A flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes as he raised his hand to strike.
Boom!
At that very moment, the big black ox suddenly rose to its feet, slamming its two hooves into the man's back with the force of a boulder crashing down. The sickening crunch of breaking bones echoed through the air.
The man's face twisted in shock. He let out a bloodcurdling scream, spitting a mouthful of blood as his head spun dizzily, his body lurching forward.
Chen Xun's chest heaved with adrenaline, but instead of panicking, he grew eerily calm. He drew his hatchet from his waist and brought it crashing down on the man's neck in one brutal swing.
Though he'd held back his strength, the blade still sank deep enough to see the bone, lodging itself firmly between the man's vertebrae. Chen Xun's face was splattered with blood as he panted heavily, his heart pounding.
"Old Ox, get to work," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
He struck a spark to light a fire. Dry kindling lay scattered all around them, and the black ox wasted no time digging a pit, its movements quick and urgent.
Flames roared to life, consuming the body in a pyre that left nothing but ashes. Man and ox scattered the remains to the wind, erasing every trace of the incident. They even rearranged the surrounding foliage to stage the scene, leaving not a single item from the man's body behind.
Then they ran—faster than they'd ever run before.
Chen Xun swore to himself that he'd never moved this quickly in his immortal life. And somehow, the black ox was running even faster than him.
Two hours later, a group of men arrived at the crime scene, their brows furrowed with suspicion. "Master, this is where Brother Liu stopped," one of them reported.
"Why did he halt?" their leader asked.
"He spotted a young boy herding a black ox. We think he planned to buy the ox to make tonic for the new disciples," the man replied.
"Hmph."
The sect master stood on a tree branch with his hands clasped behind his back, scanning the ground for clues. "There are signs of burning, and the footprints are too muddled to track."
"Master… could Brother Liu have been killed?" the subordinate asked, his voice tight with shock. Liu Tian was a top martial artist of the Bai Xuan Sect—if he'd met his end here, it was impossible he wouldn't have put up a fight.
"Whoever did this is meticulous—hardly any traces left behind. That boy is the key," the sect master said, his jaw tightening. "Did anyone get a good look at his face?"
"Forgive us, Master… we didn't," the man mumbled, bowing his head in shame. Who would have bothered to memorize the face of a random cowherd, especially when they'd been in the middle of a mission?
"Useless," the sect master snapped.
"Please calm your anger, Master."
The others bowed their heads in unison, their faces pale. Liu Tian's death was far too bizarre.
"Let's go—there's nothing more to find here. See to it that his family is taken care of," the sect master sighed. "Without a body, we can't be certain he's dead. Not yet."
"Yes, Master."
With that, they leaped onto the treetops, their figures light as swallows as they vanished into the forest in the blink of an eye.
...
At a riverbank nearby, Chen Xun lay flat on his back in the water, scrubbing the blood from his skin. He stared up at the sky, his mind wandering, still reeling from what had just happened.
The black ox splashed around in the water beside him, then suddenly flicked its tail, sending a spray of water straight into Chen Xun's face. He jolted awake, his senses snapping back into focus.
"Old Ox, you did good back there," he said, his voice cold and sharp. "Remember this—when you're about to take someone by surprise, never waste words. Strike first, ask questions never."
He clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with resolve. "We don't go looking for trouble, but if anyone dares to raise a hand against us… we reduce them to ashes!"
Moo! Moo!
The ox let out a fierce snort, stamping its hooves in agreement. Whoever dared to harm Chen Xun would feel the full force of its hooves—even if it meant kicking them to death.
They burned the bloodstained clothes by the riverbank, and Chen Xun changed into a clean set he'd packed in his bag. They spent the night by the water, keeping watch until dawn broke over the mountains.
The night passed without incident. When morning came, they set off once more, their destination a large city in the distance—a city said to be home to many cultivators, far safer than the treacherous wilderness.
...
Half a year later, the end of the year arrived. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of blood-red. A young boy leading a black ox appeared on the horizon, silhouetted against the dying light.
In the distance, a colossal city loomed like a ferocious beast, eyeing all passersby with a predatory gaze.
Pan Ning City—an ancient metropolis steeped in history, its walls weathered by centuries of wind and rain. The city gates bustled with activity, merchants and travelers streaming in and out in an endless tide.
Fighting was strictly forbidden within the city walls, making it a place of order and prosperity. Nestled against the towering Ningyun Mountains, its residents often ventured into the hills to gather spirit herbs, which they sold to the cultivators for a handsome profit.
The Ningyun Mountains stretched on endlessly, their peaks shrouded in mist and clouds. Rumor had it that hidden among those clouds lay immortal sects, their halls concealed from the mortal world.
"Whoa… I've never seen walls this massive in my life," Chen Xun breathed, his eyes wide with wonder. He stared at the ancient city, a smile spreading across his face. "Old Ox, our new life is about to begin!"
Moo!
The ox let out a joyful bellow, equally awestruck by the sight of the city. It was far, far grander than the rickety wooden fences that had surrounded their village.
"This is what immortality is all about," Chen Xun said, his voice filled with longing. "To wander the mountains and rivers, to witness the splendor of the world… this is the life worth living!"
He glanced at the ox, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Old Ox, let's go!"
Moo!
Man and ox broke into a run, kicking up clouds of dust as they charged toward the city gates. Chen Xun laughed loudly, swinging the ox rope in his hand, while the ox joined in with a series of cheerful moos.
The passersby shook their heads and smiled, watching the pair dash by—young and carefree, a sight that stirred feelings of envy in the hearts of the weary travelers.
The gates of Pan Ning City stood tall and imposing, wide enough to accommodate several carriages side by side. Herdsmen drove flocks of sheep and cattle through the archway, and the crowd flowed like a river, yet never once felt cramped.
Chen Xun stared around, his eyes darting from one sight to the next in pure amazement. Whenever someone glanced his way, he greeted them with a warm smile—charming enough to win over even the grumpiest of strangers.
He found himself staring at the city guards standing at the gate, their armor glinting in the sunset. He'd never seen ancient soldiers before—they looked so valiant and imposing, brimming with youthful vigor.
One of the guards frowned, noticing the boy's unwavering gaze. He stepped forward, about to question him, when suddenly Chen Xun gave him a thumbs-up, his eyes shining with admiration.
The guard froze, then nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. I get it—you're a fan of the uniform.
Stepping through the city gates was like stepping into a whole new world. Chen Xun and the black ox froze in their tracks, their eyes wide with wonder as a vibrant tapestry of life unfolded before them.
The streets were wide enough to fit ten carriages abreast, lined with vendors hawking their wares at the top of their lungs. Acrobats performed daring tricks in the square, drawing crowds of onlookers who cheered loudly, tossing copper coins into their hats.
Pedestrians strolled along the streets in silk robes, their movements graceful and elegant, exuding an air of timeless sophistication.
Above them, towering pavilions and mansions rose toward the sky, their eaves adorned with red lanterns that cast a warm glow over the streets. Scholars and noble ladies gathered on the balconies, reciting poems and exchanging verses, their voices mingling with the lively chatter of the crowd.
Chen Xun and the black ox stood transfixed, their eyes drinking in every detail, completely mesmerized by the spectacle.
"Bravo!" Chen Xun shouted.
Moo! The ox let out a loud bellow in agreement.
They joined the crowd surrounding the acrobats, cheering enthusiastically like the best of them. Then a look of guilt crossed Chen Xun's face—he couldn't just watch for free, could he?
He fumbled at his waist and pulled out a single copper coin, tossing it into the acrobat's gong. The performer heard the clink of metal and immediately turned toward Chen Xun, breathing a plume of fire into the air in a dazzling finale.
"Amazing!" Chen Xun laughed, clapping his hands wildly.
The black ox jumped in alarm, thinking the man was a cultivator putting on a show just for them. Truly, big cities are on a whole different level!
After watching for a while, they squeezed out of the crowd and bought two sticks of candied hawthorns from a street vendor. Chen Xun took a bite, then held the stick out to the ox, which crunched down on the sweet, tangy fruit. Passing young ladies giggled at the sight of the boy sharing his treat with his ox.
"These crafts are incredible," Chen Xun marveled, leaning in to admire the goods at a nearby stall. Everything was handcrafted—each item a labor of love, made by artisans who'd dedicated their entire lives to their trade. There was no room for shoddy work here.
"Young sir, care to take a look? Anything catch your eye?" the vendor asked, his tone warm and friendly.
"I'm just browsing for now," Chen Xun said, smiling sheepishly. "I'll definitely come back when I have more money."
He meant it—every word of it.
"No worries at all!" the vendor said, waving a hand dismissively. He rummaged under the stall and pulled out a wooden carving of a tiger, its fur etched with meticulous detail. The only flaw was a slightly crooked tail. "I messed this one up while carving—if you like it, it's yours for free."
"Sir, let me trade you some rice for it instead," Chen Xun said quickly. "I really do love this tiger."
"Deal!" the vendor replied, handing him the carving without hesitation. Chen Xun pulled a small bag of rice from his pack and gave it to the vendor in return.
Back on the street, Chen Xun held the wooden tiger in both hands, turning it over and over again, completely enchanted. The black ox watched him with obvious envy, its ears drooping. Why hadn't the vendor given it a free gift?