Chapter 106: Desperate Pursuit, A Shocking Arrow

Watching Wei Xiao Gongzi devour the rabbit meat, Ma Gu finally gave a slight nod. He picked up a piece of rabbit flesh and began eating as well.

Perhaps because hunger had driven him to desperation, Wei Xiao Gongzi found that after swallowing a slice, the meat wasn’t nearly as repulsive as he’d feared—aside from a lingering sense of discomfort, it wasn’t unbearable. Reluctantly, he set aside his resistance and quietly continued eating.

The two ate in silence until the entire rabbit was gone.

After finishing, Ma Gu cleaned up the remnants and then leaned against the cave wall near the entrance, knife resting across his lap, eyes closed as he rested.

Wei Xiao Gongzi went to check on his mother. Her condition hadn’t improved—still unconscious, still pale. A knot of worry tightened in his chest.

He wanted to speak with Ma Gu, but the memory of Ma Gu gripping his throat earlier sent a fresh wave of fear through him. So he stayed silent, sitting motionless.

Night had fully descended, but as a Jin Gu Jing warrior, Ma Gu’s senses remained sharp. In the darkness, he sensed Wei Xiao Gongzi stir.

“Sleep,” Ma Gu said softly. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll go find medicine for The Lady of the Wei Family. Worrying now won’t help. Better to rest and preserve your strength.”

Wei Xiao Gongzi paused, then asked, “Ma Gu… tell me the truth. Will my mother recover?”

Ma Gu didn’t answer right away.

After a long silence, he said, “I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. My knowledge of medicine is shallow. The Lady of the Wei Family’s injuries are severe. All I can do is search for herbs I know, give them to her, and see if they help. Whether she lives or dies… that’s up to fate.”

He paused again.

“Worse still, we can’t get out. If we could, and if we could reach Chen Laodaifu… her life would be safe.”

Hearing that, Wei Xiao Gongzi’s eyes lit up.

“Right! We can take my mother to Chen Laodaifu!”

He remembered how, the last time he’d been grievously wounded, that old doctor had saved him. If they could bring his mother to him now, surely she could be healed too!

Ma Gu shook his head. “I don’t want to leave her behind. But you know the truth—there are hunters everywhere searching for us. We can’t get out.”

Wei Xiao Gongzi finally realized it. His gaze dimmed.

Yes… if they could leave, they wouldn’t be trapped here in this cave.

“Alright,” Ma Gu said, “sleep. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

He closed his eyes again, and silence settled over the cave.

But Wei Xiao Gongzi didn’t sleep. He kept waking up, checking on his mother, giving her sips of water. He drifted in and out of consciousness, barely resting.

Ma Gu saw it all, but said nothing.

The next morning, after a quiet word with Wei Xiao Gongzi, Ma Gu set out to search for medicinal herbs.

He glanced at The Lady of the Wei Family. The effects of the Golden Wound Medicine still lingered—the condition hadn’t worsened, but she remained unconscious. That was not good. The mountain air was harsh, and if she stayed like this, she might never wake.

He slung his weapon across his back and moved cautiously through the forest, searching for familiar herbs.

At last, by a mountain stream, he spotted a plant he recognized. His heart leapt—he was about to step forward to harvest it when a sudden instinct flared.

He dodged sideways.

In the next instant, an arrow pierced the ground where he’d stood, its shaft buried deep into the earth, only the feathered tip trembling in the air.

Ma Gu’s blood ran cold.

If he hadn’t moved… he would’ve been pierced clean through.

He spun around—just in time to see a figure standing on a branch of a distant tree.

A broad-shouldered youth in leather armor, bow slung across his back, a quiver at his side, a short blade at his waist. Clearly, that arrow had come from him.

“Huh,” the youth said, surprised. “Not bad. You dodged my shot.”

“Who are you?” Ma Gu drew his blade, voice low. “Why did you attack me without warning?”

“Don’t play dumb,” the youth said. “Two days ago, you stole The Lady of the Wei Family and the young master. Where are they? Tell me, and I might spare your life.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ma Gu said firmly. “I’m just a hunter, come into the mountains to hunt. I know nothing of the Wei Family or its lady.”

“A Jin Gu Jing-level hunter?” The youth shook his head. “You really think I’m that gullible? Guess I’ll have to take you down first—then you’ll talk.”

Before Ma Gu could react, the youth drew three arrows from his quiver and nocked them onto his bow in one fluid motion.

In a single breath, the three arrows flew—uninterrupted, unrelenting—forming a triangular pattern that sealed off every angle of escape.

“Three Star Linked?!” Ma Gu’s heart sank.

That was a legendary archery technique—proof the man had mastered the art at a high level. A true master.

Run!

Ma Gu made his decision instantly. He slashed one arrow mid-air with his blade, then rolled sideways to avoid the other two.

As he rolled, he flicked a hidden dagger toward the youth’s face.

“Hmph?”

The sudden counterattack caught even the archer off guard. He deflected the knife with his bow, then looked up—only to see Ma Gu already dozens of paces away.

In fact, Ma Gu hadn’t even looked to see if the dagger hit. He’d already thrown himself backward, fleeing for his life.

He used the trees to mask his movements, darting between trunks, making it hard for the archer to lock onto him.

“Interesting,” the youth smirked. “If you still manage to escape, my pride’s gone.”

He slung his bow across his back and leapt after Ma Gu—his speed surpassing even Ma Gu’s.

Ma Gu heard the pursuit behind him and cursed inwardly.

The moment he’d seen the archer’s Three Star Linked technique, he’d known he was outmatched. That level of archery required a Jin Gu Jing Xiao Cheng-level warrior. This man was stronger—far stronger.

And with no way to tell how many others were lurking nearby, the danger was real. The more noise they made, the more enemies would come.

Flight was the only choice.

But now… even flight seemed hopeless.

He felt the footsteps drawing nearer.

He’d thought the man’s large bow would slow him down in the woods. But the archer’s agility was astonishing—despite the burden, he was catching up.

Ma Gu gritted his teeth and dove into a denser thicket of underbrush.

It slowed him, yes—thorns lashed his skin, tearing at his clothes and flesh. But he was gambling that the archer, burdened by his bow, would suffer even more.

And he was right.

As soon as they entered the thickets, the youth’s movements faltered. Long vines snagged his bow, and he hesitated—afraid to yank too hard and damage his prized weapon.

Ma Gu’s silhouette vanished into the green wall.

The archer snarled.

“Coward! You think hiding in this mess will save you?”

He pulled his bow from his back, drew a black arrow unlike any other—its shaft dark as night.

“You wanted to flee into the trees? Clever. But you forgot—once you’re out in the open, these little bushes won’t stop my arrows.”

Furious at being tricked, he activated a secret technique. His body surged with power—muscles and tendons crackling, veins bulging. The air itself seemed to tremble.

He drew the bow to full strength, his eyes locked on Ma Gu.

Then, release.

A shriek split the air.

The black arrow shot forward—spinning violently, tearing through leaves and branches, carving a path between them. The force of its passage was immense.

Ma Gu felt it—a wave of pure, soul-chilling danger. He didn’t turn, didn’t think. His body reacted on instinct—lunging forward.

Then—boom!

A massive explosion rocked the air above him. A shockwave swept over his head, tearing at his hair and skin.

He looked up—just in time to see a massive tree, easily two men wide, shattered in the center. A black arrow stood embedded deep in the trunk, its shaft vibrating violently.

Ma Gu stared, frozen in terror.

That kind of power… could a Jin Gu Jing warrior really do that?

What enemies had the Wei Family angered?

In that moment, despair swallowed him whole.

The archer’s arrow had been that terrifying—only two explanations made sense.

Either the man had been holding back—playing with him—his true strength far beyond Jin Gu Jing.

Or he’d used some forbidden secret technique, unleashing power beyond his rank.

Either way, Ma Gu was doomed.

But even in the face of despair, he refused to surrender.

He touched his back—blood soaked through his clothes, but not deep. The arrow’s force had grazed him—lucky, but not enough to stop him.

He staggered to his feet and ran again.

Behind him, the archer gasped for breath, his body trembling. The secret technique had drained him. Even with his talent, he could only fire two such arrows—after that, he’d be weaker than a Qi Xue Jing cultivator.

But it had worked.

He’d seen Ma Gu fall—had heard the impact.

You’re dead, he thought, smirking. Dying by my Secret Technique Arrow is a gift.

Then—his smile froze.

Ma Gu was moving again. Standing. Running.

What?!

The archer stared in shock.

The arrow had torn through the thicket—yes, it had looked devastating. But the vines had slowed it, even slightly. That fraction of a second—just enough for Ma Gu to react.

A Jin Gu Jing warrior, weaker than him, had dodged his master-level attack.

Rage boiled in the archer’s chest.

“Coward!” he roared, voice echoing through the mountains. “I will kill you!”

Ma Gu heard the fury in the shout. His heart sank.

He regretted it all—why had he ever left the tribe to go to the Big Market?

If he’d just returned home, none of this would’ve happened.

But it was too late for regret.

He heard the footsteps closing in—faster than before.

He risked a glance back—his blood turned to ice.

The archer’s bow was gone.

No longer weighed down by the weapon, the archer was now faster, lighter—gaining on him.

Ma Gu couldn’t turn. There was no time.

He clenched his teeth and pushed forward, running as if his life depended on it.

“Stop!” the archer called from just behind. “Surrender now, and I’ll give you a clean death!”

Ma Gu didn’t answer. He couldn’t risk breaking his breath.

He ran. And ran.

Then—water.

A rushing sound ahead.

Hope flared.

If it was a river… he might still have a chance.

The sudden surge of desperation gave him strength. His speed increased.

“Trying to flee into the water?” The archer heard the sound too. Saw Ma Gu accelerate. “No luck.”

He pushed harder, activated his secret technique again, and drew an arrow from his quiver.

Just as he raised it, the forest opened up.

Ma Gu leapt high into the air.

“Now!”

The archer flung the arrow like a throwing knife.

Ma Gu couldn’t dodge. The arrow struck him in the shoulder, sending him tumbling through the air.

He crashed onto a bed of smooth river stones.

He gasped, pain flaring through his body.

Then he looked around.

No… not a river.

It was a waterfall—cascading down from a cliff face into a narrow ravine.

The water he’d heard was the roar of the falls.

The archer stepped out of the trees, smirking.

“Looks like your luck just ran out.”

He advanced slowly, the light glinting off his bow.

Ma Gu stared, his face blank with despair. Death was coming.

“Ma Ye?”

Then—another voice. Sharp. Surprised.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end