Quite a few people had come from the Fierce Tiger Gang this time: several hundred elite experts, accompanied by three hall masters and various other martial masters.
When arriving, they had traveled in stealth, cautious at every turn.
Now departing, however, they moved with pomp and swagger.
Their grand contingent marched forward in an imposing procession.
Yet just as they were about to reach Wangbei Pass, an uninvited guest appeared in their path.
The figure wore a hooded black robe embroidered with fire-cloud patterns along the sleeves. His features could not be seen as he stood quietly in the middle of the road, like a boulder barring the way.
"Who dares block the path of the Fierce Tiger Gang?" a furious shout erupted from the gang's ranks.
The figure spoke in a flat voice, "A pack of sickly cats dares claim to be fierce tigers?"
"Insolent!"
"Audacious!"
The two hall masters from earlier, one old and one young, exchanged a glance and sprang forward at the same time.
Blocking their path was one thing, but to scoff and mock them right to the Fierce Tiger Gang's faces—how could he be tolerated?
The two moved with lightning speed, arriving before the black-robed man in the blink of an eye.
Though they had suffered defeat before Fang Wen, blasted back over two zhang by a single palm—and would have been struck dead had he not shown mercy—they were, after all, the hall masters of the Fierce Tiger Gang's South and West Halls.
Their martial arts were by no means empty reputations.
Yet to their shock, the black-robed man raised both palms and dismantled their techniques in an instant, planting a palm against each of their chests.
Their bodies shuddered violently as they were hurled backward through the air.
Upon hitting the ground, wisps of pale smoke actually drifted from their seven facial apertures. The spots on their chests where the blows had landed gave off a scorched stench; their torn clothes bore distinct palm impressions ringed with charred edges, a sight that horrified all who saw it.
Just then, the black-robed man abruptly looked up. With a shift of his footing, the faint roar of a dragon seemed to resound as he leaped over the mass of gang members, charging straight toward Qin Hu.
Qin Hu's pupils contracted violently. Seated upon the soft palanquin, he threw back his shoulders, ripping his garments to shreds in an instant.
The roar of a tiger reverberated through the mountain forest as strands of potent true qi coiled around his body. The hazy phantom of a hanging-eyed tiger materialized behind him, only to fuse into his frame an instant later as he pounced fiercely at the black-robed man.
The two collided, sending a deafening boom echoing in every direction.
The violent blast of force hurled the surrounding Fierce Tiger Gang members through the air.
Worse still, within the clash of internal force was a strain of pure-yang, blazing-fire true qi that scorched their meridians with agonizing pain.
When they crashed to the ground and looked up once more, they saw Qin Hu—the renowned Fourth Master Qin—already gripped by the throat and hoisted into midair.
The black-robed man stood with both feet planted on the palanquin, which had fallen to the ground.
Blood trickled from the corners of Qin Hu's mouth, his eyes were bloodshot, and pale smoke seeped from his seven facial apertures as well.
He struggled to choke out words: "You... you're... the Un... Undying... But I clearly... didn't..."
"You talk too much," the black-robed man said flatly.
The next instant, Qin Hu let out a bloodcurdling shriek as tongues of flame burst forth from his seven facial apertures.
With a flick of his arm, the black-robed man hurled Qin Hu away.
Yet midair, Qin Hu suddenly exploded with a deafening blast. Streaks of fire scattered everywhere, and every Fierce Tiger Gang disciple struck by the flaming fragments screamed in agony.
Amid the roaring flames, a sinister sneer curled on the black-robed man's lips as he plunged into the crowd, unleashing a massacre!
***
Fang Wen and his companions knew nothing of the Fierce Tiger Gang's plight.
They were busy dividing the money.
Earlier, it had been awkward to count it out in front of Qin Hu, but now that they had tallied it up, there was three thousand five hundred taels of gold in total.
This was no small sum.
Sun Qian had been willing to take reckless risks and betray the Lu'an Escort Agency for a mere three thousand taels of silver.
Three thousand five hundred taels of gold was more than enough to make anyone burn with greed.
After several rounds of polite refusals, the group agreed that Fang Wen, Lu Guiyan, and Mo Beidou would each take one thousand taels.
The remaining five hundred taels would be split among the agency's other brothers.
Fang Wen had not wanted to accept the money, but Lu Guiyan and Mo Beidou both insisted that without him, they would never have gotten their hands on it.
Unable to decline any further, he reluctantly accepted.
As for dividing five hundred taels of gold among the Lu'an Escort Agency's escort leaders and escort attendants, that was only right and proper.
Having taken the lion's share, they could hardly be stingy toward the brothers who had braved wind, rain, and the open road alongside them.
Even if the men did not get to eat the meat, they had to be allowed a few mouthfuls of the broth.
After all, this job was perilous in the extreme. Everyone had carried their heads on their belts, journeying through constant fear up to this point; they deserved their fair share of the reward.
Of the thousand taels Lu Guiyan kept, a portion would also be set aside for the families of the fallen brothers.
Once the money was divided, Lu Guiyan stole a glance back at Chen Qi, who was trailing behind them.
Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. After a long pause, she spoke to Fang Wen: "What should we do with him? He's been following us all this time... I can't help feeling uneasy."
Fang Wen glanced at Chen Qi as well and chuckled softly. "Qin Hu probably sent him over to help... Now that his identity is exposed, he's nothing to worry about. But if you're not at ease, Young Chief Escort, shall I go kill him for you?"
"...No need."
Lu Guiyan shook her head. "Brother Fang is right. With his martial arts, he couldn't stir up any trouble before you anyway.
"The one who truly makes me uneasy is Qin Hu... I don't dare put full trust in his words."
"...Those who run gangs have black hearts. You're right not to trust him completely," Fang Wen said with a smile. "Still, compared to him, have you considered what to do once we arrive at Feixue City, Young Chief Escort?"
"?"
Lu Guiyan was taken aback at first, but understanding dawned on her almost immediately.
The ones who wanted those two dead were people in Feixue City. According to Wang Shouyan's agreement with the Lu'an Escort Agency, once they delivered the pair to Feixue City, whatever followed would have nothing to do with them.
Yet wouldn't that plunge the two into mortal danger all over again?
After wrestling with the thought, she said frankly, "We are only responsible for what we agreed to do. Once we deliver them to Feixue City, anything else is none of our business."
She paused, then added with a bitter smile, "Don't blame me for being coldhearted, Brother Fang. I'm truly a bit terrified.
"This journey has been fraught with peril at every turn. If not for you, Brother Fang, let alone myself, even if my father had led the escort in person, I doubt we would have made it this far."
"You have kept a clear head all along, Young Chief Escort. It is truly admirable."
Fang Wen nodded. "My thoughts align with yours. Since they were summoned by Wu Lingxiao and sent via our agency by Jinghua Pavilion, both sides surely have contingency plans.
"If whoever in Feixue City wants them dead could truly kill them inside the city itself, there would have been no need to go through such trouble and hire the Fierce Tiger Gang.
"There is no need for us to worry overmuch about these things."
Lu Guiyan nodded slightly at his words. "There's still more than half a month of traveling ahead. Who knows what dangers await us..."
"On the contrary, I suspect the road ahead will be smooth sailing and exceptionally calm."
Lu Guiyan blinked in surprise, wondering why Fang Wen would say such a thing.
Yet reality unfolded just as Fang Wen predicted.
They encountered no danger on the rest of the road. Traveling like this for the better part of a month, they arrived at Feixue City at last.
Chapter 80