Chapter 48: Flash
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“I originally believed that the three immortal swords would be sufficient to handle the Marrow Tempering realm. It appears that my optimism was misplaced,” Chen Fei muttered to himself. Without actual combat, relying solely on judgment would lead to significant deviations in many aspects. The difference in battle prowess between Jian Liang and Zhang Xianping, both in the Bone Tempering realm, was astonishing.
One should never underestimate their enemy, as it might result in their demise, rendering them incapable of seeing the future. Chen Fei surveyed the chaotic courtyard and the lifeless bodies strewn across the ground.
His plans had been disrupted to some extent. He pondered how to explain the situation when the Zhao family arrived tomorrow. Could he simply state that the three individuals in front of him had perished together? It would be difficult to believe, given the clean wounds on the guards’ necks, indicating they were swiftly overpowered and killed.
Clearly, the guards were unable to put up any resistance and were promptly slain.
“It seems that 1 can no longer rely on my current identity,” Chen Fei sighed softly as he proceeded to handle the corpses of the three individuals. He disposed of them in other abandoned courtyards where no one would stumble upon them.
Although Zhang Xianping possessed some silver, he did not have the coveted secret manual that Chen Fei had anticipated. Zhang Xianping’s inheritance appeared to be remarkable, but unfortunately, he never granted Chen Fei the opportunity to learn his cultivation technique.
Returning to his room, Chen Fei packed all the essential items into a wooden cabinet, which he then stored within the space grid. He then altered his appearance and made his way to the black market.
…..
“I was just about to seek you out. Three days from now, let’s meet at the Wind Moving Stone,” he announced.
At the stall, Chi Defeng spotted Chen Fei’s arrival and quickly pulled him into the nearby house, speaking in a low voice. “Excellent!” Chen Fei couldn’t help but smile as he received the anticipated information without even having to ask for it. However, this meant that he would finally be departing from Pingyin County. Chen Fei had set a limit of seven days. If there was no news of his departure within that timeframe, he would have to leave on his own.
Previously, he didn’t dare to do so, but now that he possessed a space grid, he could carry numerous items, which bolstered Chen Fei’s confidence. Naturally, the most crucial factor was the lingering threat that hung over him like gangrene. Sensing that danger was approaching, Chen Fei knew he had to distance himself as far as possible.
“Remember, three days from now!”
As Chen Fei prepared to depart, Chi Defeng reminded him once again. Chen Fei waved his hand dismissively and stepped out of the house.
Navigating through a few shadowy areas in the Black Market and altering his appearance, Chen Fei arrived at the stall that purchased medicinal pills.
“You’ve arrived!” The stall owner’s face lit up with joy upon seeing Chen Fei. His absence for the past two days had caused the stall owner great distress, unable to sleep or eat peacefully. The supply had been disrupted, and the stall owner had been frustrated with those attempting to test the situation. Fortunately, Chen Fei had finally appeared, bringing immense relief to the stall owner.
Chen Fei nodded and retrieved the pills from his bag. After fifteen minutes, the transaction between the two parties concluded, leaving Chen Fei with an additional thousand taels of silver in his possession. However, if he recharged the interface, he wouldn’t be able to withdraw the silver, and he would still need it in three days’ time.
Not lingering in the dark city for long, Chen Fei turned around and departed. Yet, as soon as he stepped out of the shop, he sensed a lurking presence, as if he was being followed and monitored.
Furrowing his brow, Chen Fei realized that this wasn’t just a casual tail. The hostility emanating from the pursuer was strong, carrying even a hint of killing intent. He stole a glance and spotted someone observing him. Chen Fei’s mind involuntarily recalled the seemingly casual words of the stall owner back in the house, stirring a sense of unease within him.
Silently, Chen Fei leisurely wandered through the black market, strategically maneuvering through different paths. By the time he reemerged, his appearance and clothing had undergone a complete transformation. The surveilling gazes that had been fixated on him disappeared entirely.
Chen Fei continued to stroll through the black market for a couple more rounds before finally deciding to depart. As he distanced himself several hundred meters away from his previous location, a conversation unfolded between two individuals.
“Big brother, we lost him!”
“Idiots! Didn’t I warn you to be cautious?”
Ling Hanjun angrily kicked the individual to the ground. In the black market, anyone suspected by Ling Hanjun would be detained without hesitation. This had been their approach for the past few days.
Although the chances of executing someone today were low, given the suspect’s unique movement techniques and exceptional disguise skills, Ling Hanjun would rather make a mistake by killing the wrong person than let them escape. Today, when the suspect finally appeared to sell pills, Ling Hanjun’s subordinates had lost track of him, which infuriated him.
“The profits from selling pills are substantial. 1 refuse to believe that he won’t show up forever!” Ling Hanjun’s eyes gleamed with coldness. In his pursuit of finding that person, he didn’t care if others were falsely accused or wronged along the way.
Perched upon a vantage point, Chen Fei observed Ling Hanjun’s army from a distance. Having honed his archery skills, Chen Fei’s eyesight had significantly improved. Even in the darkness of the night, he could clearly discern the scene unfolding in the distance.
Without missing a beat, a longbow materialized in Chen Fei’s grasp. How could he remain unresponsive when he was nearly ambushed? He pulled the bowstring taut, readying himself for action. In the blink of an eye, the arrow soared through the sky, finding its mark in the chest of one of the rebel soldiers—an archer.
“Enemy attack!”
Amidst the cry of alarm, the individuals surrounding Ling Hanjun swiftly heightened their vigilance. The suddenness of the attack had left many unable to discern the origin of the bow and arrow.
“Ah!” Another agonized scream resounded as another individual fell victim to Chen Fei’s precise aim. This time, it was one of the archers. Ling Hanjun had now lost both of their skilled archers.
“There! Charge!” Ling Hanjun swiftly turned his head, vanishing from his previous position as he lunged toward Chen Fei. The remaining rebels hesitated no further and followed suit, charging toward the high ground.
With an impassive expression, Chen Fei continued to unleash arrows upon them, completely disregarding Ling Hanjun.
“All!” Another cry of pain pierced the air as Chen Fei’s arrows found their marks.
Screams echoed continuously, and Ling Hanjun’s forehead veins pulsated. Before they could even reach their target, over half of his men had already perished. These were once his loyal subordinates who had joined the rebel army alongside him. If they all died, Ling Hanjun would no longer have the same level of control and obedience he currently enjoyed.
“Stop!” Ling Hanjun bellowed in fury as he relentlessly charged toward Chen Fei.
Mechanically, Chen Fei drew his bow and released arrows without pause. His quiver emptied, but a fresh supply of arrows materialized instantaneously. Chen Fei’s hands moved ceaselessly, never faltering in their rhythm.
The rebel soldiers halted their advance and formed protective formations, minimizing the effectiveness of Chen Fei’s arrows. While they still posed some danger, they were no longer able to achieve the same lethal impact as before.
Chen Fei’s gaze shifted toward the approaching Ling Hanjun, and he swiftly released an arrow toward him. However, Ling Hanjun deflected the arrow effortlessly with his blade. The strength of the arrow posed little threat to him, yet it did cause him to momentarily slow down.
Unfazed by whether he could harm Ling Hanjun directly, Chen Fei continued to shoot arrows at the others. The principles and techniques of archery swirled within his mind, gradually diminishing the speed and efficiency of Ling Hanjun’s men.
After around a dozen breaths, the arrows in Chen Fei’s quiver were finally depleted. Ling Hanjun’s face twisted into a sinister smile as he prepared to launch himself at Chen Fei. However, his expression abruptly changed when he saw a smile grace Chen Fei’s face. In a flicker, Chen Fei vanished from his original position.
Like a flash of lightning and the serene light of a river and sea, Chen Fei’s speed was astonishing. Under Ling Hanjun’s astonished gaze, Chen Fei disappeared at an incredible pace. The movement technique was so swift that Ling Hanjun had no desire to give chase. Even with the aid of newfound secret techniques and medicinal pills, he knew he couldn’t catch up.
It was an overwhelming display of dominance..