Chapter 160
Chapter 160: Interception
“Murong Feng, you have unlawfully mobilized the Sheng Province troops and left your post without permission to travel toward Lin Prefecture. According to Great Li military law, you must be stripped of your rank and detained for investigation!”
“As for the rest of you, if you don’t wish to be executed here and now, drop your weapons immediately and surrender!”
The young general in battle armor shouted sternly from atop the city walls. His voice echoed clearly below, sending tremors through the townspeople’s ears and shaking their hearts with dread.
At this moment, Murong Feng lifted the carriage curtain with one hand, his phoenix eyes calmly gazing toward the city walls. His expression remained composed as he said, “Baili Xu, today is the day I welcome my little sister back to the city. This young master has no intention of quarreling with you. If you withdraw your men immediately, I can pretend this incident never happened.”
Murong Feng’s voice was neither loud nor soft, yet amplified by Qi, clearly echoing far and wide.
Hearing this, the young general atop the wall slightly narrowed his eyes, exchanging a quick glance with the people beside him.
Beside him stood three figures dressed in crimson-scaled armor crafted from sharkskin. Each appeared to be between forty and fifty years of age, their necks marked with indistinct black tattoos. They carried no swords or blades on their waists or in their hands. Instead, each bore a crescent-shaped, handle-less blade strapped to their backs. The fierce aura radiating from their bodies clearly warned others to stay away.
Seeing the three men nod slightly, Baili Xu turned back toward Murong Feng on the carriage below and suddenly sneered, “I’m acting strictly according to Great Li military law. Murong Feng, since you are a Sheng Province staff officer, you must obey military orders!”
Without further words, he raised his hand and commanded his armored guards, “Capture them all! Kill anyone who dares resist!”
A cold glint flashed through Murong Feng’s eyes. The next moment, he leaped lightly from the carriage, floating gracefully in the air above it.
At the same instant, he flicked his hand, and a gleaming, chilling light appeared before him. The cold gleam multiplied swiftly—one became two, two became four…
Within moments, countless needle-like flashes surrounded him, then burst forth like storming rain.
Baili Xu snorted coldly, instructing, “Capture him alive! His life is still useful.”
However, the three men at his side had already moved swiftly, their crescent blades shooting out like lightning. They became blurred shadows, reaching Murong Feng’s position almost instantly.
The curved blades emitted dazzling silver arcs of blade-light, linking end-to-end to form a massive, spinning disc of martial energy that overshadowed Murong Feng and his guards.
Driven by potent martial Qi, the blade disc spun rapidly, creating a roaring vortex that surged skyward. Its brilliant flashes sliced through Murong Feng’s storm of needle-like attacks effortlessly.
The vortex spun faster and faster, the powerful suction threatening to rip the ornate carriage from the ground. The armored guards struggled in vain, their bodies uncontrollably lifted from the ground toward the whirling blades.
Murong Feng’s Qi surged around him. He glanced at the spinning blade disc overhead, then coldly fixed his gaze upon the three figures atop the city walls. His voice was icy, “Crescent Moon Three Talents Bladesmen, do you truly wish to make enemies of my Murong Family?”
The three bladesmen gave no response. Instead, they leaped swiftly from the wall, speeding toward Murong Feng, clearly intending to capture him alive.
Murong Feng’s eyes darkened, yet his face showed no fear.
Just as the three bladesmen closed in, Murong Feng descended gracefully, standing firmly atop the carriage roof, his silken robes billowing fiercely in the wind.
The red-armored bladesmen’s expressions were fierce as they reached for him without hesitation.
At that very moment, a golden palm imprint suddenly surged from within the carriage below, rushing toward the three bladesmen who were mere inches from Murong Feng.
Startled, the three bladesmen swiftly abandoned their initial assault on Murong Feng, hurriedly turning their defenses downward.
Above, the three silver crescent blades shifted instantly, cutting downward to unleash distorted arcs of blade-light. Simultaneously, the bladesmen desperately channeled martial Qi to shield their bodies from the powerful golden palm attack.
Witnessing this scene, Baili Xu atop the city wall furrowed his brow and muttered softly, “Indeed, he’s concealed a powerful expert by his side.”
Suddenly, Baili Xu turned his gaze toward the city gates, his expression changing abruptly.
Unexpectedly, Hu Rui An and his companions, who had arrived with Murong Feng, had quietly pressed forward. They had already broken through the hundreds of armored guards, rolling forward steadily, heedless of the chaos around them.
They cared neither about the Sheng Peak elder Li’s army nor about Murong Feng’s fierce battle behind them, as if none of it concerned them at all.
Baili Xu considered intervening, but a sudden chilling breeze arose behind him. An elderly crone with snowy hair appeared silently by his side and spoke gently, “Young master, the Master sends word: if matters seem unfavorable, do not force the issue. Order our people to retreat for now.”
Hearing this, Baili Xu glanced once more toward the departing carriage carrying Hu Rui An, his brow furrowed deeply. Turning back to Murong Feng, he saw the three bladesmen barely withstanding the fierce golden palm. Although they avoided serious injury, they had been forced back. Meanwhile, the hidden expert inside the carriage had yet to reveal himself.
Murong Feng stood resolutely atop the carriage, locked in confrontation with the bladesmen.
After a brief hesitation, Baili Xu finally waved his hand downward. The armored guards below, receiving the signal, slowly began retreating, moving like a disciplined tide back into the city gates.
Murong Feng silently watched the retreat without interfering. He raised his head coldly toward Baili Xu and said, “Since your Baili Clan willingly steps forward, I hope you’re prepared for the retaliation from my Murong Family.”
In response, Baili Xu merely laughed coldly and said nothing further. He turned and disappeared from view, guarded by the elderly crone.
Simultaneously, the three bladesmen cautiously retrieved their crescent blades, their gazes wary as they backed slowly into the city gates, vigilantly watching Murong Feng and his carriage.
Only after Baili Xu and his men had entirely vanished did Murong Feng lightly descend from atop the carriage. He glanced toward the carriage interior, then looked toward the city gate, a crease forming between his brows.
“That Lord Hu from the Heavenly Brocade Guard certainly has impressive martial strength, yet he’s entirely heartless. He entered the city without a care, not bothering to offer even the slightest help,” Murong Feng murmured.
An elderly voice sounded from within the carriage, “Pay them no mind. Let us return home first. Today’s affair was a clear message from the Baili Clan—they’ve openly broken ties with our Murong Family. It seems another great upheaval is soon to shake Sheng Province.”
Murong Feng’s face remained expressionless as he calmly replied, “The Baili Clan is sending their allegiance to that general. Everyone believes our Murong Family is declining, eager to seize a portion for themselves. But ultimately, they’ll only be met with disappointment.”
After speaking, he waved his hand, signaling the remaining armored guards to proceed. Then he lifted the carriage curtain and climbed inside.
Soon, the armored guards surrounded the luxurious carriage, escorting it smoothly into the city as though nothing had occurred moments before.
…
At the same time, Hu Rui An and his party moved along the broad streets of Prefecture City, following the directions Murong Xiao Ya had provided, heading toward the Murong family estate.
Ever since being unexpectedly surrounded by the armored guards, Hu Rui An and the others knew they had been swept into someone else’s trouble.
Li Mu Sheng had no intention of taking the blame for Murong Feng. Thus, he had Hu Rui An directly open the path forward without any concern for Murong Feng and those behind, unwilling to waste even a moment.
Murong Xiao Ya had no objections, seemingly unconcerned for her elder brother’s safety.
However, Hu Rui An had sensed the presence of powerful martial artists hidden within Murong Feng’s carriage from the moment they met, so he was sure Murong Feng would remain unharmed.
Shen An Ran rode her white horse closely behind Li Mu Sheng’s carriage. Throughout their journey, she had grown rather close to Hu Rui An.
After all, he was her uncle by blood, even if a distant one. Though initially awkward, Shen An Ran intentionally made efforts to build rapport, and with Hu Rui An’s care, she soon became familiar with nearly everyone except Li Mu Sheng himself.
Even Murong Xiao Ya, who was socially timid and rarely spoke with Li Mu Sheng’s group, occasionally whispered quiet confidences to Shen An Ran.
Li Mu Sheng silently observed all of this. In his eyes, Shen An Ran—already labeled as lovesick—now gained another tag, that of a “scheming young lady.” However, he didn’t view this scheming negatively. After all, she was merely employing a patient strategy to slowly win him over.
“Your Highness, it seems we are being followed?” As the carriage proceeded towards Murong Manor, Hu Rui An suddenly frowned slightly and turned his gaze toward Li Mu Sheng, who sat opposite him.
Hearing this, Li Mu Sheng merely waved dismissively, saying, “Let them follow. Lord Hu, if you wish to handle it yourself, please do. I have no time to meddle in unnecessary matters.”
Hu Rui An hesitated momentarily, then decided to say nothing more, merely signaling the carriage to continue forward.
Yet, just as the group passed along a main avenue and turned onto another street, everything abruptly fell silent. Merchants and passersby hurriedly scattered, fleeing the now deserted road.
Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong immediately tightened their grips on the reins, slowing their horses and carefully scanning their surroundings.
Seated in the front of the carriage, Cao Gao Shan squinted, alertly assessing the situation. He glanced back at Shen An Ran and warned, “Miss Shen, danger may come soon. Stay in the center.”
Having witnessed Shen An Ran’s clear feelings toward Li Mu Sheng throughout their travels—and noting Li Mu Sheng’s lack of clear rejection—Cao Gao Shan, a rough but observant man, naturally interpreted this as silent approval. He himself had a rather good impression of Shen An Ran, appreciating her kind nature.
At that moment, Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong urgently stopped their horses.
At some point, a gray-robed man had appeared ahead, blocking their path. Half his face was covered by a bronze mask, iron-gray scars distorted his left brow, and his beard twisted fiercely beneath gray-streaked temples. He held an iron flute horizontally, barring Wu Shang’s path.
Meanwhile, behind Hu Rui An’s carriage appeared another formidable figure—a man dressed in copper armor, crowned by a copper helmet, gripping a large purple-copper battle axe. He drove the axe heavily into the ground, cracking the pavement and spreading fractures in all directions. The sharp, splintering sound echoed loudly along the empty street.
These two warriors had sealed off both ends of their route. Judging by their imposing martial presence, neither opponent was weak.
“All you need to do is hand over the Murong family’s young miss, and you can freely leave.”
Just then, a voice echoed down from the rooftops. Wu Shang and the others startled, swiftly looking upward.
There, atop a tiled roof stood an elderly crone with snowy-white hair, alongside the same young man who had previously appeared on the city wall. They stared down coldly at the group.
Seeing this, Wu Shang and the others’ expressions darkened. They had assumed the conflict had ended after the confrontation involving Murong Feng, not realizing these attackers now sought Murong Xiao Ya instead.
In their distress, Wu Shang and his companions immediately turned their anxious gazes toward the carriage behind them. Neither Wu Shang nor Cao Gao Shan believed they could handle foes of this caliber—the flute-wielding man, the axe warrior, and the intimidating pair above. Their only hope lay in Hu Rui An and Li Mu Sheng within the carriage.
After witnessing the events at Deer Slaying Manor, Wu Shang and the others had become certain that Li Mu Sheng was secretly a martial expert, probably of unimaginable skill. They had even overheard Shen Lian Cheng imply that the Old Manor Lord of Deer Slaying Manor had been defeated by Li Mu Sheng. Though this seemed incredible, Hu Rui An’s attitude toward Li Mu Sheng made them accept it as truth. Regrettably, none had actually seen Li Mu Sheng’s skill firsthand.
However, unlike the others, Shen An Ran appeared calm, even serene, observing the attackers with quiet curiosity. After all, she had personally witnessed Li Mu Sheng defeat her grandfather with a single punch, launching him from Deer Slaying Manor and even splitting open the great river nearby.
Compared to her grandfather, these foes before her were insignificant, their act of blocking the road rather naive and reckless.
At this moment, the old crone’s gaze fell upon the carriage. Noticing no reply, she narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke again, her voice grave yet cautious:
“This old woman knows that a formidable expert travels with you. However, this matter involves grievances between the Murong family and various powers of Prefecture City. It is not something your excellency should meddle in. Take heed, and avoid unnecessary trouble.”