An Quti was executed, and the Tianchi barrier collapsed, symbolizing the end of the recent chaos in the Western Regions. The Great Protectorate sent light cavalry to various places in the Western Regions to publish announcements stating that the Zoroastrian elder Mu Xide was assassinated by the demon An Quti and his henchmen.
In the name of Zoroastrianism, demons and rebels gathered people to cause chaos, and even colluded with traitors, demons, etc., causing widespread harm. The people of the Hu and Han Dynasties in the Western Regions suffered greatly from it. However, with the full force of the Dadu Protectorate, the demons and rebels have been wiped out.
Owl head.
Although Anquti died, his headless body was still brought back to Quzhi City, a wooden prosthetic head was installed, and then beheaded in public to give an explanation to the local Zoroastrian believers.
Although the process was slightly tortuous, the Anxi Four Town Protectorate responded to the sudden rebellion quickly. When the patrol sent by the imperial court arrived at Quzhi City, everything had settled and the roads in the Western Region were open again.
Local people can also live and work in peace and contentment.
Quzhi City is as prosperous as ever. During the day, the streets are bustling with people. Business travelers from all walks of life seem to have forgotten the previous turmoil in a blink of an eye, and various businesses have returned to their former glory.
At this moment, Cheng Sanwu held the handle of the knife in his hand and walked into the Hejia warehouse with his head held high.
Now that Baochang Society has recovered and regained various properties, his top thug is walking on the road and inspecting merchants, and he can't help but feel a little high-spirited and domineering.
When ordinary merchants saw him, they were in awe and quickly crossed their hands to say hello. Some shops took the initiative to offer wine and food, fearing that they would neglect this vicious number one thug. They prayed to the gods and Buddhas in their hearts, hoping that Cheng Sanwu would not come to extort money.
Fortunately, Cheng Sanwu didn't stay on the road for too long. This time he came to look for the guy who had taken the initiative to betray Baochang Society. The surrounding merchants did not dare to interfere and stayed away.
"Hey, isn't this He Liulang?"
As soon as Cheng Sanwu entered the door, he happened to see the warehouse owner packing his belongings. He went up and sat down on the wooden box.
He Liulang was so frightened that he took two steps back and quickly stretched out his hand to greet his servants. However, those servants who had never experienced fighting dared to step forward rashly. You pushed me and made a mess.
"Look at how cowardly you are." Cheng Sanwu smiled and said, "I didn't say what I was going to do, so why are you so afraid?"
"Did Manager Su ask you to come?" He Liulang's legs became weak and he leaned against the wall and asked.
"Lao Su is discussing important matters with the gentlemen from the court. He can't get away, so he asked me to chat with you." Cheng Sanwu kicked away the sack that was in the way, and his tone became colder: "Wu Maocai was that bad guy back then.
The kid came directly to the house to cause trouble while I was away, which is a violation of the rules. But if he can really bring down our Baochang Society, then I won't say anything. In this land of the Western Region, if you are incompetent, you deserve to be beaten."
Cold sweat broke out on He Liulang's forehead, and Cheng Sanwu raised his hand and pointed at him: "But you shouldn't have betrayed us. Back then, you lost all your capital and were desperate. It was our Baochang Society who took your family in. I also gave you some advice on how your nephew
He is a skilled swordsman, but he actually colluded with the Maocai Society and even attacked Lao Su at the most critical moment. If Lao Su hadn't been so skilled, he would have died long ago!"
Cheng Sanwu doesn't do much in Baochang Club on weekdays, but his martial arts skills are well known to everyone. Other thugs and guards in the club have been more or less instructed by Cheng Sanwu. However, Baochang Club is not a martial arts sect, let alone a martial arts sect.
There is no martial arts inheritance, and the refugees and wanderers who are taken in are just based on their own abilities.
Therefore, the thugs of Baochang Society have no relationship between masters and disciples towards Su Wangting and Cheng Sanwu, and the word loyalty is even more empty talk. It is just that Baochang Society has continued to make money over the years and can afford to support this group of thugs as guards.
"My nephew has been killed by you, isn't that enough?" He Liulang's teeth trembled.
"Don't pretend to be an innocent victim in front of me." Cheng Sanwu shook his head: "I just heard that Xu Yan from Maocai Society returned to Quzhi City and hid with you."
"I don't understand what you are talking about." He Liulang's face turned pale: "If Baochang Society wants me to repay the debt, then I will do so."
"The one with the scar on his face can be recognized at a glance." Cheng Sanwu raised his hand to gesture, and when the other party shut up, he immediately showed displeasure: "I didn't see it, you are quite stubborn. Originally, I was still
I thought, if you are willing to hand him over obediently, then listen to Lao Su and let you live. But now you insist on fighting to the end, so don’t blame me for being rude."
After saying this, Cheng Sanwu pulled out his sword. Although the sword promised by Protector Qi had not yet been made, no one would doubt that Cheng Sanwu's sword could not cut anyone.
Seeing the blade slowly raised, a shout came from the back room: "Stop!"
Cheng Sanwu raised his eyes and saw Xu Yan with a scar on his face appeared from the back room: "You are looking for me, there is no need to involve other people."
"It's good if you know." Cheng Sanwu said with a cold face.
Xu Yan protected He Liulang behind him: "Let the He family leave."
"What? What's your relationship with them?" Cheng Sanwu asked.
"I am his son-in-law." Xu Yan stared at Cheng Sanwu. At this moment, he was frightened just standing and talking to him.
Cheng Sanwu raised his eyebrows and sneered: "So you still have this kind of relationship. He Liulang, didn't you see it? You were betting on both ends early, hoping that one day Baochang Society would be overthrown, so that you could
Take advantage of this opportunity to make a fortune?"
He Liulang hid from Cheng Sanwu's sharp gaze, and Xu Yan gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "I know that you, Cheng Sanwu, keep your word, and I also know that you are seeking revenge from me. As long as you let the He family go, I can go with you."
Cheng Sanwu put away his smile: "I'll give you a chance at the Bone Burial Ground in the south of the city. You and I will duel alone, and we will have no grudges about life or death!"
"Okay!" Xu Yan agreed immediately. A woman in the back room exclaimed and tried to rush out. He Liulang quickly stopped the woman. Xu Yan bowed deeply to He Liulang, and then left the warehouse with a sad face.
Cheng Sanwu glanced at it, said nothing nonsense, and immediately rode out of the city with Xu Yan.
There is a wasteland with sparse vegetation in the southern suburbs of Quzhi City. After the poor people in the city die and have no money to arrange funerals, they will be taken to this wasteland and buried hastily. Since the corpses are usually not buried too deep, wild animals are attracted to dig up the sand and gnaw at them.
It ate carrion, and over time it was called the boneyard by the people in the city.
Sometimes Baochang Society wanted to kill its opponents for business purposes, and the corpses were thrown into the boneyard in the south of the city. Later, it simply evolved into a place for duels and fights. After death, the corpses were dumped here, which saved a lot of trouble.
When Cheng Sanwu arrived at the boneyard, there happened to be a few wild dogs digging in the soil in the distance. When they saw Cheng Sanwu, they were frightened and fled, but they looked back from time to time, their cloudy eyes seemed to be filled with anticipation.
Turning over and dismounting, Cheng Sanwu took two bottles of wine from the horse's back. He opened the mud seal, and Xu Yan came slowly on a bad horse.
"You are a man for not escaping halfway." Cheng Sanwu threw another bottle of wine to Xu Yan, who took it and looked puzzled. Cheng Sanwu said: "This is the rule I set for myself. Before the duel,
Invite people to drink, and if you start fighting like this, you won't be afraid of pain even if you get stabbed."
After Cheng Sanwu finished speaking, he raised his head and drank heavily. The strong wine entered his throat and his blood boiled. He didn't know whether it was because the wine was strong or because his heart was strong.
Xu Yan also opened the seal and drank heavily. After a few mouthfuls of strong wine, he became drunk. He dispelled the fear in his heart and asked bravely: "Are you going to avenge the little brother in black?"
"His name is Peng Ning." Cheng Sanwu said: "You didn't even know who he was and you killed him?"
"I didn't think much about it at the time. I was determined to get the Mani Pearl." Xu Yan looked at the black-glazed wine pot and said with a wry smile: "As a result, I returned to Quzhi City yesterday and saw the notice and found out that the thing was not a zodiac at all.
It’s really ridiculous to teach about holy things.”
"Peng Ning was the same. He thought those were Buddha bone relics until his death." Cheng Sanwu sighed.
"Is he a relative or friend of yours?" Xu Yan asked.
"No, I just met him, only a few days ago." Seeing Xu Yan's confusion, Cheng Sanwu looked up at the blue sky: "I am a person who must do what I promised. If I can't do it, I won't feel comfortable.
Now the things have been snatched back, but Peng Ning has left his life in the desert forever."
"So you want to kill me." Xu Yan finally understood. In fact, in the Western Region, this kind of grudges and grudges occur every day, and it is really common.
"What about you?" This time it was Cheng Sanwu's turn to ask: "It was not easy for you to escape from the fighting at Huluo Inn, so why did you go back to Quzhi City?"
"How could you not come back? My wife and children are all in the city." Xu Yan took a sip of wine.
"Then you should know that once you show up in Quzhi City, you will definitely be noticed by our Baochang Society." Cheng Sanwu said with a smile: "With your face, you can't hide it from others, so why would you throw yourself into a trap?"
"I heard that the imperial inspectors came to Quzhi City?" Xu Yan saw the other party nodding and continued: "Whenever there is a flood or drought or a riot by bandits, the inspectors will go to the local areas to inspect the officials and people and accept complaints of grievances. I
I just hope to inform the inspector about Mr. Wu, so as to take revenge on your Baochang Society."
Cheng Sanwu was startled, then smiled and said: "You know a lot, but you still do this."
"Otherwise? What else do you think I can do?" Xu Yan raised his head and drank.
"I just didn't expect you to be so loyal to Wu Maocai." Cheng Sanwu said: "He is the son of the British Duke. There are many people serving him, and you are the only one left."
Xu Yan was silent for a while, then pointed to the scars on his face: "The new scar was left by you, do you know who did the old one?"
Cheng Sanwu shook his head, and Xu Yan laughed at himself: "It's you too."
"You..." Cheng Sanwu tried his best to recall, and Xu Yan said: "Six years ago, I helped escort a group of slaves, but you rushed out to intercept them single-handedly, insisting on kidnapping the group of slaves. We were not convinced, and then we fought with you.
As a result, you chopped them all off with one knife. The scar I have is from that time."
Cheng Sanwu smiled and said: "It seems that you are not very capable. You didn't leave much impression on me. I didn't even think of you when I saw you in Hongsha Town."
"That's right." Xu Yan did not deny this: "In this place in the Western Region, it is impossible to survive without some ability. Those slaves were kidnapped by you, and our business was completely destroyed. If the young master hadn't taken action at that time,
Rescue me, I’m afraid I’ll be no different than these bones on the ground.”
Xu Yan looked at the broken skeleton buried shallowly on the ground, and his tone sounded a bit relieved.
"It seems that boy Wu Maocai didn't treat you badly." Cheng Sanwu said.
"Master Wu has been kind to me, and I will give up my life to repay him. If the inspector doesn't accept the request, then I will seek revenge from you." Xu Yan spoke firmly, raised his head and drank all the strong wine in the pot.
"Then you should understand that after saying these words, I will never let you go." Cheng Sanwu said.
"You don't have to hold back." Xu Yan smashed the wine bottle and pulled out the knife.
This time Cheng Sanwu was calm and gentle. He put the wine bottle away and also drew his sword and pointed it at Xu Yan: "One sword, I will only use one sword."
"Come on!" Xu Yan felt like he was back to that day six years ago, when Cheng Sanwu stood on the top of the sand dune with the setting sun on his back, casting a large shadow, which was scary.
At this moment, Xu Yan had no other thoughts and could only stare at the horizontal knife in Cheng Sanwu's hand, concentrating completely.
Cheng Sanwu gently exhaled the alcohol in his chest. Although the Hengdao had been sharpened after many fierce battles, it was still a little chipped and could not be used for a long time.
Lifting his steps, he stepped forward, and the sword was slashed out like a mountain. Xu Yan took a step sideways, raised the sword diagonally, trying to slip through the attack, and then slashed straight down the waist and abdomen of Cheng Sanwu to open the door.
But the moment the two knives struck each other, Xu Yan's tiger's mouth could not bear the heavy pressure, and he was knocked to the ground with the knife. A wound appeared in his throat, and blood flowed out from it crazily.
Xu Yan struggled for a moment and tried to get up, but his strength was lost along with the blood, his vision quickly became dark, and the cold began to spread to his limbs.
Xu Yan died, being beheaded by Cheng Sanwu with one sword.
Cheng Sanwu stood there in silence for a long time, until the blood flowing on the ground touched the tips of his boots.
The big bay-red horse came to the side at some point and signaled with a scent, waking up Cheng Sanwu from his silence.
"I'm fine." Cheng Sanwu put the knife into its sheath with an expressionless expression, then picked up the wine flask on the ground and poured the remaining half of the flask of strong liquor on the ground.
Cheng Sanwu did not ride a horse, but walked slowly with his head lowered. Before he could get far, those wild dogs that were accustomed to eating carrion immediately ran towards Xu Yan's corpse. They were about to feast on it, and a few stones were thrown away without any trace.
The omen flew in and directly penetrated their bodies, adding a few more corpses to the boneyard.
Cheng Sanwu didn't even look back, he stepped on the stones and rubbed his feet. After death, the body is destined to rot in the ground. What's the use of killing these wild dogs by yourself?
Just when Cheng Sanwu was lost in inexplicable doubts, he suddenly felt something. He looked up and saw a woman running over in a hurry. When she saw Xu Yan lying in a pool of blood, she immediately rushed towards him and howled loudly.
"It was you who killed my husband!" the woman cried for a while, and she happened to see Cheng Sanwu standing still, taking out a dagger and rushing toward him like crazy.
This woman had no martial arts skills, and Cheng Sanwu didn't say anything. He just turned sideways and avoided it lightly, and the woman staggered and fell into the dust.
"I promised Xu Yan to let the He family go and don't waste your life." Cheng Sanwu said.
"You killed my husband and you still want to humiliate us?" The woman's face was filled with tears and dirt, and she was in a state of utter confusion.
"I want to humiliate your family, there are many ways." Cheng Sanwu looked into the distance: "If I don't kill him, he will kill me. If you want to take revenge, I will not be soft next time, so I can think carefully."
"
After saying this, Cheng Sanwu got on his horse and galloped towards Quzhi City, leaving a wisp of smoke in the afterglow of the setting sun.