Qin Chu executed Vermilion Bird's Flight, running through the dense forest at maximum speed, while also keeping his voice low to avoid Qi Qingqing's pursuit.
Furthermore, Qin Chu wasn't running in a straight line; he was running in circles, heading wherever the forest was densest, and he also had a preference: the tree canopy above his head had to be thick.
Qi Qingqing, tracking from the air, frowned. With a moment's oversight, Qin Chu had entered the dense forest. The rustling of leaves in the night wind made it truly difficult for her to pursue. Fortunately, she had locked onto Qin Chu's Qi signature, knowing his approximate location.
After running for a while, Qin Chu spotted a yellow goat and kicked it in the rump.
The attacked yellow goat let out a cry and began to flee. Qin Chu initially intended to run in the opposite direction of the goat, but after a moment's thought, he turned around and followed behind the yellow goat, lowering his speed to match its pace.
When the yellow goat slowed, Qin Chu would kick it. After running for some distance, Qin Chu separated from the yellow goat and continued running along his predetermined route.
Qin Chu was thinking counter-intuitively. Qi Qingqing must have heard the yellow goat's cry. She wouldn't think he would follow the goat the whole way; she would assume he was using the goat's commotion to run in the opposite direction.
Indeed, that was the case. Qi Qingqing, in the air, ignored the running yellow goat and continued to investigate where Qin Chu had disappeared. When there was no movement, she pursued in the opposite direction of the yellow goat's escape.
After pursuing for a while, the forest was completely silent, without a single sound. Qi Qingqing realized she had been tricked by Qin Chu. She then returned to where the yellow goat had appeared, tracked for a while, and saw goat hoof prints. On top of the hoof prints, she also found a footprint.
This situation greatly annoyed Qi Qingqing, but she believed Qin Chu had expended a lot of energy and couldn't have run far. She then moved through the forest, searching for Qin Chu's traces.
After discovering several broken branches, Qi Qingqing confirmed Qin Chu's escape direction and began to pursue him.
At this moment, Qin Chu was exceptionally cautious, constantly moving through the dense forest, eating top-grade Heavenly Origin Medicinal Pills. He knew whether he could escape depended on whether the yellow goat could help him deceive Qi Qingqing.
Qin Chu did not head towards Heavenly Sword City but instead ran along the mountain range. He knew he couldn't cross the path from the dense forest to Heavenly Sword City; that section of the road had no obstacles, making it too easy for Qi Qingqing to catch him.
When his Origin Qi was exhausted, Qin Chu relied on his legs to run. Fortunately, he had lived in the mountains with his grandfather for fourteen years, making him familiar with mountain life and able to keep running. He did not want to fall into Qi Qingqing's hands. If caught by Qi Qingqing, he would not only be humiliated by that woman but also killed. He felt Qi Qingqing was like a black widow spider in the mountains; after giving birth, the male is directly killed!
After tracking for a while and still finding no trace of Qin Chu, Qi Qingqing was a bit puzzled. According to her estimation, Qin Chu shouldn't have been able to run very far. Why, after tracking for a while, was there still no trace? No footprints, no broken branches. Had she tracked in the wrong direction? Had Qin Chu not run this way, but instead hidden himself on the spot?
With doubts in her heart, Qi Qingqing ascended into the air to monitor.
Monitoring all directions from the air, Qi Qingqing's ears twitched periodically. She was listening for sounds, confident she could detect any sound that didn't belong to the dense forest.
Half an hour later, Qi Qingqing knew she had failed. Over-relying on her abilities had allowed Qin Chu to use a yellow goat to escape her tracking. However, she believed Qin Chu absolutely hadn't run too far. Cultivators prioritize their own state; even if he had run some distance, Qin Chu should have first recovered his state, not remained in a low state, risking being killed by a Yao Beast.
In fact, Qi Qingqing's guess was correct. Unable to run any further, Qin Chu hid himself within the canopy of an ancient tree, ate Medicinal Pills, and began to recover. Now, there was not a trace of Origin Qi in his Dantian, and his physical energy was also at its lowest.
Eating Medicinal Pills, Qin Chu's Origin Qi slowly recovered, and his physical energy gradually returned. However, he dared not move recklessly. Who knew where Qi Qingqing might appear? To conceal his aura, Qin Chu had expended considerable effort; the python tied to the tree fork beneath him was what he used to hide his own aura.
As dawn gradually broke, just as Qin Chu was about to move, he heard the sound of a skirt fluttering above his head. Qi Qingqing appeared, standing on the tree canopy directly above Qin Chu, observing the surroundings.
Qin Chu's heart nearly leaped out of his throat. It truly corresponded to what he had thought: who knew where Qi Qingqing would appear? Now, she was standing directly above him. Looking up, Qin Chu even saw the spring scenery beneath Qi Qingqing's skirt.
Qi Qingqing stood on the tree canopy, looking around.
"He has some ability. I, Qi Qingqing, want a man like this!" After finding nothing, Qi Qingqing flashed away, flying back towards the original area. She had estimated that, given Qin Chu's cultivation and condition, the absolute furthest he could have run was to this area. Since there was no activity here, she could go back and investigate.
Watching Qi Qingqing fly back, Qin Chu descended from the large tree and flew in the opposite direction of Qi Qingqing. He knew he was mostly safe. As long as he kept running, he could reach Sword North Forest, and then he would be completely fine. Once safe, he would return to Heavenly Sword City from Sword North Forest. No matter how arrogant Qi Qingqing was, she wouldn't dare to harm him in Heavenly Sword City, as Heavenly Sword City was a place monitored by the Holy Martial Enforcement.
Qi Qingqing returned to the area where Qin Chu had disappeared, constantly pondering. She felt something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Standing on the canopy of an ancient tree, Qi Qingqing observed her surroundings. When she heard the sound of a python slithering, Qi Qingqing realized what was wrong. Earlier, when she was tracking, standing on the ancient tree's canopy, she had heard the sound of a python flicking its tongue. A python flicking its tongue was normal, but what wasn't normal was a python constantly flicking its tongue in one spot?
Flying back to the ancient tree where Qin Chu had hidden, she saw the python tied to a tree fork, and then she saw a hiding place created by a broken branch within the tree canopy. Qi Qingqing's eyes were filled with coldness. She knew that Qin Chu had just been directly beneath her, in the easiest place for her to discover, yet she had overlooked him. Now, Qin Chu had escaped again.
"The more cunning, the better. I don't want a dullard." After confirming a direction, Qi Qingqing continued to track. Her speed was faster than Qin Chu's, but she had to constantly investigate and confirm the direction, so the distance between her and Qin Chu hadn't closed. Qin Chu ran, and Qi Qingqing pursued behind him. She believed the direction was correct, and Qin Chu wouldn't escape. Her interest in Qin Chu was also growing; the Young Lord of the Vermilion Bird Saint Clan, with such abilities in wilderness survival, was truly rare.
When Qin Chu was exhausted, he would rest. The places he chose to rest were not random; they were either tiger dens or bear caves. He endured the strange smells, as this was the only way to hide.
Seeing the outline of Sword North Forest, Qin Chu breathed a sigh of relief. He would be safe very soon.
Just as Qin Chu released the tiger and emerged from the tiger's den, the sound he feared most appeared.
"Keep running! Run to a place with water and wash yourself thoroughly!" Qi Qingqing appeared.