A caravan of considerable size was traveling along the official road.

It consisted of over thirty carriages, all laden with goods. The axles were heavy, and the carts were pulled by strong, well-fed steeds.

The cargo was covered with thick, tightly bound oilcloths. Dozens of sharp-eyed guards in uniform, militant attire rode alongside—in front, behind, and on the flanks. They moved in an orderly fashion, clearly well-trained.

Fang Han’s sudden appearance was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, instantly disrupting the caravan’s rhythm.

"WHOA—!"

The pupils of the foremost guards contracted. They instinctively reined in their horses, which reared up with a loud neigh.

"SHING! SHING! SHING!"

The guards behind reacted in a flash. A dense rasp of metal scraping against metal filled the air as more than half of them placed their hands on the hilts of their sabers and swords. Their gazes, sharp as a falcon’s, locked onto Fang Han, filled with vigilance and caution.

Several more spurred their horses forward, forming a loose semicircle to cut Fang Han off from the main body of the caravan. Their auras seemed to connect, a testament to their flawless coordination.

An oppressive, murderous atmosphere suddenly pervaded the road.

It was no wonder they were so tense.

This area was mountainous and heavily forested, never a peaceful place. Bandits and highwaymen were a common sight.

Fang Han had emerged silently from the dense woods by the roadside. His sudden appearance made it impossible for them not to be on guard.

Fang Han’s calm gaze swept over the caravan guards who had instantly entered a battle-ready state. He took in their reactions, his heart as placid as still water.

He raised his hands to show he had no ill intent and spoke in a clear, steady voice.

"There is no need to be alarmed. I am merely passing through and mean no harm. I will be on my way and will not delay your caravan."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a peculiar penetrating quality, reaching the ears of every guard.

For some reason, its calm, unruffled tone made some of the guards’ taut nerves relax slightly.

"A Qingxuan Sect True Inheritance Robe?"

Among the guards, a man who appeared to be the leader, a middle-aged man with a sharp face, fixed his keen gaze upon the Silver-Striped Cyan Robe Fang Han was wearing.

His eyes lingered for a moment on the special cloud patterns at the collar and cuffs, and much of his wariness subsided.

But the caution in his eyes did not dissipate completely. He cupped his fist, his tone polite yet still distant.

"So, it is a distinguished person from the Qingxuan Sect. My apologies for the disrespect."

Though his words were polite, they still betrayed a hint of unease.

The goods they were escorting were clearly of great value, and they couldn’t afford the slightest carelessness.

Fang Han naturally heard the lack of complete trust in the man’s voice, but he paid it no mind. In the martial world, if you weren’t cautious enough, you’d be eaten alive, leaving not even the bones.

He was just about to leave, to demonstrate with his actions that he had no hostile intentions—

"True Inheritor Fang?"

Just then, a woman’s voice, carrying a hint of surprise and as pleasant as a clear spring striking jade, came from a carriage in the middle of the caravan. It appeared ordinary, but was in fact made of fine materials and had a spacious cabin.

As the voice sounded, the tightly drawn brocade curtain on the side of the carriage was gently lifted by a delicate, jade-white hand.

An exquisitely beautiful face peeked out from behind the curtain. Her bright eyes were like water, her skin fairer than snow, and her features as perfect as a painting. Her beauty was no less than that of Yun Qianyue.

Her gaze fell upon Fang Han. After a moment of confirmation, a genuine smile rippled across her clear, bright eyes.

"Steward Lan?"

Fang Han looked over at the sound of the voice, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes as he saw the woman behind the curtain.

It was none other than Lan Yuexin, the supervisor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s auction in Jinhuang City, whom he had met once and who had secretly warned him.

He hadn’t expected to run into this mysterious and well-connected supervisor from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion again, so far from Jinhuang City.

He cupped his hands and said with a faint smile.

"I didn’t expect to meet again here. What a coincidence."

"Yes, it is quite a coincidence."

Lan Yuexin’s lips curved slightly into a gentle and poised smile. Her voice was soft, yet it possessed an affability as pleasant as a spring breeze.

"Is True Inheritor Fang... traveling alone? To meet is a matter of fate. If you don’t mind the simple carriage, why not come aboard for a rest and a cup of tea?"

Fang Han’s heart stirred.

’The Gong Family and Gong Xing are gone. There’s nothing particularly urgent that needs my immediate attention.’

’Last time in Jinhuang City, Lan Yuexin secretly sent a maid with a message, warning me that Yin Huang might move against me.’

’If not for that warning which put me on high alert, I very likely would have been cornered by Yin Huang.’

’Back then, my strength was far inferior to Yin Huang’s. If I had been cornered, it would have been dangerous.’

He owed her a significant favor.

In a flash of thought, he made his decision. A smile appeared on his face as he cupped his hands and said.

"With such a gracious invitation from Steward Lan, it would be rude of me to refuse. I happen to be quite thirsty. Thank you for your hospitality."

"You’re too kind, True Inheritor Fang. Please."

Lan Yuexin’s smile deepened as she gestured for the guards to clear a path.

Fang Han walked to the carriage, stooped, and entered the cabin.

The interior of the carriage was even more spacious than it appeared from the outside. It was elegantly furnished, with soft velvet carpets and a low, fixed table.

On the table sat a delicate tea set and a small bronze incense burner, from which a light, calming fragrance wafted.

Besides Lan Yuexin, there was another person in the carriage.

She was a woman of about forty, her hair tied in a neat bun, dressed in a dark cyan jacket and skirt.

She was not the one he had seen last time.

With his Spirit Smelling Technique having reached the Mastery Realm, Fang Han’s perception of auras was extremely acute.

Judging from her aura, this woman was around the Fourth Grade, a noticeable step down from the woman who had accompanied Lan Yuexin last time.

"True Inheritor Fang, please have a seat."

Lan Yuexin pointed to a soft cushion on the other side of the low table, inviting Fang Han to sit.

She then poured him a cup of tea. The liquid was clear and bright, its aroma fragrant. It was clearly no ordinary tea.

"Thank you."

Fang Han said his thanks, sat on the cushion, and accepted the teacup, taking a light sip.

The warm tea flowed down his throat, with a unique, refreshing sweetness that did indeed wash away some of the fatigue from his journey.

Putting down the teacup, he turned his gaze to Lan Yuexin, his tone sincere.

"Steward Lan, thank you for sending someone to warn me back in Jinhuang City. If not for your timely alert, I would have been in great danger."

"You exaggerate, True Inheritor Fang. It was but a small effort."

Lan Yuexin gently shook her head at his words, her smile warm.

She paused for a moment, her eyes shimmering with a perfectly measured hint of playful reproach and intimacy, and said half-jokingly.

"If True Inheritor Fang truly wishes to thank me, then please don’t be so formal, always calling me ’Steward Lan’."

"My name is Lan Yuexin. If you wouldn’t mind, True Inheritor Fang, you may simply call me by my name."

Her words were skillfully chosen. They acknowledged his thanks and brushed it aside, while smoothly proposing a more intimate form of address to further close the distance between them.

It was delivered with a girlish playfulness that was hard to refuse.

Fang Han understood. ’Lan Yuexin is sending a clear signal that she wants to befriend me.’ He wasn’t opposed to the idea.

Just as Lan Yuexin and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion wanted to connect with a Celestial Pride True Inheritance like him, he was also interested in forging a connection with one of the top three merchant guilds in the county. After all, he would inevitably need to rely on merchant guilds to convert his silver notes into tangible resources in the future.

He smiled and gracefully followed her lead.

"In that case, I will take the liberty. Miss Yuexin, you should also stop calling me ’True Inheritor Fang.’ Just call me Fang Han."

"Alright, Young Master Fang Han."

Lan Yuexin readily agreed, immediately changing her form of address. She called out his name, her voice crisp and her smile growing all the more genuine and bright.

She seemed very pleased that Fang Han had accepted this "intimacy," and the atmosphere instantly became more harmonious and natural.

"And who might this be?"

Fang Han turned his gaze to the woman in the carriage, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"This is Chen Qiong, Aunt Chen. She is a senior member of the Pavilion who is traveling with me this time to look after me,"

Lan Yuexin introduced her.

"The one with me in Jinhuang City last time was Wu Xia, Aunt Wu. She is a highly valued senior in the Pavilion."

"The Pavilion had an important shipment of goods that needed to be transported to Lin County for a transaction. The route isn’t safe, so Aunt Wu was temporarily reassigned to escort that caravan."

"Outside the county?"

Hearing that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had dealings with powers outside Qingyang, an idea suddenly sparked in Fang Han’s mind.

He had been worrying that his Cultivation of Wind and Cloud Escape was progressing too slowly compared to his Swordsmanship, frustrated by the lack of a miraculous item like Sword-shaped Grass to improve his Stepping Talent.

He had read in the Sect’s secret archives that Howling Moon Spirit Deer Antlers had a wondrous effect on improving one’s Body Technique Talent. Unfortunately, the creature had been extinct in Qingyang County for over a century and was impossible to find.

But the Hundred Treasures Pavilion did business both within and outside the county, and even had channels beyond. Perhaps... they could find a way?

After a moment of contemplation, he looked at Lan Yuexin, his expression turning more serious.

"Miss Yuexin, I have a matter that I may need to trouble your Pavilion with."

"Please speak, Young Master Fang Han. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Lan Yuexin’s bright eyes lit up, and she sat up a little straighter.

She had been worrying about how to find a suitable opportunity to deepen her connection with Fang Han. For him to take the initiative and ask for help was the best possible outcome.

"I would like to ask your Pavilion to help me keep an eye out for one of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures."

Fang Han said slowly.

"Howling Moon Spirit Deer Antlers."

"Howling Moon Spirit Deer Antlers?"

As a Steward of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Lan Yuexin naturally knew the effects and details of various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like the back of her hand.

The relevant information immediately surfaced in her mind.

"That item can improve one’s Body Technique Talent. As far as I know, the Howling Moon Spirit Deer has been extinct in Qingyang County for over a century."

"Precisely."

Fang Han nodded.

"The Howling Moon Spirit Deer is hard to find in Qingyang County. Since you mentioned your Pavilion trades outside the county, I wanted to ask if you could help me look for it there."

"Rest assured, Young Master Fang Han. I will take note of this matter. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion does indeed have some channels and contacts outside the county. I will send a message as soon as I return and have them look for news of Howling Moon Spirit Deer Antlers for you."

Lan Yuexin agreed solemnly, with almost no hesitation.

"The moment we find any, I will have them purchased for you immediately."

Her words were firm. Not only did she promise to help him look, but her attitude was also extremely proactive.

"In that case, I will have to trouble you, Miss Yuexin. I thank you in advance."

Fang Han took in Lan Yuexin’s sincerity and decisiveness, and raised his cup in a gesture of thanks.

"You’re welcome."

Lan Yuexin smiled sweetly and raised her cup in return.

Steam curled from the fine tea, and the fragrance of tea and sandalwood mingled in the air, creating a tranquil and harmonious atmosphere.

On the official road, the massive caravan continued its slow journey toward its destination, its wheels carving deep ruts into the ancient road.