Chapter 90: Two Wanted Criminals

"The Fat and Thin Daoists!"

In the manor, the woman in black appeared at the doorway and said in a deep voice, "You two have been pursuing me for ten days straight, only informing others of my whereabouts without ever showing yourselves. Why do you dare to appear today?"

"Hahahaha..."

The fat daoist let out a loud laugh and said, "We've always been wary of Miss Yang's martial arts and trump cards. Throughout this journey, Miss Yang has repeatedly broken through encirclements, and her trump cards must be exhausted by now. As for her martial arts, Miss Yang must be at her weakest point ever. Haven't we, as fellow disciples, been following you for ten days, precisely waiting for this opportunity? Miss Yang, your head alone will ensure our prosperity!"

The woman in black said coldly, "You are welcome to try."

At this moment, in the carriage parked beside the manor's entrance, Gu Chutong pulled out a wanted poster from a stack. He whispered, "Brother, it really is the Fat and Thin Daoists. The government bounty for each of them is three hundred taels. If Unrivaled Villa handles it, they should be able to collect no less than two thousand taels. I've compared the images; it should be correct."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "It is them."

Gu Chutong asked, puzzled, "How are you so certain?"

"Yes."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. He was naturally certain.

Because at that moment, his system had already begun to alert him:

New target detected.Wanted target – Fat Daoist.Mission level – Three Stars.Mission reward – Max-level Dugu Nine Swords.

New target detected.Wanted target – Thin Daoist.Mission level – Three Stars.Mission reward – Grand Restoration Pill.

In the brief interval while Gu Chutong and Gu Mo were talking, the Fat and Thin Daoists outside had already confronted the woman in black inside the manor.

The thin daoist suddenly darted towards Gu Mo's carriage, soaring like a phantom. His movements were light and swift, like a streak of light cutting through the night.

Just then, a cold gleam suddenly flashed within the manor, and a sharp aura rushed forward. The woman in black at the manor's entrance raised her delicate hand, and the sword sheath in her grip shot out like an arrow from a bowstring, flying straight towards the thin daoist. The sheath sliced through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

The thin daoist, with his exceptional lightness skill, twisted his body in mid-air and flew backward without any visible leverage, as if lifted by an invisible force. His body, light as a willow catkin in the wind, gracefully avoided the deadly sword sheath. He flipped in the air and landed steadily a few paces away.

At the same time, the woman in black inside the manor lightly tapped her foot on the ground and shot forward like a swift arrow, instantly covering a distance of several yards.

Her first step seemed casual, yet it perfectly aligned with the principles of esoteric movement, her landing precise, leveraging her momentum with great skill. Immediately after, her second step carried her forward like lightning, her robes fluttering, as if a dark cloud rapidly swept out, already past the manor's threshold.

These two movements were executed in one fluid motion, as swift as lightning yet not without grace, like a swallow skimming the water—light and agile. When she landed, her feet touched the ground steadily without stirring a speck of dust. She swiftly appeared beside the carriage, holding a long sword, and said coldly, "They are just passing through here. A young girl and a young man, innocent people. Gentlemen, how about you let them go?"

As she spoke, the woman raised her hand and gripped the brim of her bamboo hat. With a swift, clean motion, she flipped it off and dropped it to the ground, revealing a somewhat weary yet delicate face.

"Heh heh!"

The thin daoist let out a sinister chuckle and said, "Miss Yang is still the same Miss Yang. If you hadn't been so soft-hearted and benevolent along the way, you wouldn't have ended up in this predicament!"

The woman in black said coldly, "If I were to watch innocent people die because of me and remain indifferent, what difference would there be between me and you evil cultivators?"

"As expected of the daughter of the Righteous Alliance Leader, truly inheriting her father's demeanor!" The fat daoist floated over, smiling. "But, Miss Yang, do you know that you are currently being hunted by your own 'righteous' factions? No matter how much you speak of righteousness, no one will acknowledge you. In the eyes of the righteous martial artists, you are a patricidal ingrate, an unforgivable sinner. Why bother? Miss Yang, you still have a chance. If you surrender to our Worship Moon Sacred Cult, not only will you not die, but you can also become a hall master, holding great power and enjoying endless wealth and honor!"

The woman in black said calmly, "I do what is righteous not for others to see, but simply because I possess a righteous heart. Even if the whole world deems me an unforgivable sinner, it won't stop me from doing what I want to do. Joining the Worship Moon Cult does not align with my beliefs. If I must die, then so be it!"

The fat daoist said coldly, "Then there's nothing more to discuss, Miss Yang. According to the Sacred Cult's instructions, persuading you to surrender would be a great service. However, if we cannot persuade you, obtaining your head would still be a secondary great service. Miss Yang, one last time..."

"Stop speaking nonsense," the woman in black said coldly.

The fat daoist chuckled lightly, pointed at the carriage, and said, "Then, Miss Yang, what do you intend to exchange for these two innocent lives?"

The woman in black turned slightly and realized that, at some unknown point, the thin daoist had quietly appeared in another direction, blocking the carriage's path.

Immediately, the woman in black slowly raised her hand and said, "If you let them leave, I can give up my sword."

The fat daoist chuckled, "That would be excellent! Miss Yang's Autumn Water Sword can cut hair and sever metal as easily as mud, and combined with her Fine Rain Swordplay, our brothers are extremely wary. Without this sword, Miss Yang would be effectively cutting off her own arm. It's well worth exchanging these two people for Miss Yang's sword." With that, the fat daoist shouted to the thin daoist on the other side, "Junior Brother, let them pass!"

The two daoists trusted the woman in black implicitly, not at all worried that she would break her word once the carriage was gone and she had no more concerns.

The thin daoist immediately darted sideways, circled around the carriage, and returned to his previous position.

Seeing this, the woman in black took a step back, stood behind the carriage, and said softly, "I apologize for involving you two. Please leave quickly. Go deeper into the woods; this area is not safe for now, and many evil cultivators will be coming."

However, under the night sky, there was a deathly silence.

The carriage remained motionless.

Instantly, the woman in black felt a surge of confusion and surprise, while the Fat and Thin Daoists, who had been confronting her, suddenly grew wary as well. They, too, had abruptly realized something was amiss.

It was too quiet. From beginning to end, the two people in the carriage had been too calm. Even now, they showed no reaction—no panicked escape, no alighting to investigate, not even a peek from behind the carriage curtains.

In the midst of the silence, the woman in black slowly opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, she heard a calm voice say, "Are you Yang Qingtong, daughter of Yang Shentong, the leader of the Righteous Alliance?"

The woman in black paused for a moment and said, "Yes."

This woman was indeed Yang Qingtong, the daughter of a grandmaster, currently hunted by the entire martial arts world.

Immediately, Yang Qingtong saw the young brother and sister pair step down from the carriage.

At this moment, she was very close to them, unlike before when she couldn't see clearly inside the manor. Now, she saw them very clearly.

In that instant, she was somewhat captivated.

She couldn't describe the young man. It was a temperament that radiated from within, seemingly right before her eyes, yet inexplicably distant. The only thing she found slightly lacking was the young man's eyes, which seemed to be missing a certain spark.

In that instant, Yang Qingtong was suddenly filled with guilt. For someone like him to be implicated and die because of her would truly be a grave sin.

In contrast to Yang Qingtong's reaction, the Fat and Thin Daoists opposite them had their expressions change drastically.

"You're Gu the Blind?"

"The Blade Catcher of Linjiang?"