Chapter 55 - 39: Chaos
Chaos, utter chaos, everything was in disarray.
As the news of the duel between Fang Tianying and MO Baichuan on Fairy Maiden Ridge spread, the entire martial arts world of Yue Country and Lingnan began to boil.
Top-notch experts, renowned throughout the world, were typically Sect Leaders, holding esteemed positions and possessing formidable strength. Such figures would not engage in battles lightly.
In the regions of Jiangzuo and Lingnan, it had been nearly ten years since people of such calibre had fought in a decisive battle.
Thus, when the news spread, all martial artists who had heard about it rushed to the scene, whether they could make it in time or not.
In order to take shortcuts, some even traversed Dayu Mountain like hunters.
Anyway, they were all skilled martial artists; encountering tigers or wolves in the mountains would only require a sword strike or two, hardly posing a threat.
Under these circumstances, even remote places like Yangmei Town saw martial artists emerging from the mountain forests from time to time. This spectacle caught the attention of many and left them amazed.
However, this also left Lu Yuan complaining bitterly.
“It’s just a duel, isn’t it? Why are they so crazy, venturing into the mountains?
They should be heroes instead of competing with me, a mere hunter, for my livelihood. ”
That’s right, those Jianghu martial artists taking shortcuts through the mountains disrupted Lu Yuan’s plan to retreat there.
According to his original plan, Dayu Mountain was vast and remote, an ideal hiding spot to avoid the external turmoil and guarantee his safety.
But now, with the influx of martial artists from Lingnan, Dayu Mountain was no longer as peaceful as before.
Keep in mind.
The Jianghu society was not entirely composed of good people; in fact, it could be said that over 90% were not good people.
Even orthodox martial arts Sects like the Iron Sword Sect held secret alliances with local gangs like the Black Wolf Gang to collect money for them, right?
If that’s the case with the so-called righteous martial arts experts, the bandits, gangs, and even the demonized characters dubbed as ‘demonic cultivators’ were even more ruthless and bloodthirsty.
“These martial artists of Jianghu, regardless of black or white, should be killed even if they committed no crime.” Recalling the encounters in the mountains, Lu Yuan’s heart raced.
A few days ago, he still harboured some hope, thinking that those martial artists crossing the mountains were just passing through and shouldn’t pay attention to an insignificant hunter like him.
At present, entering the mountain and laying low should not pose any problems.
However, this notion only lasted for less than a day in Lu Yuan’s mind before it vanished entirely.
It was because he saw death.
Yes, death, massive swathes of death.
“Old An and Old Spotted Head… they died so unjustly.”
Lu Yuan’s cave was located in the deeper parts of the mountains. Thus, to access his cave, he would have to pass through several hunting grounds of other hunters.
Over time, they became familiar with each other.
However, this time, when he passed through the hunting grounds of Old An and Old Spotted Head, he discovered their corpses at their dwelling places. Both were killed by sword, dying without a chance to fight back.
Without a doubt, the killers were Jianghu people.
Their houses were looted, as if someone had ransacked them.
Clearly, some of the Jianghu people had used the residences of the two hunters as temporary resting points while crossing the mountains, killing them and seizing their wealth in the process.
Apart from the unlucky hunters, Lu Yuan also found the corpses of some martial artists scattered in the mountain ridges.
Without much speculation, recalling what he had seen at the Zhou Medical Clinic, it was probably another typical Jianghu conflict, like the ‘You looking at me?” kind.
The duel between Eagle King and Iron Sword had not yet begun, but the area around Luling Prefecture had already seen countless lives sacrificed as a warm-up before the main event.
Without saying more.
Having seen the scenes in the mountains, Lu Yuan dared not stay any longer and immediately fled back to town.
Not only him, many other hunters in the mountains, the lucky ones who didn’t get killed or the smarter ones, panicked like animals fleeing natural disasters, escaping the mountains in droves.
Even in Yangmei Town, two hunters from the mountains had settled temporarily.
“Staying alone in the mountains, weak and vulnerable, no one would know if you’re killed by those Jianghu people. So naturally, there would be no concerns.
However, outside, in towns and cities.
Under the enforcement of the imperial law, the restrictions of Jianghu ethics, those renowned martial arts experts would, of course, refrain from wanton killing considering their reputation.
As for the demonic martial artists, they dare not make things too big under the constraints imposed by the government and their rivals.
After all these, it turns out that the desolate mountains are more dangerous than the safety of the town.”
At this point, Lu Yuan could only feel the satirical irony of reality hitting him.
Nevertheless, he didn’t feel frustrated or upset that his plan had failed.
Compared to not being able to hide in the mountains, having a safe place to stay in town, with some protection, was still a silver lining amidst the misfortune.
At least, he didn’t have to worry about his personal safety. “No, I should say, there’s a high probability that I won’t be in danger.”
After thinking about it, Lu Yuan changed his words..