The scene in front of me gradually became clear, with trees blocking the sunlight and leaving golden patches.

  Meng Qi, who was prepared, looked around cautiously and did not find any signs of the enemys attack.

  "Huh?" After observing his surroundings clearly, Meng Qi furrowed his brow, slightly surprised.

  Because he found that there were only three people standing around, always with a straight face and a bitter expression, Qi Zhengyan, the leader of the gang, Xiang Hui, and the slender girl Xiao Zi.

  "Jiang and Zhang are both gone..." Meng Qi felt a bit helpless, he had already recalled the main task prompt - "Divide into two routes"!

  But Meng Qi didnt panic, if it were the last time, he would have been terrified and afraid, but now, he already had basic self-defense skills, if he was still timid and fearful, what kind of man would that be!

  "Qī Shīxiōng, we must first find out how to get to Shaolin." Mèng Qí said succinctly, exchanging a glance with Qí Zhèngyán, ignoring the sniffling and trembling Xiǎo Zǐ and the anxious Xiàng Huī.

  He found himself completely unaware of where he was now and which direction Shaolin was in.

  He looked up at the sky, then glanced around at the nearby trees and thought for a moment before saying: "I see that the woods are not very dense, and I can hear the sound of carts and horses in the distance. We should be close to the main road. Lets go out first and ask passersby for directions."

  He knew Meng Qi had little experience in the Jianghu, so he tried his best to recall what he had learned to lead everyone.

  Meng Qi turned his head and asked Xiaozi and Xianghui: "Are you two going to Shaolin by yourselves, or are you following us?"

  A small evil intention in Meng Qis heart told him that if it werent for these two burdens, he and Qi Zhengyan would be much more relaxed.

  "Master, Master, Im following you!" Xia Zi seemed to have been struck by lightning and trembled for a moment, then rushed to Meng Qis side in two or three steps, tightly grasping Meng Qis sleeve with both hands.

  Huis face was filled with smiles, nodding and bowing: "Divine monk, I am at your command."

  Meng Qi saw that they were all trying to get close to him, and he could probably guess their mindset. Firstly, as a monk, he naturally gave people a sense of kindness and compassion. Secondly, he often wore a smile, without the gloominess and solemnity that made it difficult for others to approach him like Qi Zhengyan. Thirdly, he had shown off his martial arts skills before, leaving them with a deep impression.

  "Ah, Donor, I didnt expect you to be an educated man?" Meng Qi said with a smile.

  Hui hastily accompanied with a smile: "The divine monk is wrong, Im just following the gangs white paper fan learning."

  This guy, initially thought he was a rough and bold type like Lu Zhishen, but unexpectedly turned out to be a cunning and deceitful scoundrel. Meng Qi couldnt help but feel a sense of wonder, and turned his head to say to Xiaozhi who was pulling on his sleeve, "Xiaozhi young lady, if you want to follow us, dont do this, it will hinder our movements."

  He had originally harbored some malicious intentions, but from Xiang Hui and Xiao Zis bodies, he thought of the last reincarnation mission. If Jiang Zhiwei and others despised his low martial arts skills and didnt want to bring him along, then he would have died miserably at the hands of the black-clothed men long ago. So, he felt a sense of sympathy for those who suffered the same fate, and his heart was moved with compassion.

  "Since my life was saved by Jiangs kindness, I should also be kind when its not dangerous." Meng Qi thought to himself, of course, being kind again didnt mean he would risk his own life for a stranger.

  Xiao Zi let go of his hand, took a few steps back, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Qi Hui. Then he restrained his sorrowful tears and followed Meng Qi and Qi Zheng out of the forest in an honest and down-to-earth manner.

  The ground in the forest was uneven, with protruding roots and rotting leaves intertwined. Xiao Zi walked with a stumbling gait, but didnt utter a single complaint. Gnashing her teeth, she struggled to keep up with the crowd.

  "However, shes soft on the outside and strong on the inside." Meng Qi nodded slightly in secret observation. If she was still crying and unwilling to suffer, being spoiled and pampered, then she couldnt blame him for abandoning her.

  Its okay to bring a little oil bottle with you, but if it becomes too much of a burden, youre only harming yourself.

  Turning back, Meng Qi saw Ziqings rigid face in front of him, and his heart suddenly moved.

  This time they split into two groups. The strongest on our side is Qi Zhengyan, although Im not afraid of him, but its better to cooperate sincerely than to fight alone.

  "Ah, its time to get close and build relationships. Meng Qi thought for a moment and had an idea. He smiled and said: "Brother Qian, how is your swordsmanship coming along?"

  "A months time is too short, it can be considered as just getting started." Qi Zhengyan nodded slightly, still with an expressionless face.

  Meng Qi smiled and said: "As long as you enter the door, its good to match Changhe Swordsmanship. Your strength should have made great progress, Qizhi brother."

  "Not yet in actual combat, I dare not speak loudly." Qi Zhengyan replied succinctly.

  Meng Qis mouth twitched slightly: "Qi Shixiong, actually, why do you always have to be so serious and not love speaking? Since we cant temporarily get rid of this reincarnation task, why not smile and face it? Relaxing your mood is more beneficial for displaying your strength."

  At this moment, Meng Qi felt like he was doing psychological counseling again.

  "What the monk says is absolutely right." Xiang Hui forced a smile and echoed in agreement, while Qi Zhengyan remained silent.

  "All confusions and fears arise from ones own mind......" Meng Qi felt a sense of pride and began to expound on the benefits of "smiling in the face of reincarnation tasks".

  Listening and listening, Qi Zhengyan suddenly stopped in his tracks, without turning back, and said in a low voice: "I was born this way..."

  "Hmm, didnt you suffer some kind of trauma when you were young, Qi Shixiong? Or was the environment oppressive at that time?" Meng Qi asked casually.

  "I, Xiaozhi, was very good!" Qi Zhengyan still didnt turn his head back, gritting his teeth as he spoke, and then raised his voice, "Zhen Ding Shidi! We are surrounded and pursued, our ears are for listening to movements, not for listening to nonsense!"

  "Haha." Meng Qi dryly laughed twice, dissolving the awkwardness and embarrassment, sincerely saying: "This monks Jianghu experience is shallow, thank you for pointing it out, Brother Qi."

  Jian Mengqi didnt get angry, Qi Zhengyan was slightly stunned and nodded slowly: "Everything must be taken seriously."

  The conversation between the two left Xiang Hui bewildered. The guy who seemed to think that everyone in the world owed him five taels of silver was even more formidable than the godly monk?

  As they proceeded a short distance further, Meng Qi and the others saw a broad earthen road, where carriages and horses passed by, raising quite a bit of dust.

  By the side of the road, there was a tea house with an awning, also selling some food. It wasnt quite noon yet, so there werent many travelers resting their feet.

  Meng Qi gazed out and saw that the owner of the teahouse was an old man, inside were four tables of people: one table was a dusty couple, one table was a porter with a pole, one table was an old man playing the huqin, and one table was a wealthy young master holding a beautiful servant girl and his guard.

  "Qī Shīxiōng, Ill go gather some information and buy some dry rations. You keep an eye on the surroundings." Mèng Qí took a look at Qí Zhèngyáns bitter face and decided to go himself, with Qí Zhèngyán hiding behind him. If they encountered an ambush or something, he could still provide warning and rescue.

  Qizheng carefully observed the people in the teahouse and the surrounding environment, after a long time he sank his face and said: "I think the goods peddler is too clean, not like someone who has been traveling around the countryside for many years, you must be careful."

  He actually doesnt have much experience in Jianghu and is a bit lacking in confidence.

  Listening to him, Meng Qi gazed intently and found that the peddler indeed had less of a laborious and troubled look, especially his hands holding the tea cup, without any cracks from years of sun exposure.

  "Its nothing." Meng Qi walked slowly over.

  As Meng Qi approached the teahouse, he suddenly heard a horse whinny and subconsciously turned his head to see four bay horses with a luxurious carriage parked beside them.

  "Hmm, if we were to ride horses, they would be faster than us with their lightness." Meng Qis heart stirred, and he clearly knew that his current lightness skills could only compare to a fine horse over short distances. Once the distance lengthened, he would fall behind. Moreover, riding a horse was more energy-efficient for traveling, and when encountering danger, there would still be ample room for counterattack.

  "Ah, Ill have to buy it from the horses owner later." He touched the jade pendant in his pocket, and for now, didnt have any thoughts of becoming a bandit - before entering this reincarnation cycle, he was worried that there would be places in the task where hed need to use silver, so he brought the jade pendant along.

  As for who the horse owner is, Meng Qi can think of it with his toes, it must be that rich young master with brocade and jade, with his servant girls coquettish appearance, without a carriage, he definitely couldnt get here.

  So Meng Qi subconsciously walked into a teahouse near the rich young masters place, scanning them up and down with his eyes.

  "Hey, monk Wunai, what are you staring at?" One of the two guards walked up with his arms crossed.

  Meng Qi saw him walking heavily and with a fierce attitude, for a moment it was interesting. He imitated the impression of a rogue and a monk, putting his hands together: "Amitabha Buddha, I see that you donors have a fate with my Buddha."

  "Haha, you bald donkey, whats all this nonsense about fate? You just want to swindle some money, right?" The young master of the wealthy family burst out laughing, stroking the maids face while his expression turned stern. "Scram! Ive always hated your kind of demonic monks and Taoist priests!"

  "Last time, the mistress was cheated by a monk and lost three hundred taels of silver..." The maid said with a smile.

  "Hmph, from now on, any wicked monk or Taoist who dares to approach our familys gate will have their legs broken!" The young master signaled the two guards to chase Meng Qi away.

  Meng Qi wasnt in a hurry either and planned to wait until later to "discuss" with this rich young master, so he walked around several tables and headed towards the owner of the tea shop.

  "Shopkeeper, I have a question for you." Meng Qi said with his hands clasped together.

  The old man with a hunched back and sparse white hair, full of smiles, returned the courtesy: "This old man has always believed in Buddhism, Master, just ask whatever you want."

  Meng Qi lowered his voice so that the goodsman wouldnt hear: "I want to go to Shaohua Mountain, but I dont know which way to take."

  At the same time, Meng Qis attention was more than half focused on Huolang.

  The old man chuckled and said: "Follow this official road all the way forward, its a three-day journey..."

  Before he could finish speaking, his expression changed and he stared at Meng Qi in shock behind him.

  The peddler had already pulled out a long sword from his carrying pole and with one push of his foot, he rushed straight at Meng Qis back.

  He actually took action directly? Is his hearing far superior to that of ordinary people? Meng Qi was surprised, but his attention was highly concentrated and he didnt feel flustered at all. He turned around, swung his long knife and intercepted the peddler.

  Suddenly, Meng Qi felt a sharp pain in his waist. Unbeknownst to him, the old man behind him had somehow produced two daggers and was stabbing them viciously into his lower back.

  Meng Qi took a step forward, trying to dodge the dagger, but at this moment, the dusty couple also rushed out with knives and swords, one pointing directly at Meng Qis throat, and the other sweeping towards Meng Qis legs with a ground-scraping knife.

  Alas, the old man playing the erhu let out a soft sigh, drew out a thin short sword from his erhu, and in a flash, appeared behind Meng Qi, stabbing towards his back.