A faint, rustling sound drifted from the dense woods in the distance, and as it reached He Yiming's ears, he instantly knew it was a group of people approaching.

Glancing at the corpses strewn on the ground, even a fool could deduce that these newcomers were tracking Hu Bin.

He retreated a few more steps, hesitated for a moment, and then called out in a clear voice, "Who goes there? State your names!"

All movement ahead ceased instantly; upon hearing He Yiming’s voice, those people stopped dead in their tracks.

A resonant voice carried over: "We are from Xu Family Fort, here to assist the official mandate in capturing the wanted fugitive. And you are...?"

He Yiming’s brow furrowed slightly. Although young and not managing the fort’s affairs, he was well aware that Xu Family Fort, like He Family Village, was one of the three prominent families in Taicang County. Moreover, Xu Family Fort housed a cultivator at the tenth level of Inner Strength, and relations between the two families were far from amicable.

However, under the current circumstances, he had no desire to provoke a confrontation. He spoke loudly, "Gentlemen of Xu Family Fort, have you come for the fugitive Hu Bin?"

"Precisely."

"Very well, in that case, you can return."

Several faint click sounds immediately followed from that direction. He Yiming’s ears twitched subtly, for he recognized the sound of crossbows being strung.

He inwardly sneered. The destructive power of a crossbow bolt was indeed formidable; even having reached the seventh level of Inner Strength, he dared not face one bare-handed. Nevertheless, for cultivators whose Inner Strength only reached the sixth level, these crossbows were only truly effective when used for surprise attacks or in large numbers.

If he were prepared, and the opposing force had fewer than ten bolts, there was essentially no danger.

After a brief silence, the loud voice returned, this time laced with a sharp killing intent: "Who are you, sir? Are you an accomplice of Hu Bin?"

He Yiming rolled his eyes. "You’re the accomplice!"

"If you are not an accomplice to the fugitive Hu Bin, why shield him?"

Just as He Yiming was about to reply, he suddenly detected extremely subtle sounds coming from both his flanks. He immediately understood: this person was using conversation to stall him while secretly directing companions to flank him.

Frowning slightly, He Yiming’s heart tightened. Someone this decisive could not be benevolent. If his Inner Strength had not reached the seventh level, he might not have been able to discern those flanking sounds.

Of course, this was also due to his inexperience. If it had been Hu Bin, even with only a fifth-level Inner Strength cultivation, he absolutely would not have ignored the sounds from the sides.

He Yiming gave a cold snort. "Gentlemen, there’s no need to hide. Come out openly. Fugitive Hu Bin is already dead."

The sounds from all three directions paused momentarily. Since Xiao En had detected them, they naturally abandoned further concealment. Moreover, upon hearing the news of Hu Bin’s demise, they were eager to step forward and confirm.

Moments later, more than ten people emerged from three separate directions. Apart from three constables wearing official robes, the rest were uniformly clad in short jackets—the formal attire of Xu Family Fort.

The leader was a tall, burly man, beardless save for a sparse stubble around his mouth. Yet, he appeared vigorous, and his eyes glittered with a brilliance that deterred a direct gaze—clearly a cultivator at the Great Accomplishment stage of Inner Strength.

He Yiming’s gaze swept over them like lightning, instantly discerning the details. Except for the leading man, the Inner Strength cultivation of the others barely reached the third level, comparable to the elite guards in He Family Village. But the leader was different. Although He Yiming could not pinpoint his true strength, he had a strong premonition that this man’s power surpassed his own, placing him perhaps on the same level as his father’s generation.

Upon emerging, the man’s gaze first swept over He Yiming’s face, showing a flicker of surprise, before settling on the corpse of Hu Bin, causing his brow to pinch slightly.

With a wave of his hand, the three constables stepped forward, pulling out a portrait and comparing it to the body on the ground.

Though Hu Bin’s eyes had burst, his facial features were still recognizable. A moment later, the three constables exclaimed excitedly, "It's him, it’s Hu Bin! Second Master Xu, it’s him!"

He Yiming’s mind stirred; he had already guessed the man’s identity—this must be Xu Xiangci, the second-ranking member of the Xu Family's second generation.

He Yiming had heard rumors about Xu Family Fort. They also possessed an elder comparable to He Wude, whose tenth-level cultivation maintained a balance of peak martial power between the two families.

The second generation of the Xu family consisted of four individuals, but none had reached the ninth level of Inner Strength. However, four experts at the eighth level were already a considerable force in a small place like Taicang County.

Indeed, the middle-aged man refocused his gaze on He Yiming, suspicion clouding his eyes. Based on his experience, he could tell Xiao En was very young, seemingly no older than fifteen, yet this youth claimed to have killed Hu Bin—a claim that naturally struck him as unbelievable.

Although Hu Bin’s Inner Strength was only at the fifth level, during the encirclement, he had displayed a power far exceeding the limits of a fifth-level cultivator. The disciples of Xu Family Fort’s third generation were the first to encounter him, but two sixth-level disciples failed to hold him, instead being wounded and forced to flee.

This was the true reason the second generation had taken up the pursuit personally. Upon seeing He Yiming’s face, the man became skeptical.

Slightly cupping his hands, the middle-aged man announced loudly, "I am Xu Xiangci of Xu Family Fort. May I ask the young brother's name...?"

Xiao En bowed to him. Although the two families were rivals, they had not openly broken ties, so courtesy had to be observed.

"This junior, He Yiming, greets Second Master Xu."

"He Yiming? You are from He Family Village."

"That is correct," He Yiming replied neither subserviently nor aggressively.

A sharp glint flashed in Xu Xiangci’s eyes. He asked coldly, "Did you truly kill Hu Bin?"

He Yiming’s brow tightened slightly, and he lifted his chin. "Yes, this man died by this junior’s hand."

Xu Xiangci’s lips twitched slightly, and those around him grew subtly tense. Even the three constables knew that in Taicang County, He Family Village and Xu Family Fort were not entirely harmonious. While outwardly peaceful, they frequently clashed over land and business dealings. Now, the Second Master of Xu Family Fort personally led the pursuit, only to have the fugitive killed by a third-generation member of He Family Village—a considerable loss of face.

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Xiangci suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "A remarkable hero emerging from the youth! Young Cousin He, have you already reached the sixth level of Inner Strength?"

"Barely the sixth level," He Yiming replied shrewdly. His true strength was unknown even to his own family, let alone outsiders.

Xu Xiangci’s expression softened even further. "Sixth level Inner Strength, indeed impressive. How old are you, young cousin?"

"This junior is thirteen this year."

A collective gasp of surprise rippled through the onlookers, and everyone regarded He Yiming with a strange light in their eyes.

An undeniable, sharp gleam flashed in Xu Xiangci’s eyes, and his mind churned violently. A subtle, hidden killing intent surfaced in his gaze toward He Yiming. However, his reaction was swift; this murderous intent vanished as quickly as it appeared, undetectable to most.

But He Yiming, facing him directly, sensed it clearly. His heart immediately tensed, and he became extremely vigilant against this man.

The battle with Hu Bin had taught He Yiming some crucial lessons. Some things were difficult to grasp solely through verbal instruction, but combat in the face of life and death could spur rapid growth. That fight with Hu Bin had been absolutely vital for He Yiming, causing a subtle, almost transformative change within him.

Now, sensing the killing intent displayed by the other party, countless thoughts flooded his mind.

He smiled faintly. "Second Master Xu, since Hu Bin has been executed, we should emerge and notify the Cheng family to handle the aftermath."

Xu Xiangci nodded slightly. "That is correct; it should be done." He turned and commanded, "Take the body. Let us proceed out."

The group followed the mountain path outward. He Yiming deliberately remained at the rear, maintaining a conscious distance from Xu Xiangci.

As they neared the edge of the woods, Xu Xiangci grew increasingly agitated. His eyes flickered intermittently over the three constables and the servants from the fort, his gaze constantly shifting.

Although He Yiming maintained an outward calm, he had heightened his vigilance and noted every small movement. Yet, inwardly, he felt a pang of dread. If this man chose to strike suddenly, eliminating everyone to ensure his silence, He Yiming was not entirely confident he could escape alive. After all, Xu Xiangci was a master at the eighth level of Inner Strength, and his combat experience far surpassed He Yiming’s own.

Thoughts raced through his mind, but none offered an immediate solution to the predicament.

Seeing that they were only half a ke away from exiting the mountain pass, Xu Xiangci abruptly stopped, inhaling deeply. His expression grew resolute, as if he had made a firm decision internally.

He Yiming’s heart simultaneously sank. The Inner Strength within his body surged at high speed, and he prepared himself for a desperate, final strike.

But just then, clamor suddenly erupted from the mountain entrance. Both Xu Xiangci’s and He Yiming’s gazes simultaneously fixed upon the figure of an old man.

Xu Xiangci’s body shuddered, and the killing intent in his heart instantly dissipated into smoke. He Yiming, meanwhile, let out a long breath, knowing with certainty that he was now safe.