Chapter 13

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“You…you…”

“You killed Lord Wu Yuan!”

Wu Yuan was a corpse on fire. The eyes of the other five servants were looking at Lu Qingfeng as if they had seen a ghost. They were frozen in place, with no thought of running away in their minds.

The immensely powerful true disciple, Wu Yuan, had actually been slaughtered by this weak-looking teenager?

And this young man was the elder brother of Lu Qingshan, who they had bullied in the past?

The impact of what they’d just seen was too immense. They’d lost the ability to think.

“Qingshan, are you all right?”

Lu Qingfeng paid no attention to the other servants. Pulling Qingyu after him, he ran up to Lu Qingshan.

He had never expected Wu Yuan to be so nasty that he would severely injure Lu Qingshan before the entire incident had even started.

Fortunately, it was just a kick.

Should Wu Yuan have gone mad and slashed his blade into Lu Qingshan’s head, Lu Qingfeng would have regretted it his entire life.

“I…cough, cough, I’m fine.”

“These guys…they cannot be spared!”

Lu Qingshan had a sharp pain in his chest. In his last two sentences, he had already coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood. Even so, he pointed toward the five other servants who were standing there, stupefied.

“Very well!”

Initially, Lu Qingfeng hadn’t wanted to attack the five servants. After all, they might have suffered just like Lu Qingshan.

However, since Lu Qingshan wanted him to kill them, he must have his own reasons. Now wasn’t the time to reason. Attacking immediately and getting away swiftly was the right thing to do.

“Shifting Steps!”

Lu Qingfeng moved and unleashed Shifting Steps. Like a ghost, he abruptly appeared before one of the servants. This servant was about 20 years old. At this moment, he was already petrified with fear.

He had a small sword in his hand, but he couldn’t seem to lift it.

Ka-chk!

Lu Qingfeng extended his arms and twisted his skull, snapping his neck directly and killing him.

“D…demon!”

“Run!”

The four remaining servants finally came to their senses. They hurriedly dropped their swords and ran away.

But just like Lu Qingshan, they were all labor disciples who were still Unblooded in the arts. They had no way of escaping Lu Qingfeng.

In less than 20 seconds, they had all been slaughtered by Lu Qingfeng.

It seems strange to mention it now, but the previous night before Lu Qingfeng had killed anybody, he was extremely nervous about it. But now, when he was on a killing spree, he wasn’t feeling too much of any emotion.

“Let’s go!”

There was no time to think about it now.

Lu Qingfeng carried Lu Qingshan on his back, shoved Lu Qingyu under his arm, and tied the Nine-ringed Blade and the small swords all together in a bundle.

Then, he sprinted straight for the dock.

It was only a little after dawn. There was no one at the dock.

With the Truth Sect’s imposing reputation, unless someone was tired of living, who would ever be bold enough to come to the foot of Ganoderma Mountain to steal a boat?

With Lu Qingshan on his back and Lu Qingyu held in his arms, he hopped on a random wooden boat.

None of the seven or eight boats at the dock were big. The biggest among them could accommodate around ten people, while the smallest one could only hold three to five people.

He picked the smallest one and loosened the ropes of all the other boats. In this way, he could cause some trouble to the Truth Sect in their pursuit of them.

During the past three days, Lu Qingfeng had found a turbulent river near Emery Town. Having practiced controlling a boat for two months, he had no problem driving this small boat.

The small boats had no anchors. He loosened the ropes, popped in the oars, and fled into the Chengyang River.

“With Wu Yuan and the other five dead, it will take the Truth Sect at least half an hour to discover this incident and start their investigations.”

“By traveling downstream, the only way they can catch me is by the waterways.”

“But as long as I don’t stop, they will never catch us.”

It was at this moment that Lu QIngfeng finally felt relieved.

The biggest variable and challenge in their plan had been killing Wu Yuan and stealing a boat. As long as these two steps had been accomplished, the escape and pursuit that would follow weren’t actually as dangerous as they had imagined.

The vast and immense Chengyang River was unknown in length.

The influence of the Truth Sect was massive in Jiuzhai County. But as long as they could escape Jiuzhai Country, they should be safe.

“Phew!”

“From now on, boundless is the sea for fish to dive at will, unlimited is the sky for birds to fly at ease.”

Lu Qingfeng was in control of the boat with an oar in his hands. Looking back in the direction of Ganoderma Mountain, an enormous smile of relief appeared on his face.

“Blackwood Village!”

“Truth Sect!”

“I will be back!”

But when that time would come, that would be the day the Truth Sect would fall!

…

Ganoderma Mountain, beside the dock.

More than a dozen people in black robes had solemn expressions on their faces.

The man in charge had a Cycloblade tied to his waist. His eyebrows were knitted in fury. He was about 40 years of age. The amount of Chi in this body was like an abyss of unknown depths.

This man was Zhao Zhou, a prominent figure in the Truth Sect who was in charge of the Punishment Hall. He wielded immense authority. He was the one who sat at the Punishment Hall’s seat of honor.

A disciple stood in front of Zhao Zhou and reported.

“Chief, we’ve studied the scene, and the burned corpse is Wu Yuan, and the rest of the five corpses are the servants that Wu Yuan selected. One of his servants by the name of Lu Qingshan is nowhere to be found.”

“Lu Qingshan is a labor disciple who was born in the village of Blackwood. He has an elder brother and a younger sister at home. He joined the Truth Sect five months and 24 days ago.”

“Lu Qingshan…”

Zhao Zhou looked contemplative and said, “Make a trip to Blackwood Village and see if his brother and sister are still there. If so, bring them to me immediately.”

“Received!”

The disciple received the orders, took some men, and rushed to Blackwood Village.

Zhao Zhou, on the other hand, walked to the charred corpse, squatted down, and inspected it.

His disciple, Chen Shang, who specialized in post-mortems said with reverence, “The fatal wound is on Wu Yuan’s head. The flames started burning from his head and then moved downward to his entire body. The injury in his chest area was caused by a kick. From its angle and strength, Wu Yuan was already lying on the ground, powerless to retaliate when this kick was delivered. The cultivation attainment of the person who struck Wu Yuan with his feet is no higher than a Level 3 of the Fetal Phase.”

The results of the post-mortem were truly astonishing. It almost completely restored the scene of Wu Yuan’s death.

“What about the flames?” Zhao Zhou asked.

“The flames…”

Chen Shang looked quizzical and said, while shaking his head, “The intensity of the fire was immense. Even after deploying the Turtle Shell technique, Wu Yuan was unable to ward it off. It may seem that it was caused by a fire attribute technique. However, I couldn’t think of any fire attribute technique in Jiuzhai County or even across the Guangyuan Commandery that is capable of generating flames out of nowhere to inflict harm.”

When Zhao Zhou heard this, he lowered his head and pondered.

Half an hour later…

“Six of the boats that were washed away from the dock have been located. The remaining two are yet to be found.”

“In Blackwood Village, the siblings, Lu Qingfeng and Lu Qingyu have not been spotted since morning. Their clothes and items are still at their home. Also, in their dwelling, we have discovered leftover Bai Zhu, licorice, Polygonatum, and 14 other herbs. There was also a box of barks that has characters, meridian points, the first level of the Art of Truth, and the Bullock Fist written on them.

After hearing this report, Zhao Zhou revealed a smile on his face.

“Bestowing knowledge and techniques in private.”

“Stealing a boat and running away.”

“A youth from the countryside is actually bold enough to do this.”

Zhao Zhou muttered to himself and then said loudly, “Form groups of five and hunt down the siblings by boat. Dispatch our men to inform Water Village, Yellowrock Village, Lower Village, and Ninko Village to assemble parties to search their riverbanks. If they discover anyone suspicious, let them report it immediately!”

“Received!”

The deacons in black garments received his orders and retreated.

Zhao Zhou stood in place, looked at the Chengyang River which was rushing eastward, and said in a low guttural voice, “Such an injury cannot be caused by ordinary martial arts. It must be undoubtedly a fire attribute technique. If the siblings hadn’t received any assistance, it must be that they had a miraculous encounter that granted them mastery over some techniques. Even if they have received aid, that person is definitely not very powerful, otherwise, they would not have chosen to escape by boat.”

“The Chengyang River is vast. The siblings might have thought that they could go down the river and escape Jiuzhai by boat. But little did they know, the section of the river at Ninkou Village is turbulent and densely packed with submerged rocks, rendering the river impassable by ships both large and small.”

“I would like to see how you can escape me in such a scenario where only wings would allow you to escape!”

“Magic! Miraculous encounter!”

Zhao Zhou chuckled and walked away.

…

Among clouds in the color of dawn, from Baidi I take my leave,

Though hundreds of miles away, Jiangling is within a day’s reach.

From both sides of the gorge come incessant howlings of gibbons and monkeys,

My skiff white water cleaves leaving behind thousands of mountain peaks.

Lu Qingfeng controlled the boat and went down the river.

The mountains on both sides of the Chengyang River gradually rose, the cliffs were steep, and the roars of apes and tigers were unceasing.

In the middle of the boat, the corner of Lu Qingshan’s mouth was full of blood. His head was tilted, and he lay in the arms of Lu Qingyu, who was like a pear blossom bathed in the rain.

“Qingfeng, Qingshan is not gonna make it,” Lu Qingyu’s tearful voice arose.

The corners of Lu Qingfeng’s mouth twitched slightly, and, while controlling the balance of the boat, he comforted her, “Qingshan took medicine and is now sleeping. He will be fine when he wakes up.”

Lu Qingshan’s injury looked serious, but Wu Yuan had actually controlled his strength very well. He had no intention of killing him.

After all, he was still planning to take Lu Qingshan to the other side of the Chengyang River.

Another sacrifice would have meant that he had one less chance of survival.

Hence, Wu Yuan wasn’t thinking of killing or severely injuring Lu Qingshan.

He didn’t even want to kill Lu Qingfeng.

Though his motives weren’t out of kindness, who would have thought that he would end up dead at the hands of these brothers who he had looked down upon from beginning to end.

But fortunately, it was so.

Lu Qingshan’s injury was not serious.

During the three days that Lu Qingfeng had spent in Blackwood Village, he had refined three furnaces for a total of 36 Fasting Pills and some random medicinal powders, which included those for surface injury, internal injury, repelling insects, curing poisons, and so on. After Lu Qingshan had taken a dose of the medicine and could rest for a few days, the injury would heal very soon.

As Lu Qingyu listened to him, she blinked her eyes that still had tears hanging on her long eyelashes. She had even been thinking about tossing Lu Qingshan into the river.

Just now…

Her second brother hugged her and spouted a bunch of words, talking about how much he’d missed her and then asking her to be obedient in the future. Later on, his head had tilted and he’d fainted in her arms with a smile on his face.

Anybody would’ve thought that this person was about to die.

“Bad brother!”

Lu Qingyu slapped Lu Qingshan’s arm. The holes on his slightly tattered clothes became even larger. Through the gap, one could see new and old scars on Lu Qingshan’s arm.

In his dream…

Lu Qingshan felt the pain, frowned slightly, and rolled over. Thus, the injuries on his back were also revealed.

Lashmarks, bruises…

Lu Qingyu lifted off Lu Qingshan’s upper garments. There were so many scars that they couldn’t be counted. It sent chills running down her back.

“The Truth Sect is a bunch of b*stards!”

“B*stards!”

Lu Qingyu clenched her fists tightly and cursed loudly.

Hearing her, Lu Qingfeng looked back and saw Lu Qingshan’s injuries. When he had been inspecting Lu Qingshan, he’d already seen these injuries. He’d wanted to hide them from Qingyu, but she’d discovered them anyway.

“Big Brother! We will still come back, right? Let’s come back and kill all those b*stards from the Truth Sect!”

Lu Qingyu raised her head and looked at Lu QIngfeng.

“Yeah.”

“We will return!”

Lu Qingfeng nodded.

Without even mentioning the Truth Sect’s distortion of justice and devilish conduct, just the sufferings that their family had gone through over the years alone was sufficient to make Lu Qingfeng hate them for eternity.

For each day that the Truth Sect still stands, it’s another day the grudge in his heart will remain!

…