173 Valuable Shipment I (1/2)
It was the dead of night. The waning moon struggled to illuminate the foggy rice fields and green forests outside of Moonlight City. The guards on the tall city walls were asleep, the night watch was simply a formality for the city that had not seen battle for many decades. Mounted scouts that were supposed to be patrolling the surroundings were instead in their tents, enjoying the company of the prostitutes they weren't supposed to bring with them.
It was under these circumstances that kidnapped women were often smuggled into the city. Human traffickers had to resort to such measures for high value goods because they didn't want to attract attention from neighboring kingdoms or duchies. And on this ordinary night, there was a particularly high-class and valuable shipment…
A heavy horse carriage rolled down the winding road from the northern hills, pulled by two grey draft horses and driven by a nervous looking bearded old man. He checked the surrounding constantly, as if expecting nonexistent city guards to jump out at them. The carriage proceeded down the hills and into the trees before going off the road. It struggled through the brush and finally stopped in a hidden clearing.
A burly man emerged from the carriage and said gruffly to the driver, ”Old Hu, we're here? Where is our client?”
Old Hu looked at his partner and shook his head, ”We are right on time but it's strange. He is usually early... let's wait a little bit.”
He took a whiff of the air and scowled, ”There's perfume on your hands. If you did anything to the goods…”
His partner chuckled and waved his hands dismissively but Old Hu didn't trust him and went into the carriage to check. He came back out and slapped his partner upside the head.
”You sick bastard, your job was to watch her incase she woke up, not fondle her body and masturbate!” He hissed. ”How did my brother raise you like this?”
”Haha, don't be so uptight. She's still a virgin. I'm not that dumb. The trip was just too long and too boring…” Xia Kang suddenly became alert, ”Who?”
A shadowy silhouette emerged from the foggy forest and both men tensed. The person was not their client, who would usually bring a squad of bodyguards. From the spiritual energy billowing from the person's body, the two men could tell this lonely visitor was strong…
The stranger wore a light-yellow hooded robe and a flower mask that covered everything except their eyes. However, the two human traffickers instantly recognized the telltale flare of the hips as well as the slight bulge around the chest area. From the physique, this was obviously a woman!
Xia Kang relaxed and chuckled; he sensed she was only at the 2nd Level of the Spirit Initiate Realm. She would be no problem for him, who was already at the 4th Level. He jumped down and walked towards the woman. Old Hu stayed on the carriage since he was still at the Mind Focusing Realm and useless against such an opponent.
Xia Kang and the woman stopped around ten meters form each other. There was a brief silence and then the women spoke up.
”Leave carriage behind and flee, and I will spare you.” The female voice was sweet and melodic but it was also filled with strength and left no room for negotiations.
Xia Kang snorted, ”Little lass, you shouldn't have tried to play hero. It's a dangerous world, hahaha. You'll pay with your body!”
His spiritual aura erupted as he charged. His was a loose cultivator that had reached his level through constant life or death struggles. He was an expert against all types of opponents and he did not underestimate the woman in front of him. A pair of steel gauntlets appeared on his fists as he launched a powerful one-two punch.
Bam! Bam!
His fists were blocked by her arms while she was pushed back several meters. She dusted her sleeves and stared at him mockingly, completely fine after the exchange.
Xia Kang was taken aback. She was two levels weaker and she didn't have weapon. How could she block him just like that?
”Okay, take this then. Steel Tornado!” Xia Kang yelled and attacked once more.
He became a blur as his spiritual energy gathered a cloud of dust around his body. His steel fists would then shoot out from the brown dust cloud at random angles and directions. This combined with the low visibility under the moonlight made dodging difficult.
It was truly a powerful attack. The woman could not keep up with the pace. She did her best to block with her arms and her legs, but some wayward punches landed on her body. Yet those blows seemed to have no effect as she would always recover quickly and continue as if unaffected.