12: Chapter 12 Rescuing a Beauty Along the Way, a Mysterious Woman Appears

The autumn sun shone down on the official road, dust kicked up by the footsteps of the three was slowly settling back down.

Chen Xuan walked in front, his hands tucked into his sleeves, humming an unknown tune, his steps as light as if he had just picked up some silver.

Leng Shuang followed half a step behind him to his side, her gaze constantly scanning the surrounding woods, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword without ever letting go.

Zhao Hongling lagged at the back, complaining as she walked: "Why is this road never-ending? If I had known, I would have hired a carriage."

"Carriages are too bumpy." Chen Xuan turned back and grinned, "Besides, walking can train leg techniques. Look at how steady my footwork is, landing without a sound, my Internal Energy flowing like a river..."

"You land with plenty of sound!" Zhao Hongling lifted her foot and kicked a pebble, hitting him squarely on the back of his head, "Just now, you made the leaves shake three times!"

Chen Xuan rubbed his head, not angry at all, but instead laughed out loud: "Ouch, 'To hit is to love, to scold is to cherish,' that saying is truly not false."

Leng Shuang gave a light harrumph, her lips moving almost imperceptibly.

Just as the group turned a corner on the mountain path, a sudden, rapid sound of wind breaking came from the woods.

Chen Xuan stopped abruptly, his ears twitching. Immediately after, the shadows of the trees ahead swayed chaotically, and a white figure stumbled out, shoulder stained with blood, pursued closely by five or six men in black, the glint of their blades flashing blindingly through the gaps in the trees.

"Save them!" Chen Xuan shouted in a low voice, pushing off with his toes and darting out.

Leng Shuang drew her sword from its scabbard, and a chill instantly permeated the air.

Zhao Hongling cursed, but still channeled her family's True Qi, pulled out the soft whip from her waist, and chased after them.

Seeing someone blocking the way, the men in black immediately split two people to pounce on Chen Xuan.

He didn't retreat but advanced instead, crouching to dodge a horizontal slash, then seized the opponent's wrist and twisted it; with a crack, it dislocated, and before the man's scream could finish, he had already kicked him into the bushes.

A third man in black launched a surprise attack from the side. Chen Xuan didn't even turn his head, his hand sweeping back with two fingers pressed together across his nose, then spinning around to strike the opponent squarely in the face, knocking him flat on his back and sending his hat flying far away.

Over on Leng Shuang's side, she was already engaged with one person; her sword light was like snow, every move carrying a bone-chilling cold.

She parried the enemy's blade with a sword strike, stepped forward, and the cold air spread along the ground, freezing the opponent's feet.

Just as the man was about to break free, the tip of her sword lightly tapped his chest, knocking him unconscious to the ground.

Zhao Hongling's soft whip danced into a blur of red, forcing the two men in black to retreat repeatedly, and she shouted angrily: "Dare to brandish weapons in front of me?"

The tail of the whip snapped out, wrapping around one man's neck, and with a forceful pull, the man tumbled to the ground, unable to catch his breath.

The other man raised his blade to slash, but she dodged to the side, the whip following through with a return strike that hit him squarely in the face, causing his nose to bleed profusely.

The remaining two men in black saw their companions falling one after another, exchanged a glance, and suddenly blew a whistle.

There was no response from the woods, so they didn't linger, turning and fleeing into the depths of the dense forest.

Chen Xuan didn't chase, standing in place and looking around, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Something's not right. These people are well-trained and coordinated; they aren't ordinary mountain bandits."

Leng Shuang sheathed her sword and walked to the side of the woman in white: "Are you alright?"

The woman shook her head, steadied herself against a tree trunk, her breathing ragged but not showing any panic.

She straightened her torn sleeve and bowed with cupped hands: "Many thanks to the three of you for saving me. I am Dugu Xue, from the Northern Territory."

"The Northern Territory?" Zhao Hongling narrowed her eyes to size her up, "You ran this far all by yourself and ended up being hunted down. What for?"

Dugu Xue's expression was calm: "Just out for a stroll to clear my mind. I didn't expect my trail to be exposed, bringing trouble upon myself."

"Clear your mind?" Zhao Hongling sneered, "This injury of yours doesn't look like something you got from a stroll."

"Indeed, it is not." Dugu Xue said frankly, "They set an ambush at the mountain pass, at least ten of them. I killed two before escaping here."

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow: "You've got guts. Taking out two by yourself and still managing to get out."

"Among those who survive, who doesn't have some skill?" she said indifferently.

Leng Shuang stared at her for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "You are a sword practitioner."

"Yes." Dugu Xue nodded, "I am a Sword Cultivator, with a bit of a Foundation."

"No wonder those people used blades instead of swords." Leng Shuang said in a low voice, "Afraid of being countered."

Zhao Hongling curled her lip: "Sounds impressive, but she can't just follow us like this, right? Who knows if she's leading trouble our way."

Chen Xuan scratched his chin: "That's not the right way to put it. As people of the Jianghu, it is our duty to unsheathe our blades when we see injustice. She is helpless right now; we can't just leave her behind."

"You're certainly kind-hearted!" Zhao Hongling glared at him, "Saving the two of us last time was one thing, but now another one? Do you think you're running a charity?"

"I'm not running a charity." Chen Xuan chuckled, "I just find her agreeable and want to make a friend."

"Cut that out!" Zhao Hongling stomped her foot, "Every time you see a pretty girl, you say you find her agreeable!"

Leng Shuang suddenly interjected: "Let her follow."

Zhao Hongling was stunned: "You... you agree too?"

"She wasn't lying." Leng Shuang looked at Dugu Xue, "Her eyes are clear and upright, not like she's faking it. Besides..."

She paused, "She is injured; forcing herself to travel will worsen her wounds."

Dugu Xue looked down at the bleeding wound on her shoulder and nodded lightly: "It is indeed inconvenient."

"Look at that!" Zhao Hongling spread her hands, "You two are singing in harmony, and I've become the bad guy?"

"No one said you were the bad guy." Chen Xuan grinned and leaned in, "You're our hot-tempered little chili pepper, who doesn't know that?"

"Get lost!" She kicked out, but Chen Xuan was prepared and jumped away with a laugh.

"Let's go." Leng Shuang turned to face the direction of the official road, "We need to reach the next town before dark."

The four of them set off again. Dugu Xue walked at the back, her pace slightly sluggish, but she never complained of fatigue.

Chen Xuan looked back at her from time to time, and seeing her pale complexion, he took a small porcelain bottle from his pack and handed it to her: "Hemostatic powder, I carry it with me."

She took it, thanked him, opened the stopper, and poured some onto her wound.

"You need to get that wound treated." Zhao Hongling finally couldn't help but speak up, "When we get to town, find a doctor to take a look."

"No need." Dugu Xue closed the bottle cap, "I can hold on."

"Stubborn." Zhao Hongling muttered, but then quietly slowed her pace to walk side-by-side with her.

The sun leaned west, the mountain path gradually widened, and in the distance, wisps of cooking smoke could already be seen. Chen Xuan stretched: "We'll have hot food to eat tonight."

Leng Shuang glanced at him: "Don't forget to take turns keeping watch."

"I know, I know." He waved his hand, "I'll take the first watch, you the second, Zhao Hongling the third, and the newcomer..."

He turned back and winked at Dugu Xue, "You just sleep soundly."

"I don't need to." Dugu Xue said calmly, "I can keep watch."

"You rest." Zhao Hongling said, in a rare moment of softness, "Injured like that, don't push yourself."

Dugu Xue looked at her, a flash of surprise in her eyes, then she nodded lightly.

The four continued on, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun, cast onto the bluestone path.

The wind blew through the treetops, bringing the sound of a stream from afar.

Chen Xuan walked in front, humming a tune again, this time the melody was even more cheerful than before.

Leng Shuang followed silently, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the hilt of her sword.

Zhao Hongling lagged half a step behind, sneaking a glance at Dugu Xue walking at the end, her lips moved, but in the end, she didn't say anything else.

At the end of the official road, the silhouette of a small town gradually became clear.