Chapter 55

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Chapter 55: Murder

     

The leader of West Cui Mountain, seeing no way out, smiled ingratiatingly and said: “No problem, Young Hero Lu. Allow me to retrieve it for you.” He then searched his chest for a moment and carefully handed the token to Lu Yueming.

     

Lu Yueming watched the movements of the leader of West Cui Mountain attentively, remaining silent as the token was handed over. As he reached out to take it, a sudden change occurred. Instead of withdrawing his hand after passing the token, the leader of West Cui Mountain accelerated unexpectedly and extended his hand forward once more. However, this time, what he held wasn’t the token but a small dagger.

     

The tip of the dagger shimmered with a bluish hue under the sunlight, indicating it was coated with a deadly poison. The target wasn’t Lu Yueming’s throat or chest but the hand that had just received the token. It seemed the leader of West Cui Mountain was confident in the efficacy of the poison on the dagger, aiming to inflict a wound on Lu Yueming’s hand.

     

Hopes were bright, and the target was within reach, but disciples sent by the Piaomiao Sect were beyond the league of warriors from wild and rugged places like West Cui Mountain. As Lu Yueming’s wrist turned, the token in his hand changed direction. The edge of the token swept down from top to bottom, slicing across the wrist of the leader of West Cui Mountain. The leader of West Cui Mountain felt a sudden numbness in his wrist, and the dagger dropped from his hand. Without pausing, Lu Yueming swiftly swung the token’s front side toward the handle of the dagger.

     

Like an arrow released from a bow, the dagger poisoned with lethal venom shot toward the leader of West Cui Mountain’s face. With their proximity and the dagger’s incredible speed, before the leader of West Cui Mountain could react, the dagger pierced his forehead with a soft “thud”. He looked incredulously at Lu Yueming, then fell backward, landing in the dust. The black color on his forehead rapidly spread from the wound to his face, extending to his neck and body. However, by then, the leader of West Cui Mountain’s body had grown cold, consciousness long gone.

     

Lu Yueming, seeing that the poison on the dagger was so strong, couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart. He then lifted his gaze to look at the remaining. With the situation having escalated to this point, verifying the token no longer held any significance.

     

In fact, even before the leader of West Cui Mountain reached for the token from his chest, the other two Wolves took the opportunity to retrieve their weapons from their horses, a simple but sturdy saber each. Now, witnessing their leader’s death, they were filled with rage. They shouted fiercely, calling out to the four guards beside them, and swiftly charged forward. Lu Yueming faced the attacks of the two without panic, calmly employing his martial skills in the fluid dance of combat. His eyes occasionally glanced towards the remaining four who hesitated to join the fray.

     

These four were the personal bodyguards of their leader and had always obeyed his commands. Now, seeing their leader dead and facing such a formidable opponent, they naturally hesitated to engage. However, the remaining second and third leaders of the stronghold urged them to act, causing them to waver.

     

Lu Yueming was relieved to see the four guards hesitating to join the fight. While facing two opponents wasn’t too challenging for his martial skills, he remained wary of any sudden use of poison amidst the chaos. Therefore, he abandoned his evasive tactics and drew his sword, swiftly executing the meticulously practiced technique of the Piaomiao Seven Swords. His goal was to swiftly eliminate the immediate threats.

     

The Piaomiao Sect’s unique sword technique proved formidable. Within moments, Lu Yueming had rendered the two Wolves of West Cui Mountain powerless to retaliate. Seeing no reinforcements forthcoming, the two Wolves shouted angrily: “Why aren’t you helping? Otherwise, go back to the stronghold to face the house rules!”

     

The four guards, upon hearing the mention of house rules, reluctantly took up their weapons and joined the fray. However, Lu Yueming heard this and let out a loud laugh: saying: “It’s too late for reinforcements now.”

     

With a swift and precise movement, the tip of Lu Yueming’s sword intercepted the blade of the Second Brother of West Cui Mountain. He then thrust his sword forward in a decisive motion, aiming directly at the vital point of his throat. Before he could react, it was too late. Lu Yueming’s sword tip touched the Second Brother’s throat and swiftly withdrew, leaving behind only a crimson mark. The Second Brother of West Cui Mountain stared in shock, then collapsed limply to the ground.

     

Seeing Lu Yueming’s superb swordsmanship, the Third Brother of West Cui Mountain couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart. Without hesitation, he turned and attempted to flee. However, Lu Yueming was determined not to let him escape. Employing the Piaomiao Steps, Lu Yueming swiftly closed the distance, rushing to his back like a shadow. With a swift motion, his sword pierced into the back of the Third Brother’s heart, not deeply but precisely enough to penetrate the heart. As he withdrew the sword, the Third Brother collapsed to the ground without a sound.

     

Lu Yueming glanced at the blood on his sword and shook his head slightly, showing a hint of dissatisfaction.

     

The remaining four guards, who had hesitated to intervene earlier, witnessed Lu Yueming swiftly killing the Three Wolves of West Cui Mountain. Overwhelmed by fear, they immediately dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground, kowtowing incessantly, pleading: “Hero, spare our lives!”

     

Lu Yueming looked at the four kneeling individuals but paid them no heed. Instead, he walked over to where Zhang Xiaolong and the others were and stared at them for a moment. Then, he took out the token from his chest, examined it closely, and furrowed his brow. Afterward, he turned to Zhang Xiaolong and asked: “Which one of you is Junior Sister Xue’s relative?”

     

Zhang Xiaolong looked at Lu Yueming with difficulty and said: “I’m sorry, Young Hero Lu, none of us are Heroic Lady Xue’s relatives.”

     

Lu Yueming’s frown deepened, and he asked in a cold voice: “Then where did you get this token from?”

     

Zhang Xiaohua saw that his elder brother had difficulty speaking and that Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue were still in shock, so he said: “Young Hero Lu, this is what happened.” Then he told the details of what happened in Lu Town on the New Year.

     

Lu Yueming listened attentively, then smiled and asked: “So, have you all met Junior Sister Xue?”

     

Zhang Xiaohua replied: “We have met Heroic Lady Xue, but she wore a veil, so we didn’t see her true face and didn’t know her surname was Xue.”

     

Lu Yueming nodded in agreement after listening. He was aware that Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing were in Lu Town that day, but he was unaware of this incident involving Zhang Xiaolong and the others. However, based on Zhang Xiaohua’s description, it seemed credible and trustworthy. The Piaomiao Sect’s token was always strictly managed, so Xue Qing leaving behind the token indicated careful consideration.

     

He felt fortunate to have encountered this situation. When he returned, he could explain it to Junior Sister Qing, and perhaps gain her favor. Thinking of this, a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

     

Thinking this through, Lu Yueming stepped forward and carefully examined Zhang Xiaolong’s injuries. First, he reset his dislocated arm and then took out some medicinal pills from his pocket for Zhang Xiaolong to swallow. Poor Zhang Xiaolong had incurred a lot of injuries last time when he saved Liu Qian, and now, before even marrying Liu Qian, he had gallantly been wounded again. Each time seemed more serious than the last. Although this time there were no broken bones or torn muscles, the kick from the horse had caused severe internal injuries. It would take at least half a year of complete rest for him to recover fully.

     

Of course, Lu Yueming didn’t know about the well water. He could only instruct Zhang Xiaolong to rest well for the next six months.

     

After attending to Zhang Xiaolong’s injuries, Lu Yueming turned his gaze towards the four guards kneeling beside him, pondering how to handle their situation. The guards understood that this was the moment when Lu Yueming would decide their fate. Immediately, they began earnestly kowtowing again, some of them even making their foreheads bleed. Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t bear to watch from the side.

     

Lu Yueming seemed to notice the compassion in Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes and smiled as he asked: “Xiaohua, how do you think we should handle them?”

     

Zhang Xiaohua, feeling somewhat uneasy at being asked by Chivalrous Hero Lu, replied quietly: “Since they haven’t harmed us or anyone else, I think we should just let them go.”

     

Lu Yueming looked at him with interest and said: “Are you feeling sorry for them because of their kowtowing?”

     

Blushing, Zhang Xiaohua admitted: “Yes, seeing them kneeling there and kowtowing continuously is really pitiful.”

     

Lu Yueming put away his smile and said: “Xiaohua, remember this, pitiful people often have detestable aspects. Just now, they were unwilling to harm others. First, because their leader didn’t order them to kill, and second, because this is the main road and killing would bring great trouble under the law. They likely felt they couldn’t afford to provoke such consequences. But if it weren’t their leader who was killed just now, but me instead, do you think they would still appear so pitiful? Do you think they would spare your lives?”

     

Zhang Xiaohua nodded thoughtfully.

     

Lu Yueming continued: “Do you know what ‘eradicating evil’ means? It means rooting out evil completely, leaving no remnants behind. If I let them go today, they might come to trouble you tomorrow. By then, it will be too late for regrets.”

     

The four guards, upon hearing Lu Yueming educate Zhang Xiaohua in this manner, lifted their heads and exchanged glances. Immediately, they scattered and fled, no longer resembling their earlier pitiful selves. Lu Yueming looked at Zhang Xiaohua’s stunned expression and lightly smiled, seemingly prepared in advance. He swiftly picked up the simple sabers of the two Wolves from West Cui Mountain, one in each hand, and swiftly threw them left and right. The sabers streaked like rainbows, piercing straight towards the backs of the two men. With a “pfft” sound, they were embedded deeply and with the remaining force, stabbed forcefully into the ground.

     

As Lu Yueming threw the sabers, he immediately displayed his lightness skill, chasing after one of the guards in the blink of an eye. Lu Yueming closed in on the man’s back, swiftly thrusting his sword deep into his back. After retrieving the sword, he left without pausing to check. In a diagonal move, he swiftly pursued another guard while the dead guard took a few steps forward before falling to the ground.

     

The last guard, displaying considerable lightness skill, had already dashed several dozen yards away by the time Lu Yueming gave chase. Taking a deep breath, Lu Yueming quickened his pace. His figure seemed to fly as he swiftly closed the distance. In no time, he caught up to the guard, who sensed Lu Yueming’s approach and swiftly launched a hidden weapon. Lu Yueming dared not block it head-on, instead performing a forceful somersault in mid-air, evading the incoming projectile.

     

In mid-air, he extended his body and plunged his sword downwards, piercing through the top of the guard’s head.

     

Although this place was already far from Zhang Xiaolong and the others, Zhang Xiaohua could still clearly see the moment when the sword’s tip pierced into the guard’s head.

     

After killing the last guard, Lu Yueming did not pause. He immediately turned and returned to the original spot. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s dumbfounded expression, he shook his head. He wiped the bloodied sword clean using the clothes of one of the dead guards, then sheathed it with a swift motion.

     

Lu Yueming walked over to the equally stunned Zhang Xiaolong and the others. He handed the Piaomiao Sect’s token back to them and said: “You’d better keep this token safe. You never know when it might come in handy.”