Chapter 35: A Sudden Ambush During the Refinement Upgrade

Amidst the morning glow of the next day, Qin Anyu and Qin Lingxue departed from Liuguang County, setting off toward the prefectural capital of Tanzhou.

This time, Qin Lingxue did not ride; instead, she ran alongside Qin Anyu, who was leading the horse. She claimed she wanted to experience his method of cultivation as well. Qin Anyu did not object. This regimen was intended to activate the body’s cells and squeeze out its potential, proving beneficial for any form of cultivation. His own insistence on it stemmed primarily from his "clumsy physique," which demanded a more brutal tempering. The object on his back appeared to be a tattered, broken sword, but its weight was substantial—one hundred and fifty pounds, as it had been for the past few days.

The two, accompanied by the horse, sprinted along the imperial road, bathed in the morning light.

"Big Brother, the effect of this secondary tempering is truly remarkable. I feel my body is much stronger than yesterday. How did you know about this?"

"I know many things."

"Big Brother, the medicinal herbs you sent us... were they meant for the second brother and me to retemper our bodies?"

"Yes."

"Big Brother, I suspect the second brother won't redo it... Wait, Big Brother, can one still temper the body during the Qi Refining stage?"

"The body is the vessel; everything else is the filler. Without a vessel that is large and strong enough, the capacity for what can be filled is limited. Do not talk. Focus on comprehending the relationship between your heartbeat, your breathing, and your movements. Strive to run as far as you can."

Qin Lingxue fell silent immediately, running with single-minded focus until they reached a patch of rocky, uneven ground by the roadside. She ran over, collapsed onto a stone, and leaned back against a large boulder. "Big Brother, I can't run anymore."

Qin Anyu led the horse into the rocky patch, letting it graze on the sparse grass, then handed her a waterskin. "You ran over a hundred miles in one go. Didn't expect that, did you?"

Qin Lingxue’s eyes widened. "Big Brother, I ran over a hundred miles?"

Qin Anyu nodded. "We are only about two hundred miles from the capital now."

She took the waterskin, chuckled, and said, "We can make it to the capital for lunch... Hmm, speaking of eating, I'm hungry again." She took several large gulps of water, then produced a roasted goose and offered it to Qin Anyu. "Big Brother, have some."

Qin Anyu shook his head and pulled out a jar of wine. "I have wine."

Qin Lingxue did not stand on ceremony. She grabbed the goose and tore into it. After consuming a third of it, she looked up at her brother. "Big Brother, when did you start drinking?"

Qin Anyu smiled. "Just a few months ago." The original owner had drunk, but was not addicted; for the Wuwo Immortal Emperor, drinking had become a part of the cultivation process.

Qin Lingxue took out the remaining half of the red ginseng, bit into it a few times, and tucked the rest away. "Big Brother, I’ve thought it through. You're right. Since they went to such lengths to capture Mother and Father, they won't be in immediate danger of losing their lives. I have decided to focus on re-tempering the other eight realms, strive to advance in the Qi Refining stage, and then go find them to seek vengeance."

Qin Anyu took a sip of wine and said, "That is the right way to think. The prerequisites for revenge are, first, to stay alive; second, to possess the capability; and third, to have the resolve. Unless it is a last resort, we must not throw our lives away alongside the enemy."

Qin Lingxue hummed in agreement while chewing the goose. Once the bird was half-gone, she looked up, her eyes full of curiosity. "Big Brother, you talk more than you used to. Every word you spoke before was worth more than gold."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, it's good. Hehe."

"After running over a hundred miles, do you have any insights?"

"Many. Before, when practicing techniques, I only focused on the actions themselves and never considered the connection between heartbeat, breathing, and movement. After running like this today, I feel that if I perform those techniques again, their power will increase significantly. I dare say I could probably handle one and a half of my former self, no problem."

"..."

After resting for a quarter of an hour, Qin Lingxue stood up, stretched her body, and laughed heartily. "Big Brother, I feel full of vitality now. We can continue."

Qin Anyu finished the wine in the jar, stored it in his storage ring, led the horse back onto the road, and began to run behind her.

They had covered another twenty miles or so when they heard the sound of rhythmic hoofbeats behind them. Qin Anyu looked back, his pupils slightly constricted. There were nine horses, all of superior breed, sturdier than the one he was leading. The nine riders included one in the middle stage of Qi Refining, four in the early stage, three in the ninth realm of Breath Cultivation, and one in the eighth realm. This was a formidable group.

He called out to Qin Lingxue, "Little Sister, you take the horse."

Qin Lingxue glanced at the group behind them, her body immediately tensing up. Qin Anyu patted her shoulder and placed the reins in her hand. "With me here, have no fear."

Her tension vanished instantly. She led the horse along the side of the road beneath the cliff. Qin Anyu walked in the center of the road. Though he did not look back, their images were imprinted in his mind.

*They come with ill intent. The five Qi Refiners are hiding it well, but the four Breath Cultivators cannot restrain their murderous aura.*

*How will they act? One by one, then all together? Or all at once from the start?*

*With Little Sister here, I cannot take risks. If they strike together, I might have to use a sliver of sword intent; if they come one by one, I will kill them one by one.*

As he calculated his strategy, the group reached a distance of ten yards behind them and slowed down. One of the ninth-realm Breath Cultivators spoke up, "Are the two young friends ahead Qin Anyu and Qin Lingxue?"

Qin Anyu turned his head to respond. "That is us. Is there something you need?"

The ninth-realm cultivator laughed loudly. "It is indeed you two. Do not be nervous. My name is Cai Yifan. I was once a friend of your father’s. After he advanced to the Qi Refining stage, I went to roam the provinces, while he stayed in Tanzhou as the Prefect, so we lost contact. I was deeply saddened to hear of his misfortune, and I hope you two siblings are doing well."

Qin Anyu replied, "Thank you very much. We will live well, as will our parents. I won't delay your journey further; please proceed."

Internally, however, he realized his itinerary had been discovered. Then again, it was only natural; they were traveling out in the open. It was better this way—it would draw out more people hiding in the shadows and force them into the light. He just hadn't expected to encounter a "friend" of Qin Zhuo’s. That made things interesting.

Cai Yifan shook his head. "No rush. I know you wish to find the Prefect and his wife, but I don't believe you will find them this way."

Seeing him pause mid-sentence, Qin Anyu did not respond. Had he not sensed the man's murderous intent, he might have pressed for details, but now, he preferred to watch the performance. He continued walking forward, ignoring the man. This left Cai Yifan with an awkward expression, unsure how to proceed.

After glancing at the middle-stage Qi Refiner and receiving no reaction, Cai Yifan said, "Anyu, you could offer money to hire us to go to the Dali Kingdom and rescue them together."

Qin Anyu did not look back. "I have no money."

"Are you not planning to save them?"

"We lack the capability right now. When we have the power, we will surely strike and slaughter everyone who targeted them!"

Qin Anyu’s tone suddenly turned violent and icy, causing Qin Lingxue to shudder and look at him in confusion. He returned her gaze with a simple, honest smile, while silently chiding himself: *Do not be agitated. If a few words can make you this angry, what will you do when faced with something truly infuriating? Act out of blind rage?*

During their exchange, Cai Yifan’s group moved to their sides, skillfully completing a three-sided encirclement. An early-stage Qi Refiner tilted his head to look at him and said indifferently, "Qin Anyu, Qin Lingxue, we are going to send you to the Dali Kingdom."

Qin Lingxue glared at him in anger, but Qin Anyu patted her shoulder and replied, "Done with the charade? Who are you?"

The man ignored the question. "We had reservations about your father because we feared something might happen to your mother. But for you two, we have no such concerns."

Qin Anyu drew his clumsy sword and said coldly, "So, you participated in the ambush against my parents."

The man shook his head and chuckled. "Not exactly, but we heard about it later."

Qin Anyu stopped walking. He assumed a lunge, pointing the tip of his sword toward the ground, elbows tucked, hands gripping the hilt firmly. He said with chilling detachment, "Do not provoke us, or you will die."