Testing the Sword, Slaying Men, Washing Away Melancholy with Blood

Although he sensed something was wrong, Chu Qing had no way to change anything.

In the end, he was only a Linen-Clad Barefoot Youth.

He was not the county magistrate, nor was he someone powerful and influential like Madam Shi.

The disaster victims harbored resentment because they had no work and could not fill their stomachs.

"If they were given work, then... if they could eat their fill, would they still stir up trouble with rage soaring to the heavens?"

"Why did the yamen in this world not know about providing relief through work?"

"Spend some grain and have them build roads—killing several birds with one stone."

"Why would they not do it?"

Amid his random thoughts, he returned to Stone Rock County.

There were a few more pedestrians on the streets.

However, most of them hurried along with worried expressions.

There were piles of disaster victims outside the city, while grain prices had risen within it. With the wind and rain, there was less work available, leaving everyone without money.

Moreover:

He Qi's death had caused several days of unrest.

The people's hearts were unsettled.

As Chu Qing walked, he inquired about Pharmacist Li's whereabouts.

When he was nearing Jin Family Manor, he discovered a terrible situation:

"Several small pharmacies in the city have closed."

"The pharmacists were all taken away a few days ago."

"Someone is specifically arresting pharmacists?"

"What do they need so many pharmacists for?"

"Has an epidemic broken out somewhere?"

"Or... is someone planning to refine secret medicine on a large scale?"

A few minutes later:

Chu Qing saw Madam Jin.

Madam Jin wore a worried expression.

Curious, Chu Qing asked, "What's wrong?"

Madam Jin hesitated, then finally stamped her foot and said, "Madam Shi is coming soon."

"Have you thought about how to deal with her?"

Chu Qing shook his head.

He did not know how to deal with her either.

Just then, someone knocked at the door outside.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The knocking was loud.

Madam Jin frowned. Before she could have Xiao Taohong investigate, a huge crash came from the front courtyard, followed by the screams of servants.

Madam Jin frowned.

Chu Qing untied the longsword from his back and held it horizontally before him.

"Madam, step back."

Madam Jin froze. She looked at Chu Qing and muttered softly, "You should call me foster mother."

Chu Qing... "Foster mother, please step back."

Madam Jin smiled and retreated.

Before long, three or five burly men barged inside.

They carried long sabers, their faces full of vicious flesh and ill intent.

One of the burly men saw Chu Qing, and his eyes lit up.

"Kid, Miss Lan wants to see you."

"Come with us!"

Chu Qing shook his head. "Sorry, I don't know Miss Lan."

"If she wants to see me, have her come here herself."

The man's pupils constricted as he barked, "Bastard! It is your honor that Miss Lan wants to see you."

"How dare you fail to appreciate kindness?"

Chu Qing sighed inwardly and said softly, "Why can't you understand human speech?"

He was no longer some lackey who waved flags and shouted slogans.

He was not someone any random cat or dog could order about and berate.

The other side might be Fortified Village Disciples, but so what?

He Qi had already been killed by him.

Would he still care about some Miss Lan?

The burly man was shocked and furious.

In all his years of life, no one in Stone Rock County had ever dared refuse a Fortified Village Disciple's summons.

Even people from the yamen had to respectfully pay their respects to the young lady.

What gave this Linen-Clad Barefoot Youth the nerve to refuse?

"You ungrateful thing, come with me!"

Accustomed to acting arrogant and domineering, they reached out to seize Chu Qing.

Chu Qing stepped back.

The burly man grew furious and was about to continue.

Just then, more people arrived outside.

They were the Wind Flower Snow Moon maids, along with a crowd of guards and servants escorting Madam Shi over.

Madam Shi looked at Chu Qing, then at the few burly men, and said blandly:

"Get out!"

The moment the burly men saw Madam Shi, they became like mice seeing a cat. They immediately Cup Fist in salute, not daring to say a word as they turned and left.

Before leaving, however, one of them glared fiercely at Chu Qing.

The guards and servants scattered to stand watch.

Madam Shi glanced at Chu Qing and said to Madam Jin:

"Come, let's go to the study."

After speaking, she impatiently dragged Madam Jin away to change into opera costumes.

Once the two beautiful married women entered the room, Chu Qing hugged his longsword and headed outside.

Wind Flower Snow Moon stopped him and shouted, "Where are you going?"

Chu Qing smiled. "I have a small matter to handle."

Wind Flower Snow Moon's eyes rolled, and they said in unison, "Go quickly and return quickly. If you delay Miss's time, you are absolutely finished."

Chu Qing smiled without replying, then left with his sword in his arms.

The Wind Flower Snow Moon maids were delighted and whispered among themselves, "Miss scolded him yesterday."

"He must be scared, which is why he is fleeing at the last moment."

"Hehe, he had better run far, far away and make Miss angry, so she never pays him any attention again."

The few burly men who had come out of the Jin family's residence wore angry, worried expressions.

"Damn it, that kid actually refused Miss Lan's summons."

"How are we supposed to report back?"

One burly man muttered, "How about we wait until Madam Shi leaves, then go in and drag him out?"

The others all agreed. "Not bad."

"Otherwise, if we go back like this, Miss Lan will definitely punish us."

"Damn it, it's all that kid's fault."

"When we catch him later, we'll definitely make him suffer."

Just then:

They suddenly noticed a linen-clad youth on a rooftop to one side, leaping swiftly like a dragonfly skimming the water.

The youth passed them and jumped down from the roof.

The burly men froze for a moment, then rejoiced wildly. "Kid, hurry and come see Miss Lan with us!"

Chu Qing smiled. "No rush."

"I'll show you a great treasure first. It won't be too late to go afterward."

The burly men were suspicious.

Clang!

The longsword left its sheath.

Chu Qing tossed away the scabbard, gripped the Greatsword, and said with a smile, "My Greatsword has never seen blood or been consecrated."

"You berated me just now and made me melancholy."

"So... I'll use your blood to consecrate my Greatsword and wash away the melancholy in my heart."

The burly men froze, then burst into laughter. "How many years have I practiced martial arts? And how many days have you practiced?"

"You think you're some expert just because you're holding a broken sword?"

Chu Qing only smiled without speaking. Then he suddenly lunged forward.

Dual Mantis Sword—Slash!

One burly man roared and raised his saber horizontally to block.

Crack!

The Greatsword severed the long saber and split open his chest and abdomen.

The burly man screamed.

Chu Qing passed by him, swinging the one-and-a-half-meter Greatsword like a guillotine sweeping sideways.

Crack!

Crack!

The sword passed, and men were severed.

Chu Qing raised his sword. Its blade was stained with blood, yet its edge remained undamaged.

"Good sword!"

"Thank you all for giving me the chance to test my sword!"

After saying that, he picked up the scabbard, turned, and left.

Behind him, the severed burly men had not died yet.

They wailed and rolled about.

"We only berated you a few times, and you killed us?"

"What a ruthless heart."

"Miss Lan will not let you go."

Chu Qing smiled. Without even sparing them a glance, he strode away.

At first, the burly men wailed and cursed. Later, they became afraid and regretful.

Finally, they slowly died.

When the four Wind Flower Snow Moon maids saw Chu Qing return so quickly, they were quite surprised.

Chu Qing passed by them.

Feng Nü wrinkled her little nose and muttered, "There seems to be... a smell of blood on him."

The other maids looked astonished.

They all turned to look at Chu Qing's departing back and murmured to themselves:

"A linen-clad youth, a mud-legged peasant from the lowest stratum—why would he smell of blood?"

"Was he beaten up?"

"Or..."