Is my sword fast? (Extra chapter for Tangtang er)

December 20th, thick snow was falling.

A group of people trudged through the snow.

"How much further to Black Wind Stockade?"

"Young Master, it's only about seven or eight li of mountain road."

"Seven or eight li of mountain road? Damn Cao Long! He had to pick today to celebrate his birthday."

The man, not yet thirty, wore two thick padded jackets but couldn't ward off the cold. He looked back at the procession behind him, carrying half a pig and two fattened sheep, their gifts adorned with red silk. They were struggling through the muddy fields, each step sinking deep, and he felt incredibly annoyed.

"Young Master, please don't say that again. What if Black Wind Stockade hears you..." The man speaking was seven feet tall, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, holding a single-edged saber.

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

Li Ying, walking behind, curled his lips slightly, feeling contempt: Brother-in-law, brother-in-law. It's just that the Huang family sold their daughter to Shennong Gang's leader, Sikong Huan, as a concubine. This borrowed power, and he's proud of it! How ridiculous.

Huang Fugui looked back: "Why aren't you talking? Am I wrong?"

"The Young Master is right. How would Cao Long dare offend the Gang Leader Sikong!"

Li Ying quickly said with a fawning smile: "But we are on Black Wind Stockade's territory. If we really anger these scoundrel bandits, we'll be in trouble immediately. For the sake of... his mother's difficult childbirth, could the Young Master show Cao Long a little face?"

"Hahaha, alright, then for Cao's mother's sake, I'll give him some face."

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

"Li Ying, you're a real talent, you know how to talk. No wonder my old man has seven or eight concubines, but only dotes on your sister. Is it a family trait?"

"This humble one didn't have much schooling. I mainly followed the Old Master and Young Master, picking up some knowledge and gaining a bit of wisdom."

Huang Fugui laughed heartily at the flattery, becoming even happier.

The two, empty-handed, wearing long boots and thick jackets, walked ahead.

The tenant farmers carrying the birthday gifts were miserable. Their single-layer clothes were stuffed with straw, their shoes were tattered, and their bony legs had to carry heavy burdens, stumbling through the wind and snow.

As the group reached a mountain hollow, they suddenly saw dozens of people ahead, carrying steel sabers and exuding a bandit aura, approaching them.

Huang Fugui didn't pay much attention. This was Cloud Mist Mountain, Black Wind Stockade's territory; it would be strange not to encounter bandits.

He smiled at Li Ying: "Cao Long is sensible. He even sent his underlings to meet us down the mountain."

"Young Master, something's not right?"

Li Ying noticed that there were people not only in front but also a rider in the distance behind them, seemingly following them all along.

Seeing the men's unfriendly expressions, Huang Fugui also started to panic: "Is Black Wind Stockade planning to rob us? No, that doesn't make sense. We're here to give Cao Long a gift, why would he rob us?"

Li Ying quickly shouted: "Which heroes are approaching? We are here on the orders of Master Huang Bantian of East Willow Village to wish Cao Long, the leader of Black Wind Stockade, a happy birthday."

The men didn't speak and walked straight towards them, surrounding the Huang family's group.

Li Ying's guess was confirmed. He had accompanied Huang Bantian to Black Wind Stockade several times before, drunk with various leaders and subordinates, and was somewhat familiar with them. These men, however, were all unfamiliar faces.

He placed his hand on his saber hilt and whispered to Huang Fugui: "They are not Black Wind Stockade bandits."

"Who are you to Huang Bantian?" a swordsman in a black robe stepped forward.

Huang Fugui's gaze fell on the tall, voluptuous woman beside him, and he blurted out: "Sikong Huan, the leader of Shennong Gang, is my brother-in-law!"

The swordsman in the black robe smiled: "We know, we know. We're looking for you."

As they approached, Huang Fugui, who was less than 1.7 meters tall, found his gaze fixed on the woman's chest. He felt his mouth go dry and a fire ignite in his lower abdomen.

He had never seen a woman of such height, and she was so curvaceous, a true temptress. He couldn't help but fantasize: If I could spend one night with her, I would die without regret.

Seeing his young master still dazed, Li Ying cupped his hands: "Do you two heroes have some misunderstanding? My Master is on good terms with Cao Long, the 'Earth-Drilling Centipede'. We are very close to Black Wind Stockade. If you have time, you could come up the mountain for a gathering."

The swordsman in the black robe didn't speak, only smiling at Li Ying.

Li Ying understood that their intentions were not good and said: "Sikong Huan, the leader of Shennong Gang, is my Master Huang's son-in-law. If you two have any grievances with the Huang family or Black Wind Stockade, I can ask Gang Leader Sikong to mediate and have a peace talk, how about it?"

A cold glint flashed.

The guard, who had some martial skill, only saw a large, cartwheel-like axe sweep past below his neck. Then, a headless corpse stood in the snow, blood spurting from its neck.

The head landed and rolled to the feet of the tenant farmers carrying the burdens behind.

Seeing the guard Li, whom they usually saw as arrogant, killed like a chicken, they were filled with terror. They immediately unloaded their birthday gifts and prostrated themselves on the snow, begging for mercy.

The swordsman in the black robe laughed: "No peace talk for us then!"

"You... you..."

Huang Fugui, seeing them kill so readily, was already terrified to the point of his heart shattering. The heat he felt earlier instantly subsided, and a foul smell emanated from beneath him. Yellow liquid stained the white snow.

"Good sirs, spare my life." He knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Zhang Yu smiled: "Who are you to Huang Bantian?"

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

"Are you going to Black Wind Stockade?"

"Yes, yes. The leader of Black Wind Stockade, Cao Long, is celebrating his birthday. My father sent me to deliver gifts and congratulate him."

"What gifts did you bring?"

Huang Fugui's courage had completely failed him. He only wanted to survive, so he confessed everything, leaving nothing out: "Pigs, sheep, dried fruits for all seasons, fine silks and satins, and also eight hundred taels in banknotes, and a wild ginseng root."

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and asked, "Has Cao Long met you before?"

"Three years ago, Cao Long visited the manor as a guest and we met once."

"Stand up!"

Huang Fugui did as he was told.

Suddenly, Zhang Yu drew his black sword. The cold light flickered, and a few strands of hair were shaved from the corners of Huang Fugui's temples. All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Huang Fugui stood there stunned, almost collapsing again.

"Are you afraid of death?"

"Afraid... afraid..."

"Is my sword fast?"

"Fast."

"Good. We are going to find trouble with Cao Long. It has nothing to do with the Huang family. Once we are at Black Wind Stockade, do exactly as you are told. Otherwise... my sword can be even faster, so fast you won't be able to see it. Understand?"

Huang Fugui nodded quickly, "I understand, brave sir, spare my life. I am willing to cooperate."

Zhang Yu patted his shoulder and laughed heartily, "Good, you are a sensible person."

Liu Dachui looked at the Huang family's tenant farmers lying on the snow like lambs waiting to be slaughtered. He then looked at the headless corpse and then at Zhang Yu. He made a chopping motion with one hand, indicating to silence them.

Zhang Yu shook his head. "Send five brothers to escort them to the ruined temple. Keep an eye on them for a day, then let them go. Remember to give them some travel expenses and rations."

"Yes, my lord!"

Liu Dachui muttered to himself, The Emissary is good in all aspects, except that sometimes... he is too soft-hearted, not at all like how people from the Demonic Cult behave.

Thanks to Tang Tang Er for creating the fan art, it pleases me greatly. I look forward to seeing fan art of 'Lan Hao'.