Scourge Messenger

Chapter 263 Take good care of Jiang Niang
Yan Qing examined the "Green Mountain Sees Me Token" from all angles, but couldn't discern anything special about it. It seemed to be just an ordinary token. He turned and tossed it to Ye Si, saying, "Keep it."

With internal turmoil in the State of Qi, it was clear that Pingcheng Military Town was no longer a viable option, and seeking refuge with the Murong family's Swallow Military Town was not out of the question. Yan Qing didn't entirely trust Ying Rushi, but he had sufficient confidence.

As long as the Murong family hasn't reached the Foundation Establishment stage, what's wrong with joining them? As for whether Ying Rushi and the Murong family have ulterior motives, Yan Qing doesn't care at all. Let them tell my Bingzi Jiaolin and the Killing Messenger what their schemes are.

However… although she couldn’t provide any evidence, Yan Qing believed that Ying Rushi hadn’t lied to them. It wasn’t that Ying Rushi’s words were particularly sincere, but rather that when she gave the [Green Mountain Sees Me Order], her face showed a relieved expression, as if she had long hoped that someone would accept her compensation.

"Why...why are you in this secret realm?"

Bu Liuguzhen walked over and stopped five steps away from Yan Qing. He looked at Yan Qing, then at Jiang Shi and the others behind him, and finally at the long sword at Yan Qing's waist: "Legendary Longsword, you are a wanted criminal from the Thieves' Family... Yellow Dog?"

Aside from Thieves' House, other secret realms do not produce legendary items below Foundation Establishment, so the legendary items from Bingzi Jiaolin are highly recognizable—although Yan Qing, with his bandaged weirdo skin, is also quite recognizable.

"I didn't ask you why you barged in or what your name is." Yan Qing chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "You know, some things are better left unsaid, because once they're out in the open..."

There is no room for maneuver between us.

The moment Yan Qing grasped the hilt of Bingzi Jiaolin's sword, the atmosphere in the secret realm instantly became tense. Bu Liuguzhen, already weak, turned even paler, and Gai Louxian was covered in cold sweat. Empowered by the powerful blood and qi of the third-rank messenger, Yan Qing's aura swelled to its peak, like a lion grinding its teeth and sucking blood; the still-warm corpses on the ground were his prey to devour… They felt as if they were standing on the edge of a cliff, the slightest misstep leading to utter destruction!
They were not unfamiliar with third-level messengers; Bu Liugu's father, the commander, was a third-level messenger ten years ago, but the commander had never put such immense pressure on them.

Thanks to the propaganda of the Divine Marquis's Mansion, even in a small place like Pingcheng, people are quite familiar with the deeds of the Thieves' Family. Most people just listen to it as a story, and not many messengers pay attention to the four great thieves mentioned in it. In the eyes of many people, the four great thieves are just petty thieves who were chosen by the Thieves' Family by luck and certainly do not have much strength.

Bu Liuguzhen used to think the same way. He was young and arrogant, and in the entire Pingcheng, apart from Jiang Niang, no one could make him bow down. But when facing Yan Qing, who was gripping the Bingzi Pepper Forest, he didn't even have the courage to draw his sword, fearing that he would arouse Yan Qing's murderous intent.

“As expected of the peerless thief who twice hunted down Chang’an of Zhou and assassinated the prime minister of Liang,” Gai Louxian said slowly. “You are a third-stage cultivator in this world, and you have the potential to establish your foundation in this lifetime. Why bother with us?”

Yan Qing stared at them, his hand gently stroking the hilt of his sword, as if assessing their worthiness of living. Just as the two were about to break down, Yan Qing finally released the hilt, saying, "If you reveal my whereabouts..."

“If it weren’t for you today, we would have been dead long ago. You even saved the military town. You are our savior. I swear to God, if anyone reveals your whereabouts, I will personally kill them!” Gai Louxian immediately declared.

Yan Qing glanced at him and nodded: "Ye Si said that you are one of the few people he can trust in the military town... so I will give you a chance."

He paused, then said, "Good people should be rewarded."

Gai Louxian glanced at the taciturn Ye Si in surprise, recalling their first encounter: at the city gate, when he was about to go fishing, he saw a young man demanding justice from the city gate guards for a peasant woman he didn't know. He was neither humble nor arrogant, and full of courage, just like him when he was young... So he took the young man in as a friend.

Should good people be rewarded? Gai Louxian felt an indescribable bitterness welling up in his heart. He didn't think of himself as a good person. Compared to Ye Sijiangniang, who couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing, he usually just let things slide. He would only help out when he couldn't stand something... He didn't expect any reward for such things. After all, the people he helped were all ordinary people. What use are ordinary people in this world?

So Gai Louxian never imagined that he would receive help because of his past good deeds. He silently pulled Bu Liuguzhen aside, and the dejected and desperate old man now had a bit more life on his face.

Yan Qing was deliberately trying to intimidate them. He had no interest in explaining why he was there or anything like that. He'd rather use the Bingzi Pepper Forest to make it clear to them who the big and small kings were here.

From the beginning, he intended to help Gai Louxian and Bu Liuguzhen. Firstly, neither of them were bad people. The former had helped Ye Si, and the latter was Jiang Shi's sycophant. Since there was no way to reload save files in reality, Yan Qing naturally wouldn't kill them to see if there were any special plot points. Secondly, Yan Qing wasn't a born killer. He couldn't accept killing people just to keep his whereabouts secret.

Perhaps he would be betrayed sooner or later because of this naivety, but Yan Qing was already prepared. He would change when he felt the pain, since only the minor character would be hurt in the end, and he could bear this price. The game console meant more to Yan Qing than just giving him a way to become stronger; more importantly, it gave him the confidence to be kind.

"Are you planning to go to Yanzi Army Town?" Yan Qing asked.

Gai Louxian and Bu Liuguzhen exchanged a glance. After a brief silence, Gai Louxian nodded: "Since Ying Le wants to kill us, we can no longer stay in Pingcheng and our families. Joining the Murong family is indeed the best way out at present."

"When to set off?"

"The county magistrate should be able to buy us a day or two, but time is of the essence, and we must leave no later than tonight."

"Okay." Yan Qing nodded: "Will it be a problem if you bring Ye Si and the others along?"

Gai Louxian and Bu Liugu were taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "No problem!"

Bu Liuguzhen was even a little excited. He looked at Yan Qing and then at Jiang Shi, as if he wanted to say something, but after a while his expression turned dejected. Then he suddenly clenched his fist and his eyes became firm. This dignified man from the Northern Border had quite a lot of emotions, just like a little girl.

With the help of these two local strongmen, at least Yan Qing didn't have to travel on his own. Seeing that his hands had almost healed and he had basically regained his fighting ability, Yan Qing stood up: "It's about time, let's go."

"Night Four, you stay in the secret realm and collect the spoils."

The Demon Elite's chain of counter-damage and shared defensive barrier, compared to the power of the token, seems more like a Foundation Establishment level group buff effect. However, it would be foolish not to loot the Demon Elite's corpses. In addition, there are still loot items to be collected in the dungeon, so it is natural to leave one alive to prevent the dungeon from resetting.

Gai Louxian and Bu Liuguzhen had no objection to this. Since Yan Qing had killed the elite evil spirits, the spoils of war naturally belonged to him.

Just as they were about to pass through the entrance to the secret realm, Bu Liuguzhen suddenly blocked Yan Qing's way: "Yellow Dog."

Gai Louxian tensed up instantly, wondering what kind of trouble this spoiled brat was up to.

“My heart is filled with hatred, and I have no more joy or sorrow in this life. I cannot give Jiang Niang happiness.” Bu Liuguzhen approached Yan Qing and said in a low voice, “Jiang Niang is a good woman… the best woman I have ever met.”

"She has waited for you for so long, you must take good care of her."

Having said that, he turned and left gracefully, without even glancing at Jiang Shi, appearing extremely resolute, as if to say, 'Princess, I withdraw, and this withdrawal is for life.'

Yan Qing naturally knew he had misunderstood. After all, Jiang Shi was indifferent to everyone, and even Ye Si could only be Jiang Shi's follower. But at this moment, Jiang Shi was obediently following behind him without saying a word, just like a well-behaved and docile little wife. He didn't intend to clarify this misunderstanding, which would be perfect for letting Bu Liu Gu Zhen give up completely.

If you've given up, then give up. Why are you making such a fuss? Yan Qing almost couldn't maintain her aloof persona.

(End of this chapter)