Chapter 23

Chapter 3

The guide followed closely. He said he was a local of the town.

When one thinks of common folk who do not know martial arts and are engaged in their livelihoods, a certain image comes to mind.

The man who introduced himself as 'Zhangsan' was such a person.

"Sir, are you really going alone? Is it really wise to go to the Tanglang Sect?"

The man, shorter than Zheng Yanshen, had a trembling gaze.

Dressed in shabby hemp clothes, the loosely held travel bag revealed the image of a man who was the head of a household.

Zheng Yanshen understood his reaction.

The sects were different from the hooligans in the back alleys.

While the black gangs would seek out and retaliate against those who reported them to the authorities, the sects were even more dangerous, as they were skilled in martial arts.

It was understandable for him to be anxious.

"That's enough for me."

"R, really admirable spirit. But, but please reconsider. The Tanglang Sect is not ordinary. They say that dozens of them have mastered martial arts, and even a single young man swept through the Lianhu Alley."

"Admirable spirit? You seem well-versed in literature."

In a world where literacy was not common, expressions that were used casually in some places were often known only to the educated in the countryside.

"I'm just a villager who failed the imperial exams."

Zheng Yanshen was relieved that they could communicate. They had to spend a night in Xian'an because it was a large city and it took a day to reach Lianhu County.

"Can you tell me more about the Tanglang Sect?"

Zheng Yanshen said as he walked ahead, simultaneously taking out a small bag of salt from his robe and handing it over.

The monthly salary in Yihuang City was paid in silver, but giving it to someone else would be too much, and he had no coins.

Because the travel expenses were covered by Ma Jin.

Zhangsan's eyes widened as he subtly opened the bag.

"They came in and pacified Lianhu Street three years ago. There are few places in Xian'an where the Zhongnan Sect's lay disciples are not present, and Lianhu County was one of them. They took over a dozen people as servants. Their tyranny was severe, and they seemed to have thoroughly manipulated the county magistrate."

"…Martial arts? Has anyone seen their martial arts?"

"I've heard they use all kinds of weapons. I've seen a few from a distance, and they had not only swords and spears but also strangely curved blades… They were so fast that it was hard to follow with the eye. A single slash could sever two people's heads."

They were quite strong. Even if their martial arts system was not well-established, they had clearly trained in martial arts.

At this level, they could be considered sect martial artists.

"Are there still many people being held captive? What is the government doing?"

"Since the county magistrate is in league with the Tanglang Sect, there is no one to take care of them…"

Zheng Yanshen suddenly had a doubt. Could a martial artist from Yihuang City behead a government official?

* * *

They spent the night at an inn they encountered on the road. Zheng Yanshen and Zhangsan arrived at Lianhu County.

As they crossed the hills, a bustling village came into view.

They had already passed several caravans loaded with various goods.

Although it was a county of the same level as Xinya, it was much more developed. It seemed to be somewhere between a city and a village.

"I know where it is."

Under the clear blue sky, there was a particularly large and ornate hall at the end of the road.

The characters on the sign were visible even from here.

It was not as grand as the Zheng family mansion, but the spacious courtyard could serve as a training ground.

"You can leave now. Thank you for the guidance."

After exchanging pleasantries, he turned around. As he headed towards the main street that ran through the village, he sensed someone following him.

It seemed to be Zhangsan. He couldn't understand the reason.

'Maybe his family was taken captive.'

His wife or daughter might have been taken away.

He entered what appeared to be a market street.

Stalls lined up, and merchants were calmly exchanging meat and grains.

The bargaining voices were not loud.

When he turned his head to look around, a shocking scene met his eyes.

"…"

People were tied up with ropes, as if they were rebels. They were all women.

Five martial artists with swords were casually sitting, guarding them. Only those who seemed to be their families, unable to approach, were sobbing.

Would they lose their heads if they made a sound?

The atmosphere on both sides was starkly different, as if it were a village custom.

"Yihuang City was well-founded."

He said it deliberately as he approached. The Great Ming Code had fallen due to the martial artists.

The Central Plains were said to be so vast that it was hard to encompass in one's mind.

If a few local magistrates and powerful sects colluded, it would be extremely difficult for the imperial court to know the situation in the regions.

"Are you soldiers? Are the tied people criminals?"

There was no response. As soon as Zheng Yanshen finished speaking, a throwing dagger thrown by one of them tore through the air.

It didn't carry any force. Zheng Yanshen caught it and, using the Fast Sword Technique, released the grip.

Even so, the sword force was properly applied. The dagger, piercing the air like a bolt of lightning, struck.

Thud!

The man hit in the forehead fell to the ground.

The other four, who had shown a moment of confusion, soon got up one by one.

"You're quite skilled, young man. Did you study at a military academy?"

"The throwing dagger stance was strange. Did you learn it properly?"

"You were quite fast. Did you prepare for today? What martial art did you just show?"

Perhaps because he had thrown it casually, their reactions were quite calm.

One might expect the sects to be violent bandits, but the men before him seemed to have experienced all the pleasures of the world.

They really seemed to be that way.

"What's the name of this trick?"

Zheng Yanshen muttered calmly as he drew the Yihuang Sword.

The white blade of the well-maintained sword shattered the sunlight under his hand.

The men's gazes changed.

"To the sect leader…"

Whoosh!

A jet of blood spurted from the end of the bright light.

The man who had mentioned the sect leader fell to his knees with a blood-red mouth and then collapsed.

Zheng Yanshen was already standing among them.

In a leap that seemed to step on the wind and a rotation like a leaf, the sword strike had erupted.

Before the other three could turn around, the white sword trail had flickered.

The Fast Sword Technique of the Ma Guang Sect. The sensation of cutting through three times was transmitted through the sword wave. It was a feeling he had become quite familiar with.

"Shi…"

It was the word the man had spat out before dying. It seemed to be a curse.

Zheng Yanshen turned around and cut the ropes of the captives.

The women, though they thanked him by clasping their hands, could not openly rejoice.

The direction they kept glancing at, along with Zheng Yanshen, was the hall of the Tanglang Sect.

'They don't seem to be taking servants.'

He walked along the road with a doubt. He held the sword down without sheathing it.

The street was now completely quiet.

Everyone had scattered and hidden.

The murmurs of the elderly, who clicked their tongues, thinking an innocent knight would die, could be heard.

The only one following him subtly was Zhangsan.

'A group battle.'

It was said that supreme martial artists could handle an entire army alone.

The purple-clothed men of Yihuang City would be no different.

After killing the Blood Demon Sword, he had always thought of solo missions.

No matter how much he pondered, there was a limit to the merit he could gain by moving with the Ma Guang Sect's experts.

If he were to walk the martial world alone, he would have to face dozens or hundreds of swords.

The decisive battles with archenemies mostly existed in the romances of enthusiasts. He would also need to have the martial arts to handle a group of swords.

He was learning from every fight. He didn't know what his mind would create.

Even if he didn't treat the martial arts of the experts as such.

'The Tanglang Sect.'

He glanced up at the main gate he had arrived at. The sign was even larger up close.

The calligraphy of 'Tanglang Sect' was impressive. It felt as if a dragon was moving, full of vitality.

'So a third-rate sect threatened a scholar from the capital.'

Thinking it was too much, he pushed the gate open with his foot.

Did Lianhu County consider it their territory?

About thirty martial artists lined up in the training ground to welcome the swordsman who had beheaded five of their own.

The news had spread incredibly fast.

"Such a young man?"

A middle-aged man standing alone on the steps leading to the main hall frowned.

His gaze fell on the clothes. The attire was incredibly ornate.

A long robe adorned with all kinds of mythical creatures, from the Four Symbols to dragons.

'He's mad.'

A rebel, perhaps. To make and wear a dragon robe. It made him realize how detached the martial world was from the state.

"Bring him in, limb by limb. No, I haven't tasted a sword in a while. I'll do it