Swordplay Saves Lives, Finally Reaching Jade City

The Hundred-Forged Steel Blade, coated in a layer of crimson light, seemed like a divine weapon capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud.

The headless monster, previously impervious to blades and spears, had actually had its leg severed by a single strike.

The blade's light flashed and vanished.

With one leg severed, the monster immediately lost its balance and toppled forward, its twin claws flailing wildly.

Li Qing's eyes brightened; he would strike while the iron was hot.

He leaped up from the ground and lunged toward the falling, headless monster.

He brought his blade down in a slash toward its waist.

The sharp edge flashed.

The headless monster was severed into two pieces at the waist.

But it was not over yet; the monster suddenly pushed off the ground with its hands and lunged straight at Li Qing.

Looking at the claws flying toward his face and the hideous, twisted visage, a chill shot straight to Li Qing's brain.

He flipped his blade upward in a rising arc while simultaneously arching his back into a bridge, letting the monster soar over him.

By the time the headless monster's upper torso hit the ground, it had already been split down the middle.

The monster's body was still writhing like a worm, making one's cold sweat pour out.

Wang Kuohai and the Escort Guards all retreated a few steps, their faces full of terror.

Li Qing breathed a slight sigh of relief; at the very least, the monster posed no threat for the moment.

He turned his gaze toward Wang Kuohai. "Use fire to burn it."

Wang Kuohai immediately snapped out of his daze and shouted to the surviving Escort Guards beside him, "Quick, use fire to burn it away!"

The Escort Guards hurried toward the campfire, each pulling out a burning piece of wood before walking toward the monster.

They thrust the burning parts of the wood directly onto the monster, and its clothes ignited instantly.

Other Escort Guards gathered dry branches from the surroundings and threw them all onto the monster.

Soon, three pillars of flame rose up. The monster struggled and twisted within the fire, but having lost its ability to move, it could only be continuously scorched by the flames.

In the blink of an eye, ten minutes passed, and the monster in the flames stopped moving entirely.

Wang Kuohai said with a complex expression, "This looks like the bandit we killed."

Li Qing nodded; he had also recognized the clothes on the creature.

They were clearly the same ones worn by the bandits they had encountered earlier that day.

"I have traveled the world for decades, yet this is the first time I have encountered something so bizarre."

"To run into two legendary, monstrous occurrences in a single day."

"I truly didn't check the almanac before leaving; I must check it next time."

The episode of the night passed, and half an hour later, the corpses had been burned to ashes.

Li Qing held the Hundred-Forged Steel Blade, continuously stirring the remains in the fire.

He wanted to see if he could find the kind of orb left behind by the monster that had died at the post station.

After a thorough search, however, he found nothing of the sort.

"It seems not every monster leaves such a thing behind."

Wang Kuohai stood to the side and asked with some trepidation.

"Mr. Qin, are we still staying here tonight?"

Li Qing looked at the Escort Guards nearby as they cleaned up the bodies of their fallen companions.

Unfortunately, two Escort Guards had been killed in the attack.

He shook his head slightly and said, "Let us travel through the night."

"Things seem very unsettled lately; the appearance of these demons and ghosts seems to be an omen."

Through his conversation with Wang Kuohai, Li Qing felt that the encounters along this journey were absolutely abnormal.

He only wanted to reach Jade City as quickly as possible and get some proper rest.

Upon hearing Li Qing's words, Wang Kuohai was visibly startled, his expression turning grave as he replied, "Very well."

Click, click, click.

If you cannot find the book by its title, try searching for the author; it may have simply been renamed!

Boom, boom, boom.

The sound of horse-drawn carriages echoed from afar, kicking up a cloud of dust. The escort team, bearing the great banner of the All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency, arrived from the distance, weary and travel-worn.

By now, the sky was dim. Having traveled for a full day and night, the people of the All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency had finally reached Jade City.

The city gates were about to close, and there were few people entering or leaving.

However, there were many refugees sitting or lying on the ground all around the city gates.

Hope flickered in their eyes, as if they longed to enter the city.

Yet, fear also permeated their gazes, and they dared not even approach the city gates.

Fully armed city guards stood watch there like statues of death.

The arrival of the escort team drew the attention of the guards.

The guards intercepted the escort wagons and began checking everyone's identification.

The members of the All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency had all come from within the city, and each possessed their own travel permits.

Seeing this, Li Qing frowned.

He had left Qingshi County without a travel permit, and in the current situation, he feared he would not be able to get in.

Wang Kuohai seemed to notice something and whispered, "Mr. Qin, do not worry. Leave it to me."

At this moment, a city guard had already reached the carriage and spotted Li Qing inside.

"You in the carriage, where is your travel permit?" the guard asked in a cold, stern voice.

Wang Kuohai, standing to the side, was already all smiles as he said, "My Lord, the permit is right here. Please, take a look."

As he spoke, he surreptitiously slipped a silver ingot into the guard's hand—at least one tael.

The guard accepted the silver without a change in expression and turned to the others, shouting, "Let them pass!"

The guards quickly dispersed, and the escort team successfully entered Jade City.

The evening in Jade City was a blaze of brilliant lights.

As the capital of Huanglong Prefecture, it served as the political and transportation hub for the entire region.

With a population reaching one million, every trade and industry flourished here.

Wang Kuohai and Li Qing sat in the carriage, and Wang Kuohai said, "Mr. Qin, do you have a place to stay in Jade City?"

"If not, why not stay at our All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency for the time being?"

"I have plenty of men there who can see to your daily needs properly."

Hearing Wang Kuohai's invitation, Li Qing pondered for a moment and said, "That wouldn't be very appropriate, would it?"

Wang Kuohai quickly straightened his expression and said, "Mr. Qin saved us three times along the way; this is a life-saving debt of gratitude."

"Walking the path of the jianghu is all about gratitude, righteousness, and settling scores."

"Repay kindness with kindness, and enmity with enmity."

"A mere temporary stay is nothing worth mentioning."

"As long as you are willing, Mr. Qin, you could stay for a lifetime, and I, Wang Kuohai, would not utter a single word of complaint."

Wang Kuohai spoke with such sincerity that Li Qing found it truly difficult to refuse.

I am new to Jade City and unfamiliar with the place, and with the situation in Qingshi County, I have no idea what to expect.

Staying at the All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency is not a bad idea.

If I need to inquire about anything, Wang Kuohai should be able to help.

Having made up his mind, Li Qing looked at Wang Kuohai and said, "Very well, then I shall impose upon you for a few days."

Wang Kuohai beamed with joy. "Hahaha! Mr. Qin, your presence is an honor for our All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency."

About a quarter of an hour later, they arrived before a grand estate with high walls.

Li Qing stepped down from the carriage and saw a gate framed by grey tiles and walls.

The plaque above the gate bore the four gilded characters: All-Under-Heaven Escort Agency.

By now, the gates were already open, and a group of imposing Escort Guards stood on both sides.

Many people were coming out from within to welcome them.

Wang Kuohai gestured slightly toward Li Qing. "Mr. Qin, please!"

Li Qing smiled faintly. "After you!"