Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wilderness Chapter Forty-Three: Not Well-Liked

Over a hundred yards away, several horsemen were trotting side by side along the main road. At the same time, a group of more than twenty burly men burst from the roadside thickets, brandishing swords and sabers with fierce intent.

Pan Yuan and Yuan Jiu’s mounts were startled and began to back away in alarm. Pan Yuan drew his long saber, eyes wide, and shouted in a low, steady voice, “Highwaymen! Everyone, be careful—”

From the carriage carrying Manager Kuang came a shriek from Cai’er.

Ji Yan, gripping the reins with trembling hands, turned his carriage to the left and pulled up beside the other. He jumped down, drew a saber from the carriage, and called to Yu Ye, “Brother, help keep an eye on things—”

Yu Ye reined in his horse as well.

By now, dusk was falling. The setting sun cast long shadows of five horses as they approached from the distance. Their riders’ faces were hidden by the backlight, but the glint of their blades alone was enough to chill the heart.

“Still ten miles to Laitu Town,” Ji Yan muttered, casting anxious glances around, “and something just had to happen here. If we hadn’t been delayed at noon, sigh…”

In a blink, the five horsemen were only a few dozen yards away. The men from the woods surged onto the road, causing another scream from Cai’er within the carriage.

Ji Yan hastily signaled, “Brother Yu—”

Yu Ye turned his mount, positioning himself beside the right-hand carriage.

Two armed men closed in, but unable to withstand the horses’ charge, fell back with several companions, then regrouped with others to form an encircling assault, shouting and blustering with brazen arrogance.

“Who are you to block our path?” Pan Yuan and Yuan Jiu stood before the carriage, shouting at the newcomers.

A cold laugh sounded as the five riders halted about thirty yards away. Their leader sneered, “Pan Yuan, so we meet again!”

“Who the hell are you?” Pan Yuan squinted at him, his face twitching as he raised his saber menacingly. “I don’t care who you are. If you dare to stop Manager Kuang’s carriage, you’re nothing but bandits. I advise you to clear off, or I’ll kill you all!”

The man shook his head. “Remember this name—I am Mao Guan from Lishui! Last night you wounded my brother at the inn, acting mighty enough. I told you then this matter wouldn’t end lightly. So here I am, lying in wait to settle the score!”

These were the same men who had caused trouble at the inn the previous night, now here for revenge.

“Mao Guan, my good brother—” Manager Kuang, terrified, had retreated into the carriage but now poked his head out and called, “Last night’s matter had nothing to do with me…”

“Manager!” Pan Yuan shouted back, cutting him off. “If I hadn’t helped you out, I wouldn’t have crossed these louts. How dare you deny it?”

Manager Kuang shrank back inside with a groan.

Pan Yuan glanced around, then looked back at his adversary. “Enough talk! Lay out your terms and I’ll answer them!”

Yu Ye sat on his horse beside the carriage, quietly observing the chaos. On his first day out, he’d already encountered trouble. Though the situation seemed sudden, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. These men of the martial world—heroes when they sheathed their blades, villains when they drew them—who could tell which was which? All that mattered was living by one’s own code.

If these vicious men attacked en masse, the Kuang family would be in real danger, especially with two women in tow—a single mistake would mean disaster.

Pan Yuan, too, sounded less fierce now, clearly losing his nerve.

Then Mao Guan raised his voice: “Pan Yuan, since you admit fault, cut off one arm yourself and have Manager Kuang pay a thousand gold, and we’ll call it even. Otherwise, this will be your grave!”

Manager Kuang poked his head out again, protesting, “I don’t carry that kind of money when I travel!”

Mao Guan, having anticipated this, laughed. “The jewels in your carriage are worth a thousand gold easily!”

Manager Kuang was stunned. “So you’ve been plotting this from the start…”

Their knowledge of the hidden jewels proved that disaster had been brewing long before this moment—Mao Guan and his men had come prepared.

“Is that so?” Pan Yuan, seeing Mao Guan’s confident expression, hesitated.

“Debts have a master, grudges a head—no harm will come to the innocent. That’s the code of our world, and I won’t break it,” Mao Guan declared.

“Fine! I’ll pay you with my arm!” Pan Yuan spurred his horse forward slowly, lifting his blade to his left arm. “Don’t break your word—heaven and earth bear witness, and the spirits will not be deceived. Watch closely—”

Everyone stared as he raised the saber, expecting him to sever his own limb.

But suddenly, his horse reared and charged straight at Mao Guan. Pan Yuan, blade raised, roared, “If you want my arm, you’ll pay with your life!”

Yuan Jiu vaulted forward, and both brothers attacked in unison.

Mao Guan, ready for this, pulled his horse back. With a twang, two arrows shot forth. Pan Yuan’s horse, still in mid-air, was struck and fell, throwing him to the ground. Using the momentum, Pan Yuan hurled himself at a man with a crossbow, cutting him from his horse with a single stroke. Another man tried to reload, but a shadow swept in, and before he could react, a dagger pierced his side, sending him screaming to the earth.

At that instant, the men encircling the carriages rushed forward, swinging their weapons.

Manager Kuang, hiding in the carriage, called desperately for Ji Yan.

The carriage carrying the family women was shielded on the left by Ji Yan’s cart, lessening the immediate danger. The right side, however, was fully exposed, peril mounting by the second.

Fortunately, Yu Ye was already stationed there. As the men charged, he drew his sword, waving it to drive them off. “Back! Back! Someone will die—”

But among such ruthless men, words meant little; it only made him seem all bluster and little bite.

One man charged, swinging his blade.

So there were some who feared nothing for their lives.

Yu Ye tightened his grip, the sword tip trembling.

Just as he prepared to strike back, Ji Yan rushed over, chopping down with his own saber and intercepting the blow. “What are you waiting for—do you want to die?” he shouted.

Yu Ye grumbled inwardly—it was only because the attack was so slow he hadn’t bothered to move.

Ji Yan, saber swinging with desperate energy, forced the attackers back. Yu Ye, still on horseback, found himself with little to do. As he glanced around, his eyes narrowed.

There was one more idle figure: Mo Can, the coachman, who sat motionless at the lead of the carriage, utterly unconcerned by the chaos.

“A freeloader…” came a soft, anxious voice. A delicate face peeked from the carriage window—Miss Cai’er, her big eyes brimming with worry.

Who was she calling a freeloader?

Yu Ye ignored her.

“Freeloader, go help Brother Ji—”

Ji Yan, though just a carter, was quick and bold; the attackers, unwilling to tangle with him, turned their attention to Pan Yuan and Yuan Jiu, easing Ji Yan’s danger for now.

But Pan Yuan and his brother were now beset on all sides, in dire straits.

“Freeloader, are you deaf?” Cai’er pleaded again.

Yu Ye glared at her, then looked ahead.

Cai’er met his glare, eyes wide with indignation. “Hmph, bullying a woman—some man you are…”

Just as they traded looks, shouts erupted, horses galloped, and the fighting men suddenly scattered in panic.

Ji Yan, saber in hand, gasped for breath and looked around in disbelief.

Mao Guan and another had already fled on horseback; the rest vanished into the wilds in a flash.

Dusk had fallen. The evening breeze carried the heavy scent of blood and curses.

“Ow, it hurts like hell!” someone groaned.

Manager Kuang emerged from the carriage, shivering with shock. “Ji Yan, go see—”

Ji Yan hurried over.

Yu Ye rode forward a few steps, shaking his head.

On the open ground lay seven corpses, strewn about.

Pan Yuan sat among them, an arrow protruding from his leg, cursing in pain.

Yuan Jiu stood nearby, silent and grim, his bloodstained blades still in hand.

Ji Yan rushed to Pan Yuan’s side to check his wound.

“Ow, don’t touch it!” Pan Yuan, ruthless in battle but now weak as a child, waved him off. “Manager, go fetch a good doctor!”

“Yes, yes, as soon as we reach Laitu Town!” Manager Kuang promised, urging, “Ji Yan, help Brother Pan onto the carriage…”

Seeing Pan Yuan’s horse dead by the roadside, Manager Kuang turned quickly. “Young man, lend your horse to Brother Pan!”

“No,” Yu Ye replied flatly from atop his mount.

Manager Kuang protested, “How can you be so heartless?”

Yu Ye shook his head apologetically. “Before we left, Brother Zhongjian gave strict instructions—two things are never to be lent while traveling.”

“Oh?”

“One, the horse under me. Two, the sword in my hand. Forgive me, but I cannot help.”

“You…” Manager Kuang huffed and waved Ji Yan over. “Let Brother Pan take your carriage—look after him well.”

Ji Yan and Yuan Jiu helped Pan Yuan up, struggling with each step.

Pan Yuan spat at Yu Ye. “Boy, you’d better watch yourself!”

Ji Yan muttered, “This Brother Yu is not very likable!”

Yuan Jiu shot him a venomous glare, his expression chilling.

Yu Ye sheathed his sword and patted his horse’s neck.

He had intended to use the escort as a pretext to head for Luming Mountain, but on the very first day, he had managed to offend everyone. What would the coming days bring?

As he pondered, his expression shifted.

Despite the dimming light, he noticed a one-eyed man in the distance watching him closely, nodding with a mysterious air…