In a heartbeat, the big, bearded man's hair stood on end. Every muscle in his body went rigid. He was trapped. He felt a chilling certainty that no matter which way he dodged, Jiang Dao would be there to end him.
With a guttural roar, he lunged, swinging his heavy, nine-ringed broadsword in a desperate, forward charge. At the same moment, the pale-faced scholar at his side shrieked, a wave of sinister energy radiating from him as he darted in. A poison needle, slick with a blue-black venom, appeared between his fingers as he aimed for Jiang Dao's vital points.
Jiang Dao's eyes went ice-cold. He'd already clocked the scholar's cheap trick. Hidden weapons.
He met them head-on, his hands flashing out like an eagle's talons. He didn't bother dodging. One hand shot out and clamped down on the bearded man's broadsword. The other, quick as lightning, snapped around the scholar's wrist.
CRACK! SNAP!
The sounds were sickeningly close. The broadsword in the big man's hand shattered into a dozen pieces under Jiang Dao's grip. The scholar fared worse. With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Dao snapped the man's arm, blood spraying as jagged white bone tore through skin. The scholar's scream was shrill and raw, but it was cut short.
Jiang Dao's eagle claw technique was already moving, his fingers closing over the man's face. With a brutal tug—a sound like ripping cloth—he tore the man's face clean off. The scholar's body flew backward, dead before he hit the ground.
At the same time, Jiang Dao's other hand, having disposed of the sword, clawed for the bearded man's face.
Terror flashed in the big man's eyes. He reacted fast, scrambling backward the instant his weapon broke. "Wait, hero! I'm with the Blazing Flame—"
SPLAT.
It was too late. Jiang Dao's hook-like fingers dug in, ripping his face away in a spray of blood and gore. The man's corpse was flung into the distance, where it lay still.
"Boss!"
"Leader!"
"Get out of here! Run!"
The rest of the bandits, paralyzed with fear, finally broke. They dropped their weapons and scattered into the wilderness.
Jiang Dao didn't bother chasing them. He stood there, a deep frown creasing his brow.
The Blazing Flame Gang?
The big man claimed he was one of them. But weren't they just highway robbers? That didn't make any sense.
Over the past few days, Jiang Dao had learned a lot about the Blazing Flame Gang from his cousin, Jiang Dalong. They were a massive organization, the undisputed power in Qian Yuan City. They had their hands in every business imaginable and were a force to be reckoned with. Even the city officials often had to ask for their help. A gang like that, with a steady and massive income, had no reason to lower itself to common banditry. It just didn't add up.
Jiang Dao bent down and quickly searched the two bodies. He found a thick wad of banknotes—over a hundred thousand taels—and stuffed it inside his robes before walking back toward the caravan.
The caravan master, seeing the bandits gone and their leaders dead, finally let out a shaky breath. He was stunned.
He hurried out of his carriage and approached Jiang Dao, bowing deeply.
"Thank you, sir, for saving all our lives! May I ask your name?"
The other travelers, their faces pale with shock, stumbled out of their wagons to offer their own stammered thanks.
"I'm Jiang Dao," he said. "How much longer until we reach Qian Yuan City?"
"Not long now," the caravan master said quickly. "We should be there in half a day, at most."
"Good. Let's get moving." Jiang Dao nodded. He pulled out a silk handkerchief, wiped the blood from his hands, and tossed it aside as he returned to his carriage.
The caravan master, relieved, turned and barked orders to get everyone back on the road. If he had known they had a master like Jiang Dao traveling with them, he wouldn't have been so on edge. The man's fighting style was utterly terrifying.
Inside another carriage, a young maid in a yellow dress stared wide-eyed at Jiang Dao's wagon. "Miss, that man is… he's terrifying."
Across from her, a refined young woman in a lavender dress watched Jiang Dao with a serious expression. She took a slow, deep breath.
"You won't find skills like that often, even in Qian Yuan City."
"You mean even the Blazing Flame Gang doesn't have fighters like him?" the maid asked, astonished.
"Oh, they do," the young woman said, shaking her head. "But people like that are not in our world."
The caravan pressed on.
Half a day later, a colossal city rose from the plains—Qian Yuan City. It was magnificent, with towering black walls and a wide, bustling gate. A great river flowed into the city through a water gate, the surface dotted with ships.
Jiang Dao pushed aside the curtain and looked out. The energy of the place hit him immediately. It was a thriving, chaotic hub. Before they even passed through the gates, the shouts of street vendors and the rich, savory smell of cooking food filled the air, making his stomach rumble.
"Sir, we've arrived," the caravan master said, approaching his carriage after they'd entered the city. "We'll be stopping at the Li Ji Trading Post. Where are you headed?"
Jiang Dao stepped out, a changed man. He was now wrapped in a fine white mink coat, his tall frame cutting an elegant figure. His long black hair was tied back, a jade pendant hung from his waist, and he carried a silk-wrapped bundle that held his sheathed saber. The fierce warrior from the road was gone, replaced by someone who looked almost… refined.
"I need to get to Wei Yuan Dock. Which way is it?"
His distant uncle, Yang Xu, was supposed to be a big shot there—the man in charge of the entire dock, with hundreds of men under him.
"Wei Yuan Dock?" The caravan master paused. "Actually, I think those two young ladies are headed there as well. Perhaps you could travel with them."
"Where are they?"
"Right this way, sir."
He led Jiang Dao over to the young woman in the lavender dress and her maid, who had just stepped down from their carriage. The master quickly explained the situation. The young woman looked surprised for a moment, then nodded politely, agreeing to let him join them.
As they walked, she smiled. "So, what brings you to the docks? Are you catching a ship?"
"No," Jiang Dao replied. "I'm here to stay with a relative."
"A relative?" Her expression turned curious, and her maid shot him an odd glance. A relative at Wei Yuan Dock? Could he possibly be looking for our master?
"Do you know who you're looking for?" the young woman asked. "I know the area quite well. I might be able to help."
"Thank you, but I have a letter. I should be able to find my way once I'm there," he said, trying to be polite.
"Alright, then." She smiled, though her eyes still held that strange, questioning look. She didn't press him further.
They walked the rest of the way in a slightly awkward silence.
Before long, they arrived. Wei Yuan Dock was enormous. The wide river was crowded with moored sailboats, and the air smelled fresh and clean. The docks themselves were a hive of activity, with laborers hauling cargo back and forth. A cluster of impressive buildings stood off to one side, and imposing gang members in black uniforms, openly armed, patrolled the area.
Jiang Dao frowned. His uncle was supposed to be in charge here, but how was he supposed to find him? The place was huge, and he had no idea where the man even lived.
He finally broke the silence, a bit embarrassed after turning down her earlier offer. "Miss, I'm looking for a man named Yang Xu. Do you know him?"
A slow smile spread across the young woman's face. "Of course, I know him. So, the relative you've come to see is… Yang Xu?"
"Yes," Jiang Dao confirmed. "He's a distant uncle of mine. I came here to find him."
"He's your uncle?" Her expression was now openly strange. She laughed lightly. "Well then. Follow me. I'll take you to him."
She started walking toward one of the main courtyards, her maid giving Jiang Dao one last, peculiar look.
Jiang Dao's frown deepened. He felt a flicker of confusion.
Don't tell me...
Who is this woman to Yang Xu?