In a flash, Yu Wei wielded his blade with force towards the sword that was about to stab into Lord Li's chest.
With a clang, the blades collided, sending sparks flying.
Yu Wei was pushed back several steps by the opponent's sword energy, while the opponent's sword was just deflected a little. Because of this minor deflection, the sword just barely grazed past Lord Li's arm, leaving behind a wound.
"Protect the lord!"
The other three guards immediately raised their blades to block in front of Lord Li. Yu Wei stood at the forefront, vigilantly eyeing the direction from which the sword attack had come.
"Reveal yourself!"
"Heh heh, I'm here to kill you."
Ahead appeared a beautiful figure dressed in red robes and loose hair, with exquisite makeup.
Its neck was obscured by the high collar, the face looked even more attractive than that of most women, but the voice sounded hoarse and masculine.
Making it hard to discern whether the newcomer was male or female.
"Tsk, not bad. To be able to block my sword with only 50 percent of my strength. Unfortunately, you will all become souls under my sword today." The figure said in its rough voice.
The voice was shrill yet coarse, making Yu Wei's group feel a chill down their spines.
Looking at the opponent, a thought flashed across Yu Wei's mind. Red robes, appearance ambiguous...
His eyes suddenly widened in disbelief. "Could it be you're the second ranked killer on the Jianghu Killer Leaderboard, The Worrying Ghost?"
Legend has it that The Worrying Ghost charged thousands in gold per mission.
As such, few in the Jianghu dared to disturb it from seclusion. Whenever it came out from seclusion, the target would surely be someone influential.
The Worrying Ghost was renowned in the Jianghu for mastery of the Shadow Flow Sword Technique. Wielding a swift blade, every unsheathing meant drawing blood.
"Not bad, seems like you have some insight. I heard a young girl among you killed Elder Wu. I'll give you all a chance. Have that girl come out and fight me."
"If you want to find her, step over our corpses first." Yu Wei responded.
"Such loyalty, I'm impressed. I'll leave your corpses intact later." The Worrying Ghost pointed a lily-shaped hand at Yu Wei's group and said.
Yu Wei knew with just the four of them, they stood no chance against the opponent. All they could do was to buy time for the lord to escape when fighting later.
"My lord, later when we four stall it, take the chance to escape and find somewhere safe to wait for young miss Hua's return."
"No, its target is me. When I leave, you will undoubtedly die."
"Since you care for them, I can spare their lives out of consideration for you." The Worrying Ghost across them said.
"My lord, we cannot allow that. We would rather die protecting you."
Yu Wei swiftly stepped forward, shielding Lord Li behind him once more as the other two surrounded The Worrying Ghost, preparing for a fight to the death.
"Yu Wei, it only wants my life. Do not make unnecessary sacrifices. The living are always stronger than the dead." Lord Li said.
"No, it is our duty to protect you, my lord."
"That's right my lord, we vow to protect you with our lives." The other two guards echoed.
The Worrying Ghost was growing impatient listening to them. It said, "Too long-winded. Since you court death, you can keep each other company on the road to the Yellow Springs. Prepare to die."
Sword intent erupted as The Worrying Ghost drew its blade, slashing out streaks of light resembling electricity straight at Yu Wei and Lord Li's chests.
Yu Wei crossed his twin blades to block, managing to deflect the blow but still sent flying back several steps from the impact as he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
At the same time, the other three guards hacked at The Worrying Ghost with their own blades.
Yu Wei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. With no time to catch his breath, he charged forward once more, blades held high.
When facing such overwhelming odds, attacking was the best form of defense.
Yu Wei's group confronted The Worrying Ghost with the Eight Slash Blade Technique.
One could see their scattered movements resembling the erratic fluttering of butterflies, simple yet fierce.
After exchanging dozens of blows, The Worrying Ghost knitted its brows. In its travels through the Jianghu it had never witnessed such a blade technique.
Unfortunately their technique was far too unpolished, clearly they had little practice. Otherwise, it would be the one to die today.
Having not left seclusion for years, it did not expect martial arts in the Dayi Dynasty to have progressed so quickly. It seems it would have to inform its master after this fight to make preparations early.
Seeing its true target about to escape beyond its grasp, The Worrying Ghost ceased toying around.
Seizing an opening in their defense, it unleashed a dazzling slash resembling an arc of lightning with its left-handed sword, as if seeking to connect with the thunderbolts splitting the heavens above.
Moving as swift as lightning, all four guards were batted aside by The Worrying Ghost's attack, falling to the ground motionless.
In truth they had already been grievously injured from the earlier clashes, barely holding on through willpower alone.
This final strike utilized The Worrying Ghost's full strength, immediately taking them out of the fight.
They had done their best, only hoping Lord Li could make it to safety and reunite with young miss Hua.
As they closed their eyes in despair awaiting their ends, a sharp whistling suddenly came from behind The Worrying Ghost.
Sensing danger, The Worrying Ghost quickly spun around, raising its sword to block the incoming projectile.
Clang, turns out it was a small rock colliding with the blade, producing that ringing noise.
The Worrying Ghost examined its numb sword hand, then the remains of the crushed rock.
One could easily imagine the tremendous force behind that throw.
The newcomers were none other than Gong Xiaohua and her disciple Xiao Fu.
The pair managed to sneak out the city by hiding under a cart transporting nightsoil.
Gong Xiaohua and Xiao Fu had been hiding in the county office building for two days gathering intel. They discovered that every other day before dawn, people would come to collect nightsoil from around the premises to dispose of outside the city.
Thus on the third day at dawn, Gong Xiaohua and Xiao Fu quietly slipped away from the county office building. They concealed themselves along the nightsoil cart's route near the city gates. Taking advantage of the darkness, they clung to the underside of the cart as it left the city.
"Master, how did you know people were coming today to transport nightsoil?"
Gong Xiaohua shot her disciple a glare. "What, you think every time I sneak out it's to scavenge for food like you?"
"Oh I see, so that's why master always returns empty handed. Turns out you were gathering intelligence, master is wise indeed."
........
Seeing Gong Xiaohua arrive, hope reignited in the eyes of Yu Wei's group. Never before had they yearned to see someone so badly.
The pair brought Yu Wei's group to safety and treated their wounds.
They found several gashes to the bone still bleeding freely. After applying medicine and further recuperation over ten to fifteen days, they would make full recoveries.
The most serious injuries were internal but thankfully Gong Xiaohua and Xiao Fu made it just in time. Otherwise they would have been met with four cold corpses instead.
"Little girl, you finally came." The Worrying Ghost addressed Gong Xiaohua.
Only now did Gong Xiaohua shift her gaze onto The Worrying Ghost. Examining its attire and hearing that masculine coarse voice yet again...
She knitted her brows. One annoying man gone, another has come...this one thinking itself the Invincible East?
