The masked men in black had them beat in numbers as they surrounded the carriage. Hollers and shrieks rang, but those who fell to the ground were all the enemies. Hu Dapao and Ah Shu were on a rampage but stayed close to Su Jiu to protect her.
Qiao An used to be a scholar. He learned martial arts for self-defense. However, the concealed weapons in his sleeves were formidable. With a gentle press, several fine needles shot out with precision, hitting their targets.
Chang Huan's qinggong was the best, demonstrated as he flew around agilely. He stayed close to Su Jiu and helped to end the lives of those masked men who managed to evade the attack from his other teammates.
The five of them had fought together for so many years and had strong chemistry. Each of them could individually easily handle ten men. The masked men fell one by one, but none of them could even get near the gang.
Su Jiu was in a dress and could not fight as effective she usually did. She was dying to pull it off. Seeing that a masked man was about to ambush Qiao An, she rushed over and kicked off the man's front teeth. Her body spun in mid-air, as blood spurted out, she terminated another masked man who had just gotten closer.
Su Jiu stepped on the chest of the man whose teeth were broken by her kick as she squatted down. Tearing his mask away, she smirked coldly as she saw his bloody mouth. "Which gang are you from?"
The masked man froze. A fellow bandit?
He trembled as he stared at Su Jiu's beautiful but murderous gaze. "Wh-who are you?"
"I won't tell you my name. It will scare you to death!" Su Jiu stepped slightly harder on his chest, and the man's face twisted in agony.
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
Su Jiu had been through various torture herself, so she knew how to make people suffer a fate worse than death.
As Su Jiu lifted her foot up a little, the masked man took a deep breath and replied, "We are from the Qingfeng Gang!"
"Qingfeng Gang?" Su Jiu's eyes narrowed. "You people are from the Qingfeng Gang? We're a long way from Chongxi and you have never intruded on us Yuhu Mountain bandits before. Why are you robbing our territory now?"
Upon hearing these words, the masked men finally understood...they had ran into fellow bandits!
But how did they become the Su Family's bride escorts? he thought. Did news get out?
"Answer me!" Su Jiu stepped on him again.
The masked man gasped and immediately answered, "Someone paid us to kill Miss Su! We don't know anything!"
Su Jiu paused for a moment. They didn't come for the dowry! This Miss Su hasn't even entered Shengjing and yet she already had enemies... who sent so many bandits to kill her? Who did she offend? Su Jiu wondered.
It should not her foes from Fuyang because they would have struck long ago, and had no need to wait until she was about to enter Shengjing City. It had to be people from Shengjing who had sent these killers.
How interesting! Su Jiu thought. Looks like someone doesn't want Miss Su to enter the city!
With limited information Su Jiu had, she could only think of this. As for any further explanations, even with her wit, she would not be able to figure out at the moment.
Su Jiu realized for the first time that there was not just gold and silver waiting for her inside the city.
But these assassinations and conspiracies were nothing to Su Jiu now. In her opinion, there was no problem in this world that couldn't be solved with a sword!
If there was, then she'd use two swords!
As she was about to crush the masked man beneath her foot, the sound of galloping horses rang in the air.
Su Jiu looked up and saw a team of soldiers arrive on horseback. Seeing bandits looting civilians, those soldiers in military garb rushed up and helped to finish the masked men.
The leader looked like a general. He was a tall man donned in black military riding garb. He seemed to blend in with the black horse he was riding. From afar, one could see his cold dark eyes, watching the battle calmly.
Looks like we should annihilate the Yuhu Mountain bandits, the leader thought. How dare they rob in broad daylight!
When soldiers joined, the masked men were in chaos and fled to the hills.
"No need to chase!" the deputy general commanded, as he looked at Chang Huan and the others. "Is anyone injured?"
Qiao An walked up and smiled gently. "Fortunately, you have arrived in time. No one was injured, and no property was lost. Thank you, sir."
"That's good to hear!" The deputy general was no more than 20 years old and had a handsome face. He bid his farewell and walked towards the general on the horse.
The general's eyes were sharp and cold. He glanced at the corpses all over the ground. He then looked at Su Jiu's gang, frowning slowly.
Based on what they saw, even if they had not come, these masked men would still not be able to get the upper hand.
These people are entering Shengjing City? he thought. They are highly skilled in martial arts!
His eyes stopped on Su Jiu's face, and he was stunned. The young woman's face was stained with blood though her delicate features could still be seen. However, there was no common women's fear or shyness in her gaze, only a cold and murderous aura. This added a sharp aspect to her beauty.
His gaze landed on the woman's blood-dripping hand. The man pulled out a bottle of medicine, assuming she had been injured, and tossed it to her. He said indifferently, "It is almost dark, if you are also entering the city, you can follow us!"
Su Jiu caught it effortlessly and looked at the bottle of medicine. It was a pristine white porcelain bottle, the size of a palm, and was cold - it seemed to carry the same trait as its owner.
"We wouldn't want to trouble you further," Qiao An replied. "We do know some martial arts, so we'll be on our way soon after packing up!"
There were so many masked men lying on the ground and it would have been even more suspicious to say they didn't know martial arts, so Qiao An chose to admit it proactively.
The man on the horse saw Su Jiu easily catch the bottle of medicine he threw at a few feet away. Surprise flashed in his gaze before it turned into understanding. He thought that she was a young lady from a martial arts family, and it was not surprising that she too was well versed in it.
My little sister had grown up learning martial arts too! the general thought.
Without saying more, the man nodded without any facial expression and left with his 30 subordinates. His cape billowing like an eagle taking flight.
"Master An, who was that?" Su Jiu looked at their leaving figures as she asked curiously.
"If I am not wrong, he is the eldest son of the Nangong Family, Nangong Shu," Qiao An replied.
Su Jiu pondered over where she had heard that name before. "Is he the Nangong Shu who was accorded the title of North Guard Great General at the age of 20?"
The Nangong Family was one of the generals and were the founding officials of Daliang Country. Their last few generations had all been generals, and when it came to Nangong Shu, he had been accorded Second Rank General at the age of 20.
"That's so impressive!" Hu Dapao exclaimed in admiration.
"It's late, let's get on the road!" Qiao An said.
In response, each of them got into the carriage and went on along the official road to Shengjing City.
Pushing the carriage door open, the nanny immediately shrunk to the corner, staring at Su Jiu in horror.
The scene of Su Jiu prying out the bandit's heart from his chest was so shocking that the nanny realized clearly that this was indeed a group of murderous bandits she needed to serve, even though the lead lady had a stunning face!
Su Jiu looked at her own blood-stained hand, which was still holding the medicine. The snow-white porcelain bottle was dyed red now.
Sitting in the carriage casually, Su Jiu used brocade to wipe down the blood on her hands. She raised her eyebrows and smirked.
"Don't be afraid. As long as you don't mess with me, I won't kill you!"
But if you do Su Jiu thought, prying out hearts would be letting you off easily.
This was why, for so many years, the Dragon Conqueror Gang only had five people but had never been annihilated by other gangs.
No one dared to provoke Master Su Jiu!
"Yes, yes!" The nanny shivered profusely, staring at her in fear.
The carriage went on and arrived at Shengjing City, the capital of Daliang, before dark.