Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 38

A dozen miles from the county town, three majestic steeds galloped down the official road, charging toward Qingyun County.

On their backs rode two men and a woman. At the forefront was a tall woman clad in a deep blue robe embroidered with rivers, mountains, and celestial bodies. At its center soared a black phoenix, its wings outstretched—a lifelike emblem exuding solemnity and dread.

The form-fitting robe accentuated her graceful figure, her long hair fluttering like ink in the wind.

County Gates

Unlike the usual bustling activity, the streets were eerily quiet today. Pedestrians moved cautiously, their eyes darting toward the two dozen stern-faced constables lining the gates.

They were clearly awaiting someone of importance.

Even more striking were the two figures seated nearby—a man and a woman.

Some of the passersby, more worldly than most, recognized the man at once: Chief Constable Chen Shi of the county office.

But the woman beside him? No one knew her.

She was Ye Qingxuan, who had accompanied Chen Shi.

Suddenly, the faint drumming of hooves echoed from several hundred meters beyond the gates.

Chen Shi shot to his feet, his gaze sharpening. As the riders drew closer, Ye Qingxuan’s face lit up.

“Uncle Chen! It’s Sister Yanran—they’re here!”

The trio of riders halted at the gates. Ye Qingxuan dashed forward, Chen Shi close behind.

The leader—a statuesque woman—dismounted gracefully.

“Sister Yanran! Brother Lingfeng!”

This was Li Yanran, a Yellow-Rank Black Phoenix Guard dispatched from the prefecture.

A flicker of warmth crossed Li Yanran’s otherwise frosty expression as she acknowledged Ye Qingxuan with a nod. “Qingxuan.”

Behind her were two men in black uniforms—standard attire for lower-ranking Black Phoenix Guard members. One was a towering, sun-bronzed brute; the other, a slender youth.

The latter smirked at Ye Qingxuan. “Fancy meeting you again so soon, Qingxuan.”

Ye Qingxuan’s lip curled in disgust. “Su Tianqi, shut your mouth. You don’t get to call me by name.”

This nuisance—Su Tianqi, son of the Lanshan County magistrate—was a newly advanced Bone-Forging martial artist. Though they’d joined the Black Phoenix Guard around the same time and were both under Li Yanran’s command, his relentless advances had long since crossed into harassment.

Publicly chastised, Su Tianqi’s face darkened. But he held his tongue—for now.

One day, he seethed inwardly, I’ll make this bitch regret humiliating me.

Thankfully, Chen Shi stepped in, dispelling the tension with a bow.

“Honored envoys, I am Chief Constable Chen Shi of Qingyun County. Magistrate Ye has sent me to escort you to the county office, where he awaits your presence.”

His posture was stiff with reverence. After all, Li Yanran wasn’t just a high-ranking Black Phoenix Guard—she was a Blood-Refining expert, a figure who commanded awe even in the prefecture’s martial circles.

Li Yanran offered no pleasantries, merely nodding in assent.

With constables clearing the path, the Black Phoenix Guard procession advanced, leaving the gates to reclaim their usual clamor.

…..

Lu Estate

“Brother Xuan, what should we do with these scum? Want me to haul ’em to the county office?”

Liang Cheng, finally shaking off his shock, kicked one of the corpses for good measure. He was livid.

Before dying, the second-in-command had spilled everything.

Bandits. Again.

Last time, they’d dared ambush him—a government officer. Now? They’d infiltrated the Lu Estate, plotting gods-knew-what.

Unforgivable.

Lu Xuan barely glanced at the bodies. “No need. Dragging corpses through the estate would cause a scene. I’ll have them disposed of quietly.”

What truly concerned him was the bandit’s final words.

Their master—a supposed Blood-Refining expert—lurked in the Jagged Ridge Mountains.

Blood-Refining, huh?

Lu Xuan’s eyes hardened. Whether the claim was true or not, he would investigate.

No threat to the Lu Family could be left unchecked—no matter how remote.

Liang Cheng, having vented his rage, suddenly paled. “Brother Xuan… d’you think that bandit was telling the truth? About his master being Blood-Refining?”

“No.”

Lu Xuan’s instant reply eased Liang Cheng’s nerves. A Blood-Refining foe would’ve been catastrophic.

Grinning now, Liang Cheng eyed Lu Xuan with awe. “Speaking of which… just how strong are you?”

The fight had ended in a blink. Liang Cheng hadn’t even seen Lu Xuan move before both bandits were dead—swatted aside like flies.

Butchering pigs takes more effort!

Lu Xuan smirked, pinching his fingers an inch apart. “Just a smidge stronger than you.”