Bandits Block the Way

The day was gradually turning to dusk.

The red sun sank in the west.

Hengzhou City was exceptionally desolate in the evening.

There was almost no one to be seen on the streets.

As soon as evening fell, everyone stayed home, afraid to go out.

Jiang Dao galloped his horse all the way, quickly arriving at the south city gate.

"Who goes there? No one is allowed to leave the city now!"

A constable on the city wall shouted loudly.

"This is Jiang Dao. I have urgent business to attend to outside the city. Please, Brother Zhang, grant me passage!"

Jiang Dao reined in his horse and cupped his hands as he shouted.

"Jiang Dao?"

On the city wall, a middle-aged constable frowned, his gaze turning cold.

He had already received instructions from Magistrate Wang. Several people from the Jiang family would be leaving the city, and he was to facilitate their departure through a side gate. Someone outside the city would then take care of them.

Thinking of this, the middle-aged constable shouted, "Open the side gate, quickly!"

"Thank you, Brother Zhang!"

Jiang Dao called out, immediately spurred his horse out of the city, his five younger brothers quickly following behind him.

The middle-aged constable sneered, watching Jiang Dao's retreating back. "Trying to escape? Don't you know leaving Hengzhou is also a death sentence? Staying in Hengzhou City at least offers a sliver of hope. Once you leave Hengzhou City, hehe, if the evil spirits don't kill you, Magistrate Wang will..."

"Giddy up! Giddy up! Giddy up!"

The horses' hooves pounded, kicking up dust as they galloped away.

Soon, Jiang Dao was already seven or eight li away.

Seeing that the sky had completely darkened, Jiang Dao looked around and said, "There seems to be a dilapidated temple ahead. Let's rest there for the night."

"Big brother is right!"

"We'll do whatever big brother says."

His useless younger brothers chuckled repeatedly.

They urged their horses forward and soon saw the dimly outlined dilapidated temple in the darkness.

Just as they dismounted and were tying their horses.

Suddenly!

Jiang Dao's brow furrowed, sensing something, and he turned his head sharply.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap..."

A burst of applause echoed.

Suddenly, more than a dozen shadowy figures darted out from the dilapidated temple, holding torches high. Each of them wore a smile, their hands gripping steel sabers and spears, surrounding the area.

"Heh heh, another group!"

A shadowy figure chuckled. "This speed of getting rich is truly exhilarating... Magistrate Wang is indeed a scholar, he really knows how to plan, hahahaha..."

"Bandits!"

"Big brother, it's bandits!"

The useless younger brothers panicked, quickly retreating, filled with terror.

"Little brats, what are you yelling about? Yell again and I'll cut off your balls, believe it or not?"

A masked shadowy figure grinned menacingly, sticking out his tongue to lick the steel saber in his hand. He looked at them, and when he saw Jiang Ruyan, his eyes suddenly lit up. He chuckled, "There's a little chick here too. Brothers, we're in for a treat!"

"Roar roar!"

"Heh heh!"

"Hahaha..."

The group of black-clothed men all let out strange laughter.

Jiang Ruyan's face turned pale with fright, her eyes wide with terror. She tightly gripped Jiang Dao's clothes.

Jiang Dao's heart sank, his eyes narrowed, a cold glint appearing.

Magistrate Wang?

Did that shadowy figure just mention Magistrate Wang?

Could it be that Magistrate Wang deliberately let them out, only to have them killed by others, so he could plunder their wealth?

"Were you sent by Magistrate Wang?"

Jiang Dao asked.

"Little thing, you're quite calm?"

The black shadow from before let out a strange laugh and said, "Unfortunately, I won't say anything. If you have anyone to blame, blame your bad luck for escaping the strange events in the city only to die by our hands, haha..."

"Big brother, let's do it!"

Someone beside him chuckled.

"Mm, kill all the men. Leave the woman. We haven't tasted what kind of flavor daughters from rich families have..."

The leader of the group laughed.

Three black shadows stepped forward, wielding steel sabers and lunging forward like lightning.

The younger brothers were all terrified, their legs turning to jelly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, three muffled thuds echoed, clothes ripped, and the scene was gruesome.

Jiang Dao punched each of the charging black shadows directly in the face, sending their bodies flying violently. They were undeniably dead.

Jiang Dao's physique was imposing, his expression cold, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

Too weak!

The three bandits were as fragile as paper.

They couldn't withstand a single blow!

"What?"

"You..."

The remaining bandits' eyes widened in shock as they stared at Jiang Dao, unable to believe their own eyes.

What kind of monster was this kid?

"Big brother, there's an expert here!"

One of the men in black exclaimed in alarm.

"Damn it, attack him together! Kill this brat and tear him to shreds!"

The leader of the bandits roared.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The remaining men in black brandished their weapons and charged at Jiang Dao in unison.

These were notorious experts from the area, each skilled in different martial arts and wielding different weapons. They had been secretly recruited by Magistrate Wang to carry out his unsavory deeds.

However, as they charged, Jiang Dao's expression remained cold. He suddenly strode forward, transforming into an eagle. His fingers became like hooks, moving with lightning speed. In an instant, he grabbed one man by the neck.

With a snap, the man's neck bone was broken. His body was tossed aside like trash, hitting the ground far away, dead.

Then, with a punch, another bandit was sent flying backward, his clothes exploding, his chest caved in, dying instantly on the spot.

Next, he grabbed one man's face with his fingers, which were like iron rods. The man screamed in agony and died.

Thus, Jiang Dao continued his assault.

With each grab using the Eagle Claw Art, one person died instantly.

These skilled men in black were like rag dolls in his hands, completely defenseless. Some even tried to sneak attack him from behind with steel sabers, but he simply grabbed them, crushing the sabers to pieces. His fingers then flashed like lightning, piercing the forehead of one attacker. With a casual sweep, he slammed the man's body against the ground, killing him.

Finally, the leader of the men in black was utterly terrified.

"You... what kind of monster are you?"

He stared with wide, terrified eyes and suddenly turned to flee.

His more than ten companions had been wiped out by this young man in the blink of an eye.

He could crush weapons with his bare hands?

What kind of strength was this?

He had never encountered such an expert before!

"Trying to leave?"

Jiang Dao's voice was cold as he instantly gave chase.

The man in black felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly turned back, his palm turning pitch black as he swiftly struck at Jiang Dao.

Bang!

Jiang Dao threw a punch, sending the bandit spitting blood and flying backward, crashing heavily into the distance.

Behind him, the five useless younger brothers were stunned and trembling with fear.

The younger sister, Jiang Ruyan, had also collapsed, her head spinning. Looking at the corpses everywhere, she suddenly felt a wave of nausea and began to gag.

"Speak. Did Magistrate Wang send you?"

Jiang Dao looked down at the bandit leader and asked coldly.

The man in black's entire arm bone had been shattered by Jiang Dao's punch. His face contorted in pain, and his body trembled. "Don't kill me, I'll tell you everything. Please, don't kill me..."