Chapter 37: All Friends

"Elder Zhao?" The young man stopped walking, a questioning look on his face.

"Hold on a moment."

Zhao Baokun frowned and thought to himself, "This little rascal dares to come out — there might very well be an expert following him in the shadows. Hold on a moment, no rush to make a move."

"Wait until the Sect Master and the others have all come out, then it won't be too late to grab them!"

"Yes!" The young man responded, cupped his fist in a salute, "Then this disciple will head to the outer perimeter of the execution ground and wait."

"Go." Zhao Baokun raised his hand, his bright eyes sweeping a circle across the execution ground from afar, muttering, "The Zhenwu Division really feels that at ease? Not afraid we'll raid the execution ground?"

……

……

Chen Mu had no idea that someone truly was preparing to raid the execution ground.

This was the first time he had ever heard of the Swallow Sect.

The prisoners being beheaded today were all from the Swallow Sect — also the first he had heard of it.

Compared to the Swallow Sect, Chen Mu was more curious about Long Tutu's background.

Only, Long Tutu wouldn't say, and he couldn't force her.

The little one was small but sharp — simple, yet clever.

Chen Mu simply set his mind at ease and waited for the appointed hour.

Whether or not anyone raided the execution ground, dead people were unavoidable.

As long as someone died, he could pick up the card!

Finally.

Half a shichen later, two rows of prisoners in convict garb and heavy cangshackles were escorted up onto the beheading platform.

The soldiers escorting them, however, were not Zhenwu Division men.

"Those are all Swallow Sect people?" Chen Mu looked at the prisoners on the platform and asked in a low voice.

"Should be." Long Tutu replied.

Hm?

Chen Mu found it strange. "You don't recognize them?"

"Don't recognize them." Long Tutu said matter-of-factly. "I only know that the ones being beheaded today are Swallow Sect people. As for what they look like, I'm only seeing them now."

"……Alright then." Chen Mu conceded.

Dong~!

The bronze gong sounded.

The once-noisy execution ground instantly fell silent.

Behind the beheading platform, a middle-aged official spoke in a clear voice, reciting the crimes of the prisoners to be beheaded.

After speaking, he directly picked up a long wooden tally token and tossed it into the air, flying it up onto the beheading platform.

"Execute!"

Pata~

The tally token hit the ground.

Two executioners picked up their guillotines, took a swig of wine and sprayed it onto the blades, then walked toward their respective nearby prisoners.

Hoo~

The guillotines were raised high.

Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!

The sharp whistle of wind suddenly rang out.

Over a dozen arrows abruptly shot in from the outer perimeter of the execution ground, streaking through the air toward the executioners on the beheading platform and the guarding soldiers.

"Ah!"

"Enemy attack!"

"……"

Screams and shouts of alarm instantly rang out.

The scene exploded into chaos; the watching crowd turned and ran.

The entire execution ground — no, the entire Caishikou — descended into utter pandemonium.

Amid the chaos, over a dozen figures pushed through the crowd and charged up onto the beheading platform.

Each of these people wore black clothes and black trousers, with black cloth covering their faces; the weapons in their hands were mainly slender swords, and their movement techniques were nimble.

"Someone really is raiding the execution ground."

In a corner, Chen Mu didn't move, watching the scene descend into chaos, and sighed softly.

"Told you so."

Long Tutu grinned. "The Swallow Sect Master is about to be beheaded — how could the Swallow Sect remnants just sit by and watch?"

The moment the words fell, a gust of fierce wind abruptly swept in from the side, rushing at Chen Mu.

"Hm?"

Chen Mu's brows rose; as his body retreated, he turned his head to look at a figure — the latter, also in black clothes and black trousers with black cloth over the face, was closing in on him at high speed.

They've set their sights on me?

Just watching the show, and I get targeted?

"Not right!"

Suddenly, Chen Mu thought of something, scooped up Long Tutu from his shoulder, and said quickly, "This one's coming for you, little Tutu."

"How could that be?"

Long Tutu widened his eyes. "I don't even know anyone from the Swallow Sect. I have no grudge against them. Why would they come after me?"

"And this is the first time today I've even heard of a sect called the Swallow Sect. They'd have even less reason to target me."

Chen Mu shifted his body, weaving through the crowd, darting swiftly from spot to spot.

Yet the black-clothed man kept up the relentless pursuit; the lightness skill and body technique he displayed had reached at least the realm of perfect mastery.

"None of us know each other, yet he keeps chasing without letting go. There's only one explanation!"

Long Tutu, unhurried, declared with certainty, "This guy is sick in the head!"

"..." Chen Mu was speechless.

But his feet didn't stop, still shifting nimbly from place to place.

Although the black-clothed man kept chasing, he simply couldn't catch up, couldn't get close.

"Damn it!"

Liu Ye gritted his teeth, shock welling up in his eyes.

The youth holding the little girl had lightness skill and body technique attainments that were actually higher than his own.

He couldn't even catch up—how was he supposed to grab anyone?

Bang bang crash!

On the execution ground, a burst of fierce fighting sounds suddenly rang out.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

"Ah!" "Ah~!"

"There's an ambush!"

The sound of something tearing through the air at extreme speed, accompanied by screams, rang out in quick succession.

From the nearest few houses to the execution ground, several dozen members of the Town Martial Division burst out.

The leader, a man of about thirty, moved like lightning. He charged up onto the execution platform, the long sword in his hand transforming into Bai Guang, intercepting Zhao Baokun, who was preparing to rescue someone.

The others, crossbows in hand, fired sharp bolts one after another, piercing through the black-clothed men, killing them on the spot or driving them back.

"Yan! Qing! Yuan!"

Zhao Baokun, shocked and furious, his shout echoing down the long street, didn't wait for it to fade. He raised both hands and shot out a large volley of flying darts.

Clang clang clang!

Yan Qingyuan, long sword in hand, spun up a flourish of sword petals, knocking away all the flying darts. His body flickered, and he darted right up in front of Zhao Baokun.

Swish~

Hiss!

Sword light flashed past; a spray of blood shot out.

One of Zhao Baokun's arms suddenly dropped from his shoulder.

"You've actually already broken through..."

"Innate Realm! He's already at the Innate Realm!" On the execution platform, a middle-aged burly man with disheveled hair spat out the cloth gag in his mouth and shouted loudly, "Zhao Baokun, don't worry about me. Take the others and retreat immediately!"

"Wanting to leave now—too late."

Yan Qingyuan gave a light laugh. With a flick of the long sword in his hand, he once again enveloped Zhao Baokun.

Splurt~!

A spray of blood burst from Zhao Baokun's chest, accompanied by chunks of flesh scattering.

If he hadn't dodged fast enough, what would have been shattered was his heart.

Even so, Zhao Baokun's face instantly went pale. His body swayed. Without a word, he turned and retreated.

The other black-clothed men, upon hearing those four words "Innate Realm," likewise had shock and horror well up in their eyes. Then they swiftly turned and scattered, fleeing in different directions.

Including Liu Ye, who had been chasing Chen Mu and Long Tutu into the alley—distantly hearing the shout, his face changed drastically at once. He immediately turned and flew off down another road.

However...

Boom!

A muffled thud.

Liu Ye, who had just run out five meters, suddenly flew backward, blood spraying from his mouth, and slammed hard onto the ground, rolling three times.

"Trying to run?"

A woman with a pleasant face and a lithe, graceful figure, long sword in hand, walked out from the intersection.

Her cold, piercing eyes swept over Liu Ye, then she turned to look at Chen Mu, who had stopped.

"Hey, Old He, what a coincidence."

Long Tutu waved at the woman.

"..." The woman rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Who says it's a coincidence? Tutu, you snuck out again—don't you know my lord will worry?"

"Relax, relax."

Long Tutu dismissively raised a hand. "Don't worry, I'm plenty capable. Oh right, let me introduce you—this is a friend I met today, Old Chen!"

"Old Chen, this is Old He, also my friend. You two shake hands—after this we're all friends."

Chen Mu, "..."