Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Chapter 38: Roadside Encounter

"Alright!"

Xu Yang didn’t hesitate at all. Just as he was about to leave with the woman, Bao Gang’s voice rang out, "Wait!"

Everyone looked at Bao Gang in confusion. They heard him continue in a low voice, "I am a disciple of the Tiger Roar Boxing Hall. Xu Yang is merely from Weiyuan Hall. It would be safer for me to escort the Fifth Miss."

The implication was clear: he was stronger than Xu Yang.

And to outsiders, that certainly seemed to be the case.

Because among the many Martial Arts Halls in Qingyuan County, the Tiger Roar Boxing Hall ranked far above Weiyuan Hall.

Weiyuan Hall’s apprenticeship fee was only two taels of silver a month, while the Tiger Roar Boxing Hall dared to charge three. It even had more disciples than Weiyuan Hall.

Xu Yang didn’t speak, looking instead to Zhang Bo.

He had a good idea of what Bao Gang was thinking. It was nothing more than a scheme to use this opportunity to get close to the Liu Mansion’s Fifth Miss, hoping to win both the girl and her fortune.

Marriages between major families and Qi Gathering Martial Artists were common in the Qingyuan County Martial Arts Realm. However, not every up-and-coming Qi Gathering Martial Artist could immediately catch the eye of a major family. Many had to rely on opportunities that arose while serving as Tributors to win the favor of a family’s young miss.

"That won’t be necessary. We’ll go with Tributor Xu!"

Just then, the voice of the woman dressed as a maidservant rang out.

Zhang Bo nodded. "Xu Yang, go with Miss Cui’er. Remember to protect the Fifth Miss well and follow her arrangements."

"Alright!"

Xu Yang nodded and quickly followed the woman named Cui’er out of the Sacrificial Hall.

"Brother Zhang Bo, I’m clearly stronger than Xu Yang. Why didn’t you assign me?"

After Xu Yang left, Bao Gang was still unwilling to let it go.

"I’m even stronger. How about I go?" Zhang Bo said sarcastically.

He had served the Liu Family for over a decade and had seen countless young men fresh out of the Martial Arts Halls. Naturally, he knew what little scheme Bao Gang was plotting.

But this was the first time he’d assigned a task, and Bao Gang was already challenging him. Even if Bao Gang had a point, he couldn’t possibly agree. Besides, his assignment wasn’t random.

Bao Gang’s face flushed red. "I... I didn’t mean it like that."

Zhang Bo snorted coldly. "Cut the scheming. Although the Fifth Miss is not from the main lineage, she is doted on by the Patriarch. Even if she were to be married off for an alliance, it would never be to someone like you."

A flash of anger crossed Bao Gang’s eyes, but he didn’t say another word.

"Greetings, Fifth Miss."

Xu Yang quickly followed Cui’er and met the Liu Mansion’s Fifth Miss. She was like a woman who had stepped out of a painting, the very model of a classic, well-bred lady.

Although she wore training clothes and held a Treasure Sword, it couldn’t hide her gentle temperament.

Cui’er stepped forward. "Miss, this is the mansion’s new Tributor, Xu Yang, a talented man from Weiyuan Hall."

Xu Yang noticed that upon hearing his name, a ripple seemed to pass through the Fifth Miss’s eyes, which had been as calm as still water.

She first looked him up and down with curiosity, then said politely, "I’ll have to trouble Tributor Xu to escort me to Sunv Hall."

"It is my duty."

Xu Yang shook his head and, along with Cui’er, followed behind the Fifth Miss, quickly leaving the Liu Family estate.

He had heard of Sunv Hall. It was a noble’s Martial Arts Hall in Qingyuan County that only accepted female students. The apprenticeship fee alone was ten taels a month—a cost that no one without a wealthy family background could afford.

Along the way, Xu Yang stuck to his duty, simply following behind. There were no incidents, and they soon arrived at Sunv Hall.

"Sunv Hall does not permit outsiders. Tributor Xu doesn’t need to wait for me here. It’s very safe. Just have the Tribute Hall arrange for someone to pick me up in the afternoon."

"Yes!"

Xu Yang cupped his fist and then turned to leave.

"Back in the Tribute Hall, someone was trying to snatch this escort duty. I saw that this Xu Yang is quite handsome, so I let him come. Miss, how’s my judgment?"

Once Xu Yang was gone, the serious-faced Cui’er immediately became lively.

The Fifth Miss also dropped her previous formal demeanor and smiled. "He is quite handsome. You should get closer to him in the future. If it works out, I’ll ask Father to grant you your freedom."

Cui’er shook her head. "He even refused a marriage alliance with the mansion. He would never be interested in me."

The Fifth Miss’s expression turned stern. "If you know that, why are you still swooning here? Let’s go."

Cui’er stuck out her tongue and hurried after her into Sunv Hall.

...

When Xu Yang returned to the Liu Family estate, everyone from the Tribute Hall was out. Even Zhang Bo wasn’t there.

He followed Zhang Bo’s instructions, not cultivating, and instead rested in the Tribute Hall to conserve his energy.

Around lunchtime, the people who had gone out began to return one by one.

"So, is the Fifth Miss pretty?" Wang Yun sidled up with a sleazy grin.

Xu Yang thought for a moment. "Like a person from a painting."

Wu Yongfeng chuckled. "The Sixth Miss I escorted was a heavenly beauty, too."

Wang Yun looked astonished. "Why does a good gig like that never fall to me? I spent half the day patrolling the perimeter of the Liu Mansion."

Bao Gang’s expression was a bit gloomy. He also hadn’t been assigned to escort one of the Liu family’s young misses and had been patrolling the Liu Mansion until now.

After eating at the Liu Mansion, another group came to take over the shift. Xu Yang told Zhang Bo about sending someone to pick up the Fifth Miss in the afternoon, then returned to Weiyuan Hall with Wu Yongfeng.

The once-lively Inner Courtyard now had only two people in it. Sun Tao, Lu Ren, Jiang Ping, and the others seemed to have coordinated, as none of them had come to Weiyuan Hall today.

Those two were none other than Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong.

"What’s going on? Why is it just the two of you?" Wu Yongfeng asked curiously.

Zhang Hong stopped his Pile Skill practice. "It’s because of that Jade Butterfly. All the senior brothers have been summoned back by their respective factions to protect the chastity of their women."

A day passed quickly, and Xu Yang heard no more news about Jade Butterfly.

The next day, he arrived at the Liu Mansion and heard the latest news about Jade Butterfly. The previous day, another young woman from a prominent family in the Outer City had fallen victim to Jade Butterfly—this time from the Huang Family. It was said she was attacked in her own home.

Because of this, the Liu Family made an adjustment: until Jade Butterfly was caught, none of the young misses were allowed to leave the estate.

So that day, Xu Yang didn’t escort the Fifth Miss to Sunv Hall. Instead, he was assigned by Zhang Bo to patrol a corner of the Liu Mansion. Even the other shift of Tributors responsible for the daytime was called in. Both shifts patrolled together to prevent Jade Butterfly from sneaking into the Liu Mansion.

He wasn’t able to go to Weiyuan Hall that day. The patrol only ended when darkness fell and the Sacrificial Martial Artists responsible for the Liu Mansion’s nighttime security came to take over the shift.

Bathed in moonlight, Xu Yang made his way out of the Inner City and hurried home.

As he neared Bai Shi Workshop, he saw a person lying in the grass by the roadside.

The person was half-lying, head down, so he couldn’t get a clear look. Thinking it was one of his neighbors from Bai Shi Workshop who’d had an accident, he quickened his pace to see who it was.

As he got closer, he smelled blood. Looking carefully, he saw a pool of spat-out blood next to the person, as if it had been sprayed out.

The blood hadn’t dried yet; it looked like it had been spat out only a short while ago.

"Friend, wake up!" Xu Yang stopped three steps away, not approaching rashly.

He called out a few times, but the prone figure didn’t respond. He immediately circulated his True Qi and continued to move forward.

He had only taken two steps when the person on the ground suddenly shot up, their five fingers closing in on his neck like an eagle’s talon.