Chapter 56: Chapter 55 Shentu Han
Translator: 549690339
“Commander of the Brocade Guards, Lin Qingyi.”
Lin Qingyi walked to Pei Xuanjing•s table, holding a jug of wine.
“A wandering martial artist, Pei Xuanjing.”
Pei Xuanjing was somewhat confused as to why the other party had come, but he answered calmly without showing any apprehension.
“From Anping Prefecture, a third-grade grand master, Pei Xuanjing.” Lin Qingyi exclaimed with a hint of shock on his face.
He hadn’t expected his initial guess to be correct; the man in fact was a third-grade grand master.
“Oh? You know me?”
Pei Xuanjing expressed surprise as he picked up his wine glass.
“Hehe.” Lin Qingyi laughed awkwardly.
He too hadn’t expected to encounter a third-grade grand master.
Although being a part of the Brocade Guards gave him the courage not to be afraid, he was not keen on provoking a third-grade grand master unless necessary.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing gesturing for him to sit, Lin Qingyi had no choice but to take a seat.
Setting down the jug, gesturing at his noisy men and he said respectfully, “I’m sorry to disturb you,
Grandmaster Pei, please accept our apologies.” Pei Xuanjing simply shook his head, “No need to say such things.” “I still don’t know how you came to know of me?”
Lin Qingyi answered, “Recently, the commander praised you highly. ”
Pei Xuanjing seemed deep in thought.
As Lin Qingyi continued speaking, “Every Grandmaster in the upper three realms in the Great Ming territory soon becomes known to the Brocade Guards, unless they are completely secluded and have no interaction with outsiders.”
As he said these words, an air of pride played on his face – this was the pride of the Brocade Guards.
Their information network cast a wide net, even secret guards could be embedded in any power circle.
Ordinary martial artists might be ignored, but once a martial artist entered the upper three Grand Master realms, their appearance represented entirely different significance.
In both Great Ming territory and beyond, wherever there were secret guards of the Brocade Guards, all the third -grade martial artists would have their information recorded.
They would then establish files on these martial artists, assessing whether they could be recruited or considered enemies.
However, Lin Qingyi did not express these thoughts out loud.
“Of course, I also heard about your invitation to Tiandu to spearhead the compilation of Martial
Classics. I didn’t expect to have the honor of meeting you here.” Lin Qingyi added another reason.
As the emperor’s most trusted Brocade Guards, the news of the emperor intending to compile Martial Classics would naturally not be withheld from them. Moreover, the execution of this matter was a joint operation conducted by the Dudu Mansion and them, in secret and in the open.
“I see.” Pei Xuanjing finally understood.
“So what brings the commander here to look for me?” he asked.
Lin Qingyi explained, “We are here today to arrest a suspect. So we’d like to…”
He didn’t complete his sentence, but his intention was obvious – they were here to clear the area.
Normally, a Brocade Guard’s arrest wouldn’t require Lin Qingyi’s presence. But owing to his earlier guess, he had assumed Pei Xuanjing to be a noble son of some power, so he thought it polite to ask him to leave.
“It’S okay, you do your job, I’m just fine.” Pei Xuanjing said.
We may be fine, but what if you disrupt our operation? Lin Qingyi wondered inwardly.
However, he did not want to offend a third-grade grand master and thus, backed off. He figured he would distract the man if necessary later.
“May I know who you’re looking to arrest?”
In the middle of his meal, Pei Xuanjing nonchalantly asked just as the other party was standing up to leave.
Lin Qingyi saw no reason to hide it and answered, “An enforcer of Mire Sect.” Pei Xuanjing slightly paused in his meal, but quickly resumed.
When Lin Qingyi had left, a cold smile flashed across Pei Xuanjing’s face.
Mire Sect!
What a coincidence!
Mire Sect was a branch of the White Lotus Sect, and even a major one at that.
If the three attitudes of the White Lotus Sect towards the imperial court of Great Ming were to be divided into collaborative, neutral and antagonistic, Mire Sect would fall into the last category. Almost all its actions were in open rebellion to the authority, making it a notorious rebel faction for thousands of years.
According to the clues gathered by Pei Xuanjing over the past three months, the backstage supporter of the Liu family was a faction from the White Lotus Sect, and it was indeed the Mire Sect.
In the past three months, Pei Xuanjing had been looking for traces of the Mire Sect but had not gotten much result.
He had not expected that he would come across them here.
Remembering some future life scenarios where he was meant to be targeted for assassination by the Mire Sect, it seemed like he had long been on their blacklist.
Originally, he did not intend to interfere with Brocade Guards arresting a suspect, but now that he heard that it was an enforcer from the Mire Sect, he was interested in getting involved.
He wished to gather some clues about the Mire Sect from this enforcer to gauge the strength of their faction, which would help decide Pei Xuanjing’s next move.
The rain kept pouring!
A violent storm raged, and thunder echoed in the skies.
About two hours later, Pei Xuanjing suddenly heard people talking downstairs. “Boy, set up some rooms for us. Send the food and drinks upstairs.”
The party of Lin Qingyi on the side, hearing this voice, also displayed alert faces.
They all instinctively placed their hands on their Embroidered Spring Knives.
Lin Qingyi motioned to one of the Brocade Guards.
The Brocade Guard stood up and walked to the railing, looking downward.
A group of seven men, donned in capes and guild hats, were just taking off their headwear. The leader was a slender middle-aged man with a gloomy face. He turned around and gave Lin Qingyi a nod, signaling him.
Step!
Step!
One step at a time, the seven men marched up the stairs.
The moment they reached the second floor and spotted the group of Brocade Guards in green suits, they halted in their tracks.
“Brocade Guards!” The leading man voiced out with a grating voice, articulating the words coldly.
Lin Qingyi said sternly, “Shentu Han, your time is up.”
The leader of the group, aka Shentu Han, a guardian of the Mire Sect as referred to by Lin Qingyi, surveyed his surroundings with disdain, “Just with a few of you, waste material.” “Attack!” Lin Qingyi was instantly furious, and he unsheathed his sword to strike.
Clang!
The Embroidered Spring Knife was out, aiming straight at Shentu Han.
The rest of the Brocade Guards also drew their knives, charging at the remaining six Mire Sect men. “Hmph!” Shentu Han’s face darkened and the Mysterious Iron Ruler from his waist flicked out, heading towards the knife.
Clang!
There was a sudden surge of fierce energy on the second floor that sent furniture flying around, scattering food and drinks.
Pei Xuanjing sitting by the window gently waved his sleeves to ward off the energy, and then continued to drink his wine, utterly ignoring the fight between the two sides.
We have a master here!
A chill ran down Shentu Han’s spine, but he saw no attempt from the man to get involved and temporarily let go of his anxiety, deciding to finish the fight quickly.
After all, the presence of an unknown skilled fighter raised concerns, making him feel highly threatened..
