Legend of Swordsman

Jian Wushuang had originally thought his plan was perfect, but unforeseen changes had resulted in the current situation.

He had forgotten how long it had been since he last apologized to anyone.

The last time seemed to have been in the Northern Spacetime.

At the Qishen Temple!

Years had passed in the blink of an eye.

And now, he was apologizing to a mere mortal.

Hu San, lying on the ground, believed his end was near. He spoke coldly, “Jian Wushuang, I don’t blame you. Just kill me!”

“You’re overthinking it. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have bandaged your wounds,” Jian Wushuang replied with a faint smile.

He casually took out a money pouch from his bosom.

“There’s fifty taels of gold inside. Once we leave, you can take Liu Ye and find a place to retire, or you can choose to roam the martial world alone,” Jian Wushuang said, then took a jade pendant from his honorific robe and solemnly added, “I owe you a debt, which I will repay. If you die, give this pendant to your closest kin. I will repay my debt eventually!”

Hu San was stunned by these words.

Jian Wushuang then took his clothes and left the bamboo house.

He went back to the well, removed his bloodstained clothes, and washed off the blood with the cold well water.

After changing into his honorific robe, he tore off the excess parts to make it more practical.

Once he was ready, Jian Wushuang and Xiang Yang left the Chishui Wharf that night.

They boarded a small boat but didn’t head to the other side of the sea.

The so-called paradise of the Tang Dynasty was not their destination.

Instead, they traveled upstream towards Yong City.

The small boat entered the canal from the coast.

After paying some tolls along the way, they smoothly entered the inland via the canal.

Binhai Prefecture was vast.

It had four county cities.

Yong City was one of them.

It was also the forefront of Binhai Prefecture’s defense.

Three thousand soldiers were stationed here.

Young Master Liu San was originally one of the three major captains.

However, he lost himself while trying to secure a future with the nobility.

At this time, the nobles were likely unaware.

Jian Wushuang’s destination was Yong City.

According to his plan, he would first integrate with some local nobles to gather information about the true nature of this world, at least to get a large map.

However, when they went ashore and reached a small town, they discovered that maps were controlled items.

Ordinary people couldn’t obtain them.

With no other choice, Jian Wushuang bought two fast horses and decided to enter Yong City with Xiang Yang.

Although the canal could take them directly to Yong City, Jian Wushuang chose to travel by land to be safe.

However, this route led them into an encounter with mountain bandits.

While passing through a bamboo forest, they were stopped by a group of bandits.

“This road was opened by me, this tree…”

“No need to say more. We’re all travelers in the martial world. Here is some silver, consider it a treat for you all!” Jian Wushuang interrupted, tossing a money pouch.

There were twenty taels of silver inside, which they had exchanged at the bank.

After all, gold was too valuable and could attract unwanted attention.

So they exchanged it for silver notes and silver.

Seeing Jian Wushuang’s straightforward manner, the bandit leader cupped his hands and politely said, “Brother, you’re generous. If this place weren’t so desolate, I’d surely invite you for a drink. Since you’re in a hurry, let’s leave it for next time!”

Jian Wushuang finished speaking and made way for them.

Jian Wushuang and Xiang Yang were just about to pass through.

Suddenly, a cold arrow came flying toward them.

Fortunately, Jian Wushuang’s reaction was quick enough; he dodged it.

However, Xiang Yang, behind him, wasn’t as agile.

Luckily, the arrow hit the horse’s leg instead.

The startled horse reared, and Xiang Yang, unsteady in his seat, fell off.

Then more arrows came flying toward them.

The bandits were immediately thrown into a panic.

“Oh no, it’s the authorities! Everyone, scatter!”

But as they fled, Jian Wushuang and Xiang Yang were left in a tight spot.

To avoid the arrows, both of their swift horses were shot down.

Jian Wushuang signaled to Xiang Yang to escape with the bandits. They couldn’t stay where they were, for even if they weren’t bandits, they might be mistaken for them and get killed.

They had to evade.

Never assume those in the government are all good people.

These were chaotic times.

Bandits were everywhere.

It was peculiar that these bandits here were being eradicated.

Moreover, the archers shooting indiscriminately were definitely not ordinary enforcers; they must have been soldiers sent specifically.

If they stayed put, they’d be either shot or interrogated.

If they couldn’t explain themselves, they’d end up in trouble anyway.

Both men had no clear identity.

So, they had no choice but to flee up the mountain with the bandits.

Ironically, they ran faster than the bandits.

Seeing this, the bandit leader, who had previously blocked their way, exclaimed in surprise, “So, you two are also from the underworld!”

“Heh, just trying to survive. Besides, there’s no good people among the authorities. If we stayed, who knows what false charges they’d put on us!”

Hearing this, the bandit leader admired Jian Wushuang even more and invited, “If you two don’t have a place to go, why not come with us to the small dock?”

A dock?

Hearing this, Jian Wushuang and Xiang Yang felt uneasy.

But they had no better options.

They reluctantly agreed.

The bandits were familiar with the mountain paths.

They led them through twists and turns, quickly losing the pursuers.

After another hour’s walk, they reached the small dock the bandit leader had mentioned.

Only then did Jian Wushuang and Xiang Yang understand why it was called a small dock.

Because it was really small!

There was only one large warehouse and a dock that could only accommodate three boats.

It was a riverside dock.

Nothing compared to the Chishui Dock where they had been.

But in one aspect, it was much better than Chishui Dock.

When the bandits returned, they called the porters and laborers brothers, and some bandits even put down their weapons to help at the dock.

It seemed they were just laborers.

“Don’t laugh at us, brothers. We’re not truly ruthless bandits, just some poor workers trying to make a living!”

“Of course not!” Jian Wushuang shook his head.

This was much better than those so-called legitimate docks.

At least these laborers weren’t being whipped or bullied.

It was somewhat ironic.

However, upon hearing that the goods on these merchant ships were all looted, Jian Wushuang withdrew his earlier thoughts.

But seeing these people working so happily was still better than the previous dock.

After chatting a bit with the bandit leader, they introduced themselves.

Jian Wushuang and Xiang Yang claimed to be “Pirates of the High Seas.”

They said they had come from the Eastern Sea of the Tang Dynasty, hoping to survive in Yue Country.

Hearing they were from the Tang Dynasty, the bandit leader, Scarred Xuan, got excited.

“Brothers from the Tang Dynasty, that’s great!” Scarred Xuan quickly led them to the warehouse.

Apart from storing goods, there was a long table inside, about seven or eight zhang long, capable of seating dozens of people.