Chapter 68: Messenger

“Giddy-up! Giddy-up!”

In the silent night, the city gate could not be opened without the commander’s order; two Qi Refining messengers were lowered in bamboo baskets, followed by six sturdy warhorses—one man with three horses, all provisioned with rations.

The messengers leapt onto their horses’ backs and whipped them mercilessly, their figures speeding off into the distance.

The city gate commander muttered under his breath.

It was night, yet the horses were specially bred Hanxue steeds, capable of night vision, speed rivaling a fully cultivated Qi Refining martial artist, and endurance far beyond.

But in such pitch-black darkness, with only a sliver of moonlight, and moving at such speed, one misstep could mean broken legs.

What urgent military news could this be?

…

The rapid hoofbeats grew from faint to thunderous, relentless as a downpour.

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After a moment, Long Zhengwu arrived in a hurry, hair disheveled, clearly having risen from his bed.

Jiang Ding obeyed, reining in his horse and tossing him a golden token.

The message was simple: in the harshest tone, it ordered Long Zhengwu, stationed here, to cease capturing Blue Fluorescent Butterflies and immediately return all captured ones to the provincial capital, or the Marquis would surely be enraged, and so on.

It differed greatly from Jianghu methods; an ordinary Qi Refining Minor Success martial artist might be gravely injured by a careless mistake.

“The General’s order: deliver this letter to the Four Seas Merchants’ Guild manager before dawn, or both of us die.”

The messenger’s pupils contracted; he forced a smile: “My Eight Directions Escort Guild has always paid proper tribute to all brotherhoods—is there some misunderstanding?”

Long Zhengwu’s heart tightened.

Fifty kilometers from Dongling Prefecture, a curved stone bridge.

Jiang Ding nodded, then asked: “Dongling Mountain—do the pigeons and trained birds there taste delicious? I’ve long desired to try…”

“Long Zhengwu, pays his respects to Young Master Jiang!”

Long Zhengwu declared firmly: “Dongling Mountain is sealed off from the outside—what letters could there be?”

Based on his knowledge of the Four Seas Merchants’ Guild, they might skirt the edges, but they would never directly confront local powerhouses, no matter the profit.

He could guarantee he had intercepted them—none escaped, even if they avoided the main road and took hidden trails.

A drone still hovered above Dongling Prefecture; using it as a signal relay, he watched them gallop toward him, with no fear of mistaking the target.

“Who are you?”

After brief pleasantries, they entered the encampment together.

He had seen the corpses littering the Tiger Den Mountain—still sent chills down his spine when he recalled them.

This bridge spanned the Great River, connecting both banks, wide enough for two carts to pass side by side—the only route into the mountains from Dongling Prefecture; detours existed but added days of travel.

“Relax…”

One messenger spoke in a low voice.

In the deep wilderness, anyone could turn violent—there was no order.

Clip-clop… clip-clop…

The Qi Refining messenger yanked the reins hard; the Hanxue horse reared up, but he had already leapt free, using the horse’s momentum to slash forward with a blade—swift as a gale! Wind-Slicing Blade!

After clearing the bloodied soil and scattered hoofprints, Jiang Ding led the six horses slowly toward the Four Seas Merchants’ Guild’s butterfly-capturing outpost.

Clang! A shallow sword cut appeared on the throat; the head slumped limply.

“Who?!”

“Tell me, then run—deep into Dongling Mountain, or flee to another prefecture—you can still live.”

There was a way: as long as he received no notice from the Marquis’s mansion.

Jiang Ding spoke again.

The sword shadow slowly vanished.

Long Zhengwu said solemnly: “From this day forward—no, I’ll immediately order the archers in my encampment to hunt more, and present them to Young Master. To be honest, I have several master chefs here.”

Long Zhengwu personally took Jiang Ding’s reins and handed them to a servant; when he saw the Marquis’s seal on the horses’ hindquarters, his pupils contracted—he sensed something.

!.

Light tea curled upward; the stove dispelled the faint chill of night.

This young man in green robes appeared gentle, even kind—he pitied beggars and tried to heal them—but he was by no means someone to be trifled with!

A faint glow of swordlight; the letter crumbled into a thousand paper flakes.

“Esteemed guest, please wait—I’ll notify the elder immediately.”

“Friend, halt! This is the Four Seas Merchants’ Guild encampment!” As he looked again, a slender young man in green robes had appeared where the fading sword shadow had been.

Whoever stands in the way dies.

The other laughed, then suddenly froze in horror.

Military martial arts were simple and direct: all inner strength channeled into one strike, attacking with lethal intent, amplified further by the horse’s charge.

Though one would weaken after the strike, it didn’t matter on the battlefield—comrades could cover for you.

Jiang Ding’s eyes grew cold.

Blood-red sweat dripped steadily from the Hanxue steeds; their entire bodies were soaked—they had not paused a single moment since departure.

“Old Master Long, you’re too courteous—I cannot accept such honor.”

“Friend, I truly don’t know any Chen Chen—did you make a mistake?” The messenger panicked: “My Eight Directions Escort Guild…”

The Blue Fluorescent Butterflies concerned his Dao path—he would not abandon them unless his life was in grave danger.

“No!”

“What Chen Chen?”

“Old Master Long, have you received any letters from the provincial capital?” Jiang Ding asked calmly, smiling.

“Then that’s good.”

Taking the letter, Jiang Ding tied the two corpses together with vines and added a rectangular stone, sinking them into the river.

The guard’s expression instantly grew respectful, yet he remained alert—the golden token was a vital item of the Four Seas Merchants’ Guild, and he lacked the ability to authenticate it.

Jiang Ding spoke casually.

A young man in green robes appeared before the guard—besides the horse he rode, he led five others behind him.

“Hurry!”

“Chen Chen… what was your order?”

From afar, Long Zhengwu bowed deeply, hands clasped in greeting—his posture so humble it shocked the surrounding guards.

Ding! The messenger felt a massive force strike the weak point of his blade; his inner qi instantly scattered, hurling him several meters to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth.

Jiang Ding nodded in satisfaction.

The butterfly-capturing encampment sat in a mountain hollow, its four corners lit brightly, guarded by specialized martial artists.

“Young Master, rest assured!”

But a trained pigeon or bird—well, that was uncertain.

The messenger looked bewildered.

Relying on his transparent gloves and inner qi shielding, he rummaged through the corpses.

Jiang Ding felt a quiet admiration—the Four Seas Merchants’ Guild had many flaws, but they treated their esteemed guests well.

Jiang Ding dismounted and returned the bow.

It was not a simple threat—it bore the Marquis’s official seal, representing the Marquis’s will.

“Safe travels.”

The Four Seas Merchants’ Guild was not his subordinate, so there were no secret codes—its messages were plainly readable.

Clip-clop… clip-clop…

A sliver of swordlight, dark and silent in the night, emerged from nowhere, effortlessly severing his throat; his body collapsed softly, yet the horse galloped on unimpeded.

The two men carried little—only one letter and a few silver taels.

… On the slow-moving horse, Jiang Ding read Chen Chen’s handwritten letter.

…

It was the Four Seas Golden Token Long San had given him—the token of a strategic-level guest of the Four Seas Merchants’ Guild, entitling him to a personal welcome even at their Yuejing headquarters.

Jiang Ding asked softly.

“It’s just…”

Long Zhengwu looked troubled, hinting: “My Four Seas Merchants’ Guild is a small, humble household, a peaceful family—we simply lack the strength to stand against the authorities…”

“Old Master Long, you worry too much—the authorities are vast and powerful—why would they come to such a remote place?”

Jiang Ding spoke casually.

(End of Chapter)