A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 190 - 153: Killing Chill on Nu Yun River—Who Dares Claim the 1,000 Gold Head?

Feng Shao Ling changed into the rough cloth garments of a servant, planning to slip out through the back door.

As the saying goes, "A wise man adapts to circumstances."

With all this fanfare, it's clear that Bai's surname's massive mobilization is directed at him.

If he truly were to lose his mind and commit murder on such a scale, even if the Feng family were willing to stake everything to exact revenge,

it would be too late.

"How could my promising future be ruined by a mere fisherman from Black River County?"

Feng Shao Ling consoled himself silently. He wasn't fleeing in panic because of Bai Qi but was considering the long term, rather than fighting over temporary anger.

This is a matter of perspective!

As a scion of the main branch of a noble family from Yihai Prefecture, he must not posture like a hooligan by stubbornly clashing heads.

"Young Master... Should I follow you?"

The servant, stripped to nothing but his loincloth, was trembling with cold, his face turning pale.

As a servant, he couldn't wear Feng Shao Ling's ornate robes.

Such an act of presumption could bring great disaster.

"No need, you stay here to block Bai Qilang."

Feng Shao Ling waved his hand, frowning slightly. These rough clothes were too thin, far less comfortable or warm than silk robes.

"Me?"

The servant was stunned.

"What are you afraid of? You're unarmed and haven't practiced martial arts. Can he really bully the weak?"

Feng Shao Ling's expression showed a trace of impatience as he headed straight for the backyard. As he passed the kitchen, he grabbed a bamboo hat.

He pushed open the narrow wooden door, peeked outside, and only relaxed enough to leave when he saw the alley was deserted.

Born into riches, this was the first time Feng Shao Ling wore rough clothes and walked in straw shoes, feeling as if he were suffering.

If he hadn't been supplemented with tonic foods since childhood and practiced martial arts for years, with a well-nurtured body, he couldn't have withstood the bone-chilling wind.

He took advantage of the cover of night and reached the East Market Pier, where a large cedar transport ship was docked.

There were no guards inside, only a man warming wine over a fire basin.

Unlike He Jingfeng, Feng Shao Ling wasn't solely focused on Taoist cultivation. He had a decent foundation in martial arts, and without a plank bridge, he used his hands to vault himself onto the bow of the ship.

Glaring at the man who hadn't even bothered to look up, he roared angrily:

"My father paid a large sum to hire you to protect me closely, but you, Lei, are just hiding on the ship and not stepping ashore, forcing me to flee from Bai Qilang by night!"

The man turned around, and it turned out to be Lei Xiong, once known as one of the four great experts of Black River County, among the group 'bear, eagle, tiger, and leopard.'

"Ah, Young Master Feng, please understand, I was hired as the Feng family's bodyguard captain, not your personal servant to follow you everywhere.

My responsibility only extends to ensuring you're 'not dead or crippled.' Everything beyond that is none of my concern."

Feng Shao Ling clenched his fists:

"I am from the main branch of the Feng family! Is this how you treat me?"

Lei Xiong's expression was peculiar:

"The thousand taels of tributor silver I receive each month isn't paid by you. Can Young Master Feng truly expect me to kneel and kowtow twice upon seeing you? No matter how favored you are, you're just a junior, and your father hasn't even taken your grandfather's position; yet you're already posturing as a great lord?"

Feng Shao Ling was left speechless. Why are those from Black River County all so infuriating?

"I understand Bai Qilang's temperament. If you don't provoke him, why would he call for bloodshed?"

Lei Xiong sipped his hot wine, regretting not being able to cook up some salted vegetables with tofu:

"A strong dragon can't suppress a local bully. Moreover, you're hardly a strong dragon. The He family brings expert old servants with them and hasn't crossed Bai Qilang. Why create trouble for yourself?"

This made Feng Shao Ling even angrier:

"I lawfully purchased the servants. What's it to him? That Bai is clearly too overbearing, pressing me step by step! Set sail quickly, and when I return to Yihai Prefecture with enough manpower, I'll come back to Black River County!

I'd like to see if this place is truly like a dragon's pool and tiger's den!"

Lei Xiong remained silent. These scions from great and noble families often needed to be beaten a few times to remember.

Of course, the condition is not hitting an impregnable wall; otherwise, getting bumped committed minor compared to meeting someone as decisive as an instructor, which could lead straight to King Yama.

Hoisting the sail and taking the helm, Lei Xiong steered the cedar ship away from the dock. He always did his job in accordance with his pay.

Since Feng Shao Ling was frightened into fleeing overnight back to Yihai Prefecture, Lei Xiong was also happy to leave.

Otherwise, if Bai Qilang truly intended to kill, Lei Xiong wouldn't risk his reputation to protect him.

After all, those who came from Tongwen Hall didn't regard anyone highly.

"Why didn't you take action when He Jingfeng hit me before?"

Feng Shao Ling's face was gloomy, holding a grudge.

He never expected that in less than three days after arriving in Black River County, Bai Qi would drive him back to Yihai Prefecture.

If He Jingfeng's words spread, he'd surely become a laughingstock!

"Couldn't beat him."

Lei Xiong was honest.

"Even though we're both at the Third Realm, I've just started, having been stagnant for years. He has at least begun Internal Organs Training."

Feng Shao Ling gritted his teeth:

"Then why charge such a high price? A monthly tributor of over a thousand taels of silver!"

Lei Xiong analyzed earnestly:

"You can't say it like that. My strength is mediocre, but I have a reliable reputation. My former employer, He Wenbing, fell into the hands of the Red Eyebrow Bandits alone. Even when facing many strong foes, I wasn't afraid and fought my way in and out three times to rescue him.

Your father buys peace of mind with money; quite worthwhile."

Feng Shao Ling sneered:

"I heard you didn't even show up. You only appeared after the Red Eyebrow Bandits were scattered."

Lei Xiong declared righteously:

"It's all slander by meddlesome people. I've managed the Fishery for many years without incident. Even during a Red Eyebrow attack, I safeguarded my employer's life."

Feng Shao Ling wanted to add a few more sarcastic remarks, but suddenly saw Lei Xiong's expression tense as he slowed the boat.

"We've reached the Nu Yun River; why aren't we moving?"

He asked.

"Young Master Feng, you have many, many people following you."

Lei Xiong's face was taut, as if facing a great enemy.

"Quickly, quietly find a small boat. When the fight starts, slip away yourself."

Feng Shao Ling frowned, somewhat doubting whether Lei Xiong was fooling him, as he was also a practitioner who had broken through the tendon threshold, yet felt no anomaly.

"One, two, three... Eight, nine, ten... What the hell? Stirred up a nest of experts! Where did so many formidable individuals emerge from in Black River County!"

Lei Xiong couldn't be bothered with this feckless young master, tightly closing his eyes, his Qi Blood coursing through his limbs and bones, surging like flames, almost tangible.

In the boundless endless dark, icy cold eyes like lurking venomous pythons haunting, wavering.

At least twenty people!

All are Third-Practice Experts who have broken through the skin barrier!

And with intense killing intent, definitely not ordinary folk!

"I thought taking on the job from Yihai Prefecture's upper echelon would be more secure..."

Bean-sized sweat droplets oozed from Lei Xiong's forehead, his body stiffly standing still, fearful that moving a single step would summon a torrential storm-like ferocious attack.

The black river flowed endlessly, the cypress boat rocking and pitching, small boats soundlessly emerged from all directions, even though separated by quite a distance, distinct silhouettes could be seen, ghostly figures.

They were all dressed in black, with faces covered by masks.

"What on earth did you do?"

Lei Xiong stared blankly at Feng Shao Ling, bewildered about what earth-shattering trouble this Young Master Feng had provoked?

"I... don't know!"

Feng Shao Ling's face was full of grievance, was Black River County too ruthless? He merely went out to buy slaves, hadn't had time to cause any heaven-resenting havoc.

About to besiege him at Nu Yun River?

So unjust!

"Oh no, this time it's really... wait, no, it seems they're not targeting us."

Lei Xiong felt like he had fallen into an icy pit, hands and feet cold, in this situation, even ten lives wouldn't be enough to break out of the encirclement.

But soon, the wave-like cold murderous intent, like a torrent suddenly swept away, merely spun around and did not stay for even a moment.

Lei Xiong seemed to realize something, taking a few strides to the stern, exerting extreme eyesight, saw a small boat drifting sideways in the water flow, upon it stood a poised figure in neat attire.

"Bai Qilang! He actually followed silently all along, and I wasn't aware at all!"

"Steward Lei, long time no see!"

Bai Qi chuckled gleefully.

"...Chasing me alone, all the way out of Black River County?"

Feng Shao Ling found it hard to believe, how could such a lunatic exist in the world?

Doesn't he know, his head is hung in Hidden Pavilion with a bounty of a thousand taels of gold?

...

...

On the river banks, torches crackled with the burning of dry wood. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"So many people! So lively!"

Dog Xiang squinted his eyes:

"Even after killing a batch, there are still plenty who want to earn a fortune, willing to risk among the peers!"

Pig Xiang giggled weirdly:

"People die for wealth, just as birds perish for food, we took orders from Hidden Pavilion, kept our heads tied to our waistbands, also for gold and silver!"

Niu Xiang and Ma Xiang remained like conjoined twins, closely together, spoke in dull tones:

"Brother She, and Brother Long, when will they arrive?"

Yang Xiang sat cross-legged on the ground, pulled out two smooth green gourds, releasing a swarm of black-winged insects like swarms of mosquitoes and flies, instantly enveloping figures as if a mass of black mist.

Before approaching the flesh, a nearly ethereal shadow rippled like water, seemed to flow suddenly out through breaths.

In a moment, countless flying insects seemingly intelligent, controlled, combined with the Divine Soul, condensed into a human form.

It was over two zhang high, stirred sand and rocks, with a frighteningly imposing aura.

Clearly the Third Realm of Dao Skill, Wandering Deity Gathering Thoughts!

"Brother She's intention is to be wary of deception, let those guys charge first anyways, Hidden Pavilion's bounty is only for the heads."

Yang Xiang's physical presence was lifeless, like vegetation, but his Divine Soul emitted cold pulses like wind, transmitting vague chilling sound waves.

"Yang's skill in controlling Gu insects is increasingly refined! Able to materialize the Divine Soul!"

Pig Xiang praised.

"Per usual practice, Brother Niu and Brother Ma will hold, Brother Pig attacks head-on, I will assist from the side... As for Brother She or Brother Long, when they choose to strike is entirely up to them, we need not concern ourselves."

Dog Xiang assigned roles whilst observing the river situation:

"I see a few familiar faces, using blades is Cyan-eyed Beast Ruan Hong, along with Double Guns Chasing Soul Li the Eighth, let them lead, we'll follow up like a hawk catching cicadas, a sparrow behind!"

...

...

In the river's center, a small boat drifted sideways, swirling like a whirlpool.

Yet somehow like a stabilizing force, firmly rooted there.

Strong gusts blew Bai Qi's garments fluttering, dozens of piercing or chilling stares swept back and forth, seemingly treating him like a fish waiting to be butchered on the chopping block.

Thinking of his prepared contingency measures, plus his master Ninghai Zen overseeing, this Bai Qi, named renowned throughout Black River County, couldn't help but laugh aloud, poised and confident:

"I heard my splendid head is worth a thousand gold, may I ask everyone, who dares to claim it?"