The eastern part of the forest beyond Green River Town was quiet under the pale sun. Wind rustled through pine needles, and the scent of damp earth clung to the air. Xi Chen, dressed in a coarse robe and a tattered cloak, moved like a phantom between the trees. His spear rested across his back, he did not need to bring the spear but just in case, and his senses were sharp— listening not just for prey, but for danger also.
Today, he came alone to hunt. He did not bring his two younger brother to hunt. The day before yesterday, they got a large order from a middle level martial clan for farming tools. And they can not leave the shop every day together. They might started catching some unwanted eyes.
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About two months have passed since his first visit to the black market. He had visited 2 more times in the last two months.
After his 3rd visit to the black market, he had already grasp most of the informations of the Green River Town's martial world and some informations of top clans of the town.
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Xi Chen felt that his breakthrough to Bone Tempering Realm is near so he desperately needed wild beat meat. But he doesn't have much silver coins. So he can only go hunting by himself.
If he can get even a small half step Qi Beast, with the Bone Breaker's Bloom essence, he can reach Bone Tempering Realm in one go.
Wild beast meat had become harder to find lately. The deeper part of the forest held stronger prey but also greater risk. Xi Chen can only roam deeper parts of the edge. So he passes onward.
As he crouched beside a stream, examining faint tracks in the mud, a distant creaking broke the rhythm of the forest. He froze, lifting his head. Voices followed, low and gruff. Curious, Xi Chen scaled a pine and peered through foliage.
Below, three figures walked a crude trail, pulling a shack on wheels. He recognized the leading man. Guard Ma from that day, with his two lackey from the same day. The two lackey always followed Guard Ma like flies to dung.
Guard Ma, full name Ma Yong. Today, his robe was not the same from the other day. It was more refined and clean, with one silver line on his back. This shows that Ma Yong is already a Martial artist and his position is a small captain of Li family guards, not some ordinary errands guard.
Seeing them, Xi Chen followed behind them silently, maintaining a safe distance.
They stopped when they reach a small clearing under a cliff.
One of the lackey cautiously said to Ma Yong. "Boss, this girl might be from a noble clan. What do we do then?"
Ma Yong slapped the back of his head and harshly scolded. "You fools, don't you see that I am already a silver level captain. This means that I have already reached Skin Tempering Realm with the help of the Li clan's cultivation manual. Even if she is from a noble clan, the Li clan will protect us."
"What if she is from one of the 3 Great clan of the town?" One of hesitate and asked.
"You fools, if she were from the 3 great clans. She would have guards accompanying here." Ma Yong angrily scolded him. Then he ordered. "Now, go drag her out. I am already starving."
Hearing the words, both lackeys lit up with a relief and anticipating smile. And they entered the wooden shack and dragged out a girl.
The girl barely more than fourteen, her limbs bound, her mouth gagged with a torn silk scarf.
This send down a chill in Xi Chen's spine. He thought maybe the girl they kidnapped might be young but that young.
His jaw clenched.
Ma Yong seeing the girl started undressing himself. As he was doing it, he said. "She's got noble blood. I can feel it. Haha... I can finally have a test of noble blood."
One of the lackey snickered. "We will make her forget it soon enough."
The girl seeing the actions of three of them and hearing their words showed fear and despair. She tried to scream for help but she could not, as her mouth was covered.
Ma Yong ordered the lackeys to hold her. "Keep her still. I will go first. Hehe he."
Xi Chen moved.
He dropped silent to the ground from the tree canopy he was hiding. He approached them fast but silently. And when he was near them, he thrown his spear aiming at Ma Yong.
Whoosh...
Ma Yong suddenly felt an extreme danger behind his back. So he hurriedly rolled over to the side. He did it without thinking for a second.
But he was not fast enough. The spear did not pierce his back, instead it pierce through his broad shoulder and pined him to the ground.
With a very fast movement, Xi Chen arrived before the two lackeys and grabbed their throats with his Claw.
The two of them are ordinary people. How can they resist a force of Muscle Tempering Realm expert.
Snapped.
Xi Chen broke their necks and threw them away.
Then he turned back at Ma Yong who was pined to ground with the spear.
The incident happened in a split moment. So Ma Yong did not even have time to digest what happened.
Seeing the mask man before him, Ma Yong stuttered his words. "W-who are are you. If you kill me. The Li clan will not let you go. Y-you better let me go."
Xi Chen approached him slowly with saying a word. Then he pulled out the spear from Ma Yong and said to him in a hoarse voice. "You can leave now."
Ma Yong with a relief face struggled for a moment and stood up and ran towards the outskirts of the forest.
Seeing the man in front of her letting the animal go, the girl showed a disappointed and sad face. But when she looked at her savior, she saw a blur.
Then she heard a thud sound at the direction Ma Yong ran.
From the start, Xi Chen did not intend to let Ma Yong live. So when Ma Yong turned around to ran towards the outskirts, he slammed him his palm using Red Demon Palm.
Ma Yong did not even have time to react, when he suddenly felt a force on his back. His internal organs and bones all shattered.
He fell to the ground muttering. "Y-you..."
Then he died.