Unorthodox Wuxia: While Others Practice Martial Arts, I Cultivate Immortality - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Arguing with Reason

When Yuan Zhao finally finished her technique, Yang Fei’s body suddenly erupted. Holes burst open in his chest, shoulders, and arms, each one gushing blood.

Seeing this, Yuan Zhao let out a long breath of relief—at last, it had worked.

Yang Fei’s external defense was impenetrable, but the inside was a different matter. Using the Heaven-Sweeping Hand, she overcame hardness with softness, striking through his outer defenses to attack his insides directly, blasting apart his meridians from within.

“You… you…” Yang Fei stared at her in disbelief, never expecting Yuan Zhao to have such a trump card.

He tried to summon his inner force, but with his meridians shattered, he couldn’t circulate any at all. Worse still, the inner strength he had painstakingly cultivated was now rapidly leaking out through his damaged meridians.

Yuan Zhao leapt forward, snatched up her discarded Heaven-Prison Blade, and swung it in a horizontal slash.

Pfft!

With a sharp crack, Yang Fei’s head was severed.

Without the protection of inner force, his neck was no sturdier than anyone else’s.

By this time, Old Wolf and the other soldiers had already annihilated Yang Fei’s men.

Leaving the cleanup to the soldiers, Yuan Zhao called out, “Old Wolf, let’s go.”

She needed to hurry to support Lang Mingyue.

“Awwooo~” Old Wolf answered and bounded after her, the woman and the wolf racing toward the eastern escape route.

At the same time, Mo Guanshan had also reached the eastern exit.

The Sha Long Gang’s second boss, Hong Tao, had already been cut down by Lang Mingyue’s sword.

But Lang Mingyue, under the effects of the Tian Kui technique, had fallen into madness after killing Hong Tao, lashing out indiscriminately at anything around him.

Fortunately, without reason, he didn’t target anyone in particular, so as long as the accompanying soldiers kept their distance, he only vented his frenzy against empty air.

When Mo Guanshan arrived, what he saw was precisely this scene of madness.

Without a word, Mo Guanshan rushed forward, swinging his crescent-bladed saber to restrain him.

For Lang Mingyue, however, finding an opponent only made him more ferocious. He launched a storm of attacks at Mo Guanshan, swift as thunder.

His movements were light, his swordplay graceful, and in the blink of an eye he had thrust over a dozen times. Cold swordlight flickered like lightning in the frozen night.

But Mo Guanshan, fearful of harming Lang Mingyue, had to hold back, and for the moment he was actually suppressed.

Thankfully, Yuan Zhao arrived just then. With one glance, she understood what state Lang Mingyue was in.

Seeing the two locked in fierce battle, she shouted to Mo Guanshan: “Marshal Mo, please, draw his attention!”

“Alright!”

Mo Guanshan nodded and shifted his approach, deliberately striking at Lang Mingyue’s vital points to force him on the defensive, keeping his attention fixed.

Meanwhile, Yuan Zhao silently slipped behind him and unleashed the Heaven-Sweeping Hand once more, striking eighteen consecutive palms into his back.

Puhhh~

Lang Mingyue immediately vomited a mouthful of blood, and the three silver needles embedded in his head, neck, and spine shot out and clattered onto the sand. With the needles expelled, his body collapsed, utterly out of his control.

Yuan Zhao caught him as he fell.

His face was ashen, death already written upon it, yet he forced himself to ask weakly: “Miss Zhao… Yang Fei… what of him?”

“Don’t worry,” she answered softly, “he’s dead. I killed him myself.”

“Dead? He’s dead! Good… good…” Lang Mingyue’s face lit with the smile of vengeance fulfilled. But the very next second, a torrent of blood welled from his mouth.

Mo Guanshan frowned. “This doesn’t look good. I fear he won’t last.”

Lang Mingyue’s body had long been weakened; after Hong Tao’s strike and then forcefully burning his life force with the Tian Kui technique, not even an iron man could have endured so much.

Hearing this, Yuan Zhao wiped the blood from his lips and said firmly: “Hold on. I’ll take you to Doctor Hu right away.”

“It’s too late.” Lang Mingyue gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “Miss, thank you… without you, I’d still be in hell right now, never mind avenging my great hatred.”

Yuan Zhao scowled. “That’s all the more reason to live on. There are many good days ahead waiting for you!”

“Good days…” His eyes flickered with longing, but then more blood poured out. “I had hoped to spend what remained of this broken body serving you, but… it seems I cannot…”

With those final words, he lost consciousness.

“Men!” Marshal Mo barked. “Quickly, take him back to Tianmen Town and find Doctor Hu!”

“Yes, sir!” Two soldiers immediately carried the unconscious Lang Mingyue onto a horse.

“Hurry!” Mo Guanshan urged again.

“Yes, sir!” they echoed, before galloping into the night with their burden.

By now, dawn was breaking.

Yuan Zhao gazed silently toward the rising sun, praying that Lang Mingyue would survive.

After sending him off, she turned and saw soldiers hauling crates from the Sha Long Gang’s lair. Looking closer, she realized each was filled with gold and silver.

“Marshal Mo,” she said, “surely I deserve a share of this silver?”

Mo Guanshan immediately refused. “Impossible! This is the people’s blood and sweat stolen by the Sha Long Gang. How could it be given to you?”

“Bullsh*t!” Yuan Zhao sneered. “I don’t care what you call it—since I risked myself, I should get my share. Don’t try to fool me with high-sounding words.”

Mo Guanshan’s expression grew cold. “Miss Yuan, have you no concern for the greater good? You are also of Great Liang. Do you not think of your nation? Do you know how many lives this silver could save?”

Yuan Zhao exploded in fury. “To hell with your ‘greater good’! Perhaps my ancestors were from Liang, but now I am of Tianmen Town. Is Tianmen Town yours? Where were you when the cavalry of Great Xiao trampled our people?

Where were you when Liang soldiers themselves committed atrocities in Tianmen Town? Where were you when my grandfather was beaten to death by Great Xiao men? And now you call me a Liang citizen and preach the greater good? Spare me!

Even if you hand this silver to the state, do you really believe it will ever reach common folk? Do you believe that yourself? If I don’t get my rightful share today, don’t blame me for turning my blade on you all!”

She raised her great saber across her chest.

Mo Guanshan’s face turned dark.

One soldier, unable to bear her insolence, stepped forward and roared: “Outrageous! Just a yellow-haired girl, and you dare speak so to our Marshal?”

But before he could finish, Old Wolf leapt with a snarl, pinning him to the ground.

“Rrrr—grrrr—” The wolf’s teeth pressed against his throat, ready to tear it out.

Yuan Zhao chuckled coldly. “This so-called yellow-haired girl just killed a First-Rank warrior. You’re welcome to try me—if you fail, the consequences will be on your heads!”

The soldiers’ faces soured. Was this madwoman putting them in the same plight as the Great Xiao?

Mo Guanshan stared at her intently. “Miss Yuan, are you truly set on this course?”

Yuan Zhao sneered. “Marshal, it is only natural to reclaim what I’ve earned.”

“You truly broaden my horizons, Miss Yuan…” Mo Guanshan sighed heavily.

“Heh.” Yuan Zhao smirked. “If you wish, Marshal, I can broaden them further—though I cannot promise you will like the outcome.”

In an instant, the air grew quiet. The two sides stood in tense confrontation, the atmosphere thick with hostility.

Many soldiers could clearly feel the oppressive aura radiating from the young woman opposite them, as if she might erupt into a killing spree at any moment.

After a long silence, Mo Guanshan finally yielded. “Miss Yuan, you win! I’ll give you ten percent.”

“Ten percent?” Yuan Zhao scoffed. “Do you take me for a beggar? Without me, could you have wiped out the Sha Long Gang? Ridiculous. Fifty-fifty.”

Mo Guanshan’s expression turned cold again. “Miss Yuan, do not test this commander’s limits!”

Yuan Zhao’s face was icy. “Marshal Mo, you’d best not test mine either. I wasn’t raised to cower in fear!”

Mo Guanshan demanded, “What exactly do you want?”

“What exactly do you want?” Yuan Zhao retorted.

Seeing her unwavering gaze, Mo Guanshan suddenly relented. “Actually, fifty-fifty isn’t impossible. But—you must agree to one condition.”

Yuan Zhao: “What condition? Speak!”

“Come with me.” With that, Mo Guanshan turned and walked toward the Sha Long Gang’s lair.

Yuan Zhao thought for a moment, then followed. The old wolf, seeing this, quickly released the soldier he had pinned and hurried after her.

Hmph—just a small fry, not worth letting this commander and his master be separated even for a moment!

Behind the escape passage stretched a long corridor, its walls lit by oil lamps. Passing through it, they finally entered the true heart of the Sha Long Gang’s underground den.

Led by Mo Guanshan, Yuan Zhao arrived at the entrance of a secret chamber. Inside, she saw dozens of scantily clad young women huddled in a corner.

The moment the girls saw people enter, they trembled in fear.

“These are…?” Yuan Zhao frowned.

Mo Guanshan sighed. “They were all taken by the Sha Long Gang…”

Their purpose needed no explanation.

The girls were between fifteen and thirty—young, in the prime of their lives—yet now…

“The reason General Mo brought me to see them is…?” Yuan Zhao’s eyes were filled with suspicion.

Mo Guanshan explained, “Some of them are homeless. Some have homes they cannot return to. Some have homes they no longer wish to return to. I thought… if possible, could you give them a place to settle down?”

Yuan Zhao fell silent, thinking deeply. After a long while, she nodded. “Alright, I’ll do it.”

She was, in truth, surprised that Mo Guanshan would consider these women so seriously.

These girls had been through the bandits’ lair; once outside, they would be judged and shunned. That was why some had homes but could not—or would not—return.

In this era, a woman’s chastity often mattered more than her life.

Even in Yuan Zhao’s former modern world, victims were not free from gossip and condemnation. This was victim-blaming.

Since that was the case, why not help them?

“Then on behalf of these women, I thank you, Miss Yuan.” Mo Guanshan bowed deeply with cupped hands.

Yuan Zhao was even more astonished—she had not expected this side of him.

Mo Guanshan then turned to the women and said, “I know you worry about your future. This is Miss Yuan Zhao. If you are willing, she will provide you food and shelter. You may safely go with her. I, Mo Guanshan, vouch for her character.”

Though their acquaintance had been short, Mo Guanshan trusted his own ability to judge character.

The girls’ eyes immediately lit with hope as they looked at Yuan Zhao.

Yuan Zhao stepped forward and said, “General Mo speaks the truth. If you follow me, I can’t promise you wealth or status, but I can promise you food and clothing without worry.”

The girls’ faces broke into joy.

Most of them came from poor families, having enough to eat and wear was already a great blessing. Wealth and luxury were beyond imagining.

“I’m willing! I’ll follow Miss Yuan!”

“Me too!”

“And me!”

Voices rose one after another.

There were forty-two girls in total, but not all chose to go with Yuan Zhao. A few still had families and decided to return home.

In the end, thirty-six chose to follow Yuan Zhao, while six chose to go back.

Mo Guanshan said to the six, “Since you’ve decided, I’ll send men to escort you home.”

The six immediately knelt in gratitude.

“Thank you, General!”

“Thank you, General!”

Then, Yuan Zhao and Mo Guanshan led the others out of the Sha Long Gang’s lair.

Just then, the convoy sent to haul away the loot arrived. Soldiers were loading chests of silver onto carts.

After counting, they found 120,000 taels of silver in total. By agreement, Yuan Zhao received a full half—over 60,000 taels—enough to fill six carriages.

Looking at the carts, Yuan Zhao said, “General Mo, give me these carriages as well. That way I don’t have to send them back to Blackstone City later.”

Mo Guanshan could only laugh bitterly. “Miss Yuan, you really don’t leave a feather behind.”

Yuan Zhao shrugged. “What can I do? I’ve suddenly got dozens more mouths to feed.”

“Fine, they’re yours.” Mo Guanshan agreed readily. “Having given away tens of thousands of taels already, what were a few carriages?”

Yuan Zhao muttered inwardly: Hmph! What do you mean ‘give’? That silver is rightfully mine!

“Well then, let us part ways here.” Yuan Zhao cupped her hands in farewell. “Until we meet again.”

Mo Guanshan returned the gesture. “Until we meet again.”

With that, Yuan Zhao drove her convoy—silver and thirty-six girls in tow—toward Tianmen Town, while Mo Guanshan led his men and the other sixty thousand taels back to Blackstone City.

The thirty-six girls in Yuan Zhao’s convoy gazed at the rising sun, their hearts filled with the joy of new beginnings.

Meanwhile, the six in Mo Guanshan’s convoy looked out over the boundless desert, their hearts uneasy.

“Awooo~~” The old wolf perched atop one of the carts, raising its head to the morning sun and letting out a long, mournful howl.