The feeling of seeing daylight again must be what I’m experiencing now; being cooped up in the forest for over ten days was anything but pleasant, and finally catching sight of human habitation is a relief. It reminds me of the last time I emerged from the Woma Forest.

I found no suspicious tracks nearby. From conversations with passersby, I learned this area was still under the jurisdiction of Fengqing City. To reach Cangyue City, it seemed I would have to return to the ferry crossing I used last time to cross the river.

For the sake of caution, I made my way along the main road to Fengqing City, discovering that both Fengqing Town and Fengqing Ferry fell under its dominion. I found the name "Fengqing City" a bit peculiar, but this wasn't the time to delve into its origins. What I truly wanted to know was whether Long Xin and the others had safely reached Cangyue City, and if Shen Yin had managed to enter the Imperial Palace. The best place to gather such news would undoubtedly be a tavern or an inn.

In the Marfa World, there exists something akin to a newspaper, except it isn't sold in individual copies; rather, it’s displayed freely for all to see. At inns, merchant guilds, or ranger notice boards, these announcements share a unified name: the Red List. From trivial local matters to significant interstate affairs, any information deemed valuable is recorded by the Red Robes in the Red Lists displayed in every town and city.

The so-called Red Robes are analogous to modern journalists, but in the Marfa World, they all wear identical red robes, hence their name. The Red Robes are inherently curious about almost everything, and their focus shifts depending on the industry they cover. The Ranger World, for instance, has its own set of Red Robes dedicated to collecting anecdotes and strange tales from their domain, while the Merchant Guilds have their own set focused on commercial intelligence.

Even the official organizations of various nations maintain their own Red Robes. Though the matters occupying the Red Robes’ attention are diverse, one thing they all share is an unwavering commitment to truth—they dare not fabricate anything.

Furthermore, among all Red Robes, only the Gold-Trimmed Red Robes of the Imperial Family issue the most authoritative news, much like the central television networks in modern China. The Gold-Trimmed Red Robes primarily publish official state affairs, ensuring they always occupy the largest space on the Red List. Next in prominence are the Blue-Trimmed Red Robes of the Merchant Guilds, followed by the Black-Trimmed Red Robes of the Ranger World. These three sections are displayed side-by-side in conspicuous locations at inns or on public boards, allowing members of each profession to spot news relevant to their interests instantly.

I found myself at an inn named Juyuan. According to the owner, the name meant that meeting was fate, and those lodging and drinking together were surely kindred spirits. On the three prominent Red Lists positioned at the center of the inn were the most important news items from various sectors over the recent period.

“The Demon Dragon Empire has dispatched Royal Princess Jiuyao Shenyin as an envoy to the Cangyue Empire. The Cangyue and Demon Dragon nations remain deadlocked over the sovereignty of Jizhou Island, and peace negotiations have stalled…” I didn't need to read any further.

However, another piece of news from the Ranger World caught my attention: “Ghost Shadow has been apprehended, and the Wang Family’s treasured item, the Carefree Fan, has been recovered…” This was followed by a string of comments from the Red Robes detailing the supposed great deeds of Ghost Shadow.

Checking the date, I saw this news was already two days old.

The Red List contained much other news, but none that interested me, so I paid it little mind.

I ate my hearty meal while pondering the implications of these two pieces of information.

It seemed Jiuyao Shenyin had arrived safely at the palace. And the other report suggested that the hostile forces had given up their pursuit of her. Perhaps the so-called Ghost Shadow never truly existed, or maybe they were captured long ago. If so, the prior pursuit, under the guise of capturing Ghost Shadow, was actually an attempt to intercept Shenyin. Did this announcement now signal that I was safe?

Regardless, it was time to head to Cangyue City. Shenyin’s situation had already cost me significant time. If I delayed further, my own cultivation would be indefinitely postponed, and Long Xin and the others must be frantic after not hearing from me for so long. With that thought, I could no longer remain seated.

Though feeling a touch of apprehension, I set off toward the ferry crossing. I managed to hitch a ride on a passing carriage. Naturally, disguise and camouflage were essential. I was no longer in my ranger attire; I wore a simple tunic of coarse blue-gray cloth, a headscarf covering my hair, my face covered in dust, and a basket of herbs gathered from the forest strapped to my back—the perfect guise of a humble mountain herb collector. Many others in the carriage shared a similar look. I actually knew a bit about herbs, having often helped my mother distinguish and gather them back in Silver Ginkgo Village. My mother’s greatest wish was for me to become a skilled apothecary, a dream far removed from my own intentions, which had always been a source of slight regret for her.

After two days of bumpy travel, I finally arrived at the same ferry crossing as before. However, the military personnel conducting checks were nowhere in sight. I presumed they had withdrawn.

The absence of the patrol soldiers brought me some peace of mind. Fifty meters before the ferry landing was the spot to collect boat tokens. These tokens were essentially the equivalent of modern-day tickets—half the size of an open palm, engraved with intricate patterns, making counterfeiting extremely difficult.

“That will be twenty silver coins!” The man selling the tokens was a sturdy fellow in his mid-thirties, clearly possessing considerable physical strength and formidable power, suggesting he was a true martial expert. I found it odd that such a man was merely selling boat tokens.

The token seller, seeing my youthful appearance and the basket of herbs, chuckled, “Heh, young man, where are you off to? This whole basket of herbs won't even cover the ferry fare. That’s not how you conduct business.”

“Heh, thanks, Uncle,” I replied with a smile. “Don’t let the looks fool you; there are a few valuable herbs in here. Sold to an apothecary, after paying for passage and travel, I can still make a little profit.” I wasn’t lying; a few of those herbs were quite valuable.

“What, hasn’t Old Man Lande come?” A large man dressed like a merchant asked from behind me, sounding curious.

“The old man isn’t feeling well, so I’m covering for him these few days,” the strong man chuckled.

…………………………………………………………

The ferry crossed the wide river swiftly, taking only twenty minutes to deliver everyone to the opposite bank.

Hoo! I had finally made it across. As my feet touched the wooden bridge of the ferry landing, the heavy weight in my chest finally lifted. The past few days of constant anxiety had been utterly exhausting. Now that the river was behind me, I hoped there would be no more incidents.

According to the map, after passing through the nearby Unraveling Forest and crossing the Flowing Tassel River, I would enter the territory of Liusu, from where direct carriages to Cangyue City were available.

I boarded a carriage heading to the next ferry crossing. However, shortly after departure, I sensed something was amiss—a faint, chilling killing intent pervaded the air. Though weak, my heightened senses immediately registered it. Like a startled bird, I acted without hesitation, bursting upward and smashing through the roof of the carriage.

CRASH! Almost simultaneously with my exit, a deafening explosion rocked the air. The entire carriage compartment, along with the warhorses pulling it, was instantly pulverized. The passengers inside didn't even have time to scream before they were utterly annihilated by the terrifying blast of Battle Qi. Turning back in horror, I saw an overwhelmingly powerful figure charging toward me.

BAM! A massive gray shadow slammed down from above!

Hah! Mid-air with no leverage, I could only raise my sword in a light block, using precise force to curve the incoming gray shadow toward me.

CLANG! The descending Judgment Greatclub struck the Dragon Shadow Sword I held defensively. The terrifying force bent the sturdy blade into a crescent moon shape. Fortunately, I was prepared; I channeled energy, flexed my wrist, and simultaneously used that immense power to shift my position in the air. The Judgment Greatclub then slid harmlessly down the angled blade of the Dragon Shadow Sword to my side. Utilizing this momentum, I quickly sprang back toward the ground. If not for the Dragon Shadow Sword’s astonishing resilience and elasticity—acting like a powerful spring—I would have been instantly vibrated to death by the sheer impact, even with the sword intercepting the blow. That force was absolutely terrifying.

My bizarre swordsmanship seemed to momentarily stun the opponent, causing him to pause slightly.

It was then I got a clear look at my attacker: one of the same group I encountered at the docks previously. Though not the most formidable of them, that young warrior, this man’s skill was clearly beyond my current capability. His Battle Qi cultivation was at the peak of the Crimson Moon level, and his combat techniques were exquisitely refined, evident from our brief exchange.

I wanted to escape, but I lacked the courage to turn my back on him. I clearly felt that if I turned to flee now, the outcome would be disastrous. The large middle-aged warrior had witnessed my speed before and would certainly be anticipating it. At his level of power, showing him even the slightest opening would be tantamount to suicide.

With no other choice, I settled into a defensive stance, remaining where I was. “Big Guy, do we have some kind of feud? Why are you always targeting me?”

“Hah! I don't want to,” the large warrior replied leisurely. “But an imperial command is an imperial command; I have no choice.”

“They really are following me everywhere,” I muttered, regretting my carelessness. “It looks like you guys never left the ferry crossing.” Suddenly, I remembered the sturdy man selling tokens at the ferry. I had sensed something was off about him—why would such a powerful man be stuck as a menial token seller? I was clearly obtuse; I overlooked such an obvious flaw. Although my current attire was vastly different from last time, one’s eye color cannot be changed. That man must have recognized me when I bought the token.

“Indeed,” the large warrior said, clearly confident he had me cornered, showing no haste to strike. “We didn’t know your exact movements, but we were certain you’d eventually head for Cangyue City, so we guarded the crossing. And not just here; all six ferry points along the river are monitored by our people. You can’t escape.”

A textbook ambush, I sighed internally. However, remembering the other passengers in the carriage earlier, I lashed out in anger, “Is it worth involving innocent people just to capture me? Do you feel no remorse?”

“They saw what they shouldn’t have seen; death was their only option,” the large man dismissed casually.

Wasting lives! Although I had killed many since starting my journey, I preferred not to slaughter the innocent if I could avoid it. But this large warrior seemed utterly unconcerned with human life.

“One last question,” I gripped the Dragon Shadow Sword reflexively. “What’s the point of capturing me now? Aren’t you afraid of causing trouble?”

“An imperial command is an imperial command; no further comment. Surrender willingly, or I’ll make you,” the large warrior stated.

“Dream on!” Using the pause in conversation, I rushed forward with Electric Steps. Whoosh! Almost identical to last time, the Dragon Shadow Sword moved with lightning speed, unleashing three simultaneous strikes aimed at the warrior’s face and eyes. The profound Battle Qi and astonishing reaction speed of the young warrior I faced previously were vividly etched in my memory, but I didn't expect everyone to possess that level of power.

“Courting death!” Seemingly prepared, the large warrior roared, his Judgment Greatclub instantly blurring into a dark mass guarding his front.

BAM! BAM! BAM! The three lightning-fast strikes felt like hitting solid steel, sparking dazzling bursts of electricity and fire. The terrifying recoil bent the Dragon Shadow Sword into an arc like a drawn bow. However, I dared not repeat the tactic of using that force to break through the encirclement; I knew he would be wary of that move now.

My sudden assault had clearly enraged the large man. He was no longer expecting my surrender. He wielded the Judgment Greatclub like a frenzied golden serpent, sweeping it toward my waist, imbued with dense Battle Qi energy. In ancient China, there was an old saying: "The spear pierces a line, the staff sweeps the sky; the sword flows blue, the saber moves black," referring to the inherent characteristics of various cold weapons. This large warrior had mastered this principle; the application of the Judgment Greatclub, while differing slightly from a standard staff, similarly relied on using apparent clumsiness to defeat skill, overwhelming finesse with sheer force. Especially when infused with dense Battle Qi, this horizontal sweep was overwhelmingly powerful and unstoppable. Having superior strength and abundant Battle Qi gave him a significant advantage.

I naturally realized a direct confrontation was impossible and could only focus on desperately dodging. However, the warrior’s attacks were relentless, and every move carried tremendous impact. The dense Battle Qi energy crashed around us wildly.

Even with my speed, I could only focus on evading; I barely had an opportunity to counterattack. This wasn’t necessarily due to the speed of his attacks, but rather the sheer destructive power of the Battle Qi combined with the club. Wave after wave of astonishing Battle Qi shockwaves crashed in, leaving no moment of respite. A single lapse in concentration could mean disaster.

Relatively speaking, my offensive power was pitifully weak. If not for the unique 'One Line, Three Strikes' technique, even a normal thrust aimed at his body wouldn't penetrate his defenses.

With no other option, I settled my mind and focused entirely on evasion. Damn it, no matter how potent your Battle Qi or how wide your attack radius, my speed is not slow, especially with the aid of my secret weapon for enhancing speed, the Gale Ring. If even that wasn't enough to evade his attacks, I’d have to consider myself unlucky. But from our exchanges so far, I could tell his speed was still significantly less than mine, solidifying my chosen tactic. This wasn't passive avoidance, though; the moment the large warrior exposed even a sliver of an opening, I would have a chance to strike.

And so, under the warrior’s torrential barrage of club strikes laced with Battle Qi, the middle of the road was gouged with countless pits, large and small. Fragments, dust, and debris flew everywhere. Yet, despite the warrior’s fierce assault, it failed to achieve the desired effect against me, who was deliberately dodging. The large man seemed to see through my strategy, realizing that his current attack speed wasn't enough to harm me. He abruptly withdrew the Frost-Condensing Sword and jammed the Judgment Greatclub into the ground.

“Seriously! You can do that?!” I cursed in frustration.

“No choice,” the large warrior grumbled. “I have experience dealing with people like you. Don’t think you can defeat me just because you’re fast. Not a chance.”

“…………” It seemed this fellow wasn't dull. Knowing my speed advantage, the heavy Judgment Greatclub was proving useless for landing a hit, so he switched to the lighter Frost-Condensing Sword. I wondered about his swordsmanship. “That sword isn’t easy for just anyone to master. Think you can handle it?”

“We’ll find out soon enough!” the large man roared. “Take this!”

The sound vibrated painfully in my eardrums. The Frost-Condensing Sword whipped up countless streaks of white afterimages, showering down on me like a furious dragon. With the weapon change, his speed instantly increased significantly. I focused completely, utilizing my Sword-Stepping Footwork, my movements like a fleeting butterfly among flowers. Though the shadows of the Frost-Condensing Sword grew faster and fiercer with each strike, they achieved nothing against my exquisite footwork. The storm of attacks only managed to hit the residual afterimages my movements created. This was the gap created by supreme speed. In terms of Battle Qi cultivation, I was no match for him, but when it came to speed, I was absolutely confident. Moreover, I hadn't even activated the full power of the Gale Ring yet. This wasn't me holding back out of conceit; I didn't want to reveal that I still possessed a speed advantage too early. If the Gale Ring’s effect were exposed and I still failed to kill him, defeating them later would become exponentially harder.

This fight was eerily similar to when I faced Li Xie in the mining area, only the opponent before me was a solid tier above the original Li Xie, and I was no longer the same person. My Battle Qi was approaching the mid-stage of the Crimson Moon, and my speed had also improved slightly.

After a volley of attacks, the large man witnessed the prowess of my Sword-Stepping Footwork. During the brief pause in his offense, I struck like lightning, every move aimed at his throat and vital points. Each thrust was vicious, strange, and elusive, making it impossible for him to defend adequately. Unfortunately, his Battle Qi was too dense, and his War God Armor deflected most of my blows. Although I possessed the 'One Line, Three Strikes' technique, that move required a minimum of 0.3 seconds to execute. At the large man's current state, within that 0.3 seconds, even if I pierced his armor, he could strike me simultaneously. The final outcome would be mutual destruction, and given my physical constitution, if I weren't killed instantly, I would certainly be seriously injured. In contrast, unless I struck a vital point, the large warrior would sustain only minor damage. He clearly understood this, as he didn't completely drop his guard during his attacks, maintaining very tight defense around his throat and head, leaving me no opening.

“Kid, if we drag this out, my reinforcements will arrive!” The large man remained unhurried, continuing to press me relentlessly.

Damn it, this scenario again. I recalled Li Xie saying something very similar back then.

“Hah! You won’t live long enough to see them,” I retorted. “I’ll have taken you down long before they show up.”

“Heh, show me what you’ve got,” the large warrior taunted. “Anyone can boast.”

I needed to find a way to disengage quickly. If his reinforcements truly arrived, my life would be forfeit. But how to escape? After careful consideration, I had no choice but to use the Dragon Shadow Sword. My Battle Qi was nearly at the mid-Crimson Moon level, and the power of the two Dragon Shadows was much stronger than before. I knew relying on the Dragon Shadows to kill this opponent was unlikely, but they could serve as excellent diversions. Originally, I wanted to keep my identity as a Dragon Shadow Sect disciple secret, but any further reservation now might cost me my life.

Whoosh! Another powerful horizontal sweep came, the Frost-Condensing Sword rushing toward my waist like thunder.

Hah! I raised my sword to meet the blow, no longer running away but taking the hit head-on.

BAM! A blinding flash of light erupted instantly. The terrifying impact sent me flying backward—exactly the result I desired. As I flew back, I used the force to perform a maneuver, planting my legs against the ground and leaping backward. The large warrior anticipated this, catching up with Electric Steps, his Frost-Condensing Sword slashing out—a relentless barrage of stabbing and slicing attacks—shooting toward my chest in the blink of an eye.

Hah! With a muffled roar, my airborne retreat remained unchanged, but my pre-charged Crescent Lightning Slash shot out. Boom! Another brilliant ball of light exploded in mid-air. From within the light, two streaks of golden radiance suddenly flashed, instantly piercing toward the warrior’s face and throat.

“Die!”

Ah! The sudden, massive shift in momentum gave the big man no time to change his move, not even a chance to evade. The chilling killing intent, the terrifying speed, struck such fear into him that his soul almost fled his body. His only recourse was to frantically spur his protective Battle Aura, shielding his throat, while simultaneously leaning back to deflect the other golden light aimed at his face. The second assassination sword-qi, which had been fully prepared, naturally failed to launch.

Mid-air, the moment I unleashed the Dragon Shadow, I activated the power of the Gale Ring. My figure shot out like lightning, traversing a hundred meters in the blink of an eye, and without looking back, I put on full speed and bolted.

The big man had no idea what had just happened. He watched, dumbfounded, as the two arcs of light, repelled by his protective Battle Aura, executed graceful U-turns in mid-air before turning back and chasing the blue-gray silhouette disappearing into the distance.

“This is utterly uncanny!” The big man nervously touched the slight trickle of blood seeping from his throat. Although the protective Battle Aura had shielded his throat, the fierce impact had still injured it, tearing the skin, making even breathing difficult. What truly confounded him was: “What in the world were those two golden lights? They seemed... alive.”

If those two sudden golden lights hadn't completely disrupted his tempo, Liu Kong would have been certain that his second assassination sword-qi could have intercepted and killed Xing Chen, who was retreating in mid-air. In fact, this was exactly what Liu Kong had intended, but he had been outmaneuvered by Xing Chen instead.

“Dammit! He got away!” Liu Kong looked utterly defeated. With no other choice, he sent out his second communication spell before giving chase.

Bang! A fierce explosion ripped through the sky, a burst of colorful fireworks soaring straight towards the clouds, undeniably bright and eye-catching even in broad daylight.

“Liu Kong failed.” On his furiously galloping warhorse, Cang Yue Liu Xun gasped in shock. “Just who is this person that even Liu Kong can’t handle?”

“Rush immediately to the Ford of the River of No Return,” Cang Yue Liu Zhen ordered. “We must stop him before he crosses the river.” The image of that incomparably swift, lightning-like brown figure from that day involuntarily flashed through his mind. This fellow’s talent for escape was absolutely first-rate.

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