My Sword Is Fast, Right? (An Extra Chapter for Tangtanger)

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, snowflakes as large as goose feathers drifted down.

A group of people trudged through the snow.

"How much farther to Black Wind Stockade?"

"Young Master, there are only seven or eight li of mountain road left."

"Another seven or eight li of mountain road? Damn that Cao Long! He had to choose this time to celebrate his birthday."

The man was not yet thirty. Even wearing two thick padded coats, he still could not keep out the cold. He looked back at the procession carrying half a butchered pig, two slaughtered fat sheep, and gift boxes wrapped in red cloth. They were trudging along the field ridge, sinking deep with one foot and shallow with the other, filling him with immense irritation.

"Young Master, you mustn't say that again. What if Black Wind Stockade hears you..." The man speaking was seven chi tall, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and he gripped a single-edged saber in his hand.

Huang Fugui arrogantly cut off his family's guard: "So what if they hear? Who is my brother-in-law? Black Wind Stockade is nothing before Shennong Gang. That Cao Long is only fit to carry my brother-in-law's shoes."

Li Ying walked behind them and curled his lips slightly, inwardly scornful. Brother-in-law, brother-in-law. The Huang family merely sold their daughter to Shennong Gang's leader, Sikong Huan, as a concubine. They're throwing their weight around through him, feeling no shame and even taking pride in it! How laughable.

Huang Fugui turned around. "Why aren't you saying anything? Was I wrong?"

"Young Master is right. How could Cao Long dare offend Gang Leader Sikong?"

Li Ying hurriedly put on a fawning smile. "But we're on Black Wind Stockade's territory. If we truly provoke those worthless bandits, we'll suffer immediately. Just considering how hard it was for his mother to give birth to him in weather like this... Young Master, could you show Cao Long a little respect?"

"Hahaha, fine. For Cao's mother's sake, I'll give him some face."

Huang Fugui's mood improved greatly as he patted Li Ying on the shoulder.

"Li Ying, you really are a talent. You certainly know how to speak. No wonder my old man has seven or eight rooms of concubines but dotes only on your sister. Is it hereditary?"

"This humble one never studied. I mainly stayed by Old Master and Young Master's sides, picked up a little literary influence, and gained a bit of wisdom and inspiration."

Hearing the flattery, Huang Fugui burst into laughter, growing even more pleased.

The two of them walked in front, empty-handed and wearing long boots and thick padded coats.

The tenant farmers carrying the birthday gifts had it much worse. They wore single-layer clothes stuffed with straw and shoes that were worn nearly to pieces. Their legs were little more than skin and bones, yet they had to carry heavy loads and stagger through the wind and snow.

The group reached a mountain hollow when they suddenly saw dozens of people ahead, steel sabers in hand and bandit air all over them, coming their way.

Huang Fugui did not take it to heart. This was Cloud Mist Mountain, Black Wind Stockade's territory. It would have been strange not to encounter bandits.

He smiled at Li Ying. "Cao Long knows what he's doing. He even sent his underlings down the mountain to welcome us."

"Young Master, something's wrong."

Li Ying noticed that there were not only people ahead. A mounted rider was also watching from afar behind them, seemingly having followed them the entire way.

Seeing the unfriendly expressions on the men's faces, Huang Fugui began to panic as well. "Is Black Wind Stockade planning to rob us? That doesn't make sense. We came to deliver gifts to Cao Long. What would he be robbing us for?"

Li Ying hurriedly called out loudly, "Which heroes are approaching? We are acting on the orders of Master Huang Bantian of East Willow Manor to pay birthday respects to 'Earth-Drilling Centipede' Cao Long, the master of Black Wind Stockade."

The men said nothing. They came straight over and surrounded the Huang family's people.

Li Ying's suspicions were confirmed. He had accompanied Huang Bantian to Black Wind Stockade several times before and drunk with its leaders, so he recognized most of them. These men, however, were all unfamiliar faces.

He pressed down on his saber hilt and whispered to Huang Fugui, "They aren't bandits from Black Wind Stockade."

"What relation are you to Huang Bantian?" A black-robed swordsman stepped forward.

Huang Fugui's gaze landed on the tall, voluptuous woman beside him. He blurted out, "Shennong Gang's leader, Sikong Huan, is my brother-in-law!"

The black-robed swordsman smiled. "I know, I know. You're exactly who we were looking for."

The two approached. Huang Fugui was less than a meter seventy tall, so his gaze landed directly on the woman's ample bosom. For a moment, he seemed to forget his situation. His mouth went dry, and a fire burned in his lower abdomen.

He had never seen a woman so tall, much less one with such alluring curves. She was practically a peerless beauty of the mortal world. His thoughts began to run wild. If I could share a night beneath the mandarin-duck canopy with her, I would die content.

Seeing that Young Master was still staring blankly, Li Ying hurriedly clasped his hands. "Might there be some misunderstanding, heroes? Our master is on good terms with 'Earth-Drilling Centipede' Cao Long. Black Wind Stockade is just a stone's throw away. If you have the time, why not come up the mountain and join us for a gathering?"

The black-robed swordsman said nothing. He merely smiled at Li Ying.

Li Ying understood that these visitors meant trouble and continued, "Shennong Gang's leader, Sikong Huan, is Master Huang's son-in-law. If the two of you have any grievance with the Huang family or Black Wind Stockade, I can ask Gang Leader Sikong to mediate. We could share a peace-making meal. How about it?"

A streak of cold light descended.

This guard, who possessed some martial skills, saw only a wheel-like battle-axe sweep past beneath his neck. Then a headless corpse stood in the snow, blood spraying from its neck.

His head hit the ground and rolled to the feet of the tenant farmers carrying the loads behind them.

They had watched Li, the guard, act imperiously before them every day. Now they saw him killed like a chick, and terror filled their hearts. One after another, they threw down the birthday gifts and lay facedown in the snow, begging for mercy.

The black-robed swordsman laughed. "Looks like we won't be having that peace-making meal!"

"You... you..."

Seeing that the other side killed without hesitation, Huang Fugui was already scared witless. The part of him that had been burning with heat instantly went limp, and a foul, fishy smell rose from beneath him as yellow liquid splashed onto the pristine snow.

"Hero, spare my life!" He fell to his knees and kowtowed for mercy.

Zhang Yu smiled. "What relation are you to Huang Bantian?"

"I... I'm Huang Bantian's second son."

"You're going to Black Wind Stockade?"

"Yes, yes. Black Wind Stockade's master, Cao Long, is celebrating his birthday. My father sent me to deliver gifts and offer his congratulations."

"What gifts did you bring?"

Huang Fugui had been scared out of his wits. Desperate to stay alive, he confessed everything honestly. "Pork, mutton, dried fruits for all four seasons, silk and satin, eight hundred taels in banknotes, and an old mountain ginseng."

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment. "Has Cao Long seen you before?"

"Cao Long visited the manor as a guest three years ago. I saw him once."

"Stand up!"

Huang Fugui did as he was told.

Zhang Yu suddenly drew his black sword. Cold light flashed, and several strands of hair were sliced from Huang Fugui's temple. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Huang Fugui stood frozen in place, nearly collapsing to the ground again.

"Are you afraid of death?"

"Afraid... afraid..."

"Is my sword fast?"

"Fast."

"Good. We're going to cause trouble for Cao Long. This has nothing to do with the Huang family. Once we reach Black Wind Stockade, obey every order. Otherwise... my sword can be even faster—so fast you won't even see it. Understand?"

Huang Fugui hurriedly nodded. "I understand. Hero, spare me. I'm willing to cooperate."

Zhang Yu slapped him on the shoulder and laughed loudly. "Not bad. You know how to read the situation."

Liu Dachui looked at the Huang family's tenant farmers lying in the snow like lambs awaiting slaughter, then glanced at the headless corpse. He turned toward Zhang Yu and made a throat-slitting gesture with one palm.

Zhang Yu shook his head. "Send five brothers to escort them to the ruined temple. Keep watch over them for a day, then release them. Remember to give them some travel expenses and dry rations."

"Yes, my lord!"

Liu Dachui muttered inwardly, The envoy is good in every way, but sometimes... he's far too softhearted. His actions don't resemble those of someone from the Demonic Cult at all.

Thanks to Tangtanger for creating the fan art. It pleases me greatly, and I look forward to a picture of 'Lan Hao.'