Yu State City, the ruined dungeon.
When Han Wenxin and Constable Qin arrived, they saw only a giant gully. The main prison of Yu State City had been split in two, with fresh blood and tattered clothes staining the narrow crevice between.
The nearby trees had also been cut in half. This place was a complete ruin, a desolate landscape.
Horrific!
The surroundings looked as if a great battle had taken place!
The bodies of the Yu State City Sect Leader and Magistrate Cao Anmin had either vanished or been buried in the debris.
Han Wenxin and Constable Qin had been drinking today, and since they were not responsible for guarding the dungeon, they had escaped this disaster.
They could never have imagined that the dungeon would be split by someone, with even Magistrate Cao Anmin and Sect Leader Liu Haoping meeting a grisly end.
Constable Qin's eyes flickered with light, his face was ashen, his expression indescribable, and his body trembled slightly.
Han Wenxin, on the other hand, looked terrified, covering his mouth and taking a deep breath, "That sky-piercing Sword Skill still hasn't dissipated, it's terrifying."
At that moment, the Sword Skill within the cracks of the dungeon had not entirely dissipated, still gripping the hearts of those around, causing a bone-chilling fear.
"What do we do now?"
The two exchanged helpless glances.
Clomp, clomp....
At this moment, a tall man wearing a cloak and a green mask approached from the distance, with a white hawk perched on his arm.
"My lord!"
Upon seeing the newcomer, the two quickly bowed down, feeling a sense of relief.
This person was none other than Hong Yuanwu, the Gold Constable of the Xuanyi Guard.
The Xuanyi Guard in the Great Yan Dynasty was like a stabilizing force, a pillar of confidence.
"You two, capture the fugitives immediately," Hong Yuanwu ordered in a low voice.
"Yes,"
The two, feeling a great weight lifted, quickly left the scene.
"What a formidable expert!"
Hong Yuanwu looked at the gash, his heart trembling, "There is such a master in Yu State City? Who is he?"
He understood much better than Han Wenxin and Constable Qin just how extraordinary that swordsman was. That astonishing Sword Skill would make even him step back three paces.
"This person made a move to rescue Jiang Sanjia; is he also a disciple of Ghost Valley, or does he have other hidden motives?"
Hong Yuanwu pulled out a piece of white paper and gently tossed it, pointing a finger at it.
A flash of gold appeared, marking the white paper with several golden characters, which then vanished.
Hong Yuanwu placed the note into the message tube on the hawk's ankle.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"
The hawk flapped its wings and instantly soared into the sky.
.....
Outside Yu State City, deep within a dense forest.
Jiang Sanjia wore a look of amazement; that single sword strike had left one impressed.
Even he had to admire the exceptional swordsmanship displayed by the person before him.
One sword!
A single sword strike had split the dungeon, allowing him to escape.
"What sword technique was that you used?"
Jiang Sanjia couldn't help but ask.
An Jing replied indifferently, "It was just a simple attack."
That sword strike was indeed the Sword Drawing Skill.
The so-called Sword Drawing Skill isn't just pulling the sword from its sheath.
Sword Drawing Skill! A sword that shocks the heavens, where the sword is drawn, people perish.
The true essence of the Sword Drawing Skill is to condense one's Essence Qi into a single point. Some people nurture their sword for years, reaching the pinnacle of Sword Skill just for the moment of drawing it.
In that moment, years of Essence Qi converges onto a single sword, how could it not be terrifying?
An Jing's sword strike was precisely that.
The Unity Sword Technique had only three forms, seemingly basic but embodying the essence of Sword Dao.
After listening, Jiang Sanjia felt a bit puzzled. Was there such a sword technique in the Jianghu? And who was this masked black-clad man with such formidable skills, yet no reputation?
"Can you tell me the whereabouts of the Bodhi Bead now?"
An Jing touched the longsword at his waist and said.
Jiang Sanjia's heart sank abruptly. If he revealed the location of the Bodhi Bead, his injury would likely be very difficult to recover from in the short term, making him hesitate....
"The road of life is long, Sanjia, don't take shortcuts," An Jing said in a haunting tone.
"Brother Zhou, you must be joking."
Jiang Sanjia's heart chilled, but he quickly responded, "It's just a Bodhi Bead. If I could make a friend like you, Brother Zhou, in times of trouble, it's worth a hundred beads, let alone one."
The man before him was vicious, greedy, and unpredictable. If he didn't comply, he might lose his life in an instant.
"The Bodhi Bead was originally obtained by Abbot Huanghai of Great Sun Temple. After being ambushed by masters from the Western Regions, the bead disappeared when he was killed. However, the bead had already been secretly handed over to Wandering Immortal, who brought it to Great Yan. Unfortunately, he encountered assassins from Wind and Rain Tower in Yu State City and was ultimately killed by several top-tier assassins from Wind and Rain Tower."
"Wind and Rain Tower!?"
An Jing raised an eyebrow.
In the little tower, listening to the spring rain all night, where in the Jianghu do flowers not fly?
Wind and Rain Tower was also one of the most notorious forces in the Great Yan Martial World, ranked among the Five Great Gangs. However, Wind and Rain Tower differed somewhat from the other five great gangs.
Wind and Rain Tower was an assassin organization with an ancient history, being the only one established long before the previous dynasty.
The assassins within Wind and Rain Tower were extremely skilled, and the organization had a strict structure, with members scattered throughout Great Yan, and even some hidden among common folk.
Some Jianghu feuds, urban entanglements, and occasional assassinations of Court officials were all business that Wind and Rain Tower undertook.
Their willingness to kill Court officials demonstrated Wind and Rain Tower's audacity and boldness.
Most importantly, the success rate of Wind and Rain Tower's assassinations was extremely high, rarely failing.
Hearing the name Wind and Rain Tower struck fear into the hearts of Jianghu people, who dreaded being marked for death by the organization.
The location of Wind and Rain Tower's headquarters remained a mystery. Even the assassins of Wind and Rain Tower themselves didn't know its exact whereabouts.
Some said it was near Sword Gate in West Shu, some believed it was outside the Great Yan borders, while others speculated it was within the Imperial Palace.
The rumors varied widely, but no one knew the truth of Wind and Rain Tower's headquarters.
In summary, Wind and Rain Tower's reputation might not be as grandiose as the other four factions, but it was the most feared of the Five Great Gangs.
"Yes, Wind and Rain Tower,"
Jiang Sanjia nodded, continuing, "After Wandering Immortal was killed, his body sank into Yu State River, taking the Bodhi Bead with it."
An Jing raised an eyebrow, his tone turning harsh, "You mean the Bodhi Bead is in Yu State River?"
Yu State River was vast and long, dividing Yu State City into two banks. If the bead were at the riverbed, who could find it?
Making a big fuss over this might attract unwanted attention.
"Brother Zhou, calm down,"
Jiang Sanjia smiled faintly, "I've already calculated the exact location of the Bodhi Bead. It's beneath a boulder at the Qing River Dock. Just dive thirty zhang, and you'll see a corpse beside the boulder; the Bodhi Bead is with Wandering Immortal."
"Qing River Dock?"
An Jing repeated.
Qing River Dock was a wharf formed by a tributary of Yu State River, located just south of the city, not far from Jishi Hall.
"Very well. I hope you're smart, Sanjia,"
An Jing said, narrowing his eyes.
Jiang Sanjia was cunning. The location might be true, but there could be other undisclosed traps. An Jing had to be wary.
"Rest assured, everything I said is true," Jiang Sanjia said earnestly.
Jiang Sanjia had indeed divined the location of the Bodhi Bead, and he didn't lie about it. Yet, there were details he chose not to reveal.
The Bodhi Bead exuded a faint but malevolent aura; even the slightest exposure had taken a year off his life. This alone demonstrated its deadly nature.
But he hadn't shared this information, as it was beyond his obligations.
"Very well, until we meet again,"
An Jing said, leaping away into the distance.
"Brother Zhou, I hope you stay safe,"
Jiang Sanjia murmured as he watched An Jing disappear into the distance.
Then, he too vanished into the forest.