Chapter 172: The World's Greatest Good Man!
Li Gexiao's answer was somewhat beyond Chu Yang's expectations. He had assumed that the demons should be closely linked to the other two factions, but to his surprise, they had already begun appearing even before the great upheaval of heaven and earth.
No wonder he'd always felt that the demons had a rather bizarre aesthetic—something almost Lovecraftian. That day, he'd merely glanced at them, and it felt like his sanity was plummeting.
His instincts told him that Li Gexiao's theory might actually be right.
"How did the demons appear?"
"There's no official record of their origin. One day, they were just everywhere."
"If demons have nothing to do with the spirit beasts, then from the spirit beasts' perspective, the demons should be a threat to be eliminated as well."
"You're right, my lord. The spirit beasts take a merciless stance toward the demons. In fact, when facing demons, they struggle more than we do."
"And why is that?"
"You should know that when ordinary people come into contact with demon blood, there's a very high chance they'll transform into new demons. For spirit beasts, that chance is nearly 100%. Practically none can avoid it."
At this point, Li Gexiao exhaled deeply. "It's actually fortunate that the demons exist. They've drawn away much of the spirit beasts' strength. If not for that, humans and spirit beasts would already be at war. The current peaceful coexistence would've been impossible."
"If war did break out—and factoring in those beastmen traitors—humans would likely be on the losing side."
As they talked, the two of them spotted a roadside tea stand up ahead. By now, the sun was already high in the sky, and the heat was stifling. Feeling parched, Chu Yang decided to stop for a break.
Even if the two of them could handle the blazing sun, their horses were suffering. If they didn't rest and rehydrate soon, the poor beasts might just collapse and die en route.
The tea house attendant led their horses to the stables with practiced ease. After they dismounted, he guided them to an empty table.
"What would you two gentlemen like to eat?"
"Got any wine?"
"Only our house-brewed rice wine. I'm not sure if it'll suit your taste…"
"Two jugs of wine, two jin of braised meat, and a few cold dishes. Bring whatever you've got."
"You got it, sirs!"
After the attendant left, Li Gexiao began surveying the tea stall's surroundings, a playful look in his eyes. Even along the official road, very few people dared run a roadside stand these days.
The food prices here were almost on par with some of the fancy restaurants in the capital. Yet none of the passing merchants or travelers complained, as they all knew the owner was risking their life to make a living.
You never knew when a demon might stroll through. When that happened, everyone at the stand would be doomed.
"There are experts here," Chu Yang said, knocking lightly on the table with a chuckle.
"You... already noticed, young master?"
To avoid trouble, Li Gexiao quickly changed his form of address. It would be stupid to keep calling him "my lord" in public.
Chu Yang replied, "A man and a woman. The man's in the kitchen—his knife skills are decent. The woman should be the proprietress. Her breathing is calm; her lightness skill and internal energy are both solid."
"Can't say for sure whether they're in legitimate business, though."
Li Gexiao was inwardly shocked. They were still so far away, yet Chu Yang could already size up the duo with such precision. His cultivation was truly unfathomable.
"How did you know?"
"I listened."
Li Gexiao was completely baffled.
Soon, the braised meat and rice wine were served. The moment he caught a whiff of the wine, Li Gexiao's expression turned blissful, and all his lingering questions were swallowed back.
Chu Yang wasn't faring much better. He immediately picked up the wine jug and drank heartily.
"Young master, wait!"
Li Gexiao reached to snatch the jug, not because he was desperate for a drink, but because he wanted to test it for poison first.
Of all places, these roadside tea stands demanded the most caution. Carelessly drinking or eating could mean waking up on someone else's chopping block.
"My constitution's special. Even if there's something in the wine, it won't affect me. No need to worry."
Chu Yang downed half the jug in one go. The rice wine was light in alcohol, but its taste was mellow, sweet, and refreshing.
Li Gexiao watched him for a moment to confirm he really was fine, then checked his own jug—no poison.
Only then did he start drinking too. The wine cooled him down and washed away the heat, making him shout with satisfaction.
"This trip to Jiangnan—we've gotta catch that four-eyebrowed guy and make him pay for the wine he skipped out on back in the capital."
"The Six Gates and the Embroidered Guards both say he's there. Let's just hope he doesn't bolt before we get there."
"Jiangnan's full of beautiful women. With his habits, he's not escaping anytime soon!"
"Hahaha, you've got a point."
Just then, a caravan rushed up the road in the distance—around a dozen people, six carriages in total. One carried passengers; the other five were loaded with cargo.
Unable to fit the carriages into the stable, the caravan parked by the roadside and began feeding the horses themselves. Even the water was tested before being offered to the animals. With this level of caution, Chu Yang figured they must be seasoned merchants used to traveling far and wide.
Soon after, a young couple disembarked from the passenger carriage. In their arms were two swaddled infants—twin babies.
Since only Chu Yang and Li Gexiao were eating and drinking at the stall, their presence naturally drew the merchants' attention. An elderly man who looked like a steward was about to approach them, but the couple stopped him.
"They were going to offer us silver to leave," Chu Yang said with a smile.
Li Gexiao sighed. "That couple seems pretty kindhearted. Definitely a virtuous family. Still, they really should've tried."
Chu Yang smacked his lips. "Exactly. We've had our fill anyway. If they asked, I'd have agreed and even made some silver on the side."
Li Gexiao grinned. "Young master isn't lacking in money. Why not let me keep the silver?"
Chu Yang shot him a glare. "What kind of idiot hates having more money?"
Once the caravan had filled the small tea stall, and the two of them were full and satisfied, Chu Yang and Li Gexiao got up and vacated their seats for others.
Just as they stepped out, they brushed past the caravan's male leader. To Chu Yang's surprise, the man greeted them politely.
"My surname is Jiang. I hope our large group didn't disturb your rest. Please forgive us."
Faced with this refined and courteous man, Chu Yang felt a bit of goodwill. He cupped his fists and replied, "You're too kind, brother."
It was just a polite exchange. Neither had any intention of lingering, so Chu Yang turned and left with Li Gexiao.
Watching them go, the man surnamed Jiang clearly let out a sigh of relief. He leaned toward his wife and whispered, "Yuenu, those two aren't here for us."
The woman named Yuenu, holding the twin babies, smiled at her husband.
But just as Chu Yang and Li Gexiao stepped beyond the tea stall…
Chaos erupted!
The proprietress, the cook, and the tea house attendant all suddenly attacked. Taking advantage of the caravan's relaxed state, they went straight for the young couple!
At the same time, several shadows swiftly closed in on the tea stall!
"Jiang Feng—the world's greatest good man—we of the Twelve Zodiac Stars will be borrowing your wealth today!"
"Hahahahaha!!"
The ambush unfolded in an instant. The caravan's guards had no time to react. They could only watch helplessly as the cook and proprietress lunged toward their masters.
The man who had greeted Chu Yang moments ago was none other than Jiang Feng, and the woman by his side was his wife, Hua Yuenu. The two infants in her arms were their newborn twins—future legends Hua Wuque and Xiao Yu'er.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Jiang Feng drew a folding fan from his waist. As he snapped it open and slashed forward, a gale roared forth, the wind force as sharp as sword energy. The cook and proprietress twisted their waists violently, narrowly dodging the strike.
Jiang Feng was not some soft, harmless philanthropist. He had trained in a mystical martial art called the Astonishing Dragon Manual, where progress weakened one's martial strength. Only by reaching the final stage—shedding all power—could one attain the realm of return-to-origin, Astonishing Dragon Perfection.
How could a sworn brother of the greatest swordsman in the world, Yan Nantian, be a superficial fool with no substance?
But sadly, Jiang Feng had missed one person.
During his counterattack, the tea house attendant silently crept up to Hua Yuenu, aiming directly for the infants.
If he could seize Jiang Feng's children, the man would have no choice but to surrender.
Their cruelty knew no bounds—but the attendant had gravely underestimated Hua Yuenu. The moment he struck, she retaliated with a palm strike.
A strange fragrance wafted through the air. In the tea house attendant's eyes, it seemed as if flower petals were fluttering all around him.
For a split second, he was dazed. Then, Hua Yuenu's palm struck his shoulder, sending him flying straight into the feet of the cook and proprietress.
The caravan's guards immediately surrounded them.
The trio's faces were ugly.
"Useless trash!"
A voice cursed from nearby. A wheelchair rolled into view, seated atop it was a hideous dwarf with stunted limbs and crimson eyes, like a starving wolf ready to pounce.
Behind him, over ten people emerged from the forest, each with vicious and cruel expressions.
"Wei Wuyou!"
The head of the Twelve Zodiac Stars—Rat Star Wei Wuyou!
Jiang Feng shouted the dwarf's name in alarm, his heart sinking into despair.
His current strength was far from what it used to be. His wife had just given birth, and the guards couldn't stand against the Twelve Zodiac Stars either.
How did they find out?
Before setting out to seek refuge with his elder brother, Yan Nantian, Jiang Feng had meticulously planned everything down to the finest detail. It was supposed to be foolproof. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect the Twelve Zodiac Stars to be lying in wait along the way!
At Wei Wuyou's command, the Chicken Star, Sir Morning Crow, was the first to strike. One man in red with a rooster's comb, one in yellow with a chicken breast emblem, and three in flowered robes as tail feathers—these five led the charge. The rest of the Zodiac Stars followed suit, pouring forth and engaging the caravan guards in fierce combat.
Chu Yang and Li Gexiao stood by the roadside with their horses, surprised by the sudden chaos.
"Old Li, what's this Twelve Zodiac Stars thing?"
"Young Master, the Twelve Zodiac Stars are the most brutal and vicious band of robbers to emerge in the martial world over the past thirty years. They rarely act, but when they do, it's because they've spotted a target they won't let escape. In the past three decades, only Yan Nantian and the leader of the Palace of Shifting Flowers have managed to fend them off."
"They're that powerful?"
"They're quite cunning, actually. They've always avoided direct conflict with the Six Gates. Back when I used to drink with Wuxin, he'd constantly curse them for being cowardly as rats."
"Wuxin? Who's that?"
"The leader of the Four Divine Constables. He's not a disciple of Lord Guo, so you probably haven't met him."
"Oh~ now that you mention it, I think I do remember him. Doesn't he have a deadpan face? Like everyone owes him money or something."
"Heh, that's the one. Here's a bit of gossip—Wuxin once got drunk and confessed that he secretly has a crush on Wu Qing, the head of the Four Great Constables at the Divine Marquis' Manor!"
"What the—Wu Qing? Isn't he a guy? Two dudes? How does that even—well, I guess times have changed. I mean, I have no issue with that."
"Young Master, what are you talking about? Wu Qing is a woman, and a very beautiful one at that!"
Chu Yang's mind stalled. For a moment, he couldn't figure out which version of Wu Qing this was. But then again, in this hodgepodge of a world, chaos was par for the course.
"So… who's male and who's female again?"
"Both groups have three men and one woman. Among the Four Great Constables, Wu Qing is the woman. Among the Four Divine Constables, the fourth-ranked, Leng Feng, is also a girl."
"Leng Feng? That's a pretty manly name for a woman."
"Young Master, careful what you say—that's her real name…"
Chu Yang couldn't hold back anymore. With a strange expression, he muttered, "If that were a nickname, I'd say it's solid. But if that's her real name, I'd call it legendary."
Li Gexiao chuckled awkwardly. "She doesn't like people calling her by her full name, so we all just call her 'Leng Leng'."
While blood was being spilled at the tea stand, Chu Yang and Li Gexiao watched the chaos unfold like spectators at a play. Their nonchalance soon drew the attention of the Twelve Zodiac Stars.
"You seven, go kill those two—can't have them leaking anything. Yan Nantian is not someone to mess with."
Wei Wuyou ordered the seven members of the Black Dog Star group to take care of Chu Yang and Li Gexiao.
The seven split up. Though their individual martial skills were average, they had trained in a joint-attack technique, and after years of fighting side by side, their coordination was flawless. Even first-rate masters would be hard-pressed to escape their formation unscathed.
On top of that, the seven had raised massive wolfdogs the size of tigers. These beasts had already developed intelligence and were just one step away from becoming spirit beasts—making them deadly partners in battle.
Dressed in black, the seven men charged at Chu Yang with menacing momentum.
Chu Yang remained calm and smiled. "Old Li, looks like it's your turn. Think you can handle it?"
Li Gexiao clasped his fists. "Don't worry, Young Master. Although my strength hasn't fully recovered, dealing with these small fries won't be a problem."
Chu Yang added, "Since they're ruthless bandits, don't hold back. Kill them all."
"If things get too dicey, don't force it. Just fall back."
"Yes!" Li Gexiao answered and strode toward the Black Dog Star group alone.
As the former second-strongest fighter among the Embroidered Guards, and the personal disciple of Chief Commander Zheng Dongliu, Li Gexiao had once been able to take on all Twelve Zodiac Stars by himself at his peak.
Now, though only two or three tenths of his strength had returned after a serious injury, it was still more than enough to deal with the Black Dog Star. He wasn't boasting.
The Twelve Zodiac Stars weren't running rampant because the Four Divine Constables couldn't overpower them—but because these bandits were too cunning.
The Rat Star, Wei Wuyou, had exceptional intellect. Every operation he led was meticulously planned. The Six Gates had tried to ambush them several times, but every attempt was seen through. To this day, even the Four Divine Constables had never laid eyes on his true face.
Li Gexiao, wielding his embroidered spring blade, quickly engaged with the Black Dog Star members. This blade had been entrusted to him by Commander Zuo before their departure.
The martial techniques of the Embroidered Guards were similar to those of the Six Gates. Both were official organizations and primarily dealt with human targets. As such, they specialized in close-quarters combat with blades and grappling.
Zheng Dongliu, a former military man, specialized in heavy broadsword techniques and wielded a massive guandao weighing over a thousand pounds.
As his disciple, Li Gexiao had originally trained with broadswords as well. However, thanks to his exceptional talent, he developed a unique style of his own from Zheng Dongliu's teachings.
This blade style was specifically designed to take on multiple enemies at once.
In his youth, when he still held chivalry in his heart, Li Gexiao had given it a bold name—
Heaven and Earth Unjust.
The meaning was simple:
Even if injustice exists between heaven and earth—
I shall cut it down with my blade!
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