Swoosh! Swoosh!
The sound of hurried footsteps continuously echoed through the forest.
Su Yang moved like a shadow between the trees, his breathing slightly heavy as he carried the unconscious Tu Bing across his back. The silver-badged escort's body hung limply against him, his face pale and his chest rising and falling weakly. The arrow wound had already been treated as best as they could manage, but the poison and the injuries he had suffered during the ambush had left him unconscious.
Beside Su Yang ran another man.
Li Wei.
He was the other Silver Badge escort who had originally accepted the mission.
His clothes were stained with blood, and one sleeve had been torn apart during the battle. Although his injuries weren't as severe as Tu Bing's, his breathing was clearly heavier than before, and the normally composed expression of an experienced escort had been replaced by exhaustion and lingering fear.
Behind them...
There was no one.
Fifteen people had entered the forest.
Now, only three remained.
And one of those three couldn't even walk by himself.
Su Yang's expression was cold as he continued running.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
"Li Wei."
"What exactly are we escorting?"
Li Wei's footsteps didn't stop.
His eyes flickered.
"What do you mean?"
"You heard me."
Su Yang's voice was low.
"What exactly is inside that carriage?"
Li Wei remained silent for several breaths.
Su Yang's brows furrowed.
"Those people weren't ordinary bandits."
"Three True Essence martial artists."
"One Xuan Gang expert."
"Poisoned arrows."
"An ambush that was obviously planned in advance."
His voice gradually became colder.
"Fifteen people entered that forest."
"Now there are three of us."
"One of them is unconscious, and the other two are barely standing."
Su Yang turned his head and looked directly at Li Wei.
"At this point, you still want to tell me that I have no right to ask what we're carrying?"
Li Wei's expression became complicated.
He didn't immediately answer.
The two continued running for several breaths.
Finally, Li Wei sighed.
"Do you think I don't want to know?"
Su Yang's eyes narrowed.
Li Wei shook his head.
"I really don't know."
"What?"
"I don't know what is inside that carriage."
Li Wei's expression was bitter.
"When the employer came to the Changlong Escort Agency, he didn't reveal the contents of the package. He only gave the agency the delivery location, the route, the number of escorts required, and several other conditions."
"Then why did you accept the mission?"
"Because that's how escort missions work."
Li Wei gave a bitter laugh.
"The employer pays, the agency accepts, and we protect the goods."
"Unless the contents themselves violate the rules of the agency, escorts aren't supposed to investigate."
He glanced backward toward the forest.
His expression darkened.
"I've accepted dozens of missions over the years."
"Some were medicinal herbs."
"Some were weapons."
"Some were precious materials."
"Some were things I never even knew the names of."
"But I've never encountered an employer willing to pay so much while simultaneously being so secretive."
Su Yang's expression remained cold.
"And you still accepted?"
Li Wei's mouth twitched.
"At the time, I thought it was merely a valuable item."
"Who would have expected..."
He looked back again.
His eyes contained a trace of fear.
"...that we'd attract a Xuan Gang expert."
Su Yang didn't respond immediately.
His mind replayed the battle.
The poisoned arrows.
The coordinated attack.
The three True Essence assassins.
And finally, the Xuan Gang expert.
That man had clearly been the strongest.
If Su Yang hadn't possessed the Rank Two explosive orb his master had given him, the three of them would probably have already become corpses inside the forest.
Thinking about it, Su Yang's hand unconsciously tightened.
His master had warned him that the outside world was dangerous.
But experiencing it personally was completely different.
There was no room for carelessness.
One mistake could mean death.
Li Wei suddenly spoke again.
"Actually..."
Su Yang glanced at him.
Li Wei hesitated before continuing.
"I suspect the employer may have deliberately concealed the contents from us."
"Obviously."
"No."
Li Wei shook his head.
"I mean even from the agency."
Su Yang's expression changed slightly.
Li Wei continued.
"Changlong Escort Agency has existed for many years. They have rules for dealing with confidential goods, but there are still procedures."
"Usually, if something is valuable enough to require a large number of escorts, the agency will at least know what category of goods we're protecting."
"But this time..."
"Nothing."
"The employer didn't even allow the agency's senior management to inspect the contents."
Su Yang's eyes narrowed.
"Who hired you?"
Li Wei shook his head.
"I don't know his real identity."
"Then how did the agency accept the mission?"
"He used an intermediary."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Su Yang fell silent.
This was becoming increasingly strange.
An unknown employer.
An unknown intermediary.
A sealed package.
A carefully planned ambush.
And a Xuan Gang martial artist personally participating.
Whatever was inside that carriage...
It certainly wasn't ordinary.
However, Su Yang didn't continue questioning.
They had more immediate problems.
His injuries were still present. Tu Bing needed treatment. And most importantly there could be another ambush.
And they needed to reach Anping County as quickly as possible.
Suddenly, Su Yang's eyes sharpened.
He stopped.
Li Wei immediately halted as well.
"What is it?"
Su Yang didn't answer.
He looked ahead.
The trees had begun thinning.
The dense canopy above them was gradually opening, allowing sunlight to shine through.
A few more steps...
And the forest suddenly ended.
Beyond the final line of trees was a broad official road.
Several carriages were travelling along it.
Pedestrians.
Merchants.
Travellers.
Martial artists.
The sight immediately caused both men to relax slightly.
"We're out."
Li Wei exhaled.
Su Yang carefully adjusted Tu Bing on his back.
"Let's go."
They hurried toward the road.
A large carriage happened to approach from the distance.
Su Yang immediately raised his hand.
"Stop!"
The carriage driver pulled the reins.
The horses neighed before coming to a halt.
The driver looked at the three battered men suspiciously.
"What happened to you?"
"We need to reach Anping County."
Su Yang pulled out some silver.
"We'll pay."
The driver's eyes immediately brightened when he saw the silver.
"Get on."
The carriage wasn't particularly luxurious, but at this moment, neither of them cared.
Li Wei climbed aboard first.
Su Yang carefully placed Tu Bing inside before entering himself.
The moment the carriage began moving, Su Yang finally allowed his tense body to relax slightly.
His hand pressed against his injured side.
The wound from the dagger had already stopped bleeding, but every movement still caused a dull pain.
He glanced at Tu Bing.
"Will he survive?"
Li Wei checked Tu Bing's breathing.
"He's alive."
"Whether he survives..."
Li Wei shook his head.
"We need a physician."
Su Yang nodded.
"Then we'll find one as soon as we enter the county."
The carriage continued toward Anping County.
Neither of them spoke again.
But both understood something.
This mission...
Was far from simple.
---
Meanwhile, within the Thunderbolt Martial Hall...
Boom!
A dull sound echoed across the training courtyard.
Chen Hao slowly withdrew his foot and straightened his body.
His breathing was steady.
His posture was firm.
Sweat covered his upper body, and steam-like heat faintly rose from his skin.
He had just completed his stake practice.
Compared with several months ago, Chen Hao had changed considerably.
He had grown taller by nearly half a head.
Of course, this wasn't particularly unusual.
He was sixteen years old, and his body was still undergoing natural growth.
But there was another obvious change.
His body had become considerably broader.
His shoulders were wider.
His arms thicker.
His chest more developed.
Even his waist had become sturdier.
The changes weren't exaggerated.
They were the natural result of his cultivation.
Muscle Refining.
Chen Hao had already entered the same major realm as most of the inner disciples around him.
And unlike his previous three months in the outer courtyard...
His progress after entering the inner hall had been astonishing.
The resources available here were far superior.
The cultivation environment was better.
The external martial arts inheritance was more complete.
His food had been carefully prepared to nourish Qi-Blood.
And most importantly...
His previously hidden Yi Lower Root Bone had finally been discovered.
The aptitude that had remained concealed during his early cultivation had now begun displaying its true value.
Chen Hao clenched his fists.
A faint cracking sound came from his fingers.
He could clearly feel the difference between himself now and several months ago.
His muscles had become stronger.
His Qi-Blood had become more vigorous.
His physical strength had increased dramatically.
Even his recovery speed had improved.
He looked at his reflection in the nearby water basin.
For a moment...
He almost couldn't recognize himself.
The weak-looking youth who had struggled desperately just to reach Skin Refining seemed like someone else.
Chen Hao slowly exhaled.
"Is this..."
"Yi Lower Root Bone?"
He had only recently learned how valuable his aptitude was.
But he also understood something else.
Talent wasn't strength.
It was merely the foundation.
If he wanted to become powerful...
He still had to cultivate.
Still had to fight.
Still had to endure.
Chen Hao picked up his clothes and prepared to leave.
He intended to find Instructor Lou Feng.
After entering the inner hall, he had discovered that his instructor's identity was rather unusual.
Lou Feng didn't behave like the ordinary instructors within the martial hall.
He was rarely seen.
His cultivation was clearly extraordinary.
And whenever Chen Hao thought about the guidance he had received from him...
He felt that there was something hidden beneath that seemingly ordinary instruction.
Chen Hao had just taken two steps when—
"Senior Brother Chen!"
An excited voice suddenly came from behind.
Chen Hao turned around.
A young woman wearing the uniform of an inner disciple hurried over.
She looked slightly out of breath.
Her eyes were bright with excitement.
"Junior Sister?"
Chen Hao looked at her curiously.
"What happened?"
The girl immediately grabbed his sleeve.
"Senior Brother Chen, you haven't heard?"
"Heard what?"
"The Mountain River Martial Hall disciples have arrived!"
Chen Hao's expression changed slightly.
"Mountain River Martial Hall?"
The girl nodded repeatedly.
"Yes!"
"They've come to challenge our Thunderbolt Martial Hall!"
Chen Hao frowned.
"Challenge?"
"Well..."
The girl hesitated.
"Technically, they call it a friendly exchange."
She made quotation marks with her fingers.
"Friendly exchange?"
Chen Hao's expression became strange.
The girl immediately laughed.
"Everyone knows what that means."
"They're here to spar."
"Lightly."
She emphasized the last word.
Then she whispered.
"At least that's what they say."
Chen Hao glanced at her.
"And what do they actually intend to do?"
The girl's expression became excited.
"Hit each other until someone falls!"
Chen Hao couldn't help laughing.
"Then why call it a light spar?"
"Because if they called it a challenge, the elders might stop them."
She lowered her voice.
"Besides, the Mountain River Martial Hall has been acting rather arrogant recently."
"They say their External Martial Arts are the strongest among the three martial halls."
"And they've apparently brought several talented disciples."
Chen Hao's eyes narrowed slightly.
"How many?"
"Quite a few."
"Any particularly strong ones?"
"I don't know."
The girl shook her head.
"But I heard one of them has already reached Tendon Refining."
Chen Hao's expression became serious.
Tendon Refining.
That was already considerably stronger than his current Muscle Refining.
The girl suddenly looked at him with anticipation.
"Senior Brother Chen..."
"What?"
"You should go."
Chen Hao raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because you're also an External Martial Artist."
Her eyes sparkled.
"And..."
She grinned.
"You're the famous Senior Brother Chen who unexpectedly revealed Yi Lower Root Bone after spending three months in Skin Refining."
Chen Hao's expression immediately became awkward.
"Don't call me famous."
"But you are."
"I'm not."
"You are!"
"No."
"Yes!"
Chen Hao sighed.
"Fine."
The girl immediately smiled.
"Let's go!"
She pulled him toward the courtyard.
Chen Hao didn't resist.
As they approached the main training grounds, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.
Voices could already be heard from a distance.
"Hahaha!"
"I heard the Thunderbolt Martial Hall has no one capable of fighting?"
"Don't misunderstand."
"We're only here for a friendly exchange."
"That's right."
"Friendly."
The word was repeated several times.
Yet the laughter that followed made the true meaning obvious.
Chen Hao's eyes narrowed.
He could already feel several powerful Qi-Blood fluctuations ahead.
He took another step.
The training ground finally appeared.
A large group of disciples stood around the arena.
On one side were the disciples of the Thunderbolt Martial Hall.
On the other...
Were the disciples of the Mountain River Martial Hall.
Both sides wore their respective uniforms.
The atmosphere between them was anything but friendly.
At the center of the training ground stood two young martial artists.
One belonged to the Thunderbolt Martial Hall.
The other...
Wore the uniform of the Mountain River Martial Hall.
Both had already entered Tendon Refining.
Their muscles were tightly compressed beneath their clothes, and their Qi-Blood surged through their bodies like waves beneath the surface of the sea.
A Mountain River disciple laughed.
"Brother Zhao."
"Don't hold back."
The Thunderbolt disciple smiled coldly.
"Of course."
"After all..."
"We came here to exchange pointers."
The two stepped forward.
Their feet simultaneously stamped against the ground.
Boom!
The earth trembled slightly.
The next instant—
They disappeared.
Bang!
Their fists collided in the middle of the arena.
A violent shockwave spread outward.
Both sides immediately erupted into cheers.
"Good!"
"Again!"
"Don't retreat!"
"Hit him!"
The young woman beside Chen Hao became increasingly excited.
"See?"
"Didn't I tell you?"
Chen Hao stared at the battlefield.
His eyes gradually became serious.
The two martial artists were deliberately controlling their strength.
But their attacks were still brutal.
One punched toward the chest.
The other twisted sideways and slammed his elbow toward the ribs.
The first fighter blocked with his forearm.
Bang!
The sound of flesh colliding echoed across the arena.
The Thunderbolt disciple's arm trembled.
The Mountain River disciple immediately took advantage of the opening.
His waist twisted.
His leg swept across the ground.
The Thunderbolt disciple jumped.
The kick passed beneath his feet.
Before he could land...
The Mountain River disciple had already closed the distance.
His fist shot forward.
The Thunderbolt disciple crossed both arms.
Boom!
His body slid several steps backward.
The surrounding disciples erupted in cheers.
Chen Hao's eyes narrowed.
The Mountain River Martial Hall's External Martial Arts were indeed formidable.
Their techniques emphasized stable foundations.
Every movement began from the waist and legs.
The force travelled through the entire body before being released.
It wasn't merely brute strength.
There was a complete system behind it.
Chen Hao silently observed.
He could feel his blood beginning to stir.
He had only recently entered the inner hall.
His cultivation had improved rapidly.
But he had not yet experienced a true battle against another martial artist of comparable age and cultivation.
His hands slowly tightened.
The young woman beside him noticed.
Her eyes immediately brightened.
"Senior Brother Chen..."
Chen Hao looked at her.
"What?"
She pointed toward the arena.
"Do you want to go up?"
Chen Hao was silent.
The battle in front of him continued.
Then—
Bang!
The Thunderbolt disciple was finally struck in the chest and sent flying several meters.
He rolled across the ground before stopping.
The Mountain River disciple withdrew his fist.
"Thank you for the exchange."
His tone sounded polite.
But the smile on his face was unmistakably arrogant.
The Thunderbolt disciples immediately became angry.
"Don't get too pleased with yourself!"
"Next!"
A second Thunderbolt disciple stepped forward.
The Mountain River side laughed.
"Come."
The atmosphere immediately became hotter.
Chen Hao looked at the arena.
His eyes gradually became sharper.
He took one step forward.
"I'll go."
The junior sister's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Chen Hao nodded.
"Yes."
He stepped into the arena.
The surrounding voices gradually quieted.
The Mountain River disciples looked toward him.
One of them frowned.
"Who is this?"
A Thunderbolt disciple immediately answered.
"Chen Hao."
"Chen Hao?"
Someone from the Mountain River side laughed.
"The Chen Hao who spent three months reaching Skin Refining?"
The laughter spread.
Chen Hao remained expressionless.
He slowly entered the arena. His feet settled firmly against the ground.
His shoulders relaxed. His breathing became steady.
The ridicule around him gradually disappeared from his mind.
He remembered the days when he had been mocked.
He remembered how difficult it had been to cultivate.
But he didn't carry anger into the arena.
Instead...
His gaze became calm.
The opponent across from him smiled.
"I heard you've only recently entered Muscle Refining."
Chen Hao nodded.
"That's right."
"Then..."
The Mountain River disciple raised his fists.
"Let me see whether your Yi Lower Root Bone is actually worth all the attention."
Chen Hao slowly lowered his center of gravity.
His Qi-Blood began circulating.
His muscles tightened.
The air around him seemed to become heavier.
The elder responsible for overseeing the spar raised his hand.
"Begin."
The moment his voice fell—
Boom!
Both figures exploded forward.