XIAO SHUXIANG'S
187 - Nie Shang's
The sound of the crackling of the three-wheeled wooden carriage accompanied Xiao Shuxiang's journey in escorting Nie Shang to the Moon Powder City, Middle Sun Empire.
There were five Protective Swallow Swordsmen other than Xiao Shuxiang, three of them were 1st class swordsmen.
Nie Shang was in one of the carriages along with his two servants and Hu Li who turned into a small fox the size of an adult cat. Along the way, Nie Shang talked a lot with Xiao Shuxiang who was sitting on the roof of his carriage.
They discussed trivial matters including a few jokes. The five Swallow Protector warriors felt Xiao Shuxiang was an attractive cultivator.
The first time these five met a cultivator who liked to talk and was very good at cooking.
Right, every time they rest.. Xiao Shuxiang was going to take out his tools and cooking ingredients from within the Spatial Ring.
Xiao Shuxiang's gastronomy was already at a high level, even if it wasn't the stomach capacity of the Guardian Swallow Warrior, Nie Shang, and his servants, and coachmen were limited.. Perhaps they would not be able to stop eating Xiao Shuxiang's cooking.
After enough rest and feeding the horses, they resumed their journey. The time taken to get to the Powder Moon City was 15 days, now it was still the fifth day and the Nie Shang train had been attacked 2 times.
Luckily Xiao Shuxiang and the five Swallow Protector Swordsmen were able to move quickly, so the coachman, horse, and Nie Shang themselves were not injured.
The one who tried to rob Nie Shang was just an ordinary swordsman and not a cultivator, so Hu Li did not help, either, even Xiao Shuxiang did not expend much energy because the five Protecting Swallow Warriors were people who were good at swordsmanship.
They had also met several times with the Blood Skull Sect cultivators. Originally, those cultivators wanted to look for trouble with the five Swallowing Swordsman Protector and Nie Shang, but their intentions came to a halt upon seeing Xiao Shuxiang.
Even the 4 cultivators who were secretly following Nie Shang from behind, did not dare to attack because there was Xiao Shuxiang.
The absence of a sword tucked into the young man's waist made him feel that Xiao Shuxiang was so confident in his strength without having to rely on weapons.
Although the 3 of them had a practice in the Forging Qi level 16 or the Yellow Gold Level Foundation Master, they were unwilling to be rash.
".. Let's watch them before we take action,"
One of them issued an opinion that was immediately approved by the other three young men.
These four cultivators were from the Fire Centipede Sect, one of the Black Flow intermediate sects. They have a mission to disrupt Nie Shang's journey and if possible kill him.
However, their mission seemed to be going to be very difficult after witnessing Xiao Shuxiang's fighting move when facing three Demonic Beasts in the form of Deer Horned Dogs whose body size was as big as an adult cow.
Xiao Shuxiang threw the grass covered with poison and fed his Qi to the three Demonic Beasts in a matter of one breath.. The Deer-Horned Dog immediately fell down and instantly became a lump of rotting flesh.
What Xiao Shuxiang did made anyone who saw him hold their breath and have difficulty swallowing their saliva.
Even the views of the five Swordsman and coachman Nie Shang began to change on this young man, they.. I don't know why I'm afraid.
"Let's go on another trip, again,"
Xiao Shuxiang seemed to be unaware of what he had just done. Nie Shang was a little nervous to ask Xiao Shuxiang about the way his friend killed the three Demonic Beasts.
".. W-did you use poison, Brother Xiao?"
"That's how.. I made it myself. It's just that it can't always be used because the way to make it is too difficult," Xiao Shuxiang lightly said to only carry half a small pot of his homemade poison.
Nie Shang almost choked on his own breath. Does this friend of his have no idea how terrifying the poison is?!
".. He could slaughter a village with just his poison,"
The five Swallowing Swordsman Protector took five days to get used to every action Xiao Shuxiang thought was terrible.
Moreover, when Nie Shang's train was attacked again.. Xiao Shuxiang did not give the swordsman a fifth chance to show off, he defeated all the enemies in a rather ruthless manner.
As of this moment, Xiao Shuxiang took out his opponent's heart and heart then put it into a medium-sized urn. He then stored the jar into his Spatial Ring.
The heart and heart that Xiao Shuxiang collected was none other than his experimental materials, he intended to gather more while continuing to escort Nie Shang to the Moon Powder City.
Xiao Shuxiang was actually aware that he was being followed, but he had no interest in catching them. Let the hiding cultivators reveal their nostrils first.
The four cultivators of the Fire Centipede Sect decided to abort their mission when Nie Shang and his people were at the gate of the Moonlight Powder City. They were unwilling to look for trouble with a poison master cultivator like Xiao Shuxiang.
Nie Shang was finally able to say a word of relief, thank God his life was still there and his surrender remained complete. He was grateful to have strong guards.
The Moon Powder City was apparently much larger and denser than the Flower Dew City where Tianqi Mao lived.
The house they were going to was the home of the richest merchant in the city, Lien Fu Gui.
The Lien Fu Gui residence is so spacious, consisting of one main building, three storage warehouses, two special guest buildings, and a spacious backyard with a fish pond.
Lien Fu Gui and her family members were very friendly to Nie Shang and the others. They were invited to rest and clean up before dinner together with all members of the Lien Fu Gui family.
Princess Lien Fu Gui is a 20-year-old young girl, she wears a thick veil of light green, in line with her clothes.
Lien Ganqing is the eldest daughter of Lien Fu Gui. The look in his eyes was always downcast, Xiao Shuxiang was sure the girl in front of him was too shy to stare at Nie Shang.
".. I reckon.. He doesn't like to see your face, Brother Nie.." whispered softly Xiao Shuxiang as he lightly nudged Nie Shang, obviously he was teasing his friend.
Nie Shang was anxious to protest with Xiao Shuxiang's words earlier, but he tried to hold back.
He followed Lien Fu Gui while occasionally talking to his future father-in-law.
Behind them, there were five Protective Swallow Swordsmen and two servants of Nie Shang. Xiao Shuxiang saw the three coachmen unloading all of Nie Shang's luggage aided by some of Lien Fu Gui's guards.
Hu Li intended to jump down from the carriage, but he stopped when he saw Xiao Shuxiang's gaze as if asking him to stay inside the carriage.
"Brother Xiao..?"
Xiao Shuxiang immediately caught up with Nie Shang upon hearing the call from his friend. Along the way, he continued to watch Lien Ganqing from top to bottom.
".. He's too quiet.." Xiao Shuxiang exhaled softly, he hoped that this girl could be a little more chatty after marrying his friend later. But it doesn't seem necessary.
Xiao Shuxiang was in one room with the five Protective Swallow Warriors, while Nie Shang was in the other room. Nevertheless, Xiao Shuxiang would always sneak into Nie Shang's room to look after him.
The five Guardian Swiftlet warriors were unable to dispel their existence like Xiao Shuxiang did, which was why the mission of guarding Nie Shang was secretly entrusted to him.
There was nothing suspicious that Xiao Shuxiang found while peeking at Nie Shang from the roof using his Divine Eye pill. But Xiao Shuxiang stayed behind and kept a close eye on his friend.
He only stopped after one of Lien Fu Gui's servants asked for permission to enter Nie Shang's room and told him that the young man had been invited to dinner together.
The servant also called the five Swallow Protector warriors, he had time to look for the whereabouts of Xiao Shuxiang.. But he was immediately startled when the person he was looking for suddenly appeared right behind him.
One of Xiao Shuxiang's strange habits was to pay close attention to every meal served in front of him, he even tried first the food belonging to Nie Shang and the five Swallowing Guard warriors out of fear that there was poison inside.
No one knows what the human heart is like. In his first life, Xiao Shuxiang had always been troubled with poisonous food, and he did not want the same incident to repeat itself.
Although Xiao Shuxiang's actions were considered impolite, Lien Fu Gui was able to understand him. According to him, this young man in front of him was doing his job well.
The look on Lien Fu Gui's face changed slightly as she turned to her daughter, holding back the trembling and trying to remain calm.
Lien Fu Gui had difficulty swallowing saliva, sweat spots formed on his forehead, he squeezed his left hand and started to eat again.
In his heart he hoped that Nie Shang, Xiao Shuxiang, and the five Swallow Protector Swordsmen would soon finish eating.
Lien Fu Gui and his family were actually hiding something from Nie Shang, it was Lien Ganqing's strange illness.
Over the past three years, her daughter's share of food has increased tenfold for some reason.
There were already many healers examining Lien Ganqing, yet they did not find any peculiarities within his body.
Surprisingly, even though Lien Ganqing had consumed enough food to fill the stomachs of a hundred people.. He is still hungry.
Lien Fu Gui was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when Nie Shang and the five Swallow Protector Swordsmen had finished their meal, yet he had inwardly gritted his teeth upon seeing Xiao Shuxiang so slowly chew.
As Lien Fu Gui cried out, the young man was playing tricks on him. Poor of his daughter, he had to refrain from leaving this place as it would be considered impolite.
Lien Ganqing looked at Xiao Shuxiang strangely, what he thought was not the same as his father.
?!
Xiao Shuxiang realized he was being looked at, he then turned his head and smiled kindly towards Lien Ganqing.
".. It's good food, are you forcing it? Miss Pretty,"
The one answering Xiao Shuxiang's question was Lien Fu Gui, he said it was indeed his daughter who cooked part of their dinner. Xiao Shuxiang's next speech made everyone in this room flinch and astonished.
Before Lien Fu Gui, Nie Shang, or anyone else interrupted and protested.. Xiao Shuxiang immediately injured his left palm with a chopstick until it bled.
!!
Xiao Shuxiang's actions startled everyone, and that second also Lien Ganqing darted swiftly onto his desk which made himself reflexively jump backwards.
A BAAM!
The five Swallowing Swordsman Protectors immediately drew out their swords and protected Nie Shang. The bodyguards of Lien Fu Gui also stood in front of himself, his wife, and his son. They were too shocked to the point of not being able to make any sound.
Lien Ganqing intended to take Xiao Shuxiang's blood dripping on the rice cup, but the young man directly attacked him and burned the cup with his blue fire.
"A-what really happened de-with my daughter?" Lien Fu Gui was now able to make a sound, he noticed Xiao Shuxiang who was exchanging attacks with Lien Ganqing.
A BAAM!
Lien Ganqing hit one of the sitting tables as a result of being hit by Xiao Shuxiang's kick. He clenched both hands and attacked the young man again.
"Miss, why don't you show your true form, heh?! You can fool everyone, except me.."
Xiao Shuxiang while fending off Lien Ganqing's attack explained to everyone in this room that Lien Ganqing was not Lien Fu Gui's real daughter.
".. From the beginning I saw her, this Miss was too shy and did not even greet her future husband. To me, a demon monster can be distinguished by its sound and smell.."
A BAAM!
".. But your daughter has a human smell and blood that is too thick, obviously this girl has eaten a lot of humans,"
!!
Several maids were running around when they were almost overwritten by Lien Ganqing. His eyes turned completely black, his long hair suddenly just moved unnaturally.
One of the servants behind him shouted as he saw that there was another mouth on his head. The waiter breathed his last as Lian Ganqing's hair poked sharply into his neck and heart.
Xiao Shuxiang asked Lien Fu Gui and the family to leave this room immediately, he also asked Nie Shang to leave.
The three Guardian Swiftlet warriors helped Xiao Shuxiang attack Lien Ganqing, they also had the help of Lien Fu Gui's bodyguards although it did not have much effect.
Lien Fu Gui's wife asked about the whereabouts of her real daughter to Xiao Shuxiang, and the young man said that his daughter had been dead for a long time.
"Hurry and go out, madam. Let this be our business," one of the Guardians Swallow Swordsmen turned towards Lien Fu Gui's wife and returned to help Xiao Shuxiang.
There was no time to grieve let alone shed tears, all they had to do now was go to safety.
Lien Ganqing was apparently a 4,000-year-old Demonic Beast, but used the Forbidden Technique to transform into a human. His strength was almost close to GrandMaster Sky Stage, it was certain that he would trouble Xiao Shuxiang.
Outside the residence, Nie Shang was being confronted by the four Fire Centipede Sect cultivators who had originally canceled their mission. But somehow they continued the mission.
Only the second-rate Protective Swallow Warrior who was with Nie Shang right now, he would definitely not survive death.
".. No, I can't give up. At least buy some time until Brother Xiao arrives,"
With his business talent, Nie Shang tried to talk and ask the reason these cultivators wanted his death. As far as Nie Shang knew, he had never made enemies anywhere.
".. I never offended you either,"
"It's true, but our mission is to kill you." one of the cultivators threw a scroll towards Nie Shang.
While reading the contents of the scroll, Nie Shang widened his eyes.
"It-it's.. Dad's writing.."
Although he was overwhelmed, Nie Shang was not surprised at all. He had been treated so badly by his family for a long time because they thought he was useless.
Nie Shang was already convinced there would be a day like this. The day he was killed by his own family.
The four cultivators of the Fire Centipede Sect attacked Nie Shang abruptly, they were instantly confronted by the Protective Swallow Warrior who was using his Breathing Technique.
Against four people at once and they were cultivators there was absolutely no chance of him winning. But he kept trying to keep the swords of these four cultivators from hurting Nie Shang.
!!
One of the Flame Centipede cultivators gasped as his sword almost slashed the head of the Protective Swallow swordsman, but was stopped by Hu Li.
"It turns out this is the reason Young Master Xiao told me to stay outside, Master's prediction is really great.."
Hu Li took out his fox fire and darted attacking the four cultivators of the Fire Centipede Sect.
A BAAAM!
One of the Protective Swallow Warriors who fought alongside Xiao Shuxiang hit hard against the wall of the room, himself pressed against his chest while coughing blood.
Lien Ganqing attacked the swordsman again until he managed to cut off the swordsman's left leg just by relying on the claw of his right hand that flowed Qi.
Just as he cut off the legs of the Protective Swallow.. Xiao Shuxiang gave him a powerful kick and fist until Lien Ganqing's right cheekbone was broken.
Xiao Shuxiang took out his Dragon Breath Pill and told the Protective Swallow Swallow Warrior to swallow it immediately.
".. You've been trying hard, so get some rest.. Leave the rest to me.."
"But, Son.."
Xiao Shuxiang stared fixedly at the four Guardian Swiftlet warriors and the bodyguards of Lien Fu Gui. They were all heavily injured, but Xiao Shuxiang did not let anyone among them die.
There was even a bodyguard who was almost exposed to his poisonous needle, thankfully Xiao Shuxiang immediately neutralized the poison.
He again exchanged attacks with Lien Ganqing, his desire to not let any of the Protective Swallowing Warriors and the bodyguards of Lien Fu Gui be killed.. Making Xiao Shuxiang subconsciously protect them.
This made Yinng xiong come out on his own from his Spatial Ring. Surprisingly enough, but he did not bother and immediately used Yinng xiong.
Lien Ganqing was quite difficult to deal with because his movements were too nimble and he attacked the ordinary humans inside this room in order to disturb Xiao Shuxiang's concentration.
Unfortunately, he could only do this for two minutes before his body became Yinng xiong's food.
!!
Simultaneously as Lien Ganqing's body turned into bones, the roof of the room above Xiao Shuxiang collapsed and fell on him as well as the Protective Swallow Warrior and the bodyguards of Lien Fu Gui.
To Xiao Shuxiang, being overwritten by a roof was not a problem, but it was not so for these people. Had they not been protected by Xiao Shuxiang's Fire Poenix, it was likely that only a few of Lien Fu Gui's bodyguards would have survived, and all four of the Guardians' Swallow Warriors would have been seriously injured.
"Hm? Apparently there were still others," Xiao Shuxiang saw Hu Li fighting with the cultivators of the Fire Centipede Sect, he managed to kill one person.
Xiao Shuxiang then jumped up and threw a poisonous needle that had apparently missed the target. He then used Yinng xiong and helped Hu Li.
Feeling threatened, these three cultivators tried to escape. Honey, their efforts were in vain. Both were killed at the hands of Hu Li and Xiao Shuxiang.
That night, Lien Fu Gui's wife wept for her daughter. It turned out that the one who lived with them for the past three years was not his biological child, but a man-eating demon monster.
Lien Fu Gui recalled, three years ago her daughter had fallen ill. And since her daughter recovered, the strange disease that never satiated began.
"It seems like you don't have a fiance anymore, Nie Shang.." Xiao Shuxiang turned his head towards Nie Shang, only that his friend said nothing.
Even when they returned home, Nie Shang had yet to say a word. This was puzzling, Xiao Shuxiang did not know what happened to Nie Shang if the friend did not want to talk.
The 15-day journey home was completely bland. Xiao Shuxiang killed some of the robbers and the Demonic Beasts that were blocking their journey also felt uninspired.
It was only after one of the Guardians Swallow warriors told himself what had happened.. Xiao Shuxiang finally understood the cause of Nie Shang's silence.
After getting his payment and removing the seal on his forehead, Xiao Shuxiang came back to Nie Shang and tried to get his friend to talk.
".. The world won't end if your family throws you away, Nie Shang. You still have friends beside you that you can consider your family, one of which is Xiao Shuxiang. Stop being sad, you're a man. Nie Shang's.."
Xiao Shuxiang exhaled softly, his hearing catching the sounds of some Protective Swallow swordsman discussing about the appearance of the ancient tomb.
He had the idea to invite Nie Shang to adventure so that his friend could be separated from the sadness of being dumped by his own family.
***
