Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 54: Going Out Of The City (III)
At the west city gate, Lin Zheyu carried a backpack and a pouch tucked in at his waist, strolling leisurely toward the city outskirts. Along the way, he sensed many eyes watching him.
Soon, he arrived near a narrow alley by the city gate. An old man carrying a vegetable basket stepped out from the alley, but his steps were unsteady, as if his right leg was impaired. Without noticing Lin Zheyu ahead, the old man stumbled and accidentally bumped into him.
"Ah, pardon me, pardon me," said the old man, quickly apologizing. His eyes were filled with panic and a hint of fear, as if he was worried Lin Zheyu would scold him.
"Elder, are you all right?" Lin Zheyu helped the old man up without a word of reproach.
"It's fine, it's fine. I truly apologize, I accidentally bumped into you," said the old man apologetically.
"It's nothing. Just be more careful next time," said Lin Zheyu while waving his hand, letting the old man go. As he watched the old man leave, the corners of his lips lifted into a meaningful smile.
"Interesting. They prepared well. It seems this has been plotted for a long time," murmured Lin Zheyu to himself.
That old man had only pretended to stumble into him. In truth, he had secretly reached out, grabbed the corner of his robe, and smeared an unfamiliar white powder onto the fabric.
Is this Fatty Xing's doing? Is this their method of tracking me? In Songyi City, the only one I know who has his eyes on me is that fat fuck, pondered Lin Zheyu silently.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the white mark on his robe, but he did not wipe it away. Whether it was Fatty Xing or not, since someone had marked him, he might as well deal with them all at once.
The strength Lin Zheyu had revealed was only that of the Bone Forging Realm. He refused to believe anyone would dispatch a Blood Qi Realm martial artist to assassinate him. That would be like using a cannon to swat a mosquito, a complete waste of resources. As long as they were not of the Blood Qi Realm, he could cut them down with ease.
***
The old man walked forward for more than a hundred meters before entering a fabric shop and speaking to a middle-aged man inside. "The White Xin Powder has already been smeared on that kid. I did not fail the task."
"Very good. You did well. Go and claim your reward," said the middle-aged man with a smile.
In his arms, he held a small creature with gray fur, resembling both a marten and a rat. He reached out and scratched the little animal under its chin, making it squeak. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"Once that kid got the White Xin Powder smeared on him, every place he passes within the next two hours will carry a faint trace. No matter how fast your lightness technique is or how skilled you are at concealment, you won't escape now," said the middle-aged man in a low voice.
The little creature in his arms was called a Wind-Chasing Gray-Furred Marten, and its nose was extremely sensitive. They loved to feed on a plant known as White Xin Grass and were extraordinarily attuned to its scent. Many people raised Wind-Chasing Gray-Furred Martens specifically for tracking.
***
Outside the city walls, there were no more refugees in sight. It was the depth of winter, the world frozen and desolate. The refugees who had nowhere to go had long since turned into withered bones scattered across the land.
Lin Zheyu pulled out his map, determined the direction of Lion Valley, and headed southwest. Lion Valley was a secluded gorge that lay 15 kilometers away. The valley was encircled by towering mountains, with only a few hidden trails leading in. To the unfamiliar, the paths were nearly impossible to find.
Within Lion Valley, venomous insects and ferocious beasts roamed freely, and even formidable unique beasts lurked inside. Without someone familiar with the terrain to guide them, entering was exceedingly dangerous.
Many who could no longer survive had taken to banditry after fleeing into the mountains, gathering within Lion Valley. Lion Valley served as a natural barrier, shielding them from the encirclement of large military forces.
"These villages and fields have all fallen to ruin. It's better to live as a dog in peaceful times than as a man in chaotic ones. For common folk, life in troubled times is nothing but suffering," muttered Lin Zheyu.
Along the road, many villages had already been abandoned, their people gone. The fields lay overrun with wild grass, completely desolate.
"Hm? There are still people living over there."
After walking about 2.5 kilometers farther, Lin Zheyu finally spotted human figures. It was a settlement made up of large courtyard compounds. The houses were built from packed earth and stone, stacked high like miniature fortresses. The layout of these dwellings was remarkably clever, perfectly suited to serve as defensive strongholds in times of war.
So this must be the Ma Family Village Xie Jiang mentioned, Lin Zheyu thought.
In Ma Family Village, every villager made their living mainly through smithing and hunting. It was a formidable village, where everyone trained in martial arts, from the eighty-year-old elders down to the babbling infants. Moreover, Ma Family Village was known for its unity and abundance of skilled fighters.
From afar, Lin Zheyu observed several men patrolling outside the village. Their clothes were worn and patched, revealing the hardship they endured. Though the village had managed to survive, life there was by no means easy.
Among the patrolling men, he even noticed a skilled cultivator of the Organ Forging Realm.
He continued on his way, avoiding the main road and deliberately choosing secluded and difficult paths. After traveling another kilometer or so, he stopped within a remote, dense forest. He removed the coat that had been marked, tossed it into a nearby thicket, and in a swift movement darted into the undergrowth on the other side to hide.
***
Outside Songyi City, a group of riders galloped swiftly past. After covering 1.5 kilometers, they reined in their horses. Beside Xing Jinglong, a middle-aged man took out a Wind-Chasing Gray-Furred Marten. The little creature sniffed the air, squeaked sharply, and scratched at his arm as if eager to dash forward.
"Master, he's just ahead," said the middle-aged man.
"After him! This time, I don't believe you can slip from my grasp again!" said Xing Jinglong, letting out a cold laugh.
This time, he had brought along two formidable experts of the Organ Forging Realm, both of whom possessed remarkable mastery in lightness techniques. In addition to these two Organ Forging Realm experts, he had also requested ten elite soldiers from Xing Penghai. With preparations this thorough, he refused to believe that a mere Bone Forging Realm cultivator like Lin Zheyu could slip away from him again.
Clip-clop.
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
The sound of hooves thundered, kicking up waves of dust into the air.
***
In a secluded mountain forest.
The wilderness was filled with desolate mountains and ridges. As long as one avoided the main roads, it was difficult to encounter bandits. Lin Zheyu crouched in the thicket for nearly half an hour. The surroundings were quiet, disturbed only by the occasional appearance of wild beasts.
Clip-clop.
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
The sound of galloping hooves echoed, growing closer and closer. Faintly, he could hear the neighing of horses in the distance and feel the tremors of their pounding hooves.
They're here!
His expression shifted, and he fully activated the Tortoise Breath Grand Method. His aura sank again and again, until it became nearly undetectable. His figure leapt upward, landing silently in the branches of a tree as he gazed toward the approaching riders in the distance. At the head of the group was none other than the man Lin Zheyu had seen several times before, Xing Jinglong.
So it really is you, thought Lin Zheyu to himself.
He counted quickly and found that there were twenty men in total. Among them, ten wore the armor of the City Guard. They were soldiers Xing Jinglong had requisitioned from Xing Penghai. The rest included two experts of the Organ Forging Realm, seven members of the Wuding Gang, and a single Wind-Chasing Gray-Furred Marten.
Their strength isn't too great. I can handle them, thought Lin Zheyu.
Concealing himself further, he stilled his body, held his breath, and suppressed his blood qi to its lowest point.
