Headless Immortal

Chapter 126 The Scholar, the Taoist, and the Beauty
Xunyang River North.

Zhangzhou.

Zhangjiabao.

The Xunyang River system has many waterways that divide the land into countless small plots, but only here is there a flat grassland where a dedicated horse ranch has been built.

It's called a fort, but it's actually a small town. It's situated on a dangerous road. In spring, the grass is lush and green, and the flowers are in full bloom. In summer, the sun shines brightly, and the flat plains are lush and verdant, making it a perfect place to raise horses.

Although Zhangzhou suffered a disaster, the entire Zhangjiabao seemed unaffected, and instead flourished even more, with Matang decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.

Some are happy and some are sad.

Zhang Laowu from Zhangzhuang swung his hoe and his wife, who was holding a sickle, to protect the little girl behind them, and said fiercely, "Don't come any closer!"

"Fifth Brother, why are you doing this..."

The burly man in soft armor said coldly, "Take him away."

Zhang Laowu charged forward with his hoe raised, but was easily pushed aside by a burly man who knocked him to the ground. Then, amidst the woman's cries, the man snatched the little girl that she was protecting.

The knight lifted her up with one hand, tied her with a rope, and threw her onto the horse's back. How could the girl, struggling, be a match for these strongmen?

"My son!"

The woman tried to step forward but was slapped back, and her wailing immediately subsided.

Zhang Laowu, who had staggered to his feet, could only watch helplessly as the 'knight' kidnapped his daughter. He chased after him for a couple of steps but failed, then collapsed to the ground and passed out.

The woman quickly picked up Zhang Laowu, but she didn't even have the strength to grieve; she could only sob softly.

Fifth Uncle.

A tall young man led several people of varying ages into the courtyard, shouting angrily, "Come with me to save people!"

More and more villagers gathered, and many in Zhangjiabao were related by blood. However, the distant blood ties could not stop Zhangjiabao's actions. At first, they were mindful that they were capturing and buying people from outside. But when they ran out of people from outside, they started targeting the young girls in the village. In recent days, many families have been affected by the disaster.

Old Zhang clutched the wound on his head and lamented, "How can we save him? He's a master who has cultivated true qi."

He did put up a fight, but he was no match for them. At least he's still alive now. If he were to gather his men and storm Maburg, and a bloody battle ensued, how could he possibly survive?

"The authorities need to find out."

"The lord of the fortress is an official."

"I mean, let Niu Qingtian know, and he will definitely send troops to rescue us."

"Who's going?"

The people looked at each other in bewilderment. Every household raised military horses. Gathering a crowd was a minor matter, but if they rode off on horseback and fled, their entire families would be implicated.

suddenly.

A pale-faced scholar with an umbrella squeezed out from the crowd.

The scholar was none other than Lu Xun. He had originally come to buy two fast horses, and seeing so many people gathered there, he thought it was a good thing. But it turned out that the fortress lord was forcibly taking a woman from the people. According to the people of Zhangjiabao, this fortress lord was also an official.

So he asked, "I wonder what rank your fortress lord is?"

The young man, Zhang Zhong, focused his gaze and replied, "Seventh rank, Chief of the Horse Ranch."

Da da.

Three powerful, swift horses charged over and surrounded the group. The leading knight raised his whip and said coldly, "Zhang Zhong, are you trying to incite trouble? Don't think you can get ahead just because you've managed to cultivate true qi by chance."

He rode the horse to the young man's side with one hand, and the whip tapped Zhang Zhong's face.

"The castle owner is hosting a banquet for distinguished guests today, so everyone behave yourselves."

"Catch him."

The knight cracked his whip and lashed at the disgruntled Zhang Zhong.

Snapped.

The whip was caught by a pale hand.

The knight tugged but couldn't budge it; anger flashed through his mind, but wariness also crept in.

Despite not having passed the three trials of martial arts, he had still cultivated true qi and possessed strength comparable to a burly ox. How could he be easily subdued? The man before him was clearly no ordinary scholar. He asked, "Who are you?"

Lu Xun snatched away the riding whip and said calmly, "Summon your fortress lord to answer."

The knight was greatly surprised. Judging from the scholar's demeanor, he was likely an official on an incognito visit. He quickly dismounted and said respectfully, "Please come into the fortress, sir."

Lu Xun remained noncommittal, then turned to the old man and asked, "What's your daughter's name?"

The woman quickly spoke up: "Zhang Hong."

Upon seeing that this pale-faced scholar was of great importance, the grieving crowd, as if grasping at a lifeline, knelt down in unison and began to chatter amongst themselves.

"Master, and my daughter too."

"I have it at home too."

"And mine."

"My sister."

"My daughter..."

"..."

Lu Xun paused, saying, "In that case, please wait a moment."

He thought it was just a typical case of a landlord kidnapping a bride, and he would simply go and demand it back.

Seeing so many families losing their daughters, who knows what kind of evil magic they might be practicing, Lu Xun certainly couldn't just stand by and do nothing. He could kill bandits, monsters, and rebels, and of course he could kill these damn officials of the imperial court too!
"Lead the way."

The knight frowned, gave a wink to one of his riders to go first, and then chuckled as he offered his horse: "Please take a seat, sir. Don't misunderstand, these women are all chosen to be sent to their weddings. They will return once they reach their destination. It's just that the people in the village don't understand and think we're trying to harm them."

Lu Xun mounted his horse and said, "Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we'll find out when we meet."

"Sir, let me lead your horse." Seeing that Lu Xun's mounting and riding posture were incorrect, Zhang Zhong quickly rushed over. He grabbed the reins with his large hand, and the restless horse immediately calmed down, finally preventing Lu Xun from embarrassing himself by mounting the horse rashly. As he spoke, he stepped forward.

The hall was a long, grand hall with a long table in the middle covered with a newly changed red cloth. Fruits and vegetables were piled up, and wine and meat were stacked high. Whole sheep, suckling pig, chicken, duck, fish and meat were served, making it look like a grand banquet. Servants were everywhere, moving around on both sides, arranging benches and adjusting positions.

Zhangjiabao did indeed have a distinguished guest, but it was not Lu Xun.

Several people had already taken their seats, and Lu Xun was also arranged to wait there.

The knight rushed in to report that the lord of the castle had gone to invite guests and that it would be a while before they arrived.

Lu Xun looked at the people at the table. To his left was a tall, dusty-looking swordsman, about seven feet tall.

When he sensed the gaze coming his way, the swordsman glared at him with his ghostly eyes. Upon seeing that it was a pale-faced scholar, he lost interest and remained as still as a mountain.

Moving his pale red eyes, he saw a thin young man drinking alone. Not far away was an old man who looked like a wealthy man. However, the old man chuckled and hid a large, fluffy tail under his robe. His beady eyes looked around and he nodded and smiled at Lu Xun.

"gentlemen?"

Zhang Zhong was anxious and called out in a low voice.

Lu Xun shook his head. He could indeed recklessly rush around, but he didn't know where the women were being held, nor could he see the women themselves.

It would be a sin to harm innocent people because of impulsiveness.

With a slight glance down, Lu Xun took an oil-paper umbrella from his basket and said with a smile, "Please ask Mr. Shen to make the trip."

"it is good."

A murmur drifted on the wind.

call out.

Gray mist seeped into the shadows.

One in the light and one in the dark, that's a reasonable arrangement.

Lu Xun gestured for Zhang Zhong to sit down as well, saying, "No rush, the fortress lord will come eventually." Seeing the scholar so composed, Zhang Zhong's anxiety subsided considerably, but he did not sit down, knowing his own identity. If the scholar were truly a high-ranking official, he would be even less likely to sit down, so he stood upright to the side, acting as the scholar's guard.

In my childhood.

A Taoist priest dressed in an indigo robe barged in, glanced around, and sneered. He didn't say a word and just walked straight ahead.

The young man drinking was slumped on the table as if drunk, the old master was trembling, and the swordsman squinted at the unruly Taoist priest.

The Taoist priest stopped beside Lu Xun, then sat down cross-legged, smiling as he reached out to put his arm around Lu Xun's shoulder. He picked up a cup of wine from the long table and asked, "Where are you from, scholar? You don't seem to be from around here."

"No."

Lu Xun silently dodged away.

"From out of town?"

“From Zhang County.” Lu Xun’s eyelids drooped.

The Taoist priest shook his head and said, "I think the scholar doesn't come from Zhang County, but rather from the rivers and lakes."

Lu Xun looked at the Taoist priest with a stern expression. The Taoist priest was tall and rather unkempt, with messy hair tied up casually with a hairpin. He had a long face, a lion's mouth with a hanging gall, and a pair of tiger eyes. He carried a wooden box on his back, and the patches on his indigo Taoist robe were faintly visible. His eyes were bright and piercing.

The Taoist priest sniffed carefully again and said, "This murky smell has a fishy odor..."

Lu Xun narrowed his eyes, making no attempt to hide anything, and asked directly, "What kind of evil magic are you going to practice by capturing so many women?"

The Taoist priest was surprised and asked suspiciously, "Not you?"

Lu Xun chuckled and said, "Not you?"

The Taoist priest realized he had misunderstood and was about to say something when he heard gongs and drums, music and singing, and then the so-called distinguished guest stepped onto the steps.

"Lord of the Fortress," Zhang Zhong said softly.

Following Zhang Zhong's gaze, Lu Xun saw the lord of Zhangjiabao standing beside him.

He was a middle-aged man with regular features, and he was smiling obsequiously at the moment.

Beside him was a woman wearing a veil.

Even though only half of her face was visible, how could one describe it? Her eyes were as captivating as Xi Shi's, her every step graceful and charming, and a single glance was enough to make one's heart pound.

Zhang Zhong was completely stunned, his mouth agape as if his soul had left his body.

Even Lu Xun, who had seen countless beauties in modern times, couldn't help but marvel at the existence of such a stunning beauty in the world.

The woman was followed by two maids and four guards.

The lord of Zhangjiabao said, "Please, please!"

"Please go first, Lord of the Fortress."

Everyone felt as if they were floating on a summer mountain breeze and soaking in a cold hot spring.

"play music."

Singers and dancers escorted a long path, and the woman and the lord of the castle took their seats.

Everyone seemed to be eagerly waiting, hoping that the woman would remove her veil so they could see her face, but unfortunately, the woman who took her seat had no such intention.

The lord of the fortress was not angry. Instead, he smiled and introduced, "Knowing that the Holy Maiden has come, my humble abode is honored. I heard that we were ambushed and lost four guards, so I specially sought out three more..."

When the lord of the fortress looked at the three people who had already taken their seats, he then looked at the scholar and the Taoist priest. It seemed that he had not invited five people.

The knight quickly stepped forward and whispered something in his ear.

The fortress lord immediately turned his gaze to the scholar, sized him up, but couldn't quite make a decision. Then he looked at the Taoist priest, who was already eating and drinking without any ceremony.

The Taoist priest not only ate and drank lavishly, but after the two sat down, he pointed to the woman seated at the head of the table and said, "There is wine and meat, what a fine banquet! What's even more wonderful is that there is also a stunning beauty."

"You, come down and drink with me."

Lu Xun, standing beside him, had a strange expression. He was bold, but he couldn't act recklessly when the enemy and friend were unclear. He didn't expect this rough Taoist to be so careless. It seemed that what the Taoist said was true.

"Be bold!"

One of the maids angrily rebuked.

The lord's face suddenly darkened. With a command, ten armored soldiers rushed into the banquet and surrounded the scholar and the Taoist priest. Their swords were drawn, ready to chop them into mincemeat at the lord's command.

The Taoist priest suddenly stood up, showing no fear, and stared directly at the woman sitting high up.

The woman asked, "Who are you?"

The Taoist priest wiped his mouth, removing the grease, and announced loudly, "Longhu Mountain, Zhang Huaisu!"

The lord of the fortress had already risen and was about to order Zhang Huaisu to be killed. No matter how profound your Taoist magic or how powerful your supernatural abilities, being trapped in the military formation would result in serious injury, if not death.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Zhong shouted, "Wait, this gentleman is a high-ranking official!"

Following Zhang Zhong's finger, everyone looked over and saw the pale-faced scholar still eating and drinking.

The lord hesitated slightly. To remain calm and composed in such a situation, without the slightest panic, and even having the leisure to eat meat and drink wine, must truly be someone of importance.

Who knows, it might be some high-ranking official disguised as a white dragon fish, on an incognito visit.

The lord's brow furrowed, for he was trapped in Yuqie, disguised as a white dragon.

Even if someone is a high-ranking official, without the protection of a military formation, how much of their righteous spirit can they unleash? Confucian scholars and martial artists are different. Taoists might still have the strength to fight back, but the martial arts of Confucian scholars are generally recognized as the weakest among the three religions.

Zhang Huaisu also turned his gaze back with considerable surprise. Could it be that he had seen wrong? This was not a monster, but an official of the imperial court.

Lu Xun ate and drank slowly and methodically, then looked at the fortress lord and asked, "Release all the women you've plundered, and I'll leave you a whole corpse."

The Taoist priest suddenly turned around, staring at the composed scholar, and thought to himself, "Good heavens, he only asked the Holy Maiden of the White Sect to drink with him, and this scholar keeps talking about taking the life of the Zhang Family Fortress Master."

The lord of Zhangjiabao was a seventh-rank horse ranch commander. Although the seventh rank was not high, it was still an official appointed by the imperial court. Killing an official was tantamount to rebellion.

Could he really be an imperial envoy? But he could clearly smell a monster on the scholar.

The lord of the fortress was furious: "No official seal or robes, and no credentials to prove his identity."

"Impersonating an official of the imperial court is punishable by the extermination of three generations of his family."

"Kill them!"

With a clang, armor clashed, and ten armored soldiers slashed down on him. The Taoist priest, Su Qin, carrying a sword on his back, had his sword case suddenly shattered, revealing a pale blue sword.

The sword lightly parted the gap in the armor, tearing a path open. Just as he turned around to drag the scholar away, two long swords closed in to fill the gap.

The soldiers understood immediately.

Taoist priests are hard to kill, but Confucian scholars are easy to kill.

Three men attacked the Taoist priest first, while the remaining seven killed the Confucian scholar.

"Master!"

boom.

A snow-haired arm clad in dark blue armor broke through the formation.

The soldier was sent flying backwards, only coming to a stop after crashing into a pillar.

The arm swung again, and another figure staggered and fell, spitting blood.

As the arm slammed down from above, the soldier raised his arms to block it, but he fell heavily to his knees with a thud, his armor deformed.

The red-faced, blue-toothed Wu Tong Lu Xun was carrying a soldier who was barely breathing.

"what!"

One of them was so frightened that he was scared out of his wits, while the other two cowered and dared not step forward.

(End of this chapter)