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Chapter 346 Encounter in the Jungle at Night
"Brother Ning, did you bring a knife when you went to Guobei County to collect debts?"
"Of course not, I am a scholar, I never wield swords or spears."
"Is that so..." Lu Xuan didn't continue, but changed the subject and started chatting about other things.
The carriage continued its steady journey, and as sunset approached, they could already see the outline of Guobei County.
But then, shouts of battle reached their ears. Not far from the carriage, a group of swordsmen were being chased. Yes, a group of people were being chased by one person.
The pursuer was tall and imposing, with a menacing look on his face. He wielded a long sword, and his skill was clearly far superior to that of the group of swordsmen in front. In no time, he had cut down five or six men. Then he reached out and picked up a bundle from one of the men.
He muttered something under his breath.
"They dare to steal my money? They're asking for it."
"Brother Lu... that man was ruthless. He killed six people in broad daylight... this..."
"It sounds like those people stole his money. That's why he killed them."
"He killed six people just for stealing money? That's too much..." Ning Caichen stammered for a long time, but couldn't come up with a reason.
At this moment, Lu Xuan took a short sword from the side of the carriage and handed it to Ning Caichen.
“Brother Ning, in this world, moral principles have been lost and bandits are rampant. Keep this short sword with you, so that you may have some means of self-defense if you encounter danger.”
Ning Caichen stared at the ornate short sword before him. Although he knew nothing about swords, the scattered gemstones adorning the scabbard and hilt were dazzling. He waved his hands repeatedly in praise:
"No, no, this is too precious. I can't accept it."
"Hehe, a sword is a gentleman's weapon. It is not about how valuable it is, but about whether the person who wears it can be called a gentleman. Brother Ning is pure and kind by nature, as humble as jade, so of course he deserves a sword."
Ning Caichen couldn't refuse, so he finally accepted it. By then, the car had arrived in Guobei County, and the two parted ways.
Lu Xuan watched Ning Caichen walk towards the inn where he owed money and chuckled. He then drove the carriage into Guo Bei County.
Lu Xuan had seen many villages and towns along the way. Most were filled with filth, darkness, and even bloodshed. But after seeing Guo Bei County, he had to admit that compared to Guo Bei County, those villages and towns were utterly insignificant. Because Lu Xuan clearly saw that the meat at a nearby butcher shop was somewhat off...
The residents coming and going didn't have the sallow complexion of other towns. Instead, they wore a subtle, fierce look. Guo Bei Town wasn't some impoverished place; it was a haven for bandits, tyrants, and murderers. Looking back at Ning Caichen, who was lost in the crowd, Lu Xuan's face revealed a strange smile.
.............
Ning Caichen felt utterly unlucky. He never expected the owner here to so blatantly renege on his debt. He even added, "Anyway, even if you take the money, you won't leave Guobei Town. It's better for me to benefit than for those bandits."
Ning Caichen wanted to argue, but he was simply thrown out.
Now he's completely broke, and he hasn't even gotten his money back. If he hadn't had a big meal in Lu Xuan's car earlier, he probably wouldn't be able to walk right now.
As it grew late, he needed a place to stay. However, he had no money on him, so he had no choice but to ask everyone he met if there was any free lodging.
You know what, his question actually made him feel a bit safer. Because anyone asking that would definitely be a poor wretch. The burly men who had been staring at him also left, looking rather dejected.
"A place that doesn't cost money? Only Lanruo Temple! (Note the third tone "re" here. Also, "Lanruo" itself means temple, so Lanruo Temple, like Namtso Lake, is a typical example of repetitive word usage, a mistake. But for the sake of fluency, we'll use Lanruo Temple here; you all understand.)"
A vendor shouted something loudly. The entire street fell silent. Dozens of townspeople turned around in unison, staring at the two people talking.
The vendor realized he'd let something slip and waved for Ning Caichen to leave. Ning Caichen, though sensing something was amiss, wasn't about to let the free lodging offer slip by. He pressed for details and finally received confirmation.
Walk three and a half miles east from the town, and you'll reach Lanruo Temple.
Upon seeing the sky, Ning Caichen immediately quickened his pace and headed east, hoping to find Lanruo Temple before nightfall.
In fact, Ning Caichen regretted it as soon as he entered the woods. The tall, shady trees blocked out the already dim light outside, making it practically like nighttime.
The key was that he could still hear wolves howling in the distance. Ning Caichen took a few steps, then felt afraid and turned to go back. But when he looked back, he found himself surrounded by dense forest, and he could no longer see the path he had come from.
Left with no other choice, they had to grit their teeth and keep going.
Not long after Ning Caichen entered the woods, Lu Xuan also arrived at the edge of the woods.
"Truly, the demonic aura is overwhelming." As the boss of *A Chinese Ghost Story*, the Tree Demon Granny is a genuine thousand-year-old demon. The entire forest is her territory, essentially a special domain. As a locust tree spirit, she isn't adept at long-distance, rapid movement. Therefore, she has transformed the entire forest into a unique demonic realm.
Lu Xuan summoned the Five Elements Mirror, which floated above his head. He held the Lightning Spear in his right hand. Then he stepped into the forest.
As soon as he entered the woods, his vision blurred slightly. An illusion spell covering the entire forest had taken effect. However, such a thing might fool ordinary people, but it was basically useless against a cultivator of Lu Xuan's level.
Lu Xuan's entry inadvertently helped Ning Caichen. Ning Caichen felt the howling of wolves around him disappear. After running around aimlessly, he finally came across an old temple.
On the other side, Lu Xuan waved his hand to shake off the wolf piercing the gun. Then he turned to look at the woods beside him.
"Brother, after watching for so long, what advice do you have for me?"
A streak of cold light shot out from the woods. The sword energy surged forth, aiming straight for Lu Xuan's chest.
Lu Xuan raised his spear with one hand, parrying the attack. At the same time, he remembered who this person was. This must be Xiahou, the swordsman who fought Yan Chixia in the movie.
"Impressive skills. I originally thought Yan Chixia was the strongest swordsman in the world. I didn't expect your spear skills to be no less than Yan Chixia's. You must be someone important. State your name."
Lu Xuan chuckled inwardly. This guy had challenged Yan Chixia to a duel for seven years and lost every single one. He was really something else.
"Shouldn't you give your own name before asking others to sign in?"
Just as the two were facing off, another sound of movement came from behind.
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