In the stall area, Shen Yunjiao was tending her stall when Zhao Zuo arrived.
Some time ago, Shen Yunjiao had hunted two early stage One-Tier Demon Beasts, yielding about 1,500 catties of Demon Beast meat. At ten catties per Spirit Stone... that was an income of one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones.
Lately, Shen Yunjiao's face had been graced with many more genuine smiles.
"*Cough, cough.* Let's go."
Shen Yunjiao coughed a few times, her face growing pale. Rumor had it she'd injured her lungs fighting a Demon Beast, hence the uncontrollable coughing. Seeing Zhao Zuo, she waved her right hand, sweeping the items from the black cloth into her Storage Bag, then coughed a few more times despite herself.
Demon Beast meat was actually a hot commodity in the stall area. After all, both its flavor and the Spiritual Power it contained were superior to Spirit Rice, and its affordable price made it popular with many people.
After a few days, only a pile of Demon Beast bones remained unsold. This was because there were few uses for the bones of One-Tier Demon Beasts; they were mostly ground into powder and used as a material for forging Spirit Iron.
Zhao Zuo and Shen Yunjiao left the stall area side-by-side. Shen Yunjiao let out a dry cough from time to time, her face growing pale. She looked exceptionally weak... even her steps became unsteady and feeble.
"Are you really going to be okay like this?" Zhao Zuo asked, a little worried.
"I'll be fine. If we run into enemies, I still have you, don't I?"
Shen Yunjiao took out a healing Pill Medicine from her Storage Bag and swallowed it. The effect was immediate. Her steps became swift and powerful again, and the color returned to her face. "If we run into enemies, are you planning to abandon me?"
Her bright, clear eyes seemed to be veiled in a layer of mist, making her look pitiful and helpless, like a wounded young animal that evoked a sense of protectiveness.
If this were his past life, she would undoubtedly be a goddess put on a pedestal by all.
Hearing this, Zhao Zuo's expression remained unchanged as he replied with a question of his own.
"Then if we run into enemies, will Taoist Friend Shen abandon me?"
"I won't."
"Then I won't abandon Taoist Friend Shen either."
It was a pledge, and a promise.
"I believe you, Taoist Friend Zhao," Shen Yunjiao said with a sweet smile, as if she truly believed his words.
The two then started talking about the Guardian Envoy that the Moyun Sect would be sending down in the eleventh month. Every winter, to protect the core area of the Moyun Market, the Moyun Sect would dispatch Inner Sect Disciples to serve as Guardian Envoys.
The Guardian Envoy's personality would determine the safety of the Moyun Market for the next few months. If they got one who was cold and indifferent, the type to view Loose Cultivators as ants, then a large number of people in the four major districts would likely die. If they encountered a greedy Guardian Envoy, they would have to spend money to avoid disaster.
Of the Guardian Envoys over the years, eighty percent were greedy, and the other twenty percent didn't care if Loose Cultivators lived or died.
As for a diligent and responsible Guardian Envoy? Heh.
The weather was cold. The once lush and lively forest now looked more like a bleak wilderness. Brittle yellow leaves piled up layer upon layer by the roadside, and the wind whistling through the branches sounded even more sorrowful, as if wailing its grievances to passersby.
There was no brilliance, no color—only a desolate chill.
Zhao Zuo and Shen Yunjiao had already covered half the distance. Soon they would reach Qingni Lane. The path underfoot had also changed from an exquisite flagstone road to a desolate dirt path about three meters wide.
Almost home. Zhao Zuo's taut nerves couldn't help but relax a little.
Just then, everything changed in an instant.
"Look out!" Shen Yunjiao suddenly shouted.
Hearing her, Zhao Zuo immediately pushed off with his legs, leaping back a distance of about five meters. But Shen Yunjiao remained where she was. She didn't choose to flee... instead, she brandished the red longsword in her hand.
In a flash, a volley of dozens of arrows formed from condensed air shot toward them.
Shen Yunjiao's Mana surged. She swung her red longsword, unleashing a flaming Sword Qi that neutralized the arrow volley. The sudden exertion of power made her face turn pale once more.
"SWOOSH—"
From a pile of fallen leaves not far away, four figures suddenly leaped out. They wore Taoist Robes of various colors and had their faces covered with black cloths, leaving only their eyes visible. One of them was only about 1.5 meters tall, and judging by their builds, only one of the four was a woman.
The moment they appeared, they attacked. Three of them charged at Shen Yunjiao, while the fourth went for Zhao Zuo. Clearly, their plan was to eliminate them completely, leaving no one behind to cause trouble.
Shen Yunjiao casually threw a Willow Leaf Dart. Its surface pulsed with energy as it blocked the Tribulation Cultivator charging at Zhao Zuo.
"You should go. I'm their target," Shen Yunjiao said calmly as she faced the four, her tone completely different from her usual way of speaking. It was cold, with a hint of detachment.
"If the young man is willing to leave, we won't stop you," said the shortest of the four Tribulation Cultivators. His voice was somewhat hoarse and completely unremarkable, clearly a deliberate attempt to hide his identity.
Of the four Tribulation Cultivators, two had Cultivation levels that Zhao Zuo couldn't perceive, while the other two were at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.
'Stay or go? Stay! Attack or defend? Attack!'
'I promised to fight alongside her.'
The debate in his mind was over in an instant. It was impulsive, yes, but it was also born of courage, a commitment to his promise, and his true nature.
Zhao Zuo chose to answer with his actions. Without a moment's hesitation, he charged at one of the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer Tribulation Cultivators. His Mana raged like boiling water as he ran, activating two layers of Vajra Talismans to form a golden barrier around his body.
The distance of less than ten meters closed to about three in the blink of an eye.
"You're digging your own grave."
The rather tall Tribulation Cultivator snorted coldly. He had killed at least ten Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer cultivators with his own hands. How could a Cultivator who had experienced countless life-and-death battles be compared to one who had barely seen any real bloodshed?
"SWISH!"
A Sharp Arrow Talisman activated, condensing the air into a volley of arrows. Instead of retreating, Zhao Zuo pushed forward. The Sharp Arrow Talisman instantly collided with the Vajra Talisman, and ripples spread across the surface of the golden barrier, like a placid lake being disturbed.
The force of the Talisman's impact tried to push Zhao Zuo back, but he planted his feet firmly on the ground, bracing himself against the full force of the Sharp Arrow Talisman as he continued to advance, continued to close the distance.
Now, only about two meters separated them. The Sky-Breaking Saber at his waist transformed into a black streak of light, aimed straight at the burly man.
"An insignificant trick."
The burly man casually activated a Vajra Talisman of his own, then took two steps forward to retrieve his Magical Artifact, which had been knocked away by Shen Yunjiao's block. He quickly infused it with Mana, preparing his next attack.
He wasn't the least bit flustered by Zhao Zuo's Magical Artifact. His confidence stemmed from the fact that a Vajra Talisman could perfectly block an attack from a Lower-Grade Magical Artifact, and he also had a protective plate made of Spirit Iron tucked over his heart.
The Sky-Breaking Saber, cloaked in black light, struck. The golden barrier didn't even last a second. That very unassuming Sky-Breaking Saber possessed a Sharpness that surpassed even a Middle-Grade Magical Artifact.
By the time the burly man reacted, it was too late. The golden barrier dissolved into motes of golden light, and his chest felt as if it had been hit by a cannonball. A spray of bone and blood erupted from the wound. Even the iron plate he had specifically placed over his chest for protection hadn't defended him for a single second.
The terrifying killing power displayed by the Sky-Breaking Saber even startled its owner, Zhao Zuo. In flight, it was like a silent reaper, but upon impact, it caused massive trauma like a cannonball. The sight of bone fragments and blood splattering everywhere was exceptionally gruesome.
With a wave of his hand, Zhao Zuo recalled the Sky-Breaking Saber and infused it with Mana once more... His new target was the remaining Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer Tribulation Cultivator—the only woman in the group of four.
In the space of a few breaths, Zhao Zuo had leveraged the power of his Sky-Breaking Saber to forcefully kill his enemy!