Inner Demons

Chapter 11: Pigs and Dogs

The sword-wielding man turned to look at the two youths, then pointed down the slope: "Stand over there."

So Li Yunxin and Qiao Jiaxin, facing the various gazes of the escort agency people, slowly walked over.

Actually, for a moment, Li Yunxin considered summoning Young Master Nine again, like last time. But he knew that a demon like Young Master Nine was temperamental and would certainly not appreciate being constantly disturbed. The previous two times, he had narrowly escaped death, but he couldn't say for sure if Young Master Nine would find him "boring" this time and eat him too.

But even if he let him go this time... at least the girl named Qiao Jiaxin beside him – Li Yunxin had no ill will towards her, and even a little fondness. No one would inexplicably dislike "someone who likes them" – she might also be killed by Young Master Nine.

Of course, there was a more important reason – the swords in the hands of these few people were surprisingly similar to the swords held by the two Taoist priests that day.

Although weapons in the Great Qing Dynasty generally had a fixed form, their type of sword was rather peculiar. The sword spine was very thin, almost invisible, and the blade was like a flat iron strip. While this weapon would be much lighter, its durability was far too inferior, a typical case of gaining little for losing much.

Li Yunxin believed that these few people probably had some subtle connection with the two Taoist priests, and he wanted to try to find some clues. Moreover, the sword-wielder had not initially shown any intent to kill, nor had he shown any special attention to himself, so he could temporarily observe.

When the two groups converged, the six sword-wielders in Daoist robes began to issue orders.

It was strange; they wanted the escort agency people to burn their carriages and their goods.

So the escorts became agitated.It was common for escorts to encounter bandits. Generally, escorts in the martial arts world needed to be well-connected in both the righteous and unrighteous circles. After offering a tribute at a certain mountain pass, the leader would not be overly difficult. There were so many escort agencies and so many bandits in the martial arts world. If they were to kill and rob whenever they met someone, the rules would be chaotic, no one would dare to do business, and the government might even launch a crackdown.

Occasionally, they encountered those who didn't follow the rules and intended to make a quick buck; their goal was generally the goods, and no one liked killing. Besides risking their own lives, they might also face legal action and be beheaded if caught.

So the demands of these six bandits became absurd – they didn't want the goods.

Qiao Sifu stood beside Qiao Duanhong, lowering his voice: "Uncle, this is strange. I mean, should we..."

As he spoke, he glanced at the saber lying at his feet.

Qiao Duanhong gritted his teeth and exhaled, shaking his head slightly: "Not an opponent. Strange."

These people's martial arts were strangely high.

From the moment the five people appeared on the roadside, engaged in combat, to being forced to remain motionless, it was only three breaths of time. There wasn't even time to send out a warning.

Although the thin swords in their hands only struck weapons, Qiao Duanhong knew that if they truly intended to kill, every person in the escort agency would now have a bloody hole in their throat, lying stiffly on the ground.

In the martial arts world, these six people's skills were already considered second-rate masters. If placed in any small gang, they would be leaders or branch heads – how could they gather to do such a thing?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Li Yunxin. Everyone else in the convoy had a known background, only this young man's origin was unknown. But he immediately dismissed this idea – when the young man walked over, the six strong men had no special reaction.

Having been an escort for so many years, Qiao Duanhong was completely bewildered for the first time.

Finally, he sighed and, with a grim determination: "Burn them."

It wasn't that he lacked courage; it was just that he was afraid of death. Who wasn't afraid of death, especially since most of these people were related by blood. He himself could probably contend with one of them for a while and might even escape if he was lucky. But with so many people... if they fought, probably no one would get away – it would be a certain death.

Having said this, Qiao Duanhong took a step forward: "I am Qiao Duanhong of the Luocheng Grand Fortune Escort Agency. By the grace of my martial arts friends, I am called Water-Parting Saber. Since you friends have opened for business today, we admit defeat. If you want these things burned, then burn them. But if you friends want or are looking for something, you can say so directly. If I can help..."

"Shut up," said a sword-wielder with high cheekbones and narrow eyes, "Say one more word, and you die."

Qiao Duanhong's face immediately flushed red, and he almost charged forward. He had been an escort for so many years, and this was the first time he had been treated like this. But in the end, he forcefully suppressed the anger rising in his heart, cupped his hands, and said no more.

"Burn them," Qiao Duanhong repeated, glaring fiercely at the man.

But the other party only showed a fleeting cold sneer at the corner of his mouth.

Li Yunxin's heart skipped a beat.

The other party intended to kill.

No matter how well a person disguised themselves, there would always be subtle expressions that faithfully reflected their psychological activity. He looked at the one with high cheekbones and narrow eyes and realized that although he appeared cold and calm, his gaze at these people was indeed like looking at dead men.

That person believed they would die sooner or later.

This was one of his skills that he relied on to make a living in his previous life. Not perfect, but in this world, probably unparalleled.

Finally, the fire started. Then the six sword-wielders herded the dozen or so people from the convoy together and walked towards the wild fields by the road.

Li Yunxin walked in the middle of the group, with Old Daoist Liu beside him. The old Daoist was a little flustered at this point, mumbling "aiya, aiya" incessantly, probably complaining about his bad luck for getting on this carriage.

Qiao Sifu listened for a while, then couldn't help but turn back and glare at him: "What are you mumbling about! Didn't you say you're the Dongxuan Sect leader! At a time like this, you don't even dare to fart!"

Old Daoist Liu sighed, ignoring him, probably genuinely worried about his life and having no mind to argue.

Qiao Sifu, angered, glared at Li Yunxin again: "A pretty boy. A man who can't even protect my little sister – if I were you, I'd fight to the death to protect a woman! Bah!"

Li Yunxin smiled: "Hmm."

His attitude made Qiao Sifu even more annoyed, but he didn't know what to say. He just spat again and turned his head away.

Qiao Jiaxin, by Qiao Sifu's side, glanced at Li Yunxin, then also turned her face away.

Actually, the girl was a little disappointed. She knew this young man looked like a scholar, thin and weak, but... how could he also lack spirit?

She felt that if Li Yunxin had argued with Fourth Brother a few times just now, she would have felt much better.

The six people driving them did not interfere with their conversations, only wore arrogant expressions, like solemn shepherds.

Qiao Duanhong lowered his voice so that those around him could hear: "Observe the situation. If things go wrong... we can't just wait to be slaughtered."

He looked at his daughter, Qiao Jiaxin, and gritted his teeth: "If they make a move... then listen to me, and fight for your lives."

Qiao Jiaxin pursed her lips and nodded.

They walked for a full half-hour.

They ventured deep into the woods, the surrounding trees growing taller and taller. Eventually, the tree canopy blocked out the sky, and darkness descended early.

The further they walked, the more panicked they felt. Just as Qiao Duanhong couldn't bear it any longer and wanted to try fighting for their lives and breaking out with a few people, the high-cheekboned, narrow-eyed sword-wielder said in a deep voice: "Stop. Rest for now."

This sentence sounded a bit strange, but everyone understood what it meant.

Li Yunxin frowned slightly, feeling like he had figured something out.

The word "Stop" shouldn't be used here. It should be "Halt."

The phrase "Rest for now" was fine, but saying it to these captives was too polite.

Li Yunxin could tell that after the man said this, he seemed somewhat self-satisfied – an emotion the man himself probably didn't even perceive.

These guys, hmm...

In the language of his previous era, they were trying to show off.

Or trying to act cool and aloof. So they didn't want to speak normally, they wanted to use fancy words. Unfortunately, their own level was probably limited, so it came out awkwardly.

As the only calm observer among these captives, Li Yunxin felt he had grasped some threads. These six people were now acting haughty, but they couldn't quite adapt to the roles they were currently playing. This meant that the reason or condition that allowed them to be "haughty" had appeared only recently.

There were also other clues. The six people drove them along with straight faces, trying to appear completely uninterested in them, seeing them as ants. But their eyes betrayed them – when they saw internal conflict among the captives, several of them actually looked somewhat gleeful. This was not the behavior of someone with a "calm heart."

They also wore Daoist robes.

In Li Yunxin's understanding of this world, if there was a force that could make powerful individuals in the martial arts world revere, worship, and even deliberately imitate...

It was probably the Daoist Orthodoxy and the Sword Sect.

He felt he had guessed correctly. These six people might indeed have some connection with those two Taoist priests.

No one knew that a single sentence had led the young man to so many deductions; they were all trying to make their own judgments.

When the six said to rest, Qiao Duanhong waved his hand: "Rest for a while."

Regardless, he was still the backbone of this escort agency. He tried to make himself appear more calm and composed. He thought that this way, the six might understand his role and "weight," and perhaps they could have a good talk later.

It was slowly getting dark, and a gentle breeze picked up in the woods. A quarter of an hour later, two bonfires were lit. The escort agency people gathered around a tall, ancient tree that took two arms to encircle, while the six strong men sat further away by the fire, occasionally conversing, and from time to time, casting dark, scornful, and indifferent glances at the captives, as if looking at pigs and dogs.

They seemed to be waiting for something.