When Fang Shijie's residence was searched, more incriminating evidence was discovered in the City Lord's mansion. For instance, Fang Shijie possessed a yellow robe kept at home.
This was a grave offense; this single item was enough to convict Fang Shijie of treason.
Su Fan arrived at the military camp as arranged to meet Xia Yuan.
"Su Fan, Cao Yuanqing and Fang Shijie, the main culprits, have been apprehended. They need to be escorted back to the palace. I intend to have you escort them back. Is that acceptable?"
Su Fan was not Xia Yuan's subordinate, so Xia Yuan had no authority to command him, hence the question.
"Certainly, no problem. I also wish to return to Tianlong City."
Su Fan genuinely wanted to leave Beiling City. The easily dealt-with bandits in the vicinity were mostly gone, leaving only the King of Kao Shan and his group, whom Su Fan couldn't defeat. It was better to return and find suitable leveling spots elsewhere.
"Then, prepare yourself. And bring Xia Yun back with you; it's not safe here."
Xia Yuan nodded and said to Su Fan.
"Alright."
Su Fan didn't refuse; it was just a matter of bringing one more person.
Su Fan would be bringing quite a few people back this time.
Cheng Yaoyin and his group alone numbered seven. Bringing Xia Yun would be no burden.
Su Fan immediately went back to prepare and set off for Tianlong City the next day.
The group, accompanied by dozens of elite soldiers, advanced towards Tianlong City with three prisoner carts.
The three prisoner carts held Fang Shijie, Cao Yuanqing, and Xu Tian, respectively.
As they passed through the territory of the King of Kao Shan, their path was blocked by the King himself and his men.
The soldiers immediately became alert.
"What do you want? We are escorting fugitives. Don't block our way!"
Cheng Yaoyin frowned and said to the King of Kao Shan.
"Where is Su Fan?"
The King of Kao Shan had received news and specifically intercepted Su Fan, but he had only glanced and didn't see Su Fan among the crowd.
"Su Fan left long ago and isn't traveling with us."
That's right, Su Fan had already used the Bagua Token to teleport to Tianxin City, found a place to sleep, and was currently drinking tea and cultivating in reality.
He knew the King of Kao Shan wouldn't let him return so easily. Bringing Cheng Yaoyin and the others would only implicate them; conversely, their own passage would be safer.
Apart from Xia Yun, everyone else here was a top-tier expert; there was no need to worry about their safety on the road.
The King of Kao Shan immediately frowned and, after repeated checks, confirmed Su Fan's absence.
"We are escorting fugitives, not carrying any treasure. Think carefully before you act, or you'll regret it."
Cheng Yaoyin fearlessly warned the King of Kao Shan, accurately speaking, he was issuing a warning.
The King of Kao Shan naturally understood the warning in Cheng Yaoyin's tone.
However, he became even more hesitant to act against Cheng Yaoyin and his group.
Although he knew Fang Shijie, they were more like enemies. He wouldn't save him just because they knew each other, especially at the risk of being purged.
The King of Kao Shan said nothing and had his men clear the path, allowing Cheng Yaoyin and his group to pass.
They proceeded under the watchful eyes of the King of Kao Shan's men, their faces filled with vigilance.
Meanwhile, Su Fan was at home, drinking tea with Fang Tongzi.
He didn't know how this old fellow's nose was so sharp. As soon as Su Fan brewed a pot of calming tea, Fang Tongzi appeared like a cat smelling fish.
Su Fan, helpless, reluctantly poured him a cup with a pained expression.
"Good tea! Come, come, another cup!"
Fang Tongzi, shamelessly, finished one cup and snatched the teapot from Su Fan's hand for another.
Su Fan was speechless. After they finished their tea, Fang Tongzi still seemed unsatisfied.
"Is that all? Brew more!"
Fang Tongzi shook the teapot, found it empty, and said to Su Fan.
"Do you know how precious this tea is? It's a waste on you. It's all gone!"
Su Fan said irritably.
"Tsk tsk, I'm a bit hungry after drinking tea."
Fang Tongzi shamelessly rubbed his stomach, hinting at something significant to Su Fan.
Su Fan: ...
"Do you want some roast meat?"
Su Fan asked Fang Tongzi.
"Yes! I love roast meat the most!"
Fang Tongzi's eyes lit up.
"Alright, you order then. Yu Tong and I are having hotpot."
Su Fan chuckled, leaving Fang Tongzi bewildered in the wind.
"Yu Tong, how about hotpot today?"
Su Fan asked Su Yu Tong with a smile.
"Okay, you order."
Su Yu Tong had no objections; she wasn't on a diet and wanted to indulge in hotpot.
"Alright, I'll order then."
Su Fan immediately placed an order on his phone.
Two servings each of fatty beef and lamb rolls.
"Huanghou! Order huanghou!"
Fang Tongzi appeared behind Su Fan at some point, pointing at Su Fan's phone screen.
Su Fan was speechless.
"Didn't you want roast meat? Go eat that."
Su Fan covered his phone and said to Fang Tongzi.
"Hey, Su kid, I'm working hard watching the woman for you, and this is how you treat me? You're angry because I drank some of your tea and ate some of your food?"
Fang Tongzi immediately puffed up his chest and accused Su Fan.
"Oh, stop arguing. Su Fan, just order a bit more. It's hotpot anyway, ordering more won't be a waste."
Su Yu Tong intervened to smooth things over and said to Su Fan.
Su Fan wasn't truly preventing Fang Tongzi from eating; he was just joking because Fang Tongzi had drunk so much of his calming tea and he felt a bit displeased.
"Fine, what do you want to eat?"
Su Fan seized the opportunity to ask Fang Tongzi.
Fang Tongzi's face lit up with joy, and he eagerly began ordering.
"Tripe, shrimp paste, lamb brain, crispy pork, duck gizzards, duck blood, duck intestines, huanghou, honeycomb tripe, squid, king prawns, octopuses, swimming crabs, baby squid, sea snails, jellyfish. That's all for now. You guys order the rest."
Fang Tongzi ordered a large pile, and it seemed he couldn't recall anything else, so he stopped there for the moment.
Su Fan: ...
"And that's all? Should I bring the entire restaurant to you?"
Good heavens, he had ordered almost everything in the place!
Su Fan ignored him and ordered some of his and Su Yu Tong's favorites, making it about four servings to avoid running out.
About forty minutes later, their takeout arrived.
A clear broth pot; for Su Yu Tong's taste, Su Fan didn't order a spicy one.
"Clear broth? It has no kick. Why didn't you get the super spicy one?"
Fang Tongzi said with disdain.
"I think you're the one who's abnormal. If you don't want to eat, get lost!"
Su Fan was completely exasperated and said unceremoniously.
He found Fang Tongzi increasingly shameless, complaining so much while eating someone else's food.
"I was just joking. Look, why are you getting angry? Come, come, have some lamb brain."
Fang Tongzi said with a fawning smile, scooping a piece of lamb brain, whether cooked or not, for Su Fan.
Su Fan: ...
"I don't eat lamb brain."
"Then I'll eat it myself."
Fang Tongzi began eating without hesitation, not treating himself as an outsider at all.
Su Fan shook his head in exasperation.