Astral Apostle

Chapter 358: Gathering and Harvest (1)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As evening approached, red clouds filled the sky.

Outside the city, the Three Mile Plains.

This was the place where everyone had agreed to meet after the incident. Xiang Tianjie and the others did not delay after breaking out of prison, quickly disguising themselves and leaving the city, rushing to the Three Mile Plains to hide and wait until now.

The group of people had changed into the attire of merchants. At this moment, they were either sitting or standing, looking at the sun from time to time with anxiety on their faces.

As for the sentry, he stood guard in the distance, staring vigilantly at the path they had come from and observing the movements of the state capital.

“If it’s any later, the city gate of the state capital will close. Why hasn’t Brother Chen come out yet? Don’t tell me he died inside?”

Guo Haishen had eaten some dry food and recovered some strength by now. He was pacing back and forth anxiously.

Xiang Tianjie shook his head and replied seriously,

“Brother Guo, don’t be impatient. Brother Chen has good skills. Ordinary soldiers can’t hope to keep him.”

However, Xiang Tianjie was not confident when he said this. After all, he had only heard about Zhou Jing’s skills from rumors. He had never experienced it himself, so he was naturally not confident.

Guo Haishen was even more unaware of Zhou Jing’s strength. In his eyes, Zhou Jing’s actions were akin to a narrow escape from death. However, he had specially done it for a person he had never met before. He could truly be considered a righteous hero who could be a brother.

At this moment, the lookout suddenly shouted,

“Brothers, a group of people is coming over. I saw Brother Shi Qing!”

Everyone perked up and hurriedly walked out of their hiding place. At a glance, they saw a group of ten people walking over.

This group was Zhou Jing and the others. They had already convened with Lu Xinniang, Zhang San, and the other four. Shi Qing had also put on another disguise, posing them off to be a rich family who was traveling for important matters.

Gao Yun’s appearance was outstanding, thus he pretended to be a landlord while Lu Xinniang pretended to be his daughter. As for Zhou Jing and Fang Zhen, they were burly and disguised as guards. Shi Qing was young and short, pretending to be an errand boy. As for Zhang San and the other four, they looked like simple farmers at first glance, thus they were best disguised to be servants.

While the state capital was still in chaos, everyone rushed to the city gate. All the items had already been prepared. After passing the city gate inspection, they quickly left the city.

Xiang Tianjie was about to welcome him, but Li Chun beat him to it.

Li Chun quickly walked up to Zhou Jing and held his arm to size him up. Seeing that he was not injured, he heaved a sigh of relief and said happily,

“Brother Chen! Fortunately, you’re fine! We’ve been waiting here for a long time. We were afraid that you would be captured if you made a mistake, so we were prepared to kill our way back and save you at any time.”

When Fang Zhen heard this, he laughed out loud, his face full of pride. He cracked a grin,

“Haha, Brother Li, you’re thinking too much. It’s just the state capital. My brother can come and go as he pleases. Those useless soldiers are nothing in front of my brother!”

After this battle, Fang Zhen’s admiration for Zhou Jing’s ability could not be any greater. It had already reached the point where he would brag for him.

Seeing this, Gao Yun also echoed, “Brother’s skills are indeed rare in the world. It was our luck that Brother helped us, so we were able to survive.”

Zhou Jing also smiled casually and nodded at Li Chun. “Brother Li Chun, don’t worry. With my ability, it’s very difficult for this state capital to keep me.”

“That’s good, that’s good…”

Li Chun laughed so hard that his wrinkles were about to appear. His expression was sincere.

At this moment, Guo Haishen took two steps forward and pushed Li Chun away. He had on a touched expression as he held Zhou Jing’s hands and bowed.

“Brother Chen! You saved me and were willing to take the risk to avenge me, but I’m sick and can’t fight alongside you. I can only escape from the city in advance. I really feel guilty! I’ll never forget this kindness. Please accept my bow!”

Zhou Jing quickly supported him and smiled instead,

“Brother Guo, what are you talking about? When we met, I already said that we martial artists cultivate our entire selves to achieve harmony. Brother Guo, you were angry at the behavior of a tyrant and stood up for others, but you were secretly harmed by a noble. If I don’t draw my saber and help now, when will I? Not to mention this small An Lin Prefecture, I even dare to barge into the capital’s prison!”

Guo Haishen’s bow was firm, but Zhou Jing held him with both hands, preventing him from completing the bow. He could not help but be secretly surprised by Zhou Jing’s arm strength.

He could only straighten his back. Hearing Zhou Jing’s words, he could not help but feel a sense of pride. He felt that Zhou Jing’s figure had become incomparably majestic in his eyes, as if he had encompassed the entire world. He could not help but emotionally call out,

“Brother, you’re a true hero by doing this! If you don’t abandon me, I’m willing to become sworn brothers with you. In the future, we’ll share blessings and hardships together!”

Zhou Jing was a little surprised to hear this, but he could understand Guo Haishen’s excitement. He also smiled and nodded,

“How can I despise a good man like Brother Guo? But now is not the time. The officials of the state capital will most likely go out of the city to search. We should leave first.”

“Brother, you’re right!”

Hearing that Zhou Jing was willing to become sworn brothers, Guo Haishen was overjoyed. He almost wanted to look for the chicken head and yellow?papers¹?on the spot, but when he heard this, he came back to his senses. He knew that now was not the time to do this. They were too close to the state capital and had yet to escape danger.

Xiang Tianjie also went forward to greet him and added some words of concern.

Everyone did not say much. After gathering, they did not delay and quickly set off, planning to run through the night

On the way, everyone chatted carefully and asked about their own matters.

The prison break was very smooth. It was a standard process in the Green Forest, so there was nothing much to say.

On the other hand, what Zhou Jing and the others had done in the state capital was what Guo Haishen and the others were curious about.

“Brother Chen, you volunteered to fight the four great families. I wonder what the outcome is?” A leader of the Heavenly King Stronghold asked curiously.