Chapter 207: Signal

“What are you doing here? Where are you headed?”

At this moment, the experts from Luoshen Peak who had set up the roadblock halted the scar-faced man and his companions, beginning to interrogate them.

“Your Excellency of Shengfeng, we are from Xishan Knife Sect, and we have come to pay our respects and celebrate the birthday of your revered Seventh Saint Peak Master.”

The scar-faced man bowed deeply, appearing utterly humble.

At the same time, he pulled a gold ingot from his sleeve and respectfully offered it to the young man asking questions.

The young man wore dark robes of Yunfeng and wore an expression of cold indifference; he casually took the gold and tossed it into a pottery jar on the nearby table.

Immediately, he and the three others beside him began inspecting the carts.

“There are five carts of Xishan iron ore, already listed on the birthday tribute roster a month ago.”

The scar-faced man followed behind, explaining, while the young man glanced at him—seeming to see through his thoughts—and sneered:

“Relax. We would never covet the tribute meant for our Peak Master.”

Hearing this, the scar-faced man’s eyes flickered, and he stammered assurances of his loyalty.

“Are these people with you too?”

At this moment, after finishing the cart inspection, the young man suddenly turned his gaze, narrowing his eyes toward the hemp-clad elder and Hu Rui’an and the others.

The scar-faced man’s expression shifted wildly; he was about to speak, but the young man had already walked toward Hu Rui’an and the others.

“Within Lancheng’s territory, ignoring Luoshen Peak’s rules by refusing to dismount from your carts—first offense: fifty lashes; second offense: execution without mercy.”

“What? Do I have to personally invite you out?”

The young man’s face darkened; he drew his waist whip and slashed it through the air, the sharp qi exploding with a thunderous crack.

Yet before he could reach the cart, Wu Shang, seated motionless atop his horse, raised a hand and struck with a single sword slash aimed straight at the young man’s throat.

Faced with this sudden killing strike, the young man’s eyes widened instantly, and he roared:

“So there’s something fishy after all!”

Instantly, he whipped his whip to block the sword, while simultaneously retreating backward—as if he had anticipated this exact moment.

At the same time, the dozen or so other Luoshen Peak experts reacted instantly, drawing swords and knives in the blink of an eye, surrounding Hu Rui’an and his companions.

Seeing this, the scar-faced man was struck with mortal terror—he never imagined Hu Rui’an and the others would attack Luoshen Peak’s men without a word.

This was Lancheng! On Luoshen Peak’s own territory! How dare they?

“It’s over…”

The scar-faced man staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Hu Rui’an and the others were traveling with them—Luoshen Peak would surely assume they were all in cahoots. Now, this situation was like shit in one’s pants; no explanation would help.

“Who are you? How dare you?”

At this moment, a middle-aged man with a sinister face stepped forward from behind the Luoshen Peak disciples, his gaze slowly scanning Hu Rui’an and the others.

“Uncle, these people are of unknown origin, hiding within Xishan Knife Sect to deceive us—they must have ill intent.”

The young man who had retreated from Wu Shang’s sword quickly bowed and spoke, his eyes cold as he glanced back at Wu Shang and the others.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man waved his hand and said:

“Then seize them first and interrogate them later.”

With that, he gestured, and without another word, the Luoshen Peak experts immediately attacked Hu Rui’an and his companions.

Within Lancheng’s territory, they didn’t need reasons to kill—especially when the targets’ behavior was already suspicious; no questioning or evidence was required.

“Looks like there’s no choice left. I thought we could travel in peace.”

Hu Rui’an shook his head, then flicked his finger, releasing a thread of martial qi that split into a dozen streaks of light, striking toward the Luoshen Peak experts.

In an instant, the streaks pierced through the foreheads of the Luoshen Peak experts.

The warriors, who had just leapt into the air with swords raised, were instantly thrown backward, crashing heavily onto the dusty road—each one dead on impact.

This happened too quickly; in the blink of an eye, only the middle-aged man and the young man remained alive among Luoshen Peak’s forces.

Both men were stunned, and without hesitation, they immediately sent out a signal.

A purple flame shot skyward and exploded high above them.

Hu Rui’an watched this without interference, and instead gave a glance to Cheng Zhong behind him.

Cheng Zhong nodded slightly, then ignited a pale gold flame that rose gently into the air.

After completing this, Hu Rui’an turned to the two remaining Luoshen Peak men and smirked:

“Still sending signals? Unless your Peak Master comes in person, the more who come, the more will die.”

At these words, the two Luoshen Peak men paled again; the middle-aged man suddenly barked:

“Split up and run!”

With that, he turned and fled blindly toward the rear; seeing this, the young man’s face darkened, but he had no choice but to flee in the opposite direction.

Yet before he took a single step, a flash of cold light arrived instantly—his head flew high into the air, blood spurting three feet.

The middle-aged man, who had only fled a few zhang ahead, met the same fate—the cold light appeared in an instant, and his body was severed from his head.

Instantly, the dusty road fell silent.

The scar-faced man and all the Xishan Knife Sect disciples sat huddled on the ground, trembling in terror, too afraid to make a sound.

The hemp-clad elder, who had stood silently by without moving or speaking, remained standing, still silent.

At this moment, Hu Rui’an glanced at the hemp-clad elder, then walked to the cart, dismounted, and whispered:

“Your Highness, the signal has been sent. If the Guard Commander sees it, he will know we have safely reached Lancheng.”

The pale gold flame signal was unusual—not a secret code of the Tianjin Guard, but one personally entrusted to him by Commander Fu Qiwén.

This was clearly for Li Muxian, the Eighth Imperial Prince; the commander had instructed him to send it at an appropriate moment after entering Lancheng, indicating hidden plans for Li Muxian.

Hu Rui’an had not sent the signal earlier—first, because there was no opportunity; second, because he did not know Li Muxian’s intentions.

But as they neared Luoshen Peak, unless they disguised their trail, conflict with Luoshen Peak’s men was inevitable—and this forced Hu Rui’an to make his decision.

Inside the cart, Li Muxian’s expression grew thoughtful; he understood Hu Rui’an’s meaning perfectly.

Until now, he had never regarded Luoshen Peak as a threat, and thus had never planned or considered how to eliminate it.

Even during this journey, most of his time had been spent revising the Azure Dragon Cangming Scripture; he had rarely discussed Luoshen Peak with Hu Rui’an.

After all, in his view, it was unnecessary.

(End of Chapter)