Marked?

"Besides, that Young Man just now was probably not to be underestimated in martial arts either."

"Judging by the aura around him, his Martial Realm was very likely not far behind yours, Miss."

Hearing the Two Uncles before her praise Lu Xuan, the Woman's beautiful eyes revealed a trace of shock.

What!

She had known that this young man's aura was extraordinary, but she had never expected that even his Martial Realm would not lose to hers?

She was already at the peak of Flesh Refining, only a single step away from the Bone Refining Realm.

Even in the prefectural city, such talent would have made her a genius.

Yet today, in a tiny little town, she had encountered a young genius not far behind her.

Sure enough, Father had been right. The world outside was filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons; geniuses were as countless as carp crossing the river.

"Miss, it is getting late. Rest early. We still need to travel back to Azure Cloud County tomorrow."

"I imagine Master has been waiting for Miss in Azure Cloud County for quite some time."

Aside from that table, which was still secretly discussing Lu Xuan.

In a corner on the other side of the inn, four men sat around a table, their gazes also fixed on the direction Lu Xuan had left.

All four wore plain cloth garments. Besides wine and food, four somewhat battered broadswords lay on the table.

One of the men leaned toward a Tall Strong Man and spoke in a low voice.

"Big Brother, that kid just now looked like he came from no ordinary background. He seemed to be the son of some great family."

Upon hearing this, the Tall Strong Man turned his gaze toward another man.

"Third Brother, you went out to take a look just now. What did you find out about that kid?"

The man questioned by their leader immediately understood and relayed the information he had gathered.

"Big Brother, there is something strange about that kid."

Hearing Third Brother say this, the Big Man wore a puzzled expression, his tone turning grave.

"Hm? What do you mean, Third Brother? How many people did that kid bring?"

"No, Big Brother, you are worrying too much."

"That kid only brought two people. Third Brother here even deliberately bumped into that hulking fool tending the horses just now."

"I found that the fool had an unsteady stance. He looked impressive but was useless, and had never practiced martial arts at all."

As soon as those words were spoken, the other three exchanged glances.

The Thin Man, who had not spoken a word until then, finally opened his mouth.

"So that means the kid only has that guard running around at his side."

"We just do not know how strong he is. I think it is best to be careful."

"Ah, Second Brother, you are worrying too much. That kid only has one guard with him."

"There are four of us. As long as we arrange things properly, this will be in the bag."

"It is not as though we have never encountered fools like this before—bringing along a few weak guards like idiots. In the end, did we not still slaughter them?"

The speaker was the man who had first raised the question. His face was full of excitement, as though he had stumbled upon some tremendous windfall.

As the Big Brother among the four, he looked at the disagreement among the other three and pondered for a moment before finally speaking in a low voice.

"It was not easy to come across a plump little lamb we can lay hands on. In my view, we can make this move."

They could not help it. The brothers had already spent many days watching this place in Ten Mile Town.

Of the people coming and going, some traveled in large, powerful groups, while others were wanderers of the martial world. None of those were people they could afford to provoke.

Then there were the destitute paupers waiting to die, even poorer than they were.

For instance, the table across from them was a large, powerful group, and it happened to have the plump little lamb they had set their eyes on.

The plump little lamb they had targeted was precisely the group at the table Lu Xuan had glanced toward earlier.

In particular, the Woman veiled in white gauze had made the brothers' mouths water.

Though the Woman's face was concealed, that was merely deceiving themselves.

Even a fool could see the breathtaking beauty beneath that veil.

If not for the fine weapons on their side, along with more than a dozen Big Men who all looked fierce and vicious.

They would have long since been plotting against that Woman.

"Then we shall follow Big Brother's decision."

Seeing their Big Brother speak, the three no longer raised any objections.

After all, their Big Brother was the strongest among the four, an expert of the Skin Refinement Realm.

Besides, they were already at the end of the road. If they did not make a score soon, they would truly starve to death.

It had not been easy for a plump little lamb they could prey upon to appear. Taking a little risk was no matter.

"Good. Third Brother, take our two horses and feed them well. Let them recover their strength."

"Once that kid leaves Ten Mile Town tomorrow, we will seize the chance to make our move."

The four of them had originally owned four horses, but on the road to Ten Mile Town, they had been so poor and desperate.

That they had slaughtered two of the horses on the spot to fill their stomachs. Otherwise, they truly would not have survived long enough to reach Ten Mile Town.

"Wait, Big Brother. I have something good here that should be able to deal with the guard beside that brat."

"Oh? Second Brother, what is it?"

The Big Man looked at the small cloth pouch in his Second Brother's hands, which seemed to contain something.

"Big Brother, this is some Poison Powder. As long as, when you make your move tomorrow—"

"You scatter it before the guard protecting that kid, he will lose all ability to resist."

"Hehehe!"

After hearing Second Brother's explanation, the Big Man could not help laughing. Then he lowered his voice and said.

"Good, very good. With Second Brother's pouch of this stuff, tomorrow will be foolproof. Even if that kid grows wings, he will not escape."

Late at night!

In a quiet, simple guest room, Lu Xuan sat on a wooden chair beside the table.

Several meat dishes had already been laid out on the table, enough to feed five or six people.

Yet in less than a moment, Lu Xuan had devoured every last bit.

And after so much food had entered his stomach, Lu Xuan only felt about eighty percent full.

No wonder the ancients said: the poor study literature, the rich practice martial arts!

Without the support of vast wealth, those who practiced martial arts would likely struggle even to afford food.

With a thought from Lu Xuan, the System Panel immediately appeared before his eyes.

Host: Lu Xuan

Realm: Blood Refinement Realm (Peak)

Cultivation Technique: Crimson Flame Blade Art 1/9

Points: 1

Looking at that single point, Lu Xuan could not help smiling bitterly in helplessness.

As his strength increased, the demand for points was also growing higher and higher.

That one point had come from the residual medicinal effects of the Blood Ginseng he had eaten last time.

It seemed he could only place his hopes on that legendary thing. Otherwise, obtaining System Points would be harder than climbing to heaven.

Still sighing with emotion, Lu Xuan did not know that someone had already set their sights on him.

But even if Lu Xuan had known, he would not have placed those ants in his eyes.

Early the next morning.

The carriage carrying Lu Xuan slowly drove out of Ten Mile Town, then vanished over the horizon.

Not long afterward, two horses also rushed out in a great hurry.

Following the tracks left by Lu Xuan's carriage, the two horses raced ahead at great speed, kicking up billowing clouds of dust along the road!