From slave trader to the Immortal Lord of Ten Thousand Laws

"What are you saying!"

Seeing Xu Qingyue whispering with Jiang She, the bandits quickly tied her up and gagged her with a cloth.

Jiang She was also bound so that he could not move his limbs.

My eyes were blindfolded again, and suddenly everything went dark.

"This band of mountain bandits is ruthless and meticulous, knowing to remove their footprints along the way, so they must be repeat offenders."

Jiang She scanned the bandits with his divine sense and saw that the last few people had broken off tree branches and were clearing away the hoofprints and footprints on the mountain path. The bandit who was holding Xu Qingyue took out yellow sleeping incense from his pocket, lit it with a tinderbox, and blew it to her nose.

"Hmm..."

Xu Qingyue smelled the incense, groaned, and fainted.

The bandits then blew the sleeping potion near Jiang She's nose.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, Jiang She fell backward, head tilted back.

His head slammed onto the oxcart's flatbed, causing the hay to tremble slightly. He remained motionless, as if he had been drugged and passed out.

His divine sense, however, floated in the air, overlooking the mountain path.

"Hurry up!"

The one-eyed giant brandished his knife and shouted, and his henchmen lifted Jiang She up and threw him and Xu Qingyue together onto the stolen carriage.

"Squeak! Squeak!"

The wheels rolled over gravel, and crushed weeds and branches.

Before long, after passing through a mountain path that snaked like a snake, the trees on both sides gradually became lush, and a village could be seen in the distance.

The village's wooden fence was towering, made of rows of round logs as thick as a bowl, with the top of the fence sharpened and covered with vines and thorns; the village gate consisted of two heavy wooden planks covered with rusted iron sheets, and a tattered flag hung high in front of the gate, fluttering in the wind.

"The boss is back!"

From the stockade wall, a bandit on lookout shouted.

Immediately, the gate of the stockade was forcefully pushed open by several guards.

The bandits filed in.

Upon entering the village, one sees that the terrain is undulating, and most of the houses are wooden. Some henchmen are roasting meat around a fire, while others are sharpening their knives and practicing martial arts. When they see the leader return, they all stop what they are doing and turn to look at him with burning eyes.

That gaze instantly turned lewd.

Because they saw the woman in the carriage.

"Boss, this young lady is really hot!"

"Hehehe! Don't worry, as long as I have a bite of meat to eat, you'll have a sip of soup to drink."

The one-eyed burly man leered, pointed at Xu Qingyue, and ordered, "Send this little vixen to my room and keep a close watch on her! Once she wakes up, I'll treat her well!"

Seeing this, the second-in-command quickly pointed at Jiang She and added:

"Send this man to my house; I'm going to have some fun with him right now."

"..."

Kill them all.

With a thought, Jiang She began to cast his spell.

Each seductive word was carried by the wind to the ears of every bandit.

"Could it be that the boss... kept all the gold and pearls he robbed today for himself?"

"Nonsense! I clearly saw the boss hide that bag of gold leaves! He definitely wants to keep the beauty and the money all to himself!"

Ok?

The one-eyed giant frowned, but before he could question him, a drunken bandit beside him suddenly sprang to his feet, swung his wine jar, and smashed it at his companion.

boom!

"Why should you get an extra string of cash? I've disliked you for a long time!"

Clang—

A flash of cold light, and a sudden glint of blood!

Like the first domino falling, the village was instantly thrown into chaos.

Some people brandished knives at each other in a fight over a jade pendant that had fallen to the ground; others, driven by old grudges, took advantage of the chaos to stab someone with a cold knife; still others, their eyes bloodshot, roared, "He's trying to kill me and steal my money!" and then frantically pounced on the person next to them.

The one-eyed giant was filled with shock and rage, and for a moment he was unable to control himself, wildly swinging his ghost-headed broadsword.

"Clang!"

With a whoosh of wind, a long spear coldly thrust from behind. The one-eyed giant dodged sharply, but a bloody gash was still slashed across his shoulder. His eyes widened in fury, and with a backhand slash, he cleaved the attacker in two, blood splattering all over his face.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The fighting intensified in the village, with shouts, screams, and the clash of weapons blending together.

In less than half an incense stick's time, most of the hundreds of bandits in the stronghold had fallen, their blood thick and sticky like paste, their severed limbs scattered all over the ground. The last few henchmen were rolling on the ground, choking each other by the neck, refusing to let go until they both breathed their last.

The village fell silent for a moment.

Only the crackling of the campfire remained.

The one-eyed giant was covered in blood, with dozens of wounds of varying sizes. A deep, bone-revealing knife wound on his left leg made it difficult for him to stand. He could only prop himself up on the ground with his knife, kneeling on one knee in the pool of blood, staring blankly at the layers of corpses around him, and said in astonishment:

"How...how could this be...?"

"Who knows?"

A gentle voice suddenly rang out.

The one-eyed man's expression froze. He suddenly turned his head and saw that the young man on the carriage, whose hands and feet were bound and whose eyes were covered, had somehow stood up.

The ropes binding him loosened, and the blindfold was removed, revealing a pair of eyes as calm as an ancient well.

The one-eyed man's eyes widened in terror: "Was it...was it you who did this?!"

"Who knows?"

Jiang She smiled and slowly approached, stepping over the bloodstains.

He wore a long black robe, his steps treading over the bloodstains without getting a speck of crimson on him. His eyes swept over the mess on the ground, finally landing on the one-eyed giant.

The one-eyed giant's lips trembled, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the knife, and he uttered in a hoarse voice:

"Who...who are you? Could you be a military officer sent by the government to suppress bandits?!"

"Wu Ren?"

Jiang She shook his head and chuckled. "I'm a cultivator, and you're calling me a martial artist?"

Who do you think you are?

However, just as Jiang She was momentarily stunned, the one-eyed giant seized the opportunity and slashed down with his sword!

"clang--!"

With a crisp sound, metal clashed.

The ghost-headed broadsword slammed down on Jiang She's forehead, but it was like cutting through black iron and stubborn steel, unable to cut even a hair's breadth from his flesh!

The next moment.

A terrifying force rebounded, rushing back along the blade and creating a series of shattering sounds.

"Snap! Snap!"

The demon-headed broadsword exploded with a deafening roar, scattering iron fragments all over the ground. The one-eyed giant's hands, which were gripping the sword, were torn apart, his arms a bloody mess, with only bits of flesh clinging to the white bones.

He staggered backward, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead. He stared wide-eyed at the bare hilt of the knife in his hand, then at Jiang She's face, which was completely unharmed, without even a scratch. His eyes widened in horror, his face filled with astonishment.

"How...how could this be...?"

Jiang She smiled.

The one-eyed giant's combat strength rating is "8".

His defense rating is "9".

9....is larger than 8.

The one-eyed giant couldn't break through the defense.

"As expected, it can be used this way..."

Jiang She looked enlightened, then turned to look at the one-eyed giant, only to see the giant trembling, throwing away his sword hilt, and kneeling on the ground with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly in apology:

"Hero, spare me! Hero, spare me! I know I was wrong! I'll never rob again!"

"You already know you were wrong."

"?"

"You know you're going to die."

Sizzle!

Jiang She stretched out his hand and pointed, shooting out a beam of moonlight.

The one-eyed giant froze, and blood suddenly began to flow from his chest. At first, it was a thin red line, but after a few breaths, the blood flowed like a waterfall.

"I should thank you for stealing the carriage."

Jiang She smiled and watched as the one-eyed giant fell to the ground face down in a pool of blood, splattering a few drops of crimson blood, before falling silent.

"Squeak! Squeak!"

The wheels rolled over the gravel, and the carriage slowly drove out of the mountain village.

Inside the train carriage.

As the effects of the sleeping potion wore off, Xu Qingyue let out a low groan. She opened her heavy eyelids and caught a strange smell of dust and horse odor.

"woke up?"

A familiar, gentle voice reached my ears.

Xu Qingyue was slightly taken aback. After a few breaths, she came to her senses and realized that she was lying in a carriage.

She panicked and hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain to look, only to see that dusk was falling and the surrounding forest was deep and the grass was dense.

In the driver's seat, a tall figure stood with his back to her, holding the reins.

"Jiang... Jiang She?"

"Where is this?"

"Weren't we captured by bandits?"

Xu Qingyue's voice was hoarse, still carrying a hint of surprise and uncertainty.

"They escaped."

"Escape? How could you escape? You don't know martial arts..."

"The bandits couldn't divide the loot equally, so they started fighting amongst themselves."

"Hmm... then what about this carriage...?"

"I smuggled it from the bandits."

"Following the bandits' carriage..." Xu Qingyue paused, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

...

A few days later.

The carriage stopped, and they encountered another group of bandits.

"Boss, this young lady is really pretty!"

"This man is handsome!"

Jiang She frowned. Xu Qingyue had been drugged again. When she woke up, she found an extra soft blanket in the carriage.

"Jiang She, where are the bandits?"

"He's dead."

"How did you die?"

"Seeing that the young lady was beautiful, they all rushed to eat first, but unexpectedly, infighting broke out, and they all died in the fire."

"Oh, so this blanket is...?"

"I took it from the bandits."

"Why are you stealing things again!"

...

Ten days later, the carriage encountered bandits again.

Xu Qingyue was drugged again.

"Jiang She, where are the bandits?"

"He's dead."

"How did you die?"

"Seeing that the young lady was beautiful, they all rushed to eat first, which resulted in infighting and them all dying in the fire."

"Another fire pit! What about the heater?"

"I took it from the bandits."

"oh."

Xu Qingyue fell silent.

...

Another ten days or so passed.

The two encountered bandits again.

The carriage was cleaved in two by an axe.

Xu Qingyue fainted on the spot. When she woke up, she found herself lying in a more spacious and comfortable carriage. She was somewhat used to it and simply closed her eyes to rest.

Jiang She lifted the curtain:

"Miss, why aren't you asking anymore?"

"What do you want to ask?"

"Where are the bandits?"

"I know, he must be dead."

"How did you die?"

"They must have all wanted a piece of the pie because they saw how good-looking I was, and ended up fighting amongst themselves and dying."

"...And this carriage?"

"You must have taken it from the bandits." Xu Qingyue blinked and looked at Jiang She with a serious expression.

"..."

Jiang She frowned.

He stopped talking.

"Squeak! Squeak!"

The wheels turned, and the carriages were changed.

After countless days, the scenery gradually changed. The barren mountains and wilderness transformed into fields and paths, and the scattered villages became densely populated.

The official road gradually widened, and the number of carriages and horses increased.

Finally, at dusk one day, Jiang She spotted a city gate in the distance.

The city walls stand tall, and the banners flutter in the wind.

Jiang She drove closer and saw that the city gate was tall and wide, with a stone plaque bearing the words "Suzhou" hanging above it.

The city gates were wide open, and carriages and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream.

The guards stood with spears at their feet, conducted a brief inspection, and then let Jiang She and his companion enter the city.

The city streets are wide and flat, paved with bluestone, and the wheels of vehicles make a steady rolling sound as they roll over them.

The houses on both sides are built along the water, lined up one after another, mostly with white walls and black tiles, flying eaves and upturned corners, which look exquisite and elegant.

Shops lined the street, their signs fluttering in the wind. There were silk shops, restaurants, teahouses, pharmacies, antique shops... a dazzling array of goods. The street was bustling with people, including wealthy merchants in fine clothes, ordinary people in simple clothes, and peddlers carrying loads and hawking their wares.

In the brothel, the prostitutes were dressed in bright clothes, their hair adorned with jingling hairpins, their lips painted red, and they chatted and laughed.

The air was filled with various smells:

The aroma of freshly steamed buns, the fragrance of tea, the sweet scent of cosmetics, and the slightly fishy smell of the canal vapor.

Xu Qingyue had already lifted the carriage curtain, gazing greedily at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery outside the window, her eyes brimming with tears, her heart pounding with excitement: "Finally... finally we've arrived in Suzhou..."

She murmured softly, her voice choked with emotion.

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of a shop.

It was a silk shop.

The shop is spacious, with a black sign with gold lettering hanging above the door – Xu Ji Yun Jin.

Xu Qingyue straightened her slightly haggard clothes and, with Jiang She's help, got off the carriage.

She looked up at the sign and felt reassured.

The two entered the shop, and the shop assistant, seeing that customers had arrived, hurriedly came forward to greet them. His gaze swept over the two men, who were dressed plainly and looked travel-worn, but he did not show any disrespect.

"What would you two like to buy?"

"Call your manager out."

Xu Qingyue's eyebrows danced with excitement, and her eyes sparkled with joy.

The waiter was slightly taken aback. Upon closer inspection, he saw that although the woman was simply dressed, she had an extraordinary bearing and a stunningly beautiful face. He immediately dared not be negligent and hurriedly said, "Please wait a moment, both of you," before turning around and going inside to inform the waiter.

Not long after.

A series of hurried footsteps came from the back room.

The curtain was lifted, and a man who looked to be around fifty years old strode out.

The man was dressed in a dark blue Hangzhou silk long gown, with a black mandarin jacket with subtle patterns over it. The fabric was clean and the cut was perfect. He had a lean face, with a neatly trimmed short beard under his chin. His eyes were bright and piercing, revealing the shrewdness and competence unique to merchants. However, at this moment, his eyes were full of surprise and uncertainty as he anxiously scanned the shop back and forth.

When his gaze fell on Xu Qingyue, his expression froze for a moment, then his pupils shrank, and his face showed an expression of disbelief and shock.

The shopkeeper hurried forward, carefully examining Xu Qingyue's face, which, though covered in dust, remained beautiful. His lips trembled slightly, and he said in a trembling voice:

"Miss...?"

Xu Qingyue smiled, a feeling of relief after hardship: "Manager Liu, it's been a long time."

"Heaven has mercy! Heaven has mercy!"

Manager Liu was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face. His expression was a mixture of surprise and joy. His voice trembled with excitement as he said:

"Miss, where have you been these past few months?! The main family in the capital has already given orders for shops and caravans throughout Suzhou, Hangzhou, and the capital region to search for you in secret! They've practically turned the world upside down!"

Has this news leaked out?

Xu Qingyue asked cryptically.

Manager Liu understood her meaning and whispered, "It's only circulating among the managers; the news hasn't leaked out."

"call..."

Xu Qingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If the Xu family's businesses were attacked while she was away, and she was too busy to take care of it, she would truly become a sinner for all time.

After they die, they will probably all be removed from the family genealogy.

Xu Qingyue paused for several breaths before calming herself down and speaking softly:

"Manager Liu, this is a long story. The most important thing right now is to arrange for the two of us to return to the capital as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, Miss. There happens to be a Xu family merchant caravan in the city. The goods have been inspected and they can set off for the capital at dawn tomorrow. The guards are all experienced, the carriages and horses are ready, and they will take the official road. They should arrive in the capital safely in a month or so at most."

"I will make the arrangements immediately. Please ask Miss and this lady to..." He turned his gaze to Jiang She, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Xu Qingyue seemed not to hear, her almond-shaped eyes showing a hint of melancholy, her voice soft:

"Are you leaving tomorrow...?"

"Exactly!"

Manager Liu did not notice the slight difference in her tone, assuming that this pampered young lady was eager to return home.

Only asked:

"Does Miss feel it's a bit rushed?"

"If you're not in a hurry to get going, it would be good to stay in Suzhou for a few days and rest and recuperate properly."

"Jiang She... what do you think?"

Xu Qingyue glanced at Jiang She. She had relied entirely on Jiang She's protection to travel to Suzhou City by carriage, and now she had become accustomed to it, so she asked Jiang She for his opinion.

Jiang She was naturally willing to go back as soon as possible.

"I think it best to join the caravan tomorrow and return to the capital together, so that Second Master and the others won't worry about me every day."

"good...."

Xu Qingyue nodded slightly.

She spoke calmly, but a bitter feeling, which she had not anticipated, welled up in her heart.

Are we leaving tomorrow...?

Out of the corner of her eye, she inadvertently glanced at Jiang She's handsome profile.

In an instant, memories of traveling three thousand miles with him flashed before my eyes:

I rode in an oxcart with him, encountered bandits with him, shared coarse food with him in a deserted village inn, and listened to his gentle words of comfort in the bumpy carriage... Those anxious and helpless days and nights seemed less unbearable because he was by my side.

He always manages to "coincidentally" find prey and always manages to "just happen" to avoid dangerous places. Although he is taciturn, he is calm and reliable.

But when I return to the capital, to that deep mansion, I am the eldest daughter of the Xu family, and what about him?

He was still a servant in my household...

No! Perhaps it can even become someone inside me!