Chapter 193

With a finger flick he snapped a treasure sword forged from refined steel—even though it was a woman's sword, made thin, fine, and short for the swift, agile Three-Part Sword Technique, that feat alone was shocking enough. Bai Lang snapped that sword with a finger flick, then burst into a long laugh: 'I told you you were courting death, and now you are courting death—out here in the jianghu, you gotta talk about righteousness.' As he spoke, he threw a punch.

At that moment, Huo Qing Tong's brother had already struggled to retreat, nearly out of Bai Lang's fist attack range. So this punch landed on his horse, the force burning through along the horse's body all the way up, blasting the youth riding the horse directly into the air. Bai Lang's status is such that a single punch is already enough; as for whether this rough fellow can survive, that depends on his fate—perhaps the god he believes in can save him.

When Bai Lang swung back, he grabbed the woman in emerald feathers and yellow robes with one hand; his force penetrated to the bone and sealed her meridians throughout her body, causing the girl to instantly lose all her fighting ability. 'Since you dared to step forward to save someone, I happen to lack a woman to attend me on the road, so I'll use you.' Bai Lang slung the woman sideways onto the mule's back—this mule is fairly large, but after putting a woman on it, it seems Bai Lang might sit on it too... first, he might not fit; second, this is really making things difficult for the mule.

Bai Lang's weight without armor is nearly two hundred catties; this woman is unlike the delicate, petite girls of the interior—she certainly weighs over a hundred catties. Together they would likely doom the mule. However, there are many pack animals here, so Bai Lang thinks obtaining a horse is no problem—although on a long journey it ultimately can't compare to a mule. With a single move Bai Lang left the tribal prince's life or death uncertain, then he also captured the princess in emerald feathers and yellow robes; all the warriors thought they would have to fight to the death.

However, the middle-aged man shouted to stop these people, he grabbed his son whose life or death was unknown, and with the tribal warriors began to retreat, painfully watching his daughter simply placed on the mule's back like game—this wasn't unacceptable nor unseen; isn't tribal warfare exactly like that, the women of the losers being plundered? The man before them is likely not someone they can match in strength—lacking formation and armor, facing this tall, powerful man is truly impossible.

They didn't even have bows or firearms in their hands, while this person before them had already displayed his terrifying martial power—his daughter's snapped sword and the exploded horse bear witness. Moreover, his son has many broken bones, his whole body limp and soft, and it's uncertain whether he can survive; now leading everyone in retreat is the real course.

Originally they shouldn't have been so cowardly, but Bai Lang again showed a hint of tiger's might, which was the real reason their fighting spirit was doused. Bai Lang captured the woman in emerald feathers and yellow robes instead of killing her merely because she is clever and seems also capable and efficient—Bai Lang feels that relying on his own words, many things would be hard to accomplish or would waste time, so it's better to find a maid for himself who can handle chores.

Bai Lang believes that under absolute martial suppression, this woman should be clever enough—after all, in their religion women are not merely subordinate objects, yet religious mythology also has many stories of wise women, so this sect should encourage women to be clever in their subordination to men.

Although Huo Qing Tong knew that her father and brother retreating immediately was the best choice, seeing her family depart still brought tears to her eyes—she still didn't know what would happen to her if this unparalleled vicious outlaw seized her. Bai Lang also didn't take advantage of her first for his own pleasure before speaking; instead, he rode his horse, leading the mule, and set off. Midway, because Huo Qing Tong was slung sideways on the mule's back, the jolting made her vomit all over the ground, making things even more foul.

The long journey plus her ethnic background meant this woman already had a fox-like odor and a musky smell; now adding the stench of vomit, only a fool would bother touching her. After wind and sand carried them to the next lodging town, Bai Lang patted the woman's back; his Internal Force spread everywhere, undoing all her bonds. However, having been slung sideways all the way, Huo Qing Tong had no strength left to stand; her first act was to squat there and cry. 'Don't cry, accept your fate.' Bai Lang laughed heartily, tossing a silver ingot before Huo Qing Tong. 'Help me arrange lodging and meals; any extra money you can use to change clothes or whatever you like.'

"Don't think about running; with my Lightness Skill that lets me travel ten thousand li alone, you can't escape. Once everything is settled, I have something to ask you." After Bai Lang finished speaking, he gestured that Huo Qing Tong could go attend to matters. He entered the inn alone, hands in his sleeves; under his intimidation and her own consideration, Huo Qing Tong had indeed already instructed the innkeeper to do this and that. "Two rooms...", "One upper room, thank you, innkeeper!" Bai Lang spoke up, cutting off the woman in emerald feathers and yellow robes' train of thought.

The woman was both angry and ashamed, her eyes showing a resolute intent to end herself. Bai Lang then patted her shoulder again; as his Internal Force circulated, he sealed her internal technique that could sever her heart meridians, and at the same time said, 'I recall your doctrine forbids suicide?' This is hard to gauge; Bai Lang only remembers that the Western doctrine of the same origin forbids suicide, otherwise one cannot enter heaven. 'I suppose the Abrahamic faiths are probably similar, so this likely is as well.'

In short, he successfully dispelled Huo Qing Tong's death wish; this inn actually had a rare hot spring, separated into male and female pools. Thus the woman in emerald feathers and yellow robes went in to wash at once, while Bai Lang leisurely went to the male pool for a good soak—he wasn't worried she'd run off, for without martial arts where could she go? After the woman washed clean, she had no choice but to follow this tall, stalwart man into the room. Bai Lang saw that the floor was covered with blankets, unlike the Central Plains, and he also sat cross-legged on the ground, casually tossing aside his bamboo hat.

Huo Qing Tong was still seeing this man's full appearance for the first time.

The first thing she saw was Bai Lang's hair, then his handsome, vigorous visage, and then, as if waking from a dream, she pointed at him and said, 'Rebel?! The number one rebel under heaven who killed the Shaanxi Provincial Commander Zhong Yin? Ming Dynasty Junior Protector of the Heir Apparent Bai Lang?'

Bai Lang first felt his actions were a bit foolish; leaving a written challenge and killing people had indeed been refreshing, but being told to his face the title of Ming Dynasty Junior Protector left a strange taste. Bai Lang, the Junior Protector, stroked his whiskers and smiled, yet the words he spoke were: 'What sort of person are you? You clearly aren't a Central Plains native—where do you come from?' Although he recalled that this woman was called Huo Qing Tong, the question still had to be asked.

As expected, once he realized he was a rebel, Huo Qing Tong didn't hide anything, stating her tribal origin and her name, but then she didn't say another word. 'What I want you to do is gather these things for me.' Bai Lang listed his requirements clearly, 'Of course, if there are Qing garrisons in various places, that would be even better.... To establish prestige, we should start from the northwest.'