Chapter 18

A sudden change startled both Jiang Yunzhou and the Southern Barbarian rebels.

Jiang Yunzhou was not wrapped in the golden talisman lines; he leapt straight out and stood on the stone tablet outside the circle, looking back.

Only then did he discover that someone was lying in ambush outside the forest of stone tablets, with black-clad figures in flying-fish robes flying out from behind the tablets.

Holy shit, no wonder I couldn't see them—they must have moved up their timing.

But they chose this moment to act, apparently acknowledging my identity.

Meanwhile, the Southern Barbarian rebels were all trapped inside the golden rune circle; the white-haired man hadn't expected to fall for the trap, and this black-clad swordsman actually had a snare.

Even though his anger was hard to bear, it was already too late to say anything now.

Seeing the golden runes around him about to close, the white-haired man bit his tongue, spat out blood, and simultaneously thrust forward the claws in his hands, gathering strength for a fierce swing.

The pair of flaming claws, bolstered by the blood, barely held back the closing golden rune circle; the white-haired man seized the chance to jump out of the trap, and as soon as he landed he didn't dare linger, nor spare a thought for his subordinates, turning and running deep into the forest.

Almost at the same moment, inside the now fully closed golden rune circle, a Southern Barbarian rebel near the edge took a talisman from his waist and flicked it onto the circle with a finger snap.

Ding!

With a crisp sound, the golden talisman demon-subduing formation, which had been like an inverted gold bowl, was actually knocked open a gap.

That Southern Barbarian rebel also quickly escaped from the trap, pursuing the fleeing white-haired man into the woods beside the jade tablet forest.

Just as the two left the trap, the demon-subduing formation blazed with golden light; the Southern Barbarian rebels trapped inside felt a tremendous force press down on them, and before they could react, they were all slammed to the ground, unable to move.

The two's escape took barely an instant; Yang Hanlu, who had likewise leapt onto the stone tablet, saw the scene and immediately commanded:

"All flag officers, follow me to chase the fugitives; the rest of you, first seize those in the formation!"

"Yes!"

Since there was a large force, Jiang Yunzhou no longer held back; after glancing at Yang Hanlu, he took the lead and charged into the dense forest.

Seeing that the black-clad swordsman seemed intent on escorting the Buddha all the way to the West, Yang Hanlu and the others also followed.

Jiang Yunzhou could accept that the white-haired man had the ability to break through the talisman formation, but he hadn't expected that someone behind him also had the ability to get out.

The two fled quickly, but for the paper man Jiang Yunzhou, catching up was only a matter of time.

Soon Jiang Yunzhou saw the black-clad person who had escaped afterward.

After just a few steps he was already behind the person; thinking to wound him and take him alive, Jiang Yunzhou gripped his black-paper sword and slashed down swiftly.

The black-clad person had already noticed the black-clad swordsman chasing from behind, but had no intention whatsoever of stopping to turn and meet the attack.

Jiang Yunzhou's paper sword clearly hadn't yet touched the black-clad person's body, but it felt as if he had struck something transparent.

Then he saw the person's clothing tear open like a banana peel, revealing the true appearance underneath.

It was actually a woman: dressed in a white robe, her face veiled in white, a silver sash around her waist, and orchid-cloud boots on her feet, as if a white cloud drifted through the forest.

How could this outfit look so familiar?

Jiang Yunzhou's thoughts drifted back to two days ago, when he was still on the road to Shangyang City and had a brief encounter with this white-clad woman.

Back then, seeing her casually cast a Dao talisman to chastise the officials who had been extorting bridge tolls on the road, she also tossed two taels of silver to the old man beaten by those officials, then rode off on a curly-haired blue-brown horse.

She hadn't noticed him at the time, but he had paid attention to her.

Perhaps it was because this heroine had an outstanding demeanor and striking figure, the type who sits on horseback eating dried rations without dropping a crumb on the saddle.

A weighty, soft heroic aura came over him.

He never expected their second meeting to be like this, and Jiang Yunzhou was also startled.

How could she be here?

Although they had only met once, he believed this heroine was certainly not a Southern Barbarian rebel, since people of the Southern Barbarians do not use talismans.

Her outfit is clearly a disguise to infiltrate the Southern Barbarian rebels; could she be here to investigate them?

Meanwhile, the Illusory Body Talisman was split apart; the heroine had no choice but to land and simultaneously drew her waist sword.

Seeing the heroine stand firm, with certain parts of her body trembling, Jiang Yunzhou became even more certain he hadn't mistaken her—it was indeed her.

The heroine's brows furrowed slightly; having just seen the black-clad swordsman make a move, she knew he was a bit troublesome, and explaining the situation would be quite complicated, especially since the other party were court officials who could not trust each other.

At that moment, the black cloth wrapped around the heroine's headband emitted a pleasant sound and quietly advised:

"Senior sister, we should just force our way out; these lackeys of the Great Liang court simply can't be reasoned with."

But before the heroine could act, the paper man Jiang Yunzhou promptly sheathed his sword and clasped his hands, saying:

"I know you're not a Southern Barbarian rebel; quickly change direction and leave—I'll help you deceive the pursuers."

"Huh?!"

"Ah?!"

Not only the heroine, but the girl whose soul was entrusted to the black cloth also let out a doubtful, girlish sound.

The two, preparing to fight, were a bit slow to react—just from our clothes they could tell we weren't Southern Barbarian rebels?

They should have taken us back for interrogation, or at least, following the habits of these hounds and lackeys, brought us back to be tortured—so why would they act like this?

"But you......"

Worried that Yang Hanlu and the others might catch up, the paper man Jiang Yunzhou glared and urged:

"Hurry up and go!"

Although she harbored doubts, the white-clad heroine still turned and went another way, leaving only a "Thank you!" as she departed.

Entering the woods beside, the white-clad heroine quickly vanished from sight.

"Senior sister, why did that handsome young hero just now, so sensible, let us go?"

"You're the one who called them lackeys and hounds, and now you're calling them a handsome young hero."

"Hehe, it's not that I didn't expect him to be different from those people; getting back to it, that young hero's cultivation is not low."

Having left the search range of the Southern Pacification Office, the white-clad heroine landed on a tree to confirm no one was following, then replied:

"I've always heard that the Great Liang Pacification Office recruits martial artists from the jianghu to assist; I think that black-clad young hero just now must also be helping the office out of a sense of chivalry, so seeing us jianghu people, he directly lent a hand."

"Ah, I see, senior sister; they've helped us so much—such jianghu boldness, we ought to go make their acquaintance!"

You're taken with that person's jianghu heroism? Or maybe you're just attracted to their handsome looks?

Cough cough, as a ghost I naturally just admire; I'm not exactly playing matchmaker for my senior sister, am I?

Cut it out, we still have official business to attend to; let's first note this young hero's favor, hoping we'll have a chance to repay it later.

Jiang Yunzhou actually really wanted to catch up and ask that white-clad female hero what had happened.

But Yang Hanlu had already brought other flag officers to catch up; upon seeing this black-clad swordsman, Yang Hanlu drew his sword and asked:

Thank you, young hero, for your help; may I ask if you are someone from our Zhenning Office?