The rampant sand bandits, coupled with unrest in the Western Regions, gradually led to fewer merchants traveling there for business.

As the merchants dwindled, the market had little business to conduct, and naturally, people became fewer, leading to a gradual decline in activity.

However, despite the quietness, the enormous profits still tempted many to take risks.

The spices from the Western Regions are renowned far and wide, and for merchants from the Great Song, obtaining them there is akin to buying at cabbage prices.

Conversely, vegetables priced cheaply in the Great Song, along with moderately priced grains, can be sold in the Western Regions at high prices.

Brocade, tea, and other goods are also in high demand in the Western Regions.

Black Crow suggested that if the gentlemen wished to go to the Western Regions, they could hire an escort agency for protection.

The rampant sand bandits, unchecked by any authority, consequently led to the opening of many escort agencies around Yangtian Pass. Some caravans, looking to take risks, would hire escort agencies for protection, rendering the journey relatively safer.

Just recently, a caravan planning to go to the Yelang Kingdom in the Western Regions hired Hu Lv Escort Agency, the strongest in the Yangtian Pass area, and was set to depart tomorrow.

If Chen Mo wishes to go to the Western Regions, he can join them.

Chen Mo relayed the information he received from Black Crow to Nalan Yiren, Si Song, and Liang Mu.

Si Song pondered for a while and thought that following the caravan was a better idea.

After all, they did not know the route, and without a guide, they might get lost in the vast desert.

Furthermore, blending into the crowd makes them less conspicuous.

They were going to the Western Regions to find someone, and until they had, it was better to stay low-key.

Chen Mo agreed with Si Song’s reasoning, then turned to Nalan Yiren and softly said, "Miss Nalan, I think you should consider changing your mask; otherwise, your current appearance is quite attention-grabbing."

After all, she previously mentioned that the material of her mask was a unique ironwood from Baiyue; if they reach the Western Regions and haven’t found their target yet but instead alert Tang Yichen hiding in the dark, it would be troublesome.

"Yiren, the old man thinks Young Master Chen makes a valid point," Si Song said.

Outside, Si Song and his group did not refer to themselves by their titles as King Wei.

"I understand," Nalan Yiren had a plan in mind. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Since they decided to join the caravan, Chen Mo let Black Crow handle it.

A short while later, Black Crow returned, and both the caravan and Hu Lv Escort Agency agreed.

After all, one more person meant more power, and having more people was better when crossing the desert.

However, Hu Lv Escort Agency demanded forty taels of silver from Black Crow.

Ten taels per person.

Five taels as a deposit.

They instructed Chen Mo’s group to arrive at the pass before 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. the next day and pay the remaining thirty-five taels.

Chen Mo’s group had no objections.

At night, Chen Mo and his group pitched tents in the backyard of a teahouse.

Nalan Yiren also changed her attire and showed Chen Mo.

She wore a relatively loose black robe, primarily black, from shoulder to heel, distinct from the black robe she wore previously. It was simple and relaxed, without unnecessary embellishments, covering her body tightly from top to bottom.

Under the black robe, Nalan Yiren wore loose culottes that concealed her figure.

A black headscarf masked Nalan Yiren’s head and face, leaving only her eyes visible.

Nalan Yiren said that women in the Western Regions typically dressed this way.

In response, Chen Mo nodded; before arriving, he had also familiarized himself with the Western Regions.

...

The next day.

Before 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Chen Mo’s group arrived early at the pass, as the sun slowly rose from the distant horizon.

In front of the pass, under an old tree whose species was unknown and devoid of branches and leaves, parked several vehicles, and pulling them were huge black camels. These camels, unique to this world and not spirit beasts, were twice the size of the camels Chen Mo had seen in his previous life.

Beside the vehicles, there were numerous people riding camels, though these camels weren’t as large as the ones pulling the vehicles.

Most of these people had bare arms, wearing only rough leather garments, exuding a somewhat formidable air. Behind them, weapons glinted dangerously under the sunlight.

Black Crow accompanied Chen Mo, explaining that the camels these people rode were still young, only a little over a year old, while those pulling the vehicles were adults.

"Why are you so late? We’ve been waiting for you for a long time," a middle-aged man with a knife scar on his face saw Black Crow and approached, expressing his displeasure.

Before Black Crow could speak, the middle-aged man continued, "Didn’t we agree on four people yesterday? Why has it become five, and why are there two old men? They look sickly."

"It’s still four people; I’m just accompanying them here, I’m not going. Is there an age requirement?"

"Forget it, forget it. Did you bring the remaining silver?"

"Here."

"You, you all, hurry over here; there are only two camels left. You two ride one camel each, quickly." The scar-faced man seemed quite urgent, urging Chen Mo’s group after receiving the silver, his attitude rather unfriendly.

Chen Mo’s group frowned slightly but thought he was just a passerby, not worth causing trouble with, so they said nothing and walked over.

A man with bare arms pointed at the two empty camels.

"Why are there still goods?" Liang Mu frowned, noticing the camels were still laden with cargo.

"You didn’t bring much luggage, did you? It doesn’t interfere," the man said.

Chen Mo’s group traveled lightly, carrying only a change of clothes, dry food, and water.