The black-clad, masked figure of Teng Qingshan frowned. “The Empyrean Palace must have numerous Enforcement Elders stationed in this vicinity.” Teng Qingshan unleashed his physical might, his speed instantly surging again, blurring into an ethereal phantom.
“Don’t run!” roared a voice.
A man in purple robes transformed into a violet specter, chasing after Teng Qingshan. The purple phantom and the black phantom streaked one behind the other in hot pursuit.
Yet, in just two breaths of time, the black phantom flickered and vanished without a trace.
The purple-robed man halted. A red mole marked the center of his brow. He glanced around. “This person runs quite fast. Judging by his speed, he’s only slightly slower than me. It’s highly likely he’s a Xiantian Golden Core master.” Unable to locate Teng Qingshan, the purple-robed man swiftly turned and departed.
Inside the Qiao Zhong Manor.
Dozens of Elders and over ten Enforcement Elders were gathered.
“Elder Sikong, are you alright?” the Enforcement Elders asked with concern.
“Cough, cough, I’m fine. I’ll need ten days to half a month to recover,” the white-browed man replied, his face pale as he shook his head. “That black-clad, masked man possesses power far exceeding mine. However, he had no intent to kill me; had his punch carried even a fraction more force, I would be dead! He only intervened to save the killer of my Sixth Junior Brother.”
The white-browed man spoke weakly, clearly having sustained serious injuries.
A black-robed elder frowned. “Daring to provoke my Empyrean Palace—we cannot let this pass easily.”
“Martial Uncle,” the purple-robed man with the red mole shook his head. “Let this matter rest. I pursued the masked man just now, but he slipped away. His speed was slightly slower than mine… Sikong also said the masked man’s power far surpassed his. I suspect that man is a Xiantian Golden Core.”
“Not necessarily Xiantian Golden Core.”
The black-robed elder shook his head. “Nephew, your Qinggong (Movement Technique) has never been your strong suit. If he was slower than you, I estimate he is a Xiantian Solid Core master who excels in Qinggong. Furthermore, he defeated Sikong with a single punch… In this world, Xiantian experts who specialize in punching are rare. And those who dare cross our Empyrean Palace are even fewer. This sudden appearance… it reminds me of someone!”
Someone nearby gasped in alarm. “Teng Qingshan?”
“Indeed,” the black-robed elder nodded solemnly. “This Teng Qingshan is skilled in spear techniques and boxing. And in the Great Yan Mountains, he managed to toy with numerous Xiantian experts before inflicting heavy casualties on the major sects. I suspect his Qinggong must also be excellent. Moreover, he once killed Iron Vulture of the Snow Eagle Sect with a single move.”
“Yes, yes,” the severely injured white-browed man added. “When he saved that culprit earlier, he used a hidden weapon, deflecting my killing blow!”
“Since that is the case!” the black-robed elder stated coldly. “Protector Liu, relay this news to our outpost on Azure Lake Island.”
“Yes!” Protector Liu responded immediately.
All the Enforcement Elders of the Empyrean Palace sent to the Great Yan Mountains had been wiped out! This enraged the Empyrean Palace leadership, who held no favorable feelings toward Teng Qingshan either.
The black-robed elder continued, “Sikong, do you still recall the appearance of that culprit?”
The white-browed man furrowed his brow in thought. “Vaguely!” He and Ma Jinshao had spotted each other under dim candlelight before the fierce fight erupted, which was interrupted moments later when Teng Qingshan interfered, allowing Ma Jinshao to escape. Under such intense combat… combined with the dim surroundings, the white-browed man’s memory was far from clear.
“Daring to be so arrogant, slicing and killing men of my Empyrean Palace dozens of times—we absolutely cannot let him go!” the black-robed elder sneered. “Sikong, hurry and find someone. Have them sketch the culprit’s appearance. Afterward, search the entire commandery city!”
At the inn.
Teng Qingshan had already changed his clothes and was resting on the bed.
“Bang!” “Bang!” Knocking sounded on the door.
“Who is it?” Teng Qingshan rose.
“Brother Qin Wei, it’s me.” Ma Jinshao’s voice called out. Teng Qingshan went to open the door. Ma Jinshao was standing there, leading the child ‘Tan He’ and Madam Tan.
“Quickly, come in.” Once the trio entered, Teng Qingshan immediately shut the door.
“Uncle Qin, Master said he will personally teach me saber techniques from now on!” Tan He exclaimed excitedly. Teng Qingshan smiled and patted Tan He’s head, then looked at Ma Jinshao. “It seems Brother Ma’s matter has been resolved.”
A smile graced Ma Jinshao’s face. “Yes, it is resolved.”
“Congratulations,” Teng Qingshan smiled.
“Haha, Brother Qin Wei, I came to ask you for a favor,” Ma Jinshao said.
Teng Qingshan looked surprised. “Please speak.”
“Brother Qin Wei should have visited the merchant convoy this afternoon, intending to leave Huye Commandery City early tomorrow morning?” Ma Jinshao inquired. Teng Qingshan nodded in confirmation. Ma Jinshao continued, “Then, when you leave through the North Gate tomorrow morning, could you possibly take Little He and his mother with you?”
“What?” Teng Qingshan was caught off guard.
Ma Jinshao smiled. “I only ask Brother Qin Wei to take them out of the city. You are likely heading toward Yuzhou through the North Gate. When you proceed about ten li down the official road, I will be waiting by the roadside. At that time, I will collect the mother and son.”
“Oh, alright, that’s on me,” Teng Qingshan agreed readily.
“Then thank you very much, Brother Qin Wei,” Ma Jinshao said, cupping his hands in gratitude. Teng Qingshan smiled and affectionately patted Tan He’s little head. “As an elder uncle, helping Little He is what I should do. Right, Little He?”
A smile bloomed on Xiao He’s face.
“Well then, I won’t disturb Brother Qin Wei’s rest any longer,” Ma Jinshao said, soon leaving Teng Qingshan’s room with the mother and son.
Teng Qingshan closed the door, a faint smile appearing on his face. “This Ma Jinshao is quite cautious. He’s probably afraid the Empyrean Palace is hunting him throughout the entire commandery city…” Teng Qingshan glanced north. “I estimate Ma Jinshao will leave Huye Commandery City tonight.” City walls pose no obstacle to a Xiantian expert.
Early morning.
Teng Qingshan led the Crimson Fire Horse, upon which Tan He and his mother were seated.
“Tsk tsk, the stir the Empyrean Palace is causing is quite substantial.” Teng Qingshan immediately noticed numerous guards scouring the streets, the leading guards holding a portrait.
“Uncle Qin, there are so many guards on the road,” Tan He observed, surprised.
Teng Qingshan smiled as he led the horse, walking leisurely.
All the way to the North Gate, Teng Qingshan noticed large numbers of guards on every street.
“There are only so many streets in the commandery city. And the number of guards is vast. My Guiyuan Sect’s City Guard alone numbers eighty thousand! The Empyrean Palace’s City Guard must be far more numerous. Even dispatching tens of thousands of guards to search the entire commandery city would cover every corner,” Teng Qingshan marveled inwardly at the power of the Eight Great Sects.
Tan He and his mother dared not speak loudly either.
They, too, noticed—the commandery city today was teeming with guards, all of them exceedingly overbearing.
“Uncle Qin, there are tons of guards at the city gate too,” Tan He said nervously.
“Searching everyone?” Teng Qingshan frowned.
Suddenly, Teng Qingshan spotted a large portrait pasted on the city wall not far away. The face in the portrait… Teng Qingshan didn't recognize it.
“Is this Ma Jinshao’s portrait?” Teng Qingshan inwardly chuckled. The features in the portrait bore little resemblance to Ma Jinshao, only the general face shape was similar; everything else was entirely different. “That makes sense! That white-browed expert only had a brief clash with Ma Jinshao, who then departed. The white-browed man’s memory must be fuzzy; it’s not surprising that a portrait drawn from memory would be inaccurate.”
Teng Qingshan also breathed a sigh of relief for Ma Jinshao.
At least now, Ma Jinshao wouldn't have to hide his identity constantly.
“Martial Uncle, we asked the Empyrean Palace people to help us find Teng Qingshan, but those guards searching everywhere aren't even looking diligently for us,” a few people standing near the city gate were speaking in low voices, one young man complaining discontentedly. The elder replied, “Forget it, those are all Empyrean Palace people. We can’t force them.”
“Yes, that’s true. Besides, whether Teng Qingshan is even in Huye Commandery City is uncertain,” the young man added.
The elder shook his head. “Finding this Teng Qingshan is indeed like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, since the Island Master issued a strict order, we cannot afford to miss any opportunity. We must search diligently… We are short-handed, but we have dozens of men at all four city gates. If Teng Qingshan attempts to sneak out in disguise, he’ll most likely pass through a gate.”
“Understood.” The young man nodded.
Teng Qingshan frowned upon hearing this. “This Azure Lake Island truly won't give up!”
In truth, it was hard to blame Azure Lake Island. After suffering such heavy losses, it would be strange if they let Teng Qingshan go.
A long line had formed at the city gate.
“You, open your luggage!” The guards at the city gate were conducting extremely rigorous searches.
People passed one by one.
The person in front of Teng Qingshan appeared to be a merchant as well, with two large sacks hanging from his horse.
“Open those two sacks quickly!” the guard ordered.
“It’s clear that nothing human can fit in these sacks. Must you really check?” The merchant pulled out some silver bits to offer. “Brothers, it’s too much trouble to store my things in there and then take them out again. It’ll take at least the time it takes an incense stick to burn.”
Instantly, the supervising elder and young man nearby both looked over.
“Hurry and open them, stop wasting time.” Many of these guards were from Azure Lake Island; how could they dare accept bribes and let people pass now? After all, finding any trace of Teng Qingshan was difficult, and the Empyrean Palace’s suggestion that he might be in Huye Commandery City meant they had to search with all their might.
The merchant, with a bitter expression, could only move to the side to untie the two large sacks, and the guard even poured the contents out.
There were many guards at the city gate, and some came to inspect Teng Qingshan.
“You, come here,” a guard called out.
Teng Qingshan immediately led his horse over, speaking in a strong Youyan accent. “Brothers, I have quite a few goods; please lend a hand.” Before Teng Qingshan could offer silver, the guard snapped, “Stop the nonsense. You two—the woman and child on top, get down. Undo those two crates, quickly!”
Teng Qingshan could only put on a forced, distressed look and pull his horse to the side.
“Boy, you’re from the Youyan region? Traveling so far, bringing your wife and child along?” The guard suddenly spoke, looking at Teng Qingshan with some suspicion.
Teng Qingshan startled slightly.
“He is my uncle,” Tan He spoke up. Tan He’s accent was clearly from the Qingzhou/Yangzhou region.
“This is my elder brother’s child. We merchants associate with people from all corners of the land. This time, I’m helping him pick up his child on the way. It’s just a few hundred li detour,” Teng Qingshan said with a smile. Hearing Tan He’s accent, the guard nodded indifferently, while shouting, “Hurry, open the two crates.”