Secret Records of the Leader of the Beichen Sword Sect-Chapter 16 Burial Mound

"Brother Zhang, was the box really left here? Why isn't it here?"

"Heh, you still don't believe me? Third Aunt told me, last night the Shi family killed a runaway slave, and she packed the body into a trunk and dumped it in the chaotic grave of West City.

There's quite a bit of gold and silver jewelry buried with it. Once we dig it up and split it, we'll have enough to pay off our gambling and drinking debts."

"But... why would the Shi family's house slave be dumped outside? And why throw out the jewelry and gold with them?"

"Hm, you don't understand. Third Aunt said that little maid was favored at home and tangled with several masters, so arrogant and domineering that she angered the Lady of the house and drew the resentment of the concubines.

I suspect it was one of the Shi family's concubines who, taking advantage of last night's chaos when the men were away due to a fire at home, secretly killed the little maid and had Third Aunt dispose of her.

When the Shi family masters return, they'll claim the little maid ran off with the family's gold and silver to elope with her lover, and with no proof of her death, they wouldn't investigate further."

"Wow, these aristocratic families really are so sinister in their ways."

"Of course! If they weren't ruthless and treacherous, how could they ever be ennobled?"

On a dark and windy night, two men hefted hoes and held a fire wick, digging in the burial mound searching for the 'box of gold and silver'.

Liangzhou Prefecture is a city with a population of over a hundred thousand, where only officials and wealthy families can afford ancestral tombs. Common folk, once gone, are often shrouded in a grass mat and thrown into the chaotic grave in West City.

It's not that commoners don't honor their ancestors or that they'd die too poor to buy a coffin. It's just that in Dui Country's outer regions, the land is barren and mountainous with wild beasts and demons running rampant.

Not only do the Gate Valve Clans in the city devour people, but the wolves, tigers, leopards, demons, and other beings outside do too. If they aren't well-fed, these ghosts will invade villages to feast on humans. Meanwhile, the government officials and constables, large and imposing, clad in armor and holding sharp weapons, are great at bullying the common folk but never deal with slaying demons. Each night they shut the city gates early, leaving the peasants outside as offerings to the demons.

Thus, over the years, the lower class has developed a tacit understanding with the demons to coexist.

They offer the dead as sacrifices.

The deceased are thrown into the chaotic grave in West City, any hole hastily dug to bury them in placed. At night, those demons and ghosts come to take them.

With so many people in Liangzhou City and such a variety of Gate Valve lords, it's easy to gather a fresh hundred corpses each day, more than enough to satisfy the demons' hunger, preventing them from entering villages to hunt humans.

Though wandering into the burial mound in the dead of night might cost one's own life if encountering a demon out for a meal, Brother Zhang and his little brother are too blinded by greed, daring everything for the box of 'gold' promised by Third Aunt.

Digging a bit here, poking a bit there, and indeed, their efforts pay off; they find it.

However, as it turns out, amid the rolled mats, a box that large is quite conspicuous. In the faint firelight, they see it far away, rolled into a deep pit, and they joyfully claw through the gravel and bone-laden dirt, rushing down the slope into the pit to reach the big box.

"Brother Zhang, it's overturned..."

The box had tumbled from the slope, rolled over, and was bottom-side-up buried at the pit's floor. Little brother tried using a hoe to pry it twice, but it didn't budge.

Brother Zhang chuckled,

"Darn heavy, must be filled with gold! Come on, let's give it our all!"

"Alrighty! Hup—!"

"One, two, three! Hup—!"

The two men strained side by side to pry the box over, elated to find it, only to see it sealed tight with a talisman at the opening.

"Hold the fire steady, I'll pry it open."

He told his little brother to keep the light, then took out a dagger from his bosom.

The dagger's blood was still drying, as per Third Aunt's instruction: stab the neighbor's black dog on the way, using the bloody blade to break the talisman.

First, he pressed the dagger's tip to the yellow talisman spell, and "sizzle—" acrid smoke rose, the spell indeed dissolved by the black dog's blood. Brother Zhang drove the dagger's tip into the seam, prying the box open.

"Hehe, ready! My treasure..."

"Whizz—snap!"

A soft sound and in the blink of an eye a feathered arrow shot from the darkness, nailing the little brother holding the fire wick right between the eyes.

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The arrowshaft penetrated the bone, nearly through the skull, leaving only half an arrow's tail shaking vigorously, while a dark red blood fountain burst from his mouth and nose.

"Ack!" With a sound, hot blood sprayed over Brother Zhang's face; his eyes rolled back, the little brother fell dead.

"Ah, ah, ah..."

Momentarily stunned, Brother Zhang couldn't even scream, legs weakening, collapsing by the box, wetting his pants.

Then from within the pit, a row of dark silhouettes rose from the ground, surrounding him.

Yet these dark figures weren't demons, they were humans.

They were a group in brown clothes, with tasseled belts, wearing official shoes, faces masked with square scarves, armed with crossbows and swords, each draped in a shadowy, black hooded cloak.

No more noticeable than the shadows when crouching on the ground, unperceivable by man or beast even passing right by.

"Take him."

A sharp voice emerged from the shadows, and before Brother Zhang could react, two Samurai shot in with feline agility, flanking him, one scabbard striking his shoulder, an iron whip crushing his knee.

"Crack! Crack!" Two crisp sounds, his knee caps shattered, shoulder blades broken, eyes rolled back, he slumped into the muddy ground unconscious.

The Samurai deftly dislocated his jaws and limbs, searched him, and one presented the dagger to the sharp-voiced leader.

"Leader, this one doesn't know martial arts."

This was none other than 'Cheng Dangtou,' who previously intercepted the box at the Shi family, testing it with a sword thrust, alongside the barbarian thugs he brought.

"H'mph, deliberately coming for the box, there's surely a connection to the imperial traitors! Arrest his entire family! Take them back for questioning!"

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, another felt the box, reporting,

"Leader, there's a smell of blood in it."

"Open it!"

"Yes!"

The group readied by drawing their weapons and holding crossbows. A Samurai stepped back, kicked with the whip to open the box.

A gush of Blood Breath erupted skyward!

The acrid metallic scent overwhelmed the senses, the Samurai held an iron whip across their chest, covered their nose and mouth, cautiously peering inside the dimness, spotting a pile of fragmented limbs, grimly stating,

"Indeed, just remnants..."

"Jingle-jingle!"

"Howl—!" "Screech—!" "Caw—caw—!"

Suddenly, bells clamored! A gust of eerie wind rose! The stench filled the sky! Light vanished! Amid ghostly howls and wails, everyone panicked!

"Demons!"

Indeed! Demons! This group of Samurai, mere mortals, couldn't see it clearly! But the Blood Breath bursting from the box like red clouds to the heavens definitely caught the attention of nearby demons!

They've come for the feast!

Hearing the ghostly cries and ominous winds around, knowing the urgency, 'Cheng Dangtou' immediately ordered,

"This place is perilous! Take the man and things! Withdraw now!"

So the Samurai snapped the whip, closed the box, two lifting it, using their Qinggong to leap from the pit to leave...

"Swish!"

Mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!

While the barbarians hefted the box, burdened with Brother Zhang, hurrying up the slope without watching their leader's backside.

Another shadow, clad in black, suddenly swooped from the night sky!

It turned out to be an assassin dressed in night clothes, face masked in bronze, hands donned with iron claws!

This figure used superior Qinggong ability, like a predatory night owl, clawing toward 'Cheng Dangtou'!

Capture the leader to end the band!

"An assassin!"

"Audacious! Strike of Thunder!"

'Cheng Dangtou' roared, drawing a sword with his right hand to stab, his left hand releasing a palm, summoning a Thunder Talisman to "crack!" send a bolt directly to the assassin's face!

The assassin's body flashed azure, shrugging off the thunder blow! Obviously equipped with a protective treasure, well prepared!

Even more remarkable, the assassin's prowess! Mid-air, a swipe of claw wind, a push of Palm Strength! Flipping like a kite, evading the extending arcs of saber wind! While countering with a flick of claws, flinging two knife-like Qi Claws toward 'Cheng Dangtou,' aiming for the vital lower torso!

"Scoundrel! Courting death!"

'Cheng Dangtou' wasn't just any eunuch! With a mighty shout, he marshaled his Qi, stamping left over right, launched skywards three feet high, evaded the Qi Claws! Twisting his wrist, thrusting the soft sword to bloom eight Sword Flowers! Firing countless Qi Blades, aiming for the assassin's face!

"Hiss—huh!"

Spotting the eunuch's notable skills, the assassin also displayed true artistry! Spitting True Qi from nose and mouth, cultivating claw skills! Suddenly elevating temperature! Ten fingers like smoke columns, thick white smoke swirling! Clearly wielding superior internal power, a palm bursting forth!

"Boom!"

"Puh!"

The Handprint, large as a cover, shot forth! Like a Qi Wall smashing head-on! Ravaging 'Cheng Dangtou's' Sword Flowers, blasting his hair disheveled, flinging him several yards away! Decisively determining the outcome!

"Protect the leader!"

The nearby barbarian warriors were shocked!

Never expecting such a formidable assassin, attacking suddenly, delivering victory within three moves, expelling 'Cheng Dangtou' bleeding!

Now no one minded the box or rebel traitors! Crossbow Arrows fired chaotically! Blades shot forcefully! The group brandished weapons, charging together for an all-out brawl!