The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 238 - 167 Maitreya Appears, Demon-slaying Sword at Noon and Midnight

Chapter 238: Chapter 167 Maitreya Appears, Demon-slaying Sword at Noon and Midnight

"Let’s go, out of the city!"

A cold female voice arose from the sedan chair.

"Yes, Miss."

Several bearers smiled broadly as they set off up Vermilion Bird Street.

They were in particularly good spirits today. Just after setting up for the day, they had caught a lucrative job—a stroke of good luck.

A whole ten taels of silver to deliver to the Wang Family estate just outside the city. And the passenger was a frail young lady, making their task incredibly easy.

But once inside the sedan, the young woman had asked to be taken to the City God Temple first, saying she wanted to burn some incense before returning to her maternal home.

However, something was going on at the City God Temple, the soldiers were blocking the street, and they weren’t allowed in, which spared them some time.

After leaving Chang’an City, the signs of human habitation gradually thinned.

Thinking of the young lady’s graceful figure in the sedan, the head bearer couldn’t help feeling heated up. He laughed and said, "Miss, why are you returning to your maternal home alone? Why isn’t your husband accompanying you?"

There was a moment of silence from inside the sedan, and then the voice became tender and charming, no longer cold, "My husband has passed away."

"Oh dear, my apologies, my apologies."

The head bearer then sighed, "That said, someone from home should accompany you, especially with it being the festive season—the wind’s harsh and the roads are slippery."

The woman inside the sedan said in a plaintive voice, "Now there is only me left at home, living alone in Chang’an, with no one to rely on... My own family looks down on me..."

The head bearer’s heart fluttered, and he gave a wink then spoke up, "Miss, the road ahead is slippery, and the ride may be a bit jolty, please bear with it."

The other bearers immediately understood what he meant and began to sway their hips and stagger their steps.

In plays, this is called "carrying the festooned sedan chair," accompanied by suona music before and after, the bearers swaying, and the actors following suite—it appears festive.

However, that’s just for show, without an actual sedan chair.

But carrying a real sedan chair like that, is truly suffering.

The sedan swaying from side to side, the curtains flapping wildly, and the bearers loosened their waists even more, making faces at each other.

They knew what the head meant.

If they usually played this trick, it was because they felt that the reward was too little; if you want a comfortable ride, you have to pay more.

Of course, they also picked their targets for this.

This young concubine, isolated and without support, might not be able to bear it and have to get off the sedan. Then, with some teasing, their leader could accomplish a good deed.

Inside the sedan, the concubine in white was jostled up and down but remained firmly glued to her seat, not moving a muscle.

A cold smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and a murderous intent grew in her eyes.

Finally, the bearers began to notice that something was not right.

They themselves were shaken to the point of sore shoulders and weak legs, but the person in the sedan hadn’t made a sound, which was probably a bad sign.

With this thought, the head bearer gave a signal, and the bearers promptly stepped properly, saying at the same time, "Miss, the road is quite level now. We can reach Wang Family fort by noon."

"No, stop here."

The woman in the sedan suddenly spoke up.

"Ah, but here..."

Just as the head bearer was about to speak, several people emerged from the woods nearby, including a rich merchant-looking fat man, as well as fierce-looking bladesmen.

The one leading them had a face full of scars, like an evil ghost.

"Run!"

The head bearer’s scalp exploded, and he turned to flee.

Pfft!

Just as he turned, a soft sword extended from within the sedan, piercing him through the neck.

The remaining three bearers didn’t escape either.

Unbeknownst when, an old man had also appeared behind them, wearing a sheepskin jacket and a dogskin hat, with a gaunt face and sinister eyes, complete with a hooked nose.

It was Long Sanjiu, the village chief of Old Dragon Fortress on Niubei Ridge.

He carried a long saber in his hand and without even looking, he cleaved left, raked right, and swept across. When he sheathed his blade, three corpses thumped to the ground.

At the same time, the white-clothed concubine slowly stepped out of the sedan and gave a deep bow to Long Sanjiu, "Honored to meet you, Brother Long."

However, Long Sanjiu looked quite displeased, "Hua Lian, although you come from the Dark Sect of Yanmen, you must observe the rules, and not cause trouble without reason."

"What’s the situation in the city?"

"Brother Long, please don’t blame me."

The white-clothed concubine, Hua Lian, first apologized before then saying, "The Sect Leader has been taken into the City God Temple. By their arrangements, it seems they want to lure us into a rescue."

At this moment, another group approached.

The scar-faced youth leading them was the Fire Ghost who killed Zhou Pan with firearms. His face was fierce as he spoke in a deep voice, "The Sect Leader was captured while covering for us, we must rescue him no matter what!"

"Brother Fire Ghost, don’t be hasty."

Wu, the manager of the Golden Treasure Gambling House in Xianyang City, advised, "A rescue is necessary, of course, but it’s clearly a trap—we must think of a foolproof plan."

"Hmph!"

Hearing this, Fire Ghost exploded with anger, turned, and rebuked, "The Sect Leader’s life hangs by a thread, and yet you all hesitate. Do you have second thoughts?"

Wu, the manager, was taken aback, and fire rose in his eyes, "Fire Ghost, don’t freaking bite others without cause. Everyone here is an old member, who hasn’t joined the sect longer than you?!"

"What does it matter if they joined early?"

Fire Ghost sneered, "The Sect Leader sent people to Chang’an to create a diversion, so why did Bai Ruoxu hold back instead of taking action?"

"If it weren’t for him, how could the Sect Leader have been captured!"

Wu, the manager, was left speechless, not knowing what to say.

The remaining Maitreya Sect followers around Guanzhong were only these folks.

Although all under the command of Dugu Qian, they too were divided into three groups.

The first group was led by Long Sanjiu, the village chief of Old Dragon Fortress on Niubei Ridge. He was originally a ruthless figure in Guanzhong. He was one of the participants when Maitreya rose up. Later, after surviving a close call, he went on the lam to the mountains, waiting for the right moment...

The second was their group.

Led by Bai Ruoxu, the broker and Hall Master, they used the gang’s influence to stay undercover in cities like Chang’an and Xianyang, raising funds and gathering intelligence.

The third group consisted of Fire Ghost and the white-clothed concubine, Hua Lian, both of whom were personally saved by Dugu Qian. Grateful, they followed him and did his bidding.

With Dugu Qian in trouble, the contradictions between them could hardly be concealed.

"Stop arguing, all of you!"

Long Sanjiu, the most senior among them, scolded, then looked at Wu, the manager, and said in a deep voice, "Brother Wu, although Fire Ghost has a temper, what he says isn’t wrong. What exactly is Bai Ruoxu up to?"