The two of them couldn’t leave at the same time, so Shen Wang grabbed the roof with one hand and supported Paper Kite with the other as she climbed out.
At this moment, a voice came from the adjacent cage: "Sister Paper Kite, I can’t see you. Is someone here to rescue you? Can you take me with you?"
Just as Shen Wang sent Paper Kite out, his expression changed. He turned his head to see it was Du Juan next door.
Shen Wang frowned. He thought everyone around was asleep, but he was wrong.
Someone noticed, but of all people, it was this woman.
"I was caught while accompanying the family’s people to pick up goods."
Paper Kite whispered, "What should we do? If we don’t take her, with her personality, she’s sure to scream."
Du Juan, unable to find Paper Kite on the ground, looked up to see Shen Wang, her face lighting up with joy: "Hurry and save me, or I’ll scream, and no one will leave!"
A hidden weapon shot out from Shen Wang’s hand.
It contained Shen Wang’s strength and Dragon-Suppressing Qi, incredibly fast, hard to detect in the dark.
However, Du Juan sensed danger, tried to dodge but was too late.
A dart struck her forehead, and in disbelief, she pointed at Shen Wang: "You!"
Her brains had been instantly shattered, and without a Primordial Spirit cultivated, she had no reaction, collapsing to the ground, dying with her eyes open.
No matter what, she couldn’t have expected Shen Wang to strike directly, especially using a hidden weapon.
Who would have thought a Cultivator would use a hidden weapon?
Shen Wang frowned, glanced at the corpse, exerted force, quickly exited the cell, scooped up Paper Kite, and swiftly left.
"The smell of blood will likely be discovered soon. We must leave the stronghold before then."
Shen Wang didn’t become complacent after killing Du Juan. Many experts guarded the cell, along with several hounds. Even if his movements were concealed by a talisman, the scent could not be hidden.
There were three layers of guards patrolling from the cell to the outside. Shen Wang couldn’t just charge through.
He cautiously left the vicinity of the first layer of guards, retracing his steps to the massive black stone platform, where the direction of the thatched huts filled with the sound of barking dogs.
"These dog noses are really sharp!"
Shen Wang cursed inwardly, quickening his pace. Just as he crossed the breached array, it began to operate and change, and the opening he made suddenly disappeared.
An Innate Grandmaster standing guard at the narrow entrance jumped onto a rock, looking back towards the stronghold: "What’s happening, why are the dogs barking near the dungeon?"
A gust of wind appeared, and a glint of cold light flashed past his eyes. Instinctively, his hairs stood on end, and True Qi surged, defensively.
A sharp edge cut across his neck, breaking through his Protective True Qi, effortlessly severing his head from his body.
He showed a bewildered look, saw nothing, and his body followed as the head parted ways, blood gushing forth.
A blurred figure with a Black Blade flickered and disappeared, leaving a trail of blood, descending the mountain in an instant.
"You were in my way."
A faint voice echoed, carried away by the wind.
Shen Wang, carrying Paper Kite, sped up. As long as patrols were temporary down the mountain, Shen Wang wasn’t afraid of being discovered, running faster and faster.
The cover of night and the talisman made them difficult to detect, and Shen Wang quickly reached the perimeter.
A roar came from the checkpoint: "Someone has sneaked into the stronghold, stop them!"
The entire stronghold seemed to come alive, with various torches lighting up, becoming suddenly bright.
Shen Wang snorted, landed in the woods a hundred yards away from the stronghold, pulled out a short blade and struck the shackles forcefully.
Moments later, Shen Wang tossed the broken shackles to the ground.
The True Qi locked inside Paper Kite’s body began to circulate, restoring some energy. She said, "Husband, I can run on my own now."
Shen Wang still held onto Paper Kite’s hand, entering the forest to continue their escape.
The barking clearly came from the direction of the stronghold, many people holding torches running all over the place, while some experts turned into shadows, pursuing them.
Only after several miles did Shen Wang speak: "Just now I noticed that Paper Kite was still able to use her power. Her capture might not be so simple."
"Ah, do you mean that she colluded with the stronghold and was purposely captured?"
Paper Kite was shocked.
"The route you took back, was it decided temporarily, or do you always use the same route?"
"It was decided temporarily. This time, we closed the shop, carrying goods worth over thirty thousand Spirit Stones."
Paper Kite’s face was grim: "The mole may be her, no wonder she hurriedly returned after one trip."
"She’s probably just a small player; the key lies with those behind her. Without collaboration from your Yun Family or even the Celestial Travel Sect, the Black Water Stronghold wouldn’t have the guts to act."
Shen Wang shook his head, having guessed some things.
"Husband, maybe you shouldn’t trouble yourself with me, I don’t want this to implicate you."
Paper Kite said fearfully.
"You are only allowed to say this once."
Shen Wang angrily replied, "If I, Shen Wang, were cowardly, I wouldn’t have come to rescue you."
Tears dripped from Paper Kite’s eyes: "Husband, you’re too good."
"Stop crying, your tears might lead the pursuers."
Shen Wang shook his head, having just said this, when he suddenly heard something, pulling Paper Kite to the side.
Several darts hit the tree, embedding into it,
"They’re coming so quickly, are you a bloodhound?"
Shen Wang casually applied a Golden Light Talisman to Paper Kite, looking at the one using the hidden weapon. The person had a large nose, a pockmarked face, a beard, a medium build, a lean figure, wearing yellow clothes, and was unremarkable.
His cultivation was at the level of a Seventh Grade Grandmaster, corresponding to the Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation to Twelfth Layer within the grandmaster grades, equivalent to a Tenth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivator, bridging Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment, as typical Qi Cultivation cultivators don’t practice up to ten layers.
"Just some tracking skills, but you, on the other hand, manage to rescue people quietly under such heavy patrol. I admire that."
The man in yellow sneered, watching Shen Wang charge at him, while scarlet-yellow True Qi burst from his body, as resilient as a thick fabric.
He raised his hand, Innate True Qi forming in his palm, striking towards Shen Wang with large, sweeping movements: "Profound Yellow Hand!"
Shen Wang saw this person wanting a hard confrontation, black Vigorous Qi gathered in his palm, his hand shading black, while Spiritual Power coursed through his meridians.
A muffled sound echoed, eyes wide, the man in yellow was sent flying, his Innate True Qi shattered by a black serpent, simultaneously an insidious Spiritual Power pierced his meridians, easily destroying vital organs.
He spewed a mouthful of blood, his body going limp, collapsing flat.
Shen Wang landed beside, quickly rifled through his spoils, and returned to Paper Kite in a flash.
He slapped the Storage Pouch, pulling out some medicinal powder, scattering it behind and then on both Paper Kite and himself, grabbing her hand, swiftly disappearing.
Mere breaths after their departure, two figures appeared, carried by gusts.
Looking down, their pupils expanded in surprise.
"Such terrifying Palm Force, how can it have both ferocity and insidious power?"
The man on the left, with an ugly expression, checked the fifth boss and found his internal organs shattered, even one hand’s bones completely broken.
Just then, he felt a glimmer.
"Not good, it’s a Detonator Talisman, get away."