Shen Feiyu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, his gaze fixed on the gang leader, now a cold corpse lying before him.
Throughout the fight, he had been cautious and had used his full strength. But who would have expected that the gang leader, knowing he couldn't win and that death was inevitable, would suddenly go mad, sacrificing his own life in a desperate attempt to drag Shen Feiyu down with him?
In the end, Shen Feiyu had sustained some light injuries from that final reckless strike.
But knowing he didn't have the luxury of time, he didn't pause to treat his wounds, nor did he bother to chase after the few remaining Red Dog Gang members who had managed to flee. Instead, he rushed directly into the leader's residence.
There, on a large table at the center of the room, lay a worn leather map, placed among many others that looked like ordinary travel charts and route diagrams, possibly of nearby towns, mountain ranges, or caravan paths.
He stepped closer to the table and narrowed his eyes, carefully studying each map to avoid being deceived by appearances.
And then, he understood.
Shen Feiyu had been wondering why the gang leader hadn't already set off for the tomb, especially when the map was clearly in his possession. Why had he remained in Fenghua County, wasting time?
The answer turned out to be simple.
The location marked on the leather map was too obscure and too far away. The gang leader had likely been trying to identify it by comparing the map with all sorts of regional charts, old maps, trade routes, and topographical sketches.
But before he could uncover the final destination, Shen Feiyu had arrived… and sent him on his journey to the underworld.
Shen Feiyu didn't dwell on that.
He gathered all the maps from the table, stuffed them into his robe, and swiftly left the Red Dog Gang's stronghold.
As he stepped into the open, he felt several faint gazes land on him, people watching him from the shadows, waiting, perhaps to intercept him.
Becoming more and more apprehensive, he gritted his teeth and pushed his body forward with all the strength he had left.
Now that his identity as a cultivator had been exposed, he no longer held back. Relying on his movement technique, he sped through Fenghua County like a shadow streaking through the night.
Before long, he crossed the city's walls and vanished into the wilderness beyond.
…
Some distance away, hidden in the bushes beneath a tree, Shen Feiyu looked in the direction of Fenghua County.
Halfway through his escape, he sensed that something was wrong. All the cultivators who had been chasing him suddenly stopped, and… a commotion seemed to have erupted inside the county.
Something, or rather, someone, made a move and it took all the attention of the nearby cultivators.
What had happened? No… what could possibly happen that would be considered more severe than the annihilation of the Red Dog Gang?
Shen Feiyu narrowed his eyes in thought while silently recovering his strength.
And before long, he found out.
A cultivator flew above Fenghua County, his presence striking like thunder. A few others, each standing atop flying swords, quickly surrounded him.
Golden Core Realm… and Foundation Establishment Realm!
Shen Feiyu drew in a sharp breath as he witnessed the battle unfolding in the sky.
At first glance, it looked like many cultivators had ganged up on a single man… but the truth was quite the opposite.
That lone cultivator was stronger than all the others combined. The rest were merely trying to hold him back, desperately defending against his onslaught.
Was there really a Golden Core Realm powerhouse hiding in Fenghua County? Shen Feiyu didn't know. That was what made his expression turn grim as he watched the chaos from the shadows, wondering just what was going on.
The battle was fierce. In only moments, several cultivators were slain. Others fled in terror, leaving behind a single old man at the Foundation Establishment Realm, standing alone to face the monstrous Golden Core Realm expert.
"Xie Lang, are you truly set on continuing this madness?" the old man shouted, blood on his lips and fury in his eyes. "Is your Blood Spirit Hall planning to make my Xia Dynasty your enemy?"
The Golden Core cultivator, Xie Lang, wore a twisted smile. He let out a cold, disdainful laugh in response to the threat, his voice echoing with contempt.
"Make the Xia Dynasty our enemy?"
"Ye Lao, your so-called Dynasty is already the enemy of the entire world. So go ask them if they even have the courage to pursue the matter with us!"
Xie Lang looked crazed, as if only bloodshed could satisfy him. And yet, just when it seemed he would go in for the kill, his grin widened, and he added with mockery in his voice:
"Still… I'm willing to retreat. But only if you hand over Ye Fan."
Ye Lao's face turned cold. Instead of replying with words, he raised his hand, and a sharp light flared across the sky.
His voice rang out… low, firm, and filled with killing intent.
"Kill!"
The negotiation had failed, and the battle erupted once more.
Before long, Ye Lao fell in battle, his body torn apart by the overwhelming might of Xie Lang.
Xie Lang still floating lightly amidst the aftermath, spat to the side with disdain and muttered coldly, "Crazy old bastard."
Just as the last echo of his voice faded, a sword light tore through the sky, sharp and swift. Xie Lang turned his head and casually raised his hand, deflecting the strike with ease.
Then, appearing right after was a youth flying on his sword. His eyes blazed with fury as they locked onto Xie Lang, and his voice rang out, righteous and resolute.
"Xie Lang! Your evil deeds will not be forgiven. Let alone the Blood Spirit Hall, even the heavens will not stop me from killing you!"
As soon as the youth, Ye Fan, finished speaking, he pulled out a talisman from his robes. And then, under Xie Lang's ridiculing gaze, just as the latter lunged to seize him, Ye Fan activated the talisman and vanished in a flash of light.
For a moment, Xie Lang stood frozen, his expression blank, as if unable to comprehend what had just happened. Then suddenly, his face contorted with rage.
"Ye Fan!!" he screamed, his voice shaking the sky.
Now knowing he couldn't catch that brat anymore, Xie Lang snapped. His fury overflowed, and with madness in his eyes, he turned his wrath toward the innocent mortals of Fenghua County.
The streets quickly turned into a blood-soaked nightmare. Screams echoed through the air. The entire place descended into a slaughterhouse.
Far in the distance, still hiding beneath the trees, Shen Feiyu watched in horror. His back was drenched in cold sweat as he tried to retreat, slowly, cautiously, so no one would notice him.
He didn't know it, but one of the people who had been chasing him earlier was none other than Ye Fan himself, as he also had his eyes on the map currently in Shen Feiyu's possession.
Had Shen Feiyu not made a move on the Red Dog Gang… had he not forced Ye Fan to act prematurely… none of this might have happened.