The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 90 - 88 Grass and Court_2

Chapter 90: Chapter 88 Grass and Court_2

"I didn’t expect the people from Maitreya Sect to actually hold back..."

Before he could finish speaking, a cold voice emerged from the distant dense forest, "Are you gentlemen looking for me?"

"Who?!"

The officers of the Captain Bureau quickly drew their weapons.

However, as they looked in the direction of the voice, there was no one there.

A hint of confusion arose in everyone’s eyes. The two hounds they had brought did not sound any alarms and the eagle in the sky had also not spotted any enemies. Where exactly was the opponent hiding?

Just as Chang Xuan was about to order a search, a thought struck him, and he said pensively, "The enemy is using demon art to lure us into scattering. Don’t fall for it!"

"Form the formation, Lotus Flower!"

His experience allowed him to quickly deduce the opponent’s purpose.

At his command, the officers instantly bent their bows and notched their arrows, standing back-to-back aiming in all directions, the arrows were sharp, resembling a hedgehog.

The foe still did not reveal themselves, yet Chang Xuan revealed a slight smile.

What he feared was not the opponent’s greed; as long as they coveted the Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure, there was no need to rush, and they could slowly maneuver around it.

"Eh?"

In the distant forest, a surprised voice echoed, followed by a figure slowly walking out from behind a tree trunk, dressed in a Daoist robe, with white beard and eyebrows.

"Sir, it’s him!"

Guan Wanche immediately recognized that the elder was the same person who had invaded Zhou Family’s home the other day.

Chang Xuan, with his keen perception, realized at once that the newcomer was wearing a human skin mask and said coldly, "Since you’re here, why not show your true face?"

The old man slightly shook his head, but just as he was about to speak, Chang Xuan’s expression changed, "Fire!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

In an instant, a flurry of sharp arrows shot forth.

The newcomer was indeed Dugu Qian, the Incense Master of the Maitreya Sect. His skills were no ordinary either; in a flash, he took cover behind the trunk.

Arrows rained down, embedding into the trunk and ground, their feathers quivering, clearly demonstrating their powerful force.

Yet Dugu Qian was unconcerned. He took out the bone flute hanging around his neck and, with his left hand, made a spell casting gesture, then gently blew into it.

Twee~

The eerie flute sound immediately resonated through the dense forest.

Swish!

From behind the officers of the Captain Bureau in the forests, the grass and trees shook violently, as a rank smell hit their faces, causing dizziness.

However, the Captain Bureau’s officers were not at all flustered. Three of them took off the leather pouches from their belts and threw them into the air, while three others bent their bows and notched arrows.

Bang, bang, bang!

The leather pouches burst instantly, spreading the pungent yellow powder everywhere.

"Realgar?"

Behind the tree trunk, Dugu Qian’s complexion changed, and he immediately stopped playing the flute.

But it was already too late.

Swish!

From the dense forest, a massive snake, as thick as a bowl, charged forth, seemingly driven mad by the realgar, its comb-like crest blood-red and its fanged mouth wide open, lunging at the men.

Faced with this legendary comb-crested snake, the officers of the Captain Bureau weren’t disturbed. Under Guan Wanche’s lead, they picked up the iron nets already prepared on the ground and threw them out.

The nets, filled with iron hooks, were "Ghostly Despair", specifically used by the government to capture experts from the pugilistic world.

The comb-crested snake, somewhat frenzied, got completely covered by the net as it was thrown.

Its scales, tough, created sparks from the friction with the iron hooks. However, the "Ghostly Despair" iron net was immense, tightening more as the snake struggled.

Even though they were prepared, the spectacle still alarmed the observers.

This creature, impervious to blades and spears, extremely strong and virulently poisonous, could cause countless injuries and deaths if it broke through their formation.

No wonder it had killed all the bandits on the mountain.

Without a word, Guan Wanche took off the leather pouch from his waist and sprayed out the black dog’s blood mixed with realgar.

Upon contact with the comb-crested snake, the blood sizzled white smoke, and its scales softened, allowing the iron hooks to pierce through.

Pain struck the snake, but it also sobered up, daring not to move further, its cold eyes watching everyone, poison mist swirling in its throat.

Clang!

Chang Xuan, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, finally drew the long sword from his waist, flicking it lightly with his finger, causing the sword to ring out.

He looked coldly at the comb-crested snake, "This is a sword bestowed by the court, endowed with the power to subdue evil. You can try and see, who is faster, you or I?"

Understanding human speech, the snake immediately shut its mouth.

Chang Xuan nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look toward the distant forest, smiling, "Tomb Snake Dugu Qian, knowing that you were coming, how could I be unprepared?"

His words were light, but his heart was secretly relieved.

After receiving a message from Sha Lifei, he sensed something was amiss and immediately sent his men on fast horses to the neighboring villages to prepare. They had just managed to gather the necessary items while ascending the mountain.

The power of the court was incomparable to that of ordinary people.

Especially their Captain Bureau, their collection of intelligence on the Maitreya Sect was ceaseless, including information on "Tomb Snake" Dugu Qian.

Although the comb-crested snake was rare, they had already known the method to restrain it.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Chang Xuan’s lips, "With things as they are, why not come out and have a chat?"

Dugu Qian’s expression darkened as he slowly walked out, saying gravely, "Sir, you are cunning and skilled. I was careless. I never expected that a mere officer from Hundred Households of the Captain Bureau would be a Force Transformation expert."

Chang Xuan sighed, "The court and the pugilistic world are different; it’s not just about skill. Compared to fighting, I prefer to use my brain."

"I know, Incense Master Dugu, your spells are profound, and even we cannot stop you. But as you can see, I was prepared today, and you won’t get away with it. Why not retreat?"

Dugu Qian’s eyes flickered uncertainly, "It’s said that dragons arise from the common people, but it seems the real dragons lie hidden within the court. I admit my defeat today and will leave now. Release my Spirit Snake!"

"Ah~"

Chang Xuan frowned, his hand motioning lightly, "One matter at a time. Why would I easily give up something I’ve worked so hard to capture?"

"Also, tell your so-called Fire Ghost brothers not to point their firearms at me from such a distance. That thing can at most injure me, but your precious snake won’t survive either."