Free Web NovelChapter 21: Chapter 21: Orange Fire Order
The Qianling Trading Company was one of the largest trading companies in the Great Wu Empire, but it was confined to the Great Wu Empire.
The Hundred Flames Trading Company, however, was different. Its shops were found in cities all across the Hundred Countries; it had a longer history and a much larger business.
It was said that Qianling had chosen "Qian," meaning "thousand," for its name specifically to one-up Hundred Flames’ "Bai," which meant "hundred."
The implication was clear: ’If you are a hundred, we are a thousand. We are stronger than you.’ But to this day, they had yet to surpass the Hundred Flames Trading Company.
WHOOSH...
Just then, Cheng Weishan and Bai Wenrong landed.
They were astonished to learn that the carriage belonged to the Hundred Flames Trading Company.
The Hundred Flames Trading Company had not yet established a presence in Yangzhou City. For one of its carriages to suddenly appear meant they were likely here to scout the area.
For a small border city like Yangzhou City, having the Hundred Flames Trading Company move in would be a momentous event.
But Bai Wenrong grew suspicious and immediately called out to the carriage, "What proof do you have that you’re from the Hundred Flames Trading Company?"
As his voice fell... WHOOSH!
A token flew out from the carriage, drifting to a stop before Bai Wenrong. Then, with a low HUM, the token ignited with orange flames. An elegant female voice spoke from within the carriage, "The Hundred Flames Orange Fire Order. Do you recognize it?"
Though Bai Wenrong was merely the Patriarch of a small city’s family, he was not a young man, and he was well-informed.
He, of course, recognized it.
Before Bai Wenrong could answer, the Orange Fire Order’s flame went out and it shot back into the carriage.
The elegant female voice spoke again. "My Hundred Flames Trading Company has a reputation to uphold. Unlike certain lesser companies, we do not meddle in local disputes, nor would we ever harbor the person you wish to arrest. Now, let us pass."
Her reference to a "lesser company" was clearly pointed, but not inaccurate. freewёbnoνel.com
The current trouble had, after all, been stirred up by the Qianling Trading Company.
At the woman’s words, Cheng Weishan was the first to stand down. He, too, recognized the Hundred Flames Orange Fire Order.
After a moment’s hesitation, Bai Wenrong had no choice but to step aside as well.
The patrolmen, however, furrowed their brows. Their captain refused to yield.
"I don’t care if you’re the Hundred Flames Trading Company! You will submit to an inspection! Open the curtain!"
As the gruff voice faded, a cold wind howled down the street.
After three breaths, the elegant voice replied, "Very well. You may come and lift it yourselves."
Just as the patrol captain and his men stepped forward...
The woman’s voice spoke again, addressing her driver in a quiet but clear tone. "Uncle Leng, file a report later. Just say the people of Yangzhou City are too barbaric and insolent. There will be no need for the Hundred Flames Trading Company to establish a presence here."
Her voice was not concealed in the slightest. The patrol captain’s steps halted instantly before the carriage.
His expression flickered with uncertainty. Finally, he said, "Stand down. Let them pass."
For him, this incident could have minor or major repercussions.
If he was the reason Yangzhou City failed to attract the Hundred Flames Trading Company, he could be found guilty of a grave offense.
The patrol captain dared not shoulder such responsibility. He had no choice but to let them go.
More importantly, the holder of an Orange Fire Order was a person of considerable status. It was unthinkable that they would be harboring some minor fugitive.
In response, the elegant female voice let out a soft laugh. "Done with your inspection? In that case, Uncle Leng, let’s go."
And just like that, the carriage started moving again, leaving the street behind.
From behind them, the patrol captain’s voice rang out, "Resume the search! Find him!" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Inside the carriage as it vanished at the end of the street... a young woman in an orange dress was sitting upright.
But a sword was pressed against the back of her head. Its owner was none other than the man currently being hunted... Lu Chao!
At that moment, the orange-clad woman whispered, "Hero, I’ve helped you leave the cordoned-off area. Will you put away your sword now?"
Her voice was soft and detached.
Despite the tip of Lu Chao’s sword at her neck, she showed no sign of nervousness.
Before this, Lu Chao had been pursued by guards from the Qianling Trading Company. Then, two of Yangzhou City’s top experts, Cheng Weishan and Bai Wenrong, joined the hunt. In addition, patrols and constables had set up a blockade...
Given his current cultivation level, one could only imagine how difficult it would be to escape.
Just then, he had spotted the Hundred Flames Trading Company’s carriage. He was well aware of the company’s influence and had decisively forced his way inside.
He had immediately threatened the orange-clad woman with his sword, forcing her to carry him out of the cordoned-off area.
Hearing the woman’s words, Lu Chao remained unmoved. "I’m afraid we’ll have to wait a bit longer."
A flash of killing intent sparked in the woman’s eyes as her anger flared.
The True Qi in her body began to stir, but Lu Chao coldly pressed the tip of his sword a little deeper, pushing into her hair.
This forced the woman to temporarily suppress her anger and the eruption of True Qi within her...
Suddenly... THUMP THUMP THUMP!
The thunderous sound of hooves echoed from down the street as a squad of riders charged toward them. It was the City Lord’s Mansion knights.
They must have been dispatched after the City Lord’s Mansion received the notice from Wu Bei.
The squad of knights thundered past the carriage.
Moments later, the knights reached the spot where the patrol had been.
After only a moment, a furious voice echoed through the street...
"What kind of captain are you? Are you an idiot? Our Yangzhou City already has the Qianling Trading Company, and its Shopkeeper is one of the City Lord’s Mansion’s own people! It’s better for us if the Hundred Flames Trading Company *doesn’t* move in."
Clearly, this furious voice belonged to one of the newly arrived knights, who was now berating the patrol captain.
Then, the THUMP THUMP THUMP of hooves sounded again as they charged back toward the orange-clad woman’s carriage.
The knights, of course, intended to inspect the Hundred Flames Trading Company’s carriage again...
Inside the carriage, just as the sound of hooves drew near, Lu Chao suddenly said, "Many thanks. Farewell!"
Without waiting for the woman to react, Lu Chao retracted his sword and slipped out of the carriage in a flash.
In that instant... VWOOM!
Freed from the threat of the sword, the orange-clad woman’s True Qi erupted from her body. Outside, the driver, Uncle Leng, glared with murderous intent in the direction Lu Chao had fled, preparing to give chase...
But at that same moment, the sound of hooves closed in, and the knights surrounded their carriage.
The orange-clad woman and her driver had lost their chance to pursue Lu Chao.
At the same time, the leading middle-aged knight snarled at them, "Open the curtain! Now!"
With no other choice, the orange-clad woman lifted the carriage curtain, allowing the knights to inspect it.
But Lu Chao had already vanished into the night, so this new group of knights from the City Lord’s Mansion naturally found nothing.
In the end, the knights could only return resentfully to the original blockade area.
They didn’t dare actually do anything to the people from the Hundred Flames Trading Company.
Likewise, the orange-clad woman and Uncle Leng said nothing of Lu Chao’s escape. After all, they were the ones who had brought him out. While revealing the truth would cause trouble for Lu Chao, it would also bring trouble upon themselves.
And so, the Hundred Flames Trading Company’s carriage continued on its way.
At this, the driver, Uncle Leng, asked in a low voice, "Miss, that young man was only at the Postnatal First Layer. With your level of cultivation, how could you have been subdued by him? Could it be... you helped him on purpose?"
Uncle Leng couldn’t understand. His miss, after all, was just one small step away from reaching the Innate Realm.
With a bitter laugh, the orange-clad woman replied, "I... was too careless."
