Calamity Messenger-Chapter 45 - 35: Side Quest

Sure enough, ’Jiang Shi’ quickly attracted the attention of the entire street, and even the noise gradually quieted down as everyone put down their work to come out and watch.

Looks like my face-altering skills have reached a stunning level, Yan Qing thought.

However, keywords like ’rainy day’, ’wet body’, and ’barefoot’ probably added a lot to the scene.

At this moment, four ruffians came walking towards me. The reason why they could be identified as ruffians at a glance was not only because they were shirtless, idle, and covered in tattoos, but also because they were walking in the rain without an umbrella — if they can’t even think to avoid the rain, their brains are merely suited to be thugs.

The first reaction of the four thugs upon seeing ’Jiang Shi’ was to be stunned; it was obvious they had never seen a girl more beautiful than ’Jiang Shi’ in their lives, all showing expressions of lust and fascination without exception. Just as Yan Qing was preparing to kill a few people to liven up the atmosphere, one of the thugs saw something that frightened him greatly, tugged his companion, and whispered a few words. The other thugs’ expressions changed drastically, and they swiftly moved to the side of the road to avoid ’Jiang Shi’.

Yan Qing had never seen such perceptive passersby before. Are the local thugs this polite?

Could it be because ’Jiang Shi’ carries a White Iron Straight Saber?

Thinking it over, it makes sense, considering ’Jiang Shi’ is now walking in the rain without an umbrella, and holding a saber, making the impression on others that she is both ’mentally unsound’ and ’armed’, making her the apex predator on this street. Of course, mere ’mentally unsound’ thugs wouldn’t dare to provoke her. As if anyone here was bright!

But as time passed, Yan Qing felt increasingly that something was amiss. It was not merely because the passersby avoided her — they were closing their doors and windows. ’Jiang Shi’ was like Moses parting the sea; before she even walked past, all the storefronts and houses ahead were shut tight, and the pedestrians had vanished, leaving only the rain between heaven and earth in this quiet town.

Suddenly, a team of riders on powerful steeds burst through the rain, their calls echoing as they blocked the road. One by one, riders in raincoats and conical hats dismounted, walking steadily towards ’Jiang Shi’. Some took out Lock Chains, while others pulled long spears from their backs. Though silent, their malice was apparent in the wind and rain.

Yan Qing had no intention of dodging, letting ’Jiang Shi’ grip the saber’s hilt with the left hand, gently pushing the guard with the thumb, and unsheathing the White Iron Straight Saber by an inch to prepare for the Koi’s mouth cut, which would improve the draw speed in the forthcoming battle by 0.2 seconds.

If they were ordinary people, he would use ordinary methods; if they were messengers, Yan Qing had strategies for messengers too.

At this moment, there was the sound of wheels and hooves from behind.

Were they surrounded from front and back?

Yan Qing looked back and saw a four-horse carriage charging through the wind and rain.

A silk flag on top of the carriage had the word ’Qian’ embroidered on it.

The horses were fine steeds, each one a black-maned, white-haired pack horse; the carriage was sturdy, maintaining balance even on this rough path despite the speed, with deep and steady tracks and a carriage nearing the size of a house; the driver was no ordinary person either, for he wore no hat or raincoat, yet remained dry.

Even the driver had a defensive token. What a grand display.

Since he couldn’t tell whether the carriage was friend or foe, both Yan Qing and the Raincoat Knights paused their actions until the carriage slowly came to a halt behind ’Jiang Shi’. The door curtain rolled up like a scroll, and even before a person appeared, a voice was heard.

"Why are you blocking the road?" The voice of a young woman was as cold as the rain, "If you dare to obstruct this imperial four-horse carriage without reason, it is akin to insulting the Baiyun Qian Clan. According to etiquette, granting you self-ending is already a mercy!"

Yan Qing raised an eyebrow as he listened, block the road and you die?

It seems that every place has its difficult scriptures to chant...

The Raincoat Knight replied loudly, his voice cutting through the rain: "Reporting to the esteemed, this humble one is a constable from the County Yamen patrol team. We received information that there are undocumented individuals here at Shibajie, suspected to be Taihu Rebel Bandits. We came specifically for the arrest, please bear with us a moment; we will capture the rebels shortly to report back."

"Taihu Rebel Bandits?"

The young woman looked toward ’Jiang Shi’, who stood soaked and alone in between them.

"Are you saying she is a Taihu Rebel Bandit?"

"We can only confirm after questioning," the Raincoat Knight said blandly, "but it is certain she is an undocumented individual. In any case, she has committed a serious crime and must be taken into custody awaiting trial by the County Magistrate."

Undocumented?

It was only then that Yan Qing noticed everyone here seemed to have bands tied around their wrists. The Raincoat Knights wore black bands, visible at a glance, while the driver and young woman wore bands as well — the driver with a black band, and the young woman with a blue band. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Not just them, but everyone on the street, from vendors to thugs, wore bands, though theirs were gray or brown, matching their clothing. No wonder Yan Qing hadn’t noticed this detail while walking along.

"Hey, you." The young woman asked, "Where is your band?"

"I don’t have a band."

"Are you a Taihu Rebel Bandit?"

"No."

"Where is your family? Where are you going?"

"I have no family," Yan Qing replied, "I’m heading to a woodland area in the east."

The young woman was startled, "Are you also going to—"

"Miss!" The driver said softly, and the young woman immediately stopped speaking.

It was then that the Raincoat Knights seemed to realize something, dividing into four directions to surround ’Jiang Shi’, speaking in a leisurely tone: "Miss from the Baiyun Qian Clan, we ask that you do not interfere with our duty."

"How could Taihu Rebel Bandits appear in such a place!" The young woman said loudly, "Does she look like a rebel bandit to you? She has nothing but a knife, not even shoes! She’s clearly just an ordinary person!"

"Undocumented individuals are all unruly barbarian rebels against royal law," the Raincoat Knight said, "Is the Baiyun Qian Clan trying to shield a rebel?"

"Miss," the driver called softly, "it would be better not to..."

The young woman gritted her teeth, her expression clearly begrudging, and she looked at ’Jiang Shi’s’ back several times, but ultimately, she returned to the carriage without further word.

The driver snapped the whip, and the four pack horses bypassed the group, pulling the carriage forward.

"Try to capture her alive," the Raincoat Knight instructed, "don’t harm her, especially her face; whoever hits too hard will line up last later."

"Thought coming out in the rain was a lousy task, at most extorting a few silver pieces, never expected to find such a prize."

"Old Huang’s gang would be so jealous if they knew."

"Ha, she can handle a blade, but I happen to like them feisty."

The fight could finally begin.

Yan Qing manipulated ’Jiang Shi’ to draw the White Iron Straight Saber, preparing to seize the opportunity by retreating to the narrow alleys on the right. Probably because of the increase in Qi Blood, Yan Qing’s current skill level rivaled his own at 17 years old, effortlessly executing perfect dodges and counters, so he wasn’t afraid of fighting — in battles at a mortal level, his skills could offset the disadvantage in equipment.

Neigh—

The carriage that should have driven past suddenly returned and charged directly at the Raincoat Knights. The Raincoat Knights seemed wary of the carriage, not even making a hacking motion at its body, immediately dodging away.

Yan Qing was also going to dodge, but at this moment, the carriage curtain rolled up, and the young woman leaned out, extending her hand towards ’Jiang Shi’.

"Get on!"

Faced with the young woman’s invitation, ’Jiang Shi’ moved.

She took quick steps forward, rushed toward the nearest Raincoat Knight, and under his shocked gaze, slashed out, breaking through the rain curtain with a blade.

And the Raincoat Knight’s head flew skyward, his headless body collapsed to the ground powerlessly, and a fountain of blood shot into the sky from his neck.

The carriage stopped once more, and whether it was the young woman, the driver, or the remaining Raincoat Knights, all were dumbstruck as they watched ’Jiang Shi’ shaking the blood off her blade. Her expression was calm and elegant, one couldn’t imagine this beautiful girl had just beheaded a constable if not for the headless corpse at her feet.

’One down, three to go,’ Yan Qing thought.

At the moment the young woman extended her hand, two thoughts appeared in Yan Qing’s mind.

The first was the main quest: grab the girl’s hand and you could immediately escape this place.

The second was the side quest: kill all the enemies (optional).

Obviously, as a single-player Brahma who loves full trophy games, Yan Qing wouldn’t miss any chance to complete side quests.

And running away wasn’t Yan Qing’s style of play.