Forge-Iron Manor

"Oh?" Wei Yu's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "What kind of bandits are they? Why are they hunting you, miss?"

"They're nobody remarkable, just a few petty rogues from the jianghu. As for why they're after me..."

Cheng Jingxue lightly toyed with the long hair hanging to her waist. "They coveted my beauty and wanted me to become the wife of their mountain stronghold. I would rather die than submit, so they've been chasing me ever since."

Wei Yu was filled with righteous indignation at her words. Thumping his chest, he declared, "Rest assured, miss. If I encounter villains like that, I, Wei Yu, will certainly not let them off. I will keep you safe."

"Oh? Does Young Master Wei truly have such skill?"

Wei Yu straightened his back proudly.

"Of course."

"Good. Then I must thank you in advance, Young Master Wei." Cheng Jingxue smiled.

At the sight of the beauty's smile, Wei Yu felt strength welling up within him. He wished he could show Cheng Jingxue a few of his skills right then and there.

Just then, a burst of commotion came from outside, followed by the inn's front doors being kicked open.

A fierce wind swept snowflakes into the hall, instantly blowing away the little warmth that had so painstakingly gathered inside.

The waiter had just stepped forward to take a look when he was frightened into retreating again and again.

Several burly men walked in through the doorway.

They were all tall and powerfully built, with vicious-looking faces. They were clearly jianghu men, so the waiter naturally did not dare approach them.

The moment they entered the hall, they spotted Cheng Jingxue sitting in the corner and shouted.

"Demoness, you really were hiding here! You made us search long enough."

Cheng Jingxue sighed softly when she saw the men.

"Forge-Iron Manor really is persistent. Half a month has passed, and you still refuse to give up?"

"Cut the nonsense. Hand over the item now, or you'll regret it," the leading burly man barked.

Cheng Jingxue ignored him and turned to Wei Yu instead.

"Young Master Wei, these are the people I mentioned who have been pursuing me. Can you send them away for me?"

The sight of those tall, vigorous men had made Wei Yu somewhat apprehensive.

Yet for some reason, when he heard Cheng Jingxue's words, boundless courage suddenly surged within him.

"Of course."

With that, Wei Yu rose to his feet and said coldly to the men.

"Didn't you hear what Miss Cheng just said? She told you to leave at once, or don't blame me for being rude."

"Where did this green brat come from? Get lost!"

The men did not waste words with Wei Yu. The leader took a large stride forward and threw a punch straight at him.

Wei Yu shouted, "Good timing!"

He raised his fist to meet it.

Bang.

A dull thud rang out.

Their fists collided. Pain flashed across Wei Yu's face, and he staggered back several steps uncontrollably.

"A second-realm martial artist?" Wei Yu's eyes filled with shock.

He never expected that some random burly man would be a martial artist who had completed Tendon Transformation.

But the men gave Wei Yu no time to react. The burly man immediately kicked toward Wei Yu's lower abdomen.

If that kick landed, Wei Yu would be severely wounded even if it did not kill him.

Wei Yu dodged to the side and barely avoided it, but in the next instant, the man drove an elbow toward his face with a howl of wind.

Wei Yu was terrified out of his wits. He crouched down with all his strength, and the elbow grazed his scalp as it passed.

"D-Don't fight! We can talk this out!" Wei Yu could not help shouting.

But the man pressed his advantage and ignored his explanation entirely, suddenly driving up a knee.

This time, there was no way Wei Yu could dodge.

"Ah..."

"Show mercy!"

Two cries rang out at once.

The scream came from Wei Yu as he was sent flying by the blow. The shout for mercy came from Luo Qiang, who had just rushed over after hearing the commotion.

Unfortunately, he was a step too late.

With a bang, Wei Yu crashed into the rear wall. He opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood, then slowly collapsed to his knees and could no longer move.

Luo Qiang's face turned ashen. He stared fixedly at the burly men and Cheng Jingxue, who sat nearby.

"Gentlemen, why did you strike so viciously?"

"Heh. Forge-Iron Manor is handling business. If anyone is to blame, blame your subordinate for lacking ability yet insisting on sticking his nose in."

Forge-Iron Manor!

At the mention of that name, Luo Qiang's heart jolted.

Wei Yu and the others might not have known it, but as an old jianghu hand who had escorted goods for years, Luo Qiang knew Forge-Iron Manor all too well.

It was one of the foremost weapons workshops in Dancing Elephant City, even in all of Cloudsky Commandery.

It specialized in forging all kinds of weapons, especially sabers and swords.

Its manor lord had even reached the Skin Tempering realm, a genuine fourth-realm martial artist.

Luo Qiang naturally did not dare offend such a colossal force.

In fact, let alone him, even Chief Escort Meng Lei would have to treat these people with the utmost courtesy if he were here.

Zhao Ya noticed Luo Qiang's expression and silently committed the name Forge-Iron Manor to memory. Then he looked toward Wei Yu in the distance.

Someone had already gone over to check on him. Wei Yu lay motionless on the ground, his face as white as paper. Zhao Ya could not help shaking his head inwardly.

No one else could be blamed for this. Wei Yu had only himself to blame for overestimating his own abilities.

Did he really think that gaining a little reputation at Prosperity Escort Agency meant he could roam the jianghu as he pleased?

This lesson could not have been more profound.

Zhao Ya silently warned himself.

By then, the burly men had already surrounded Cheng Jingxue.

"Cheng, our manor lord said that as long as you obediently return that Meteoric Iron Saber, he can let bygones be bygones and stop making trouble for you. How about it?" the leader said coldly.

"Heh, you make it sound so simple. That Meteoric Iron Saber was personally given to me by your young manor lord. What, are you planning to go back on your word now?" Cheng Jingxue said calmly.

"Demoness, that was never the young manor lord's intention. You deceived him by pretending you would marry him, which was why he gave you the manor's greatest treasure. Hand it over now, and both sides can save face. Otherwise, Forge-Iron Manor will pursue this with you to the bitter end."

"Fine. Then come at me. Let me see what you call pursuing something to the bitter end." Cheng Jingxue sneered.

The moment she finished speaking, the burly men attacked at once. Their fist winds surged, shattering the cups, dishes, and table on the spot.

Yet Cheng Jingxue, seated at the center of the storm, did not panic in the slightest. Instead, she slowly raised her head and smiled brilliantly.

That smile was like a celestial maiden descending into the world, bewitchingly charming.

In an instant, every burly man within her gaze froze mid-punch, confusion appearing on their faces.

It lasted only an instant, but that was enough.

In that instant, Cheng Jingxue leaped into the air, becoming a streak of white as she darted toward the exit.

"Stop her!" the leading man roared.

Two of them reached into the leather cases on their backs, drew hand crossbows, and pulled the triggers at Cheng Jingxue in midair.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Crossbow bolts shot toward Cheng Jingxue at tremendous speed.

But Cheng Jingxue suddenly made a sharp turn in midair, tracing a wide arc before charging straight toward Zhao Ya and the others.

Luo Qiang's expression changed drastically, and he immediately shouted, "Get down!"

In truth, Zhao Ya needed no warning. He had already dodged aside.

The other escort hands, however, were not nearly so quick to react.

Cheng Jingxue was already rushing toward them, and the men from Forge-Iron Manor pulled their crossbow triggers again.

More than a dozen bolts tore through the air, indiscriminately attacking without regard for whether innocent people were caught in the way.

Zhao Ya's gaze sharpened. He kicked the table before him.

The thick solid-wood table flew into the air, blocking the rain of arrows coming straight at them.

Only then did the escort hands react, scrambling away in fright.

And in that moment, with Zhao Ya and the others obstructing Forge-Iron Manor, Cheng Jingxue smashed through a window and fled, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

"Chase her!"

The burly men from Forge-Iron Manor all rushed out after her.