Chapter Eighteen: Testing the Sword Against the World

Ancient Locust Town.

This is an old town named after a thousand-year-old locust tree. Set against mountains and bordered by water, it has grown rather prosperous.

It lies just ahead, not far now.

“This has been the slowest and longest journey I’ve ever made,” Lu Yuan muttered as he lay on his horse, grumbling incessantly. “But luckily, we’re almost at Ancient Locust Town. There’s fine wine, delicious food, and a brothel that’s the liveliest place around. Brother Jiang, care to try something new?”

“I have no interest in becoming a man of your ilk,” Jiang Ming replied.

“A man of my ilk?” Lu Yuan was taken aback, then swiftly understood. He turned his head to look at Jiang Ming, who sat cross-legged inside the carriage, and gave him an odd look. “Is that something you ought to know about?”

Xiao Lan, meanwhile, was puzzled.

Old Ma at the front, however, chuckled.

“We’re all men here!” Jiang Ming opened his eyes. “Though the journey has been slow, your skills have improved quite a bit.”

“That’s true,” Lu Yuan admitted with a grimace. “But… I haven’t managed to get the better of you even once. Now you can suppress me with just a lift of your hand. You really are…” Noticing Jiang Ming’s unfriendly gaze, he quickly changed his words. “Luckily, I’ve learned quite a few invaluable techniques from you. Otherwise, I’d have lost out greatly.”

The two of them had sparred frequently along the way. It was one thing for Lu Yuan to lose, but what truly unsettled him was realizing that Jiang Ming’s strength seemed to grow with every encounter.

Lu Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

He’d met prodigies before, but never anyone this monstrous.

In his own words, even Old Master Zhang of the True Martial Sect wasn’t this fearsome.

Just then, a figure leapt down from a tree ahead and called out to Old Ma, “Uncle Ma, is the young master in the carriage…?”

“The young master is here!” Old Ma quickly replied. Seeing the newcomer’s tattered clothes, weary expression, and bloodshot eyes, he hurriedly asked, “Has something happened?”

Jiang Ming jumped down and approached the young man. “Xiao Liu, what’s happened?”

When Jiang Ming had sent Chang Qing and the others away, he’d made careful plans and even told them his general route, so they could contact him at any time.

Throughout his journey, he’d received a steady stream of messages.

“Y-young master!” Xiao Liu knelt on one knee, visibly moved. “The commander told me you’d pass this way. I’ve been waiting here for three days!”

Jiang Ming helped him up.

Xiao Lan also stepped down from the carriage, with Lu Yuan dismounting to stand by.

“What exactly happened?” Jiang Ming pressed.

Xiao Liu quickly explained.

Jiang Ming had tasked Chang Qing with leading a group along the mountains, honing their skills, destroying bandit camps, turning evil against itself, and collecting martial techniques.

After Jiang Ming left the mountain, he’d adjusted his route accordingly.

Several times, he’d received reports that Chang Qing had wiped out many bandit camps, gathering supplies and recruiting new members to replenish his team after each conquest.

Their numbers had grown steadily.

But recently, upon reaching the vicinity, they discovered three bandit strongholds: Two Dragons Mountain, White Cloud Stockade, and Dragon-Tiger Fort.

As soon as they approached, they were ambushed by Two Dragons Mountain and nearly wiped out the attackers, but the other two strongholds intervened, barely halting their advance.

Just as they were preparing to pick one target to eliminate first, the three bandit groups joined forces and launched a combined assault. In the midst of the battle, an innate-level expert appeared and gravely wounded Chang Qing.

“If not for our rigorous training and close coordination, Commander Chang would have been killed, and our ranks scattered,” Xiao Liu said, his expression darkening. “During the retreat, the commander secretly dispatched the three of us to wait for you here. Brother Xiong and Brother Yang haven’t arrived…”

If they hadn’t made it, it meant they were dead.

He straightened, rallying his spirit. “Now, I fear the commander and the team are in grave danger, young master…”

“Don’t worry, leave it to me.” Jiang Ming patted his shoulder. “Old Ma, Xiao Lan, take Xiao Liu into the town ahead to rest for now. Wait for my return.”

“Brother Lu, will you accompany me or head to town?” Jiang Ming looked at Lu Yuan, retrieving his weapons from the carriage.

A saber and a sword were slung across his back with Xiao Lan’s help.

He also tucked several throwing knives into his belt, their hilts hidden beneath his robe.

“Of course I’m going into the mountains!” Lu Yuan replied, excitement lighting his face. “Things have been too quiet lately. Now that there’s action, how could I miss it? Jiang, my lightness skill is renowned throughout the martial world. Care for a race? I know this area well, and I’m familiar with the three strongholds—I can be your guide!”

“Very well,” Jiang Ming nodded.

“Be careful, young master.” Xiao Lan’s concern showed plainly.

“Settle in for now. If you run into trouble, just mention Brother Lu’s name,” Jiang Ming instructed before leaping forward like a bolt of lightning, covering more than twenty meters in an instant.

“What speed!” Lu Yuan exclaimed with delight. He bent slightly and shot off, and in the blink of an eye, the two had vanished from sight.

“There’s no need to worry. With the young master’s strength, there’s nowhere in the world he cannot go,” Old Ma reassured the two, seeing their concern. “Let’s head to town and wait for him. Remember, keep a low profile.”

The three drove the carriage onward.

Lu Yuan soon discovered a disheartening reality: despite his famed lightness skill, he was falling further behind with every stride. He hastily called out, “Wait up!”

Jiang Ming slowed his pace, letting Lu Yuan catch up. He couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re out of shape. I was only just warming up.”

“Monster!” Lu Yuan huffed, then said, “This is Ancient Locust Town, and just ahead lies Kaoshan City. Ordinarily, there shouldn’t be any bandits here, let alone three strongholds. Do you know why?”

“Because they’re being fostered?”

“Exactly. They’re being deliberately maintained!” Lu Yuan answered seriously. “Kaoshan City is unique—a gateway to the endless mountain range, with a great river flowing through. Its geography is unmatched.

“Rare treasures from the mountains and goods from all directions pass through here.

“The city is divided among three powers. The largest is the Xiao family, renowned and as formidable as a sect; the second is the Liang family, with over two centuries of history and considerable strength; the third is the local authorities, mainly the Six Gates Bureau, representing the government and overseeing affairs.

“I suspect Two Dragons Mountain, White Cloud Stockade, and Dragon-Tiger Fort are all being secretly supported by the three families,” Lu Yuan continued earnestly. “People from Six Gates rarely intervene, preferring to watch the struggle. The Xiao and Liang families are locked in covert conflict, though outwardly they’re quite amicable. Still, I suspect their relationship is far from simple. The city also has several lesser family factions—a tentative fourth power—as well as branches set up by various sects.”

“Why would Six Gates station a force here?” Jiang Ming wondered. “Don’t they only get involved in major cases?”

“The profits here are enormous. Six Gates wants a share, so they’ve assigned a chief constable to keep all sides in check and prevent chaos.”

“Six Gates is still not the dominant force. Otherwise, the other two wouldn’t have grown so powerful, nor would there be three bandit strongholds.”

“Alas, isn’t that so? But Jiang, you must consider carefully—if you move against these bandits, you may face opposition from all of Kaoshan City. Moreover, the Solar Meridian has appeared here too; experts from the Divine Fist Sect and the Sun-Moon Demon Cult are on their way, along with various other martial artists. Just thinking about it makes me both excited and nervous.”

“The more experts, the better. It’s the perfect chance to test my sword against the world.”

At these words, Lu Yuan felt his scalp tingle all the more.