Chapter 2

At this moment, Qi Xuansu was in a mortuary. Behind him was a thick wall, and the entrance to the "inn" was set in this wall. A Qingluan Guard stood at the mortuary's entrance, several yards away from him. On both sides were dozens of unclaimed bodies, all covered with eerie white cloths.

This Qingluan Guard was somewhat surprised that Qi Xuansu had managed to dodge his arrow. After a brief hesitation, he discarded the crossbow in his hand and slowly drew the saber from his waist.

The saber was three feet long, with a six-inch handle, a thick back, and a thin edge. The blade was straight, with a slightly curved edge, weighing nine catties and nine taels. It was the famous "Fine Tiger Saber."

The "Fine Tiger Saber" was standard equipment for the Qingluan Guard, but not everyone in the Qingluan Guard could carry it. Ordinary lieutenants and warriors did not have this privilege; at least a junior commander was required.

Qi Xuansu did not immediately attack but asked, "May I ask, sir, we have no grudge or enmity, and this is our first meeting. Why do you want to kill me?"

The Qingluan Guard did not answer Qi Xuansu's question but said to someone behind him, "Come in and see if this person is the one you mentioned as a lawbreaker."

As he spoke, another figure timidly entered the mortuary.

It was none other than the inn's attendant who had been dozing earlier and then hurriedly left.

He glanced at Qi Xuansu, then quickly lowered his head, respectfully saying, "Reporting to the sir, it was he who took on that job."

"Hmm?" A cold smile appeared on the Qingluan Guard's lips. "To dare protect someone from our Qingluan Guard, you must have the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard. Are you a swordsman from the East Sea or a true man from the Western Kunlun?"

Qi Xuansu's expression did not change, and his tone remained steady. "I am just a nobody, making a living."

The Qingluan Guard's cold smile deepened. He rubbed his upper lip with his left thumb and said, "Good."

The inn's attendant hurriedly retreated, this time genuinely afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

In the next moment, a glint of cold light appeared in Qi Xuansu's line of sight—the tip of the Fine Tiger Saber. The glint grew larger, but Qi Xuansu showed no panic, not even drawing his sword. He simply sidestepped to avoid it.

The distance of several yards was covered in an instant, and the two passed each other. The saber pierced the wall with a loud thud, penetrating two feet deep, causing spider-web-like cracks to appear. The force behind it was terrifying.

If he had been hit by this saber from the front, he would have been pinned to the wall.

The Qingluan Guard pulled out the saber, leaving a deep mark on the wall. When he looked at Qi Xuansu, who had dodged the attack, his eyes showed a hint of dark suspicion.

He stared at Qi Xuansu and said slowly, "I underestimated you. To dare take on a job that could cost you your head, you must have some skills."

Qi Xuansu replied, "Your saber technique is excellent."

The Qingluan Guard, holding the Fine Tiger Saber, said coldly, "Do you know who the person you are protecting is? He is a wanted criminal named by a Thousand-Man Commander! Do you dare to oppose the court?"

Qi Xuansu said calmly, "Whether I dare or not is not up to me. I am just following orders."

The Qingluan Guard, who had been relatively calm, finally changed his expression, and he sternly asked, "Who are you? Who sent you?"

Qi Xuansu did not answer.

The Qingluan Guard subconsciously tightened his grip on the saber handle.

He had only been setting a trap, deliberately letting the man go, using the "inn" as a line to catch a few small fish and claim some credit. He did not expect to catch a big fish. If he was not careful, he might be dragged into the mire.

At this moment, Qi Xuansu suddenly moved.

He moved like a ghost, faster than the Qingluan Guard's saber, seemingly covering the distance in a single step, leaving the Qingluan Guard no time to react.

Qi Xuansu punched the Qingluan Guard's abdomen with great force, the impact shattering the iron beast head on his waist belt and forcing the Qingluan Guard to bend over.

Qi Xuansu followed up with an elbow to the back and a knee to the face.

With these three strikes, the Qingluan Guard was left defenseless.

Qi Xuansu kicked him, sending him flying and crashing into the wall.

The old mortuary trembled, and dust fell from the beams and walls.

The Qingluan Guard slid down the wall, spitting out blood mixed with internal organ fragments. He could not speak or move, his head drooping, his breath weakening, clearly on the verge of death.

Qi Xuansu approached, took the Fine Tiger Saber from the Qingluan Guard's hand, and tapped the blade, producing a clear sound.

Qi Xuansu praised, "Good saber."

He then looked at the dead Qingluan Guard, "Just a bit lacking in skill."

Qi Xuansu sheathed the Fine Tiger Saber and hung it at his waist, then shook his cloak to cover the sword and saber.

After doing this, he turned his head.

The inn's attendant, who had been reporting, was now so frightened that his legs had gone weak, and he sat on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

The Qingluan Guard had actually died?

Died at the hands of this unremarkable young man, without any resistance.

How was this possible?

When Qi Xuansu's gaze turned to him, the attendant, though unable to stand, still tried to crawl backward with his hands and legs.

Qi Xuansu's face was hidden under his lowered hood, and the attendant could only see his chin. Though he could not see Qi Xuansu's expression, his instinctive sense of fear was overwhelming.

The attendant had been in the "inn" for years, seeing all sorts of people, even those wanted by the court. This made him feel even more desperate.

This seemingly ordinary young man had a certain "aura."

The innkeeper, who had been in charge of the local "inn" for years, had once mentioned this to him in a drunken state. A person who had shed much blood would naturally exude a killing aura. It was said that ghosts feared butchers because butchers had a killing aura from their constant use of knives. Ordinary ghosts could not get close. Even ghosts with great power would not dare to approach a ruthless bandit leader. This was why evil spirits feared evil people.

The attendant had not taken it seriously before, as he had seen many fierce and ruthless people in the "inn" who had reined in their aggression. No one dared to cause trouble in the "inn," and even if there were bold and crazy people, they would not be a match for the Qingluan Guard.

Over the years, the attendant had reported to the Qingluan Guard many times. How many people had been tortured and killed by the Qingluan Guard? He had seen several extremely dangerous and fierce people die right before his eyes, some surrendering and others fighting to the death.

But to see a Qingluan Guard killed in return, this was the first time, and probably the last. Such a person, who had already killed a Qingluan Guard with a special status, would not hesitate to kill a lowly attendant.

Qi Xuansu walked toward the attendant, who was paralyzed with fear, unable to speak, and had wet his pants. He was shaking like a leaf.

Qi Xuansu stopped in front of him, did not strike, and said, "Don't be afraid, I do not kill innocents."

The attendant let out a long sigh of relief, but before he could speak, Qi Xuansu's next words almost scared him to death.

"Do you consider yourself innocent?"

The attendant finally burst into tears, crying and pleading, "Sir, please be merciful, spare me this time. Just treat me like a fart and let me go. I will never do it again... I will never do it again... I have a family to support..."

"Enough crying." Qi Xuansu raised his voice, and the attendant's pleading stopped.

The attendant, who had been able to navigate between the "inn" and the Qingluan Guard, was not stupid. He had been scared witless, but now, regaining his senses, he quickly asked, "Do you have any instructions?"

"You have good judgment," Qi Xuansu praised. "The Qingluan Guard who just died was a junior commander, a seventh-rank official. The Qingluan Guard will not let this go easily. They will send people to investigate. As the one who reported, you will be implicated. Even if you survive, you will suffer severe torture."

Hearing this, the attendant's face turned pale, and he wet his pants again.

Qi Xuansu ignored this and continued, "But I can teach you a sentence that might save you from the Qingluan Guard's punishment."

The attendant, hearing this, found the strength to kneel and bow repeatedly. "Please save my life, sir. I will bow to you, bow to you..."

His head hit the ground with a thud, and blood soon appeared on the ground.

Qi Xuansu did not stop him but said, "If the Qingluan Guard asks you, tell them that the Eastern Huaxia Immortal sends his regards to the Commander. Remember that?"

"I remember, I remember. Thank you, sir, for your great kindness." The attendant bowed again, and after a while, he stopped, cautiously raising his head. His face was covered in blood, and the ground was a large pool of it. When he looked up, Qi Xuansu was gone.

It all seemed like a dream. He shakily got up and looked around. Apart from the dead Qingluan Guard, there were only the covered bodies. A cold wind blew, making him shiver.