The dagger flew rapidly towards Lu Sheng's chest, slicing apart his garments.

Lu Sheng's masked face stared motionlessly at him, seemingly paralyzed by fright.

A trace of twisted sneer surfaced at the corner of Zhang Jun Dong's lips. "Don't blame me. Blame yourself for provoking those you shouldn't!"

The blade tip swiftly slit Lu Sheng's clothes, cutting into his skin.

Bang!!!

Right then, Lu Sheng suddenly recoiled backwards. From behind his waist, a black serpent — shockingly a cleaver saber — was withdrawn.

The cleaver arced forcefully from his rear, its blade landing heavily onto Zhang Jun Dong's dagger! Moving far swifter than Zhang's depleted arm strength and slow dagger motions could match.

The short blade was smacked upwards, flung high into the sky.

Lu Sheng's saber turned over. Tiger Death cleaved straight down towards Zhang Jun Dong's crown!

Whoosh—

Faint echoes of a tiger's roar closed in rapidly with the parting air. Zhang Jun Dong's pupils constricted violently!

Every hair on his body shot upright. He could never have expected this young master under the protection of three escorts would erupt such daunting prowess all at once!

This responsiveness, this speed—!

Not good!!

No time to ponder more, he hastily somersaulted backwards, toes bouncing seven, eight steps over the ground before stopping. Preparing to escape immediately after landing!

Hiss!

A cleaver's tip pierced out from his chest...

Blood slowly seeped from the wound.

Hiss!

Lu Sheng strolled up, reaching to yank out his cleaver from the corpse. Wiping the blade casually over it after.

"Let's go. Send me back."

He calmly boarded the carriage. Curtains lowering with just the three escorts and two gatekeepers left standing around the body, alongside the carriage driver.

Nobody said anything. Especially not those three escorts whose faces had already blanched ghastly white! Boarding silently without a peep...

The driver snapped his whip. The carriage rumbled into slight motion.

For a time, only the sounds of rolling wheels echoed within. The three escorts sat facing Lu Sheng awkwardly before the unbearable silence forced them off onto the trailing footboards instead.

Soon, only Lu Sheng was left alone inside.

Seated properly atop a cushion mat. Devoid of any expressions, eyes lightly shut, seemingly dozing off.

But only he himself knew just how fiercely tumultuous emotions crashed inside!

He killed someone...

He took a life...

Whether his past incarnation or present one, at most minor brawling scratches. Never once killing.

Yet during that split second reaction previously, seeing his assailant about to flee, he decisively hurled his cleaver forwards without hesitation...

The modified formidable muscle memory moved incredibly smoothly. Executing the second Black Tiger move — Tiger Might — pitching the cleaver out lethally. Then accurately nails his opponent fatally in the backheart!

Next...he perished!

That entire scene kept replaying constantly in Lu Sheng's mind. That man truly intended to end him. No joking around.

Sensing threat, his instincts reacted by attempting to thoroughly eliminate it.

And the outcome was indeed utterly conclusive resolution!

But now his martial arts mastery was also exposed. Furthermore, he killed someone directly!

"Luckily, the Black Tiger blade method has rather distinct characteristics itself. Just slight investigation will reveal the origins as uncle Zhao. Not too huge an issue there. Just gotta stay wary from now on..."

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The carriage rumbled slowly onwards. Roughly half an incense stick of time passed after leaving that village.

Ding ling ling...

Ding ling ling...

At some point, crisp tinkling sounds of bells drifted gradually over from the rear amidst the pitch blackness outside.

The driver peered back. Another carriage, pure white in color, was chasing up to them from behind at peculiar haste!

Judging from direction, it seemed they came the same path heading towards Jiu Lian Cheng too.

The three escorts noticed that white carriage as well.

Two tall robust snowy stallions. An exquisite carriage, pure white and etched with traces of silver adorning its fine contours. Barely discernible traces of fragrance permeated the winds around that carriage too.

Exchanging mutual glances, they slowly rested their palms on the saber hilts by their waist. Having already failed guarding their esteemed guest earlier, nearly causing a mishap. Any more slip ups now and the Zhengs would definitely not pardon them!

Those previous wrist wounds weren't too critical either. Some rest and medication, about seventy to eighty percent of their capacities could still be mustered.

All three were veteran soldiers. Cooperating seamlessly, even seven to eight thugs wouldn't prevail against them.

That pristine carriage itself was no peculiarity. Just slightly opulent. What rendered them exceptionally tense was how the trailing carriage didn't ignite any lamps!

Through wilderness outskirts without moonlight on such gloomy nights. No lighting meant pitch black roads completely impassable!

Yet that carriage moved swift still. Even faster than their own illuminated one!

"Something's amiss." One of them uttered lowly.

At this moment, Lu Sheng also flipped the curtains open to glimpse the rear. Likewise sighting this pitch dark galloping white carriage. The one holding reins was a gentle, handsome man. Precisely the tender, affectionate faced male guarding that woman back at the Dark Auction!

The white carriage showed no intentions stopping. Very quickly overtaking and cruising alongside Lu Sheng's side.

"A-Jiu, halt a moment please."

A euphonious, enchanting feminine voice transmitted from within the white carriage.

It promptly slowed following her words. Drawing evenly with Lu Sheng and company now. The gossamer curtains were gently pulled aside. Behind the dim illumination of their lighting, an exquisite frowning attractive visage emerged.

It was that woman from before. Lady Duan Wan!

Lu Sheng's complexion betrayed nothing as he appraised her once.

"The paths are shrouded in inky darkness tonight sir. May we trouble you to borrow some lighting from your lamp to guide our way, so we may look after each other?"

Lady Duan Wan also glimpsed Lu Sheng. Smiling lightly as she spoke.

"...as you wish Lady Duan."

Lu Sheng replied indifferently. Just as he moved to lower the curtains—

"Apologies for the imposition noble sir, but this humble lady has another presumptuous request..."

Lady Duan interrupted him from retreating into the carriage.

Lu Sheng's carriage slowed to a halt following the driver's cue. The pure white one also eased to a standstill correspondingly.

Its doors slid open. Lady Duan Wan still wore that previous set of arousing black body-hugging dress. Stepping off gracefully...

Raising her head, she gave Lu Sheng a slight smile at the opened carriage entrance. Her refined snowy features, cherry red lips. That faintly extending and contracting pinkish petite tongue. The surrounding escorts and driver couldn't help tiny shudders inwardly witnessing this!

She slowly trod past Lu Sheng and climbed aboard.

Her smooth fair elongated legs, slender and curvy. At the instant they lifted entering the coach, the barely hip wrapping skirt inadvertently rode up as well.

A flash of her lower vista peaked out fleetingly. Teased but not exposed fully before Lu Sheng's sight.

"Oh my!"

Abruptly, Lady Duan's body tilted diagonally. Her ankle twisted slightly as she tottered unsteadily towards Lu Sheng!

"Be careful!"

Lu Sheng hurriedly stretched his hands out to support her.

But his heart whipped even warier. Such a stage, such coincidences. He sneered internally. Myriad romantic works across Earth exploited similar tropes countless times!

Cautious about Lady Duan but opting not to overtly act on it yet. Just deal logically following conventional reasoning.

Lady Duan weakly slumped into his embracing arm. Her buxom bosom unintentionally grazing his forearm softly in the stumble.

She promptly blushed beet red, jerking ramrod straight as if electrocuted before shyly lowering her head. Unable to glimpse Lu Sheng's reactions now.

Thump thump. Lu Sheng's heart shuddered erratically as well. Firmly stabilizing her.

"Thank you noble young master..." Lady Duan gentle voiced.

"Please be seated."

Lu Sheng escorted her onto the side couch.

Very spacious interior. Two rows of four seats placed opposite.

Lu Sheng and Lady Duan sat confronting one another.

The carriage once again rumbled into motion.

Lady Duan's face maintained that soft scarlet shade. Slender legs slanted. Pressed tightly without the slightest gap between.

Just from Lu Sheng's angle directly facing, he could still glimpse faint shadows amidst the slight gaps along her dress hem and thighs. If he wished, peeking freely up her dress was entirely possible. After all, only the two of them occupied this carriage. Moreover, Lady Duan's current bashful head lowering inability to notice anything meant Lu Sheng could ogle secretly with impunity!

Bump!

The carriage seemed to roll over something abruptly. Jolting up a bit.

Lady Duan's supple legs were inadvertently pried apart by that sudden vibration, presenting a bigger exposed slit of her lower charms before Lu Sheng. His peripheral vision inadvertently swept over. Indistinctly making out a tinge of white.

"Is noble brother headed for Jiu Lian Cheng as well?"

Oblivious to her accidental flashing, Lady Duan gently asked.

"Indeed. May I also presume the lady is Jiu Lian Cheng bound too?" Lu Sheng casually responded with an inane question as well.

"Mm. To be frank with this young noble, Wan'er is currently staying in the Wan Fu inn inside the county. Having heard of a Dark Auction occurring, I brought my guard to take a look. Who knew everyone would be masked. Rather boring." Lady Duan complained somewhat dissatisfiedly.

"For the young lady and her handmaiden to journey this entire way alone already bespeaks exceptional courage and skills." Lu Sheng said evenly.

"What skills? We were lucky getting picked up halfway by a trade convoy. Without them, who knows if me and attendant would have long starved or frozen to death in some wayside ditch before even nearing Jiu Lian Cheng!"

Lady Duan clarified.

"Speaking of, the young master of that convoy who rescued you seems equally formidable based on what I glimpsed?"

Lady Duan giggled softly.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Lu Sheng instantly grasped her sighting his earlier interchange.

"Wan'er noticed young brother was rather desperate in needing that inner force manual at auction?" Lady Duan continued.