Legend of the Great Sage

such that the first snow of winter was about to arrive.
However, the road bustled with people, still as lively as ever.
From time to time, a few villages or even small cities would appear on the sides of the road.
The place was actually even more prosperous than the central region that he had visited before.

The number of masters here had surpassed any other place he had seen, except none of these masters were dressed fancily.
Some of them held sickles as they carried out a harvest.
With a flash of cold light, the wheat would fall in entire groups.
Others wielded metal hammers, smashing through boulders with a single boom before using the rocks to pave the road.

Not only were the sickles and hammers forged from top quality steel, but they even possessed a spiritual nature.
Even the legendary renowned swords and blades paled in comparison.

A group of people rushed over and tied up the wheat.
The young man placed down his sickle and said to the old man crouching on the side of the fields, “I’m done, uncle.
It’s all been cut!”

“If you’re done, then go back to the village and have some alcohol.”

“The alcohol is the alcohol, but my pay better not be missing.”

“You’ll get what you’re owed.
It sure is nice to practise martial arts.
You alone cut through everything faster than the entire village combined!”

“Hmph, that goes without saying.
In the martial arts community, I’m known as the Reaper of Wheat.
The Wind Sickle in my possession was even personally bestowed to me by society leader Gu when I served as a model worker.
All the wheat within a hundred kilometres of here is cut by me.”

“Sigh, you sure are outstanding.
Your father really hasn’t sent you to the Youth hall to learn martial arts for nothing.”

“It’s got nothing to do with that old drunkard.
I was clearly personally chosen by hall leader Lei.
Hall leader Lei used the blade in the past too.”

“Then it’s the graces of the hero king.”

“Yeah, now that’s more like it.”

“Damned brat, if I don’t fill you up until you collapse, I’m not your uncle!”

A burly man placed the hammer on his shoulder and wiped away his sweat.
He waved his hands.
“Alright, we’re done for today! Let’s continue tomorrow!” Looking at the day’s progress, he felt very happy inside.
Once this road was complete, carriages would be able to move through the town.

He had not begun practising martial arts after the World’s society had arrived.
There was a hammer style passed down through his family, which possessed some renown in the northern region.
However, since it had renown, it was unavoidable for people to come and challenge them in order to make a name for themselves.
As a result, he practised martial arts daily to protect the reputation of his family.

However, in the recent years, the World’s society issued a decree.
Not only did they forbid private conflict, but challenges and matches were a grave offence too.
The hero king said, “When a person dies, their death can bear the weight of mountains, or it can be as light as a feather.
If they die fighting evil forces to bring benefit to the greater population, then their deaths bear the weight of mountains.
Dying in a struggle for fame and gain, just to show who is tougher, is as light as a feather.
It’s not even as great as a pig’s death.
When a pig is butchered, at least it can still feed mouths.
When a person dies, it’ll even cost a coffin to bury them.”

As a result, he was finally freed from the martial arts training grounds.
He did not have to watch over his home and wait for people to challenge him.
Compared to using his hammer to smash in the heads of people, he preferred smashing up rocks and paving roads.

Suddenly, Wu Huan heard gusts of wind behind him.
He looked back and was shocked!

A few young men chased right after him, dressed in the same black robes.
They wore shoes with embroidered clouds as they moved like they were riding the wind.
It was the supreme movement technique of the Divine Wind sect.

Oh no, I must have given myself away at the river crossing! The World’s society has sent people to kill me!

Wu Huan personally believed his martial arts was above the young men’s, but he could not help but fear their movement techniques.
Once they caught him, it would definitely draw over even more masters.
As a result, he activated his true qi and accelerated.

“Looks like the old guy up ahead wants to compete with us.”

“Then let’s compete! Who’s afraid of who?”

The young men exchanged glances and also accelerated, going straight after him.

Wu Huan had never been particularly skilled at movement techniques.
He ran for over fifty kilometres and felt his strength running out, yet he was unable to shake off the young men.
He thought, If I keep going like this, I’ll definitely run out of true qi!

He arrived in a remote area and made up his mind.
He dove into the trees on the side of the road, standing still and catching his breath.
He was ready for a battle, to completely kill these people tailing behind him!

Come, hunting dogs of Li Qingshan!

However, the young men stopped on the road, leaning against their knees as they gasped for air.

“That old guy sure runs quickly!”

“Brothers, do we go after him or not?”

“Go after him my ass! If we don’t deliver the goods by tonight, do you want our pay to be deducted?”

“You’re delivery men?”

Wu Huan made his way out from the trees.
His eyes were completely widened.
Only now did he understand why the travelling merchants on the road were completely unsurprised by them.

“Heh, your movement technique is pretty good! There aren’t a lot of people that can beat us on this road, but I can tell with a single glance that you’re not from here.
We’re not delivery men, but couriers! We’re the Tailwind couriers!”

Wu Huan was speechless.
He had learnt far too many new words today.
In the past, most of the people that possessed such movement techniques were either thieves or perverted rapists.
He had never heard of anyone who specialised in delivering goods.

He only watched speechlessly as the young men vanished off into the setting sun.
It was not that his movement techniques were not good enough.
He had just been mentally overwhelmed.

Hmph, even if it’s a thief or pervert, they can still wander the jianghu freely and easily.
At least that’s better than being an errand boy for others!”

Wu Huan made his way along the road slowly.
As the sun set, he passed by a small village.
He felt a little parched in the throat, so he sped up.

“Kill!”

He was about to find a place to get something to eat and drink when a battle cry rang out from the earthen wall ahead.
His relaxed nerves immediately became tense again.

It’s an ambush!