I had no intention of entering the martial world.

Chapter 17 River Dragon

The Azure Sword.

The sword was ancient and entirely black, except for a very thin, dark red line of blood along its spine, extending from the hilt to the tip. At this moment, that line of blood was emitting an eerie red glow, slowly writhing like a living thing.

Lu Chenzhou's heart clenched.

This wasn't the first time he'd "seen" this sword. Ever since its sword energy entered his body, it had slumbered deep within his consciousness, like a lurking venomous snake. But before, it was only a blurry outline; never before had it been so clear.

Moreover, that red light...

He instinctively reached for his chest—the jade pendant was pressed against his skin and was now slightly warm, like a piece of red-hot charcoal.

Is the jade pendant suppressing the sword energy? Or is it... stimulating it?

Before he could figure it out, the Azure Sword in his mind suddenly moved.

The sword slowly rotated, its tip pointing... southeast.

It's heading in the direction of Jiangling.

Then, the sword trembled, and countless tiny blue light spots peeled off the blade, dancing like fireflies, finally converging into two characters:

"Listening to the Waves".

Listening to the Waves? Listening to the Waves Courtyard?

Lu Chenzhou suddenly opened his eyes!

The room was pitch black, with only a faint light from outside the window. The burning sensation from the jade pendant on his chest was fading, and the blue light in his consciousness had also dissipated, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

But a layer of cold sweat seeped from his palms.

That was not an illusion.

The Azure Sword was guiding him.

Or rather... it's urging him on.

He got out of bed and walked to the window. The eastern sky was already turning a pale white.

---

Just as dawn was breaking, commotion came from the backyard of the inn.

Shen Xingyao and several bodyguards were already harnessing the carriage. The new axle was very sturdy, making only a slight creaking sound when it turned, much better than yesterday's dying groans.

When Lu Chenzhou came downstairs carrying his bundle, Shen Xingyao was inspecting the saddle. Seeing him, she nodded: "Good morning. Manager Chen has prepared breakfast; we'll leave after you eat."

Breakfast was simple: thin porridge, pickled vegetables, and a few steamed buns. As usual, Lu Chenzhou ate without any appetite, but he finished it all, leaving not a single grain of rice.

Shen Xingyao watched him eat, her eyes filled with complex emotions, but she said nothing.

After finishing their meal, the group set off.

The carriage drove out of the inn's backyard and turned onto the main street. The town was not yet fully awake in the early morning; only a few early-rising vendors were setting up their stalls, and they all looked over curiously when they saw the carriage.

Leaving the town, the official road stretched south along the Han River. The road surface was fairly smooth, but the further we went, the fewer pedestrians there were. Occasionally, we could see a few oxcarts carrying goods; the drivers would instinctively move aside when they saw the convoy, their eyes filled with awe.

Shen Xingyao sat on the carriage shaft, holding a map in her hand, occasionally comparing it with the boundary markers by the roadside.

"Twenty li further on is 'Ghost's Sorrow'," she pointed ahead. "That section of road hugs the mountainside, with the Han River flowing below. At its narrowest point, only one vehicle can pass at a time. It's a perfect spot for an ambush."

Lu Chenzhou looked in the direction she pointed. In the distance, the official road turned into a steep cliff, the cliff face as straight as if cut by a knife, and below it was a rushing river, the sound of the waves faintly audible.

It is indeed a dangerous place.

"Do you think they'll make their move here?" he asked.

"Most likely." Shen Xingyao put away the map. "We failed at Baisha Ferry yesterday, so we'll definitely have to make up for it today. Guijianchou is an unavoidable route."

She paused, then looked at Lu Chenzhou: "If a fight breaks out later, don't worry about us, just protect the carriage. The goods inside absolutely cannot be lost."

Lu Chenzhou nodded. He wasn't actually curious about what was inside the car, but since he had promised to escort him, he would do it.

The carriage continued on its way.

The closer they got to Guijianchou, the more difficult the road became. The official road clung to the cliff face, with steep rocks on the left and a bottomless river on the right. The road was only wide enough for one cart, and the driver navigated it with extreme caution, the wheels less than three feet from the edge of the cliff.

The wind was strong, blowing across the river, carrying moisture and chill. Lu Chenzhou's hair was whipped about wildly, but he stood firm, his eyes scanning the cliffs in front of him and on either side warily.

After walking about three miles, a sharp bend appeared ahead.

On the inside of the bend are protruding rocks that obstruct the view; on the outside are cliffs with the river roaring below.

right here.

Lu Chenzhou placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Almost simultaneously, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the other side of the bend!

Not just one, but at least five or six horses were galloping towards them from the opposite direction! The sound of hooves echoed on the narrow mountain path, causing loose rocks to fall from the cliff face.

Shen Xingyao's expression changed: "Oh no! They're coming for us!"

Before the words were even finished, the first horse appeared at the bend!

Immediately following was a man dressed in black, holding a red flag, who shouted as he charged forward, "Make way! Make way! This is a military operation; bystanders please give way!"

Government troops?

Lu Chenzhou narrowed his eyes. Although the man was wearing a uniform, his movements were rough and his eyes were fierce. He didn't look like a regular soldier, but rather like... a bandit in disguise.

Sure enough, Shen Xingyao sneered: "It's fake. The government troops wouldn't send just a few people to investigate a case, nor would they choose a place like this."

As soon as she finished speaking, five more horses rushed out from behind. The riders were all dressed in black and carried weapons—knives, spears, and even bows and arrows.

Six people blocked their way.

The carriage was forced to stop. The driver held the reins tightly, and the blue mule snorted uneasily.

"A vehicle from the Sihai Escort Agency?" The leader of the "government troops" reined in his horse, grinning. "We received intelligence that your vehicle is carrying contraband. Dismount and submit to inspection!"

Shen Xingyao jumped out of the carriage, short sword in hand: "Do you have any official documents?"

"Official document?" the man scoffed. "My word is law! Enough talk, get out of the way!"

With a wave of his hand, the five men behind him immediately dismounted and surrounded him in a fan shape.

Lu Chenzhou counted: six people, four with knives, one with a gun, and one with a bow and arrows on his back, standing at the very back.

The positioning was crucial. Those with guns were in front, with swordsmen providing support from the left and right, and archers providing ranged suppression.

They worked together very well.

They were no ordinary bandits.

"Young Master Lu," Shen Xingyao said in a low voice, "you take care of the archers, I'll handle the rest."

Lu Chenzhou nodded. He looked at the archer—standing at the back of the group, already drawing his bow and nocking an arrow, the arrowhead pointed directly at Shen Xingyao.

They were about twenty paces apart, with five enemies in between.

He took a deep breath, pushed off with his feet, and shot out like an arrow!

It wasn't a straight line, it was an arc. He clung to the cliff face like a shadow, instantly bypassing the foremost gunmen and knife-wielders, heading straight for the archers!

too fast!

The archer didn't even have time to react; he only saw a dark shadow flash before his eyes, followed by a sharp pain in his wrist—

"Snap!"

Lu Chenzhou's iron sword severed his bowstring, and the hilt slammed into his wrist! The archer screamed, the bow flew from his hand, and he staggered backward.

At this moment, Lu Chenzhou had already returned to the carriage.

The whole process took less than three breaths.

Shen Xingyao didn't even see how he got there; she only saw the archer clutching his severed wrist and screaming in agony, the bow falling to the ground.

"So fast..." she murmured.

The leader of the men in black's expression changed. He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary young man to possess such uncanny skills.

"Attack together!" he shouted, and lunged at Shen Xingyao first!

The blade flashed like snow, slashing straight down!

Instead of retreating, Shen Xingyao advanced, flicking his short sword. The sword light rippled like autumn water, precisely blocking the blade! With a clang, sparks flew everywhere.

At the same time, the other four men in black also moved. Two attacked Shen Xingyao's flank, and two rushed straight for the carriage!

Lu Chenzhou moved.

Instead of helping Shen Xingyao, he stood in front of the carriage.

The first knife-wielder who rushed forward felt a tightness in his chest before he could even raise his sword—Lu Chenzhou's sword hilt had struck his Tanzhong acupoint! The force wasn't great, but the location was extremely tricky. The man's vision went black, and he collapsed limply.

The second assailant had just rushed to the front of the car when he saw his companion fall to the ground. He panicked and slowed down his movements by half a beat.

This slowness can mean the difference between life and death.

Lu Chenzhou's sword had already pierced his shoulder! Not a vital spot, but enough to render him unable to fight.

"Ah!" The knife-wielder screamed as the knife flew from his hand and he tumbled to the ground.

The other two men in black who were attacking Shen Xingyao's flanks were distracted by their companion's screams and their movements became chaotic.

Shen Xingyao seized the opportunity, her short sword flashing like a viper's tongue, instantly piercing one person's wrist, and then with a backhand slash, she severed another person's knife!

Three breaths. All six men collapsed.

Only the leader of the men in black was still standing, but the knife in his hand had been knocked away by Shen Xingyao, and a short sword was held to his neck; his face was ashen.

"Who sent you?" Shen Xingyao asked coldly.

The man in black gritted his teeth: "Kill me if you want, stop talking nonsense!"

Shen Xingyao flicked her wrist, and the blade pressed into her flesh, causing beads of blood to seep out.

"explain."

Sweat beaded on the man's forehead, his eyes darting around. Finally, he gritted his teeth and uttered three words:

"Blackwater Gang".

A cold glint flashed in Shen Xingyao's eyes: "Mixed-River Dragon, you have quite the nerve! You even dare to rob a shipment from the Four Seas Escort Agency?"

The man in black dared not speak, but gritted his teeth.

Shen Xingyao stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Go back and tell Hunjianglong," she sheathed her short sword, "I, Shen Xingyao, will remember this debt. Tell him to wash his neck clean and wait."

The man in black felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled backward, helped his companion to his feet, and, looking disheveled, climbed onto his horse and fled without looking back.

The mountain path fell silent once more.

Only the roaring river below and the mournful howl of the wind whistling across the cliff face could be heard.

Shen Xingyao sheathed her short sword and looked at Lu Chenzhou. The latter had already returned to the carriage and was inspecting the axle—during the fight, the carriage had been pushed against the cliff, and the axle seemed to be slightly bent.

"Are you alright?" Shen Xingyao asked.

"It's alright." Lu Chenzhou straightened up. "The axle is a little crooked, but it won't affect our movement."

Shen Xingyao nodded, walked to the edge of the cliff, and looked in the direction the man in black had fled, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Blackwater Gang..." she murmured, "Even they've gotten involved. It seems this shipment is even more troublesome than I thought."

Lu Chenzhou didn't speak. He was also thinking.

Blackwater Gang, Shadow Hall, Government Offices, Immortal Seeking Society...

So many people want the goods in the car.

What exactly is it?

He looked at the carriage. It was an ordinary wooden carriage, covered with an oilcloth, and looked nothing special.

But Shen Xingyao protected him so tightly, even at the cost of her own life.

"Let's go." Shen Xingyao turned around, jumped onto the carriage shaft, and said, "We must reach Jiangling before dark."

The carriage was back on the road.

After passing the Ghost's Sorrow, the view suddenly opened up. The official road no longer clung to the cliff but stretched along the gentle hills. In the distance, the outline of Jiangling City could already be seen—the bluish-gray city walls, in the afternoon sun, resembled a sleeping behemoth.

Lu Chenzhou looked at the city.

Tingtao Villa is located in the west of the city.

Yang Shirong, Xiao Bieli, clues to the Green Destiny Sword...

And there was the jade pendant in his arms, growing hotter and hotter.

All the answers seemed to be waiting for him there.

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

The wound on his hand reopened. Blood seeped out, staining the cloth wrapped around his hand red.

But he couldn't feel any pain.

Only a cold, almost numb resolve flowed slowly through my chest.

Like the water of the Zhongnan Mountain waterfall, it never stops, and... never turns back.