523: Chaos in Central China

Fei Qingyan and Xiao Feng entered the carriage. The carriage was indeed as spacious as Wantong had described; even with the three of them inside, it felt very roomy and not at all crowded.

In front of them was a small table laden with fruits and tea.

It had to be said that Wantong knew how to enjoy himself, even while on a merchant journey.

The caravan, which had slowed down slightly, accelerated again and resumed its previous pace after Fei Qingyan and Xiao Feng entered Wantong's carriage.

"Come! You two, try the Qin Chun Tea from Yuncheng!" Wantong said with a smile, pouring a cup of tea for Fei Qingyan and Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng picked up the teacup and examined the tea within. It was clear with a hint of green, and a gentle sniff revealed a refreshing fragrance that permeated the lungs. It was slightly warm. He took a small sip, and the fragrance flowed down his throat to his stomach, leaving a lingering aroma on his lips and teeth, with an endless aftertaste.

Even though Xiao Feng didn't understand tea, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Good tea!"

"It's indeed good!" Fei Qingyan also took a sip, nodding with an approving smile.

"Hahaha! That's good then! Don't be shy, drink!" Wantong laughed heartily and said, "If you like it, I'll give you a few taels of tea leaves."

"There's no need for that, thank you for Lord Wan's kindness," Fei Qingyan politely declined with a slight shake of her head.

"People of the pugilistic world don't have that much leisure or refined taste. Besides, I don't understand tea. Such good tea given to me would be like a cow chewing on peonies, a waste," Xiao Feng added from the side.

"Hahaha!" Wantong chuckled, not dwelling on the topic, but instead refilled their tea. "I heard you two have something you want to ask?"

"Yes, we came from Jiangnan area with the goal of going to Wancheng... and we also want to know the current situation in the Central Plains," Fei Qingyan briefly explained her needs to Wantong.

"I see! I understand," Wantong nodded knowingly after hearing Fei Qingyan's words, then sighed slightly, his expression somewhat grim as he said, "The Central Plains is in chaos right now!

Demonic cultivators run rampant, and there are countless mountain bandits and robbers everywhere. In short, it's just chaos!

And the government is too busy to help itself. Now, everything depends on oneself. The common people live a difficult life... and it's not easy for merchant guilds either..."

Wantong sighed slightly at this point: "You see, my caravan has a large number of people, so few dare to provoke us. But other small and medium-sized merchants find it extremely difficult. One careless mistake, and they might be killed or robbed on the road by some evil person..."

"How could the Central Plains be so chaotic?" Fei Qingyan frowned upon hearing Wantong's words. In the past, the Central Plains had always been the most prosperous, in all aspects. Be it sect strength or various inheritances, even the martial arts atmosphere was much stronger than in other regions. Moreover, its population and resources far exceeded other areas.

Many renowned orthodox sects were located there; seventy percent of the major sects Fei Qingyan knew were from the Central Plains.

Yet, such a place had actually fallen into such chaos?

"How did it become like this? Aren't those sects doing anything about it?" Fei Qingyan asked with some surprise.

Logically speaking, with such strength, how could the demonic sects be so fierce? Could they suddenly appear and take down so many renowned orthodox sects?

"Manage? Alas! They're too busy to help themselves, how could they possibly manage others!" Wantong sighed worriedly upon hearing Fei Qingyan's words, "It's not just demonic sects and robbers, but also external invasions."

"External invasions?" Xiao Feng and Fei Qingyan exchanged glances upon hearing this.

"Yes, the Qi Xiong from the north are invading, the Yu-Han from the east are invading, plus various demonic sects and cults that have emerged during this chaotic time, and all sorts of treacherous rebels... How could it not be chaotic?" Wantong sighed slightly and said.

"Hmm..." Fei Qingyan frowned upon hearing this. She hadn't expected the Central Plains to be in such a severe state! It was surprising that Jiangnan area could still be so 'stable.' Should she say the Central Plains was powerful, or that those chaotic events hadn't spread there yet?

"How long has this been going on?" Fei Qingyan asked.

Wantong thought for a moment: "It's probably been going on for about half a month..."

"I see!" Xiao Feng nodded upon hearing this. So it had only been a little over half a month! Of course, he wasn't saying it was good, but rather that the chaos had just begun. He estimated that the government and those renowned orthodox sects, having been stable for so long, hadn't reacted in time and were caught off guard.

Xiao Feng believed that during this period, things would gradually be rectified, then they would hold their ground and eventually launch a counterattack.

Xiao Feng still believed in the strength of the Central Plains.

Fei Qingyan thought the same, so she looked at the somewhat worried Wantong and couldn't help but comfort him, "Don't worry, Lord Wan, you must believe in them! When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

"Haha! I hope so!" Wantong laughed heartily, "It's been troublesome for you two heroes on this journey!"

"Mm! You can rest assured about that, Lord Wan!" Fei Qingyan said with a smile, and then the three of them casually drank tea and chatted.

Xiao Feng was not worried; knowing the current situation in the Central Plains was enough.

After all, there were so many experts in the Central Plains. Once they reacted, even if they couldn't completely crush the invaders, stabilizing the situation shouldn't be a problem.

Given the current circumstances, they should have reacted by now.

Suddenly, a chaotic noise came from outside.

"Enemy attack!"

Someone outside shouted.

Fei Qingyan and Xiao Feng immediately rushed out.

They saw large numbers of people appearing from the forests in front, behind, and on both sides.

Judging by their attire, they were clearly not from the Central Plains; they must be the Qi Xiong from the north.

Such a large-scale enemy force was likely a roving cavalry unit that had already wandered into the Central Plains.

Looking at their equipment, they mostly wore light armor like leather, and with their scimitars, they were highly mobile. These Qi Xiong soldiers were half cavalry, half infantry.

The Qi Xiong were extremely skilled in mounted combat, mountain and forest warfare, and street fighting.

Moreover, their folk customs were fierce, and their aggressiveness was extremely strong; they could even achieve a state where every citizen was a soldier.

They had always been the greatest threat to the northern part of the Central Plains.

These Qi Xiong soldiers were mostly at the Post-celestial Realm, but their numbers exceeded three hundred. Coupled with their military discipline and inherent ferocity, ordinary government troops were truly no match for them.

"Kill!" The Qi Xiong soldiers charged forward, with the cavalry approaching first.

"Seeking death!" The caravan guards drew their weapons and fought back.

Fei Qingyan and Xiao Feng naturally wouldn't stand idly by. As an expert at the Second Grand Cycle of the Innate Realm, Fei Qingyan's figure soared out, striking after the enemy had moved. She directly charged into the cavalry as if treading on air.

The Qi Xiong cavalry brandished their weapons and hacked at Fei Qingyan.

Fei Qingyan's long sword was unsheathed, its clear hum resonating. A flash of sword light passed, followed by a crisp series of weapon-breaking sounds, and then the sounds of flesh being cut by sharp weapons and blood gushing.

In a single encounter, five or six cavalrymen instantly fell to the ground.

"Alas, my current state is extremely poor. I can't write the old book, and I can't write a new one... No, I need to go out and clear my head, go traveling, and come back in a month! I'll start writing a new book in May! Brothers! Goodbye! I hope Pao Pao can strive for a higher position starting in the second half of the year!"