Chapter 999: Chapter 835: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

The leader immediately looked up, glanced around, and found that the waiter and the shopkeeper were some distance away from them. He then gave the opposite party a warning glance.

The man cleared his throat, saying that the adults were just too cautious. Aren’t there only four of them here?

The waiter and the shopkeeper are still busy over there! How could they possibly hear what they are saying?

"Master! I think these three don’t look like scholars; rather, they resemble noble sons from the Capital. If they’re heading to Jiangnan at this time, I fear..."

Another person couldn’t help but speak up; he wanted to say something earlier. Since Gu Chengyu and the others have left, he felt no need to hold back.

The leader frowned, looking somewhat helplessly at the other three, then began to ponder. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He suddenly remembered his master saying, among the most capable in the court, who was it? Naturally, it was Gu Jinyu, the Champion Scholar from two years ago!

Gu Jinyu was not only exceptionally talented but also handsome, surpassing Pan An. In the workshop, his appearance was said to rival his literary talent.

That young man indeed looked good. When he first saw him, he sighed inwardly. Could that person be Gu Jinyu?

But Gu Jinyu is an official in the Hanlin Academy; would the Emperor send him to handle the flood in Changtian Prefecture? He found it hard to believe.

Since they set off a few days earlier, they weren’t aware of Gu Chengyu’s reassignment to the Dali Temple and his promotion by three ranks.

Nor did they know the Emperor had ordered and appointed Gu Chengyu as the imperial envoy to go to Jiangnan for this affair.

Gu Chengyu and Ming Mo rode ahead for a while, then slowed their pace.

"Sir! I wonder if those two will lay an ambush ahead. Would it be better if Ming Yan and I went to scout the path?" Ming Mo suggested as he rode up to Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu abruptly pulled on the reins and gazed ahead.

All he could see was a verdant forest; the lush foliage ahead made Gu Chengyu think it would be an ideal place for an ambush.

"No need! I couldn’t see through that old man; we must remain cautious!" Gu Chengyu frowned; that old man was not ordinary.

Whether the opponent had a hidden cultivation technique or their inner strength surpassed his, this was what made Gu Chengyu wary.

This was the first time Gu Chengyu felt so apprehensive about someone; he sighed somewhat. Indeed, as they say, there’s always someone better!

In the grass patch ahead, the man and the old man who should have gone far were crouching there, watching Gu Chengyu and his companions intently.

The man waited for a while, seeing that Gu Chengyu and the others actually stopped as if they were talking midway.

"What’s happening? Why aren’t they coming over? Did they discover us?"

The man’s hoarse voice echoed, with a strange official dialect that sounded quite awkward to others.

The old man squinted slightly, gazing at the three fixed figures, then sighed slightly.

"Let’s go! They’re difficult to deal with; we shouldn’t create complications. It’s better to first complete the master’s task, and find a chance to remove these people later."

The old man spoke in fluent official language, with a hint of the Capital’s accent.

"What? Not taking action despite such a great opportunity this time would be too wasteful. There might not be such a good chance next time. No, let’s wait a bit more!"

The man objected; he felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Finding these people again would take effort.

They’re just three young lads; how strong can they be? People said the opponent is smart, but could their martial arts be better than his?

At only a few years of age, prepping for the imperial exams, where would they find the time for martial arts training?

The man was quite confident about his martial arts; those three looked like weaklings that he could handle alone.

The old man glanced sideways at the man, internally despising this simple-minded fellow.

If it weren’t for the man’s decent martial arts and the dangerous nature of this task, would the master have entrusted him?

Fortunately, the master sent him along; otherwise, this man would surely be nothing but trouble.

"Don’t overestimate yourself; these three possess unusual martial arts. The boy’s inner strength even surpasses mine. If it weren’t for my cultivation technique’s concealment, wouldn’t the other side have discovered us long ago? Against this person, we must be on high alert; not only are they skilled in martial arts, but also highly strategic in planning."

The man puckered his lips, not believing the old man’s words. The old man only exaggerated things. Since meeting the old man, he continually bossed him around.

If it weren’t for the master’s order to heed the old man’s command, he would’ve long been impatient with him.

"Stop boosting others’ spirits and demoralizing yourself. How powerful can they be? Did they start cultivating in the womb?"

"Come on! Maybe they’re tired of waiting; let’s go meet them!"

Gu Chengyu smiled slightly; better to resolve it sooner than later; otherwise, they’ll have to stay on guard.

Haven’t you heard, there are only a thousand days to be a thief, but not a thousand days to guard against one?

Gu Chengyu and his companions rode their horses leisurely forward; if there was an ambush, it would likely focus more on the horses.

"We must withdraw; these three already noticed us. Without the element of surprise, we can’t fight them head-on; with our abilities, we’re no match."

The old man grew anxious, pulling the man along, hoping to leave. Somehow, he had a gut feeling—if they engaged, it wouldn’t go well.

The man, however, procrastinated, unwilling to leave. "If you want to go, go ahead; I plan to take advantage of this opportunity and capture them."

He recalled the master’s instruction; if successful in handling these people, the master would surely grant substantial rewards.

If he could capture them alive, there would be immense benefits waiting for him! How could he not be tempted?

Gu Chengyu and his companions had already sped up, galloping quickly towards them.

The man’s eyes lit up; this is the perfect opportunity! He threw off the old man’s hand and tightened the knot in his hand.

The old man knew this man wouldn’t heed his advice, whereas Gu Chengyu was already approaching rapidly; leaving would expose him just the same.

Besides, his heart harbored a glimmer of hope; thinking maybe it’s worth trying—what if they succeeded?

Gu Chengyu was keenly aware of his surroundings; noticing a particularly dense grass patch, he figured if there was an ambush, it’d be there.

The man watched Gu Chengyu charging forward without hesitation, feeling exhilarated. The old man warned him about this youth’s strategy. Didn’t he still fall for his trick?

To him, he and the opponent were strangers; how could the opponent know he planned to kill him? Can the opponent calculate predictably?

It was just the old man’s exaggeration; let’s see how he captures these three.

The man’s expression tensed, heart pounding. The moment was here! The moment arrived!

He suddenly pulled the knot tightly; from the seemingly flat ground, a long rope suddenly emerged.