The King of Yu's carriage left Tianshui Town, heading towards the county seat.
Besides the driver, there was a mounted guard on each side, front and back, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
The King of Yu reclined in the carriage, resting, while A Qiu kept his hand on his sword hilt, not daring to relax even slightly.
By this time, the sun had risen high. There were few pedestrians on the road, with only the occasional tattered refugee wandering by the roadside.
As they passed a patch of withered shrubs, suddenly, over a dozen masked figures in black leaped out from the thicket. They brandished gleaming sabers and charged directly towards the carriage.
"Assassins!" the lead guard shouted. Several guards immediately drew their swords, each taking a defensive position to protect the King of Yu inside the carriage.
A Qiu had already lifted the carriage curtain and was engaged in a fierce fight with the black-clad attackers at the carriage door.
The King of Yu raised his hand, drew the sword hanging on the carriage wall, and prepared to join the fray.
"Master, quickly return to the carriage!" A Qiu called out in a low voice.
The King of Yu said coldly, "This King is no coward! I want to see who is so reckless as to dare take this King's life!"
"They outnumber us!" A Qiu said urgently. "Master, you ride ahead in the carriage, we'll cover your retreat!"
"It's still early!" He felt restless without killing a few assassins. Ever since he came to Bianzhou, those people had sent assassins to assassinate him repeatedly. Even in his current state, they still wouldn't leave him alone. He truly wished to vent his frustration.
However, the black-clad figures today were all masters. After a prolonged struggle, more than half of the attackers still remained, while two of the King of Yu's guards had already been injured.
"Master, ride your horse and leave quickly!" A Qiu shouted back while fighting the black-clad attackers.
Seeing the opponent's strength, the King of Yu realized that if the fight dragged on, he might perish here today. As long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn. Survival was paramount.
The King of Yu quickly ran to the horses, preparing to mount, when suddenly, over a dozen more masked figures in black arrived.
Judging by the style of their black attire and shoes, these two groups were not the same. After exchanging glances, they immediately turned their attention to their common enemy.
A Qiu cried out, "This is bad! It seems two groups of assassins have coincidentally appeared." He wondered what rotten luck his master had, to have even assassins collide on the same day.
It seemed he couldn't escape today. Rather than this, he might as well fight with all his might! The King of Yu suddenly made up his mind, raised his sword, and rejoined the battle formation. With so many people wanting him dead, he was determined not to die!
But alas, the opposing force held an overwhelming advantage. Before long, the King of Yu's side was forced into a corner. The driver fell to the ground, and all four guards were injured.
"Master, it seems quite a few people have been watching you from behind!" A Qiu panted.
Coming out to Tianshui Town had drawn so many assassins. He wondered if it would implicate Xiaobai's family.
"Then let's see if this King is lucky enough to survive today! As long as I live, I will never let them off!" The King of Yu, sword in hand, clashed against a saber swung at him by a black-clad attacker.
At this moment, five or six black-clad figures exchanged glances and attacked the King of Yu together, their gleaming swords and sabers all aimed at him.
The King of Yu was greatly alarmed and immediately used his sword to block. However, outnumbered, he couldn't defend himself. The King of Yu inwardly despaired, thinking it was over. But before their swords and sabers could strike, they suddenly stopped in unison.
In the blink of an eye, the heads of the five or six black-clad figures were cleanly severed, rolling in different directions, their necks spurting blood.
It was a horizontal cut, incredibly swift swordplay!
The King of Yu looked up and saw a masked figure in black, holding a blood-dripping sword, standing before him like a demon. Behind him, another masked figure was fighting the other black-clad attackers.
The black combat attire of these two masked figures was very different from the previous two groups, and they also wore black eye masks.
This... was this the third wave of black-clad attackers?
However, fortunately, it was clear that they were here to save the King of Yu.
"Many thanks to you two chivalrous warriors!" A Qiu called out loudly to the two figures.
Seeing the heads of five or six attackers fall simultaneously, the remaining black-clad figures were greatly alarmed and immediately shifted their focus to the newly arrived masked figures.
But the martial arts of these two masked figures were unfathomably deep, their killing intent like that of Yama. Any black-clad attacker who clashed with them fell within a single move, their killing methods swift, fierce, and precise, without any wasted effort.
Now his master would be saved, A Qiu let out a sigh of relief.
The King of Yu, however, watched the two masked figures warily, a strange feeling stirring within him. Who were these two? Friend or foe? Why were they saving him? Kuai Shu Ge.
The two masked figures did not pursue and kill all their enemies. Instead, they each spared one black-clad attacker, severing the tendons in their weapon-wielding hands, and pinning them under their feet.
The leading masked figure said in a deep voice, "Go back and tell your master that the King of Yu is protected by Yeshengmen. If you dare to harm the King of Yu again, Yeshengmen will retaliate! Begone!"
Yeshengmen? Hearing the name, the two black-clad attackers were so terrified they almost couldn't get up.
"Yeshengmen?" The King of Yu turned to A Qiu. "Have you heard of them?"
A Qiu nodded, "I hadn't heard of them before, but recently I've heard some whispers. They are said to be an underground martial arts organization, with numerous masters. However, I don't know why they..." chose to save my master.
The two masked figures turned to face the King of Yu.
A Qiu fumbled in his robes and quickly stepped forward, bowing. "Many thanks to you two chivalrous warriors for saving our lives. Here is a thousand taels of silver notes as a token of our gratitude."
The masked figures blocked the silver notes, their voices extremely deep. "Your Highness, the King of Yu, you must be aware that many people wish to assassinate you. Are you interested in hiring us, Yeshengmen, to protect you?"
The King of Yu also cupped his hands towards the masked figures. "In this world, there are always stronger individuals. Can Yeshengmen guarantee my perpetual safety?"
The masked figure smiled confidently. "Of course. As long as you... provide sufficient silver."
The King of Yu smiled faintly. "You say you can, so you can? How can I believe you? Moreover, I have no idea what Yeshengmen does."
The masked man snorted softly. "You have witnessed our skills firsthand just now. Facts speak louder than words. However, you are also free to choose not to believe us."
A Qiu was somewhat tempted. Although the King of Yu's manor had many guards, their skills were far inferior to these two. However, he needed to inquire about the price first. His master had been assigned to this poor and remote region and had little opportunity for profit.
"May I ask, chivalrous warrior, how much remuneration do you require to protect my master?"
The masked man said, "Five thousand taels a month."
"Five thousand taels?" A Qiu was shocked. His master's meager fortune wouldn't last long.
The masked man chuckled. "The King of Yu's life is worth this price. Consider it carefully. If you agree, hang a black flag on the large tree outside the King of Yu's manor. If no black flag appears after one month, it means the King of Yu has not agreed, and we shall part ways forever. However, I must remind Your Highness that you have only this one chance."