37：Purchasing goods
On the Official Road to Yangling Prefecture
A horse-drawn carriage moved slowly along the official road leading to Yangling Prefecture.
Inside the carriage, Shen Hao sat between two women—Ji Dongge on his left and Song Yongci on his right. Lifting the curtain of the carriage window, Shen Hao gazed outside.
On both sides of the road stretched lush, green wheat fields, crisscrossed with pathways. Farmers carrying hoes worked diligently, while children played in the fields. Along the official road, hurried travelers passed by, and even a few martial artists on horseback galloped past.
The ancient atmosphere was far more vivid and immersive than anything shown on television.
Suddenly, Shen Hao noticed Ma Laoliu's hesitant expression, as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Shen Hao asked, "Laoliu, do you have something to say?"
Ma Laoliu hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, Young Master Shen. A few days after you left, someone came asking about your whereabouts."
Shen Hao was surprised. He had not caused any trouble in Yangguan Town, so why would anyone be looking for him?
Puzzled, he asked, "Who was this person?"
"They were from the Jinxiusi."
Upon hearing this, Shen Hao immediately understood. Based on Song Youli's memories, Jinxiusi was somewhat similar to the imperial secret police.
After thinking it over carefully, Shen Hao quickly grasped the reason for their inquiry.
In Yangguan Town, he had only interacted closely with two people—Lai Yuejing and that mysterious woman in black, Wenren Yiyi.
The mention of Jinxiusi triggered more memories from Song Youli. Previously, he had skimmed through those memories without paying much attention.
Now, he recalled that Wenren Yiyi was actually an official in Jinxiusi.
In the past, Song Youli had even treated her injuries.
Understanding her identity put Shen Hao at ease.
Seeing the guilt on Ma Laoliu's face, Shen Hao quickly pieced together what had happened. Under pressure, Ma Laoliu must have revealed his whereabouts.
However, Shen Hao did not blame him.
Against such powerful forces, refusal was hardly an option.
If he had been in Ma Laoliu's place, he would have done the same—without a shred of guilt.
Still, this situation reflected positively on Ma Laoliu's character.
Shen Hao reassured him, "Laoliu, don't worry about it. We have no personal ties, and I never asked you to keep my whereabouts a secret.
"You only provided a service that I paid for. I never expected loyalty."
Hearing this, Ma Laoliu felt even worse, as if he had truly let Shen Hao down. The guilt weighed heavily on his heart.
However, he said nothing more and simply kept it in mind.
Of course, Shen Hao didn't care. They were just strangers crossing paths.
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The Hardships of Travel
Good moments were always fleeting.
After two hours of riding in the carriage, Shen Hao was already struggling to endure it.
The bumpy ride was unbearable.
As someone used to modern comforts, he found it incredibly difficult to adjust.
But there was no choice—he had to endure it.
After traveling for seven to eight hours, evening approached, and they finally stopped at Zhao Family Town for the night.
Shen Hao booked two rooms—one for Ma Laoliu and another for himself, Song Yongci, and Ji Dongge.
Unfortunately, the bed was too small. Ji Dongge had to sleep sitting on a chair all night.
Shen Hao, however, didn't pay much attention. He simply embraced Song Yongci and slept soundly.
The next morning, seeing Ji Dongge's tired face, Song Yongci felt a little guilty.
"Dongge, are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine, just a bit sleepy."
"Then get some rest in the carriage later."
After a quick breakfast, they resumed their journey.
Four days passed in the blink of an eye, and they were now only forty kilometers from Yangling Prefecture.
Shen Hao felt utterly exhausted.
Being accustomed to a fast-paced life, this slow and tedious journey was frustrating.
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A Dangerous Route Ahead
While resting in Luyang County, Ma Laoliu approached Shen Hao with a suggestion.
"Young Master Shen, we should leave early tomorrow and aim to reach Yangling Prefecture by nightfall.
"To get there, we must pass through Black Tiger Gorge. That area is controlled by a notorious band of bandits.
"To ensure our safety, it would be best to travel with a larger group. I also suggest that both of your ladies disguise themselves as men.
"We can join Lu Family Escort Agency for a small fee of two taels of silver. With their protection, we should be safe."
Hearing this, Shen Hao frowned. He hadn't expected to encounter bandits in this area.
"Will joining Lu Family Escort Agency guarantee our safety?" he asked.
"Yes. The bandits don't dare attack them because they have martial artists of extraordinary skill.
"The escort agency sends shipments to Yangling Prefecture every day, and the bandits never target them."
Shen Hao couldn't help but suspect that the bandits and the escort agency were secretly working together.
But without proof, he had no reason to interfere.
Spending a little money for peace of mind seemed like a fair deal.
"Alright," Shen Hao agreed. "Go make the arrangements. I'll pay the two taels."
"Yes, Young Master Shen."
The next day, Shen Hao, along with the disguised Song Yongci and Ji Dongge, joined the Lu Family Escort Agency.
As they approached Black Tiger Gorge, a cloud of dust suddenly rose in the distance.
Ma Laoliu's expression changed dramatically. "Young Master, that's at least a hundred riders!"
A sense of danger immediately gripped Shen Hao.
Returning to the carriage, he saw that Song Yongci and Ji Dongge were still groggy from sleep.
Not wanting to disturb them, he decided to leave this world temporarily and return to the modern world.
Facing a hundred mounted bandits, he had no confidence in his ability to fight them off, nor did he trust the escort agency.
He needed to take control of his own safety.
However, he only had a handgun purchased from the black market in Thailand.
A small pistol might work for self-defense, but against a horde of bandits, it was useless.
What he really needed were assault rifles and grenades.
Without hesitation, Shen Hao returned to the modern world.
---
A Change of Pace
Standing in his clean, well-organized apartment, he immediately felt a wave of satisfaction.
After days of exhausting travel, he was completely worn out.
A hot shower and a good night's sleep were exactly what he needed.
At the same time, he booked a flight to Thailand.
This time, he planned to stock up on weapons—assault rifles and grenades.
If the bandits dared to attack, he would simply toss a couple of grenades their way.
The thought alone was exhilarating.
The next morning, Shen Hao called his new housekeeper, Lu Jie.
"Can you drive?" he asked.
Lu Jie nodded. "Yes, I got my license a few years ago."
"Good. Drive me to Chang'an Airport, then you can take the car back."
Lu Jie hesitated. "Boss, I've never driven on the highway before. I'm nervous."
Shen Hao reassured her. "Have you driven on country roads at night?"
"Yes."
"Then you'll be fine. Highway driving is actually easier."
With some reluctance, Lu Jie agreed.
When Shen Hao led her to a brand-new BMW 5 Series, her heart started racing.
She had never driven such an expensive car before.
Carefully, she took the wheel and started the car.
At first, she was tense, but under Shen Hao's guidance, she gradually relaxed.
By the time they reached the airport two and a half hours later, Lu Jie had grown fond of the BMW.
As Shen Hao entered the airport, she received a notification—he had sent her a 200-yuan tip.
Her heart warmed. "Boss, you're so generous!"
She even sent a playful emoji, but Shen Hao didn't reply, which left her feeling slightly disappointed.
Nevertheless, she couldn't resist posting a short video of herself driving the luxury car on social media.
Her comment section exploded with envious messages, filling her with a sense of pride and satisfaction.