Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wilds Chapter Sixty-Six: Frightened Beasts on the Run

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Night had fallen, thick and profound.

In the depths of the valley, a solitary figure hurried along.

The mouth of the valley lay just ahead.

The figure halted.

Under the dim moonlight, Yu Ye stood alone, looking back with a mixture of reluctance, reflection, and a trace of bitterness on his face.

The vast Xingyuan Valley remained silent as ever. The small village within had already sunk into darkness.

For as long as he could remember, this was the third time Yu Ye had left his family’s village alone. The first time was for the winter hunt; the second, he had been driven out by Yu Ergou; and tonight, his departure was hasty and furtive. Each time, the circumstances were different, and so were his feelings.

But this time, as he left home, he did not know when he would return.

Yu Ye sighed softly to himself, then leapt from the ground, slipping through the valley entrance like a wisp of breeze.

He intended to first gather news in Lingjiao Town, then make his way to Lingjiao Valley. Not only was Lingjiao Valley a place of life and death, but also the source of calamity. Perhaps, if he could glean some insight from this journey, it might help him reconsider the doubts that had plagued his path.

Before that, he would retrieve his mount, tethered in the woods more than ten miles away.

Lost in thought, Yu Ye’s expression suddenly changed.

He had traveled no more than two or three miles from the valley entrance and was now threading through a narrow gorge, when, a dozen yards ahead, a figure barred his way. It was a stranger—a middle-aged man with hands clasped behind his back, exuding a faint but chilling aura of killing intent.

The air was heavy with malice, a force sometimes called killing aura, yin energy, coldness, or baleful force—the outward manifestation of inner intent, growing stronger as one’s own vitality wanes.

Yu Ye stopped at once and turned swiftly.

Behind him, a few yards off, another figure landed—another middle-aged man wielding a short sword that gleamed menacingly in the gloom.

Yu Ye’s heart tightened. With a metallic ring, he drew his sword.

“Are you Yu Ye?”

The man blocking his way asked, then muttered to himself, “Coming and going from Xingyuan Valley in the dead of night, skulking about, fifteen or sixteen years old, no discernible cultivation, yet carrying a fine sword and versed in Daoist arts—it must be you.”

“Who are you?” Yu Ye glanced forward and back.

He had seen nothing unusual on his way here, but now he was trapped in this gorge, his retreat cut off. Worse, both men were cultivators of formidable strength.

A cold laugh escaped the stranger. “Heh, Chenqi was right. In the end, you’re just a country boy, bound by sentiment, unable to abandon your home. Stay here long enough and you’re bound to show up!”

“Where is Chenqi? Show yourself!” Yu Ye shouted angrily.

He had traveled the martial world for some time. Whether among common folk or the cultivators of Qizhou, none knew his true background—yet Chenqi did. If Chenqi revealed the truth to Bu Yi, the Yu family village would once again be caught up in disaster. What Yu Ye feared most was implicating his kin.

“Chenqi isn’t in the Great Marsh—how do you expect him to show himself?” The middle-aged man stepped forward unhurriedly. “If you surrender and obey, your past offenses may be overlooked. Perhaps you’ll even be sent abroad to train in the immortal sects. Otherwise, you must pay with your life for the deaths of our fellow cultivators in Qizhou.”

“So Chenqi has gone overseas?” Yu Ye had guessed as much, but feigned ignorance to buy time and devise a plan.

His adversary seemed to see through the ruse and, closing in with each word, said, “Boy, if you pledge allegiance, I’ll tell you where Chenqi has gone!”

“Pledge allegiance?” Yu Ye was taken aback. “Haven’t you always wanted to kill me? Why now…”

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The middle-aged man shook his head with a cold chuckle. “Heh, what use is killing you? All we want are the techniques and the immortal treasure you carry.”

“What treasure?”

“You found the relics of an overseas cultivator while hunting in the mountains. Hand them over—all of them!”

Yu Ye was even more surprised.

So the cultivators of Qizhou were not here for the dragon’s pearl? In Lingjiao Valley, he hadn’t found any relics—Chenqi had snatched a spatial ring. No doubt, it was that man’s doing.

“So be it,” Yu Ye pretended to acquiesce, reaching into his robes. Instead, he drew out a talisman and slapped it onto his body. In a flash, he shot into the air, aiming for the forested slope of the gorge.

He had three Wind-Riding Talismans—if not now, when?

Light flared around Yu Ye, and he soared five or six yards high. If he could reach the woods, he might escape the two Qi Refining experts. But while still airborne, a burst of light exploded before him. Invisible forces instantly bound his limbs. Though the wind-riding power lingered, it was already failing. He wavered and plummeted from the sky.

Laughter rang out.

“Boy, the martial world calls you cunning and slippery—your reputation is well-earned. But now, prepare to die…”

Before Yu Ye hit the ground, two sword lights slashed toward him, one before, one behind. Bound as he was, he could hardly dodge—anxiety gripped him.

The two Qi Refining experts had come prepared. Their combined assault left him in desperate straits.

He had survived countless perils in the outside world, always scraping by. Yet tonight, right at his own doorstep, he faced disaster—could he escape?

He hastily summoned his protective true energy; a layer of azure light shimmered over him like dragon scales. As the light formed, the crash of magic striking echoed around him. He struggled mightily, but could not break free.

In the next instant, the two sword lights, brimming with killing intent, descended.

Bang, bang!

With two thunderous crashes, the sword lights recoiled.

Yu Ye crashed to the ground, spitting hot blood from his mouth. Though he had barely managed to block the flying swords, his protective aura was shattered. His organs trembled, his energy in turmoil. He forced out the clotted blood, relieving the pressure somewhat. Luckily, the force binding his limbs collapsed, and he regained his mobility.

Yet his powerful foes did not relent.

“Heh, this boy has a stubborn life!”

“His protective magic is strange indeed!”

“Perhaps it’s some technique from overseas!”

“Kill him, and we’ll see for ourselves…”

In the dark gorge, the two men advanced, sword lights swirling—cold killing intent radiated in the night.

To them, the youth before them was already meat on the chopping block, awaiting the knife.

On the ground, Yu Ye used his sword to push himself upright.

Last time he faced two Qi Refining experts, Tao Feng and the others had relied on a formation and eight men’s strength to win by luck. Now, he faced two powerful foes alone—his chances were grim.

Before their words had faded, the two men struck together.

One sword light howled straight for Yu Ye; the other circled to cut off escape.

Yu Ye fixed his gaze on the oncoming sword light. He did not raise his sword to block, nor did he retreat or beg for mercy. Instead, a wild gleam flickered in his eyes, and he wore a trace of madness. As the sword light drew near, he suddenly swung his longsword with all his might.

Bang!

As expected, his steel sword was no match for a flying sword’s power. With a deafening crash and a burst of light, Yu Ye’s sword was knocked away and he himself hurled backward.

“Heh!”

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The attacker sneered coldly and pointed a finger.

All across the Great Marsh, rumors swirled about how this youth killed without mercy, painting him as a fiend incarnate. But these were only the tales of ignorant peddlers and wanderers, repeated and distorted. Tonight, he and his companion, together, were more than a match for any Qi Refining cultivator. He did not believe the boy could survive till dawn—he would personally end this ridiculous legend.

But just as he moved to deliver the killing blow, he hesitated.

The boy, clearly struck flying, had yet to land—then vanished. Where was he?

He glanced at his companion, who was equally bewildered.

In the dark gorge, only the two of them remained, searching left and right; their sword lights circled overhead. But their quarry had vanished into thin air.

A sudden scream broke the silence as his companion collapsed.

The man was still stunned when a surge of invisible killing intent rushed him. Startled, he barely had time to recall his sword, hastily summoning his protective magic—when, with a crash, his defenses shattered. The force was so great he staggered backward, unable to stand his ground.

At that moment, two yards away, a figure emerged—the vanished youth, wearing an expression of regret and helplessness.

“Invisibility talisman?”

Enlightenment dawned on the man, mingled with shock and rage. With his cultivation, he feared no mere invisibility charm. Who would have thought the cunning boy, even in defeat, would use such a technique to vanish and then ambush with sword energy—so unexpected, so hard to guard against. Had his reactions been slower, he too would have died as his companion did.

“Boy, let’s see what else you can do!”

With a furious roar, the man summoned his flying sword and prepared to strike.

Yu Ye staggered back two steps, empty-handed and helpless. He had risked grave injury to kill one foe, but the other remained, and he could no longer muster the Seven Killings Sword Qi.

Fight, or flee?

Boom—

Just as Yu Ye hesitated, a ball of fire descended from above.

Caught off guard, the man was thrown into confusion.

Startled, Yu Ye’s eyes shone with sudden hope. Without a second thought, he hurled a Fire Talisman at his opponent.

Boom!

Flames erupted, rolling out in waves.

Assailed by the succession of talismans, the man was forced to defend himself with all his power. But just as he did, another talisman fell silently from the night sky, transforming into a bolt of sword light. He tried to block with his sword, but was too late—a flash, and half his arm was severed. He cried out in agony, fumbling for more talismans to protect himself—then looked up in shock.

In the night sky, a figure descended, sword in both hands.

The boy had an ally?

Terrified, the man lost all will to fight. Flinging down his talismans, he turned and fled. Amid the blazing explosions, he ran like a hunted beast.

But after barely ten yards, another figure darted from the side and struck him down.

He crashed to the earth, and before he could rise, a short sword plunged into his abdomen. Blood gushed from his mouth and his scream died in his throat. He looked at the youth before him, vision already dimming, then at the graceful figure who landed nearby—he could no longer see clearly. With a heavy sigh, he slowly closed his eyes…