With his long sword at his waist, he sat inside the carriage, listening intently to the sound of the carriage wheels rolling over the bluestone road.
Yu Tang patted the carriage door, tightened the reins to slow the horse down, and said to Chu Jiangli, "We're less than ten miles from the Sword Casting Manor. I reckon the people who'll be there to greet us will be here soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Jiangli frowned and said, "We've arrived."
The next moment, two young men dressed in the robes of disciples of the Sword Forging Manor walked over from a distance.
First, look at Yutang.
The middle-aged man with a weathered face was hunched over, with deep nasolabial folds and a messy beard.
Upon seeing the two of them, he immediately flashed a fawning smile.
"My two esteemed heroes, I am a woodcutter living at the foot of Mount Nanlu. I was captured by Palace Master Chu and forced to be his coachman. Are you here to take him away?"
He got out of the car slowly, his right leg limping, and kept rubbing his hands, looking very nervous and scared.
"If that's the case, I'll leave him here. I'm going now."
The two disciples sized him up for a while, making sure he was not in danger, and then lifted the carriage curtain to see that Chu Jiangli had indeed come alone.
He said, "Our Sword Casting Manor has always been hospitable. You have brought our distinguished guest from afar, so we must show our appreciation."
"Come on, you drive the cart and come with us up the mountain to claim your reward."
Yu Tang became even more frightened and kept backing away, waving his hands: "Oh dear, I don't need the reward! I just want to get as far away from this ruthless killer as possible! Please, two heroes, don't make things difficult for me anymore!"
His cowardly appearance drew sneers from the two young men, their eyes gleaming with a wicked amusement.
He pointed his sword directly at him and said, "If you don't come up with us, I'll take your life right now!"
Yu Tang was terrified. In the end, he could only pull on the reins again with a mournful face and resignedly start driving the cart.
The two disciples were watching Chu Jiangli from inside the carriage, unaware of the smile that crept onto the lips of the weathered coachman in front.
Chapter 15
The villain is resurrected for the sixth time (15)
The magnificent carriage stopped in front of the grand Sword Forging Manor.
Located near the capital, the residence is situated in the picturesque Beiyu Mountain, with pavilions, terraces, and waterside halls visible at a glance.
While not as magnificent as the Moon Palace, it possesses a more ancient and rustic charm.
They seem to come from a respectable and prestigious family.
But inside, it had long since rotted and become hollow.
As Yu Tang drove the cart, he surveyed the surrounding terrain and the people around him.
There were several hundred guards, all dressed in heavy armor. They stood outside the gate, one holding a shield and the other a gun. Upon seeing the carriage, they immediately raised their guns and surrounded it.
Two disciples opened the car door and said to Chu Jiangli, "Palace Master Chu, please."
Upon hearing this, Chu Jiangli got out of the carriage without saying another word.
As Chu Jiangli emerged, another person walked out of the gate of the Sword Casting Manor.
It was the old manor owner with white hair.
Although he looked old, he still walked with a brisk pace, which showed his high level of martial arts skills.
He said to Chu Jiangli, "I didn't expect you to actually dare to come alone."
Chu Jiangli simply asked, "Where is Bai Xiao?"
"That kid is still lying in jail." The old manor lord's expression was gloomy, but there was a smile on his lips: "He's really stubborn. He won't reveal a single thing about the Liyue Palace."
However, I am a man of my word. Since you have come, I will spare his life.
"Bring him out to see me."
“That won’t do…” the old manor owner said, “I invited you here to reminisce. The banquet has been prepared, and there are some things I need to discuss with you. If you don’t come in, I won’t let you in.”
"And you, Chu Jiangli, the dignified Palace Master of Liyue Palace, are you so cowardly that you don't even dare to step into the gate of my Sword Forging Manor?"
Chu Jiangli ignored his provocation and simply repeated in a cold voice.
"I want you to bring Bai Xiao to me immediately. If you can't do that..." His tone softened, and he revealed a kind smile, asking, "Do you believe I'll kill you right now?"
The old manor lord frowned and subconsciously drew his sword, but the next moment Chu Jiangli firmly held it between two fingers.
The man in red was facing him, his tone icy.
Are you sure you want to try?
"Chu Jiangli, you've gone too far!"
"Old Master, the choice is yours." Facing the encirclement of hundreds of people, Chu Jiangli stood tall and straight, without the slightest fear on his face: "Bring your men out, and I'll go in with you. If you refuse my request, I'll kill you right now."
Which one do you choose?
The old manor lord originally wanted to take the opportunity to suppress Chu Jiangli's arrogance and gain some verbal advantage first.
But now he was intimidated by Chu Jiangli's imposing manner. He withdrew his longsword and retreated behind the soldiers, but he hesitated to utter the words "kill him."
His mind raced, and something came to mind.
He said coldly, "Fine, I'll agree."
Then he scolded the people around him and ordered them to bring Bai Xiao out.
Before long, Bai Xiao was carried by two people and almost dragged to Chu Jiangli and Yu Tang.
Bai Xiao's black clothes were tattered and torn, his body covered with whip marks, his skin torn and flesh bloody.
His hands and feet were also nailed through, and the tendons in his hands and feet should have been severed as well.
Even if they survive, all their martial arts skills will be ruined.
His hair and body were still dripping wet; he must have been forcibly woken up by being splashed with water.
At this moment, he vaguely saw Chu Jiangli's appearance and his eyes widened instantly.
"Palace Master, why have you come?"
Overwhelmed with emotion, he choked on a mouthful of blood, his reddened eyes staring at Chu Jiangli, filled with confusion and deep emotion.
The disciples from the Sword Forging Manor who had interrogated him earlier said that Chu Jiangli would come to the Sword Forging Manor for his sake, but he didn't believe it and even begged Chu Jiangli not to come.
After all, no matter how powerful Chu Jiangli was, he couldn't defeat the combined forces of the imperial court and the Sword Casting Manor!
"Because Nagumo is willing to give his own life to save you."
Upon hearing Chu Jiangli's words, Bai Xiao was momentarily stunned and quickly said, "Then Nan Yun, he..."
"Not dead..." Chu Jiangli had already guessed what he was going to ask, his voice was still cold, but he said something that could cheer Bai Xiao up: "I will not let any of you die."
Then, he turned to the old manor lord: "Release them..."
Bringing someone out to see you is one thing, but releasing them is another.
The old man hid behind the soldiers, took out a porcelain bottle and threw it into Chu Jiangli's hand: "I will only release the people if you eat what's inside."
His longsword rested against Bai Xiao's neck: "Otherwise, I'll kill him right now in front of you."
Bai Xiao was stunned.
He almost immediately shouted, "Palace Master, don't eat!" and then tried to smash his head against the sword to his death.
The old manor lord was so frightened that he quickly sheathed his sword, looking utterly disheveled.
Blood stained the sword blade, and although the wound on Bai Xiao's neck was not deep, blood was still seeping out.
Before he could resist again, Chu Jiangli had already poured out the pills and swallowed them.
"Palace Master!"
"Quiet..." Chu Jiangli frowned and repeated to the old manor lord, "Release them..."
"Hahaha, Chu Jiangli, Chu Jiangli, I never expected you to be so foolish! Is it really worth going to such lengths for a servant who has lost his martial arts skills?!"
"Aren't you afraid I'll...?"
Chu Jiangli interrupted him: "I told you to release them."
"Can't you understand human language?"
The old manor lord was choked up repeatedly today, and his face turned pale for a moment.
He just couldn't understand where Chu Jiangli got the confidence to keep arguing with him.
That medicine was a muscle relaxant; after taking it, Chu Jiangli would be completely at their mercy.
Is that all? Aren't you worried?
"Isn't Sword Forging Manor famous throughout the martial arts world for its adherence to propriety and trustworthiness? What? Do you intend to go back on your word?"
Chu Jiangli's words made the old manor chuckle in anger.
He figured the kid wouldn't cause any more trouble, so he waved for someone to release Bai Xiao.
Bai Xiao collapsed to the ground, unable to use his hands and feet, looking like a cripple.
He, who rarely shed tears, was now in tears, repeatedly apologizing to Chu Jiangli.
"Shut up..." Chu Jiangli's voice was cold as he said, "If I let you go, go back on your own. If you can't stand up, crawl. Don't make me save you for nothing."
Bai Xiao gritted his teeth, his eyes moistened, and gave a heavy "hmm." Then, using both hands and feet, he crawled little by little into the distance under everyone's watchful eyes.
Blood left its mark on the bluestone path, tragic yet resolute.
Only after Bai Xiao's figure disappeared into the green trees and mountains did Chu Jiangli turn towards the old manor lord and command, "Didn't you say you were going to host a banquet for me? Why aren't you leading the way?"
Upon hearing this, everyone around was stunned.
Isn't Chu Jiangli afraid at all?
How could you possibly force them to lose control and retreat step by step just by relying on your pride and your words?
Chapter 16
The villain is resurrected for the sixth time (16)