XIAO SHUXIANG'S

28 - Swallow Swordsman Protector [Revised]

Xiao Shuxiang saw that the backs of the three children he had swept were no longer visible, even though he still wanted to get acquainted with them.

Xiao Shuxiang was actually curious about one of the children, he had vaguely heard the three children were talking about Yang Shu and also his friends.

When Xiao Shuxiang was still standing while staring at the path that the three children had walked down, Yang Shu then called out to him.

"Xiao'Er."

Xiao Shuxiang turned his head, he then walked to the place where Yang Shu and his friends were. Xiao Shuxiang sat back on his stool.

Xiao Lu and Jing Mi started asking about the children that Xiao Shuxiang had met earlier. Xiao Shuxiang said that he only wanted to get acquainted with them.

Yang Shu smiled, she praised her grandson for more actively greeting strangers to get acquainted. "You should emulate Xiao'Er, don't be shy to get acquainted with anyone,"

"Yes Cake..." Xiao Lu lazily replied to Yang Shu's remark, he glanced towards Xiao Shuxiang while pursing his lips, "Curtain! Just get attention."

Qi Xuan nodded and smiled towards Yang Shu, he felt that he was indeed a little stiff if to start a conversation with a stranger, especially if to befriend him. "I guess... I have to try."

In contrast to Xiao Lu and Qi Xuan, Yang Shu's remark made Jing Mi nod vigorously, she steadied her heart to look for more friends.

"Brother Xiao, you and I will compete in making friends! I will definitely defeat you!" Jing Mi clenched her right hand as she looked at Xiao Shuxiang excitedly.

"Aah~ Brother Jing, you will definitely get more friends than me. But I'll try too. I mean trying to find a lot of people to sacrifice in my next 'Resurrection' style!" Xiao Shuxiang smiled faintly in return to Jing Mi.

Yang Shu, "Alright. That's a good thing. Let's finish your food. We'll leave after we finish eating."

The journey of Yang Shu and his students resumed. This time the five of them walked along with the merchant entourage.

There were five chariots, drawn by two horses each and a coachman. Each train is filled with various items such as clothes, accessories, toys, to fruits.

There were about ten merchants who became the owners of each of the merchandise in the car. These merchants also hired seven warriors to guard and protect them along with their merchandise.

These seven warriors belong to the group of Protective Swallow. The group was formed by a government organization called Peaches Wallet.

Peaches Wallet itself is an organization that takes care of various escort missions, ranging from escorting merchants to escorting noble families.

The warriors who wanted to become bodyguards, had to register and follow the selection held by the Swallow Peach Organization. Those who pass the selection will be given an identity in the form of a small swallow bird-shaped seal on his forehead.

This seal can blow up the swordsman's body automatically if the swordsman plans to rob or kill the person they are protecting.

This seal would also blow up their bodies if the warriors escaped or left the person they were protecting in the midst of danger.

Swordsman who passed the selection was also given a special uniform of blackish brown and given a cloth as wide as a handkerchief with a peach flower pattern. Usually this fabric is tucked in the right waist or tied in the left arm of the swordsman.

This fabric has different colors, depending on the class of the swordsman. White symbolizes the 3rd class swordsman, the new swordsman joined the organization. Purple symbolizes the 2nd class swordsman and red symbolizes the 1st class swordsman.

Of the seven warriors who escorted the merchants, two of them were 2nd class warriors, while the other five were third class warriors.

Although Yang Shu was not paid to protect any merchants, Yang Shu and his students were allowed to join the merchant entourage.

"Grandfather, they're going very fast.." Xiao Lu felt his legs ache because they had walked all day without resting.

Other than Xiao Lu, in fact Jing Mi and Qi Xuan also looked exhausted. They continued to follow the merchants' carriage from behind while walking quickly so as not to be left behind by the merchant entourage.

"Teacher, let's take a break for a while.." Jing Mi with tired steps, walked over and then sat leaning against one of the trees nearby.

Yang Shu sighed, he then nodded and said that they would rest for a while before continuing on the journey.

Xiao Shuxiang scratched his nape, he felt that his fellow classmates were tired too quickly. "Their stamina sucks, we may be left far behind by the group later..."

And sure enough, the merchant entourage and their bodyguards did not wait for Xiao Shuxiang, Yang Shu, nor his fellow classmates. They just keep going on the journey.

Long enough for Yang Shu and his four disciples to rest, even the carriage of the merchants was already out of sight. Both Yang Shu and his four disciples understood that they had been abandoned.

Yang Shu and his four disciples went back on their way, Xiao Lu and Jing Mi repeatedly complaining that none of the merchants or Swallow Protectors were waiting for them.

Xiao Lu, "A swiftlet-swordsman that's so annoying! They dared to leave the children and parents in the middle of the forest like this. Hmh!"

Jing Mi, "Right. For what good is it to be a great warrior if there is no sympathy for one's fellow men. I don't want to be such a warrior."

Yang Shu said, "You guys... Those warriors only protect the people who pay them."

Xiao Shuxiang continued Yang Shu's remark. "That means they won't care about us or help us when we're in danger. Isn't that right, Cake?"

"Well, that's their job."

"Mh... That way. There are humans who can not cultivate or form their dantian, but the human has a dream of becoming a Swordsman. Unfortunately to enter into a sect, they would at least have to be at the Forging Qi level two. It was rare for a sect to accept a person who could not cultivate at all. That's why the Swallow Peach Organization was established for those who have no cultivation talent..."

Xiao Shuxiang, "In short the people within the Guardian Peach Organization are mostly from among humans who can fight, but have no cultivation talent."

Yang Shu again said, "Mn, right. In a Swallow Peach Organization, they only look at one's efforts and hard work. They treat their members equally without discriminating anyone."

Xiao Shuxiang, "The point is... Wait. Why do I have to interpret every time this old man talks? Never mind. You guys think for yourself."

Xiao Lu nailed Xiao Shuxiang's head.

Jing Mi herself looked so curious, "What... cultivator can also enter the Organization, Master?"

Yang Shu's. "Of course, yet rarely would a cultivator want to go in there. Because they were only paid with pieces of silver or gold, whereas cultivators needed more Spirit Stones or Demonic Cores as their payment."

Yang Shu gave an explanation while continuing to walk with his students.

Keep in mind that in this World, 1 piece of gold is equal to 100 pieces of silver. As for one Spirit Stone, it was equal to 10 gold pieces. Another case with the Demonic Core, the price of the union can be up to tens to hundreds of Spirit Stones depending on the purity of Qi inside.

The Swallow Peaches Organization only paid for silver or gold pieces, they did not provide other payments such as Spirit Stones or Demonic Cores.

In conducting escorts, the Protective Swallow Warriors often fought with Demonic Beasts and obtained their Demonic Core.

One of the rules in the Swallow Peach Organization is, if in escorting the protective swordsmen get the Demonic Core from the results of the fight, then the Demonic Core is owned by the Swordsman.

They are not required to deposit what they get to the Organization. Instead they can sell it and the Organization can buy it according to the agreed price.

Similarly, if the Wallet Protector escort is killed, the Organization has no obligation to compensate the swordsman or his family.

The Peach Swallow organization only compensates if the Protective Swallow swordsman can return home from an escort mission in a state of severe injury or death.

Although the Swallow Peach Organization did not pay like spirit stones or demonic cores, it did not mean that the two crystal stones were not needed.

The Demonic Core, which was purchased by the Organization from its members, was collected and then sent to be sold to various sects. They receive payment using gold pieces, spirit stones, or barter.

Spirit Stones were used by the Organization to purchase pills or medicinal plants that would be used to treat its injured members.

Cultivators who are members of the Swallow Peaches Organization usually only seek experience or just spend time. Because in this Organization, the warriors have no obligation to continue in the Organization.

They are free to decide to stop or continue working as Protective Swallow Swordsman.

From Yang Shu's explanation, Xiao Lu, Qi Xuan, Xiao Shuxiang and Jing Mi understood four things.

Firstly, the Swallowed Peaches Organization was not a sect. Its members were humans who were skilled in swordsmanship but could not cultivate.

Second, the rules of this Swallow Peach Organization are clear. Whatever the Protective Swallow Swordsman gets during his escort mission, be it danger or luck is their own.

The organization does not have any rights in the property the swordsman obtained, as well as if the swordsman was killed in his mission. The organization has no right to provide any compensation.

Third, Cultivators from various sects could join the Swallowed Peach Organization, they could also decide to leave or remain to join the Organization.

Fourth, the security of the Protective Swallow is assured from the rebellion of the swordsman. Because in his escort mission, the Warriors of the Protective Swallow were given a seal on his forehead.

Xiao Shuxiang himself had only first heard of this Swallow Peach Organization. As far as he was concerned, there had never been an Organization like this before in the Eastern Continent.

While he was thinking, Xiao Shuxiang accidentally hit Qi Xuan's back. This made Xiao Shuxiang gasp in shock as Qi Xuan suddenly stopped walking in front of him. It was not only Qi Xuan who stopped, but also Yang Shu, Xiao Lu and Jing Mi.

Xiao Shuxiang who still did not understand, rubbed his face and nose for crashing into Qi Xuan earlier.

"Brother Xuan, why did you stop-!!" Xiao Shuxiang wanted to ask about the cause of Qi Xuan stopping walking abruptly, but Xiao Shuxiang's words seemed to be choked when he saw something terrible in front of him.

Three merchant chariots were on fire, three horses lying stiff on the ground. Two of the coachmen also lay with incisions on his body and neck.

Not only that, of the ten merchants, four of them lay with their body parts separated. While the other six merchants were sitting on the ground with pale faces as well as trembling bodies while holding back the sound of his cries.

The seven previous protective warriors, now only three people alive, were seen in a kneeling position. Their bodies were filled with incision wounds, their other four comrades had already stretched out rigidly formless.

Not yet had Xiao Shuxiang digested the situation, he was again startled by one of the Protective Swallow Swordsmen who was suddenly attacked by a large sword, leaving the swordsman dead with a split body.

The great sword itself was stuck deep enough on the tree trunk. The sword that looked shiny, even the blood that was on the sword could not stay any longer, the blood was slowly falling and dyeing the grass.

***