Chapter 195 - 147: Rendezvous (Part 2)
After all, if he got tied up with bandits and couldn’t finish them off quickly, he would soon be surrounded and killed by their masters.
Although he hadn’t suffered any serious injuries, that recent all-out strike had taken a huge toll. He wouldn’t be able to fight at full strength for a while.
If he ran into another Qi Sensing Martial Artist, it would be dangerous!
Therefore, the most urgent priority was to leave this place.
~~~~~
Time flew, and soon it was the next day.
In the forests of Boundary Mountain.
Fang Yue was hiding in a hollow sheltered from the wind. He had planned to leave earlier, but the bandits from Tenglong Stronghold had already blocked the roads down the mountain.
They had stationed a large number of men on the few essential paths. If he tried to force a breakout, he’d likely be surrounded and dragged into a bitter fight before he could even get away.
’I never thought this Wang Mangzi would have such good stuff on him. This is the Sea Wave Fist he practices. While I can’t cultivate this Cultivation Technique, the Power Generation Secret Technique within it is quite ingenious. I can learn from it.’
Fang Yue mused to himself as he flipped through the Cultivation Technique he had looted from Wang Mangzi.
He had saved the man’s life, in a way, so it was only natural to take a little something as a thank-you fee.
Of course, after taking the items, he hadn’t paid the unconscious Wang Mangzi any mind. He still had no idea if the man was dead or alive, but at least it was better than being killed on the spot by Niu Jin.
If he was lucky, Wang Mangzi still had a chance of survival.
Therefore, since he’d taken some of the man’s Money and this Secret Manual, Wang Mangzi hadn’t gotten a bad deal.
’Sigh. In comparison, this Niu Jin—a supposed master of Qi Sensing—was far too shabby.’
Fang Yue then took out a pile of odds and ends. After taking Niu Jin’s head, he had casually grabbed the man’s money pouch, and this was its contents.
After all, there hadn’t been much time, making a thorough search impossible.
Now, he had time.
Fang Yue poured out the pile of items and began to sift through them.
A broken Jade Pendant, a bottle of unknown medicine, some scattered silver, and a few silver banknotes that added up to a little over three thousand taels.
All these bits and pieces combined weren’t as valuable as Wang Mangzi’s Secret Manual.
This made Fang Yue look down on Niu Jin, the Fifth Master of Tenglong Stronghold and a supposed Qi Sensing Martial Master, even more.
To hold such a high position, and be a master an entire realm above others, yet be so destitute.
’Hm? What’s this...’
Just then, Fang Yue noticed a token.
The token looked very familiar; he had seen similar ones on Wang Yuangang and on the black market merchant from Xiahe County, Yang Yan.
’Blood Dragon Platform?’
Although the patterns weren’t identical, the style was clearly from the same mold, obviously belonging to the same organization.
’So, this so-called Tenglong Stronghold is actually the Blood Dragon Platform?’
’Or perhaps it’s just another branch of the organization?’
Fang Yue’s gaze sharpened, and his breath hitched.
If that were the case, then the Government Office’s purpose for adding this trial was likely not so simple.
Fang Yue had the sinking feeling that he’d been swept up in some kind of struggle.
’So, what I heard back in Sanshui County Town was true? The nearby families that went missing... was that really the work of Tenglong Stronghold?’
He immediately recalled the stories he had overheard at the inn in Sanshui County Town.
He hadn’t thought much of it then, but now he was realizing just how deep the water ran here.
If the Government Office had long known Tenglong Stronghold’s true nature, yet allowed it to grow unchecked, letting the organization commit countless major crimes throughout Shanyang Prefecture over the years...
...and if, even now, they hadn’t sent the Guard Army to exterminate them, instead sending Martial Scholars like him to do the job... the whole situation felt bizarre.
It could only mean this organization was far from simple.
Therefore, he couldn’t stay here any longer. He had to find a way out.
Fang Yue decided then and there. First things first, he had to get out of Boundary Mountain.
In any case, he already had his ticket to the Prefecture Examination. There was no need to stay here and risk his life.
’I’ll look for an opportunity tonight,’ he thought. ’There’s no way those bandits’ blockade is completely foolproof.’
Having made up his mind, Fang Yue packed everything useful. He dug a shallow pit for the useless items and buried them to avoid leaving any traces.
Then, he began to study the Stacking Waves Secret Technique from the Sea Wave Fist Manual.
Some Secret Techniques were merely unique power generation skills that could be learned without needing to practice the associated Martial Arts.
The Stacking Waves Secret Technique from the Sea Wave Fist was one such example.
Although Fang Yue believed that using other Fist Techniques would prevent him from unleashing the full power of the Stacking Waves Secret Technique, learning it would still increase his combat prowess.
Continuous study and practice were the only way to keep improving.
~~~~~~
He waited until nightfall, and then continued waiting into the early hours of the morning.
This was the time when people’s guard was at its lowest. Fang Yue crept silently along a mountain path toward the edge of Boundary Mountain. He passed several sentry posts along the way, easily avoiding the drowsy, listless bandit guards.
But soon, a wooden wall blocked his path.
The wall, over ten feet high, had clearly been built recently by the bandits.
The already narrow mountain path was now completely sealed off. Furthermore, the trees for dozens of yards around the wall had been felled for lumber, clearing the entire area.
There was no cover to speak of.
Any guard on the wall who wasn’t blind would spot him instantly. Just then, Fang Yue suddenly noticed several other figures hiding in the shadows of the nearby woods.