Laying Low

"I don't know about that. I've never practiced it, and I've never seen anyone in the sect practice it either. But judging by how Elder Lu kept it tucked away so stingily and refused to take it out, it should still be worth something." Zhao Tong shook his head, speaking rather vaguely.

"All right, then I'll trade for it," Yuan Ming said after a brief moment of thought.

"Fine, then I'll settle the accounts here. Same old rule—you can read it for one hour. How much you can memorize... forget it. You're the kind of guy who never forgets anything anyway." Halfway through his words, Zhao Tong recalled Yuan Ming's ability to remember everything at a glance.

Yuan Ming accepted the booklet, found a corner, and sat down cross-legged to read it carefully.

Zhao Tong merely picked up the book in his own hands, reclined in his lounge chair, and began reading by himself.

"All channels move their qi; spirit arts lead the way. The body is the vessel, the art its guard..." The instant Yuan Ming saw the contents, he was slightly stunned.

This was because the recorded technique for the "Shadowless Step" was not written in the script of Southern Frontier, but in the script of the Central Plains. No wonder Zhao Tong had spoken so ambiguously. It was likely not that he did not want to practice it, but that he might not have been able to read it himself.

Besides the text, the booklet included eighteen illustrations of veiled women. Some walked, some stood; their bodies tilted to the side or leaned at an angle. Every gesture, every lifted foot, carried an ethereal grace. Each illustration was accompanied by countless footprints. At first glance, they appeared chaotic and without pattern, yet upon closer study, they could not help but make one slap the table in amazement. The footprints were densely packed, numbering no fewer than a thousand.

In less than half an hour, Yuan Ming had already memorized the entire contents of the booklet. Yet the moment he closed it, he felt somewhat annoyed.

"Zhao Tong, why did you deceive me?" Yuan Ming asked with a frown.

"When did I deceive you?" Zhao Tong sat upright, equally puzzled.

"The 'Shadowless Step' you gave me is incomplete. Its contents are not whole," Yuan Ming said, knitting his brows.

"Incomplete?" Zhao Tong's expression grew slightly awkward upon hearing this.

Clearly, he had not known about it.

"Incomplete, then incomplete. Elder gave me this 'Shadowless Step,' and I can't read it anyway. You can't blame me for that." But he quickly spread his hands, wearing an expression that said it had nothing to do with him.

Though Yuan Ming was dissatisfied, there was nothing he could do.

Compared to the lofty, overbearing manner of the other Registered Disciples, Zhao Tong had already treated him rather well. He could not demand too much, especially since he had not given much in return.

Moreover, although this "Shadowless Step" was only the first volume, judging from what its general outline described, it was indeed no commonplace technique. At the very least, it was on a far higher level than the "Wood Thorn Technique."

Furthermore, after cultivating this movement technique, he would not only be more assured when facing enemies in battle, but would also find stealth and tracking far more convenient in the future. This would be especially useful when dealing with highly vigilant ferocious beasts, making them easier to track and approach.

Yuan Ming had intended to bid farewell and leave. He had already cupped his fists when he suddenly recalled Hagon's ambush and immediately said:

"By the way, there is one more matter I'd like to ask about."

Seeing that Yuan Ming was not dwelling on the incomplete "Shadowless Step," Zhao Tong smiled. "What is it? Let's hear it."

Yuan Ming immediately recounted Hagon's experience and described the long-haired monster.

After listening, Zhao Tong put down the booklet in his hand and pondered with furrowed brows.

"I really don't know what the thing you described is. When I have time, I'll go back and ask my fellow disciples for you." After a moment, he shook his head and said so.

Yuan Ming could only nod in agreement before taking his leave.

He did not linger in Toad Valley, instead heading straight out. Just as he emerged from the valley entrance, a short, sturdy young man with a scar across his face approached him head-on.

"Brother Yuan, I came to Toad Valley looking for you many times. I finally ran into you today. Do you have any medicinal salve for injuries?" Upon seeing Yuan Ming, the scar-faced young man revealed a delighted expression and warmly came forward.

"Oh, Brother Tule. I'm truly sorry, but I don't have much surplus stock on hand lately," Yuan Ming said helplessly.

"Cut the act. Last time, you promised me two jars of salve. If you don't hand them over, don't even think about leaving Toad Valley today." Tule spread his arms to block the way, looking every bit the rascal.

"You... Fine. I had planned to save these for myself, but since you're in a hurry, take them first." Yuan Ming took two bamboo medicine jars from the bundle on his back and handed them over.

"Hehe, that's more like it. Here's the payment. Don't say I took your things for nothing." Tule chuckled and took out a small cloth pouch, tossing it over.

Yuan Ming opened the pouch and glanced inside before silently putting it away.

The two exchanged a few more casual words before parting ways.

After leaving the valley, Yuan Ming arrived at a dense forest, leaped onto a large tree, and opened the pouch again.

Inside was a piece of beast hide covered in tiny fly-head script, detailing recent events in the surrounding mountain forests.

Tule was a member of a beast slave group known as the Earth Bear Society. It had only a dozen or so members and was a small organization.

Unlike the Green Wolf Gang, the Earth Bear Society conducted itself far more mildly. Its members all relied on their own strength to gather Blood Food and had never committed the ill deeds of plundering others.

Yuan Ming had met Tule more than two months ago and had once saved his life. Tule was quite loyal and righteous, deeply wishing to repay him, though unfortunately his strength was lacking.

Seeing that Tule was smooth and tactful and skilled at socializing, Yuan Ming had asked him to help gather information on the Furred Beast Slaves in the mountain forests so that he could stay promptly informed of all kinds of developments.

The two met once every so often, using transactions to conceal their true purpose.

As he read the contents of the beast hide, Yuan Ming's expression became grave. According to the information Tule had gathered, the Green Wolf Gang had already found the corpses of Bayin and the others. Based on the sequence of events, they had deduced that he was the murderer.

The beast hide further stated that Wubao, the leader of the Green Wolf Gang, had offered a divine weapon, a Half-Magic Tool, as a reward for information on Yuan Ming's whereabouts.

"If that is the case, I can't keep entering and leaving Toad Valley for the time being. There are too many people there and too many prying eyes. It would be far too easy to draw the attention of those with ulterior motives." Yuan Ming suddenly thought of something and turned to leave.

He pushed his speed to the limit and made a wide circuit through the forest. Only after confirming that no one was following him did he return to the vicinity of his wooden cabin.

Inside the cabin, Hagon was lying down and resting.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, forced himself upright, and gripped the green wolf hide tightly, ready to activate the Fur Transformation Technique at any moment.

"It's me," Yuan Ming's voice sounded from outside the door.

Only then did Hagon let out a long breath and sit back down.

"While I was gone, did anyone come by?" Yuan Ming pushed open the door and entered, asking.

"This place is quite remote. No one came. I spent some time regulating my breath and recovering. But you—why does your face look so grave? What happened?" Hagon asked after glancing at Yuan Ming.

"The Green Wolf Gang already knows I killed Bayin. They are offering rewards everywhere to find me. We probably can't stay here anymore. We need to move somewhere even more remote and lie low for a while," Yuan Ming said slowly.

"Bayin was really killed by you! You truly have some nerve. He was at the third level of Qi Refining, and his strength was not much weaker than Wubao's. What method did you use?" Hagon was startled.

"I merely played a few small tricks. They aren't worth mentioning. What does Brother Hagon plan to do next? The Green Wolf Gang is now putting all its effort into finding me, so they likely are not paying much attention to you. Are you planning to leave with me, or act alone?" Yuan Ming changed the subject and asked.

"Brother Yuan, you think far too little of me, Hagon. We of the Wusun Tribe value gratitude and righteousness above all else. If others give me one measure, I must repay them tenfold. Brother Yuan risked exposing his tracks to save me before. If I were to leave at a time like this, how could I ever hold my head high when praying to Lord Dog God in the future?" Hagon snorted, a faint anger appearing on his face.

"It was I who misspoke. Please forgive me, Brother Hagon." Yuan Ming cupped his fists.

He had spent some time in the Hundred Thousand Mountains by now and had gained some understanding of the customs and ways of Southern Frontier.

The native inhabitants of Southern Frontier were called Wildlings by the Central Plains. Most lived together in tribal communities, and every tribe possessed its own customs and beliefs, the things they most forbade others from offending.

"Brother Yuan is from the Central Plains and knows nothing of my Wusun Tribe. There is no need for this. Just do not say such things again in the future." Seeing Yuan Ming apologize sincerely, Hagon's expression softened considerably.

"I will remember that. Since Brother Hagon has made up his mind, let us go quickly. Every moment we remain here brings another measure of danger," Yuan Ming said.

"All right. It is only that I have difficulty moving now, so I'll have to trouble you to carry me." Hagon spread his hands.

Yuan Ming said nothing. He hoisted Hagon onto his back, left the cabin, and headed toward the gorge.

If there was any safe place, it would naturally be across the gorge.

That place was remote, with few ferocious beasts, and naturally few Furred Beast Slaves went there. For the present, it was suitable both for quiet recuperation and for evading the Green Wolf Gang's pursuit.

Most importantly, with that mist-filled gorge there, even if the entire Green Wolf Gang came looking for him, he could hide within the fog at the bottom of the gorge. No matter how many of them came, it would be useless.

With Yuan Ming's current strength, even while carrying Hagon, he still reached this side of the gorge very quickly.

He did not seek out another location, but directly brought Hagon to the cave where he had lived before.

After spending so much time together, Yuan Ming had already roughly understood Hagon's character. He was honest and trustworthy, worth befriending. This dwelling was not some vital location, so revealing it to him was not much of a problem.

"I never expected you to have such a place, Brother Yuan." Seeing the cave's thoroughly furnished conditions, Hagon clicked his tongue in praise.

"I left it behind when I first came here. The Green Wolf Gang won't find this place anytime soon, and there is plenty of food and water in the cave. Rest and recover here in peace," Yuan Ming said.

Hagon nodded, sat down cross-legged, and began circulating his cultivation to heal his injuries.

Yuan Ming did not remain there to cultivate. He got up and walked outside, soon arriving at a secluded grove.

He had brought Hagon here not only to evade the Green Wolf Gang's search and allow Hagon to recover quietly, but also for his own purpose.

His current situation was far from good. He had to raise his strength as much as possible in order to emerge unscathed when faced with sudden danger. Increasing his cultivation was not something that could be achieved overnight, while the Shadowless Step technique he had just obtained was undoubtedly the choice most likely to yield immediate results.

This footwork technique was profound and unfathomable, requiring time and space to practice. This side of the gorge was remote and quiet, making it perfectly suitable.

Yuan Ming stood still where he was, closed his eyes, and carefully recalled the words and illustrations recorded in the Shadowless Step. Then he drew a deep breath, sank his qi into his dantian, took the first step, and exhaled once more as he took the second...