Volume One: The Menial of Changshui County Chapter 138: An Evil Cultivator Blocks the Path

The path was flanked by rugged, uneven mountains. The ancient trail wound its way through the narrow plains carved out by the river in the valley. Turning off from a gap in the path, the group ventured deep into the mountains. Under the setting sun, the woods were dark and dense, filled with the incessant calls of birds.

Guided by the minor bandit, they headed straight for the bandit lair. From the underling, they learned that the lair was home to two martial artists: the leader, who was at the ninth stage of the martial path and nearing the eighth, and the second-in-command, also at the ninth stage. Together, these two were hardly a match for a single strike from Lu Jiuzhang. Upon arrival, Lu Jiuzhang swept through, leveling the entire den. They recovered roughly 270,000 taels of silver and various treasures, estimated to be worth around 350,000 taels in total. When dividing the loot, Lu Jiuzhang took the lion’s share, keeping 200,000 taels, while the large black dog received 100,000 and Bai Xiaosu took 50,000.

For years, this bandit gang had plundered and terrorized the countryside. They had survived by relying on the protection of a powerful figure in Anxi Prefecture, which kept them safe. Every time a raid was planned, they received advance warning and would temporarily retreat to avoid the storm, returning to harass passing merchant caravans once the coast was clear. Hearing this, Lu Jiuzhang was filled with rage. The world had truly changed. This was the so-called Great Zhou Dynasty—on the surface, a place of peace and prosperity, but beneath it, a cesspool of corruption.

It did not take long to eradicate the bandits, but counting the silver took considerable time. By the time the distribution was finished, it was already deep into the night. Lu Jiuzhang now held over 250,000 taels of silver. Combined with the spirit herbs obtained from the ruins, his total wealth was worth roughly 400,000 to 500,000 taels—a significant amount even in gold. His storage ring was full, so he packed the remaining silver into a large chest, intending to exchange it for gold or bank notes at a money shop for easier transport. He preferred not to carry so much cash, as it was both inconvenient and likely to invite trouble. Wealth, after all, stirs the heart. Though such troubles were easily handled by Lu Jiuzhang, they were a waste of time.

At dawn, the group set off for Anxi Prefecture. They had originally been forty miles away, but the detour to the bandit lair had added another twenty miles to their journey.

Time ticked by. The rogue cultivator from the Ghost Blade Sect stood not far from the city of Anxi, waiting for a glimpse of Lu Jiuzhang. He grew suspicious—had Lu already entered the city? If so, waiting here was a waste of time. Should he return to Changshui County to wait for orders, or stay? He was uncertain. Entering Anxi Prefecture was out of the question; if he were recognized, his death would be certain. Unlike Changshui, Anxi was full of experts—more than he could count on his fingers—who could easily kill him. He would work for Magistrate Wang, but he would not die for him.

"Wait..." The rogue cultivator stopped his pacing and looked into the distance. On the horizon, he saw three people and a dog. Among the three was a young man of extraordinary presence, a young maiden, a one-armed man, and a beast. The beast was covered in scales and reeked of a potent demonic aura.

"Lu Jiuzhang hasn't entered Anxi Prefecture yet?" The rogue was overjoyed and rushed toward them.

Exiting the valley, the terrain opened up. Anxi Prefecture lay on a plain, about ten miles from the nearest mountain range. Gazing at the towering walls and the grand city in the distance, the group was filled with excitement.

"Master Nine, I have a bad feeling. A crisis is approaching," the black dog said, speaking in human tongue.

"We’ve come this far; there’s no turning back," Lu Jiuzhang replied. "Whatever danger lies ahead, we’ll cut through it."

"That’s the spirit, Master Nine! Let’s crush them!" the dog barked.

"The rogue is here!" Bai Xiaosu warned, spotting the figure approaching.

"Strike the moment he gets close," Lu Jiuzhang whispered.

The one-armed man was stunned. Was his intuition really that sharp? Damn! They were preparing to ambush him? These young people had no sense of martial honor!

As the rogue drew within a few dozen yards, he shouted, "Is that Lord Lu Jiuzhang of the Changshui County Demon-Slaying Division ahead?"

"No, you’ve mistaken me for someone else," Lu Jiuzhang replied. "I am Manager Zhao of the Thousand Machines Pavilion in Anxi Prefecture."

"Oh?" The rogue hesitated. He had never met Lu Jiuzhang in person, only seen his portrait. Had he made a mistake? In that fleeting moment of hesitation, a blade of energy struck out—fierce and powerful, far exceeding the level of a ninth-stage martial artist.

"Die!" In a flash of lightning, Lu Jiuzhang closed the distance.

"You tried to trick me!" The rogue was furious. Not only were they dishonorable, they were using an ambush! Most importantly, wasn't Lu Jiuzhang a ninth-stage martial artist? When had he broken through to the eighth?

The Frost Heaven Blade surged with power. With a single strike, it shattered the rogue's long blade like a knife through vegetables. "A fine blade. It’s mine now!" the rogue sneered, delighted to find a treasure.

"Woof!" Caught off guard, the black dog sank its teeth into the rogue’s thigh, drawing blood.

"Master Nine! Master Nine! I got first blood!" the dog yelped excitedly.

The rogue kicked the dog away, sending it flying several yards. He was shocked. He was a seventh-stage martial artist; a typical eighth-stage demon would have been gravely injured by such a blow, yet this dog-like creature was completely unscathed! It was absurd!

"Flowing Water Blade!" From the right, the young maiden unleashed a slash. The rogue scrambled to dodge.

"Master Nine, Master Nine, is there a prize for that?" the dog shouted from a distance, buzzing with excitement.

"A three-thousand-tael bounty!" Lu Jiuzhang called out.

"Three thousand taels? Damn!" Even the one-armed bandit was tempted. If the opponent hadn't been such a powerful martial artist, he would have wanted a piece of the action.

"Purging the blade to slay the demon, one strike to cut down the fiends." Lu Jiuzhang slashed again. The coordination between the two people and the dog was seamless. Within a few exchanges, the rogue found himself unable to fight back, forced into a purely defensive stance.