Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

The reason Shen Chu wanted to leave the Li family and Changping County was...

It was precisely to escape this mysterious flag leader and the shadow of the Red Lotus Cult,

Unexpectedly, the danger he had tried so hard to avoid bumped into him again just as he was about to escape.

Moreover, judging from their tone, this group of Red Lotus followers were targeting Li Chengwen's convoy.

No wonder the backup plans that Li Chengwen and Xu Zhibao left behind were never used; they were all killed by these sorcerers!

Is Li Jiwu out of his mind?

Why would the proper second young master of the Li family give up his position and mingle with this group of wicked people?

Shen Chu's mind raced.

He was currently all alone, surrounded by members of the Red Lotus Cult, and besides, this masked man looked like someone not to be trifled with.

To force it is suicidal!

I can only blend in with the group for now and see what happens.

At the same time, Shen Chu also couldn't let go of Li Chengwen, that fat guy.

Although he had always wanted to get rid of the trouble, Li Chengwen had treated him well, and he couldn't just stand by and watch the fat man die at the hands of the Red Lotus Sect.

Seeing that Shen Chu had finished dealing with the situation, the dark-faced leader said no more, waved his hand, and led his men in pursuit of the convoy.

Shen Chu also mingled in the queue, following the footsteps of the Red Lotus Cult members, and quickly chased after Li Chengwen's convoy in the direction it had left.

The members of the Red Lotus Sect traveled swiftly.

Shen Chu's heart was pounding, and her mind was racing, searching for any possible opportunity to escape.

However, the Red Lotus Cult members were extremely secretive, with people in front and behind them, so he had no chance to break away from the group to deliver the message.

Shen Chu could only follow the group forward while silently praying that Li Chengwen would become alert.

But when he thought of Li Chengwen, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

It's better to rely on Xu Zhibao than on him!

......

On the other side, night was deepening.

Li Chengwen's convoy stopped in front of a post station in the suburbs.

Although it's called a post station, it's really just a small courtyard enclosed by earthen walls.

Inside was an old building with a few simple rooms, where travelers and officials could rest.

There is a well in the yard.

Fortunately, although the post station was old, it was clean enough.

Xu Zhibao dismounted and carefully inspected the area inside and outside the post station.

After confirming that there were no abnormalities, he allowed everyone to drive the carriage into the courtyard, unload the goods, and move them into the house in batches.

He then arranged for the remaining people to take turns keeping watch at night, with each person standing in a very tight formation.

After everything was arranged, Xu Zhibao returned to the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

He took the sword from his waist, placed it beside his pillow, and lay down fully clothed.

Although Xu Zhibao lay down, he did not actually fall asleep, his ears constantly listening to the sounds outside.

It was very quiet outside, except for the occasional voice of the night watchmen.

In the next room, Li Chengwen was already sprawled out on the bed, snoring loudly, sleeping as soundly as a dead pig.

Listening to the deafening snoring, Xu Zhibao couldn't help but smile wryly and mutter to himself, "It's good to be carefree... to be able to sleep so soundly at a time like this."

Perhaps it was Li Chengwen's snoring that infected him, Xu Zhibao felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him. He turned over, closed his eyes, but his grip on the knife hilt remained firmly in his hand.

.......

Outside, it was dark and windy.

In the wilderness outside the post station, dozens of dark figures silently lurked in the night, like leopards lying in wait, awaiting the order to strike.

The dark-faced leader crouched behind a rock, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed wooden door of the post station, patiently waiting for the best opportunity.

Finally, he raised his hand and made a downward cutting gesture.

"Two people went over, preparing to release sleeping gas."

Two believers stepped forward in response.

They pulled out two thin bamboo tubes from their pockets, crouched down, and, under the cover of night, quietly made their way to the earthen wall on the side of the post station.

One of these two people is a true member of the Red Lotus Cult, and the other is Shen Chu.

Shen Chu held the bamboo tube, her heart pounding.

He knew this was his last chance.

Once the sleeping gas is released, the people inside will be slaughtered without any resistance while they are asleep, and Li Chengwen will undoubtedly die.

He has to do something before that.

The two men reached the base of the earthen wall and aligned one end of the bamboo tube with a crack in the wall.

Hearing people still talking, Shen Chu pulled the cultist beside her back, signaling them to wait a little longer. At the same time, she took a few steps back, her fist already clenching tightly.

Just as Shen Chu was about to make his move, the cultist suddenly spoke up and asked, "Hey, brother, what's your name? I don't think I've seen you before?"

Shen Chu paused slightly and mumbled a "hmm".

The cultist, however, seemed intrigued and continued in a low voice:

"Don't be so quiet! We're all brothers in the church, can't I even get to know you? Where are you from?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Chu's mind immediately cleared.

So this guy doesn't even recognize me!

His previously tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he became bolder. He then lowered his voice and mumbled a reply:

"I... am just a nobody, not worth mentioning. But you, how long have you been working in the church?"

Seeing that he had finally spoken, the cultist chuckled and whispered:

"I've been doing this for over a year. If I do well on this mission, I might get promoted to a junior leader, yay!"

As he said this, his tone carried a mixture of pride and curiosity.

"Hey, do you even know what we're supposed to do this time? The higher-ups only said to rob the Li family's shipment, but I haven't heard a word about where to transport it or what to do with it."

Shen Chu's heart stirred, and she continued to probe:

"I'm not entirely sure either, I've only heard it's about doing something big. Do you know what it is?"

The believer scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said:

"I really don't know... It's not our place to ask about what the higher-ups are doing. Just follow along, the church is definitely doing what's best for us."

Shen Chu probed a few more times to confirm that the person really knew nothing and was just a low-level believer being used as a pawn.

He understood the situation and stopped asking questions.

The believer chatted for a few minutes, then suddenly remembered the important matter and urged, "Alright, alright, stop chatting and hurry up and put out the cigarettes, or the leader will scold us if we're late."

As he spoke, he brought the bamboo tube to his lips, preparing to blow smoke into it.

Just as he took a deep breath and was about to blow it out,

Shen Chu's right hand shot out like lightning, his five fingers joined into a fist, and struck him precisely in the back of the heart!

The force of the Crushing Stone Fist shattered his heart meridian instantly through the fist.

The believer's body stiffened abruptly, the bamboo tube in his mouth fell to the ground, and he slumped forward.

After Shen Chu killed the man, he was about to warn the people inside the courtyard when he heard a low voice behind him:

"Are you done yet?! Why are you taking so long?!"