North Sea Slays Flood Dragon, Encountering Horse Bandits

"What is this...?"

Chen Mu looked at it in surprise, accepting the saber with both hands and solemnly thanking Liu Qingcang.

Unlike the Goosefeather Saber he currently used, this was also a single-edged saber, yet it felt exceedingly heavy in his hands.

Without waiting for Chen Mu to examine it closely, Liu Qingcang spoke again:

"This saber is named Dragon-Slayer. It was used by our founding patriarch when he roamed the martial world, and he once used it to slay a flood dragon in the Northern Sea."

"Later, he joined the army, switched to fist arts, and created the Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art. Since then, few among our sect's descendants have used sabers."

"Now that you have entered our sect and are skilled with the saber, take it. Do not tarnish our founding patriarch's name, and never rely on a sharp weapon to commit deeds that outrage Heaven and reason."

Chen Mu listened carefully to the instructions, astonishment filling his heart.

A saber named Dragon-Slayer? Slaying a flood dragon in the Northern Sea?

He found himself somewhat curious about that founding patriarch known only by a single name.

Chen Mu had heard of the Northern Sea, but he did not know where it was.

Could creatures like flood dragons truly exist in this world?

And what kind of man could rely on a saber to slay one?

But this was not the time to investigate. He gripped the saber solemnly and cupped his fists.

"This disciple will remember."

Liu Qingcang waved a hand after he spoke.

"Enough. Go out. Remember, do not spread word of this. Carry on as usual."

Chen Mu understood Liu Qingcang's meaning. Without saying anything further, he left the room carrying the saber.

By the time he stood in the courtyard again, the sky was already fully bright.

It was early in the Hour of the Dragon. All the martial hall's disciples had awakened and were preparing for today's trip out of the city.

Chen Mu did not hurry away. By the morning light, he examined the Dragon-Slayer Saber in his palm.

Its sheath was straight, no wider than three fingers and roughly three feet two inches long. It was a straight saber.

Chen Mu gripped the hilt. Its texture was strange and subtle, like strips cut from icy fish skin and wound in circles, forming deep black patterns over the entire handle.

The material was far too peculiar, and countless thoughts flashed through Chen Mu's mind.

This saber had slain a flood dragon. Could the wrapping around its hilt be the flood dragon's hide?

Chen Mu could not know. He steadied the hilt and drew the blade.

A snowy, dazzling cold gleam flashed, dazzling the eye.

The saber seemed not to have left its sheath in a long time. The moment its edge was bared, it let out a clear, ringing cry, like a dragon's roar!

Its blade also hummed and trembled as though it possessed a spirit.

A sharp light flared in Chen Mu's eyes. He only felt the Profound Yin True Qi within him circulate of its own accord, flowing into the saber without the slightest obstruction.

The trembling of the blade was clearly caused by his True Qi activating itself, amplifying its power by nearly half!

"Excellent saber!"

Chen Mu smiled in satisfaction, sheathed Dragon-Slayer, and strode toward the front courtyard.

Since it was a fine saber, it needed to drink deep of enemy blood. It was time to leave the city and head north.

With this sharp weapon that had slain a flood dragon in hand, his combat strength rose by another thirty percent.

Chen Mu had known from that brief test that, with his meager True Qi amplified, he could even slash out saber qi that left the blade at full force, delivering a killing blow.

If he faced an ordinary Qi Accumulation Martial Master like Zhao Liqiu again, Chen Mu would no longer need to rack his brains and spit out a sword to kill his enemy.

He only needed to face them head-on.

Chen Mu was confident that he could cut such an opponent down on the spot within thirty breaths!

That put him in high spirits, and even his steps became lighter.

"Senior Brother Chen, I finally found you!"

The moment he stepped into the second courtyard, Liu Meng came hurrying over.

"Oh? What did you need me for? Has Senior Brother Qin finished preparing to leave the city?"

Chen Mu slowed slightly. Once Liu Meng reached him, he took him along toward the front courtyard.

Qin Tieya should have finished packing his luggage by now.

Yet Liu Meng shook his head, leaned close, and said nervously:

"It's not about Senior Brother Qin. I went out to buy supplies just now and heard some news on the road!"

"Senior Brother, did you know that wicked woman from the Li Residence died suddenly last night!"

"I heard that young miss had dressed as a man and spent the night in a brothel, teasing the prostitutes. Then some villain from who knew where broke in, stripped her naked, violated her to death, and even burned the body... Tsk, tsk..."

Chen Mu's expression stiffened slightly at those words.

How could he not know? But what was with these rumors afterward?

He had clearly been upholding justice. How had he become some flower-plucking thief?

"Ahem... Such a thing happened? The world's morals truly are declining by the day!"

Putting on an astonished expression and raising his brows, Chen Mu gave a few perfunctory replies in an even tone.

Liu Meng was somewhat puzzled by his reaction.

He had thought that after Chen Mu had been offended by that vicious woman yesterday, hearing this news would surely make him secretly gloat.

He had not expected him to be so calm.

But then a bolt of thunder flashed through Liu Meng's mind.

No way? How could there be such a coincidence in this world?

That woman had just offended Ninth Senior Brother yesterday, and today she had died a violent death. Yet he acted as though it was nothing strange.

Could it be...

Whatever he had thought of, Liu Meng's pupils trembled, and he looked at Chen Mu as though he had seen a ghost or a god.

"What are you standing around for? Hurry up. Don't make Senior Brother Qin wait too long."

Chen Mu found it rather baffling and called him along to find Qin Tieya.

Startled by the rebuke, Liu Meng shuddered all over. He no longer dared let his thoughts run wild and hurried after him.

"Senior Brother, walk slowly. I'll help you lead your horse."

Before long, the two arrived at the front courtyard.

A convoy had already gathered there. Qin Tieya was directing the disciples as they loaded goods onto the carts.

Chen Mu swept his gaze over them and found that they were loading food and drink.

"Senior Brother Qin, what is this?"

Somewhat confused, he stepped forward, cupped his fists, and asked.

Seeing him arrive, Qin Tieya immediately told everyone to finish preparing the convoy on their own, then turned back with a smile.

"Junior Brother, you're here."

"It's a long story. Go lead your horse first. I'll explain it in detail on the road once we're out of the city."

Chen Mu did not dwell on it. He took Liu Meng to the stable by the eastern wall.

Half an hour later, outside the north city gate.

Chen Mu rode at the head of the group, galloping onto the official road.

Behind him followed more than a dozen mounted Martial Masters, along with three baggage wagons.

Qin Tieya was dressed like an escort master, guarding the middle of the convoy.

"Senior Brother, are we going to Luo Family Fort like this?"

Chen Mu slowed his horse and came alongside Qin Tieya, riding abreast with him.

Qin Tieya had already explained the plan to him on the road.

This trip out of the city was not merely to help Chen Mu find someone. They also needed to probe out the truth of Luo Family Fort.

Thus, he had the group disguise itself as the Heavenly Escort Agency from the south, escorting a cartload of money and provisions north toward the border.

They planned to pass through Luo Family Fort, use the excuse of purchasing food, water, and horse feed, and blend in.

Chen Mu only felt that this ruse was rather crude.

Though everyone in their party was a Martial Master, how did they resemble an escort agency that traveled the martial world?

Hearing his question, Qin Tieya chuckled.

"What are you panicking for? What do you think Luo Family Fort is?"

"They have at least three hundred able-bodied men inside and arrow towers set up outside the fort. If you do not hide your identity, do you think you can simply charge in?"

"Uh..." Chen Mu was at a loss for words.

It was not that he did not want to conceal themselves. He was simply worried that their disguise would be seen through at a glance.

But seeing Qin Tieya's utterly confident expression, he wisely kept quiet.

No matter what, A-Ning was there. Even if it were a dragon's pool or tiger's den, Chen Mu would still have to venture in.

Qin Tieya seemed to see what Chen Mu was worried about and was just about to explain further.

At that very moment, a shrill whistle rang out from the official road ahead.

"Not good! Horse bandits!"

Liu Meng immediately pulled on the reins and shouted in a low voice to the people behind them, "Stay sharp! Watch for an enemy attack!"

Chen Mu narrowed his eyes at once as well.

Far in the distance, out in the wilderness beside the official road, several mounted figures with bows on their backs appeared atop a slope, staring coldly at them.