Chapter 314: Entering the City, An Unexpected Encounter

Chapter 314: Entering the City, An Unexpected Encounter

August 18, 2024

"I never expected such formidable beasts to appear outside. It seems that the changes in the world since the revival of spiritual energy are faster than we anticipated." The old doctor said with a solemn expression.

"Indeed, and according to those two uncles earlier, those two beasts seemed to possess considerable intelligence, with wisdom no less than that of an average person." Lu Qing added.

"Who knows how many such beasts have appeared in the world, and how many of them are benevolent," the old doctor said with concern.

He had also heard about the white wolf from the merchant earlier.

The fact that it commanded a pack of wolves to attack a city indicated that the white wolf was not friendly towards humans.

If these newly emerged intelligent beasts bore ill will towards humanity, the days ahead for the people of the world would undoubtedly become difficult.

"The situation is as it is, and the powers in the world will inevitably undergo changes. In the ancient cultivation era, it wasn't just our human race that reigned supreme; there were other races as well," Lu Qing said, comforting his master. "So, Master, this is the way of the world, and we need not worry too much."

"Mmm, I understand," the old doctor nodded.

Over the past two days, he had read through the jade slips that Lu Qing had inscribed.

He now knew quite a bit about the ancient cultivation era and the many events that had transpired during that time.

He understood that with the revival of spiritual energy, the awakening of beasts, and the resurgence of various races, it was all part of the natural order of the world.

"The city gate is about to open!"

Just then, someone shouted, interrupting their conversation.

Everyone looked up to see a man waving a yellow flag on top of the city gate.

This was the signal that the city gate was about to open, and the waiting crowd of merchants and travelers began to form a line.

Lu Qing and his companions joined the queue, leading their horse carriage behind a merchant caravan.

As soon as the people outside had formed their lines, a loud commotion could be heard from the direction of the city gate.

The two massive gates slowly began to retract, revealing the entrance to the city.

"Sister Hu, you can finally go home!" Xiao Yan exclaimed happily.

"Mmm," Hu Zezhi nodded slightly, her expression a mix of happiness and apprehension.

With the loud noises and the crowd's anticipation, the city gate finally opened completely.

First, a stream of merchants and pedestrians poured out of the city, followed by Lu Qing and the others who had been waiting outside.

As expected, they had to pay an entrance fee to enter the city, and Ma Gu took out the money pouch to pay.

The burly man from before, who was in charge of collecting the fees, accepted the payment.

Having learned from his previous experience, Ma Gu didn't try to be clever this time and simply paid the required amount for their group.

The burly man collected the silver taels without any change in his expression and recorded the payment.

However, when he looked up at Ma Gu again, he let out a soft exclamation.

"I recognize you. Didn't you just enter the city last month?" he asked.

Ma Gu was taken aback for a moment before he quickly put on a flattering smile and replied, "You have a good memory, sir. Yes, we entered the city last month."

The burly man looked past Ma Gu and his eyes landed on Lu Qing, causing him to pause momentarily.

But he quickly suppressed his surprise and maintained a calm expression, a smile appearing on his face.

"Then you must have returned quickly. I hope your travels in the Central Plains were pleasant and you were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery," he said.

"Thanks to you, sir, our journey was smooth, and we were able to broaden our horizons considerably," Ma Gu replied politely.

"In that case, the entrance fee is in order, and you may enter," the burly man said, waving them through.

As he watched Lu Qing and the others walk away, the burly man's smile gradually faded, and his expression turned solemn.

He reached under the table and pulled out a scroll, carefully unrolling it.

On the scroll was a painting of a young man holding a battle sword, looking spirited and determined. The young man's features bore a striking resemblance to Lu Qing.

Upon recognizing the person in the painting, the burly man couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.

"It really is him, but I received news that he only left the Holy City three days ago. How could he have returned so quickly?" he muttered to himself.

Recalling the instructions he had received from the city lord a couple of days ago, the burly man didn't dare to neglect his duties.

He called for his deputy to take over the fee collection and quickly left with the scroll in hand.

"Young Master Lu, do you think that city guard recognized you earlier?" Hu Zezhi asked as they walked down the street.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Lu Qing raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"I noticed that when he saw you, his expression changed, and he seemed quite shocked. He must know who you are," Hu Zezhi said confidently.

Lu Qing was genuinely surprised that Hu Zezhi had picked up on that detail.

He nonchalantly replied, "Perhaps, but it has nothing to do with us, so let's not worry about it.

"Oh?" Lu Qing raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged.

Seeing that Lu Qing and the old doctor were both calm, Hu Zezhi knew that they didn't take the matter to heart, and she, too, let it go.

Lu Qing smiled.

He had, of course, noticed the burly man's strange behavior, and the look in his eyes clearly indicated that he knew who Lu Qing was.

However, as one of the checkpoints guarding the Central Plains, Qinglong City must have had a close relationship with the Holy City.

It wouldn't be surprising if they had some special means of communication.

It was only natural that they would know his appearance.

After all, information about him must have spread to all the major sects and powers after that battle in the Holy City.

As long as they didn't bother him, Lu Qing didn't mind.

"Master Lu, where do you plan to stay tonight? I grew up in this city and know it well. I can take you there," offered Hu Zezhi.

"It's still early. We won't stay in the city tonight. We'll set off as soon as we send you home," Lu Qing smiled and replied.

"Are you leaving so soon?"

Hu Zezhi trembled, looking at Lu Qing with uncertainty.

She hadn't heard them mention this in the morning.

"Yes, we've been away from home for a long time, and we don't know what's happening there. We want to get back as soon as possible..."

Hu Zezhi didn't quite catch the rest of Lu Qing's words as her mind became muddled, and she stood there, dumbfounded.

"Miss Hu?"

Noticing Hu Zezhi's strange behavior, Lu Qing gently called out to her a few times, bringing her back to her senses.

"Oh, it's nothing. What is it?" Hu Zezhi asked, sounding dazed.

"Miss Hu, there are two forks in the road ahead. Which way leads to your home?"

"Uh... the left one."

Hu Zezhi hastily identified the direction, her voice filled with panic.

To hide her inner turmoil, she rushed ahead.

Seeing Hu Zezhi's flustered steps, Lu Qing shook his head and didn't say anything further, simply following behind her.

As for the old doctor, he merely smiled at this display of young love, choosing to remain silent.

Hu Zezhi's mind was in chaos, but as they drew closer to her home, her confusion began to dissipate, leaving only excitement and apprehension.

Finally, as she laid eyes on the familiar gate, her emotions peaked.

She could no longer contain herself and ran forward.

The gate to her house was open, and although she found it strange, Hu Zezhi didn't have time to think about it. Overwhelmed with emotion, she rushed inside.

"Father, I'm back..." she called out.

However, the next moment, her eyes widened in shock.

"Who are you? Let go of my father!" Hu Zezhi exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger.

In the courtyard, a group of fierce-looking men stood, and her father, Hu Laosan, was among them, his chest stained with blood.

He was being pinned to the ground by a delicately featured young man in luxurious clothing, unable to move.

"Xiaolian, you're back. Are you alright?"

When Hu Laosan saw Hu Zezhi, his eyes lit up with disbelief and joy.

But his happiness quickly turned to worry as he urgently shouted, "Run! These are bad people!"

It was too late.

Upon seeing Hu Zezhi, the young man's face lit up with delight.

Without needing his command, two of his men rushed forward and reached for Hu Zezhi.

"How dare you!"

Seeing his daughter about to fall into their grasp, Hu Laosan's eyes widened with rage, and they turned bloodshot. He struggled violently, but he was already badly injured, and the delicate young man was far superior to him in cultivation. The young man didn't even spare him a glance, merely applying a little more pressure with his foot. Hu Laosan spat out a mouthful of blood, his breath becoming weak, and he could no longer struggle.

The delicate young man's gaze remained fixed on Hu Zezhi.

Just as he was about to have his servants capture her, he smiled.

But the next moment, his smile froze.

The two skilled servants, their cultivation already at the Sinew Changing Realm, were about to touch Hu Zezhi when a black rod struck them from behind, hitting their chests.

Boom!

A powerful force erupted, and the two servants spat out mouthfuls of blood, flying backward and crashing into the courtyard's objects.

By the time they came to a stop, they had lost consciousness.

"What?!"

This sudden turn of events caught everyone in the courtyard off guard, leaving them stunned.

The delicately featured young man narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the black rod that had appeared behind Hu Zezhi.

No, to be more precise, it was Wei Zian, the owner of the iron rod.

"Who are you to dare meddle in the Qi family's affairs?" The effeminate-looking youth stared coldly at Wei Zian, his tone icy.

However, Wei Zian paid him no heed and instead turned to Hu Zezhi, concern evident in his voice as he asked, "Miss Hu, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Hu Zezhi shook her head, her expression anxious. "But they've captured my father."

"How dare you ignore me?" The effeminate-looking youth's face darkened even further as he saw that Wei Zian was blatantly disregarding him and speaking to Hu Zezhi without the slightest regard for him.

He twitched his fingers, and in the next moment, two more figures rushed out from behind him.

The two who emerged this time exuded a far more powerful aura compared to the previous two.

A robust surge of qi and blood energy erupted, causing even the air in the courtyard to turn scorching hot.

They were indeed two formidable martial arts masters who had reached the Internal Organs realm, their blood energy overwhelming.

Facing the charge of the two martial arts masters, Wei Zian remained unfazed.

He didn't even budge an inch, simply holding his rod with both hands and observing the scene with a mocking smile.

"Is this kid seeking death?" The effeminate-looking youth was taken aback by Wei Zian's nonchalant attitude.

But before he could react further, an unexpected development unfolded.

A figure appeared beside Wei Zian, seemingly having materialized out of thin air.

Then, a flash of blade light shone, and the two Internal Organs realm guards he had brought were slashed before they could react, sending them flying backward.

Bang! Bang!

By the time the two guards managed to stabilize themselves and landed on the ground, deep wounds that penetrated to the bone were already visible on their chests.

Staring at the terrifying wounds, the guards' eyes widened in horror, and a chilling fear gripped their hearts.

Their gazes toward Ma Gu were filled with wariness.

If not for their protective armor, they would have surely been sliced in half by that blade.

"Who is this blade master? His blade technique is so bizarre that even we couldn't block it at all." They wondered in astonishment.

"And who might you be?" The effeminate-looking youth demanded, his expression turning grim.

In an instant, his two Internal Organs realm guards had been severely injured.

Ma Gu's strength was at least that of a highly accomplished master in the Internal Organs realm, if not higher.

Such a powerful expert was indeed a force to be reckoned with, even in all of Qinglong City.

The effeminate-looking youth's face darkened as Ma Gu, like Wei Zian, ignored his question.

Instead, Ma Gu looked at Hu Laosan, who was pinned beneath his foot, and calmly said, "Let him go."

"Good, very good!" The youth's anger turned to laughter as he saw Ma Gu's attitude.

He was used to giving orders, and no one had ever dared to speak to him in such a manner.

Enraged, the youth didn't hesitate to channel his qi and blood energy, intending to crush Hu Laosan's chest beneath his foot.

However, just as he was about to exert force, he felt his foot kick empty air.

The next moment, a searing pain shot through his body, causing him to cry out in agony and fall to the ground.

It was then that he noticed his leg had been severed and lay on the ground beside him.

"My leg! My leg!" The youth cried out in disbelief, unable to accept what had just happened.

"Young Master! Young Master!" The servants and guards standing nearby were thrown into chaos by this sudden turn of events.

Some rushed to stop the bleeding from his leg, while others tried to shield him from further harm.

"Kill them! Kill them all!" The youth screamed hysterically, his rationality completely gone due to the intense pain and the loss of his leg.

Witnessing Ma Gu's incredible blade technique, the remaining guards were too terrified to move.

They stood rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do.

The youth's face twisted in fury as he saw their hesitation.

"Get them now! If you don't, my father will have your entire families slaughtered!" He screamed.

Hearing this, the guards' faces paled, and they overcame their fear. Gritting their teeth, their eyes reddened with determination, they charged toward Ma Gu and Wei Zian.

Even the two severely injured guards joined the fray, drawing their weapons and rushing forward despite their wounds.

Just then, an invisible oppressive force descended upon the courtyard, freezing everyone in their tracks.

The guards and servants were unable to move a muscle, their expressions frozen in place.

"A Precelestial Realm expert? Who dares to use Precelestial pressure within the city?"

In an instant, a figure seated in meditation within a nearby luxurious mansion was disturbed by this sudden surge of pressure.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end