Free Web NovelChapter 251: Journey to the Wu Region [1]
Last night, before Lucas’s company, left the mercenary city and traveled to the Wu Region of Xiaozhin Province, Lucas summoned Gabriel, who arrived a few hours later dressed in black and wearing a mask and straw hat.
"Master... I have arrived." Lucas nodded after Gabriel’s report and continued with what was on his mind.
"Postpone the investigation into the third province we had in mind. I have a friend in the Quanzhin Province named Ji An Xian. He is a descendant of the Great Elder of the Great Clan of the Word Users. I want you to join him and help him. He may be hiding in the shadows, but to find him, refer to these sects."
Lucas continued to give Gabriel a scroll with the list of the sects Ji An was targeting. It was the list of sects that Jake had listed, and Lucas was intending to give it to him so he to easily search for Ji An.
"He is escorted by the Heavenly Moon Shadows. They were mediocre at shadow arts, but masters at light affinity... No, just look for them. You can easily do it since you are now more profound in shadow and martial arts."
"I understand, Master. I will look for them and help them. But, may I ask, Master? What should I really do?"
"Assist them with the offensive power you have. It will be useful to take over the Quanzhin Province since he is already one of us. And don’t worry about him betraying me; that won’t happen easily. For now, just help him with his cause to take over the Quanzhin Province."
Lucas ended his orders. Even though Gabriel wanted to feel reunited with Lucas, he couldn’t do so as they were in a tight situation and also on a mission. Hence, what he could only do was follow his commands.
"I understand, Master. Then I shall take my leave."
Lucas nodded after it.
***
As Lucas’s company set out on their journey to the Wu Region, their coach took a path that was secretive and surrounded by forest and trees. It was silent for them, which just didn’t give any hints of a dangerous environment.
"Brian, can you tell us what it is like to live in the Wu Region?"
As Lucas asked, Brian’s face suddenly became dark. He tried to look away, but Jake, being insensitive to the situation, dragged him back to the question.
"I am curious, Brian. Can you tell us?"
Brian’s finger flinched, but not one of them noticed it. He was nervous and hesitant to talk about it. But, as he sought to try to become mature and strong about it, he then lowered his head and started to answer their curiosity.
"Wu Region is just like the other regions. There were no specialties that the region could offer. However, our region was known for one thing: it was an enemy of our neighboring region, the Yong Region, which was under the Peak Martial Mercenary."
"But, talking about life in the Wu Region, it wasn’t that harsh, but it wasn’t that good. Those who were weak remained at the bottom, not unless they tried to surface by becoming strong. Furthermore, everyone in that region is stupid. Their heads were just all about fighting and serving the continent as there was an ongoing war."
"And living in the Wu Region was all about schemes. Groups and organizations would do their best to have more influence in the region and the province. But, it wasn’t that bad. It was mild, I guess."
Lucas didn’t react immediately to it; instead, he took time to comprehend what Brian wanted to share and the emotions he had attached to it. Later on, he looked at Jake.
Jake seems to get what Brian was trying to express. He had gone through it, vying for power and control over others. But what he kept returning to in the past was his master’s approval.
Even though Lucas didn’t know anything about Jake’s background story, and he was not interested in prying anymore, he felt sympathy for him.
"Let us be over with it. I am sorry about asking you about it, Brian."
"No... It is okay, Senior Brother Lucas. I was just weak-spirited that that simple question became heavy for me." Brian apologized with an obviously tight voice in his words.
***
"Boss... A carriage is coming! Another prey has arrived! And it seems like they are loaded with goods!"
"What? Did you mean that? Well, well, well... What a lucky day we have here."
A small and inconspicuous group of bandits were hiding in the forest, camping while they evaded the authorities. However, even though they were on the run, the line of their job was unstoppable because they had waited in a path where people frequently passed.
They had vicious smiles on their faces, but they were not to be underestimated because they were far stronger than regular soldiers under authority. But, instead of killing them to have fun, they wanted to be chased by them.
It was an insane idea, but there was no further insanity it could descend into if people realized they weren’t trying hard enough to avoid being discovered. Even if they were camping here, the location of their headquarters was evident.
"Boss... I can’t wait to have money again. Even if we can’t enter cities or even join other mercenary groups, there is still no fun in being an offender on the run! Kekeke..."
"Alright, let’s prepare. Set the traps on the road so that the horses get surprised and run amok. Prepare your swords and also take some small power pills to regain your energy. This will be an important one. If we can’t take their money, we can sell them as slaves on the black market."
"Understood, boss!"
The bandits had prepared themselves while waiting for their prey, who was nonchalantly traveling. Their coach had used the roads on a bright day. And even though it was dangerously silent, the people inside were not even slightly alarmed.
The average coach had entered the range of the trap. And just as the horses had triggered the traps, suddenly, a loud snapping sound surprised the horses, making them distraught. They moved sideways and staggered the coach, which made the people inside pay attention to the situation.
"What the hell... What is happening here?"
"My Lady, the horses just behaved strangely. It seems like someone set a trap here."
"Alright, we will check it."
"Come here, Beatrix. We will check if someone did something on the road."
There were two women on board at the time. They descended from their coaches, their weapons in hand. The two women had a fighter’s aura, with one having a hefty form and the other having a slender frame suitable for agile moves. free𝑤ebnovel.com
And just as they approached the horses, they noticed thin threads that resulted in a wound on the legs of the horses. The bulk woman, realizing what was supposed to happen, shouted and moved back to the coach.
"An ambush!" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
The three people in the coach—the coachman, and the two women—had raised their vigilance.
Slowly, the atmosphere around them changed. A few bandits surrounded them. It was obvious that they lacked the necessary power to combat them.
"Glassera," Beatrix, the slim woman, called the bulky one. "It seems like we have to fight for our lives."
"That’s an obvious one, Beatrix. You don’t have to pinpoint that obvious one as it is not the right time."
"Tsk. I am not talking about that one. We are both sword users, while the coachman doesn’t know how to fight. We have to fight them to death."
"Alright. I understand. Let us fight them."
Meanwhile, the bandits had vicious grins on their faces as they approached the coach. Furthermore, they also had a lively aura around them.
"Wooo... This coach is really loaded, my subordinate. And also, two beautiful ladies were on board." The boss of the bandits commented.
"Yes, boss... We hit a jackpot!"
"Alright! Let’s go! We will become rich again!"
"Yes! A challenge!"
And just like that, a fight between the two different groups started. Glassera, who had her huge sword at her side, swung her sword at them, but they were able to dodge it. Meanwhile, Beatrix had her shortsword swung at them as well, while filling her Qi for the technique she was about to perform.
"Oh...! You are also a cultivator...? We are the same, then, lady!" The boss laughed, then had his weapon covered with his Qi.
Glassera noticed the boss as well. He was about to hit Beatrix’s blindspot and being vigilant enough, she was able to deflect it away.
"What the..." The boss mumbled.
The fight continued to escalate. Some of them were wounded, but the two ladies continued to fight as well, even though the wounds were starting to form in their skin. The coach, unfortunately, wasn’t able to protect himself, but the two women gave him safety inside the coach.
"You don’t have to put the coach’s life in danger."
