Chapter 74: Inspection Team
"Puh!"
Blood sprayed wildly as the corpse, split in two, fell apart to either side. A cloud of blood mist burst over Gu Zhan, covering him from head to toe.
Warm blood dripped from Gu Zhan’s hair. Only those cold eyes still held their original color upon his face.
"Grand Elder!"
"Grand Elder..."
On the long street, the Rong Family martial artists locked in fierce battle all howled in shock.
In that instant, on the chaotic street, countless people couldn’t help but look at the blood-soaked Gu Zhan, like a ghost climbed out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Gu Zhan tossed the Horizontal Saber in his hand to the ground. The long blade stabbed into the stone slab with a hum. Then, he reached out, and roared loudly.
"Bow!"
At his shout, a martial world fighter quickly grabbed the hardwood bow and quiver Gu Zhan had dropped, tossing them over to him.
The hardwood bow landed in his hands,
Gu Zhan turned slightly, caught the quiver and slung it across his back. With a backward motion, he drew three feathered arrows, nocked them, and in the blink of an eye loosed the taut string.
The iron arrows flew off the string, weaving through the crowded street.
Three enemies were struck—one arrow went through a chest, others sent bodies flying by sheer force,
Three feathered arrows, three lives taken.
"Kill!"
Gu Zhan shouted fiercely, his body floating in the morning sun as he violently drew back the hardwood bow—muscles taut, letting loose, four feathered arrows fired at once!
Four arrows shot like lightning into the chaotic battlefield.
Gu Zhan darted through the crowd, sometimes tilting his body suddenly to loose an arrow, sometimes leaping into the air to shoot, sometimes charging up close, the bowstring slicing straight through an enemy’s throat.
He ran, he loosed arrows,
he slaughtered—the arrows reaped chaos!
...
Outside the long street, in that secluded tavern,
Wan Yan let out a light chuckle, sighing, "Truly an extraordinary gift from the heavens. To think such a small Linjiang County would produce a genius like this. Comprehending a Profound Tier Blade Technique in a single night—such talent! Were he born in a grander place, the great sects would be fighting to claim him!"
Pale-faced Rong Yichu stared in despair at the chaotic street, at the youth running and shooting arrows. In a daze, it felt as though he was witnessing legend in the making.
This world is vast,
Linjiang County governs dozens of towns, yet among the counties of Yunzhou, it’s far from outstanding—there are hundreds like it in Yunzhou alone.
And Yunzhou is but one of the Nine Provinces of the Great Xia,
while the Great Xia is but one kingdom.
In such a big world, there will always be heaven’s chosen that make mortals despair—some born noble, out of reach; some with talent that sets them leagues above others...
But such figures have always only existed in legend,
Yet, in this scene here and now,
Rong Yichu couldn’t help but feel he was witnessing a legend’s birth.
The most widespread legends are often of those born to lower-class families, climbing step by step to the pinnacle—the stories that draw longing and admiration. But out of thousands, few are true.
And yet, that youth running and shooting in the long street really is... so much like those in such tales.
"Hey, our turn now!"
Wan Yan’s soft laugh snapped Rong Yichu from his trance.
Wan Yan tossed his apple core to the ground, beckoned slightly, and said, "Let’s go. Can’t let that brat Gu Zhan go wild and kill them all—got to leave a few for us!"
"Yes."
Behind Wan Yan, a personal guard cupped his fists, then led a squad of Inspection Team Embroidered Uniform Guards away quickly.
In the tavern,
Wan Yan twirled his dagger and sighed quietly, "A pity, really. That kid’s luck is a bit poor. Tsk tsk, but his talent is real enough!"
...
In the long street,
The East City Embroidered Uniform Guards and Rong Family men kept dying—one after another losing the will to fight. With Rong Hao at the lead, the remaining leaders were desperately trying to break out.
By now,
they could think of nothing else, only how to survive.
Gu Zhan battled amidst the crowd,
But soon, the arrows in his quiver ran out. Left with no choice, he slung the Horizontal Saber from his back and charged in for close combat, soon surrounding the dozen or so East City Embroidered Uniform Guards and Rong Family survivors.
Rong Hao was covered in blood, eyes red, hands gripping the Brocade Spring Saber tightly as he stared dead at Gu Zhan.
Gu Zhan’s face was expressionless, dragging the Horizontal Saber as he strode forward.
Just then,
From within the chaotic crowd came a sudden shout: "The Inspection Team is here!"
"Boom!"
At the same time, a signal flare burst in the sky, though in the broad daylight, the pattern was hard to make out.
Right as the flare faded, a piercing voice echoed down the long street:
"Embroidered Uniform Guard Inspection Team on official business—all hands halt, submit to investigation unconditionally!"
Along with that shout, an Inspection Team swept in, a hundred strong—all in matching black robes, solemn and imposing.
The Inspection Team,
known these days as the squad even ghosts fear among the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards were already despised by government and civilians alike, but the Inspection Team could even make the Guards themselves sweat—such was their menace.
This team was brought from Yunzhou by Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand Households Wan Yan, all elite fighters. By rough count, both the commanding Hundred Households and Vice Hundred Households were Innate Martial Artists, and the hundred-odd inspectors under them were all experts in Martial Arts, with a heap of upper three grades first-class martial artists in the ranks.
Until now, the Inspection Team had never dealt directly with the South City Embroidered Uniform Guard; the South City division knew little about the inspectors. Now, facing them head-on, they realized—the presence here was leagues above any normal Embroidered Uniform Guard unit.
The Inspection Team moved in quickly,
their power overwhelming. Wherever they passed, the crowd parted instinctively, swiftly reaching the center of the long street, led by the two Innate Martial Artists—Vice Hundred Households and Hundred Households.
Two Innate Martial Artists, leading a company of elites—the pressure in the air was truly suffocating. For a moment, even the sunlight seemed to dim through the morning haze.
"By order of Thousand Households Wan Yan, here to investigate the large-scale brawl and slaughter in South City. South City Hundred Households Office must cooperate unconditionally."
The Vice Hundred Households held up a token, strode to Gu Zhan’s side, face stern, voice brooking no argument: "Gu Zhan, heed the order! This case is now under full jurisdiction of my Inspection Team—all involved will be handed over to us, without delay. Suffer the consequences if you refuse!"
Gu Zhan glanced over at the Inspection Team, and beckoned with a slight gesture.
A martial world man immediately fetched a chair from the roadside; another quickly offered a cup of tea.
"And what consequences, exactly? Let’s hear them."
Gu Zhan sat down slowly, crossed his leg, lightly swirling the tea glancing upward, and spoke quietly, "Think carefully before you answer. Your mouth may be your own, but the knife is in my hand!"