NOVPUB◎Wandering the Jianghu, Saving Lives◎
The next day, Zou Hui arrived with a register in hand.
"Manager Lu, eleven years ago, fifteen disciples were sent to Dianzhou. Five have since passed away unexpectedly, and the remaining ten are now scattered across various peaks. Should I summon them here?"
Lu Jianwei nodded slightly. "Thank you."
"You're too kind." Zou Hui turned to leave but hesitated, glancing back. "Manager Lu, if I may be so bold, may I ask why you wish to see them?"
Lu Jianwei cast him a cool glance. "You'll find out once they arrive."
Zou Hui stiffened, quickly clasping his fists. "I'll fetch them at once. Please wait a moment."
Soon, ten disciples followed Zou Hui to the residence, their faces uneasy.
None knew why Manager Lu had summoned them, but they were certain it wasn't for anything good.
Among the ten, four were sixth-rank and six fifth-rank.
Those sent to Dianzhou back then to seize "White Hair" had been fifth or sixth-rank. Eleven years later, their ranks remained unchanged.
"Manager Lu, they're all here. Whatever you need, just give the order," Zou Hui said respectfully.
"I only have a few questions," Lu Jianwei said bluntly. "Eleven years ago, when you went to Soul-Severing Ridge to seize White Hair, did any of you accept a commission to ambush and kill Lin Congyue?"
The ten disciples: "..."
Zou Hui felt his temples throb. How had this become about Lin Congyue?
Rumors said that last year at Guihe Residence, the three responsible for Lin Congyue's death had met their own gruesome ends.
Their silence spoke volumes.
"Manager Lu is asking you a question! Speak up!"
One man suddenly dropped to his knees, trembling like a leaf, his words incoherent. "Manager Lu, spare me! I didn’t mean to! I just... just..."
"Just what?" Lu Jianwei's voice was soft, almost inaudible, yet it bore down like a towering mountain, suffocating in its weight.
The other nine also fell to their knees, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Zou Hui: "..."
Where was this cowardice back when they committed such folly?
Lu Jianwei remained unmoved by their pleas. "Just what?"
"M-Manager Lu, back then, we thought Senior Lin was a murderous demoness! We acted out of Jianghu righteousness—we never meant to kill anyone deliberately!"
"Jianghu righteousness?" Lu Jianwei arched a brow. "If it truly were about righteousness, you wouldn’t have taken silver. Once money changed hands, it became a transaction—nothing to do with righteousness."
"..."
Zou Hui sighed inwardly. Though he disapproved of their actions, as a fellow sect elder, he had to at least feign sympathy.
"Manager Lu, back then, Senior Lin was indeed known as the 'Demoness.' Countless in the Central Plains wanted her dead. These disciples were young and only did what they believed was right—at least by the standards of that time."
"Right?" Lu Jianwei countered. "Without investigation or judgment, does simply believing oneself righteous absolve guilt?"
"But—"
"If that were true, then if the Jianghu deemed your Free and Easy Sect colluding with Helian Zheng, wouldn’t it be justified for all sects to besiege and dismantle you?"
Zou Hui: "..."
"I won’t kill them," Lu Jianwei said, meeting the ten pairs of hopeful eyes. "They committed murder in Miao territory. Let the Miao deal with them."
She produced ten "Ordinary Guest" pills and motioned for Zou Hui to force-feed them.
Unable to refuse, Zou Hui complied, ignoring their desperate pleas as he shoved the pills into their mouths.
"Tie them up and deliver them to Helian Xue."
Their fate afterward was no longer her concern.
Everyone must face the consequences of their actions.
When Helian Xue received the oxcart bearing the ten men, her eyes widened in shock.
These were the people Manager Lu wanted her to deliver?
Zou Hui, his expression complicated, explained the situation.
Helian Xue frowned solemnly. "I won’t fail in this duty."
Killing a stranger for money—such people deserved no mercy!
As a semi-reclusive sect, the Free and Easy Sect rarely meddled in Jianghu affairs. To them, Lin Congyue had been nothing but a stranger.
To kill her based on rumors, all while cloaking themselves in righteousness, was utterly despicable.
Days later, once matters of compensation were settled, Lu Jianwei and Pei Zhi departed the Free and Easy Sect together.
The other Jianghu figures also began dispersing.
Having received reparations and witnessed the sect’s dramatic upheavals, they all agreed the trip had been worthwhile.
Zou Hui, now acting sect leader, personally escorted Lu Jianwei’s group to the mountain gate.
"Manager Lu, when will the Jianghu Aid Alliance you mentioned be established?"
Lu Jianwei smiled. "Invitations will be sent in due time. I hope you’ll all make the journey to Fengzhou."
"Of course, of course."
Even experts like Ling Zong voiced their support.
With many matters still demanding her attention, the alliance would have to wait.
Her next destination was Liaozhou’s Fengguang City.
"Manager Lu, a moment, please." Shangguan Huai, pushed forward by the others, mustered his courage. "With Helian Zheng's Gu Emperor's main Gu completely destroyed, when might you assist in removing the subsidiary Gu from our younger disciples?"
Lu Jianwei had nearly forgotten.
The mother insects are dead. The child insects can simply be cut out. Your sects surely have those skilled in the art of insect manipulation.
Shangguan Huai clasped his hands. "Thank you, Manager Lu."
"You’re welcome."
Wan Cong’s round face suddenly popped into view.
"Manager Lu, where are you headed next?"
Lu Jianwei smiled playfully. "The All-Knowing Wan surely knows heaven and earth alike. Why not take a guess?"
This man had been peculiar since Suzhou’s inn. Later, in Cangzhou, he’d followed them to the Free and Easy Sect, observing its chaos like a spectator.
With his round mask and surname "Wan," his identity was no secret to the Xuanjing Division or seasoned Jianghu figures.
Pei Zhi had mentioned it, as had Shangguan Huai.
Wan Cong: "..."
"Brother Wan, farewell."
Pei Zhi, ever courteous, clasped his hands before accompanying Lu Jianwei toward Liaozhou.
From Cangzhou to Liaozhou spanned nearly half the Qi Dynasty.
With the inn now running smoothly and Xiao Ke keeping watch, there was no need for constant supervision.
The journey was leisurely.
Disguised as a pair of young martial artists, Lu Jianwei and Pei Zhi arrived at Jinzhou’s outskirts five days later.
A roadside pavilion stood beside the official road. They dismounted to rest.
The midday sun scorched the earth, cicadas screeching incessantly from the trees.
A tall tree shaded the pavilion, making it cooler inside than out.
Lu Jianwei leaned against a pillar, one foot on the bench (a discarded snack bag beneath to keep it clean), sipping water with closed eyes.
"Jinzhou city is five miles ahead. Shall we stay there tonight?"
Pei Zhi unpacked dry rations—flatbread bought that morning in a small town.
Now cold, it lacked the crisp freshness of its just-baked state.
Lu Jianwei hummed in agreement, waving off the bread. She had little appetite.
"Anything you’d prefer? I’ll buy it for you," Pei Zhi offered.
"There aren't any shops around here. Where would you even buy it?" Lu Jianwei chuckled. "Are you suggesting we make a trip all the way to Jinzhou City and back?"
Pei Zhi replied, "Why not?"
"By the time we do that, I could already be feasting on fine wine and delicacies in the city."
"Jinzhou has a famous dish called 'Hundred-Flower Shaomai.' If you're interested, we could go try it."
Lu Jianwei nodded. "The name sounds lovely. Let’s go taste it then."
Throughout their journey, every time they passed through a town, she would sample the local cuisine, immerse herself in the culture, and whenever they encountered wrongdoing, she and Pei Zhi would deliver the culprits to the authorities.
Life was fulfilling and delightful.
She stood up. "You’ve made me hungry just talking about it. Let’s set off now."
Pei Zhi naturally had no objections and packed up their belongings.
"Jianwei."
"Hmm?"
"There’s dust in your hair." Pei Zhi reached out to brush it away, his expression earnest and focused.
It must have gotten there when she leaned against the pavilion pillar earlier.
Lu Jianwei stood still, her gaze lingering on his eyes.
What a shame—the mask hid his naturally handsome features.
Once the dust was gone, Pei Zhi withdrew his hand and noticed her staring. He couldn’t help but smile.
"What is it?"
Strangely enough, when he wasn’t smiling, he seemed ordinary, but the moment he did, even the mask he wore took on a certain charm.
"Nothing, just feeling a bit hungry."
Pei Zhi immediately picked up their belongings and stepped out of the pavilion.
"Then let’s hurry. Once we reach the city—"
A loud, jubilant wedding procession suddenly cut through the air, interrupting him.
The piercing sound of the suona had an almost magical effect—once it reached their ears, all other noises seemed to fade away.
"Sounds like a wedding," Lu Jianwei said with enthusiasm, swiftly mounting her horse. "Come on, let’s go see the excitement."
Pei Zhi laughed softly before following suit.
After riding two or three li toward Jinzhou City, they spotted the lively bridal procession.
A bright red bridal sedan, swaying gently, was surrounded by the clamor of suonas and gongs. The bride inside must have been terribly uncomfortable.
The two moved aside to let the procession pass.
A breeze lifted the sedan curtain slightly, revealing a glimpse inside. Lu Jianwei’s eyes widened in shock.
The bride was no more than twelve or thirteen—a child, really. Her hands were bound, a cloth gag stuffed harshly into her mouth, and tears streamed down her face in large drops.
Through the gap in the curtain, the girl caught sight of the two bystanders, and for a moment, hope flickered in her eyes. But as the sedan moved on, that light dimmed into despair.
Lu Jianwei: "..."
This was an outright atrocity.
"Hold on." She urged her horse to the front of the procession and smiled. "May I ask whose wedding this is? Would you mind if we joined for a celebratory drink?"
The music stopped.
A burly man stepped forward, clad in a gray-brown short coat with a red sash tied around his waist—a fourth-level martial artist.
"Who are you to block our path?" He glared at Lu Jianwei, hostility dripping from his voice. "Our Great King is getting married today. Step aside, or you’ll regret it if you delay the auspicious hour!"
Just some insignificant brat—where did she get the nerve?
Lu Jianwei’s cultivation technique allowed her to conceal her aura, and as a ninth-level martial master, a mere fourth-level martial artist couldn’t possibly sense her true strength.
Throughout their travels, she had already dealt with plenty of insolent fighters.
Pei Zhi turned his horse around and joined her at the front.
"We only wish to toast to the happy occasion. Surely your Great King wouldn’t mind."
"Another fool asking for death!" The burly man sneered, pulling a broadsword from beneath the sedan. "If you’re so eager to meet the King of Hell, I’ll oblige—"
His words were cut short.
A copper coin struck his pressure point, then fell to the ground, rolling into the grass.
The crowd: "..."
Lu Jianwei pointed at one of the men. "You. Pick that up."
The scrawny gong player blinked. "Me?"
"Yes, you. Don’t waste money—even a single coin matters."
The man glanced nervously at the frozen burly man before bending to retrieve the coin. It burned in his palm, but he didn’t dare hand it over directly. "H-how do you want it, m’lady?"
"Answer a few questions truthfully."
The man swallowed hard. "A-ask away."
"Who’s in the sedan?"
"T-the daughter of Jinxiu Cloth Shop in the east of the city."
"And who is your Great King?"
"J-just the Great King."
Lu Jianwei’s expression darkened. "You’re lying."
"N-no!" The man trembled under her pressure, sweat soaking his back as he dropped to his knees. "M’lady, I swear! You two came here to stop us, didn’t you? How could you not know our Great King’s name?"
Lu Jianwei: "..."
Was this "Great King" really that famous? Why would she have come specifically to intercept them?
"So your Great King has done this before. Others have tried to stop you too."
No wonder the burly man had drawn his blade without hesitation. How many lives had that sword claimed?
The man hesitated. "You really don’t know?"
Lu Jianwei stared down at him, silent.
"Our Great King is the chief of Fuhu Stronghold—the mighty Dashanjun! His Fuhu Fist is unmatched in the world!" At the mention of his leader, the man’s courage surged, his fear fading.
"Dashanjun?" Lu Jianwei shook her head. "Never heard of him."
Jinzhou had no notable sects or factions—just a petty mountain bandit who thought himself invincible.
"You’ve never heard of the Great King? Who are you people?" The man eyed them suspiciously.
Were they outsiders?
Lu Jianwei had more questions, but her hunger gnawed at her. Remembering Pei Zhi’s mention of "Hundred-Flower Shaomai," she decided not to waste any more time and dismounted, approaching the sedan.
"Don’t be afraid, young lady. I’ll free you."
She lifted the curtain. The girl’s tear-filled eyes brimmed with gratitude—and worry.
As soon as the gag was removed, the girl rasped urgently, "Sister, these men are from Fuhu Stronghold! Their Great King is terrifyingly strong—no one can defeat him! You have to leave, now!"
Though fear still gripped her, she was more concerned about dragging others into danger.
Lu Jianwei’s smile softened, her voice gentle and reassuring.
"Don’t worry. We’ll be fine."
She helped the girl out and led her to the horse. "Get on. I’ll take you home."
At the same time, her imposing aura enveloped the entire procession, silencing them completely.
The girl stared in amazement at the cowering men, then back at Lu Jianwei. "I-I don’t know how to ride."
Before she could react, an unseen force lifted her onto the horse, and someone settled behind her.
Lu Jianwei glanced at Pei Zhi, who nodded in understanding.
"You take her home. I’ll handle them."
With that, Lu Jianwei spurred her horse forward, pausing only to retrieve the copper coin from the trembling man as they passed.
At the city gates, the cloth shop owner and his wife were weeping uncontrollably, while the gathered townsfolk cursed in outrage.
"That damned Dashanjun! He deserves to be torn limb from limb!"
"How many girls has he ruined now? Why won’t the officials do anything?"
"That girl is only thirteen years old—what a tragedy!"
Suddenly, the rapid clatter of hooves approached from the distance.
The crowd lifted their heads, their eyes widening in shock.
The rider atop the horse—wasn’t that the young mistress of the fabric shop?!
