Chapter 63: Peerless And Unmatched, Startled Swan Spear Part 1
Mingzhou was a north-south goods transfer station.
Waterways were densely interwoven, extending in all directions.
Rich merchants and great tycoons gathered like clouds, goods piled up like mountains, grain transport boats ceaseless day and night, while also nurturing batch after batch of river bandits.
Like the One-Eyed Owl and Skinny Monkey that Hong Yuan had once killed, those two groups of river bandits had strength only at the middle-lower level, daring only to plunder small boat teams and merchant ships sailing alone with weak guard forces.
But this River-Mixing Dragon Society was a true giant bandit group, infamous throughout all of Mingzhou, striking fear into numerous merchant teams.
The River-Mixing Dragon Society usually operated only in the river section at the border between Yunji Prefecture and Linjiang Prefecture, coming and going to rob, but this time they moved like sharks smelling blood.
Dozens of fast boats swiftly charged out, splitting left and right, surrounding the black-canopied boat where Hong Yuan was.
Each fast boat had five or six sturdy river bandits standing, all brimming with killing intent, howling strangely one after another, holding various tools in their hands.
Some held water-splitting daggers, steel sabers, wolf-tooth clubs, others held fishing nets, hard bows, long and short forks, grappling hooks, poisoned darts…
As these dozens of fast boats just split apart, suddenly more than a dozen red giant centipedes darted out from the middle, leaping as if on the water surface, surging forward fiercely.
These were centipede boats painted with red lacquer, named for the rows of oars on both sides resembling centipedes.
Compared to ordinary fast boats, these centipede boats were longer and wider in hull, with nearly twenty river bandits on each, a few quickly rowing, while the rest brandished weapons, shouting and roaring, creating a terrifying momentum.
These river bandits’ weapons were more uniform and superior, either holding pudao or long spears, and a few even wore cowhide water suits, their bodies sleek and smooth.
On the core centipede boat.
“Raging River Dragon” Zhu Gui stood at the bow, a pudao also at his waist, he looked about thirty-five or six years old, with thick sturdy arms, a square face, unexpectedly having a somewhat honest air, only his pair of eyes were fierce and greedy, staring fixedly at the black-canopied boat.
“After doing this job, us brothers will have several years of carefree happy days.”
Zhu Gui’s face showed a ferocious grin, yet also some dissatisfaction: “It’s just a pity, this windfall still has to be shared with that stinking snake of the Black Flood Dragon Gang and Old Master Wang’s people, otherwise we could be happy even longer… Hmph! My brothers risk life and limb, they just wag their lips and get benefits, if not for them still being somewhat useful, this Zhu would really want to take a knife and chop them up.”
To roam freely on the rivers, accurately plundering, naturally could not lack intelligence reports from the shore.
Even, Mingzhou’s various large and small bandit groups numbered over a hundred and eighty, no one could figure out how many were actually raised by noble clans and nobles specifically to do dirty work.
The River-Mixing Dragon Society being able to accurately ambush Hong Yuan this time also could not lack the credit of shore informants.
Of course, there was also a key factor, namely that Hong Yuan himself had not been too cautious in concealing his whereabouts.
“Zhu, this little one must congratulate you this time.”
Beside Zhu Gui, a man dressed as an accountant, holding an abacus, about forty years old, chuckled: “That Cauliflower Snake’s share can be saved, just received news not long ago, that Cauliflower Snake has already become a dead snake!”
“Oh? Who killed him? That stinking snake’s martial arts were only average, but he was slippery as hell, not easy to kill.” Zhu Gui’s eyes lit up, grinning.
The accountant-like man was Zhu Gui’s deputy, advisor, specially in charge of the River-Mixing Dragon Society’s finances and planning, liaising with various intelligence channels, nicknamed “Iron Abacus” Sun Laoqi.
Sun Laoqi pointed toward the black-canopied boat, grinning: “The one who killed that Cauliflower Snake is precisely this man, not only that, even the Black Flood Dragon Gang was killed off almost entirely.”
Zhu Gui laughed heartily, in great spirits: “Killed well! That stinking snake died even better! This Hong fellow not only delivers me one hundred thousand taels, but also helps me get rid of a money-taker, just for this, I must give him a quick death.”
Sun Laoqi’s expression became somewhat serious, saying: “Zhu, we still need to be careful, this Hong fellow is a tricky character, even if the rumors of him fighting hundreds alone are exaggerated, in recent days quite a few famous figures have died by his hand…”
“If on land, this Zhu might need to be cautious…” A ferocious smile appeared at Zhu Gui’s mouth: “But he seeks his own death, coming onto these rivers, even a Microscopic Level Grandmaster’s survival depends on whether this Zhu is in a good mood.”
In his words, there was an air of wild arrogance.
But his brows suddenly furrowed: “Something’s off, it’s been so long, why no movement from that black-canopied boat? Could the news be wrong, or did they sneak away?”
His expression changed instantly, suddenly curling his fingers to his mouth, the next moment, a sharp piercing whistle sounded, echoing across the entire river surface.
Hearing this whistle, on the nearly ten fast boats surrounding the black-canopied boat left and right, ‘whoosh whoosh’ sounds rang out, grappling hooks shot up one after another, fiercely landing on the boat canopy, followed by successive ‘thud thud’ cracking sounds as the grappling hooks embedded into the canopy, then a unified roar!
The river bandits on each boat exerted force, the boat canopy in an instant ‘ripped’ apart loudly, already torn to shreds, amid flying wood chips, the bandits cast their gazes inside.
Only to see the inside of the boat empty, where were there any human figures?
“Where’s the person?”
“No one? Damn it, the news was fake.”
While the river bandits cursed, suddenly someone shouted: “Careful!”
Careful? Careful of what?
On one fast boat, five or six river bandits looked puzzled, then felt a fierce wind shaking, not from front back left right, but from above their heads.
A streak of silver light poured down, wrapped in whistling wind.
The two or three river bandits in the lead were instantly engulfed by the silver light, flesh and blood flying, bodies shattering.
The silver light’s momentum unrelenting, slamming to the bottom with a ‘boom’ shock, this fast boat broke in the middle, both halves rearing up together, the remaining few river bandits involuntarily flew toward the center, crashing together, amid cracking bone sounds, half the boat flipped over.
Hong Yuan landed on the overturned ‘boat bottom’, large splashes underfoot surging with blood.
The dozens of jin heavy Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear, wielded in his hands, had more than a thousand jin of force, one strike destroying boat and killing people.
That day after leaving the Wuding Sword Sect, Hong Yuan deliberately showed himself again, drawing several groups of jianghu people to surround and kill him, after killing quite a few, he then left Qingping County.
In the following days, while picking famous gangs and masters to contest, he occasionally exposed his whereabouts, attracting masters to come.
But no more of the good luck from the Wuding Sword Sect time, the people encountered next had only one or two at the ‘Freely Control’ level somewhat worth seeing.
As for force methods at the level of ‘Flowing Cloud Wuding Strength’, that was even more unthinkable.
However, after several days of continuous killing battles, it was not without gains, at least the Wuding Sword Sect’s sword technique allowed him to integrate it into his own spear technique.
Hong Yuan called this spear technique the ‘Unfixed Spear Art’, also acknowledging its origin.
Currently, the shadow of the Wuding Sword Sect in this spear art was still quite heavy, only after absorbing more essences of various martial arts in the future and integrating them into the spear art would it gradually become truly his own martial art.
Shouts of alarm rose greatly, the group of river bandits howled, Hong Yuan stamped his foot, turning into a residual shadow streaking through the air.
Dozens of fast boats crowded on the lake surface, densely packed, distances all not far, at least none exceeding Hong Yuan’s leaping limit, his movement technique flashed, and in an instant he pounced onto another fast boat.
A ‘chi’ crisp sound, silver light piercing the air, suddenly differentiating into several points of cold stars, six river bandits’ faces still holding shouting and ferocious expressions, their foreheads already pierced.
Whoosh!
Hong Yuan’s figure flickered, already on another boat, instantly adding several more dead, then his figure merged as one with the silver spear, amid flashing silver light, streaking out again.
Immediately after, screams rose greatly, continuous, river bandits falling like scarecrows one by one, either collapsing onto the boats or plunging into the water.
In just three or two breaths, already five or six boats’ worth of people dead, the remaining river bandits only saw shadows flashing, fast as a ghostly figure, each already scared pale-faced, crying out in panic.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way!”
“Attack together!”
“Use underwater mines, blow him up!”
Hong Yuan’s inconceivable killing speed scared every river bandit who saw it, various chaotic shouts rising.
Amid ‘sizzle’ sounds, someone threw out several pottery jars, Hong Yuan didn’t even glance, his figure flashing incomparably fast, killing river bandits one by one, behind him ‘boom boom’ explosions.
Pottery jars either landing on boats or exploding mid-air, splashing ceramic fragments mixed with sand and gravel, iron chunks flying, followed by more heart-rending howls.
Not harming a single hair of Hong Yuan, yet many river bandits were accidentally injured.
Swish!
Hong Yuan no longer bothered killing these ordinary river bandits, leaping out in one step, using connected fast boats as springboards, rapidly approaching those dozen centipede boats.
“How can he be this strong?”
Zhu Gui’s face changed drastically, eyes bulging wide, hand already gripping the steel saber tight.
He had just given the order with a whistle, not even ten breaths later, dozens of fast boats at least lost a fifth.
Even Zhu Gui this head showing fear, the river bandits on the other centipede boats even more in chaos.
They usually fought fiercely, each thinking themselves tough, this was why they became Zhu Gui’s most elite batch, but now all panicked, only thinking of running away.
Was this something they could handle?
Worse, Zhu Gui feared Hong Yuan escaping and stretched an iron chain across the river, now the bandits had no way to pass quickly, the only comfort being that the nearest fast boat was still ten or so zhang from the centipede boats.
Whoosh!
Hong Yuan’s figure like wind, stirring fierce gale, only holding the Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear horizontally before his chest.
While running and jumping, landing on fast boats, no need to really strike, the great force he carried alone sent blocking river bandits flying.
With his strength, let alone these river bandits, even ‘Freely Control’ experts could not withstand one collision.
Arriving at the last fast boat, Hong Yuan leaped up, long spear thrusting down sharply, a ‘bang’ crisp sound.
Force passing, a small boat instantly shattered into four or five pieces, onboard river bandits falling scattered.
Hong Yuan landed on a large wooden plank, with downward momentum, the plank like surfing, arrow-like shooting toward Zhu Gui’s direction.
Zhu Gui only felt his vision blur, that fierce person already within three zhang, his heart pounding, suddenly a clear light flashed, the opponent already leaping up.
Zhu Gui after all a veteran bandit of many years, under life-death crisis also ignited ferocity, roaring madly: “Die for me!”
His eyes bulging, whole body force bursting, fiercely swinging the pudao.
A point of silver light arrived first, precisely striking the blade.
Amid strong metal clash, without slightest pause, the pudao suddenly exploded into countless fragments.
The silver spear flew from Hong Yuan’s hand, suddenly piercing Zhu Gui’s chest, then shooting out from his back.
Hong Yuan’s speed however faster than the spear, movement flashing, already behind Zhu Gui, without looking back, grabbing the spear shaft.
‘Plop’, that Sun Laoqi ‘swish’ knelt on the deck, head knocking heavily: “Spare my life, Hong spare my life…”
Amid falling debris, Hong Yuan raised his palm, flicking a finger, a fragment suddenly shooting out, embedding into Sun Laoqi’s glabella.
The latter’s eyes bulged, stiffly toppling, from his sleeve ‘gurgle’ rolled out a cylindrical object.
Hong Yuan’s expression unchanged, gaze toward the surrounding centipede boats, long spear moving, fierce wind rising.
After a moment, Hong Yuan landed on the chain stretching across the river, looking at the fast boats and centipede boats fleeing in all directions.
Panicked howls rising everywhere, more ‘plop plop’ continuous falling water sounds, some accidentally tumbling in panic, others jumping in extreme fear to escape.
This River-Mixing Dragon Society group of several hundred, for Hong Yuan alone to kill all, how could it be that simple?
Even the elite centipede boat bandits, less than half killed.
Of course, if Hong Yuan really disregarded all, expending great effort to kill, it was not impossible to kill them all, even those jumping into water not drowned by raging waves could not escape his pursuit.
But no need.
He stood on the iron chain, unhurriedly walking to the shore, at the shore on a flat green stone placing the long spear into the water to wash.
Behind him, a long-trodden path split the dense reed marshes on both sides.
With the river wind sweeping, the reed marshes rustled ‘whoosh whoosh’, and amid this chaotic noise, a face with thick mustache emerged from the left reed marsh.
This face full of hesitation, eyes also holding terror and panic, but eventually gritted teeth, holding a hard bow, suddenly drawing and nocking an arrow.
Perhaps luck came, the wind suddenly strengthened, amid howling sounds, the arrow fiercely shot out, piercing air, incomparably swift toward the target’s back.
This person after releasing the arrow already felt it a sure hit, face unconsciously showing joy.
Immediately, his pupils suddenly widened, only seeing that arrow about to hit the man, but the man as if having eyes in the back of his head, reached back and easily pinched the incoming arrow.
Rip!
The man suddenly threw the arrow back, at even faster speed than incoming, clustering back, in the bearded man’s incredulous gaze, suddenly piercing his throat.
As intense pain surged, already saw a silver snake dancing madly, lightning-fast falling into this reed marsh, then ears hearing successive screams.
After a few breaths, a fierce wind with silver light flashed, a ‘chi’ sound like a flat wind blade cutting through, reeds within a zhang radius snapped midway, cuts smooth and neat.
Hong Yuan stepped out from the reed marsh, behind him blood stench permeated, more than twenty corpses added in the reed marsh.
Glancing at the right reed marsh, Hong Yuan turned and strode along the path.
Fully one or two quarters of an hour later, more than a dozen figures stumbled out from the right reed marsh, each pale-faced, trembling.
They slowly walked to the left, a brocade-robed middle-aged man looking at the fallen bearded man sighed: “This is Golden Saber Sect’s Old Master Wang, originally about to retire, but he had a wayward son with huge expenses, so he had to come earn this money, good thing… from now on no need to worry about that son of his.”
“Most of Golden Saber Sect’s elites died here, hard to say if they can continue.”
Someone else shook their head.
This group looked at the fallen corpses, each brow twitching wildly, hearts surging with intense fear: “This person is simply like a ghost god, Golden Saber Sect is nothing, but that River-Mixing Dragon Society, so many people couldn’t block him for a moment, Raging River Dragon Zhu Gui also a ‘Freely Control’ expert, yet couldn’t block even one spear, this…”
“Who could have predicted this?”
“This one hundred thousand taels of silver isn’t for ordinary people to earn, better leave it for those Microscopic Level Grandmasters, us, just watch the show.”
A gray-robed, temples-frosted knife guest smiled bitterly: “Earlier, I really feared some of you couldn’t hold back and acted, once acting, we’d all be lying here cooling off.”
He walked a few steps, hand touching that flat-cut reed patch, eyes shaken: “Graceful as startled swan, agile as a swimming dragon, this old man often heard this phrase before, never understood its meaning, only today seeing this spear, know what is startled swan, what is swimming dragon…”
“Truly a figure like a divine dragon…”
“Truly the Startled Swan Spear!”
