https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-566-The-Chivalrous-Air-of-a-Mature-Gentleman/12536881/
Chapter 565: Feng Sidang Appears
Chapter 565: Feng Sidang Appears
"Head of the Escort Team!"
"Head Escort Lu! Head Escort Feng!"
Early the next morning, just as everyone was preparing to set out, the scouts who had gone ahead brought back shocking news.
"They're dead! All of them!"
"What do you mean, all of them? Calm down and speak clearly. Don't be so flustered!"
"On the road ahead, those bandits who were lying in wait for us are all dead!"
"We counted roughly, there were at least a hundred or two hundred of them. They were elites from Taihang Mountain, Guanzhong, Bashu, and beyond." Qiu Lei, who had rushed back, was bewildered. "But they all met their end in the mountains up ahead."
"How did they die?" Si Tu Zhongping asked.
"Each of them has different wounds, but it appears they put up no resistance. It seems they were knocked unconscious before being killed," Qiu Lei replied. "I saw no trace of the perpetrator."
Everyone looked at each other, immediately recalling the events of the previous night.
"Drugged at the third watch?"
"A mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
"Those bandits took advantage of Peng Pengfei drugging us, not knowing that Peng Pengfei was from the Celestial Sect, and ended up drugging themselves as well."
"What a cunning move, driving away the tiger only to devour the wolf, and reaping the benefits without lifting a finger!"
"They had intended for us to destroy each other, but they didn't anticipate Young Master Lian seeing through their scheme and turning the tables on them. In the end, we were unharmed while they suffered."
"So, they decided to retreat?"
"Damn, I thought the journey ahead would be easier, but after getting rid of a group of bandits, we've attracted an even more formidable Celestial Sect?"
Lian Chengbi stroked his chin, surprised that they had managed to provoke the Celestial Sect this time.
Wasn't the Carefree Marquis wealthy enough to rival nations? Why would he care about eight million taels of silver?
The escort team proceeded with caution and soon arrived at a forested area. Within the forest, a clearing had been made, and scattered across it were over a dozen makeshift grass huts.
"They've been here for a while."
"Looks like they anticipated that we would take a detour."
"Does that mean the landslide on the official road was their doing?"
"They don't have that kind of skill. They probably knew about the landslide in advance and lay in wait here."
The group approached to inspect the bodies and found that the victims had indeed been killed while unconscious, their eyes closed, faces expressionless, and bodies relaxed. Their weapons lay untouched by their sides.
As for the wounds...
There were knife wounds, sword wounds, spear wounds, and injuries inflicted by other exotic weapons or blunt instruments.
"There were at least a dozen attackers."
"One hit to kill, precise in both strength and placement. Not the work of amateurs."
Lian Chengbi examined the wounds but could not discern the identity or origin of the assailants.
According to the original novel, the Celestial Sect was divided into thirty-six halls, each headed by a Heavenly Pole incense master, and seventy-two deputy incense masters known as Earth Sha. Each one of them could be considered a top expert in the martial arts world.
Even the new leader of the Diancang Sect, Xie Tianshi, was a incense master of the Celestial Sect.
Hey? Wait a minute...
Lian Chengbi turned to Yang Kaitai and asked, "Who is the current leader of the Diancang Sect?"
"It's Xie Xingyun. Why do you ask?" Yang Kaitai inquired, curious about the sudden question.
Yang Kaitai looked around, "The sword techniques of the Diancang Sect are light and graceful. Among these bodies, none seem to have been slain by their style of swordplay, right?"
Lian Chengbi nodded, "It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered to ask."
Yang Kaitai sighed, "Old Master Xie is over seventy years old. His old injuries have been acting up, and he hasn't descended Diancang Mountain in a long while."
"How do you know that?" Lian Chengbi asked.
"The Diancang Sect is mostly comprised of wealthy young masters from Yunnan and Guizhou, and they have business dealings with the Hengyuan Money Shop in the southwest. I traveled to Shu earlier this year and heard about it from a friend there," Yang Kaitai explained.
"Who's this friend of yours?" Lian Chengbi inquired.
"Xie Tianshi," Yang Kaitai replied.
"Impressive."
"What?"
"I said you truly have friends everywhere. Introduce me sometime."
...
The escort team proceeded with caution, keeping a lookout in all directions. However, they didn't encounter any sneak attacks from the Celestial Sect experts even after traversing the mountain path.
The rest of the journey was uneventful. They passed through Wuwei, Yongchang, and Zhangye, eventually reaching a location not far from Suzhou Prefecture.
Jiayuguan, their final destination, was located west of Suzhou.
The entire trip had been peaceful, as if the Celestial Sect experts had never appeared at all. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, believing that their opponents had given up.
"Everyone, stay alert. After turning this last mountain path, it's smooth sailing from there."
"Once we reach Suzhou and deliver the escort fee, I'll treat everyone to drinks!"
Si Tu Zhongping shouted, and the group cheered up, laughing and chatting loudly. Some vowed not to return until they were drunk, while others spoke of finding a beautiful woman from the Western Regions.
Just then, the sound of rapid hoof beats echoed from up ahead.
Sharp eyes turned toward the source, and they saw a yellow horse galloping toward them, ridden by a bearded man with a worried expression on his face.
"Mantian Yun!"
"You keep running! Run faster! If you can make it to the Qilian Mountains, I might not be able to catch you!"
The speaker was a woman, her voice both alluring and clear.
The group followed the voice and saw the woman on the red horse behind him.
She wore a bluish-green outfit with a bright red cloak draped over her slender waist and delicate feet. Despite being in the Gobi Desert, her skin remained fair beneath her headscarf.
She was a very feminine woman, and the escort team hadn't seen such a beautiful woman since they passed Lanzhou.
"Mantian Yun? Isn't he the notorious bandit holed up in the Qilian Mountains?"
"Who is this woman, and why is she chasing Mantian Yun?"
"You she-demon! I didn't even sleep with you, so why are you chasing me everywhere?" Mantian Yun turned and shouted, "If you have the guts, come back to the Qilian Mountains with me and see if I can't catch you!"
"Do you think I don't have the guts?" The woman replied with a charming laugh. "Why don't you stop and let's find a place to have a good look at each other? I'll show you if I have the guts, and you can show me if you do too."
"What a bold woman!"
"Wow, I want to see this!"
"So, this Mantian Yun is not only a bandit but also a lecher?"
"Too bad he met a tough nut to crack."
The members of the escort team were all old hands, and they quickly understood the situation, teasingly commenting on it.
Seeing the large escort team, Mantian Yun didn't dare to make a move. Instead, he turned his horse to try to bypass the team from the side.
However, Yang Kaitai took action.
Positioned in the center of the escort team, he saw Mantian Yun riding by. With just a few sideways steps, he reached the side in front of Mantian Yun.
Mantian Yun's expression turned stern, and he lashed out with the whip in his hand.
But Yang Kaitai grabbed the whip with one hand. Instead of using the opportunity to pull Mantian Yun down, he extended his other hand and grabbed the horse's reins, pulling forcefully.
"Neighhh..."
The galloping yellow horse was suddenly stopped in its tracks!
Mantian Yun's expression changed to one of dismay as he let go of the whip and jumped off the horse, instinctively moving away from Yang Kaitai.
The woman from behind had closed in at high speed. Seeing Yang Kaitai's display of strength in stopping the running horse, she merely brightened before dismounting and flashing him a charming smile. "Thank you!"
Then she turned to Mantian Yun and, raising an eyebrow, said with a smile, "You're not going to make it to the Qilian Mountains. Why don't you let me have a look at you right here?"
"Wind Fourth Lady, I'll fight you to the death!" Mantian Yun shouted.
(End of Chapter)
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