Jingzhou was located in the northwest of the Yue Kingdom. Due to its remote location, large cities were few and far between, while small towns and villages were commonplace. The region was mostly dotted with hills and barren lands, vast stretches of which were uninhabited. As a result, bandits and thieves were far more numerous here than in other regions, making it the most chaotic area in the martial world. No major faction had ever managed to unify the region, which led to a fiercely independent local culture. Escort agencies and merchant caravans flourished here, forming a stark contrast to the rampant banditry.
On this day, in a desolate wilderness by a dirt road, a scene all too familiar in Jingzhou was unfolding once more.
Over a hundred burly men, clad in coarse cloth and wearing black headbands, brandished an assortment of weapons as they besieged a group of thirty or so figures dressed in green robes. At the center of the green-robed group, several high-canopied carriages were tightly guarded. It was a fierce battle between bandits and an escort agency.
Behind the bandits stood three black-clad men with strikingly similar features, watching the scene coldly, their expressions occasionally flickering with ruthlessness.
Near the carriages, several young men dressed as servants stood guard with clubs in hand, their faces slightly tense. Inside the three or four carriages behind them sat a few women and children in elegant attire. In the largest carriage at the front sat a composed middle-aged scholar. His long, jet-black beard and the air of authority he exuded, despite his seemingly frail appearance, made it clear he was no ordinary man.
Opposite the scholar sat a burly man with a thick beard, dressed in blue brocade robes. His large hands and piercing gaze marked him as a rare top-tier martial artist.
These two were clearly figures of importance, their expressions calm and collected. The spacious carriage held only the two of them, with no third person sharing their space.
Though silent, they could clearly see the unfolding chaos outside through the half-open carriage windows, the sounds of battle and screams occasionally drifting in.
The black-banded bandits outnumbered the green-clad escorts, but the latter were more skilled, resulting in a stalemate where neither side could gain the upper hand.
Seeing this, the scholar smiled faintly and suddenly addressed the bearded man opposite him: “It seems Brother Li won’t need to trouble himself. The Tianwu Escort Agency should be able to handle this on their own.”
“Heh! If those three leaders of the Black Bandits don’t intervene, Tianwu can certainly deal with these small fry. But if those three join the fray, the escorts won’t stand a chance. After all, the three leaders of the Black Bandits are notorious figures in Jingzhou. Rumor has it they’re brothers, highly skilled in coordinated combat—ordinary fighters are no match for them.” As he spoke, the bearded man’s face betrayed a hint of excitement. He flexed his thick fingers, producing sharp cracking sounds—a testament to his mastery of external martial arts.
“Brother Li, you’re just like your father—always itching for a fight the moment the topic comes up,” the scholar chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.
“Brother Han, it’s only natural. Our Li family has always been a martial lineage. When we encounter interesting opponents, we can’t help but want to test our skills. It’s the same as how your Han family, with its generations of scholars, always has one or two members serving in the imperial court. What puzzles me, though, is how our families, so different in nature, became such close friends all those years ago—and maintained that bond through the generations!” The bearded man crossed his arms, looking genuinely perplexed.
“Ah, I happened upon some old records recently and learned a bit about our families’ past. If you’re curious, I can share a few details—though I can’t vouch for their accuracy,” the scholar said with a light laugh.
“Really? Our Li family never kept records of our ancestors’ affairs. Apart from a few exceptional martial arts manuals, there’s no mention of how our families first became connected.” The bearded man’s curiosity was piqued.
“Wait—those three are making their move. Hold on, Brother Han. Let me deal with them first, then you can tell me the story.” The bearded man’s expression shifted as he glanced outside. In a flash, he shot out of the carriage like an arrow.
Soon, the sounds of his booming laughter and fierce combat erupted outside.
The scholar sighed, gently lowering the carriage curtain and turning away, as if utterly confident in the bearded man’s abilities.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the noise outside gradually subsided.
The carriage curtain stirred as the bearded man, dust-covered and slightly wounded at the shoulder, reappeared inside. He laughed heartily at the scholar. “Those three were tougher than I expected—took me a bit more effort. But they’re dead now. The Black Bandits are no more in Jingzhou.” He looked thoroughly satisfied.
The scholar, however, wore an apologetic expression. “If not for Brother Li accompanying me, this journey back to my ancestral home might have been my last. It seems my enemies truly want me dead. I’ve dragged you into this trouble.”
“Trouble? The Li family has relied on the Han family’s help more than once to survive in the martial world. Our families supporting each other is only natural,” the bearded man said dismissively.
“You’re right. I was being overly sentimental,” the scholar admitted with a smile, his composure restored.
“But don’t forget, Brother Han—you still owe me that story about our families. I’m quite curious,” the bearded man reminded him as he applied a golden wound ointment to his shoulder.
“Of course. The tale of how our families became allies is rather extraordinary. Do you remember the Seven Mysteries Sect, which once dominated Jingzhou decades ago? It turns out our ancestors were fellow disciples in that martial sect. According to the records, one of our Han ancestors and your Li ancestor were as close as brothers within the sect. That’s how our families first connected. And our ancestor was quite the remarkable figure—it’s said that back then…”
As the scholar spoke softly, the green-robed escorts buried the dead on both sides before the carriages resumed their journey, gradually disappearing into the desolate landscape.
—
“Qingniu Town?”
Han Li hovered hundreds of feet in the air, enveloped in a green glow, as he gazed down at the small town below, a trace of confusion crossing his face.
The town was pitifully small, spanning only a few miles, yet it bore no resemblance to the single-street village he remembered. Yet, according to his memory, this was indeed the site of the old Qingniu Town.
Over a hundred years had passed since his last visit, and the humble village had evidently grown into a proper town. Han Li hovered motionless for a while, hesitating, before finally casting an invisibility spell and descending into an unnoticed alley. He then strode out casually, strolling slowly along the narrow street.
“Everything’s changed,” he murmured to himself, taking in the unfamiliar buildings and pavilions lining the street.
For some reason, though he knew his childhood village and the great Black Mountain lay just a short flight to the west, he hesitated. Instead, he found himself drawn to this transformed Qingniu Town.
Outwardly composed, Han Li secretly hoped to catch a glimpse of something familiar. But so far, nothing had stirred his memory.
Suddenly, his steps slowed as he reached a three-way intersection. He stopped, staring fixedly at a shabby two-story tavern by the roadside. A faded yellow sign above its door read “Chunxiang”—the very tavern where he had once stayed for two days, the establishment once managed by his third uncle, “Fatty Han.”
The sight of the tavern unlocked a flood of hazy memories.
His round-faced, jovial uncle. The cramped backyard of the tavern. The dimly lit side room. The delicious meals. The black carriage bearing the Seven Mysteries Sect’s banner—all of it rushed back with startling clarity.
Han Li’s expression grew complex, a shadow of melancholy passing through his eyes.
After a moment, he noticed passersby giving him odd looks. It was no wonder—a young man standing motionless, staring intently at a rundown tavern, was certainly an unusual sight.
Collecting himself, Han Li resumed a neutral expression, clasped his hands behind his back, and ambled toward the tavern.
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