“It dirtied my territory. I’ll kill one of you to settle the score. If you don’t leave now, I’ll kill you all.” Meng Qi raised his long sword proudly and arrogantly.
“Hmph, be careful…” The bandit was about to say something intimidating when he saw the opponent’s sword darting toward him with incredible speed. Instantly pierced in the throat, he collapsed limply to the ground.
How utterly disrespectful of the rules!
The surrounding horse bandits’ minds were fixated on only this thought.
Without saying a word, Meng Qi swiftly slashed with his sword several times, as fast as rolling thunder, killing the remaining horse bandits who were at the Qi Accumulation stage.
In the blink of an eye, a small group of horse bandits was wiped out.
“I told you not to stay,” Meng Qi coldly said as he sheathed his Ice Gate Sword.
“I wanted to kill them too,” Gu Changqing said, gazing at the corpses on the ground, filled with a sense of justice. However, to the other bandits’ ears, it sounded extremely arrogant.
The two returned to their tent, silently facing each other. With their personalities, staying among the horse bandits always made them feel out of place and very uncomfortable.
“Horse bandits are inhumane. It’s good that they were killed,” Gu Changqing transmitted through secret sound. He assumed that Meng Qi, this “monk,” was feeling guilty about the killing.
Meng Qi gave a slight smile. “Let’s discuss sword techniques instead.”
Killing these kinds of people brought no pressure. However, after witnessing numerous instances of raiding merchant caravans and killing innocents, he always felt a bit helpless and oppressed. No wonder people often said even Buddha has his anger.
Gu Changqing said no more and joined Meng Qi in discussing sword techniques.
Just as the two were enthusiastically discussing and preparing to get up and practice, a rough voice came from outside the tent: “Brothers, Zhong Yasha pays his respects.”
Zhong Yasha? Meng Qi and Gu Changqing exchanged glances, slightly surprised. He was the leader of a relatively strong faction among these horse bandits, rumored to possess the strength of the Six Gates cultivation stage.
After a brief pause, Meng Qi roughly guessed Zhong Yasha’s intention. He was likely here to recruit the two of them—those with power yet not yet affiliated were always welcome. No gang of horse bandits would refuse to enhance their strength, provided the leader could control the newcomers.
Therefore, he and Gu Changqing stepped out of the tent, looking at Zhong Yasha with slight arrogance.
Zhong Yasha had a full beard, wore a long robe, and looked like a typical desert traveler. The woman beside him bore the marks of wind and sand on her face but was still an attractive young matron, with an alluring figure.
“This is our Third Leader, Gongshe Yue,” Zhong Yasha briefly introduced, laughing heartily. “Nowadays, many people are too cruel and deserve hatred. You two brothers did well just now. If you hadn’t acted, we would have disciplined them ourselves. We, on the other hand, only seek wealth and never kill unless the opponent is too stubborn.”
After some small talk, Zhong Yasha revealed his true intention: “You two brothers have excellent skills and good temperaments, and we get along quite well. Therefore, I’d like to invite you to join us, directly becoming the Fourth and Fifth Leaders. How does that sound?”
Previously engaged in a conflict with others, he had suffered significant losses, leaving only three leaders, including himself. Thus, he was eager to recruit new members.
Moreover, such audacious, energetic newcomers who disregarded rules were rare and valuable reinforcements!
There were two growth “paths” among horse bandits. One was when a member joined with relatively low strength, cautiously surviving through many battles until eventually becoming an expert. These individuals were indifferent to others’ lives and fearless in combat but ultimately lacked the sharpness and drive, preferring stability and contentment with the status quo. The second type was represented by Meng Qi and Gu Changqing—those who pursued the freedom and wealth of being a horse bandit, coming from various tribes, ignorant of and indifferent to the rules, full of vigor and ambition, fearless toward any established bandit leader, ready to kill anyone. If properly utilized, they could achieve great things!
Since Meng Qi was pretending to be this kind of bandit, he naturally replied, “That depends on Senior Zhong’s skill.”
If you lack strength, why should you be the First Leader? The position of First Leader belongs only to those with power!
Zhong Yasha clearly understood Meng Qi’s underlying meaning, which aligned with his assessment of the young man. He smiled slightly and said, “Brother, let’s test our skills with a friendly match.”
His expression was calm, but internally, he was far from complacent. If he failed to demonstrate his dominance, the opponent would surely seize the opportunity to kill him mercilessly, establish his reputation, and take over his gang.
Meng Qi drew his sword with his left hand. The semi-transparent blade shimmered golden in the evening sunlight, exuding a chill that prompted Zhong Yasha to exclaim, “Excellent!”
What a formidable weapon indeed. No wonder this young man had achieved such remarkable martial prowess. He must be an exceptional talent from one of the Western tribes, highly esteemed by his clan, venturing into the vast desert to establish a “kingdom” and claim “wealth.”
Zhong Yasha also drew his weapon—a curved saber commonly used in horseback combat. The blade was dark red, as if it had slain thousands, emanating a bloodthirsty aura that made one’s heart tremble.
This was a fine weapon, but also a demonic one, Meng Qi judged inwardly.
Without hesitation, Meng Qi thrust his sword forward, aiming directly at Zhong Yasha’s forehead. This was a sword technique derived from Luo Qing’s insights.
Zhong Yasha dodged to the left, swinging his curved saber horizontally in a defensive-offensive maneuver.
The two quickly engaged in fierce combat. Zhong Yasha’s saber techniques were strange and unpredictable, embodying the essence of Western curved saber arts, vastly different from the styles of Central Plains. Moreover, his techniques carried a brutal aura, attacking relentlessly without holding back, creating the impression of battlefield combat where life and death were determined instantly.
Meng Qi’s sword techniques were even more rudimentary. Although the Five Tigers Severing the Gate Saber Technique and the Blood Saber Technique belonged to the Qi Accumulation stage, they only barely reached the Gate Opening level after he integrated the “Severing Purity” variations. However, his sword techniques hadn’t even reached the Qi Accumulation stage, relying solely on basic sword techniques honed through sparring.
The “Yanluo Post” contained only one move, mastered only after repeated practice. The “Nine Solitary Sword Techniques” were newly acquired and still under study, not yet fully grasped. Techniques like the “Hengqu Sword Method” and “Two Yi Wave Sword” had only been learned a few days prior, barely practiced.
Fortunately, Meng Qi had rich combat experience. The “Zhao Family Fast Sword,” known for its speed and ferocity with simple variations, allowed him to quickly grasp the techniques and apply what he had learned from sparring with Luo Qing. Additionally, his Blood Saber Technique was also known for its strangeness, preventing him from being overwhelmed by Zhong Yasha’s Western curved saber techniques.
Thus, the two fought faster and more aggressively, exchanging blows rapidly. Watching from the sidelines, Gongshe Yue and Gu Changqing both held their breath in anxiety, fearing their side might not withstand the onslaught.
Gongshe Yue feared her leader might be injured, provoking the young man’s ferocity. Gu Changqing, on the other hand, worried that if Zhong Yasha struck Meng Qi and exposed the Golden Bell Shield, it would trigger an attack from the horse bandits, with Yuan Mengzhi and others nearby.
During this battle, Meng Qi’s understanding of sword techniques rapidly improved. Gradually, he began to grasp a bit of the profound mystery of the “Nine Sword Techniques of Solitude.” Suddenly, his sword pointed to an inexplicable empty space.
Clang! Zhong Yasha’s curved saber “collided” on its own, struck by Meng Qi’s sword tip. His saber momentum immediately stalled, and Meng Qi seized the opportunity, pressing him back with a flurry of fast sword strikes.
Zhong Yasha inhaled deeply, changing his saber technique to one fierce and brutal, like scorching winds on a desert.
Meng Qi immediately felt the pressure. He tried to recapture the inspiration he had briefly experienced with the “Nine Sword Techniques of Solitude,” but could not find it again.
After all, his foundation in sword techniques was shallow. Leaving aside his comprehension ability, this alone disqualified him from quickly mastering the “Nine Sword Techniques of Solitude.” Therefore, he could only occasionally rely on flashes of insight, needing time to improve.
Seeing Zhong Yasha’s relentless attack, Meng Qi suddenly shouted, “Stop!”
Stepping into the Divine Footwork, Meng Qi retreated several steps with dazzling footwork, reversing his sword and said, “Senior Leader, your martial arts are indeed formidable. Meng concedes defeat.”
Zhong Yasha burst into hearty laughter. “Brother Meng’s left-handed swordplay is truly remarkable, vastly different from right-handed techniques. The angles and directions are so disorienting.”
He wasn’t surprised that Meng Qi bore a Han Chinese surname, as there were many Han Chinese tribes native to the Western Regions.
After a few sincere compliments, he said, “Brother Meng, shall I call you the Fourth Leader from now on?”
Fourth… Meng Qi expressionlessly replied, “My friend Gu is much older, so I’ll be the Fifth Leader.”
Hearing Meng Qi’s acceptance, Zhong Yasha laughed even more joyfully. “Brother Gu, what do you think?”
“If Brother Meng has no objection, I have none either,” Gu Changqing concisely replied.
Zhong Yasha sheathed his scimitar and clapped his hands cheerfully. “Today’s recruitment of two brothers is truly blessed by the Vajra Yaksha. Brothers, please join us in the tent for drinks and meat to meet the other brothers.”
A thought stirred in Meng Qi’s mind. It seemed Zhong Yasha’s faith leaned toward the Vajra Temple sect.
In the Western Regions, Buddhist beliefs differed somewhat from those in the Central Plains, divided between the Vajra Temple and the Joy Monastery.
In the distance, seeing Meng Qi and the others being taken away by Zhong Yasha, other horse bandit leaders who arrived slightly later were instantly filled with regret. Being a horse bandit also required valuing talent! Talented individuals could kill enemies and seize wealth, and could even take the blade meant for their leader!
Inside the tent, Zhong Yasha loudly announced, “Brothers, come quickly and meet our new leaders. This is the Fourth Leader, and this is the Fifth Leader.”
More than a dozen horse bandits noisily and disorderly greeted the new leaders. Then Zhong Yasha pointed to a middle-aged man with a yellowish, wooden expression and said, “This is the Second Leader, Wu Yong.”
An ordinary name and an unremarkable appearance—except for his typical Han Chinese features, Wu Yong seemed to have nothing special about him.
Roast whole lamb and large jars of wine were brought out one by one. Meng Qi ate meat but abstained from drinking alcohol.
“Brother Meng, why aren’t you drinking?” Zhong Yasha smiled and asked.
Maintaining his cold, expert demeanor, Meng Qi replied, “Drinking makes my hands unsteady. Unsteady hands make my sword techniques slow. Slow sword techniques mean I can’t kill people.”
“Excellent! No wonder Brother Meng, despite your youth, possesses such sword skills!” Zhong Yasha clapped his hands in admiration.
Meng Qi smirked inwardly. I’m afraid I’ll get drunk and lose my wig…
After a while, Zhong Yasha sighed, “What a pity. Previously, we had many brothers, lively and bustling. Now, only a few remain, making things feel rather desolate.”
“Senior Leader, who did this?” Meng Qi, maintaining his image, fearlessly asked.
Zhong Yasha shook his head. “A few days ago, we were attacked by the convoy of Hong Ma, the Sunset Sea King. Alas, it was all due to my carelessness.”
“Senior Leader, where is Wang Hong? I’ll go kill him!” Meng Qi suddenly stood up, fully immersed in his role.
Zhong Yasha waved his hand. “Brother Meng’s kindness is appreciated, but there’s no hurry. Wang Hong’s strength is on par with mine, and he has seven or eight lieutenants under his command. Let’s first capture the little bald monk wanted by the Evil Blade Kill Order and secure Elder Ze Luo’s promise. Then we can take our time to settle the score. By the way, we might run into Wang Hong again at Fish Sea—he’s also biding his time for an opportunity.”
“Mm.” Meng Qi gave the impression of someone who would act on his own regardless, secretly cursing, “Damn little bald monk, hiding so deeply!”
Zhong Yasha, satisfied, took a sip of wine and changed the subject.
For the next two days, Gu Changqing kept asking Meng Qi when they would act. Meng Qi simply said to wait, for the right opportunity.
And so they waited, until the “Fish Sea” finally appeared before their eyes.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage