Chapter 25: Mission Accomplished, Dusting Off And Leaving
“Ah——”
“My hand… my hand is broken!”
A shrill scream rang out on the wharf. The originally fierce and sturdy thug clutched his dangling right palm, blood seeping from between his fingers, kneeling on the ground in pain and howling loudly.
“Useless thing!” The fat and sturdy thug leader drew out his refined iron club, while swinging his free hand in a roundhouse slap to the back of the screaming thug’s head, shouting fiercely: “Wail like a ghost! Shut up!”
He cursed viciously, his facial flesh trembling, his fierce eyes glaring at the wandering knight who had leaped onto the wharf, dressed in black tight-fitting clothes.
Upon seeing that the other was alone, wearing a conical hat that obscured his brows and eyes, but judging from his fair jaw and the clear voice he had emitted earlier, it was clearly a youth, he couldn’t help but explode in rage:
“You fucking bastard, where did this newbie come from daring to jump out and meddle? Don’t you know how many eyes the Horse King has? Tired of living and looking for a beating, huh?”
The thug leader bared his fierce look, raising the refined iron club in his palm straight at the black-clothed man opposite, looking like he would poke a few holes in the other if no explanation was given.
The other dozen or so thugs on the wharf also reacted, raising their clubs, knives, and swords, grinning ferociously as they gathered behind the fat leader.
Each had hostile eyes, waiting only for the leader’s order to swarm forward and beat the troublemaking kid to death or cripple him.
There were many passing travelers and merchants on the wharf. They were used to seeing foremen and thugs bullying coolies, so they were long indifferent, but they hadn’t expected that today a wandering knight would see injustice on the road and ‘help with a flying stone’!
At this moment, they all stopped, looking at both sides with great interest. Some were even excited, wishing the two sides would start fighting soon to watch a good show.
Among the crowd of onlookers, there were also a few jianghu people wearing knives or swords and dressed in tight-fitting clothes, but they too were just calmly watching with arms crossed.
Splash!
A large ship flying the ‘Tao Family’ flag pushed through the waves and docked at the wharf. A girl in fiery red dress and skirt, with bright and beautiful features, had already rushed onto the deck, asking the old man on the deck who was directing the servants and dressed like a steward: “Uncle Yong, what’s happening on the wharf?”
As she spoke, the red-clad girl also cast her clear and bright eyes toward the noisy crowd.
At this time, two more people emerged from the cabin. The leader was dressed in brocade clothes, handsome in appearance, around twenty years old, already possessing the air of one in a high position, with considerable authority between his brows.
Following behind the young man in brocade was a man with a sturdy physique, broad shoulders and large hands, rough in appearance. As he walked, his eyes opened and closed, sharp and piercing.
The beautiful girl in the fiery red dress waved and smiled at the two: “Big Brother, Master Jin, come quickly to watch the excitement.”
The steward called ‘Uncle Yong’ spoke respectfully at this time: “Young Master, Miss… On the wharf, Yan Laosan’s subordinates were beating and scolding coolies. A wandering knight couldn’t stand it and injured someone. It looks like a fight is about to break out.”
“Oh? Quick! Quick, dock the ship. I want to go ashore to watch.” The red-clad girl said impatiently.
The young man in brocade couldn’t help but smile bitterly. His sister usually loved reading sword master stories and yearned for the tales within. Now that she could watch live, she naturally didn’t want to miss it.
Just at this moment, a loud and powerful voice rang out on the wharf.
“You don’t need to care who I am. When there’s injustice on the road, someone will step up; when there’s unfairness, someone will intervene. In short, your random bullying is wrong, and I can’t let you continue your misdeeds.”
Everyone on the wharf saw the conical hat-wearing, black-clothed wandering knight raise the long saber in his hand, speaking indignantly, his words clear and resounding with force.
In an instant, everyone’s expressions varied, looking at the wandering knight with strange eyes.
Not admiration, but the gaze one gives to a fool.
On the Tao Family large ship, the young man in brocade heard the impassioned speech and couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement: “Turns out it’s a hot-headed rookie.”
A smile also tugged at the unsmiling face of ‘Master Jin’ beside him: “This youth looks like a fledgling just out of the nest. Who knows which family’s disciple he is? If he has some backing, he might just suffer a bit. But if he has no background at all and falls into Yan Laosan’s hands… heh!”
Master Jin laughed twice, but everyone present, including the red-clad girl, understood the implication in his words.
Though she appeared lively and innocent, she was ultimately from a great family and had learned of some sinister and cruel matters through osmosis.
If that wandering knight had no backing, for injuring Yan Laosan’s men today, he would likely be tortured to the point of neither living nor dying.
Yan Tieshan’s lair was located in the center of the wharf, only twenty or thirty zhang from where the thugs were confronting.
At this time, Yan Tieshan stood on the second floor of the gambling den, hands behind his back, coldly watching the scene on the wharf through the open window.
Besides him, there were five others in the room, four guards who were always by his side.
Among these four, two were fugitive soldiers who had committed crimes in the army, and two were desperate thugs who roamed the streets with considerable kung fu.
Yan Tieshan’s elite thugs numbered only twenty or thirty, led by these four.
And not long ago, he had recruited five hunters skilled in archery.
Originally, Yan Tieshan felt his forces were already considerable, enough at least to dominate one wharf and several streets’ interests.
But a few nights ago, a strongman had broken in, killing or injuring twenty or so of his men without being stopped, leaving Yan Tieshan feeling like a thorn in his back. Thus, lately he had been thinking of recruiting a true master as his right-hand man.
This person was now standing side by side with Yan Tieshan. He appeared to be in his forties, with a strangely shaped curved saber at his waist, his frame skinny like a bamboo pole, shoulders and collarbones sharp as knives, joints distinct, only his pair of eyes sharp as a hawk’s, exuding a chilling intent.
The skinny middle-aged man let out a hoarse and grating laugh, saying: “Brother Yan, it seems your turf isn’t peaceful either. You’ve taken good care of me these past few days, and I’m not one to take benefits without doing anything. How about I take down this troublemaking brat for you to repay the favor?”
A chill flashed in Yan Tieshan’s eyes, but he smiled lightly on the surface: “A mere ignorant pup—why trouble Brother He to act?”
Though smiling amiably, Yan Tieshan was furious to the extreme inside.
This skinny middle-aged man was named He Xiaofeng. Though his body was skinny as a bamboo pole and seemed weak, he actually practiced excellent blade technique—his strikes both strange and fierce, with speed like a gale. Few could withstand one round of his fast attacks.
This man had made his name at the Hero’s Arena, and in just one year, he was already the arena champion with nine consecutive wins.
To win over He Xiaofeng, Yan Tieshan had not only entertained him with fine food and drink but also stuffed him with large sums of silver and women.
In just a few days, the lavish spending even made Yan Tieshan feel the pinch, and he somewhat regretted it.
But He Xiaofeng had taken the benefits yet was unwilling to handle matters, not even willing to call him ‘Third Master.’ Now he even wanted to repay the favor by dealing with a mere pup—how could this not make Yan Tieshan burn with anger?
He Xiaofeng gave a skin-deep ‘heh heh,’ not even looking at Yan Tieshan’s changing expression.
He truly looked down on Yan Tieshan.
Linjiang Prefecture governed twelve counties, and the Hero’s Arena was funded by some great families and noble clans among those twelve counties. It both scouted tough practitioners of martial arts for their service and ran gambling to amass money.
As the arena champion with nine consecutive wins, He Xiaofeng naturally attracted overtures from great families. It would be strange if he thought highly of Yan Tieshan.
In He Xiaofeng’s eyes, Yan Tieshan was just a street punk who got lucky and rose up.
He knew full well why Yan Tieshan had invited him—he just treated him as a sucker, eating and drinking heartily, grabbing money with both hands, and playing with women.
Handle things for Yan Tieshan? What things?
When had he He Xiaofeng ever agreed?
At this time, the fat leader on the wharf heard the resounding words, his facial flesh twitching, fierce light surging in his eyes:
“Damn it, turns out he’s a fool. ‘Someone steps on uneven roads,’ huh? All of you, charge! Cripple his legs and see how he steps!”
With the order given, the dozen or so thugs behind the fat leader looked ferocious, roaring in unison, drawing short knives and long clubs. Like mad dogs, they charged at Hong Yuan without any real coordination.
‘When I was little, movies and dramas often had scenes where bullies tormented the weak and elderly, then a hero or knight appeared and took down the bullies in a few moves. This counts as fulfilling that dream, right?’
Hong Yuan held his saber in hand but did not unsheathe it, watching the charging thugs.
The first few to rush close roared and swung their clubs at Hong Yuan’s head, while two others on left and right both flung something with raised hands.
“Little bastard, go die!”
Puff! Puff puff!
Clouds of dust and fine sand scattered straight at Hong Yuan’s face—it was clearly lime powder and the like. Hong Yuan had already noticed their little trick. At this moment, he twisted his body, dodging the fine sand and ash, and called out cooperatively: “Despicable!”
With the long saber in hand, he twisted his palm incredibly fast, horizontally blocking the two swinging clubs. No matter how hard the two thugs tried, Hong Yuan’s saber-blocking hand didn’t budge.
Looking at them, he advised: “Stop! All stop! I see you two have rat-like faces, unsightly. You must have been bullied plenty since birth, right? You’re bitter souls just like these wharf workers—why be running dogs for tigers? Turn back while you can.”
“Fuck your mother!” The two thugs flew into a rage, lifting legs to kick at Hong Yuan’s chest.
Bang bang!
Hong Yuan pushed off with his foot, kicking out two consecutive legs that struck first despite being later, almost simultaneously landing on the two thugs’ faces. While reshaping their features, massive strength surged out. Blood sprayed from their mouths and noses as they flew off the wharf into the nearby river, splashing up huge waves.
“If you don’t want to get ashore, go into the river then.”
Hong Yuan sighed, spinning the long saber in his palm like a gyroscope. The scabbard tapped twice, striking the mouths of the two who had thrown the lime and sand. In an instant, crisp cracking sounds rang out as they clutched their mouths and staggered back, all their teeth shattered.
In breaths, four thugs lost combat ability. This scene shocked the expressions of the remaining charging thugs. The fat leader, seeing this, also swung his refined iron club, charging like a wild boar, shouting:
“Attack together! Beat this little bastard to death.”
Hong Yuan advanced instead of retreating, charging straight into the group of thugs. With the long saber in hand, he blocked left and right. Though just one saber, it parried the dozen or so clubs and blades coming at him—none landing on him.
Hong Yuan moved slippery as an eel, weaving through the crowd. His back seemed to have eyes, always dodging or blocking with the scabbard at the last moment any chopping knives or clubs.
Saber and scabbard poked, slapped, smashed, chopped… landing on the thugs’ hands, legs, faces, mouths. Successive bone-cracking sounds rang out, accompanied by cries of pain.
“Stop! I can’t control my strength—if I accidentally kill you, it won’t be good!”
Hong Yuan spun the saber scabbard in his palm, slapping the fat leader’s mouth. Instantly, teeth shattered, mouth full of blood.
The many onlookers on the wharf were dumbfounded, many showing shock. They had thought the wandering knight would easily be beaten to death under the thugs’ siege, but the outcome was reversed.
The wandering knight hadn’t even unsheathed his saber before laying low over a dozen sturdy thugs, each injured.
These thugs were truly miserable, each with one or more broken bones. They weren’t tough either—fine for bullying common folk, but now their stubborn malevolent aura was gone; they just wanted to flee.
On the Tao Family merchant ship, the young man in brocade stood with hands behind his back, chuckling lightly: “Didn’t expect this wandering knight to have methodical moves. Counts as a good hand, but pity…”
The red-clad girl asked in surprise: “Pity what?”
Master Jin walked to the young man in brocade’s side, saying gravely: “Pity this youth is too soft-hearted. Even now, he refuses to unsheathe and kill. Hmph! Didn’t his elders teach him? In life-and-death combat, there’s no room for mercy. He won’t kill out of kindness, but enemies might. And with such mercy, any enemy would exploit it.”
Master Jin sneered coldly, looking toward the wharf center, that two-story gambling den: “Watch—Yan Laosan is about to act.”
Gambling den second floor.
He Xiaofeng watched the thugs on the wharf wailing like children, crying endlessly, and chuckled lightly: “Brother Yan, this kid may be green, but his kung fu is sharp. My earlier words stand—I’ll act and repay your care these days.”
Yan Tieshan could no longer maintain his smile, his face ugly, but he still waved it off: “No need. I believe my men can take him!”
Saying this, he nodded to the four guards in the room. Under their protection, he left the room. On the corridor outside the door, five dark-skinned men carrying longbows and quivers were waiting.
Yan Tieshan glanced left and right, saying gravely: “Gather the men. Go take down that troublemaking kid.”
“Third Master!” Qian Xiucai, waiting nearby in scholar’s robe and nicknamed the Poison-Heart Scholar, stroked his goatee and sidled up to Yan Tieshan with a smile: “Qian has a plan to easily take down that blind bastard.”
He fanned himself with a feather fan, looking like he held the winning strategy.
Yan Tieshan glared, shouting angrily: “No beating around the bush—speak plainly.”
Qian Xiucai coughed: “Third Master, that kid’s kung fu isn’t weak, but when fighting our men, he never dared kill. Clearly not just a fledgling—he’s never even gotten blood on his hands. Since he’s a kind-hearted good person, we can exploit that… heh heh!”
Qian Xiucai whispered a few words in Yan Tieshan’s ear. Yan Tieshan’s eyes lit up, laughing heartily: “Good! Military Advisor Qian’s plan is brilliant—not for nothing my strategist. Since that kid wants to play good guy, let’s let him all the way. Move!”
As he spoke, Yan Tieshan, protected by four guards with He Xiaofeng following behind, surrounded by dozens of thugs, strode out of the gambling den.
Yan Tieshan’s group charged straight over with murderous aura, scaring the surrounding onlookers to retreat repeatedly. Though some plump wealthy gentlemen weren’t afraid of Yan Tieshan, they didn’t want to provoke him now.
Seeing the dozen or so subordinates sprawled on the ground wailing endlessly, Yan Tieshan snorted coldly through his nose and suddenly waved his hand.
Qian Xiucai nodded slightly in signal. Several sturdy thugs holding steel sabers nearby charged into the crowd of coolies, pressing knives to several coolies’ necks and dragging them out with faces full of killing intent, glaring at Hong Yuan.
Yan Tieshan glanced at Hong Yuan, saying coldly: “Kid, Yan Laosan doesn’t care where you popped out from. Want to play hero anywhere else? Fine. But you shouldn’t have come to Third Master’s turf. Now, who can you still save? One order from me, and their heads roll.”
Hong Yuan glanced at the trembling coolies with steel sabers to their necks, slowly walking through the fallen thugs to three zhang before Yan Tieshan. Hand on his long saber, he smiled: “Oh? So what do you want, Yan Laosan?”
Yan Tieshan saw the other’s calm expression and felt a sudden thump in his heart, inexplicably sensing something off. Based on the kid’s prior actions, shouldn’t he be furious?
He suppressed that strange feeling, saying gravely: “It’s not what I Yan want to do—it’s how you want to settle this?”
“I Yan Laosan was minding my own home, not provoking anyone, and you inexplicably come beat my men.”
Yan Tieshan stared coldly at Hong Yuan, shouting fiercely: “Now I say one sentence: Want to fight? I’ll immediately kill these wretches—they die because of you. Kill them, then we fight! Want to talk? Talk in my building!”
Yan Tieshan didn’t say to drop the saber and surrender—even a soft-hearted person would hardly agree to that.
Thus, his current plan was to lure the other into the building. His lair was full of traps and mechanisms—once inside, the other would be at his mercy.
Of course, even in true blade-to-blade combat, Third Master Yan didn’t think his dozens of thugs couldn’t handle him—he just didn’t want excessive losses to his core forces.
“Since you said one sentence, I’ll say one too!” Hong Yuan smiled.
“What?”
“You can go die!”
With the words out, Hong Yuan’s figure erupted. The stone slab under his foot cracked with a bang, sending gravel flying, while Hong Yuan shot forward like a loosed arrow!
In a blink, he covered three zhang, already in front of Yan Tieshan, who jumped in fright and instinctively stepped back.
His four surrounding guards surged forward, roaring violently, swinging the long sabers already in their hands fiercely down at the charging Hong Yuan!
Clang!
Hong Yuan’s steel saber unsheathed like a flash of fierce lightning. In an instant, one steel saber clashed with four blades. The four guards’ bodies shook together, feeling a violent force surge, their palms aching terribly. As their faces filled with horror, Hong Yuan’s saber rose, sweeping upward in midair!
The blade light like a bolt of silk soared, brushing across the four men’s throats. With ‘puchi’ sounds, four heads flew skyward.
As blood sprayed wildly, Hong Yuan’s figure didn’t pause, instantly closing in on the now pale Yan Tieshan.
“Good kid!” A cold shout rang out. He Xiaofeng’s hand moved, the curved saber at his waist somehow already in hand. Then a cold-moon-like blade gleam lit up, chopping toward Hong Yuan’s approach—as if delivering his own head to that ‘cold moon curved saber.’
Hong Yuan flipped off his conical hat, hurling it with a ‘whoosh’ to clash with the cold moon blade light. In a moment, bamboo fragments scattered amid smoke and dust. As He Xiaofeng’s blade stalled, his expression drastically changed.
He saw the wandering knight dive forward, crossing Yan Tieshan. The chilling blade light swiftly retracted—the opponent vanished, shooting to Qian Xiucai’s side, big hand grabbing like a tiger leaping from the woods.
Puchi!
A muffled sound, and five blood holes appeared on Qian Xiucai’s throat. His eyes terrified, face showing utter shock, he toppled straight down.
Laughter followed immediately. The crowd saw the wandering knight striding swiftly, leaping away in three bounds and two jumps, quickly leaving the wharf area, only his laughter echoing:
“Ten Steps, One Kill, a thousand li without lingering.”
“Matter done, dust off clothes and go, hide merit and name deep.”
Hong Yuan didn’t really want to act this pretentious, but the atmosphere was built up to this point—he had to vent it, so he laughed wildly and departed singing.
The wharf fell into dead silence.
