Chapter 32
It was a day when the gloomy gray sky and the cold wind made it feel even more chilly.
The Seo Won Escort Agency and Xi Xichang's party looked up at the sky and hurriedly increased their speed towards the village.
Judging by the damp air and the sky, it seemed that it would rain soon, and they wanted to relieve their long journey's fatigue in the village before the rain poured down.
For Xi Xichang, who could not let her guard down, not knowing when the Black Contemplation Fortress would attack again, every day was a series of walking on thin ice.
But fortunately, perhaps because she was traveling with the Seo Won Escort Agency, there had been no major interruptions to her journey so far.
"Out!"
As someone at the head of the escorts shouted in a loud voice, the escorts began to move busily as if there were an emergency.
Xi Xichang and Liu Yezhi, who had sensed the unusual atmosphere, also hurriedly turned their horses towards the head of the escort agency.
"What's wrong?"
Huang Feihu, instead of answering Xi Xichang's question, who was asking with a flushed face, looked at the twenty or so men in black martial arts uniforms gathered in front of them with his gaze.
"Black Contemplation Fortress..."
They did not look like a group of bandits, and if they were people who were blocking their way so confidently, he could not think of any other case than the Black Contemplation Fortress.
"Perhaps they've really picked a great day."
It was the moment when the expectation that there would be no particular attack, as the village was not far away, was overturned.
Moreover, the boldness of attacking in broad daylight, even though it was cloudy, was worthy of being called the Black Contemplation Fortress.
"Out! Out! Out!"
The escorts of the escort agency raised their voices and composed their posture in perfect order.
The sight of them preparing a wheel formation without the slightest hesitation, even though they knew that the opponents were not bandits, was a scene that made it clear that the reputation of the Seo Won Escort Agency was not in vain.
The men in black martial arts uniforms all drew their swords at once and flew at the escorts of the Seo Won Escort Agency, who had finished their battle preparations.
* * *
'Why is the Seo Won Escort Agency traveling with them?'
In the midst of a fierce battle between the martial artists of the Black Contemplation Fortress and the escorts of the Seo Won Escort Agency, there was someone who was hiding his appearance and watching the scene.
The man with a dirty and shabby appearance, an unattractive appearance, and long arms was none other than Tu Xingsun, who had been ordered by Shiyue to pursue Xi Xichang.
"Kuaak! Ack!"
Watching the sound of weapons and shouts echoing, it was clear that the Book Burning Squad he had ambushed was being pushed back by the escorts of the escort agency.
Although he could identify Xi Xichang and Liu Yezhi at once from a distance, the martial prowess of the two who seemed to be the head escorts was so outstanding that it seemed difficult for even Tu Xingsun to handle them easily.
'It would be best to give up the thought of subduing them and interrogating them.'
It was a mistake to not have expected that the Seo Won Escort Agency would go against the Black Contemplation Fortress and travel with Xi Xichang's party.
At this level, it was a situation where he had to deploy all his forces, not just a third of the Book Burning Squad.
But if he returned empty-handed, Shiyue's anger would surely pierce the heavens.
If it was difficult to subdue Xi Xichang, he had to at least obtain information by taking another method.
"It's a bit of a waste, but it can't be helped..."
If one was a member of the Black Contemplation Fortress, one had to be able to lay down one's life.
Even more so for the sake of a mission...
Tu Xingsun drew the sword from his pocket and flew to strike the back of the Book Burning Squad in one go.
"Kuh?"
The Book Burning Squad, who had been stabbed in the back, began to attack Tu Xingsun immediately, without a single moment of bewilderment, even after confirming that the opponent was their leader, Tu Xingsun.
Swoosh!
The Book Burning Squad were his subordinates, and the order to attack the Seo Won Escort Agency had also been given by him, but there was no mercy in the hands of Tu Xingsun, who had drawn his sword.
As he stepped on a marvelous footwork and drew his sword, a fountain of blood rose in the sky, and the heads of two men in black from the Book Burning Squad soared into the sky.
"Are they from the Beggars' Sect?"
Although the party had been flustered by the unexpected ambush, the outstanding escort agency, the Seo Won Escort Agency, immediately launched a counterattack, and the four masters became a reliable support.
Moreover, as if to add icing on the cake, a master in beggar's clothes appeared and helped them, so it seemed that the situation would soon be calmed down.
"Kuaaak! Kuh!"
Unlike the Red Moon Squad that had attacked Xi Xichang's party before, this time the ambushers, as the tide of the battle turned against them, soon scattered in all directions and fled.
"They're running away too obediently this time. Could it be that they're not from the Black Contemplation Fortress?"
"Watch your mouth."
Jin Tianxiang shut his mouth at Huang Feihu's one word, who was shaking off his crescent moon blade.
It was clear that it was not a common occurrence for a group of men in black of this scale to attack an escort agency, so it was difficult to see them as bandits who were after the escorted goods.
'I'm really traveling with a walking disaster.'
If their destination had not been the same Hermit's Valley as them, they would have parted ways long ago. In fact, it was clear that it would be more helpful to the schedule to go separately even now.
But now, there was not enough justification to part ways with them.
"Thank you for your help, great hero."
Huang Feihu first cupped his fists and showed his respect to the mysterious man who had helped them.
At a glance, he seemed to be a member of the Beggars' Sect, but seeing that he did not have a hemp sack, it seemed that he was not a person from the Beggars' Sect.
"Not at all, not at all. What great hero."
Tu Xingsun waved his hand as if it were nothing and cupped his fists at Huang Feihu, making a fuss.
"Thank you for your help, great hero."
Xi Xichang and Liu Yezhi, who were behind Huang Feihu, also cupped their fists at Tu Xingsun.
"This... I acted out of righteousness, and you thank me like this. I don't know where to put myself."
Tu Xingsun, seeing Xi Xichang's great beauty up close, swallowed his admiration inwardly.
People in the world often call a woman a 'flower bud', and in Tu Xingsun's eyes, Xi Xichang was the person who suited that word more than anyone else.
If the situation had not been like this, Tu Xingsun would have even wanted to protect her so that she could bloom completely.
'In a few years, she'll be really amazing.'
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, she was still too young to move Tu Xingsun.
"We are the people of the Seo Won Escort Agency. Who are you, great hero?"
"Haha, I am a person named Tu Xingsun."
Although Tu Xingsun had revealed his name himself, none of them knew about him.
While exchanging thanks for a moment, Huang Feihu turned his gaze and slowly looked around the escorted goods.
"It seems strange."
"What is it?"
Huang Feihu muttered to himself after confirming the traces of the Book Burning Squad that had fled like ghosts.
Xi Xichang, who had heard his muttering, followed him and turned her head.
"For having waited in advance, the scale doesn't seem that great."
Although it was not the full force of the Red Moon Squad, he already had a record of defeating the Red Moon Squad and its leader.
For their subsequent pursuers, the scale and level did not seem that great in Huang Feihu's eyes.
"To form a full-fledged pursuit team, it would take time even for the Black Contemplation Fortress, so could it be a vanguard to delay our movement speed?"
"A vanguard..."
It was a reasonable thing to say.
Although they had waited in an organized manner and attacked, they did not include a master great enough to subdue them.
Since it was unlikely that the Black Contemplation Fortress did not have masters, Xi Xichang's words were plausible.
"But where are you going?"
Tu Xingsun, who was listening to their reasoning, hurriedly spoke to change the subject.
"We are on our way to the Kunlun Mountains."
At the sudden question, Jin Tianxiang, who was next to him, answered Tu Xingsun.
"What a coincidence! Actually, I'm also on my way there."
Huang Feihu frowned and gave Jin Tianxiang a reproachful look for carelessly revealing their destination.
No matter how much help he had received, he was a suspicious man he had just met.
In the current situation where they were being targeted by the Black Contemplation Fortress, it was not the right thing to do to expose their information.
Moreover, a coincidental attack and a coincidental same destination...
Although it was a very suspicious situation, it was difficult to openly suspect Tu Xingsun, who had risked his life to help them.
Judging by Tu Xingsun's tone, it seemed that he meant to travel together since their destination was the same, but for Huang Feihu, who was in charge of the escort mission, it was not a welcome situation.
"We are carrying important escorted goods, so it is difficult to travel with an outsider. Please understand, great hero."
"These people don't seem to be escorts, but you are traveling with them, aren't you?"
Tu Xingsun slowly looked Xi Xichang up and down. Seeing that, Xi Xichang's face hardened.
"We are traveling with the escorts for a reason."
"Hah!"
Xi Xichang, feeling displeasure at Tu Xingsun's behavior, frowned.
"Could it be that the important escorted goods are this person? It seems she is worthy of that much."
"What did you say?"
Xi Xichang could not hold back her anger at Tu Xingsun's words, who had dared to treat her as an object.
"Why are you getting so angry? I said it as a compliment."
"This guy...!"
Xi Xichang, who was about to draw her sword at Tu Xingsun's insulting words and actions, saw through that he was now deliberately provoking her anger.
Although she had received help, he was a suspicious person whose purpose was unknown, and he was not a man she wanted to get close to.
Jin Tianxiang and Huang Feihu also realized that Tu Xingsun's behavior was exaggerated and had a clear intention.
They were in a position to transport the escorted goods and receive what they were supposed to receive.
It was clear that the reason this guy was doing this was not because of them.
[It seems his purpose is more with that Sect Leader Xi than with us.]
[Keep your useless interest to yourself. We just need to focus on carrying out the escort mission.]
[Are you saying you're not curious, Head Escort Huang?]
[Ahem! Don't forget that this mess also happened because of your loose tongue.]
Even though it was a telepathic message where the pitch of the voice could not be felt, Huang Feihu's sharp voice was felt.
"Let's go."
Huang Feihu also had no intention of getting involved with this man of unknown identity any further.
It was also clear that the help he had given was not out of a desire for a reward or a sense of righteousness in the first place.
Moreover, since the dispute with the Black Contemplation Fortress had originated from Xi Xichang, it was right for the Qingcheng Sect and Xi Xichang to finish the related grudge.
"Are you just going to leave?"
"If you want to receive a reward for your help later, please come to the Qingcheng Sect in Sichuan."
If he was a person who was deliberately chasing her, they would meet again anyway, and even if not, it would be over if the Qingcheng Sect gave him some money.
"How can you be so ungrateful? Oh? They're really leaving."
Tu Xingsun made a fuss, but the carriages and horses of the escort agency began to move, leaving him behind.
"Then let's meet again."
Without hearing Tu Xingsun's low words, Xi Xichang turned her horse and moved towards the head of the escort agency.
Only after they had disappeared from his sight for a long time did Tu Xingsun raise his head with a smile on his lips.
"I poked her a little because a young girl was leading the Qingcheng Sect, but her personality is truly fierce. At this rate, which man will take her even when she's older?"
Her martial prowess was needless to say, but her composure was not like that of a young girl, including her beauty.
It was clear that she was curious about the reason he was doing this, but seeing her avoid him, her sense of danger was also outstanding.
Since she was a body marked by the Black Contemplation Fortress, it was a matter of course that she would fall before she could even display something in her prime. Tu Xingsun could not hide his disappointment.
If he left this path, a small village would soon appear, and that was the first and last village on the way to the Kunlun Mountains.
It was clear that all of them would unpack their luggage there to relieve the fatigue of battle and the journey.
"If things drag on, it won't be good for me either."
Now that the preliminary investigation was over, it was time to do the math on the abacus.
A battle was out of the question. But if he provoked them, he would be able to obtain valuable information.
Tu Xingsun, as soon as Xi Xichang's party was completely out of sight, immediately found his hidden horse and got up.
He had to hurry and get ahead of them.
(End of Chapter)