Sword Among Us c1-1268

by Black Swordsman Online

  There were two people who stood out quite a lot at the table.

  One of them was a young man dressed in a set of normal gray clothes reserved for servants, which was also the attire of all new players. He had his hand placed on his longsword. The other was dressed in green warrior clothes. His attire made him resemble a player in World of Martial Arts. Both of them sat on one side of the table, and they looked as if they were equals.

  "Hey, Young Whirlwind, what's wrong with you today? Why aren't you saying anything?"

  The young man in the green warrior clothes kept his eyes fixed on the person across from him. When he saw him look around constantly, he was a little curious. "You're officially listed as a member of your clan today, you should be happy."

  "I AM quite happy."

  Young Whirlwind was Whirlwind Young Li, the person who had spoken to Happy in the morning when they went out of the city. When he heard his companion's words, he was stunned for a moment before quickly reacting to them.

  "But you know as well as I do that I've been practicing qi cultivation techniques and lightness skills all this while. My fighting skills are mediocre. I heard that the rascal who will visit this tavern is very strong, so I'm worried…"

  "What are you afraid of? We have plenty of people here."

  "That's right. Brother Green's sword technique has already reached the ninth realm. When he brandishes his sword, the sound you hear is what you'd call clear and loud. Tsk…" the four young men by the side said.

  "What would you know?" No matter what, Whirlwind Young Li was a disciple who had joined the Murong Clan. His starting statuses and Comprehension were slightly higher than those of the normal players.

  "This method is spread out by the Murong Clan. It's nothing if I follow my eldest senior brother's footsteps and practice my skills by searching for local rascals, but now, there are so many people waiting around. If I, Young Li, bring a stain to Eldest Senior Brother Happy's great name, it'll be too embarrassing for me."

  "Heh, so you're worried about this?"

  The man in green smiled.

  Right when he was about to say something more, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he let out a gasp before he reminded Young Li.

  "Young Whirlwind, someone's calling you."

  Whirlwind Young Li felt a tightening sensation on his shoulder at that moment, and a cuckoo's voice reached his ears. When he heard it , he turned his head to the side and furrowed his eyebrows.

  "Who would send me a message at this time?"

  Grumbling, he took hold of the messenger pigeon and brought it down.

  The rascal was about to arrive, yet someone actually sent him a message through a pigeon at this time?

  Perhaps things would not have changed if he did not read it, but right after Whirlwind Young Li opened the letter, he stood up with a loud whoosh. He read the letter again and took note of the items and figures listed on the paper. Without any hesitation, he extended his hand to the five people before him.

  "Money! Who has money! Lend it to me! I have to help someone; it's an emergency!"

  The five people looked at each other, stunned.

  Chapter 27 - Reinforcements

  Six young men, with one of them ahead of the others, dashed madly and impatiently through the streets of Gusu City as if they were firefighters.

  "Damn it!"

  "Young Li, can't you just stop for a moment and explain things?"

  "If you run that fast, I'm going to believe that you want to run off with the money!"

  "Don't be a bad guy now. How much money do you need, and just what matter is it?"

  Four people chased after Young Li until their mouths were parched, but they did not forget to shout after him and tease him.

  Only the man in green robes followed after Whirlwind Young Li while deep in thought.

  When they came into a weapon shop, the six finally had a brief chance to catch their breath.

  Whirlwind Young Li slapped the counter with a red face and racing heart. "Shopkeeper, I want five sets of lancet knives. Hand over the money, quick!" he cried out in an incredibly bold and heroic manner.

  "Thank you for your patronage. Fifty taels of silver crumbs." The shopkeeper cast a glance at Whirlwind Young Li and extended his hand for the money.

  "What the heck? I thought you'd want a lot of money, but at the end of day, it's just fifty taels of silver crumbs? You even asked for money from the five of us…"

  The five people who had chased after their companion nearly had a stroke from how angry they were after they heard the price in the shop. One of them even stretched out his fingers with an exaggerated expression.

  In truth, Young Li did not know how much lancet knives cost. He only asked for money from the five of them and brought over those walking ATM machines back to Gusu City. Even though it was rather time-consuming for new players to gather fifty taels of silver crumbs, to the five of them, it was still nothing.

  The only thing that puzzled them was Whirlwind Young Li's reaction!

  Eastern Green Gate did not say a single word since the chase started. He had a resigned and anguished smile on his face as he walked to the counter while he shook his head.

  "Whirlwind Young Li… you've really trolled us today! Just what exactly is going on that made you run so fast that your feet practically didn't hit the ground? You didn't even stop! We've been waiting at the tavern for half a day, and the rascal clearly stood us up, but look at you! You just ran off!"

  "Sorry, bros. I really have something urgent right now, and it's really important. I have to cross Suzhou Creek right now and deliver the goods. Once I come back, I'll do something as compensation."

  When they heard Whirlwind Young Li speak submissively, the group's curiosity became even greater.

  "We don't need your apology, it's nothing big anyway. But tell us clearly, just what's going on? What exactly are you delivering? And who would dare to order you around like a porter?"

  "That's right."

  "Just who is it?"

  At that moment, Eastern Green Gate seemed to have figured out something from Whirlwind Young Li's words. "Cross Suzhou Creek? Is the person who sent you the letter in Black Wind Mountain?" he asked with anxiousness and doubt in his voice.

  Among the six, Eastern Green Gate had coincidentally crossed the river once, and he knew that Black Wind Mountain was there. When he heard Whirlwind Young Li's words, something seemed to have been triggered in his mind, and his expression changed!

  "Brother Green, you know that place too?"

  Eastern Green Gate did not say anything. A solemn expression appeared on his face, and he nodded.

  "That's right. I went there once. I only realized after I crossed the river that Black Wind Mountain sealed off one of the roads from Gusu City leading to other places. Looks like your friend is quite good."

  When he said this, he cast a deep glance at the five sets of lancet knives the shopkeeper had brought out. "So much so that he actually ran off to Black Wind Mountain to do level-grinding."

  "Based on your words, Brother Green, could it be that Black Wind Mountain is actually a place that offers higher-level quests? I don't even dare to go to Cold Mountain Temple yet…" one of the young men said.

  "What's going on in Black Wind Mountain?"

  All people were extremely curious about places that offered high-level quests. Even the other players in the shop moved over to listen, because they placed a great deal of attention on this matter. They kept their ears open.

  An awkward look appeared for a brief moment on Eastern Green Gate's face.

  "I'm not too certain of the details about Black Wind Mountain myself, but I know that there is a hideout for bandits there. Even the lowest ranked mountain bandits are stronger than the local rascals, and all of them don't bat an eye when it comes to killing. Usually, at least two or three of them will attack at once…"

  "Then isn't that very dangerous?"

  The group of people s.u.c.k.e.d in a sharp breath as
they looked at each other at a loss. Yet the friend who had spoken to Whirlwind Young Li became even more interested. "Young Li, bro, just who is that powerful friend of yours?"

  At this moment, Eastern Green Gate spoke as well.

  "Even though there are quite a number of people who are better than me in Gusu City, there are very few who can get a foothold in Black Wind Mountain. Young Whirlwind, that powerful friend of yours should be that person from Murong Clan, right?"

  When he voiced his question, his tone was hesitant and solemn. There was even a few hints of anticipation and a longing for his words to be verified.

  "Him?"

  "Blue-robed Noble Sword User!"

  The other four had their jaws fall limp. They stared at Whirlwind Young Li in disbelief as the latter put on a very obvious smug look. Their expression was one of extreme enthusiasm and excitement, and they looked as if they had seen a second Blue-robed Noble Sword User.

  "I thought you said you weren't close to him the last time we asked you? Why did he take the initiative to send you a letter this time?"

  "Hurry up and tell us!"

  Once they received Whirlwind Young Li's disguised silent confirmation, the group could not remain calm anymore.

  But Whirlwind Young Li did not have his judgment impaired by the pride. He picked up the five sets of lancet knives on the counter and s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath. "I'll tell you all about it once I come back. I really need to hurry up and deliver the items to him. He needs them urgently."

  Right after he said it, Eastern Green Gate's expression changed, and he blurted out these words, "Could it be that he triggered that quest as well?"

  "Quest?"

  The group could not help but shift their gazes to him. Their eyes were filled with the strong d.e.s.i.r.e for information.

  "What quest?!"

  "We can't delay matters anymore! Let's go! I'll go with you, and I'll tell you on the way."

  Eastern Green Gate took half of Young Li's lancet knives, pulled him on the wrist, and went off.

  "Hey, wait for me."

  "Me too!"

  There was no way the other four lackeys would miss such a "good thing". Once the four of them figured out that they could talk to the Blue-robed Noble Sword User, there was no way they would give up such a chance. They quickly chased after Whirlwind Young Li and Eastern Green Gate and went out of the city.

  They continued asking questions along the way.

  Then, they came to know that all players who had ninth realm martial arts and chivalry points could trigger the storyline of Black Wind Mountain across Suzhou Creek.

  A few days ago, Eastern Green Gate had experienced this.

  At that time, he received this quest as well, but when he ran into the group of powerful bandits from Black Wind Mountain, he could not win against them and died.

  "Ah."

  "Why haven't I heard you talk about this before?"

  "This isn't something good to brag about, right?" Eastern Green Gate was instantly rendered speechless.

  After some time, he said to Whirlwind Young Li, "By the looks of it, your eldest senior brother should have a way to deal with the people from Black Wind Mountain, or else he wouldn't be in such a hurry. As expected of Blue-robed Noble Sword User, the best swordsman in Gusu City. I can't compare to him."

  But even though he said this, he would still very much like to witness the abilities of the eldest senior brother of the Murong Clan with his own eyes.

  In the distance, the six of them could see a vague blue figure standing on the riverbank across them with his back straight as the wind blew against his face. He stood tall, and his robes fluttered in the wind. His hero's headband fluttered behind him while he held his longsword casually in his hand. It looked like a scene straight out of a movie.

  "Blue-robed Noble Sword User!"

  The breathing of the six people hitched almost at the same time, including Whirlwind Young Li. This was the bearing of Murong Clan's eldest senior brother—the miniature version of a true wandering martial artist.

  Chapter 28 - Preparations Complete

  There was less than an hour until Black Wind Mountain's ambush. Whirlwind Young Li's due arrival allowed Happy to let out a breath of relief. He stood at the river bank and wrapped his fist in his palm as a salute.

  During his three years in World of Martial Arts, Happy had developed a habit. He would unintentionally follow the practices of a true wandering martial artist, causing Eastern Green Gate and the others to feel excited. They quickly returned the salute respectfully, and at the same time, they felt a little flattered.

  "Greetings, eldest senior brother!"

  "Eldest senior brother!"

  "Big Brother Happy!"

  Their addresses were different, but Happy did not mind. He wrapped his fist in his palm and greeted them with a smile on his face.

  Whirlwind Young Li had been worried that his eldest senior brother would dislike having so many people around him, but when he saw this, he instantly felt relieved. Then, he introduced the people to Happy while feeling extremely proud of himself.

  "Eldest senior brother, these are the friends I made in the game. All of them want to bear witness to your elegance. This is Eastern Green Gate, it's not Eastern Green Fate, but Gate, G-A-T-E—"

  "Ahem." Eastern Green Gate's face turned red for a moment, which was something rarely seen. He wrapped his fist in his palm again as a greeting. "I've heard of the elegance of Murong Clan's eldest senior brother, Blue-robed Noble Sword User for a long time. Now that we've met, you do live up to your name!"

  "You praise me too much."

  Happy nodded and smiled.

  "Azure Wolf, Qian Kunzi. These two are my coursemates. We're still studying in university right now." Whirlwind Young Li pointed at a young man who had some acne on his face, along with the man who stood beside him and was taller than him by a head.

  "Eldest senior brother."

  "Hello."

  The other two looked rather similar and were twins. The older of the two was called Xuan Kun, and the younger was known as Xuan Zhong. Their names and appearances made them look wild, like weeds in a field. Their voices were also abnormally loud.

  "Hello, eldest senior brother!" the both of them yelled at the same time.

  Happy waved at them with a smile.

  "Let's disembark. Come on."

  Azure Wolf had intentionally stayed a little behind the group when he got on the boat. He quietly knocked against Whirlwind Young Li's elbow and whispered, "Young Li, bro, your eldest senior brother is so pleasant. I thought that the Blue-robed Noble Sword User would also look down on everyone, just like Murong Fu, but he's actually very approachable."

  "That's only natural!"

  Whirlwind Young Li raised his chin smugly before he remembered his eldest senior brother's rather easy task. He quickly got off the boat and walked over while he gathered all the lancet knives together.

  "Eldest senior brother, the throwing knives you wanted."

  Happy took them without being modest, but he did not bring out any money. He put away the five sets of heavy lancet knives into his Universe Bag, and the six people were stunned when they saw this.

  They put all their items into their bags, and since their bags could not change shape, it felt very heavy when they carried them over their backs. They would not have such an easy time like Happy.

  The five sets of lancet knives had actually disappeared in the blink of an eye.

  "Eldest senior brother, what's this treasure?" Whirlwind Young Li did not disappoint the others and seized the opportunity before the others to be a curious cat. He pointed at the tiny, inconspicuous bag hanging by Happy's waist with an abnormal amount of surprise.

  "A Universe Bag."

  Happy provided them an explanation with a smile, and the six were so envious that they were practically drooling with d.e.s.i.r.e.

  Whirlwind Young Li's eyes lit up.

  "By the way, are you also doing the story
line missions from Black Wind Mountain? I heard from Eastern Green Gate that this mission seems to be quite difficult. Do you need our help?"

  "Oh?"

  Happy cast Eastern Green Gate an astonished glance, and he quickly said, "Brother Eastern Gate, may I know what part of the mission you completed?"

  He had already taken note of Eastern Green Gate just then because not only was his attire a little similar to Happy's own, but the way he held his sword and his temperament were also extraordinary. He should be quite powerful, but Happy did not expect that he had also triggered this storyline and mission.

  If he had experience, it would be great. It would save Happy the time needed to explain the dangers of Black Wind Mountain and the situation in Water Revival Village.

  However, he did not know that his question put Eastern Green Gate into a very awkward position that he could not get out of…

  "Eldest senior brother, I'm sorry that you have to listen to me make a fool of myself. When I triggered the storyline accidentally, I died while at the periphery of Black Wind Mountain. I did not manage to complete the mission. Um, what is this about parts? I thought we just had to save Xiu Niang?"

  Happy instantly understood what he meant.

  But it was not surprising either. Third Bandit Chief of Black Wind Mountain had extraordinary abilities, or at least, his abilities were extraordinary to the new players. If a veteran like him had to rack his brains to think of a plan to defeat him, Third Bandit Chief would be much harder to deal with for new players.

  Happy told the others his mission status at once, and at the same time, he told them that he wished to receive their help.

  "Oh goodness… You actually managed to kill Third Bandit Chief alone?!"

  Whirlwind Young Li's actions became exaggerated because of his excitement. His eyes were filled with sparkles that blatantly said "You're so amazing!"

  Happy was instantly embarrassed. He immediately put away his smile and voiced his thoughts.

  "But the situation has become much more complicated and dangerous. To avoid Water Revival Village from running into danger, I intend to ambush the people from Black Wind Mountain while they are on their way! But if we do this, it'll be incredibly dangerous! Brother Eastern Gate, could you come with me to attack them head on? The others, I hope that you can help me temporarily attract enemy fire."