Chapter 53: Encounter
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The night sky gradually faded into a deep blue. When the first faint morning light appeared in the distant sky, the night pa.s.sed.
In the dilapidated temple.
“Hiss!” Feng Xiao rubbed the back of his dizzy head and moved his stiff neck. He felt that he had been hit twice last night, and the second time was very heavy.
Fortunately, he had taken a healing pill and the Yin energy in his body had been cleared. Although the wound on his chest was still very painful, it no longer affected his normal movements.
At this moment, he noticed that Han Zhao was sitting against the wall, only wearing his undergarment. Xu Ling was in his arms and sleeping soundly. Her body was still covered by his lake-blue coat.
“Shh!” Seeing that Feng Xiao was about to speak, Han Zhao gestured for him to keep quiet.
Feng Xiao stood up quietly, but he still woke Xu Ling up.
“Grandpa Feng! How do you feel?” Xu Ling’s expression relaxed when she saw that Feng Xiao’s complexion was much better.
“I feel much better. You and Han Zhao…” Feng Xiao sized up the two of them.
“Yes.” Xu Ling nodded shyly and generously admitted their relationship, returning to her usual straightforwardness.
Han Zhao took the coat from Xu Ling and pondered for a moment. “Elder Feng, if your injuries are fine, set off early to bring Lingling back to Blackrock City.”
“Alright, we have to go back and report this matter to the Patriarch as soon as possible, ” Feng Xiao replied.
“Let’s go now,” Han Zhao added.
Last night, he had chatted with Xu Ling about many things, starting from when she was young and then talking about this mission.
The reason why the Zhang family dragged the Su family and the Xu family along was that they were transporting a batch of armor.
Han Zhao was also a little surprised when he first heard it.
It was no wonder that ever since Zhang Linlu left Blackrock City, he had specially chosen a remote path. Even if he stayed at night, he chose a small village in a corner. From the beginning to the end, the three carriages were under the Zhang family’s watch.
The only omission was to go to Taoyuan Village, this dead place.
However, if it wasn’t for foresight, no one would have thought of this.
Han Zhao had never heard of this in the previous simulations. This meant that during that mission, they did not stay in Taoyuan Village at night.
Whether it was half a day earlier or half a day later, the outcome would probably be different.
The armor of three full carriages was indeed a huge business.
This thing was not difficult to build, and the cost was not very high. It was just a question of whether he dared to.
The so-called ‘one armor resists three crossbows and three armors can enter h.e.l.l’ was no joke.
However, the world was very chaotic now. Even if someone wanted to rebel, Han Zhao did not find it strange.
The failure of this mission was a huge blow to the three families.
The loss of the armor was fine. The cost of building it was not so high that the three families could not withstand it. The main reason was that they had lost a registered elder at the Blood Tempering Realm. It was too fatal!
This did not only involve money and resources but also the nurturing of trust.
Of course, the Xu family’s losses were the lightest.
Feng Xiao was injured, but he was still alive after all. An expert at the third Blood Qi Breakthrough of the Blood Tempering Realm had extraordinary vitality. He would definitely be able to recover.
The other Sun Yuan, who had been indirectly killed by Han Zhao, was only at the first Blood Qi Breakthrough level. In the future, Han Zhao would take his place. Not only would the Xu family not lose out, but they would also profit.
As long as the matter of the armor was not leaked, this time, it would at most be a business failure for the Xu family and a loss of money.
After knowing the inside story, Han Zhao had thought of an excuse last night.
Since this matter could not be exposed, the Zhang family and the Su family would definitely not dare to announce it. The buyers of Jade Wind City would definitely not dare to pursue the matter. They would most likely settle it privately.
It saved Han Zhao some trouble.
“Junior Martial Brother Han, aren’t you going back with us?!” From Junior Martial Brother Han’s words, Xu Ling clearly wanted her to leave with Feng Xiao first.
“I still have some things to do. I’ll go back after I’m done,” Han Zhao said seriously. Taoyuan Village could farm Yin energy for two more nights. He could not waste it.
AU Lillg S expression reldxeu. Dile lidu SUDCOIISCIOUSIY LIIOUYIL L11dL JUIIIOL Martial Brother Han was not going back.
As for what Junior Martial Brother Han was going to do, she wouldn’t ask.
“Elder Feng, before you go back, we have to unify our words.” Han Zhao looked at Feng Xiao.
“Alright.” Feng Xiao nodded.
“In that case, the others insisted on staying at night. Then, during dinner…” Han Zhao told Feng Xiao and Xu Ling the excuse he had prepared in advance.
The entire process was basically true. However, with a little editing, he gave the credit to Feng Xiao. He was the one who did not agree to stay at night. When they ate at night, he was the one who did not eat the food from the Chen family. He did not even eat Han Zhao and Xu Ling.
In the end, when the monster appeared, only the three of them, who had not eaten the monster’s meat, escaped Taoyuan Village alive.
As long as Han Zhao did not expose his strength, there were almost no loopholes in the entire excuse.
After all, the strongest person in the team on the surface was Feng Xiao. He was also the oldest person in the martial world. It was very reasonable for him to be ‘careful’ outside, right?
As for Han Zhao, he did not follow them back because he was seriously injured and could not move easily, so he stayed in a nearby town to recuperate.
‘That makes sense, doesn’t it?’
“I understand!” Feng Xiao said seriously. He could not help but look at Han Zhao in a different light. Not only was he strong, but he was also so low-key and knew how to make a fortune silently.
As the saying went, “The tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.” Han Zhao was only 19 years old this year, but he had already broken through to the Blood Tempering Realm. His strength could be said to be not inferior to him, who had not eaten monster meat. Moreover, he was so meticulous.
If not for the fact that Han Zhao had hidden his strength and was very cautious, and that he and Xu Ling had not eaten the monster meat, the possibility of their entire group being wiped out yesterday was very high.
Feng Xiao might be able to escape if he risked his life, but if he brought Xu Ling along, his chances of survival would be very small.
After watching Xu Ling and Feng Xiao leave, Han Zhao was not in a hurry to go to Taoyuan Village. Instead, he focused his attention on the system interface.
Martial Arts: Spirit Concealment Technique (First Level Entry Level 1%,
Upgradeable), Yin Fiend Palm (First Level Entry Level 1%, Upgradeable) Han Zhao was not sure how powerful the Spirit Concealment Technique was, but the effect of the Yin Fiend Palm was obvious without even trying.
Even Feng Xiao, an expert with the third Blood Qi Breakthrough, had his strength greatly reduced after acc.u.mulating a large amount of Yin energy in his body.
In particular, the saber technique that Feng Xiao cultivated could cultivate fire-type Internal Force. It had a restraining effect on Yin energy, but it was still in such a miserable state.
It was obvious how effective Yin energy was against martial artists.
According to the system notification, the Yin Fiend Palm could cultivate the Yin Internal Force of Extreme Yin and Evil. Clearly, it was more effective against martial artists than ordinary Yin energy.
To be able to make the system, which had always been arrogant, evaluate it as having considerable potential, it meant that the Yin Fiend Palm was quite extraordinary.
If Han Zhao cultivated the Yin Fiend Force, it was equivalent to having another trump card when facing enemies.
The Yin Fiend Palm was not a one-time burst secret technique like the Sword Drawing Technique that could be used multiple times.
As the owner of the Sword and Saber Duo, it was very reasonable for his palm technique to be the strongest, right?
“The Essence Soul Bead is picky. I don’t want some Yin aura, but the Yin Fiend Palm shouldn’t be picky.” Han Zhao’s heart stirred.
Taoyuan Village could be farmed twice more. The Essence Soul Bead had already acc.u.mulated a large amount of Yin energy. In a short period of time, his Yin energy was enough.
Moreover, before Feng Xiao left, Han Zhao remembered what he had mentioned last night, so he asked.
Feng Xiao said that when he was traveling in Yuan Chang County City in the early years, he had heard of a monster like the Blood Corpse.
Blood Corpses usually appeared in places where Yin energy and resentment acc.u.mulated. It was said that such things could not be completely killed. No matter how many times they were killed and went to the same place, Blood Corpses would appear.
Every time such a place appeared, the prefecture capital would send experts to deal with it.
As for the details, Feng Xiao was only a first Blood Qi Breakthrough martial artist at that time. Although he was not weak in the prefecture capital, he could not come into contact with higher-level information.
“Since the aristocratic families are so powerful, they should know.”
Thinking of this, Han Zhao walked out of the dilapidated temple and rushed towards Taoyuan Village.
Tap, tap, tap!
Han Zhao walked on the mountain path. Just as he reached the foot of the mountain, he heard dust flying not far away as a tall and handsome white horse galloped over.
It had a thin head, a tall neck, and long limbs. It was very fast.
“Good horse!” Han Zhao’s eyes lit up.
He had seen expensive horses in Blackrock City, but none of them could compare to this white horse.
Could this be a Ferghana Horse? Wouldn’t that be worth a hundred gold?!
“You pervert!”
At this moment, a delicate shout sounded.
Only then did Han Zhao notice a pet.i.te girl riding on a horse. She was wearing a light green silk embroidered dress. Her snow-white oval face was only the size of a palm, making her chin look sharp. Her tender face looked at most 14 or 15 years old.
The girl stepped on the horse’s back and jumped down. The short sword at her waist was unsheathed and stabbed at Han Zhao’s lower body.
Han Zhao raised his eyebrows. From her posture and the way she attacked, she was clearly a fledgling without any combat experience.
Swoosh!
Han Zhao placed his left hand on his waist and drew the Extraction Saber from its sheath. Then, with a flick of his right hand, the scabbard shot out and flew toward the girl’s face.
Slap!
The scabbard spun at high speed in the air and slapped the girl’s face fiercely.
“Ouch!” The girl cried out in pain and fell heavily in front of Han Zhao in a dog-eating posture, raising a cloud of dust.
Han Zhao walked forward and cupped his fists. “I’m Han Zhao. Why did you suddenly appear and ambush me?”
“Han Zhao?” The girl looked up. Her left cheek was swollen and there was a clear long mark.
“Han Cheng! Stop pretending! I know you even if you turn into ashes!” The girl gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Han Zhao. She struggled to get up and was about to pick up the short sword that had fallen beside her.
“Miss, do you know my elder brother, Han Cheng? He disappeared when I was six years old and hasn’t returned home for thirteen years! Have you seen him?”
Han Zhao looked surprised and took a step back.
Ji Baiwei’s strength was barely at the level of blood qi. At her age, it was considered an extremely exaggerated apt.i.tude, but it was not enough to deal with him.
However, why wasn’t Ji Zhuling out yet?
“You…” Ji Baiwei noticed that Han Zhao’s expression was not fake. A trace of confusion flashed across her eyes and she stopped picking up the sword.
At this moment, Ji Baiwei carefully sized up Han Zhao in front of her. He was 50 to 60% similar to the portrait she had seen in her cousin’s room, but on closer inspection, he seemed to be shorter. Moreover, he was obviously much more handsome and young than Han Cheng.
“Are you really not Han Cheng?” Ji Baiwei was a little uncertain.
“If I were Han Cheng and you had a grudge against me, I would have thrown a saber, not a scabbard.”
Han Zhao smiled and put away the scabbard.
He looked at the precious horse and then at her clothes and the jade pendant on her chest.
The mental damage fee was settled..