Swordsman

Two years ago, upon arriving at the border of the Central Plains, Gu Shenwei heard many legends about Golden Peng Fortress and the Unrivaled King. At the time, he greatly admired this notorious assassin organization from the Western Regions. He casually mentioned wanting to see the Unrivaled King's true face, which even earned him mockery from his second brother.

In the Western Regions, the Gu Family had no chance to get entangled with Golden Peng Fortress. Gu Shenwei soon forgot about the fortress and its king. He never imagined that it would be linked to the annihilation of his family.

The "Butcher King" that his father and brothers frequently mentioned after the masked intruders stormed their estate that night was actually the "Unrivaled King." Gu Lun had already guessed that Golden Peng Fortress intended harm to their manor, which was why he deliberately "drove away" his daughter and youngest son.

Why did Golden Peng Fortress want to annihilate the Gu Family? Why?

Gu Shenwei couldn't figure it out. For the past two years in the Western Regions, the Gu Family had barely interacted with outsiders. How could they have offended the "King of Assassins" of the Western Regions?

The sound of hooves approached. A brown horse galloped from the mountain pass to the north, carrying a rider in a grey cloak. The bandits saw him with initial joy, followed by disappointment. This wasn't the person they were waiting for. If not for the ban on crossing the border, someone would have already gone to demand a toll from this rider.

The grey-cloaked rider suddenly saw the group of ferocious-looking people gathered by the roadside, but he showed no surprise or panic, urging his horse forward at a trot.

Whoosh. Someone threw a flying knife at the rider. People couldn't cross the border, but weapons could.

The rider's grey cloak swept by like a cloud. He raised his right arm, catching the flying knife, and casually placed it in a leather pouch. "Received."

As the cloak was lifted, a long sword was revealed, hanging at the horse's side.

"Tianshan Swordsman!"

Someone in the crowd shouted. Nearly a hundred bandits seemed spellbound, urging their horses back two steps almost simultaneously. The one who threw the flying knife didn't dare make a sound. The captives on the ground, some understanding and some confused, all retreated, affected by the palpable fear.

Gu Shenwei stood at the very back, almost knocked over by the people in front of him, but he still stood on tiptoe to look. He had never heard of the "Tianshan Swordsman" and didn't know what everyone was afraid of.

In front of him were two boys of similar age. They clearly understood the terror of "Tianshan" as much as the bandits did, keeping their heads down and hiding behind the adults.

The Tianshan rider revealed a faint smile. His cheeks were ruddy from the wind, snow, and sun. He habitually squinted, as if always searching for something.

"Flying Eagle Gang members, step forward."

His voice was not loud, nor was it harsh, but it carried an irresistible power. Gu Shenwei saw the scarred bandit named "Flying Eagle" turn pale.

The Flying Eagle Gang was a small faction, with only six members. Calling it a "gang" was a stretch, but Flying Eagle, as the leader, couldn't cower.

"Flying Eagle is here. This is Golden Peng Fortress territory. What do you dare to do?"

The grey-cloaked rider glanced back at the empty wilderness. "Still one step away. And when have you ever heard of a man from Tianshan fearing the 'Butcher King'?"

Gu Shenwei's heart leaped with joy. So, the "Unrivaled King" had enemies. He had always thought Golden Peng Fortress was untouchable in the Western Regions. This way, his hope for revenge seemed much greater. He should find a way to join this faction from Tianshan.

Flying Eagle's face turned even paler. The few brothers in his gang also nervously gripped their knife hilts. The land east of the road was Golden Peng Fortress territory. As bandits, none of them could cross the border, nor would they receive protection.

Flying Eagle gritted his teeth and shouted, "Brothers, are we the Eighty-One Tianshan Gangs just going to stand by? Are we going to let them bully us without a word?"

The other bandits glanced at each other, but no one responded. They were all small gangs, barely making a living. This was the first time they had heard of the "Eighty-One Tianshan Gangs," and they felt no sense of shared outrage or the need to draw their swords.

The Tianshan rider let out a cold laugh. "The 'Eighty-One Tianshan Gangs,' what a grand name. I'm quite scared. But I'm only looking for the 'Flying Eagle Gang.' It has nothing to do with anyone else."

This statement reassured the other bandits. Not only did no one step forward, but they even retreated further, keeping their distance from the "Flying Eagle Gang."

Flying Eagle realized he was in a desperate situation. But he was a battle-hardened bandit, a remnant of the "golden age" of rampant brigandage over a decade ago. A stubborn ferocity remained in his bones. If he couldn't avoid it, he would fight head-on. Begging for mercy was useless.

Flying Eagle spat, the last bit of filth from his throat.

He dismounted, drew his saber. His brothers followed suit. The six lined up, their six curved sabers gleaming. The spotless white blades contrasted sharply with their filthy attire.

The Tianshan rider smiled with satisfaction, removed his cloak, and placed it on the saddle. Then, he too dismounted and drew the long greatsword from the horse's side.

The blade of the greatsword was almost as wide as an adult's palm. The tip touched the ground, and the hilt reached the rider's chest. The blade had noticeable nicks, as if its owner had used it to chop firewood.

"My name is Long Feidu."

"What's your name is none of my business. Since you're from Tianshan, we'll fight to the death." Flying Eagle, with his five brothers, slowly advanced, gradually widening the distance and forming an arc to surround the rider, Long Feidu.

"I must let you know who killed you."

Long Feidu gripped the sword with both hands, the tip still resting on the ground.

The six members of the "Flying Eagle Gang" pressed forward. They didn't have the habit of announcing their names before killing. Bandits were more accustomed to Golden Peng Fortress's principle: use any means necessary, kill first.

Gu Shenwei, however, felt a strong liking for the rider named Long Feidu. He tried to stand on tiptoe to see more clearly, but the two boys in front of him seemed terrified and kept ducking behind the adults. Connected by a rope, Gu Shenwei couldn't stand up straight either and couldn't see what was happening outside.

A loud shout, from whom, he didn't know. The clash of weapons rang out twice, then silence. The scene didn't sound intense at all, more like a blacksmith idly striking tools.

But the surrounding bandits and captives cried out in unison.

Gu Shenwei jumped forcefully, peering over the heads in front of him. He saw Long Feidu raising his greatsword high. Five of the six "Flying Eagle Gang" members had already fallen. Only "Gang Leader" Flying Eagle stood dumbfounded opposite him, his curved saber dropped on the ground. He comically raised his left arm to shield his face, as if to block the sharp blade with his body.

Although it was just a glimpse, Gu Shenwei firmly remembered the scene. Years later, he never forgot it. What impressed him most was not Long Feidu, standing like a god with his sword, but the terrified Flying Eagle, who had completely lost the will to resist.

At that very moment, an idea suddenly formed in his mind: killing someone was this easy. All the swordplay, evasive maneuvers, and brilliant techniques he had practiced were now useless and childish.

Gu Shenwei only had time for a fleeting glance before being pulled down by the two boys in front of him. The boy closest to him glared at him, as if warning him not to move.

The muffled sound of the sharp sword striking a blunt object. Gu Shenwei heard it clearly this time, followed by the sound of bodies falling. He heard it all.

"Long Feidu of Tianshan, who seeks revenge, can find me. Now, or in the future."

No one wanted to avenge the "Flying Eagle Gang." The bandits only thought of one thing: never provoke this person. Flying Eagle must have been out of his mind to make an enemy of him.

The captives in front stirred. Gu Shenwei saw through the gaps that Long Feidu was walking towards their direction. His greatsword was not yet sheathed and was still dripping blood onto the ground.

Was this person going to attack the captives too? Gu Shenwei wasn't as afraid as the other captives; instead, he felt a surge of excitement. He wanted to tell Long Feidu his story and his deep-seated hatred, and even wanted to beg him to be his master and seek help from Tianshan.

He didn't expect it to be difficult. He believed that the appearance of the Tianshan rider was also part of "divine will."

But the two boys in front of him dropped down too suddenly, almost pulling everyone in front and behind them down. Gu Shenwei looked at the trembling figures of the two boys in surprise and suddenly understood. Long Feidu was coming for these two boys. Their panic, far exceeding that of others, explained everything.

In Gu Shenwei's eyes, Long Feidu was like the heroes and chivalrous knights of legend, who punished the wicked and aided the weak. He couldn't understand why the two youths were so terrified.

Long Feidu walked slowly. As his gaze swept over them, everyone seemed to shrink, and he stopped at the end of the line.

To Gu Shenwei's surprise, the two youths no longer seemed afraid. They straightened their bodies, standing taller than the adults in front of them, and looked directly at the sword-wielding knight.

Long Feidu narrowed his eyes further, but his expression remained unchanged as he raised his longsword with both hands.

Seen from this close distance, the longsword appeared even wider and heavier. It didn't need a blade; its sheer weight could easily kill anyone.

With one downward strike, a whole row of heads might fall. Yet, the captives, like the fallen Flying Eagle, were too terrified to move, resigned to their fate.

Only Gu Shenwei showed no fear. Instead, he took half a step forward and looked earnestly at Long Feidu.

"You come from Great Snow Mountain, so you must be a true knight."

Gu Shenwei had never heard anyone speak of Great Snow Mountain, but that didn't affect his judgment of Long Feidu.

"No, I am just a Swordsman."

"Even a Swordsman shouldn't kill the innocent. Only... Golden Peng Fortress kills people so casually."

A sharp glint flashed in Long Feidu's eyes, as if he were genuinely moved by the words. But then, his weathered face immediately turned as cold and hard as a snow mountain. He held his breath, his grip on the sword tightening.

Gu Shenwei felt the ground beneath him vanish and his heart seem to stop. For a few unnecessary words, he was about to die alongside the two strangers.

Long Feidu's longsword slashed down diagonally. This strike would have severed more than one head, but he changed his mind mid-swing and turned to parry a blow.

An arrow snapped in two, falling at his feet.

"Attacking from hiding, you must be a lackey of the Unrivaled King."

"Audacious! Is that little worm from Great Snow Mountain wielding the sword?"

A knight in black emerged from the mountain pass to the north, followed by two others. Each carried a large banner, black with red trim, embroidered with a golden Great Peng Bird in the center.