Martial Saint through Reading

Black Bear struggled to raise his eyelids, looking toward the dim and lightless front.

”It’s you... Brother Fang... we... we are quite fated...”

He squeezed out a hearty smile with his last bit of strength, and the head that had been lifted for so long finally fell powerlessly.

”Alas...” Chu Ming walked up to Black Bear and sighed.

He was still too late.

Before arriving at the entrance of the Teng Family Manor, he had already sensed the critically wounded Black Bear through the Sword Gourd Spirit.

It took only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to kill his way here from the manor entrance.

Yet, he was ultimately too late.

Perhaps if Chu Ming hadn’t appeared, Black Bear could have held on, continuing to entangle with Teng Hua.

But when Black Bear saw his enemy being blasted away, the only obsession in his heart was released, and thus his last breath was relinquished.

After laying down Black Bear’s corpse, Chu Ming found a complete set of clothes to wrap it up.

Then he took the corpse, rushed to a mountain ridge three miles away from Teng Family Manor, and buried it.

”Brother Hei, fare well.”

”I’ll avenge your big brother.” The conversation in the dungeon, Chu Ming heard it all.

Black Bear had a hearty nature, treating him to wine and meat, this kindness he would repay.

Pouring out the liquor, Chu Ming didn’t stop, he returned to Teng Family Manor.

First, he found several large boxes, packed all the valuable treasures and took them away.

Then he found another mountain ridge, as he did on the night of Black Wind Stronghold’s extermination, to hide these treasures well.

Chu Ming had an idea in his mind, an idea needing a lot of money to support.

Afterwards, he exterminated several hidden points of Blood Vine Castle, gathering and placing all treasures properly.

When the points mentioned in the Blood Letter were completely exterminated, it was already late at night.

Chu Ming merely recovered slightly, then rushed to his final target — Blood Vine Castle!

...

Blood Vine Castle, main hall.

Fortress Master Teng Sect sat high on his throne, below him were the newly appointed three leaders of Blood Vine Castle.

One person’s strength was at the Middle Stage of Refining Organs, the other two were at the Initial Stage.

”Fortress Master, the Teng Family Manor sent over another two hundred people this afternoon,” the newly appointed second leader bowed and said to Teng Sect.

”Young Castle Master is quite capable, at this rate, by tomorrow we can recruit a thousand people, filling up the deficit,” the third leader added.

”Hmm,” Teng Sect nodded slightly, smiled and said, ”That kid did a great job this time, when he returns, I’ll reward him with an organ-refining artifact.”

”By the way, the Xirong County Commandery Mansion is about to attack soon, make good use of these newly recruited cannon fodder, let them take the front first.”

”Rest assured Fortress Master, we know what to do.”

”...”

Blood Vine Castle uses various methods to capture people, replenishing manpower is just one aspect, more importantly, it’s to stage a grand drama for the Commandery Mansion.

”Haha, really want to see, when the Commandery Mansion heavily besieges us, only to find out they are sacking some common people who risk their lives for silver, how will they react?”

”Hehe, what reaction could they have, what’s the difference between them and us? At least we can give a swift death, what about them? Just hypocrites who pretend kindness while killing.”

”Robbing and extorting, plundering and taxation...”

”...”

...

Outside Blood Vine Castle.

Over two hundred Martial Artists gathered here in fear, surrounded by Blood Vine Castle’s bandits wielding weapons.

”Listen carefully, once you join Blood Vine Castle, you are one of us, drink this bowl of blood wine, and henceforth we are brothers, if anyone refuses, don’t blame me for being rude!”

Someone atop a high place was loudly proclaiming, followed by others serving blood wine, with a strong stench assailing the nostrils.

These people hesitated at first, but when one took the lead, all followed suit, drinking one after another.

”Good,” the person above smashed the wine bowl, laughed loudly, ”From now on, we are brothers!”

”Since we are brothers, let me be clear, Blood Vine Castle is the top force in Xirong County, the Commandery Mansion can’t deal with us, as long as you follow orders, from now on, whether it’s silver or women, you will have no shortage, but there’s one thing!”

The man’s voice intensified: ”You must remember, your lives belong to the Fortress Master, whatever the Fortress Master orders you to do, you must do it, got it?!”

”Got it... got it.”

People were deceived to come here, surrounded by bandits, they had no choice.

”Good, that’s settled then.” The man atop continued: ”Everyone will surely thank today’s choice, Fortress Master has specially prepared a banquet to celebrate your arrival, follow me now.”

The giant door opened ahead, inside was brightly lit.

A group of charming women awaited at the entrance, tables inside the hall were laden with fine wine and meats.

”Pick for yourself, choose freely, Blood Vine Castle will never treat you unfairly!”

Initially fearful and trembling, upon seeing this scene, desires surged uncontrollably, displaying their greed unabashedly.

Yet among this group, two individuals were different.

”Sister...” Jiaang Yan appeared greedy on the surface, but her eyes were full of disgust and disdain.

”The time is not right, endure it,” Jiaang Jing whispered like a mosquito, ”Don’t forget why we came here!”

Amongst the noisy and indulgent crowd, nobody noticed the subtle movements between the two.

They blended in, gulping meats, guzzling wine, appearing quite carefree.

In no time, the revelry of wine and meat wafted, seemingly everyone forgot how they ended up here.

”Come, drink up, this is the life of leisure.”

”Haha, drink, tut-tut, look at those women twisting, feels even more thrilling than Cyan Smoke Tower’s courtesans.”

”...”

Glasses clinked, with brotherly words, more and more unsavory language emerged.

”Brothers, have you eaten and drunk enough?”

About two hours passed, the earlier spokesperson now drunkenly spoke.

”Eaten enough!”

”Drunk enough!”

Everyone felt exhilarated.

”Good, the next event, choose women!”

The spokesperson clapped, outside came rows of timid women, ranging from twenties to thirties, and they all looked quite appealing.

The drunken crowd inside the hall immediately pounced like long-starved tigers.

”This one’s mine.”

”Get lost, I saw her first.”

”...”

The leader looked at these desire-driven ’newcomers’ with satisfaction.

”Though Blood Vine Castle is made up of bandits, we’re not beasts. Your quarters are nearby, endure it, go someplace where others can’t see and do whatever you want.”

”Haha...”

The man laughed heartily and carried the trembling woman away.

...

Inside a room.

Disguised as burly men, the sisters Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan pretended to be drunk, leaning on the bed, while two trembling women knelt on the floor, looking around twenty years old.

”You... come over...”

The two women crawled to the bedside.

”Were you captured?” Jiaang Jing suddenly asked.

The two women dared not speak, only sobbing quietly.

”Where are you from?” Jiaang Jing asked again.

”...Master,” one of the women cautiously spoke up, ”would you like a bath and change of clothes?”

”Sigh...” Jiaang Jing sighed inwardly.

Clearly, these women were captured by Blood Vine Castle, tortured and tamed, becoming ’playthings’ for rewarding mountain bandits.

Jiaang Jing gently rose, walked behind the two women, and extended her right hand, striking the back of their necks.

The two women only felt the world spinning, then lost consciousness.

”Sister, not killing them?” Jiaang Yan looked at the two women, her eyes cold.

”They’re just ordinary people who were captured...” Jiaang Jing shook her head, ”Better we succeed tonight, if we fail, it’s hard to say if we can even survive, why add unnecessary killing.”

”Sister...”

”It’s time to act.”

Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan slipped into the darkness, leaving their residence, using the buildings for cover, and moved continuously in a certain direction.

Approaching Blood Vine Castle Master’s fortress, the two each took out packages, wiped off their disguises, and changed clothes.

In a moment, the original two burly men turned into two charming young women.

Jiaang Jing was gentle and lovely, Jiaang Yan was dazzlingly charming.

The two restored their original appearances and just swaggered out from the shadows.

”Stop, what are you doing?!”

The fortress guard instantly noticed the two stunning women.

”Reporting sir, Young Castle Master sent me.” The alluring Jiaang Yan stepped forward to speak.

”Young Castle Master?” The guard’s expression changed upon hearing this, ”Wait, I’ll report immediately.”

Inside the main fortress, in a sumptuously decorated room.

”Two stunning beauties?” A pale-faced and frail young man lay on a tiger-skin chair.

”How beautiful?” The young man asked.

”Reporting to Young Castle Master, one is gentle and virtuous, the other... sexy and charming.”

”Oh?” The young man’s eyes moved, suddenly laughing, ”Haha, indeed I invited them, let them in.”

”Yes.” The guard retreated.

The young man sat up, adjusted his clothes, fiddled with his falling hair, and even took out a mirror, muttering to himself:

”Second brother, father sent you out of the fortress on a mission, but as your older brother, I’ll sample the goods first, give them some experience, you don’t mind, right?”

”No, you should thank me instead!”

The Blood Vine Castle Lord, Teng Sect, had two sons, the young man was the elder, Teng Qian, and the second brother was Teng Shao sent to Wind Vine County.

Teng Qian believed the two women outside the fortress were summoned by Teng Shao.

”Follow me.” The guard came out, leading Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan into the fortress.

A moment later.

”Young Castle Master, the ladies have arrived.”

Teng Qian’s eyes immediately lit up upon seeing Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan.

”Alright, you may leave.” He spoke urgently.

’Second brother, second brother, you really know how to pick women.’

Teng Qian’s eyes were almost glued to Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan.

”Come sit.” He patted the tiger-skin chair and smiled widely.

”Sure.”

Jiaang Yan swayed, twisting as she walked over, while Jiaang Jing approached with slow, steady steps.

”Hey hey, what’s your name, beauty...”

As the fragrance wafted over, Teng Qian almost instantly fell into a trance.

”I am called...” Jiaang Yan waved her sleeve, scattering fragrant breezes.

”Called what...?”

Teng Qian took big breaths, his consciousness began to blur, and soon became silent.

”Tie him up!” Jiaang Jing transformed from gentle to fierce, drew a long rope, and bound Teng Qian tightly.

”Sister, let me kill him!” Jiaang Yan had already drawn her Cold Blade.

”No! He is still useful. Little Yan, don’t forget, we’re here to kill that old bastard, to avenge our mother!”

Jiaang Yan bit her red lip, her expression fluctuating before reluctantly lowering the knife.

”Little Yan, feed him the medicine!”

”Alright.”

The sisters fed Teng Qian a dark medicine pill, then poured a basin of cold water over him.

Teng Qian woke up in a daze.

”Who are you...”

”Hmph!” Jiaang Yan snorted coldly, ”Teng Qian, call your father!”

”Call my father, who are you... huh?” Teng Qian was about to curse, but suddenly his body shuddered violently, followed by excruciating pain throughout.

”You poisoned me?!”