Chapter 90: Empty-Bait Fishing
Chapter 90: Empty-Bait Fishing
The sky above Willow Lake City had been overcast for quite some time, a light drizzling rain fell, making the roads muddy.
On both sides of the green clear mountain road, countless heroes hid as early as morning, their eyes wide open, staring at the empty main road, many had even stayed overnight from last night, watching all night, the reason they left their wives’ warm nests to bear the misery here was simple, they heard the Fang Family’s escort was nearly arriving…
No one knew who said it, but once the news came out, everyone believed it.
So they stared wide-eyed not missing anyone on the main road, not even a toad…
…
…
At noon, a cart with the banner of Mighty Escort Agency could slowly be seen approaching from the small path.
As pros in this business, some experts in Willow Lake City immediately saw something wrong with this escort, there was only one cart but over thirty guards. Which included an old guard from Mighty Escorts, the famed Gold-Ringed Saber Master Feng, Old Feng Zhenjiang himself leading, solving a reliable formula could tell, how precious the goods inside that cart were?
So this escort soon met a pile of fire.
A row of rotten wood and dried grass lay across the road, burning fiercely with rising black smoke.
From both sides of the mountain woods, masked fierce bandits carrying blades, bows, and hoes rushed over. Over a hundred men surrounded the escort group, the leader yelled loudly: “Fellows, our families haven’t eaten in days. Meeting you here is fate, you can lend us money for food or jump into the pot to fill our bellies!”
The old guard Master Feng bellowed deeply: “Friends of the jianghu, I am Feng Zhenjiang of Qingjiang Prefecture, I met the Chief of Willow Lake City once. Who’s in charge here? Step out and talk with me!”
“Talk? Stuff that! Brothers, chop them down…”
Surrounding bandits cursed loudly and charged.
The old guard’s heart sank hard, he feared this most with hijacks, if there was a leader, bonds could be made to avoid blades. But these common bandits only wanted money, not faces, forget his jianghu reputation even when the emperor came, they dared slash with blades…
“Protect the cargo!”
The old guard shouted, pulling out his gold-ringed saber, a big fight began.
Mighty Escorts didn’t expect these rule-breakers, attacking straight. The bandits had seen too many traders who ran or paid on sight, rarely fighting escorts so fiercely. With no talking possible, only blades were out, soon blood flowed everywhere like gourds, many fell on both sides.
Seeing Mighty Escorts were tough, the bandits wavered. But more and more men kept coming from around, heroes also watching Mighty Escorts. Numbers grew, courage rose, fighting turned brutal.
Just as they hoped to win, coldly from aside a voice called: “Stop and leave…”
The voice was soft but being a woman’s and very sweet, all bandits looked over. On the main road stood a meek little girl, slender like a gust could blow her over.
“Hey woman, what did you just say?”
The lead bandit spotted her, eyes bright, roared fiercely.
The girl seemed shy enough to flee but bravely said: “Don’t not let you rob the Fang Family!”
“Oho…”
The leader laughed out loud: “Tiny girl daring to meddle? Grab her too…”
Bandits around couldn’t hold back, yelling as they rushed: “Grab her back to have kids!”
“Little girl see how sharp my blade is?”
“…
…
Blades, spears, lances, hoes, sickles all swung at the girl.
It seemed the wind-like frail girl would collapse in terror. But unexpectedly, though shy earlier, now with anger, her courage grew. Her thin hands reached back, pulling out two tiger-head bronze hammers so heavy they should be hundreds of pounds, held tightly.
Then at the charging bandits, her delicate arms swung, bashfully smashing out…
Boom…
The ground shook hard seeing bandits fly mid-air.
Some heads bleeding, some broken bones, weapons soaring, very beautiful…
…
…
“A Qi Refiner! A Qi Refiner actually came!”
This scared the bandits stiff, gaping in shock as they fled screaming in all directions.
Qi Refiners’ powers were known to all, especially blade-livers. Had a Helmsman or advisor been there, they might handle her. But low-level ones like them got beaten!
As bandits yelled and ran, fallen ones shut eyes awaiting death. The old guard of Mighty Escorts was stunned, stammeringly bowed to thank. But the girl put away her hammers, shyly curtsied, pointing at the cart: “Old scholar, hurry deliver for Fang Family. They they’re still needing it…”
The old guard looked puzzled: “Fang Family? Immortal Master Fang Chi’s Fang Family?”
The meek girl nodded shyly.
The old guard froze: “You attacked to guard Fang Family’s cargo?”
The girl blushed more, hesitated, nodded again.
The old guard looked awkward: “But this isn’t Fang Family’s cargo…”
“Huh?”
The girl froze, eyes wide at the old guard.
He gazed innocently back, silence turned awkward.
“Oh dear…”
After a while, the girl flushed deep red, covered her face and ran, vanishing fast.
“This…”
The old guard murmured: “Who said Fang Family lost their shine? See their house guards, even Qi Refiners…”
“Even female Qi Refiners…”
“…
…
“Hahaha my Young Master’s good, hooked another…”
Watching the shy girl flee, a wicked Qingliu laughed gleefully, pressing down her small hat pretending to be a harmless traveler, carrying a little pack, rushing toward bandit escapees’ path, muttering softly: “Young Master was right. Our Fang Family is righteous. What links to Human Elixir? All Willow Lake City thieves moved for Fang Family’s escort. But they know not Fang Family never sent any…”
“Others fish with bait, our Young Master just empty words…”
“…
…
Fang Family’s escort news stirred numerous heads and bandits watching many paths. Several ambushed, some succeeded, some not. Yet successful or not, none found Fang Family’s hottest goods anywhere. Where did that escort go?
This panicked many, bandits instinctively eyed other traders and travelers on roads…
Out for a trip, couldn’t return empty-handed?
Around Willow Lake City recently, many traders set forth when hearing bandits were quiet, thinking they’d avoid robbers saving money. Instead, they met savage hordes. Terrified legs went weak, they paid up quickly. Some cowards just ran at the sight, dropping goods…
Which surprised the little leaders joyfully.
Missed big fish, got some small shrimp instead.
“Snagged a few fatty sheep, we can scrape by now…”
That night, small leaders gathered stolen goods counting them greedily. Most had nothing good, the poorest held just some buns and rags. But a green-skinned pack held dozens silver pieces and eight fine white porcelain bottles.
“These aren’t Qi-Refining Pills, are they?”
Small leaders stared shocked, trembling excitedly.
“Made it big…”
They yelled thrilled: “In past raids we gave seven-tenths silver up top, keeping three. But the big masters said, find pills or Talismans like these, hand them over. No need for silver then. Getting these pills as reward leaves all silver to us!”
They dared not hide pills, caught and whole families killed. Knowing the rules, they packed the silver safely, gave rags to runners. Those pills all packed up, sent to Black Water Fort.
At Black Water Fort, the devouring vessel master Advisor Liang eyed a few Qi-Refining Pills in the pack coldly.
“Didn’t the Chief say no hunting lately?”
A helper got a fee of few silvers explained fast: “Devouring Sea Gang men didn’t act. Just those followers poor types did it. Desperate folks, skippin’ meals for three days…”
Advisor Liang snorted: “Where did they set nets?”
Answer came: “Supposed to catch Fang Family’s hot goods…”
“Fang Family?”
Shocked Advisor reprimanded: “Now’s no time to stir Fang Family!”
“No no, not stirred…”
They hurried: “The losers missed Fang Family’s goods but grabbed other fatty sheep robbing by!”
“Better then…”
Advisor thought then grunt: “Chief’s orders and lowlifes dare ignore? Send word: confiscate all loot. Whip their leader hard as lesson!”
The helper rushed off with orders.
Advisor tucked the pack away. Truth be told, below had grown chaotic of late. Secret hunts weren’t just by small leaders, many had snuck out…
Sighing inwardly, he got ready to show the pack to the helmsman. He always was rule-sticking.
Knowing these critical times demanded utmost caution!