Catching Monsters

Chapter 449 Never Read
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Tuoba Anyi frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"

The subordinate said, "This North-South Post Station is a key trading hub for most merchants from the North and South. Caravans coming here are basically all subject to inspection..."

Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Tuoba Anyi nodded.

Soon, four people dressed as post station staff approached the caravan. After a brief inspection and a look at the goods being transported, they prepared to board the carriages to take a closer look.

Tuoba Anyi's men quickly stopped them with smiles, saying, "Gentlemen, this is my young master resting inside. We hope you will not disturb him."

As he spoke, two silver ingots appeared in his hand. Sure enough, the four staff members who were checking him accepted the silver ingots, smiled, waved, and let him pass.

Soon, the caravan that Tuoba Anyi was in quickly left, heading north along the official road.

After they left, two of the staff members at these four post stations were from the Eastern Garrison Command.

"Lord Zhu..." The staff at the two post stations hurriedly handed the silver ingots to Zhu Zanyu, beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads.

It should be noted that the Embroidered Uniform Guard also had the duty of thoroughly investigating official corruption.

The people at the two post stations couldn't help but curse Tuoba Anyi's caravan in their hearts. Why did they have to slip them silver ingots out of the blue?

The key point is that Zhu Zanyu had given prior instructions that absolutely no flaws should be revealed.

Normally, if you want to pass through the North and South Post Stations smoothly, it's common for the staff inside to demand bribes and favors.

If we don't accept the silver ingot, it would seem suspicious and might arouse the other party's suspicion.

Zhu Zanyu showed no concern for the matter, instead turning to his subordinate beside him: "Old Guan, what do you think?"

The man called Lao Guan was named Guan Cheng. He was in his early thirties, had followed Zhu Zanyu for many years, and was meticulous in his thinking.

Guan Cheng didn't have much experience with trade, so he looked at the two people at the post station and asked, "Is there a problem with this caravan?"

"There shouldn't be any problem..." The two staff members at the post station stammered, both trying to avoid trouble...

Seeing their expressions, Zhu Zanyu narrowed his eyes slightly: "Why are you stammering? Is there something suspicious about this group?"

One of the staff members whispered, "This caravan is a bit strange. The goods they're carrying are all Yu tea."

Zhu Zanyu asked in confusion, "Isn't it normal for tea to be produced in the south and then sent to the north?"

“That’s how it is normally,” the staff member nodded. “But Yu tea is a little different; Yu tea is a lower-grade tea.”

"Small caravans like theirs mostly transport the finest, top-quality tea."

"It's easy to control the temperature along the way, so that the taste of the tea doesn't deteriorate."

"But most of the Yu tea was transported by water, piled up in a warehouse, and sent to the north for ordinary people to drink. There was no concern that the moisture at sea would affect the taste of the tea."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zanyu narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice to Guan Cheng beside him, "Immediately send someone to secretly keep an eye on that caravan, and send a message to Lord Jiang by carrier pigeon to prepare for interception."

Any caravan with suspicious activity must be thoroughly investigated.

The land routes and riverbanks along the trade routes between the north and south were heavily guarded by the Imperial Guards.

It is imperative to keep Tuoba Anyi alive.

……

Throughout the journey, Tuoba Anyi kept the items close to his body, and of course, he would also secretly take out the map to look at it when no one was around.

Of course, it's not about memorizing the map; that's too difficult. The map is like a vast maze, and it's impossible to remember everything just by thinking about it.

The caravan traveled slowly, stopping frequently, and dared not rush too fast lest it arouse suspicion.

On the evening of the second day, they finally arrived at another post station near the north, Shanglin Post Station.

Shanglin Post Station was much smaller than Nanbei Post Station, consisting of only one large courtyard for travelers to stay in.

In a room inside the courtyard, Jiang Yun, who had arrived earlier, was sitting with his eyes closed, resting. At this moment, Qi Da pushed open the door and walked in, saying, "My lord, Tuoba Anyi is almost here."

Jiang Yun opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his lips: "Is that so? Then I'll have to go out and greet my good brother in person."

He then got up and walked out of the house.

Jiang Yun arrived at the gate of Shanglin Post Station, just as Tuoba Anyi's caravan stopped.

Tuoba Anyi lifted the curtain of the carriage and was about to step out when he saw Jiang Yun standing at the door. Immediately, the expression on his face froze.

"My dear brother, I've been waiting for you for so long." Jiang Yun walked forward with a smile.

Tuoba Anyi forced a slightly helpless smile onto his stiff face, took a deep breath and said, "My good brother, I have been looking for you for a long time after I came down from Mount Dalingfo, but I just can't find you no matter what I do."

"Look, we've run into each other here. What do you call that? That's fate."

The two looked at each other.

Tuoba Anyi held Jiang Yun's hand and said, "Later, I'll make a copy of that map for you, little brother..."

Jiang Yun waved his hand repeatedly: "No need, no need. Brother, you too. You passed through Nanbeiyi before, which is only forty or fifty miles away from the capital. You didn't even go to the capital to sit down."

"I should at least rest at my brother's house for a few days."

"That's why I've come personally to invite you to the capital for a chat, since I see you're being so polite."

Tuoba Anyi's smile became even more stiff: "I just had urgent business and was rushing back to Beihu. Next time, I will definitely visit the capital."

“I knew you’d postpone it, so I called a few more people to invite you,” Jiang Yun said, whistling.

In an instant, numerous Imperial Guards who had been lying in ambush appeared.

In the bushes in front of and behind the post station, and inside the post station, at a rough glance, there were probably four or five hundred Imperial Guards.

Of course, the number of Imperial Guards sent was far more than that.

Other Imperial Guards, fearing that Tuoba Anyi would change his route, were lying in ambush on several other roads nearby.

Seeing so many Imperial Guards suddenly appear as if by magic, Tuoba Anyi's expression stiffened even more. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Brother, what's going on...?"

"To invite my elder brother to the capital, we must of course show some sincerity."

"Brother, so many people have come, you can't just refuse them, can you?"

Seeing the broad smile on Jiang Yun's face, Tuoba Anyi, being pragmatic, chuckled and said, "In that case, I'll accompany you back to the capital for a visit..."

"please."

Soon, surrounded by four or five hundred Imperial Guards, Tuoba Anyi had no choice but to bite the bullet and return to his carriage.

His dozen or so men were also warmly invited onto the Imperial Guard's carriage, and knowing that the Hu people liked textiles, they were wrapped in soft cotton and linen fabrics. In short, they were all bound with ropes.

As for Tuoba Anyi, since he was Jiang Yun's sworn brother, he wasn't tied up.

The two sat in the carriage, and Tuoba Anyi said in a deep voice, "Brother, we are sworn brothers after all. If you want a map, I will give you a copy."

Seeing that Jiang Yun did not answer his question.

Tuoba Anyi took a deep breath and continued, "I know you are a man of great integrity. I will give you the map. I only need a copy. In return, you can let me return to the Northern Hu."

"Brother, you have a keen eye for people." Jiang Yun praised, "I am indeed a man of great righteousness, but arresting you is His Majesty's order, which is not something I can change."

"If I were to capture you, I would be disregarding our brotherhood."

"If we release you, it would be disregarding His Majesty's kindness."

Tuoba Anyi was anxious. He knew that the relationship between the Northern Hu and the Zhou Kingdom was quite different now.

Previously, when he visited the capital of Zhou, he was treated as an honored guest because the Northern Hu were strong and powerful, and Zhou was unwilling to offend them easily.

However, the situation has now reversed.

After the previous war with the Zhou state, the Northern Hu royal court was severely weakened, and now the various tribes of the Northern Hu are once again embroiled in internecine warfare.

In this situation, if Tuoba Anyi died in the capital of Zhou, no one on the grasslands would care.

Even the Tuoba tribe probably wouldn't have time to grieve before they immediately elect a new leader and join the chaos of the grassland war.

If they actually reached the capital of Zhou, the risk of dying there would be extremely high.

Thinking of this, Tuoba Anyi's heart tightened. But now, surrounded by so many Imperial Guards, and with a third-rank Grand Celestial Master like Jiang Yun by his side, he had no way to escape.

……

The next morning, the group of Imperial Guards, who had traveled all night, finally returned to the capital and arrived at the Eastern Garrison.

Jiang Yun personally led Tuoba Anyi to the imperial prison: "My good brother, I'm afraid you'll have to suffer a little. Go in."

Inside the imperial prison, in a room not far away, there was another person imprisoned, Shan Wuling.

Dan Wuling was extremely weak, and his magical power had been completely destroyed. He looked at Jiang Yun with some resentment.

Tuoba Anyi resigned himself to his fate and went into the prison.

Holding the sheepskin map, Jiang Yun quickly said to Qi Da and Zhu Zanyu who were following behind him, "One of you two must stay in the prison to keep watch for twelve hours a day."

"I must go see Lord Li Wangxin."

Seeing that Jiang Yun was about to leave, Tuoba Anyi hurriedly said, "Brother, I still have something to tell you."

Upon hearing Tuoba Anyi's words, Jiang Yun glanced at him, thought for a moment, and then stepped forward.

Tuoba Anyi took a deep breath and lowered his voice, saying, "This map is only half of the map; the other half is also in the possession of my Tuoba tribe!"

"If you're interested, you have to let me live. If I live, I can give you the other map too!"

Tuoba Anyi knew that he was now a lamb to the slaughter.

If you don't want your life and death to be at the mercy of others, you have to offer something of value.

Jiang Yun nodded slightly after hearing Tuoba Anyi's words, indicating that he understood.

Only then did he leave the imperial prison.

Jiang Yun glanced at the map in his hand, and an idea struck him. He first went back to his study, took out a sheet of Xuan paper, and then carefully copied the map according to its contents.

After checking the map several times to make sure it was correct, he carefully hid his copy.

Then he hurried to the Northern Garrison Command and knocked on Li Wangxin's study door.

"Reporting to Commander Li, I have lived up to your expectations and successfully captured Tuoba Anyi!"

"This is the map of the Holy Tomb on his body."

As he spoke, Jiang Yun handed over the map with both hands. Upon hearing this, Li Wangxin took the map and wanted to examine it, but he stopped in his tracks.

This kind of thing shouldn't be looked at casually. His gaze fell on Jiang Yun: "Have you seen this map before?"

"Of course not," Jiang Yun said without hesitation, his voice firm and decisive.

"Yes, very good." Li Wangxin touched the map in his hand and said, "I will go to His Majesty to recommend you for merit."

"What should be done with Tuoba Anyi?" Jiang Yun asked respectfully.

Li Wangxin said calmly, "Now that he has the item, he has no reason to live."

After listening to Li Wangxin's words, Jiang Yun pondered for a moment and whispered, "My lord, Tuoba Anyi claims that this map is only half complete."

"And he still has the other half of the map. I can try to see if I can get him to give up that half."

Upon hearing that there was still half a map remaining, Li Wangxin took a deep breath and said, "Then let's not touch it for now."

"Keep him under close guard. As for how to deal with him in the end, let His Majesty decide."

"Yes." Jiang Yun nodded emphatically.

After watching Jiang Yun leave, Li Wangxin was not in a hurry to see Xiao Yuzheng. He looked down at the map in his hand.

After hesitating for a long time, I couldn't resist opening it to take a look.

You should know that the sacred tomb contains the method to cross the other side and transcend the mortal realm.

As a cultivator, how could Li Wangxin, who was able to reach the third rank of martial arts at the age of forty, not be tempted?
Transcending the ordinary and attaining sainthood is the ultimate goal of all cultivators.

After viewing the map, Li Wangxin hurried to the palace and respectfully handed it to Xiao Yuzheng outside the Imperial Study.

Inside the imperial study, Xiao Yuzheng narrowed his eyes slightly, took the map, and slowly opened it to examine it carefully. As he looked at it, he asked, "Has Lord Li seen this before?"

Without hesitation, Li Wangxin said decisively, "Your Majesty, I came to the Imperial Study immediately after receiving it, but I haven't looked at it yet."

“You should take a look. If one day you have the chance to enter the Holy Tomb, you might be able to find the legendary opportunity to transcend the mortal realm, right?” Xiao Yuzheng said, taking a deep breath.

"This humble servant dares not," Li Wangxin replied with his head bowed. "There is another matter that needs to be reported to Your Majesty. According to Jiang Yun, this map is only half complete; the other half is also in the hands of Tuoba Anyi."

(End of this chapter)