The atmosphere inside the carriage remained harmonious.
The clinking of teacups echoed as the conversation somehow drifted toward the geniuses of the Star-Plucking Sect.
“In my opinion, among all the senior brothers of the inner sect, Senior Brother Zhang Jiuyang is undoubtedly the most exceptionally brilliant!”
The youth surnamed Ma gently swayed his folding fan, nodding his head in self-satisfied approval.
“To break breakthrough to the Anjin Rank and enter the inner sect at just twenty-three years of age... with such talent, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the number one person in the Wuji Academy!”
“While Senior Brother Zhang is indeed formidable, I believe Chief Disciple Zuo is even better.”
The youth surnamed Wen took a light sip of his hot tea and countered unhurriedly:
“Although Chief Disciple Zuo was nearly twenty-four when he tapped into the Anjin Rank, once he entered the inner sect, he was like a hidden dragon entering the sea, his cultivation progress quickly overtaking the rest. He not only left his peers in the dust but also caught up to many seniors. Two years ago, he even broke through the Huajin Barrier, becoming the youngest chief disciple of the four inner academies.”
“Ah, that's where you're mistaken...”
The youth surnamed Ma folded his fan and tapped it lightly against his palm, adopting a mysterious tone.
“Do you know... why Chief Disciple Zuo was able to break through to the Huajin Rank and become the chief disciple in just a few short years?”
The two young ladies of the Ji family both grew interested and set down their teacups.
The youth surnamed Wen pursed his lips, speaking dismissively, “Naturally, it was through his talent and strength. Could there possibly be some other secret?”
“Tsk, tsk, there actually is!”
The youth surnamed Ma chuckled. Putting on an air of profound wisdom, he looked around and lowered his voice:
“Rumor has it that Chief Disciple Zuo once had a biological sister from the same mother. In her youth, she was unfortunately kidnapped and violated to death by bandits.”
“When Chief Disciple Zuo heard the tragic news, he was devastated and filled with grief. From then on, his personality changed drastically, and he swore a blood oath to slaughter the enemy's entire household.”
At this point, he deliberately paused to build up the suspense before continuing:
“To that end, he cast aside all regard for life and death, risking qi deviation to forcibly enter closed-door cultivation for a breakthrough... Who would have thought that by relying on that resolve of finding life in death, he actually succeeded!”
“Ah? Is that true?”
Ji Yao covered her mouth and gasped, her almond eyes wide with astonishment:
“Chief Disciple Zuo... actually suffered such a terrible tragedy?”
“It's highly likely to be true.”
Young Master Ma sighed and said:
“I specifically sent someone to look into it. Chief Disciple Zuo is a native of Shitan County in Guangwu Prefecture. A few years ago, the third young lady of the local gentry Zuo family was indeed brutally murdered after having her virtue defiled by bandits...”
Ji Xue lowered her eyes, listening without a word. Her slender fingers traced the rim of her teacup, her thoughts unreadable.
Ji Yao bit her lip, her delicate face flushed with indignation as she murmured softly:
“Did those bandits... ever face justice?”
Seeing her worry, Young Master Ma felt a trace of displeasure in his heart, regretting his talkativeness for making the beauty so concerned. He quickly wrapped up the topic:
“That is unknown. The Zuo family has been extremely secretive about this matter, and no further news could be gathered from the outside.”
“...”
Shitan County...
The third young lady of the Zuo family...
Kidnapped and violated to death by bandits...
Outside the carriage curtain, Shen Xiuhan's eyes narrowed slightly as something suddenly clicked in his mind.
But before he could ponder further, an abrupt change occurred.
Crack!
From the dense forest beside the official road, a young woman in her twenties suddenly rushed out.
She wore a fine silk dress that had been torn to shreds by thorns. Bloodstains seeped through the front of her collar, and her pretty face was filled with panic.
“Sirs, please save me!”
The woman blocked the carriage, weeping tears of distress, her voice mournful:
“There are bandits causing trouble ahead, and my family's carriage was plundered... I beg you sirs to do me a favor and give me a ride. I will surely reward you handsomely afterward!”
Geng Weizhi frowned slightly and subconsciously looked toward Shen Xiuhan.
Shen Xiuhan remained silent, his cold eyes scanning her from head to toe.
“What's going on?”
A corner of the carriage's brocade curtain was lifted, revealing the slightly impatient face of the youth surnamed Ma.
“Replying to Young Master, there's a ma'am blocking the road, saying she wants to hitch a ride.”
Geng Weizhi answered honestly.
The woman had her head tilted up, putting on a pitiful, tear-streaked look that would make anyone feel protective.
Hearing the word “ma'am” out of nowhere, her lips twitched, and her mournful expression almost cracked.
“Blocking the carriage?”
The youth surnamed Ma raised an eyebrow. Glancing down, his eyes instantly locked onto her.
Beneath the woman's torn skirt, a large patch of fair skin was tantalizingly visible. Combined with her pitiful face, she truly evoked a sense of tender affection.
Gulp.
The youth surnamed Ma's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed his spit. “Very well. As they say, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Let this...”
“Wait!”
Ji Xue lifted the brocade curtain with her fair hand, her willow-like brows furrowing slightly as she spoke coldly,
“Let's not court unnecessary trouble. This place is in the middle of nowhere. Send her away quickly. We must reach Lingshui Pier before dark.”
Immediately after, the voice of the youth surnamed Wen also drifted out, agreeing,
“Brother Ma, this desolate wilderness is indeed a bit strange. We should listen to the Second Young Lady and leave this place quickly.”
The youth surnamed Ma's expression turned slightly sour, but he did not speak up again.
Ji Xue was clearly unwilling to court trouble. If he kept insisting, he would only make himself look bad.
“The carriage is fully loaded. We cannot help you,”
Shen Xiuhan finally spoke, his tone leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.
“If you seek a way to survive, you can head back along the official road we came from. In less than half an hour, you will reach a village where you can settle. But we cannot take you with us.”
With that, he cast a meaningful look at Geng Weizhi.
Geng Weizhi understood instantly and shook the reins:
“Jia!”
The draft horse let out a long neigh, straining its hooves to bypass the woman.
“Erniang, your honey trap doesn't seem to work on these greenhorns!”
“Not only does it not work, but you were even called 'ma'am' by that carriage driver! Hahaha!”
Suddenly, two bursts of unrestrained, wild laughter echoed from the depths of the dense forest.
The leaves rustled violently.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Seven or eight murderous figures leaped out from the forest, standing squarely in the middle of the official road and completely blocking the path.
The woman who had just been so pitiful and delicate instantly shed all her weakness.
She straighted her posture, staring at Geng Weizhi with eyes as cold and venomous as a serpent, saying in a chilling voice,
“Blind brat, this old mother is going to rip your heart out and eat it!”
Shua!
With a flick of her pale hand, two slender, sharp spikes slid out from her sleeves, glinting with a cold light.
Geng Weizhi's expression changed dramatically. His steel saber unsheathed with a metallic clang as he threw himself in front of the carriage.
By now, even a fool could see that these people came with ill intent.
Yet, someone actually thought otherwise.
The youth surnamed Ma's eyes lit up, as if he had just grasped a god-given opportunity.
During their chat earlier, his thunder had been stolen by the mention of 'Senior Brother Zuo', which had already displeased him.
Then, he had suffered a minor setback over the 'blocking woman' incident, leaving him quite vexed.
Right now, these bandits had surely come for wealth. Wasn't this the perfect time for him to play the hero and rescue the beauties!
The youth surnamed Ma lifted the carriage curtain, standing proudly on the shaft as he called out in a loud voice,
“Hold on, brave heroes!”
“I am Ma Jingxing, the eldest young master of the Ma Family Firm of Changyun County, and a disciple of the Wuji Academy under the Star-Plucking Sect. The martial world is vast; I wonder if you brave heroes could show me some face...”
“Show you face?”
The lean man stepped forward from the crowd, crossing his arms over his chest as a mocking, playful sneer played on his lips. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Rate on N.U.
