I wonder who is calling for help?
Xue Ling thought quietly.
Furthermore, this was the desolate wilderness on the outskirts of Luocheng. Fang Bie had specifically brought Xue Ling out of the city to circle around before stopping here, intending to clear away any scent or traces on their bodies before returning to the city.
The time was now roughly Weishi in the afternoon.
Just as Xue Ling rose from the pool to wipe her body with a towel and change into new clothes, Fang Bie's voice drifted over from afar: "I will go take a look first; be careful and follow me."
Why isn't it "I will go take a look first, you don't follow me"? Xue Ling couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
But since Fang Bie had spoken, Xue Ling could only obey.
She wiped her body, changed into her new clothes, and looked at the old ones. She wanted to burn them but couldn't bear to, so she wrapped the old clothes in a blue cloth bundle. Then, channeling her energy into her feet, she used her Lightness Skill to drift toward the place where the sound had originated.
In this situation, Xue Ling did not seek speed, but rather concealment. The cries for help had not stopped, but in this desolate wilderness, most people would only want to stay away if they heard them, and very few would approach.
As she drew closer, she could hear the sound of weapons clashing. Xue Ling had already arrived nearby. Pushing aside the bushes to look, she saw a man and a woman, one fat and one thin, locked in a Battle in the forest clearing. The woman held a Silver Gleam Long Sword, pressing the attack relentlessly, her Moves sharp and intended to take a life at every turn. The man, short and stout, was shouting for help while defending and retreating; it looked as if he would not last ten more moves before falling dead on the spot.
Xue Ling instinctively wanted to Draw Sword to help, but just as her Figure moved, someone silently pressed down on her Shoulder from behind. Fang Bie's voice came softly: "It's me."
Xue Ling turned her head and saw Fang Bie standing behind her with an expressionless face, both of them peeking at this Battle.
But since Fang Bie had set off first, why was he behind her now?
Xue Ling couldn't quite figure this out, but Fang Bie pointed to what was in front of them: "Don't speak, watch this slaughter to the end."
"Are we not going to help?" Xue Ling asked in return.
Fang Bie laughed: "Help? Help whom?"
"Who can truly know the Karma, the cause and effect, and the full story? It is enough for us to just watch the show."
Fang Bie's voice was cold. Xue Ling did not quite agree; after all, the situation before them was clear. If she did not intervene, the short and stout man would be dead on the spot in just a few rounds.
And at this moment, a sudden change occurred.
Xue Ling watched as the woman in the bright Red Clothes used two or three nimble strikes to deflect the saber in the man's hand. Seeing that she was about to pierce his Chest, the man stood frozen like a wooden chicken, seemingly unable to block or dodge.
But that sword struck the man's Chest, yet it could not pierce through no matter what.
"How is this possible?" the woman said in surprise.
The man, who had been showing fear, finally smiled cunningly: "How is it impossible? Didn't expect that, my little beauty?"
As he said this, he reached out and grabbed the Long Sword stuck in his Chest, then with a snap, broke it like a Wooden Stick. The woman was caught off guard and stumbled back, disbelieving: "This is impossible, this is impossible."
She did not want to believe everything happening before her, but what was happening was the reality of this world.
The man stepped forward again and struck the woman's Chest with a palm, sending her flying a zhang away. He watched as the woman spat out a mouthful of Blood with a wail.
This turn of events was without warning. Just a moment ago, the woman had the upper hand and was about to kill the man, but in an instant, the roles of attacker and defender had reversed, and the woman had become the fish on the chopping block.
Xue Ling was dumbfounded, recalling that she had actually wanted to help this man, and realized that she was the true simpleton who didn't understand the situation at all.
The woman looked up and untied the pouch at her waist, pouring out several black iron blocks with a clatter. Xue Ling's heart stirred—these iron blocks were clearly the same mysterious iron blocks that Fang Bie had spent a thousand silver notes to buy just one of, yet this woman had several.
Could she be that "Thunder God"?
But that "Thunder God" was dull and taciturn, and clearly a male. How could he have turned into a woman, and be here in the forest killing people to seize treasures?
"Spare me, and I will give you these pieces of Profound Iron, as well as this thousand-tael Silver Note," the woman said hurriedly. "I also know a place where you can find Profound Iron. As long as you spare me, these will all be yours."
The man chuckled, stepped forward, and drew his weapon from his waist. A flash of Cold Light passed, and the woman's words stopped instantly. A beautiful head rolled away, and her entire Body fell backward.
Even in death, she could not believe the man had killed her so decisively.
The man showed no pity for the fair maiden. After killing her, he stepped forward to check the iron blocks the woman had brought out, tied them to his waist, picked up the Silver Note, and checked the woman's Body briefly. Finding nothing else of value, he did not dispose of the corpse, turned around, and left, quickly disappearing into the depths of the dense forest, leaving no trace.
Xue Ling watched this rapid exchange of offense and defense, the killing and the looting, which had taken less than the time it takes to smoke a pipe, and could not help but sigh.
When she looked at Fang Bie again, he looked listless and said softly to Xue Ling: "Let's go too."
"Are we not going to bury the woman?" Xue Ling asked in surprise.
"People in the Jianghu have no place to be buried," Fang Bie said indifferently. "Insects, birds, and beasts are their final destination; it has nothing to do with us."
Xue Ling glared at Fang Bie and walked out of the bushes to the woman whose head had been severed. She saw that the eyes of the fallen head were not closed, filled with terror and disbelief; clearly, she was unwilling to believe she would die like this.
This really made Xue Ling feel deeply emotional.
She couldn't help but squat down, reaching out to close the woman's eyes, and thought about finding a place to bury her properly.
Unlike Fang Bie's broad yet pessimistic view, Xue Ling still believed in retribution and Karma. If she buried her today, perhaps one day, when she herself was left exposed in the wilderness, someone would be able to bury her as well.
This was nothing more than the feeling of "When one rabbit dies, the fox grieves."
Just at this moment, a sharp shout rang out: "I knew this thief woman must have accomplices, go to your death!"
Xue Ling looked up and saw the short and stout man who had just left had returned. He raised his palm from the air and struck toward her. The Palm Wind enveloped her from all directions; clearly, there was no escape.
It seemed that the short and stout Man had only pretended to leave to see if anyone would come to deal with the woman's corpse; even the previous cries for help were meant to lure her accomplices out.
Only now did Xue Ling truly understand the meaning of the words "the Jianghu is treacherous."
The opponent's Martial Arts were far superior to her own. In this instant, Xue Ling didn't even have the courage to Draw Sword.
Just as Xue Ling thought she was surely going to die, a Youth in moon-white robes suddenly stood in front of her, reaching out to meet the short and stout Man's palm.
Bang, bang, bang! Fang Bie retreated three steps and fell directly into Xue Ling's arms.
With a "wah," he spat out a mouthful of Blood himself.
This fat man's Martial Arts were unexpectedly high.
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