Chapter 1-11

Bai Shixuan had assumed that wandering swordsmen were all more or less equal in skill. Since Cold-Blooded Swift Sword Cao Zhenshi was fairly well known even among wandering swordsmen, this was the first time Bai Shixuan had seen him being beaten so one-sidedly.

‘Is someone like that really a wandering swordsman?’

It would have been wrong to simply assume that he was third-rate. Jiang Zhilong, who was facing Cao Zhenshi, was highly skilled. He was so strong that Bai Shixuan found it strange that he was merely a wandering swordsman. Cao Zhenshi kept attacking while Jiang Zhilong did nothing but defend, yet the one accumulating wounds was Cao Zhenshi. Before long, blood running from various parts of his body had dyed his clothes red.

“Huff, huff.”

“I’m getting tired of playing with you now. Shall we just end it here?”

Once Cao Zhenshi’s fierce attacks had ceased and he could do nothing but glare while breathing heavily, Jiang Zhilong spoke with a broad smile on his face. Then he raised his sword and began bringing it down toward the crown of Cao Zhenshi’s head.

“Stop!”

The sword that had been about to split Cao Zhenshi in two abruptly halted at the shout that rang out. Jiang Zhilong frowned and turned his head, and ten martial artists could be seen pushing through the crowd toward the two of them. Judging from the character Tang embroidered over their chests, they appeared to be martial artists of the Tang Clan.

“What place do you think this is, causing such a disturbance?”

“It is an honor to meet martial artists of the Sichuan Tang Clan, one of the Five Great Families Under Heaven . I am the wandering swordsman Jiang Zhilong.”

Jiang Zhilong spoke while giving the Tang Clan martial artists a cupped-fist salute. Though they were martial artists of one of the Five Great Families while he was merely a wandering swordsman, Jiang Zhilong spoke confidently without shrinking back. At the bold attitude of a mere wandering swordsman, the expressions of the Sichuan Tang Clan martial artists gradually stiffened. Then one of the men standing at the rear began whispering something into the ear of the man at the front, who appeared to be their leader, and surprise slowly spread across the leader’s stiffening face.

“Could you perhaps be the son of the great hero Jiang Taizhen, the King of Wandering Swordsmen ……?”

“He is my father.”

When Jiang Zhilong answered the leader’s question with a smile, the Tang Clan martial artists hurriedly returned the cupped-fist salute.

“Young Hero Jiang, what were you doing here?”

“Ah, I was merely showing this pathetic acquaintance of mine the difference in our skill…….”

When the leader of the martial artists asked, Jiang Zhilong smiled and pointed toward Cao Zhenshi as he turned his head. Then, when Cao Zhenshi—who should have been beside him, staring at him fearfully while awaiting death—was nowhere to be seen, Jiang Zhilong’s face stiffened rapidly. He had been so preoccupied with the Tang Clan martial artists that he had not even noticed Cao Zhenshi fleeing. The bastard was quick as a rat.

“If you need that man’s head, perhaps we could…….”

“No. There’s no need to borrow the Tang Clan’s strength just to find a man like him. I can find someone like that in no time.”

There was no need to borrow the Tang Clan’s strength for something so trivial. No, he could already guess what they might demand later if he unnecessarily accepted their help now. They would probably ask him to lend his strength toward securing hegemony over Sichuan. That was why Jiang Zhilong rejected the Tang Clan’s offer without the slightest hesitation. His father disliked becoming involved in matters like this. As someone who still lacked power of his own, Jiang Zhilong had no choice but to remain mindful of his father’s wishes. Things might be different once he eventually became the ruler of the wandering swordsmen, but for now, that was not the case.

“Then we shall take our leave. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

“Travel safely.”

After exchanging brief farewells, they parted ways. Once the Tang Clan martial artists had disappeared, Jiang Zhilong spoke to the five subordinates behind him.

“Which way did he run?”

“He went west. Shall we capture him?”

“Leave him be. Let’s enjoy this a little longer. Hehehe.”

Although Jiang Zhilong’s subordinates had known that Cao Zhenshi was fleeing, they had merely watched him go. That was because they were confident they could capture him whenever they wished. Jiang Zhilong felt the same way, but it seemed his bad habit was surfacing again. It was much like the pleasure a cat took in catching a mouse that fled trembling in fear.

“Hah, hah!”

As soon as they escaped the village where they had encountered Jiang Zhilong, they fled straight into the mountains. Cao Zhenshi climbed somewhat deeper into the forest, leaned his exhausted body against a tree, and took a jar of wound medicine from inside his clothes.

“That damn bastard.”

Remembering Jiang Zhilong mocking and toying with him, Cao Zhenshi cursed. Then, looking at Bai Shixuan, who also seemed exhausted from following him, he handed over the wound medicine. When Cao Zhenshi removed his upper garment, countless blade wounds hidden beneath his clothing were revealed. They were scars that showed just how much hardship he had endured and how many dangerous paths he had walked. But Bai Shixuan seemed accustomed to those wounds and began applying the medicine to his body.

“Keep it.”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to rest for a while. If you sense anything, wake me immediately.”

At Cao Zhenshi’s words, Bai Shixuan tucked the wound medicine into his clothes and nodded. After seeing Bai Shixuan nod, Cao Zhenshi simply closed his eyes and immediately fell sound asleep. Watching Cao Zhenshi, who must have been truly exhausted because he even began snoring, Bai Shixuan soon started gathering fallen branches from the ground around them.

‘Should I light one?’

Was Jiang Zhilong pursuing them, or was he waiting for another opportunity? The sun was still up, but because they were in the mountains, darkness would fall quickly. Once that happened, the weather would turn chilly, and if they were unlucky, wild animals might gather. If they had a fire, the chances of wild animals attacking would decrease accordingly. But what if Jiang Zhilong was following them? Lighting a fire would only reveal their position.

‘I should wait a little longer.’

It seemed better to watch the situation a bit more before lighting one. As Bai Shixuan sat quietly, he began to feel the temperature gradually dropping. The sun was beginning to set. His stomach started clamoring for food, while his body screamed at him to hurry and light a fire because of the cold.

‘Haa. How did things end up like this?’

Even if Cao Zhenshi had been in perfect condition, this was not a situation in which they could safely light a fire. In the end, Bai Shixuan curled his body up even tighter. He was cold and hungry. On top of that, he was sleepy. But he could not sleep now.

-Chirrr, chirrrrr.

Judging from the insects chirping, was there no pursuit? Or was Jiang Zhilong simply taking his time? There was no way at all for Bai Shixuan to understand what kind of person Jiang Zhilong was.

While Bai Shixuan was thinking about Jiang Zhilong, Cao Zhenshi opened his eyes. He hurriedly looked around, then, after confirming that they were still safe, let out a sigh of relief.

“Light a fire.”

“Yes.”

If Cao Zhenshi told him to do something, he had to do it. Especially when Cao Zhenshi was in a bad mood like this, Bai Shixuan had to obey without saying anything. Cao Zhenshi surely knew that lighting a fire was dangerous. Even so, he had given the order, and despite knowing the danger himself, Bai Shixuan began lighting the dry branches he had gathered. Before long, the surroundings brightened and warmth began spreading through his body.