It was rare to see smiles on their faces; being in the middle of nowhere, this village meant they wouldn’t have to camp in the wilderness at night. They could have a hot meal and take a warm bath.
Under a large Locust Tree at the village entrance, an old man was bent over, searching for something and muttering to himself, ignoring Zhong Lin and the other rider.
"Old man, is there an inn in this village?" Mei Weixuan leaned over and asked.
The old man raised his head, squinting at Zhong Lin and his companion.
"Where are you young men from, have you taken the wrong road?"
"We didn’t take a wrong turn, just missed the timing. Is there an inn in this village? My brother and I want to rest here for the night."
"An inn? Yes, there is. Go inside, walk past three houses, then turn right. It’s Liu Laotou’s teahouse, and he offers accommodations."
After speaking, the old man continued to bow his head, using his cane to push away dead leaves on the ground, still murmuring to himself.
"Where could it be? Why can’t I find it? It must have been stolen by that damned thief. When I find him, I’ll beat him to death."
After saying so, he intentionally struck the ground with his cane, showing a look of extreme anger.
"This old man is quite interesting. Let’s go, Zhong Lin. I need a good hot bath; I’m sticky and uncomfortable." Mei Weixuan said with a smile.
Zhong Lin didn’t move, but instead asked the old man, "Old man, did you lose something?"
"Yes, I lost a bead, young man. Can you help me find it?"
The old man looked up, expectantly gazing at Zhong Lin.
"The bead is quite large, about the size of a fist. I lost it accidentally."
"Then you might be looking in the wrong place. Such a large bead would be easily seen, and this place is all dead leaves. It might have been dropped elsewhere!" Zhong Lin said casually.
"No mistake, it’s here. Even if it’s not here, someone will bring it back. Don’t you think so, young man?"
After saying this, he grinned at Zhong Lin.
Just as the last word left his mouth, Zhong Lin’s right hand suddenly flicked forward, and a pebble shot towards the old man’s face like a bolt of lightning, its speed so fast it created sonic booms.
If it hit, it would have blasted the old man’s head open.
But the old man remained smiling, catching the pebble at the last moment with his hand.
"You truly are ruthless! Aren’t you afraid of a misfire?"
Mei Weixuan’s expression changed dramatically. His sword was unsheathed and he stood beside Zhong Lin.
"I knew there was something wrong with you; you have too many flaws. If I still missed, I should leave my eyes behind. Who are you? Why joke with us juniors?"
Zhong Lin asked seriously.
"Kid, you take my thing and ask who I am. Quite bold of you!"
Zhong Lin’s heart trembled, blurting out, "Black Wind Village, Wu Jingguang."
The man before them was indeed the chief of Black Wind Village, Wu Jingguang. The bead he mentioned was the Tianyin Primordial Bead obtained from Turtle Back Mountain before.
Without hesitation, Zhong Lin moved to flee into the distance.
When Mei Weixuan heard "Wu Jingguang," his pupils shrank. He had heard of the Black Wind Village chief’s reputation, knowing he was an Upper Third Grades martial artist, far beyond their ability to resist. Though he didn’t know how Zhong Lin had offended him, causing this personal pursuit, when Zhong Lin said to run, he too fled in the opposite direction.
At this moment, escaping singly was best—at least one could call for help. An Upper Third Grades martial artist wasn’t something they, who had just completed Qi and Blood training, could withstand.
Wu Jingguang ignored Mei Weixuan, keeping his eyes locked on Zhong Lin, focusing all his killing intent on him, like a predator targeting its prey, preparing its fiercest strike.
He pointed a finger, unleashing an invisible Qi Force.
As the Qi Force shot forth, the surrounding air twisted and warped, the dead leaves on the ground whirled up like a tornado.
Zhong Lin, who was running wildly, turned pale, feeling an invisible mountain suppressing his heart, slowing his steps.
"This is the Qi Cultivation technique of an Upper Third Grades martial artist? Truly terrifying."
Knowing escape was impossible, Zhong Lin set his face grim, his left hand fingers trembled, and with a sword hum, his long sword was unsheathed.
His inner Qi and Blood surged, and the long sword turned crimson, showing patterns, his body spun, and with a mighty force, he struck towards the oncoming Qi Force behind him.
The blood-red Sword Radiance struck heavily against the Qi Force with a boom; the terrifying force dissipated, the long sword in Zhong Lin’s hand shattering.
Zhong Lin himself was also hit by the scattered Qi Force, injuring his flesh, and he fell to the side.
Wu Jingguang looked at Zhong Lin with interest, mocking, "Not bad, not bad, you could withstand one strike. But that’s all. Dare to steal my things, today I’ll skin you alive."
Just as he was about to act, a fragrance wafted into his brain, instantly captivating him, as if lost in an endless sea of flowers, unable to extricate himself.
"Enchanting Fragrance."
Wu Jingguang’s expression changed, waking up, circulating his inner breath to refine the inhaled fragrance. He saw a line of blood streak swiftly escape to the distance, disappearing in a few moments.
In the night wind, Zhong Lin’s voice came: "Wu Chief, I’ve remembered you; there will be vengeance another day."
It turns out that while escaping, Zhong Lin had secretly released the "Enchanting Fragrance," a poison to befuddle minds, causing unsuspecting and unaware entrapment. Fortunately, Wu Jingguang was an Upper Third Grades expert; otherwise, he might have lost his mind and become an idiot.
Wu Jingguang roared, chasing far away, like a streaking light, leaving afterimages as he ran.
Not long after the two disappeared, Mei Weixuan suddenly returned, watching the tiny black dots afar, filled with concern.
"This is trouble, how did Zhong Lin get targeted by the Black Wind Village chief Wu Jingguang, a Third Grade Inner Breath Realm, adept in gathering inner breath?"
Mei Weixuan had witnessed the horrors of Upper Third Grades masters; they were almost inhuman.
Using Qi Gathering Palm to harm from afar, their methods were unimaginable.
Middle Third Grades martial artists were mere ants to them, breaking through Qi-Blood defenses with a flick of a finger, easily crushing them.
"Return to Tianyang City for help, hoping Master Yin has returned, or it’ll be trouble."