Chapter 22: Yue Hongling VS Luo Qi

Chapter 22: Yue Hongling vs. Luo Qi

In any case, Instructor Sun’s appreciation for Zhao Changhe was genuine; he taught with all his heart and truly regarded him as a prized disciple. Zhao Changhe felt a mix of emotions, but for now set aside the matter of the formation and devoted himself to learning the Blood Fiend Blade.

He dared not press for too many details on the formation, lest he arouse suspicion.

The Blood Fiend Blade was one of the martial arts paired with the Blood Fiend Art, using the qi and blood propulsion method of that art to drive the blade. Its power was greater, its explosive force fierce and unmatched, with little in the way of flashy tricks—a broad and sweeping blade style. At higher levels, the mere killing intent from a single slash could wither plants, and any slightly weaker opponent would die on the spot—its might was immense.

As for the ultimate techniques, his current strength could not yet unleash them, or if he forced them out, it would drain him and leave him combat-ineffective.

A complete system of techniques, moves, and ultimate arts was visibly taking shape.

This included the matching footwork; since it involved positioning, it naturally began to overlap with knowledge of formations.

Zhao Changhe studied earnestly.

Whatever his thoughts... he needed strength first, and then take things step by step.

As for personal preference, he also quite liked this style of blade work—fierce buildup and fierce release. His only regret now was that the blade was too light; he had no idea where to find a heavier one...

During a break, Zhao Changhe absentmindedly reached into his pocket and gently grasped the Blood Stabilizing Pill he had never used.

Instructor Sun surely never imagined how severe the rebellious reaction this would provoke in someone like Zhao Changhe.

...

When he returned in the evening, Luo Qi was not there.

Zhao Changhe frowned slightly.

This winter solstice was a critical juncture not only for Zhao Changhe’s breakthrough and the discovery of the hidden door in the pool, but also for Luo Qi.

—They had been here for a month, yet had never plundered any merchants or the like, nor raided towns or villages. Now the entire stronghold was hunting beasts, but in the depths of winter, where were so many beasts? After more than a month of hunting, it grew harder and harder; in the last two days, more and more people were returning empty-handed.

What kind of bandits were they? They were practically competing with the hunters outside the mountains for food, and losing, since they weren’t professionals.

If not for the hunters’ fear of the bandits keeping them from venturing deep, they might not even have had that meager income.

This sorry state was mainly because Master Fang and many other stewards had their minds elsewhere, and Instructor Sun’s duty was only to teach techniques; no one really paid much attention to this aspect. But the stronghold’s month of slacking off had already made Master Fang feel ashamed, and a few days ago he had issued a strict order: the stronghold must carry out a raid.

Luo Qi had already begun scouting early, exactly as Zhao Changhe had envisioned—investigating whether there were any wealthy but wicked landlords in the villages outside the mountains, to act in the name of justice.

And indeed, he had found an extremely vicious country squire. A few days ago, he had mentioned preparing for action, and it seemed today was the day Luo Qi would strike.

Zhao Changhe felt a warmth in his heart. Luo Qi had earlier called him naive, but in action, he followed this path. Whether it was his own inclination or consideration for Zhao Changhe’s feelings, it warmed Zhao Changhe deeply.

After so long sharing a room, and after last night’s bath and the arduous protection, Zhao Changhe knew that no matter how much he verbally treated Luo Qi as a man, in his heart he truly saw him as family.

Or perhaps more plainly, as a wife.

“Boss Zhao, Boss Zhao, something terrible!” A friendly bandit rushed over urgently: “Just now, a group of brothers on lookout reported to the steward’s hall that they saw someone passing by...”

Zhao Changhe was momentarily confused: “What does someone passing by have to do with me? No need to get so excited about robbing someone...”

“Excited? Boss!” The bandit stamped his foot. “The passerby is Yue Hongling! Even the Sect Leader can’t beat her—who would be crazy enough to provoke her? When they reported to Instructor Sun, even he backed off!”

Zhao Changhe was startled, not yet grasping what this meant, when the bandit continued: “Yue Hongling is heading toward Zhang Village; it looks like she intends to stay there for the night. That Brother Luo who shares your room—wasn’t he going to rob Zhang Village today? So I came to warn you, Boss! What do you think it has to do with you?”

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Changhe had already shot out of the stronghold like a whirlwind, charging down the mountain path.

...

Luo Qi’s operation that day had been going smoothly.

In a remote small town outside the mountains, a landlord’s estate in the countryside—how could there be any expert stationed there? Luo Qi, at the first level of the Mystic Gate, leading a dozen fierce bandits, burst in with overwhelming force.

In an instant, everyone in the estate who could resist was knocked down by Luo Qi’s acupoint-sealing strikes. She waved her hand: “Search the place. Do not touch any women. Anyone who does, I’ll chop off his filthy paws!”

The bandits’ expressions were as if they had eaten shit. They came to do this job, and they couldn’t even enjoy the women? Were they still bandits? Did she think she was some righteous hero robbing the rich to help the poor?

But no one dared to defy Luo Qi. Only those bandits who followed her knew that this thin, weak-looking Luo Tou was actually more ruthless than the famous Zhao Changhe in the stronghold.

A few days ago, some fool, drunk on cheap wine, saw Luo Tou’s delicate features and made rude remarks, saying that if the higher-ups hadn’t appointed Luo Qi as a leader, a pretty boy like him would only be fit to serve everyone for fun. Not only did he speak, but he also tried to reach out.

Then that man was sealed by Luo Qi, dragged to the cliff edge, and with a blank expression, Luo Qi let go inch by inch, watching him fall to his death as a meat paste. The coldness in her eyes at that moment was bone-chilling.

Indeed, birds of a feather flock together. Only such a ruthless character could share a room with Boss Zhao, and they were as thick as thieves.

Luo Qi reported to the stronghold that the man had fallen off the cliff by accident, and the stronghold didn’t bother to investigate such a case, so it was indeed an accidental fall.

In chaotic times, human life was as cheap as grass—even within the stronghold.

Who would dare to defy such a leader? They obediently went to search for goods.

Zhao Changhe knew nothing of this; even if he did, he would probably think others were exaggerating. In his heart, Luo Qi was not a ruthless person...

Luo Qi looked coldly at the paralyzed landlord’s family before her. This was her first time doing such a thing, and she hesitated whether to kill them or not.

In theory, bandits didn’t always kill during raids; if there was no fierce resistance, it wasn’t necessary. Not out of kindness, but to keep the “pigs” for future harvests.

These residents living outside the mountains could hardly uproot their entire families and move. After being robbed once, they would still live there, just hiding their wealth more carefully and reporting to the authorities to suppress the bandits. Next time, there would still be something to plunder. Some even reached an understanding: when the bandits came, they would hand over protection money, thus establishing a connection and turning the bandits into their own external allies, further bullying the locals.

The bandits also understood this tacitly; they wouldn’t strip their own foothold bare, and might even show some care in times of trouble.

That was why many mountain bandits were hard to eradicate—they had eyes everywhere.

But Luo Qi felt something was off... She had first investigated the evil deeds of this local tyrant and came to act in the name of justice, not to play the game of tacit understanding between bandits and gentry. So should she kill them? Was there a hero’s manual she could borrow to check?

While she hesitated, she heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance.

Luo Qi frowned, stepped outside to look, and saw a flash of red robes riding toward her in the sunset.

“Damn, I really ran into a hero!” Luo Qi turned and ran: “It’s Yue Hongling! Retreat!”

But it was too late.

In the blink of an eye, Yue Hongling had blocked the way.

Her beautiful eyes swept over Luo Qi, then fell on the chaotic estate, where a group of bandits were pouring out, trying to flee.

“Blood God Cult bandits, huh...” Yue Hongling sighed. “I had important matters in recent days; I knew there was a stronghold near Mount Mang long ago, and I should have come to eliminate it sooner...”

Strangely, though Luo Qi was inwardly afraid of Yue Hongling, seeing her chivalrous demeanor sparked a fire in her heart. She sneered: “What kind of hero are you pretending to be? You wander the jianghu every day—where do you get your livelihood? Where does your daily spending come from? Isn’t it the same as us—robbing the rich to help the poor?”

Yue Hongling was taken aback, then found it somewhat amusing: “I do rob, it’s true. But I rob from the likes of you.”

Luo Qi: “...Damn.”

It turned out that Yue Hongling was not the stern, lecturing hero she had imagined. She was actually a bit like Zhao Changhe. Zhao Changhe—was his nature partly innate, and partly a deliberate imitation of Yue Hongling?

Yue Hongling dismounted with a smile, drew her sword, and pointed it at Luo Qi: “Not many bandits argue with me. You’re one. I wonder how your sword compares to your tongue.”

Luo Qi angrily drew her sword and assumed a defensive stance. In truth, she could have argued further, but for some reason, she didn’t want to debate with Yue Hongling at all; she just found her irritating.

Just then, a gale seemed to sweep through, and from afar, the fierce killing intent of blood energy could be felt.

Yue Hongling’s expression shifted slightly. She turned to look, and a burly man came charging like a horse, treading through the snow.

Luo Qi’s heart leaped with joy, yet she also found it a little amusing.

He came just in time.