Translator: AnubisTL
Shengtian, Moonview Pavilion.
Several black figures simultaneously leaped from the top of the towering pavilion. In the moonlight, their identical black robes, embroidered with faded yellow maple leaves, were clearly visible.
"He got away again! That slippery bastard!"
"We've had Shengtian City under martial law for nearly half a month now. If we don't catch him soon, His Majesty will be furious."
"Sigh, there's nothing we can do. That thief's Lightness Technique is extraordinary, and his martial arts cultivation is improving by leaps and bounds every day. At this rate, we'll probably need a commander to subdue him."
"It's a shame our two commanders are in Qingzhou. The Jianghu has been so chaotic lately."
"Let's return to the Maple Guard headquarters for now. We can't let that villain catch us alone."
"..."
If Li Qing were present, he would immediately recognize them as members of the Maple Guard. Among them was someone he knew—none other than Yang Xing!
Meanwhile, Li Qing had returned to his blacksmith shop in Shengtian.
Darkness, coldness!
If the furniture and furnishings hadn't been exactly as he remembered, he might have suspected he'd failed to travel through time and was still trapped in the World of Eternal Night.
"Phew! Almost done. Counting the time, I've been in the World of Eternal Night for nearly nine months."
"When I left, Shengtian was already in autumn. Three months passed, so it's only natural that winter has arrived."
After speaking, Li Qing inspected every corner of his Blacksmith Shop, confirming that no thieves had broken in.
The gold, silver, jewels, and two jars of Medicinal Liquor he had brought back were all intact. He breathed a sigh of relief and settled his mind.
Of course, if Li Qing knew the current situation in Shengtian City, he wouldn't have worried at all.
The entire city was under strict lockdown. Every night, every household bolted their doors shut. Any thief caught breaking into a home faced severe punishment.
Moreover, his Blacksmith Shop was located in the outer city, making it unlikely to be targeted by thieves. With Boss Fang's protection, it had been perfectly safe during his absence.
"Arooo!"
Back in Shengtian, Fan Tong finally regained some of his vitality, letting out a hearty roar.
Seeing this, Li Qing relaxed slightly.
"It seems this guy really isn't used to the World of Eternal Night. You were practically a sickly weakling there."
Li Qing scratched Fan Tong's head as he spoke.
Considering the time spent in both worlds, Fan Tong was now over two years old, practically a full-grown tiger.
Yet Li Qing had a strange premonition that its size would continue to increase, possibly even surpassing that of an ordinary adult tiger.
"Fortunately, we brought back enough wealth this time, so we don't have to worry about expenses."
If he were just an ordinary blacksmith, raising a tiger in Shengtian City would be utterly impossible. The sheer amount of food it consumed daily would make any normal person dizzy.
He lit the forge, and once the room grew warm and comfortable, Li Qing settled down for a solid night's sleep.
The next morning, a rooster's crow woke Li Qing from his slumber.
Gazing at the long-absent sunlight outside, though it offered little warmth, Li Qing felt incredibly comfortable. His mood lifted considerably.
Indeed, people should get some sun regularly.
After leaving the Blacksmith Shop and having a quick bite, Li Qing headed straight to the territory of the Liangzhou Brothers.
"Hey! Master Li, where have you been these past few days? It's been a long time!"
Boss Fang's eyes lit up the moment he saw Li Qing.
Li Qing laughed and greeted him warmly. "Haha, Boss Fang, it's been too long! I've been traveling around for a bit, and I took Tiger into the mountains to hunt and let it reconnect with its wild side."
"During my absence, I must thank you for taking care of my shop. Consider this longsword a small token of my gratitude."
With that, Li Qing presented a finely crafted longsword.
It wasn't quite a magical weapon, but in terms of craftsmanship, it was a blade capable of cleanly severing a hair.
Boss Fang accepted the longsword with surprise and delight. "Oh, no, Master Li, you're too polite! It was just a small favor."
He stroked the finely forged longsword, his eyes filled with satisfaction. Though his specialty was staff fighting, he could clearly tell this was a remarkably well-crafted blade.
"Come, please, step inside!"
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Once inside, Li Qing asked Boss Fang about the major and minor events that had occurred in Shengtian City and the Jianghu recently, to see if there was anything he needed to be aware of.
This inquiry proved to be quite shocking.
"Master Li, you wouldn't believe it—the Jianghu in Shengtian City has been in utter chaos these past few months. People are terrified!"
"It all started around the time you left. A Demon Lord emerged in Shengtian City, specifically targeting Martial Artists who practiced Internal Martial Arts. Their methods were brutal and ruthless."
"At first, only the Personal Disciples of the Flying Cloud School were killed. But soon, other Martial Artists who practiced Internal Energy Skills also fell victim."
"Later, Martial Artists with grudges against each other began seeking revenge in the city. After killing their enemies, they simply pinned the blame on the mysterious Demon Lord."
Li Qing's pupils narrowed slightly as he heard this. He hadn't expected the Jianghu to fall into such chaos during his absence.
Fortunately, most of the victims were External Strength Martial Artists. Now an Inner Strength expert himself, he didn't need to worry about such matters for the time being.
But Boss Fang's next words sent a shockwave through Li Qing's mind.
"That Demon Lord's Martial Path talent is extraordinary. He improves daily. He started by only being able to ambush External Strength Martial Artists, but now he can easily handle opponents of his own level."
"This talent is strikingly similar to Lin Yi, the Martial Path prodigy of the previous dynasty."
Li Qing's eyes flickered slightly as he spoke. "Is this true? I recall hearing rumors that Lin Yi's legacy once surfaced at Small Jade Ridge."
"I don't know the specifics," Boss Fang sighed, shaking his head. "But in a few months, that Demon Lord will likely be able to defy even Inner Strength experts."
Li Qing pressed, "What about the Maple Guard? Why didn't their commanders strike sooner?"
Boss Fang shook his head again. "The two commanders of the Maple Guard went to Qingzhou last month. The Lei Family of Jingyang City and the Black Demon Gang were wiped out—their corpses piled up like a small mountain."
"Hiss!" Li Qing gasped, suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to turn and flee back to the World of Eternal Night.
This was too damn dangerous!
In just three months, the Jianghu Martial World had undergone a complete upheaval.
"I recall your Brother Yang also serves in the Maple Guard. Did he reveal anything about what happened?"
Boss Fang lowered his voice. "I heard the Lei Family and the Black Demon Gang were all killed by the sword."
(End of the Chapter)
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