Chapter 279 - Pursuit
That young man in the bright-yellow dragon robe, the Third Prince, had a furious scowl on his face. Soon after, he turned tranquil: “What’s going on?”
Ashamed, the yellow-robed commander said: “Some acquaintances have already fled the city. However, because this was detected in time, several others have been overtaken and recaptured.”
Once these words fell, that young man wearing the black, brocaded changpao sneered: “Third Zhao, it was previously this prince who dispatched people for guard duty, but there weren’t any accidents at all. And now, when it’s your turn, there was such a careless mistake. Sure enough, it can clearly be seen that this weak nation is quite useless. Ancestors above, he speaks with solid judgment!” Talking up to this point, he faced that young man wearing dark blue robes and raised an eyebrow, “Young Master Xin, what do you think?”
The person in the black, brocaded changpao was Prince Zhou. His nation of origin, the Zhou Empire, was also a bronze-ranked empire. It could also be considered to be in a feud with that Zhao Dynasty’s Zhao Empire.
The foundations of the two nations were about the same, and the same could be said of their resources. Unfortunately, the two nations were located relatively close to another. In the present generation, the remarkable prodigies who had appeared were Prince Zhou and the Third Prince. And behind these two people were the backers of great forces… Currently, from children to adults, even if they weren’t enemies, there was a fierce rivalry amid their confrontational relationship.
Off on the side, Young Master Xin faintly smiled. He flicked his wrist to open a fan, which partly covered the corner of his mouth.
He put on a fake smile, and said: “If it was me, this young master, then it certainly would’ve been as secure as a city protected by a wall of metal and a moat of boiling water.”
The two people hardly concealed their ridicule towards the Third Prince, which caused the Third Prince’s complexion to suddenly become unsightly.
He took a deep breath, and stifled the surge of fire in his heart. Shortly after, he spoke to that yellow-robed commander: “Ninth Commander, you and Old Four will receive ten lashes of the whip as discipline. As for Old Eight, give him the best medicine. You must save him. It won’t be too late to punish him later.”
The yellow-robed commander gratefully said: “Many thanks, my prince. This subordinate certainly won’t make such a grievous mistake again!”
The Third Prince waved his hand, and allowed him to leave: “Send a message to the next city. Capture that pharmacist and the person protecting him alive.” He gave a slight pause, and added in a cold voice, “If you capture him, keep him alive. If you can’t, then just kill him. You absolutely can’t let him fall into anyone else’s hands!”
The yellow-robed commander was solemn and respectful: “As you command!”
After he finished speaking, he departed at flying speeds.
After this person left, Prince Zhou spoke in a peculiar way: “Third Zhao, it looks like you’re treasuring talent?”
Meanwhile, Young Master Xin put away his folding fan: “This is just a method to bribe the hearts of people. I, this Great Xin, am ashamed of my inferiority.”
The Third Prince flicked his sleeve: “Enough nonsense! If you two don’t accept this, then you can only use your own methods. There’s no need to gossip around here like ignorant housewives! Hmph!”
That Prince Zhou and Young Master Xin were quite annoyed. At once, they gave their own cold harrumphs, and no longer paid attention to the Third Prince.
After this, they listened to their own subordinates’ reports and of the following outcomes — For example, along the two streets that they occupied, which members of the Peripheral Continent had walked into their traps and were captured by them, which ones refused to submit and were ma.s.sacred, and which ones finally submitted.
What the three of them were ultimately competing in was the number of battle slaves their subordinates could acquire.
There were still nine days left. There was plenty of time for scheming before this Road of Heaven’s Chosen closed. It also wasn’t known who would claim victory in the end.
Gongyi Tianheng’s speed was too fast. No one had the time to react, and they had already escaped this city. Originally, Song He and Yao Yao did their best to catch up with them, but when they reached the end of the street and the edge of the city, they only saw poisoned corpses strewn everywhere. They didn’t catch sight of Tianheng and Gu Zuo’s figures at all.
However, Yao Yao wasn’t just a pretty face. She grabbed Song He, and while she used her own body technique to take him far away from the city, she spoke with blatant surprise: “You really can’t judge a book by its cover. I heard you saying that Young Master Gu’s psychic power was extraordinary, but never once did I think that his poison techniques were so astonishing, too!”
How could Song He have imagined this? He always felt that Gu Zuo had a tacit understanding with Tianheng. By himself, Gu Zuo was very strong, but he was even stronger when he coordinated with Tianheng. Song He also didn’t expect that Gu Zuo could be so skilled on the path of medicine refinement at his age. Today’s few encounters made him understand that he judged others by their appearances, and that his thoughts were too narrow-minded.
After Yao Yao pondered, she said: “Right now, it looks like their impression of you isn’t bad. In the future, no matter what you come across, you must remember at all costs that you can never sell them out.”
Song He forced a laugh: “Senior Sect Sister, what kind of a person am I? There’s no need to talk about the fact that they saved my life. It’s enough for me to pledge my life in their defense since they allowed me to escape the evil clutches of the Third Prince today.”
Yao Yao nodded sternly: “It’s good that you can think in this way. But if you chicken out, I’ll slice off your chicken. Do you understand?”
Song He’s scalp tightened: “I, I understand, Senior Sect Sister…”
Truly, this kind of threat was too scary!
Immediately after that, the two no longer talked much. They only followed the “footprints” of Tianheng and Gu Zuo. They dashed ahead the entire way.
As for Tianheng and Gu Zuo, whom these sect siblings were discussing? Their travel went very quickly. Although they kept encountering monsters that leaped out of the thick fog and strange plants on both sides of the road, with their psychic power and archery to explode the heads of those monsters, they weren’t stopped for long.
Gu Zuo once again recovered. While utilizing his psychic power, he stuffed his dear big brother with medicinal pills. Meanwhile, he asked: “Big brother, do you think there are soldiers chasing behind us?”
Tianheng said: “I’m afraid that any pursuing soldiers won’t just be limited to the back. There should also be an interception up ahead.”
Gu Zuo was taciturn: “In that case, what should we do?”
Tianheng always made many plans. At this moment, a hint of a natural and unconstrained feeling suddenly appeared on his face: “Perhaps, there aren’t any other methods. We can only do our best to cut a b.l.o.o.d.y path out of here!”
Listening up to here, Gu Zuo shivered from the bottom of his heart. Soon after, he felt a rush of youthful valor, which made his entire body somewhat hot-blooded.
Truth be told, as a man, how many were willing to sullenly have his head constantly pushed down by others? Were there any who clearly cherished his fortuitous encounter and soared into the sky, but because the secret was too big, he had to carefully plot and scheme lest he revealed too much and lost his life?
With all his heart, Gu Zuo wanted to live well and refine the Void Pill to return to the modern era. For this reason, he adjusted his own worldview to accept this world’s current situation, and embraced an incomparably cautious mindset. He had told countless lies to the point that he could unleash his own acting skills anytime and anywhere… In fact, he didn’t want to do this at all.
His age wasn’t that high, so he should’ve been an impulsive youth. However, for the sake of his ultimate goal, he wore down his own impulses. In the beginning, he was still somewhat brisk and reactive, but he became steady later on… He knew that what he was doing was correct, but when all was said and done, it was hard to keep one’s thoughts and desires calm.
But now, on this Road of Death, Tianheng told him that they would be killing their way out together!
Gu Zuo’s heart was heating up.
Indeed. This could liberate the restrained feelings in his heart, and he also wouldn’t feel guilty for those people with bloodstained hands. However, he still had some misgivings.
Gu Zuo: “Big brother, is it really okay if we kill our way through like this? Do you want to think of a method to fool them and stay hidden? We could strive to stealthily pa.s.s through the next ancient city and get back onto the road. That way, we can get out of this Road of Heaven’s Chosen a bit earlier.”
Tianheng faintly shook his head.
After that, his voice carried a trace of cold intent: “Ah Zuo, if there’s an enormous disparity between us and our enemies, we would need to socialize, strategize, and endure. Only by doing this can we protect ourselves and accomplish our aims. But…”
Gu Zuo hastily said: “But what?”
Tianheng sighed: “But, if the differences between us and our enemies aren’t big, a martial artist should face difficulties and openly oppose them. Only by wandering the border between life and death can we pursue the supreme path of martial arts! If we continue to hide and avoid this time, it’ll reduce our scope of understanding, narrow our ambitions, and tarnish our bearings. At that time, any thoughts of practicing martial arts will instead be muddled, which will affect the path of martial arts.”
Gu Zuo heard these words, and was convinced.
Yes. Previously, when they were in Qingyun Sect, they had many secrets that would turn the world against them if revealed. As a result, they had to socialize and patiently endure — After all, the fingertip of Qingyun Sect’s Sect Master was enough to crush them to death. They had to be careful in a respects. Moreover, they were still Qingyun Sect disciples at the time. They also needed to establish themselves and decrease their enemies’ footholds. His big brother always used schemes first. Even if he found some hidden enemies like Lu Jiusi, he wouldn’t use a strong hand to take action. Rather, he would deliver this to his enemy’s enemies, and their friends would come and handle it.
But now, the ones with the highest strength here were just mid Immortal Realms. Even if those individuals were people who could challenge higher ranks, it was nothing more than a struggle. Could it be that they would still run away? If they remained hidden at this juncture, it would seem like they had lost. Perhaps, this would have a detrimental effect on the hearts of their own paths of martial arts?
After all, his big brother had the Tiandu Body. It was unreasonable for him to hide from his peers day and night!
Gu Zuo inwardly nodded.
Hence, once the two arrived in front of this ancient city, they discovered that the ones who were guarding the gates were some armor-wearing martial artists. Ignoring everything else, they immediately dashed over.
Those armored soldiers berated: “Don’t resist capture, and you’ll have a way to survive. If not, don’t blame us subordinates for being impolite!”
Gu Zuo heard this, and confirmed that these were enemies! At once, he set aside his reservations, and released his silver awls. He’d give them a cold thrashing first!
Tianheng also showed no quarter, and swept his spear across, which immediately sent many armored martial artists flying!
The two used practiced movements to give those shouting armored soldiers an answer.
This time, the armored soldiers naturally exerted themselves to the fullest as they surged forth. They held nothing back as they attacked.
There weren’t any commanders among these people, so the two responded rather easily. It didn’t take long for them to take quite a few lives. At the same time, they also tore open a gap in the encirclement.
Gu Zuo and Tianheng leaped out from this opening. Behind them, there were still many people in fierce pursuit. They chased to kill.
Tianheng’s body techniques were swift, and the two quickly escaped.
Gu Zuo suddenly thought of something: “Big brother, the Third Prince and the others are mid Immortal Realm martial artists, but there are also large organizations backing them! Even if we get out of the Road of Death, the great personages within their forces will also be able to crush us with just a finger…”
Tianheng’s face wasn’t reddened, and his breathing wasn’t labored: “If such seniors have any pride and dignity, and if it’s to their benefit to dispatch others, then they certainly won’t condescend to personally deal with a younger generation. And if they send younger people, then this elder bother has nothing to fear.”
As his big brother’s martial strength was above that of his peers, Gu Zuo was rea.s.sured. However, this wasn’t the important point. What was important was that it wasn’t strange for the majority of seniors to be prideful and dignified, but this didn’t mean that there weren’t any eccentrics among those seniors! The positions of the Third Prince and the others were very high. If Gu Zuo and Tianheng couldn’t find peak personages or Atomic Realms, then there was also nothing they could do!
As a result, Gu Zuo took care, and opened his mouth again: “Then, what if we meet that kind of unreasonable senior?”
As before, Tianheng was unhurried: “After we leave this place, you and I can rely on the help of another organization. With their resources, we can study the path of martial arts. If there’s this kind of person who disregards the rules, the sect’s elders will naturally take action.”
On the contrary, Gu Zuo didn’t doubt that his big brother could be accepted into an outstanding sect… However, there was still a problem!
“But what if the other side’s forces can crush the organization we rely on? What if our organization isn’t willing to fight on our behalf?”
This issue was very serious. He felt that this wasn’t safe.
After all, the Central Continent was the home field of the other side.
Tianheng faintly sighed: “If it really ends up like this… Then, you and I can only rely on ourselves to the bitter end.”
Gu Zuo: “…”
Eh?!
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