Three Mountains and Four Waters! Greenwood Gathers!

Chapter 47: Three Mountains and Four Waters! Greenwood Gathers!

Dusk approached.

The entire Little West Mountain was in turmoil.

News of what happened on the river during the day spread with incredible speed.

Nearly all the gangs and sailors who made a living by the river heard about it.

"Heartless Blade Lu Chen has appeared. Today, he even fought with Autumn Water Sword Luo Changqing and Black Ranking Yan Henge..."

"I knew it. Autumn Water Sword Luo Changqing was sent flying with a single strike. He's truly all name and no substance."

"Who says not? They're both on the Kirin Ranking, one at 64, the other at 65. How can the gap be so huge?"

"This Luo Changqing has a lot of nerve, challenging someone ranked 64 when he's ranked 65. Luckily, Young Hero Lu didn't kill him. He's simply courting death!"

"This Luo Changqing is a joke. Relying on his family's prestige is how he got onto the Kirin Ranking at 65. His actual combat strength is pathetic!"

"Exactly. That Lu Chen is a ruthless man in the truest sense. He killed countless people in Panshi City, even the County Magistrate!"

"I heard he did it for a group of poor people..."

Countless people on the street were discussing the events.

Lying in the carriage, his body wrapped like a mummy, Luo Changqing found the voices outside unbearable. His face flushed with shame, and anger surged through him, nearly making him spit out another mouthful of blood.

He had become someone all name and no substance?

And someone who relied on his family's prestige? How could he, a man who always cared about his reputation, accept this?

"Did you hear that? I told you not to underestimate the heroes of this world, but you wouldn't listen. You're lucky this time. If I had been any later, you would have been completely dead."

Beside him, a middle-aged man spoke with a cold expression.

"Father, it hurts so much..."

Beside him, a young girl, also wrapped like a mummy, cried with tears in her eyes. Every movement she made sent waves of pain through her body.

"I... I want to fight him!"

Luo Changqing said, his voice filled with frustration.

"Silence!"

The middle-aged man shouted coldly. "Fight? With what? You couldn't even block one strike, and you have the nerve to talk about fighting? You've completely disgraced our Luo family. You were sent to bring Cui Qingqing back, but instead, you went around showing off. Now look, you've hit a brick wall. Are you still going to show off?"

Luo Changqing's face contorted with humiliation as he gritted his teeth.

He opened his mouth and spat out another large mouthful of blood.

"Father, don't talk about my little brother and third sister like that."

Beside him, another woman spoke up indignantly. Looking at her badly injured younger brother and sister, who had nearly died, a chill spread through her heart, and she said angrily, "No matter what, this Lu Chen went too far. He clearly didn't hold back at all. Are we just going to let this matter go so easily?"

"Let it go?"

The middle-aged man snorted. "We'll talk about it after we find this Lu Chen. We were entrusted by Prince Cui to safely return his daughter. We were almost done, but these two little brats started a fight at the slightest disagreement. A simple matter has become much more complicated."

He looked at them with disappointment, saying, "If Cui Qingqing falls into anyone else's hands, our Luo family's reputation will be ruined. This is infuriating!" It seemed that if Luo Changqing and his sister weren't so badly injured, he would have slapped them long ago.

Night fell.

The entire mountain forest turned pitch black.

The dense foliage intertwined, blocking out even the moonlight.

Lu Chen and the other two walked along the mountain path.

In the distance behind them, rustling sounds could be heard. Many daring martial artists were still following, hoping to witness some excitement.

However, as the surroundings grew darker, The crowd gradually became uneasy and slowly stopped.

Soon, the roars of unknown beasts echoed from all directions, reverberating through the silent, desolate woods.

"Young Hero Lu, I have some dry rations here. Have some to tide you over,"

Liu Jinglan took out a flatbread from his pack and offered it to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen took the flatbread, chewing on it as he looked towards a blurry mountain god temple in the distance.

The hazy temple was neatly maintained.

Faint light seeped from within, radiating a warm aura.

It made one want to go inside to warm themselves by the fire and rest for the night.

"Should we ask to stay there?"

Liu Jinglan inquired.

"If you want to go, you go. I'm leaving,"

Lu Chen glanced at him indifferently.

"Forget it, forget it. Let's keep moving then."

Liu Jinglan responded awkwardly, then glanced at Cui Qingqing and asked, "Miss Qingqing, how are you?"

"I'm fine," Cui Qingqing replied, her cheeks flushing.

In reality, her feet had been hurting for a long time, with blisters forming.

But at a moment like this, how could she dare to speak up?

She just hoped to keep up with the two of them to the best of her ability and not be a burden.

They set off again.

"Two young sirs, it's dangerous at night and difficult to travel. You even have a young lady with you. Why not come in and rest for a while?"

A soft, sweet voice suddenly echoed from the Mountain God Temple, as if a beautiful woman was beckoning them.

The voice wasn't loud, but it resonated precisely in their ears.

Clearly, the speaker was no ordinary person.

Lu Chen let out a cold laugh and ignored the voice, continuing to walk forward.

Liu Jinglan, holding Cui Qingqing's hand, also braced himself and walked forward.

"Heartless Blade Lu Chen, your vigilance is indeed formidable, but you won't be escaping tonight."

A hoarse male voice suddenly came from the dense forest ahead.

The voice shifted left and right, unpredictable and elusive.

Two figures rapidly approached, one on the left and one on the right, moving so fast they were a blur, like ghosts.

Each held a long sword and lunged directly at Lu Chen.

"Ghost Shadow Twin Swords, we've come to learn your skills!"

Puff puff!

Blood splattered, and two heads flew off instantly.

"Go!"

Lu Chen, expressionless, continued forward.

[You have transcended two meddling rogue cultivators, Merit Points +250!]

Liu Jinglan quickly pulled Cui Qingqing along behind him. He was terrified.

He hadn't even realized what was happening before the two were already dead!

Boom!

After walking for several hundred meters, a sense of danger suddenly came from above.

A figure, head down and feet up, wielding a sharp sword, fiercely stabbed towards the crown of Lu Chen's head.

As if he had eyes on the back of his head, Lu Chen didn't even look. His saber flashed.

Swoosh!

Two halves of a corpse flew out, smashing to the sides.

Blood and internal organs littered the ground.

[You have transcended one rogue cultivator who attempted to ambush you, Merit Points +130!]

Cui Qingqing felt dizzy and nauseous, but she forced herself to hold it in.

Lu Chen continued to walk forward, expressionless. After another hundred meters, the ground beneath his feet suddenly rumbled. Two figures erupted from underground, like moles, wielding Emei thorns and thrusting them directly towards Lu Chen's lower body.

Puff puff!

More flashes of saber light.

The two corpses, barely emerging, were instantly sent flying backward, meeting a tragic end.

[Merit Points +220!]

Rumble!

Just then!

In the vast darkness ahead, a deafening roar suddenly erupted. A crimson light shot up into the sky, exploding into a mass in mid-air.

The strange light dyed half the night sky a dark red, as if cloaked in blood.

Then, bursts of laughter echoed from the darkness. Fires flickered from all directions, and an unknown number of people appeared.

"We've long heard of the Heartless Blade's great name. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation!"

"Heartless Blade Lu Chen, release the young lady beside you. We won't trouble you; this has nothing to do with you!"

"What do you mean it has nothing to do with him? He's already killed many of our companions. How can we let him leave so easily!"

"That's right. If we let him go like this, are the heroes of Three Mountains and Four Waters just decorations!"

"Heartless Blade Lu Chen, you won't escape death today either!"

"Hahaha!"

All sorts of chaotic noises erupted.

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes, his body stopping, unmoved.

"The Greenwood of the Three Mountains and Four Waters!" Liu Jinglan exclaimed in shock and anger. He then circulated his Internal Energy and shouted, "Everyone, we have all received great kindness from Prince Cui. If not for Prince Cui defending the Northern lands against the barbarians ten years ago, you all would have likely died by their blades long ago. Today, the barbarian cavalry has returned, how long will you continue to kneel?"

"Pah, we are people of the Jianghu, we don't get involved in court affairs, telling us this is useless!"

"Exactly, we also received favors and have no choice but to take Cui Qingqing away!"

"If you know what's good for you, quickly leave Cui Qingqing here!"

Shouts soon came from all directions.

"The barbarians' horses and sabers do not distinguish between officials and commoners. Even if you are people of the Jianghu, can you avoid them once the Northern barbarian cavalry arrives? The court pays tribute every year, and isn't that tribute of gold and silver ultimately from you all? How long will you try to hide?"

Liu Jinglan shouted:

"The barbarians want not only land, but to destroy our race, our people!

When there is no land left to carve up, can you all still live carefree lives?"

Lu Chen frowned slightly, casting a surprised glance at Liu Jinglan.