Chapter 386: The Chase
Chapter 386: The Chase
As Xu Xian Wen was thrown to the ground, he slithered away like a snake, swiftly escaping from his original position. A barrage of bullets rained down where he had just been, kicking up sand and stones.
The Ink Mountain's security team was highly skilled, with precise aim. They had activated their implanted secretions and internal medication injections, temporarily enhancing their physical abilities to keep up with the fleeting figure ahead. They struggled to keep their guns trained on the target as it constantly shifted.
But Xu Xian Wen was just too fast, and the thick fog further hindered their vision. Soon, they lost sight of him entirely.
This didn't bother Chen Chuan at all. He could clearly perceive the other's position through the biofield domain, and in the heat of battle and high-speed movement, there was no chance to conceal this ability. So, he accurately pursued his target.
After escaping the gunfire, Xu Xian Wen didn't linger at the scene or turn back to continue the fight with Chen Chuan. Instead, he swiftly fled outwards.
With the arrival of the Ink Mountain security team, the Third Level Combatants from the security system would also respond. Even the Handling Bureau, upon receiving the news, would dispatch agents to join the encirclement and suppression operation.
This could potentially trap Xu Xian Wen, but fortunately, the heavy fog prevented the small airborne vehicles above from having a clear view, or else he might not have been able to escape.
As for the other team members, since Lao Han was dead, the rest of the team was likely non-existent. Xu Xian Wen had put a lot of thought into assembling the team, and their loss made him feel a bit regretful.
Thankfully, the funds were still in the account. As long as the employer could continue to provide resources, he could rebuild the team.
This failure might disappoint the employer, but he was also the employer's trusted enforcer. They couldn't afford to lose him now, and it was crucial to reassure him during this sensitive time.
As he sprinted, he could sense Chen Chuan closely pursuing him, which he found troublesome. He decided to deal with the situation once he reached the outside.
He lifted his hand, noticing that his arm felt weak and powerless, as if it had lost some vitality. This was because, after Chen Chuan had killed three more of his team members, he had essentially sacrificed three offerings. One of the ritual effects was that anyone who had been in close contact with him would have their life force continuously drained.
This included those who had come into contact with his biofield, but Xu Xian Wen's life force was so abundant that the biofield's absorption had a negligible effect on him. He didn't even notice it until the physical contact during the fight, which produced a noticeable result.
Having been a member of the Venom Sect, Xu Xian Wen understood the cause after a quick glance. He released the essence blood stored in his heart, clenched his fist, and soon his arm regained its former vitality.
His body leaned forward, and his speed increased. As he ran, a gust of wind seemed to sweep through, scattering dry leaves and branches in his wake. He effortlessly pushed through small obstacles, carving a path through the vegetation.
Chen Chuan focused on the other's biofield, closely tailing him.
He wasn't too concerned about the estate's defenses because the Ink Mountain security team's arrival meant that Wu Bei had already established contact with the Handling Bureau and the estate's security system. The Third Level Combatants responsible for security at Ink Mountain would immediately respond.
As long as Meng Shu remained hidden in the basement, which was like a fortress, and wasn't exposed to external powerful blasts, she would be safe for the time being.
Moreover, when formulating the plan, it had been decided that as long as he didn't return, the internal defenses should remain activated, and no one should leave from inside.
At this moment, the boundary token in his ear suddenly became noisy, then restored various clear sounds, indicating that he had left the shielded area, and communications were back online.
Just then, an emergency call from within the Handling Bureau began flashing on the light screen. A voice asked, "Executor Chen, where are you?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I'm currently pursuing Xu Xian Wen."
The person on the other end sounded tense. "Executor Chen, can you handle this alone?"
Although Chen Chuan had defeated Zhu Hai Wu, the latter's strength and combat skills couldn't compare to Xu Xian Wen's. They were not on the same level.
"His speed is incredible. We can talk later," Chen Chuan said, ending the call.
The Handling Bureau's Resonator immediately reported to their superior. Captain Guan instructed, "Track Executor Chen's boundary token and find his location!"
"Confirmed and tracked," the Resonator responded.
Chen Chuan's position was displayed on the Handling Bureau's large light screen, a map of the Ink Mountain area with a rapidly moving light dot.
Captain Guan was surprised. "He's moving too fast. At this rate, he'll be out of Ink Mountain's range within three minutes."
He studied the route, which mostly followed the forest and undulating hills, an area with complex terrain and dense vegetation, impassable for ordinary people. But as he traced their direction, his gaze fell on a particular spot, and he wondered, "Is that the place?"
"I'm Guan Ziyang, requesting the presence of the 25th and 23rd District enforcement officers to assist in the capture operation near Lu Lan Lake," he immediately contacted the authorities using his Boundary Token.
As Xu Xianwen dashed through the area, he attempted to increase his speed and change directions several times, but Chen Chuan remained relentless in his pursuit.
Xu Xianwen was well aware that as long as Chen Chuan was on his tail, his whereabouts would remain exposed to the Handling Bureau. The only way to change that was to either eliminate Chen Chuan or find an opportunity to disrupt his Boundary Token.
However, he couldn't afford to do so within the Mo Tie Mountain region, as it was heavily guarded. Once they left this area, these pursuers would have no reason to continue the chase.
He glanced ahead and soon arrived at their destination.
The two of them, one after the other, navigated the mountainous terrain with ease, effortlessly overcoming the obstacles in their path. With a few agile leaps, they ascended to higher ground, effortlessly clearing wide ravines. The complex topography seemed nonexistent, and from their vantage point, they could see that their passage had left behind two thin lines on the ground and vegetation, extending rapidly forward.
Before long, they reached a relatively high hill with a large, open area that had been cleared and maintained. Behind them, an ancient temple, partially hidden by old trees, stood in ruins.
Upon reaching this spot, Xu Xianwen halted his forward momentum and turned around. Despite the vigorous running, his body showed no signs of perspiration.
He raised the Staff Sword in his hand, gripping the hilt, and with a swift pull, the weapon extended further, now resembling a long spear. Twirling it briefly, he pressed down with both hands, pointing the spearhead towards the approaching Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan stopped in his tracks, scanning the surroundings. According to the Boundary Token, they had been running north, and they were now outside the boundaries of Mo Tie Mountain. The exact location was difficult to pinpoint.
Chen Chuan brandished his long sword, but instead of engaging Xu Xianwen directly, he reached for the Thunderbolt Pistol concealed within his hooded robe.
Xu Xianwen's eyes narrowed, and before Chen Chuan could draw his gun, he swiftly deflected the attack with his Staff Sword, sending the bronze cauldron in front of the temple flying forward as if it were made of straw.
Chen Chuan deftly blocked the cauldron with his sword, but a Staff Gun followed, thrusting towards him with such force that it seemed to tear through the air.
Chen Chuan's gaze intensified as he raised his sword to parry the attack, but the impact from the Staff Gun still caused him to hesitate momentarily. The gun's tip retracted slightly before swiftly returning to the offensive.
Chen Chuan retreated, twisting his wrist to sink his sword and disentangle the gun. However, Xu Xianwen spun with the gun, and the two weapons clashed repeatedly, each move followed by a counter. With a loud clang, a cloud of dust exploded outward, shattering the bricks and tiles beneath their feet. Both weapons were forced apart, and the two combatants took several steps back to release the built-up tension.
Xu Xianwen fixed his gaze on Chen Chuan, recalling the continuous exchange of power during their weapon entanglement. No matter how much force he exerted, Chen Chuan effortlessly neutralized it, not only holding his ground but also subtly increasing his strength with each contact. This left Xu Xianwen both surprised and feeling the challenge ahead.
Winning this battle in a conventional manner seemed unlikely within a short timeframe, and he couldn't afford to linger here any longer.
With narrowed eyes, he took a step back, swiftly retreating towards the entrance of the ancient temple. In just two strides, he covered over a dozen meters, disappearing into the temple's interior.
Chen Chuan, anticipating his move, had already closed the distance. However, as soon as he entered the temple, he realized that Xu Xianwen's Biofield had already receded and concealed itself.
Due to the early hour, the dimly lit interior of the temple was illuminated by the faint light from outside. The ground was littered with broken tiles and remnants of offerings, seemingly overshadowed by the surrounding trees.
The atmosphere within the temple was particularly gloomy and damp, with a pale light filtering through the gaps in the roof.
Suddenly, Chen Chuan sensed something and turned his head just as he did, the Staff Gun silently grazed past his ear. He raised his sword to block, but the gun was swiftly retracted, aiming for his legs. As he adjusted his sword, the Staff Gun rapidly thrust towards his face. Chen Chuan quickly leaned back, clashing blades with the Staff Gun twice, sparks flying in the dim environment.
The Staff Gun moved with lightning speed, and the sound of clashing weapons reverberated through the space, causing dust to fall from above and weaker areas to tremble.
Chen Chuan felt that his opponent's gun technique was not only swift but also ruthless, targeting his vital areas relentlessly. Moreover, he sensed that his opponent's body seemed to twist and turn, constantly changing, making it impossible to find a suitable opportunity to counterattack. In this dimly lit environment, his opponent seemed to hold a distinct advantage.
To regain the initiative, Chen Chuan retreated beneath a gap in the roof, using the faint light to observe and match his opponent's rhythm.
In the brief moments that followed, Chen Chuan engaged Xu Xianwen in dozens of exchanges, gradually adapting to his style. He could feel his eyebrows twitching, as if he had developed a heightened spiritual sense, allowing him to discern Xu Xianwen's presence even without detecting his Biofield. The vertical crimson stripe on Xu Xianwen's mask seemed to amplify this effect, almost as if it had granted him an extra eye.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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