Volume One: The Miscellaneous Duties of Changshui County Chapter 133: Roadblock Robbery

The secretary approached Assistant Magistrate Wang and whispered a few words into his ear.

"What?"

Assistant Magistrate Wang was shocked, his expression turning sour as he looked at Director Chen Xuanfeng. "Director Chen, inviting me out today was nothing more than a feint to draw my attention while you made a move elsewhere! I have just received news that Lu Jiuzhang has already left Changshui County!"

"Surely you are aware of the feud between Lu Jiuzhang and me, Director Chen?"

Chen Xuanfeng feigned astonishment. "Is that so? Lu Jiuzhang is supposed to be on leave tomorrow; to think he would leave Changshui County without filing a report is truly detestable. Rest assured, Magistrate Wang, once he returns, I will certainly discipline him!"

Chen Xuanfeng pretended to be completely ignorant, though his acting was far too clumsy.

"Director Chen, there is no need to play dumb!" Assistant Magistrate Wang raised his wine cup. "If they were still within the borders of Changshui County, I would have exercised some caution. But once they leave Changshui, their fate is no longer in their own hands!"

"Has Director Chen ever heard of the Ghost Blade Sect?" Wang asked, fixing his gaze on Chen.

"That evil cult from Anxi Prefecture? Didn't they perish years ago?" Chen Xuanfeng asked, horrified.

The Ghost Blade Sect was a sect destroyed several years prior, notorious for using human souls to cultivate. Its members advanced with terrifying speed, but the flaw was severe: most of their strongest practitioners did not live past the age of sixty. Having provoked public outrage, the authorities of Anxi Prefecture had joined forces with several other sects to eradicate them.

"I have already dispatched the leader of the Ghost Blade Sect to hunt down Lu Jiuzhang," Wang laughed. "The sect leader defected to me three years ago and has been under my command ever since."

"He dared not show his face within Changshui County, but outside the city, he is unconstrained. He is a Seventh-Grade martial artist, and not a weak one among his peers, at that!"

"With a Seventh-Grade martial artist hunting him down, I do not believe Lu Jiuzhang can escape!"

Assistant Magistrate Wang had a hidden trump card after all. This was something Chen Xuanfeng had not anticipated. The evil cultivator had been afraid to reveal himself within the county, so Lu Jiuzhang’s departure had played right into his hands.

"Magistrate Wang, I have pressing matters to attend to; I must take my leave!" Chen Xuanfeng rose to depart.

There were only three people present, and the secretary was Wang’s trusted confidant. Since Wang had spoken so openly, he clearly did not fear Chen reporting him for harboring an evil cultivator. After all, Chen had no evidence, and baseless accusations would have little effect on the Magistrate. The other man had exploited this fact, speaking without reservation.

"Hold on... why the rush, Director Chen?" Wang chuckled. "Since you are the host, how can you leave while I, your guest, have yet to finish my meal?"

Assistant Magistrate Wang smiled, having no intention of letting Chen Xuanfeng go.

"Does Master Lu truly think I sent that letter just to have the Prefect intervene on my behalf?" Wang sneered. "That letter was written for your benefit, to apply pressure and force Lu Jiuzhang out of Changshui County."

"What kind of man is the Prefect? A small county magistrate like me cannot command him!"

"Though I belong to the Prefect's faction, I am not highly regarded in his eyes. My rank is too low; to him, I am no different from an ant."

So, this was the trap the Magistrate had set. Chen Xuanfeng grew secretly anxious, sweating for Lu Jiuzhang’s safety.

"While I am acquainted with the Prefect, he is an excessively greedy man; to make him act, one must pay a heavy price," Wang continued. "Furthermore, the Prefect is quite cautious, and persuading him is no easy task."

"That brute is far too careful, or he would not have held onto his position for so many years. Yet, his caution is also his weakness; it prevents him from rising further."

"Having such a Prefect in Anxi is detrimental to me. Otherwise, I might have been promoted to the prefecture long ago, and even if not as Prefect, my rank would be far higher."

Wang sighed. "As for Lu Jiuzhang, I have never regarded him as a threat. The only thing I am curious about is what exactly makes this boy so special that both Zhong Zhengming and you protect him at every turn?"

"Zhong Zhengming is facing his own impending disaster, yet he still thinks of standing up for this kid."

Chen Xuanfeng shook his head. "I am not sure myself. Perhaps it is his character or his diligence. When one sees a promising sapling, one cannot bear to watch it be cut down so easily."

"A sincere heart cannot be extinguished. Lu Jiuzhang is a man who values loyalty and acts with care. There is always something about him that touches people and makes them want to help him, almost against their own will."

"Hahaha, well said!" Wang laughed heartily. "My nephew is a disappointment. If he had even half the quality of Lu Jiuzhang, I would be content."

"It is a pity that after tonight, there will be no such person as Lu Jiuzhang in this world."

Wang stood up and looked out the window. "A dark night with high winds!"

...

On the ancient road, Lu Jiuzhang continued to drive the carriage forward. The moon was shrouded in thick clouds, its light dim, forcing him to rely on his faint spiritual sense to navigate.

"A dark night with high winds—the perfect time for murder and arson!" the big black dog muttered, staring at the sky. "Master Lu, if we really can't stay in Anxi Prefecture anymore, why don't we turn to banditry?"

"We could rob the rich to feed the poor and become legendary heroes!"

Lu Jiuzhang glared at the dog. "If you can't sleep, just lie there. Why is your mouth running so much?"

What was so good about being a bandit? Did the dog really think the Great Zhou imperial government was merely for show? Once they launched a suppression campaign, it would be death for some and flight for others. Resisting the government was difficult, especially now that the new Emperor had ascended the throne and was desperate to consolidate power, tolerating no dissent.

*Whoosh...*

Suddenly, a flying arrow whistled through the air. It moved with blinding speed, reaching Lu Jiuzhang in an instant.

Lu Jiuzhang threw a punch, shattering the arrow into pieces.

An ambush!

Lu Jiuzhang became alert and immediately brought the carriage to a halt.

*Thump, thump, thump...*

A chaotic sound of footsteps echoed from the surroundings. A dozen large men dressed in coarse linen, wielding long blades, charged out.

The leader, a man with a thick beard and a ferocious expression, shouted, "Young master, be a good fellow and make things easy for us. Our brothers haven't eaten in days. Give us some silver so we can fill our bellies!"

"Get lost!"

Lu Jiuzhang’s aura surged, revealing his Eighth-Grade martial prowess.

"Damn it, he's a martial artist! What rotten luck! Brothers, we've hit a hard target! Run!"

The leader scrambled to flee into the distance.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Lu Jiuzhang utilized the divine ability "Close as Inches, Worlds Apart," instantly appearing before them. He drove the Blade of Frost Heaven into the ground, blocking their path.

Inside the carriage, Bai Xiaosu and the big black dog climbed out. Both human and dog were also Eighth-Grade martial artists.

"Damn it, when luck is bad, even drinking cold water makes your teeth ache," the leader groaned, nearly in tears. "We just ran into one martial artist, and now we’ve hit another—wait, make that three!"