Chapter 133: First Confrontation with a Martial Warrior
Chapter 133: First Confrontation with a Martial Warrior
On the outskirts of Tingyang County, within a dilapidated county seat...
Two Taoist priests, their faces betraying a hint of urgency, drew curious stares from those around them.
Chunyang Daoist's eyes were already filled with anger, but he forcibly suppressed his temper, transmitting his voice to the woman in the long robe in the distance, "Lady Xiao, are we right this time?"
Xiao Qiangwei's face turned slightly cold, "He escaped again."
For a full ten days, that aura had meandered, leading the group on a roundabout chase through almost all of Tingyang County.
At the farthest, it was about four to five hundred miles away, and at the closest, it felt like it was just around the corner.
However, as soon as they sensed the slightest movement, their target would flee immediately. No matter how hard the group tried, they could only barely manage to not lose track of him.
Xiao Qiangwei even felt that the main reason they hadn't completely lost him was that Yan Xingkong kept stopping to wait for them from time to time.
This was downright mocking!
She turned to Shen Yi and said in a low voice, "I made a mistake in my judgment and wasted so much of your time."
She had thought that the Thief King knew his limits and would only play so far, especially since his wife's life was still in the hands of the General.
But she never expected him to be so brazen this time. Even if he could escape, could his Calm Sand Valley also get away?!
"It's not your fault."
Shen Yi shook his head, his emotions relatively calm.
Even if they gained nothing from this pursuit, it was still an eye-opening experience. He couldn't believe that there could be such a huge difference in speed between cultivators of the same realm.
The two Taoist priests returned, not daring to vent their anger on the court officials. First, they didn't dare, and second, Shen Yi's performance in recent days had surprised them.
They had originally thought that he would hold them back, but this young man was not even a bit slower than their group of Dan-stage Martial Artists. Instead, he even had energy to spare.
"I suggest that the Demon Suppression Division surround Calm Sand Valley, cut down his disciples, and seize his Carefree Wind-Riding Technique. Let's see where this thief will flee then!" Chunyang Daoist said angrily, clenching his fists.
As fellow members of the jianghu (martial arts world), the White Cloud Temple seemed unafraid of implicating themselves in this matter.
Xiao Qiangwei glanced at him. Only these bull-nosed men could have kept the Demon Suppression Division from finding any faults with them over so many years.
"Don't say useless things," Qingjing Daoist said with a slight frown, feeling a headache coming on. "If we go any further, we'll be completely out of the Twelve Prefectures of Qingzhou. I'm really starting to suspect that Yan Xingkong is colluding with demons and is trying to lure us out."
Otherwise, there was no other explanation for his actions these past few days.
"What's there to be afraid of?" Chunyang Daoist said, sounding full of confidence. "Lady Shen can rest here in the city while we go and take down that thief." In reality, he was still quite worried, which was why he wanted Shen Yi to stay behind.
Once they left Qingzhou, even though they were all famous experts, they wouldn't be confident in protecting her.
It was one thing to go out on their own, but it was clearly more dangerous now that they were being led step by step.
The two Taoist priests fell silent, waiting for the woman to give her orders.
However, Xiao Qiangwei turned to Shen Yi instead, not interfering with his judgment.
Seeing this, Qingjing Daoist suddenly recalled the young man's earlier words, where he had said that Lady Shen was in charge. It seemed that it wasn't just an empty phrase to appease him, but that this young man truly controlled the overall situation.
He felt a bit surprised deep down. Could it be that besides being adept at traveling, this young man had other skills as well?
Shen Yi pondered for a moment before asking, "If we go beyond Qingzhou and he still doesn't stop, can we surround Calm Sand Valley then?"
Seeing the youth's excitement instead of disappointment, Xiao Qiangwei was taken aback and smiled lightly, "Why are you so interested in this matter? Could it be that you also went to Qingfeng Mountain last time?"
Then, she nodded with certainty, "This time, he's gone too far.
Shen Yi took a step forward, heading out of the county seat. Besides the Sky-Covering Treasure Bow and the Two Extremes True Intent, he had also taken an interest in the Thief King's Carefree Wind-Riding Technique.
Of course, he was aware of his own limitations.
If it really didn't work out, then he could only give up.
...
Seven hundred miles outside of Tingyang County, they had completely left the boundaries of Qingzhou.
The towering mountains ahead were rugged and menacing, like a crouching beast. Though it seemed calm, it made the two Taoist priests even more uneasy.
In such a vast territory, there was not a trace of demonic energy.
This was an extremely rare occurrence.
There was only one situation that could make the demons avoid this place, and that was if they knew that there was an existence here that they couldn't afford to offend.
Xiao Qiangwei divided the breath in her hand into four parts, unsure if she should feel relieved or grave. "He hasn't moved... Surround him from all sides, and try not to disturb anything else."
"I'll go with Shen." Chunyang Taoist took one of the breaths.
"No need." Shen Yi also took a breath. According to Xiao Qiangwei's judgment, seven hundred miles was the limit of the safe range. Going any deeper would make it difficult to extricate themselves.
Since this was their last chance, they naturally wanted to ensure that nothing was amiss.
The two Taoist priests exchanged a glance but didn't say anything more. In such a dangerous place, even they felt tense and didn't have the heart to dissuade each other from taking risks.
The group quickly divided their routes and surrounded the area where the breath was leading them.
...
Shen Yi walked alone through the dense forest, his expression solemn. However, his movements seemed even more relaxed than before.
Just like in the Black Stone Pond, once he truly entered these mountains and forests, the abilities of the Mountain Lord from the Immortal Fairy Nine Transformations were fully unleashed.
Even though he didn't release his breath, whether it was the rugged mountain path under his feet or the towering trees blocking the sky, none of it hindered him. Instead, he felt incredibly at ease.
His senses even became sharper, and every grass and tree around him seemed to come alive.
Suddenly, Shen Yi stopped in his tracks and quietly looked ahead.
After a long time, a long sigh came from the dead thorns.
Soon after, a tall and straight figure slowly walked out.
The man's hair was disheveled, and he had the slight intoxication of someone who had been drinking. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked extremely dissipated.
He licked his dry lips and glanced casually at Shen Yi. His hoarse voice said, "If I'm not mistaken, Yan stole the Sky-Penetrating Sun-Breaking Bow from You Longtao, not the leftovers from his Demon-Subduing General's mansion. Did he send a weakling like you to investigate?"
Before he finished speaking, the man rubbed his temples in pain. "Forget it, it has nothing to do with you. I'm here to kill demons, not feed them."
He waved dismissively. "Get lost, quickly."
Before he finished speaking, a black shadow appeared in the man's vision, and a fast and vicious knee strike landed on his stomach. Immediately afterward, a palm sealed the veins in his right leg.
Yan Xingkong felt a tearing pain and his eyes widened in shock. Blood mixed with the smell of alcohol sprayed from his mouth.
Instinctively, he burst out with the thick breath of a Dan-stage cultivator and struggled to create a three-foot distance.
Using this short distance, his figure swept away like a whirlwind, disappearing from the spot in an instant.
...
Shen Yi had just unsheathed the long saber in his hand when he found that there was nothing in front of him.
He put the saber back in its sheath, feeling exasperated. He had originally intended to capture the man and question him, but he never expected that... even with one leg, the man could run so fast?
(End of Chapter)
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