Chapter 444

Chapter 444: Does the Young Lady Know Me?

Pengda got up from the ground, spitting out a mouthful of mud and grass.

After being heavily thrown to the ground just now, Pengda felt like all his internal organs were about to be shaken out.

Pengda looked at the black-clad figure approaching step by step toward him, and he kept retreating backward.

However, as he kept retreating, Pengda found himself leaning against a big tree, realizing he could no longer retreat any further.

Pengda swallowed hard, looking at the black-clad person in front of him, sweat continuously pouring down his forehead.

“Who are you? Why do you want to kill me? Do you even know who I am?”

Pengda said fearfully, his fat jiggling with every word.

Pengda thought what he was saying was nonsense; if the attacker was after his wealth, they wouldn’t be killing him like this. Moreover, in the suburbs of the capital, which bandit would dare to act so arrogantly?

The opponent clearly came directly for him, but Pengda couldn’t understand why—had he offended someone? In the capital city, he hadn’t wronged anyone, but if it was in the county where he had governed these past few years, yes, he had indeed offended some people.

But the problem was, if those people truly wanted to harm him, they should have done it on the way, not when he was almost reaching the capital.

“You’re Ming’s younger brother.” The black-clad figure tilted their head.

“So it’s because of my fifth brother?” Upon hearing the name “Ming,” Pengda realized it must be some enemies of his fifth brother causing trouble for him.

Pengda didn’t blame his younger brother; instead, he worried whether the other party might use his death to indirectly harm his fifth brother.

The black-clad figure didn’t say anything more, merely raising a sword and slashing down toward Pengda.

Pengda turned his head away, tightly closing his eyes.

“Clang!”

Just when Pengda thought he was doomed, he heard a clear sound right before him.

Pengda slowly opened his eyes, seeing a longsword blocking the attack in front of him.

The longsword gleamed with a cold light.

A woman dressed in sword attire held a crystal-clear sword resembling jade-like glass, standing protectively in front of Pengda.

She was tall, even taller than Pengda himself.

She stood gracefully, though her figure wasn’t as curvaceous as some women, she exuded a refreshing aura.

Especially her high ponytail that added to her efficient appearance.

Pengda had fantasized about countless images of female warriors, and he believed they should look exactly like this one.

Still, while gazing at the back of this warrior, Pengda felt an odd sense of familiarity, but he couldn’t quite place it.

The woman flicked her wrist, releasing a fierce Sword Qi cutting upward.

The black-clad assailant sensed impending doom and immediately fled into the forest without hesitation.

The woman recited a Dharma Decree, her longsword flying out and stabbing toward the fleeing figure’s position.

“Clang clang clang clang!”

The transparent sword drew beautiful yet deadly arcs through the trees.

The black-clad figure desperately defended vital spots, but the rest of their body was slashed open with numerous wounds.

“Spare them where possible; we won’t kill today.”

Just as the black-clad figure was about to be killed, an elder’s voice echoed from the heavens.

A Spiritual Energy broke through the clouds, striking the girl’s Flying Sword.

The transparent Flying Sword trembled, plummeting straight down and embedding itself firmly into the ground.

Seizing this moment of respite, the black-clad figure quickly escaped without a second thought. The woman coldly watched the direction in which the black-clad figure disappeared. Her clear sword seemed to come back to its senses, pulling itself out of the ground and flying back to its owner.

As if regretting not completing the mission, the clear sword circled around anxiously, as if apologizing.

“No harm done.” The young woman gripped the hilt and put the sword away.

Pengda knew he had narrowly escaped death, saved by this female warrior, and quickly stood up, bowing respectfully to the warrior: “I am Pengda of the Wu Kingdom, thank you, young lady, for saving my life.”

Hearing the man introduce himself, the young woman turned around, looking at this man with a hint of complexity in her eyes.

“Does the young lady know me?” Seeing the expression of his savior, Pengda asked.

By the way, this girl was incredibly beautiful.

For some unknown reason, he felt an inexplicable closeness.

“I’ve heard of you.” The young woman replied coldly.

“May I ask the young lady’s esteemed name? If you don’t mind, please join us for a meal in Wudu. Pengda wishes to repay your kindness.”

This was absolutely sincere on Pengda’s part.

Since she had saved his life, he definitely needed to offer some form of gratitude.

“There’s no need.” The young woman briefly answered, then glanced over Pengda’s mud-covered state, “Have you offended anyone?”

“I don’t think so.” Pengda thought for a moment, then shook his head with a laugh, “But politics are unpredictable. It could be some political rival.”

“Hmm.”

The young woman nodded slightly, said nothing more, and flew away.

“Eh?”

By the time Pengda reacted, the young woman had already flown far away, her figure disappearing among the trees.

“Are heroines this straightforward nowadays?”

Pengda patted the dirt off his clothes, looking at the dead attendants and horses nearby, his eyes revealing a trace of sorrow.

“They died because of me.” Pengda retracted his gaze and hurried toward Wudu.

Only by safely returning to Wudu could he arrange for someone to retrieve their bodies and investigate the murderer! Evening, Xu Mansion.

The family banquet at Xu Mansion was already prepared.

Lǎotàitai, the current Duke of Xu, Shuiya, Zheng, Duke Qin Ruhai, and other important members of the Xu and Qin families were all seated at the dining table.

But no one touched their chopsticks.

“Where is Pengda? Why hasn’t he returned yet? By his travel schedule, shouldn’t he have arrived in the afternoon?”

Lǎotàitai asked.

This dinner was prepared to welcome Pengda.

Although Pengda wasn’t as favored by His Majesty as Ming was, he still achieved fame and brought glory to the Xu family. Moreover, it was rumored that this time Pengda was coming to the capital for an important appointment.

Phoenix also frowned with concern and said to Chun Yan beside her, “Chun Yan, send someone to check at the city gates. Why hasn’t Master…”

“Returned! Returned!”

Just as Phoenix’s words were halfway spoken, a servant rushed over, kneeling before the group of masters.

“Old Patriarch, Masters, Madams, Third Young Master has returned!”