Pigs and Dogs

The man holding the sword turned to look at the two youths, then pointed down the slope. "Stand over there."

So Li Yunxin and Qiao Jiaxin slowly walked over beneath the assorted gazes of the escort agency's people.

For a moment, Li Yunxin had considered summoning Ninth Young Master again, just as he had last time. But he knew that demons like Ninth Young Master were moody and capricious, and would never enjoy being disturbed over and over. He had escaped death twice before, but he could not say whether Ninth Young Master might find him "boring" this time and eat him as well.

And even if Ninth Young Master spared him again... at the very least, the girl beside him, Qiao Jiaxin—Li Yunxin bore her no ill will, and even felt a little fondness for her. No one disliked someone who "liked them" for no reason—yet she would probably be killed by Ninth Young Master too.

There was another, more important reason: the swords in these people's hands looked astonishingly similar to those wielded by the two Daoists that day.

Though the weapons of the Great Qing Dynasty all followed certain standard designs, these swords were rather unusual. Their spines were so thin they were nearly invisible, while the blades looked like flat strips of iron. Such weapons were indeed much lighter, but far too lacking in durability—a classic case of losing more than one gained.

Li Yunxin believed these people might have some subtle connection to those two Daoists, and he wanted to see whether he could uncover a clue. Besides, the swordsmen had not initially behaved as though they meant to kill everyone, nor had they shown him any particular attention. For now, he could wait and watch.

Once the two groups came together, the six sword-wielders in Daoist robes began issuing orders.

Strangely, they ordered the escort agency's people to burn the carts and the valuable goods.

The escorts immediately stirred restlessly.

It was commonplace for escorts traveling the martial world to encounter bandits. Generally speaking, those who worked escort routes had to get along with both the righteous and underworld factions. When passing a certain mountain stronghold, they offered a tribute, and the chief would not make things too difficult for them. There were so many escort agencies and so many bandits in the martial world. If every encounter ended in murder and robbery, the rules would collapse. Not only would no one dare do business, but the authorities might even launch a suppression campaign.

On the rare occasions they encountered rule-breakers planning to make one big haul and flee, their target was generally the valuables. No one enjoyed killing people. Not only might it cost them their own lives, they could also face criminal charges; if caught, they would be beheaded and their heads displayed.

Thus, the demands of these six bandits became utterly baffling—they did not want the goods.

Qiao Sifu stood beside Qiao Duanhong and lowered his voice. "Uncle, this is sinister. Should we..."

As he spoke, he glanced at the single-edged saber lying near his feet.

Qiao Duanhong clenched his teeth and let out a breath, then shook his head slightly. "We're no match. It's sinister."

These people's martial skills were sinisterly high.

From the moment the five men appeared by the roadside and exchanged blows to the moment they were forced to stand completely still, only three breaths had passed. They had not even had time to send out a warning.

Though the thin swords in these people's hands had struck only weapons, Qiao Duanhong knew that if they truly meant to kill, every person in the escort agency would now have a bloody hole through their throats, lying stiffly on the ground.

In the martial world, these six were already second-rate experts. Put them in any small gang, and each would be a hall master or incense master—how could they have gathered together to do something like this?

At that thought, he could not help glancing at Li Yunxin. Everyone else in the caravan had a known background; only this youth had come from nowhere. But he immediately dismissed the idea—when the youth had walked over, the six bandits had shown no special reaction.

After running escort missions for so many years, this was the first time Qiao Duanhong had been completely at a loss.

In the end, he sighed, hardened his heart, and said, "Burn it."

It was not that they lacked courage; they were simply afraid of death. Who was not afraid of dying? Especially when most of them were related by blood or marriage. He himself might be able to tangle with one of them, and with luck perhaps escape. But with so many people... once they started fighting, likely none would get away—a dead-end situation.

After saying this, Qiao Duanhong stepped forward. "I am Qiao Duanhong of the Hongfu Escort Agency in Luo City. Friends in the martial world think highly of me and call me the Water-Cleaving Blade.

"Today, you gentlemen have opened shop, and we admit defeat. If you want these things burned, then we will burn them. But if you gentlemen seek something or someone, you may say so plainly. If there is anything I can help with..."

"Shut up." One swordsman with high cheekbones and narrow eyes spoke. "One more word, and you die."

Qiao Duanhong's face immediately flushed crimson, and he nearly charged forward. After so many years on escort duty, this was the first time he had suffered such treatment. But in the end, he forcibly suppressed the anger surging into his heart, cupped his hands, and said no more.

"Burn it," Qiao Duanhong repeated, glaring viciously at the man.

But the other man merely drew a fleeting cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

Li Yunxin's heart skipped a beat.

They intended to kill them.

No matter how well someone disguised himself, subtle expressions would always faithfully reveal his inner thoughts. Li Yunxin looked at the man with high cheekbones and narrow eyes and realized that while he appeared cold and composed, the way he looked at these people truly was the way one looked at the dead.

That man believed they were doomed to die sooner or later.

This had been one of the skills Li Yunxin relied upon to make a living in his previous life. He would not call himself peerless at it, but in this world, there was probably no one better.

In the end, the fire was lit. Then the six swordsmen herded the dozen or so people in the caravan together and led them into the wilderness beside the road.

Li Yunxin walked in the middle of the group, with Liu Laodao beside him. The old Daoist was somewhat flustered now, muttering "aiya, aiya" without pause, mostly lamenting how unlucky he was to have joined this caravan.

After listening for a while, Qiao Sifu could not help turning back to glare at him. "What are you babbling about? Didn't you say you were the sect master of the Dongxuan Sect? At a time like this, you don't even dare let out a fart!"

Liu Laodao sighed and ignored him. He was probably too worried about his own little life to have the mind to argue.

Qiao Sifu's anger flared, and he glared at Li Yunxin again. "An embroidered pillow. A man who can't even protect my little sister—I'm the sort of woman you should protect even at the cost of your life! Bah!"

Li Yunxin smiled. "Mm."

His attitude only made Qiao Sifu angrier, yet he did not know what else to say. He could only spit again and turn away.

Standing beside Qiao Sifu, Qiao Jiaxin looked at Li Yunxin, then turned her face away too.

The girl actually felt a little disappointed. She knew the youth looked like a scholar, thin and weak, with little strength, but... how could he have no spirit either...?

She felt that if Li Yunxin had argued with her fourth brother just now, even for a few words, she would have felt much better.

The six men driving them onward did not interfere with their conversation. They simply wore arrogant, stiff faces, like a few solemn shepherds.

Qiao Duanhong lowered his voice so the people around him could hear. "Watch the situation. If something goes wrong... we cannot simply wait to be slaughtered."

He glanced at his daughter, Qiao Jiaxin, gritted his teeth, and said, "If they make a move... then listen to me. We fight for our lives."

Qiao Jiaxin pressed her lips together and nodded.

They walked for a full half hour.

They went deep into the forest wilderness, where the trees around them grew ever taller. In the end, their canopies blotted out the sky and sun, and darkness fell ahead of time.

The farther they went, the more panicked they became. Just as Qiao Duanhong could no longer endure it and wanted to test whether he could fight for a way out and lead a few people through, the high-cheekboned, narrow-eyed swordsman said gravely, "Stay your steps. Rest for now."

The wording was somewhat strange, but everyone understood what he meant.

Li Yunxin frowned slightly, feeling as though he had thought of something.

"Stay your steps" was not the right phrase here. Should it not have been "halt"?

"Rest for now" was fine, but saying it to a group of captives was far too polite.

Li Yunxin could tell that after saying those words, the man seemed somewhat pleased with himself—an emotion the man himself likely had not even noticed.

These fellows, hm...

In the words of Li Yunxin's era, they were trying to act tough.

Or trying to play the aloof and cool sort. So they refused to speak properly and insisted on using lofty phrases. Unfortunately, their own standards were probably limited, making the result neither fish nor fowl.

As the only calm observer among the captives, Li Yunxin felt he had grasped some of the threads. These six men were now putting on airs, yet could not properly adapt to the roles they were playing. That meant the reason or condition allowing them to "put on airs" had only appeared recently.

There were other traces as well. The six men had kept stern faces while driving them along, constantly trying to look as though they had no interest in them whatsoever, as though they regarded them as ants. But their eyes betrayed them—when they saw the captives bickering among themselves, several of them had clearly seemed rather pleased by their misfortune. That was not how someone with a heart still as water should behave.

They were even wearing Daoist robes.

From what Li Yunxin knew of this world, if there was one force capable of making the strongmen of the martial world revere, worship, and even deliberately imitate it...

It was probably the Daoist lineage and the Sword Sect.

He felt that he had guessed correctly. These six people might truly have some connection to those two Daoists.

No one knew that a single sentence had led the youth to so many deductions. They were all trying to form judgments of their own.

When the six men said they would rest, Qiao Duanhong waved a hand. "Rest awhile."

No matter what, he was still the backbone of this escort agency. He tried to make himself appear calmer and more composed. He thought that perhaps this would let the six men understand his value and "weight," and that they might be able to negotiate properly afterward.

Night slowly descended, and a breeze rose through the forest. A quarter of an hour later, two campfires were lit. The escort agency's people gathered beneath a towering ancient tree so broad it took several people to encircle it. The six bandits sat somewhat farther away around their own fire, speaking occasionally. From time to time, they cast dark looks at the captives, their gazes contemptuous and cold, as though they were looking at pigs and dogs.

They seemed to be waiting for something.