Old Beggar

In East Mausoleum Prefecture, within a small courtyard.

The courtyard's main gate was still sealed with an official government stamp.

A woman with a graceful figure, wearing a veil, and a martial artist in black with a bamboo hat and a long saber at his waist arrived outside the courtyard.

"What is the meaning of Shopkeeper Qiu bringing me here?" Ji Qing asked.

The woman was Shopkeeper Qiu from Listening Wind Tower in East Mausoleum Prefecture.

As soon as Ji Qing arrived in East Mausoleum Prefecture, he went directly to Listening Wind Tower.

"The owner of this courtyard used to sell steamed buns in the market, known as 'Liu the Bun Seller.' He had a family of seven, including three children."

"Half a month ago, 'Liu the Bun Seller' and his entire family were poisoned. The yamen couldn't find out who administered the poison, so they hastily closed the case."

"However, a young beggar provided some clues. Bring the young beggar here."

Soon, people from Listening Wind Tower brought a very dirty young beggar before Ji Qing.

"Young beggar, tell us everything you saw that day."

"Okay... I was begging that day, hoping to wait until 'Madam Liu's' steamed buns were almost sold out so I could get some leftovers, buns, or mantou. Madam Liu's family was kind-hearted and often gave food to beggars."

"But after a while, I saw Madam Liu chasing away an old beggar. That old beggar used his dirty hands to directly grab a customer's mantou, and Madam Liu chased the old beggar away with a broom."

"Towards evening, I saw the old beggar lurking around Madam Liu's house, but I didn't dare to say anything. But the next morning, Madam Liu's entire family was dead..."

The young beggar still sounded sad as he spoke.

After all, Madam Liu had given him food many times when she was alive.

Ji Qing understood.

"So, Shopkeeper Qiu suspects that old beggar was the Poison Demon Ouyang Bo?"

Shopkeeper Qiu nodded: "That's right. Great Hero Ji might not know about the Poison Demon Ouyang Bo. This person is unpredictable, extreme in his actions, and sometimes disguises himself as all sorts of people, such as merchants, old men, scholars, beggars, and so on. Ouyang Bo believes he is toying with the world, but if anything or anyone makes him uncomfortable, he becomes incredibly ruthless, resorting to poisoning and wiping out entire families!"

"And the poisoning of 'Liu the Bun Seller's' family is very much in Ouyang Bo's style."

Ji Qing's eyes narrowed slightly: "Then where is the old beggar now?"

"Half a month ago, someone saw the old beggar heading east out of the city."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Qiu!"

Ji Qing immediately turned and headed out of the city.

Watching Ji Qing's retreating figure, someone from Listening Wind Tower quietly asked, "Shopkeeper Qiu, if this 'Startling Swan Blade' really finds the Poison Demon, who do you think will be the stronger one?"

This question was not only on the minds of the people from Listening Wind Tower but likely on the minds of everyone in the martial arts world.

"I don't know. But if Ji Qing really encounters Ouyang Bo, the commotion will definitely not be small. Bring them along, you all follow from a distance. If there's any slightest disturbance, our East Mausoleum Prefecture Listening Wind Tower must get the news immediately!"

"Yes, Shopkeeper!"

Thus, a group of people from Listening Wind Tower also set out of the city.

The Zhou Family's merchant caravan, with over thirty carts of goods, was escorted from East Mausoleum Prefecture to West Mausoleum Prefecture.

The person in charge was the young lady of the Zhou Family.

The old master of the Zhou Family was seriously ill in bed, and his son was a dissolute youth, a hopeless case who understood nothing about business.

As a result, the young lady of the Zhou Family had to shoulder the Zhou Family's business, personally escorting the goods and exposing herself to the public.

Halfway along the road, the Zhou Family's caravan encountered a very dirty old beggar.

He was drunk and seemed to have passed out by the roadside in the grass.

Miss Zhou, being kind-hearted, had people rescue the old beggar and brought him along with the caravan, intending to let him go when they reached West Mausoleum Prefecture.

The old beggar was naturally grateful.

However, the old beggar also had quite a temper, and he didn't hesitate to ask for food and drink along the way.

Many people in the Zhou Family's caravan were annoyed with the old beggar, but Miss Zhou, seeing his old age, did not hold it against him.

The caravan soon arrived at a treacherous terrain.

The Zhou Family's martial artists immediately became vigilant.

Miss Zhou also cautioned, "Be very careful. Recently, there's been a gang of bandits whose leader is nicknamed 'Old Kite.' It's said he's a ruthless killer who doesn't follow the rules of the martial arts world at all!"

The caravan members nodded with solemn expressions.

East Mausoleum has many mountain bandits, and the forests produce many heroes!

In both East Mausoleum Prefecture and West Mausoleum Prefecture, there are quite a few bandits.

But they generally followed the rules of the martial arts world.

As long as the merchant caravan paid the silver, they could usually pass smoothly.

However, "Old Kite" had broken the rules.

But unfortunately, "Old Kite" was ruthless and highly skilled in martial arts, making him too much for the warriors of the various escort agencies and merchant caravans.

When you're out in the jianghu, things can get pretty strange sometimes.

Just as they feared, it happened.

Miss Zhou had only just mentioned "Old Kite," and as the Zhou Family's caravan entered a dense forest, a group of bandits suddenly attacked from both sides.

Leading them was none other than the notorious "Old Kite."

"Hahaha, looks like we've found some fat sheep this time. Over thirty carts of goods! Which caravan are you from?"

Old Kite shouted loudly.

"We are the Zhou Family caravan! If the great leader could be accommodating, our Zhou Family is willing to offer three thousand taels of silver as a toll!"

Miss Zhou responded.

Upon seeing Miss Zhou's graceful figure, Old Kite's eyes lit up. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a sinister grin spreading across his lips.

"Heh heh, three thousand taels of silver isn't enough! I want all the silver, all the goods, and Miss Zhou too! My men, kill anyone who resists!"

At Old Kite's command, the bandits immediately charged the Zhou Family caravan, clashing with the Zhou Family's warriors.

Miss Zhou's face turned as pale as paper.

She had tried to arrange for more guards this time.

But she had still underestimated Old Kite.

Old Kite charged at the forefront, cutting down anyone he encountered.

There were even peak third-rate martial artists among the guards, but Old Kite cut them down within three moves.

Clearly, Old Kite was a second-rate master.

Miss Zhou could hardly believe her eyes.

Why would a second-rate master, who could dominate the jianghu, choose to be a bandit leader?

"Stop!"

"Great leader, we'll give you all the goods and all the silver, but can you let us leave..."

Miss Zhou was making a difficult sacrifice.

Now was not the time to worry about goods or silver, but about whether they could survive.

Old Kite stared intently at Miss Zhou and sneered, "The others can go, but you must stay!"

Miss Zhou's heart sank.

She knew exactly what fate awaited her if she stayed.

But what could she do?

If the fighting continued, everyone would die!

So, Miss Zhou gritted her teeth and said, "Great leader, you keep your word, I..."

Before Miss Zhou could finish speaking.

Suddenly, a scream erupted from among the bandits.

"Ah... poison, there's poison!"

"Where did the poison come from?"

"The cart... the cart has poison."

"Great leader, save me..."

A group of bandits fell to the ground.

Everyone in the Zhou Family was utterly bewildered.

How could there be poison on the cart?

"Little girl, you've been taking good care of this old man these past few days, and I'm very satisfied. I'll deal with these bandits for you!"

The speaker was none other than the old beggar the Zhou Family had rescued on the road!

"Thank you, senior!"

Miss Zhou immediately realized that the old beggar was likely a "master" from the jianghu.

She had heard some rumors before.

Some jianghu "masters" liked to hide their identities and wander the world.

She never expected to encounter one today!

And to have him save the entire Zhou Family!

Old Kite was also frightened.

In a short period, half of the men he brought had perished.

And the poison seemed to be spreading.

The problem was that he couldn't even figure out how he'd been poisoned, which made the Old Kite's heart race.

"Go, quickly!"

The Old Kite fled backward as if running for his life.

Seeing the Old Kite about to escape, Miss Zhou's expression shifted slightly. She quickly took a few steps to the carriage where the Old Beggar was.

"Senior, please help eliminate the Old Kite!"

The Old Kite was a second-rate master. If he got away, the Zhou Family would never know peace!

After all, the Old Beggar wouldn't be staying with the Zhou Family forever.

"Certainly..."

The Old Beggar nodded from inside the carriage.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and looked up sharply ahead.

"Senior, what is it?"

"Don't speak, we have a tough one coming..."

Hearing the Old Beggar's grave tone, Miss Zhou couldn't help but take a few more steps forward, looking into the distance.

It was the direction the Old Kite was desperately fleeing.

"Wait, it seems someone is indeed coming..."

Miss Zhou saw a fast horse charging towards the crowd.

It collided directly with the Old Kite.

The Old Kite was already a frightened bird, solely focused on escaping and getting as far away from the Old Beggar as possible.

Seeing someone charging at him, a sinister grin spread across his face, and he roared, "Who's there? Get lost! Those who block the way die!"

The Old Kite drew his saber. If the person opposite didn't stop, he wouldn't mind killing them with a single strike.

However, the person opposite seemed not to have heard the Old Kite's shouts.

The fast horse didn't even slow down.

Closer.

The two were getting closer and closer.

The Old Kite could now see the other person's attire.

A black-clothed man with a bamboo hat, a long saber at his waist.

He looked like a martial artist.

But what if he was a martial artist?

The Old Kite had killed countless people; a mere martial artist could be easily dispatched!

"Clang."

Suddenly, the person opposite drew their saber.

A brilliant saber light flashed in the void.

The Old Kite had never seen such a beautiful saber light.

It was like a fleeting glance; the saber light vanished, and the Old Kite only felt a chill on his neck.

"Thump."

A large head was flung high into the air, then fell to the ground, rolling.

The Old Kite's headless corpse was still carried by the horse for a short distance before it finally fell to the ground.