shangguan Jingxiang sighed to herself. To lose her life here today, perhaps this was heaven's will.

She also knew that if she searched the mountain with so many criminals, she would only be a mortal girl. In this barren mountain, how could she escape the pursuit of so many experts? Not to mention that the more than thirty bandits had already formed a encirclement around the people from the Shangguan family.

Looking at the Shangguan Family members that were waiting to die like turtles in a jar, the masked youth lightly laughed, his obscene eyes swept over Shangguan Jingxiang. Just as he was about to give the order, he suddenly heard a loud shout in the air: "Stop!"

Before the two sides could react, a middle-aged man dressed in black descended from the sky and stood still. He had a smile on his face, but didn't say anything.