Chapter 57: Speculation

Pfft! The hapless constable was slain instantly, blood splattering across the faces of many nearby.

"This is your fate!"

A crowd of constables, most only at the first or second stage of martial arts, were coerced by He Xiongjian, whose strength stood at the seventh stage. Each had no choice. To rush forward might not mean certain death, but to stay behind was to die for sure!

No one dared hesitate again, fearing He Xiongjian's blade.

"Kill!" Captain Liu’s eyes were bloodshot as he charged ahead, the first to move. The other constables dared not remain idle and surged forward as well.

Qin Yi blended into the throng, eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching figure.

"Those who block my path shall die!" Zhang Daoxuan became a blur; screams resounded wherever he passed.

At the rear, He Xiongjian watched Zhang Daoxuan’s speed with growing dread and regret.

"Weren’t they saying he was gravely wounded? How can he still move so fast?"

Within a few breaths, seven or eight constables had fallen.

Zhang Daoxuan did not linger, plunging into the maze of rooms within the sprawling manor.

"Chase him in!" He Xiongjian urged the remaining men.

He believed that, as long as his subordinates managed to hold up this man—even a little—it would count as an assist, and he too would gain access to seventh-stage martial arts!

Under He Xiongjian’s threat, none dared disobey. One by one, they entered the rooms to search.

Qin Yi raised his guard, leaping into a room to search. Just now, he had seen it clearly: the man’s movement technique was identical to the one he’d encountered earlier that night!

"He didn’t choose to kill me before; he must not be hostile toward me. As long as I don’t go looking for trouble, I should be fine," Qin Yi thought.

The manor was in chaos. Outside, dense footsteps sounded—the search parties had arrived, and the estate was surrounded!

Tang Mingwu perched atop the wall, watching as Zhang Daoxuan darted from room to room, sneering, "At last, you’re out of options and won’t escape!"

…

Inside the room.

Qin Yi scanned what appeared to be a parlor. Suddenly, his eyelid twitched.

In a dim corner, he spotted a figure drenched in blood!

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere froze.

Zhang Daoxuan looked at Qin Yi; his pale face broke into a strange smile.

"Fate brings us together."

His voice was so soft only Qin Yi could hear it.

"You have more hope than I."

"???" Qin Yi’s tense face relaxed a fraction. Though the words made little sense, he could feel no hostility.

If the other had truly wished to kill him, he wouldn’t have survived their first encounter!

"Worlds apart, yet within reach!"

Zhang Daoxuan became a streak of darkness, instantly appearing before Qin Yi.

Qin Yi’s pupils contracted. He cursed inwardly—how could he attack without warning?

"Fivefold Force!"

Bang!

Qin Yi realized the opponent was too fast; his fist barely moved before a sharp pain struck his abdomen.

"Remember, you must find a deserted place within ten miles before opening it!" A faint voice whispered in Qin Yi’s ear.

Then, Qin Yi was sent flying, crashing against the wooden window frame and tumbling outside.

He landed heavily, spitting blood.

The commotion caught the attention of nearby pursuers.

"He's over there!"

"Haha! Come, come kill me, if you dare!" Zhang Daoxuan burst from the room, vanishing into the crowd, slaughtering as he went.

Qin Yi lay sprawled like a corpse. In his clothes, at some unknown moment, a palm-sized hard object had appeared.

His abdomen burned with pain; his internal energies were in turmoil.

He was shaken—his adversary was truly at the ninth stage. With secret techniques combined, Qin Yi had no power to resist!

Such speed! Truly, among all martial arts, speed is invincible!

No wonder he could survive so many deadly encirclements!

Within the crowd, Zhang Daoxuan was like a reaper, harvesting lives—every second, someone fell in a pool of blood.

"Loose the arrows!"

Swish, swish, swish!

Dozens of sharp arrows rained indiscriminately upon the crowd.

Zhang Daoxuan was struck in the back by one. With a long howl, he sped up even further, escaping the arrow storm in a few breaths and darting beyond the courtyard.

"Heh, he’s fighting like a cornered beast now. After him!" Tang Mingwu’s eyes gleamed as he led the chase.

He could see that Zhang Daoxuan was now disregarding his wounds, burning his secret skills in a desperate gamble.

Guo Hu, Huo Boru, and Di Long followed in pursuit.

Watching the main force shift outside, Qin Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After fleeing to another yard, Zhang Daoxuan spun around and charged at Tang Mingwu.

Boom!

The figures collided instantly.

Both struck like lightning.

Constables and city guards all around found their eyes unable to keep up with the speed—too fast! They could only watch, helpless.

"Help me!" Tang Mingwu roared.

Guo Hu didn’t hesitate and joined the fight.

Huo Boru and Di Long, after a moment’s hesitation, also joined the encirclement.

Five men fought, faster and faster, shifting the battle onto the rooftops.

Pfft!

A short sword plunged into Tang Mingwu’s right flank. Zhang Daoxuan twisted it mercilessly, eliciting a scream. Tang Mingwu struck Zhang Daoxuan away with his palm.

Before Zhang Daoxuan could hit the ground, Guo Hu and the others landed further blows.

On the ground, Zhang Daoxuan was barely breathing.

"Where’s the item?" Guo Hu searched the exhausted Zhang Daoxuan, breaking his legs, but found nothing.

"It’s not on him?" Tang Mingwu clutched his wound, his expression darkening.

"You fools! Did you really think I’d carry it on me? You’ll never find it in your lifetimes!" Zhang Daoxuan laughed triumphantly.

"Feed him a pill to keep him alive. We must find out where the item is," Tang Mingwu urged. If the item couldn’t be found, they’d face serious consequences.

But just as Guo Hu produced a pill, Zhang Daoxuan breathed his last!

"Ah! Damn it!"

"Search! Dig up every inch! The item is a Daoist diagram—find it!" Tang Mingwu raged. With the mission failed, they were sure to be severely punished!

…

By dawn, Qin Yi lay at home.

He was injured, a patient, so he was excused from joining the search and allowed to recuperate.

"So, the Forbidden Martial Hall was hunting Senior Zhang Daoxuan for a Daoist diagram?" Qin Yi’s mind raced.

In other words, the Taixuan Daoist Palace was never actually colluding with the Northern Yuan; that was just an excuse fabricated by the Forbidden Martial Hall.