Entering Winter

Zhou Yi turned and left the prison, with screams echoing from behind him.

After leaving the prison, Zhou Yi didn't go home. Instead, he found a tavern. After filling his stomach, Zhou Yi slowly sat by the window and drank, contemplating his future path.

As Zhou Yi was lost in thought, snowflakes from outside the window suddenly landed on him. Snapping back to reality, Zhou Yi turned to look at the other patrons. They were all wearing heavy cotton clothes, while he was still in a thin single layer. The physical conditioning from practicing martial arts had already given him the ability to withstand the cold and heat.

"So it's already winter!" Zhou Yi murmured to himself. His exhaled breath formed a white mist.

Zhou Yi got up to pay and leave. He glanced at the sky; it was already nearing night. Zhou Yi decided to head to the village entrance for his usual patrol.

Zhou Yi walked along the street. Lanterns were hung at the entrance of every household, and villagers were hurrying home through the light snow, creating a picturesque scene of people returning home on a snowy night.

Zhou Yi stood and watched for a while, then shook his head and continued towards the village entrance.

Upon arriving at the village entrance, Zhou Yi saw his master standing there with his eyes closed, a thick layer of snow piled on his head.

Looking at his master's complexion, although it wasn't as ruddy as before, it was much better than the previous two days.

As Zhou Yi approached, Qu Yong opened his eyes. Seeing that it was Zhou Yi, Qu Yong spoke, "My injuries haven't healed yet. Now that you've entered the Vitality Realm, we'll guard here together tonight."

Zhou Yi nodded and said, "Okay," to Qu Yong, then stood by his side and closed his eyes, awaiting the nightfall.

An hour later, the sky had completely darkened, and the snow continued to fall intermittently. Hearing a commotion in front of him, Zhou Yi opened his eyes. Most of the Patrol Team had arrived, dressed in thick fur coats.

Most of them were only at the initial stage of the Strength Channeling Realm and couldn't achieve immunity to the elements, but their attire was far better than that of ordinary villagers.

Zhou Yi patted the snow off his body and scanned the crowd for his two subordinates. Spotting them, Zhou Yi beckoned them over.

When the two approached, Zhou Yi said to them, "I'll be guarding the village entrance tonight and won't be taking you on patrol. Be careful, and use a Signal Talisman if you see anything unusual."

Lin Cheng replied to Zhou Yi, "Don't worry, boss. We'll be careful."

Zhou Yi nodded at them and let them return to their positions.

Once the entire Patrol Team was assembled, Qu Yong began distributing the night's patrol assignments.

After the assignments were distributed, Qu Yong gave the order, and the patrol members began to walk out of the village. The sacred aura emanating from above them shone even brighter under the reflection of the snow and moonlight.

Zhou Yi watched as Qu Yong finished his task and then walked over to his side. Looking at the light above, Zhou Yi asked his master, "Master, what is the sacred aura made of?"

Qu Yong shook his head and replied, "I don't know either. Our village's sacred aura was a reward from the imperial court. Other villages don't even have one!"

Zhou Yi was somewhat shocked to hear that other villages lacked a sacred aura. He then asked Qu Yong, "Then how do they resist the Weirdness?"

"That's where Talisman Arrays come in. Talisman Masters will set up Talisman Arrays around the village. Weirdness below Crimson Grade is dealt with by the martial artists, while Crimson Grade and above are resisted by the Talisman Arrays. However, the Talisman Arrays need to be completely replaced after each use, which is extremely costly."

"Master, what if the Talisman Arrays can't be replaced in time?"

"Then it's up to fate!" Qu Yong said calmly to Zhou Yi.

A sense of relief suddenly washed over Zhou Yi, glad that he had come to a village with a sacred aura.

Just then, a red light rose into the sky northwest of the village entrance. As Qu Yong was about to set off, Zhou Yi stopped him.

"Master, let me go."

"Alright, be careful!"

Zhou Yi nodded at Qu Yong, then activated his footwork and sprinted rapidly towards the direction of the incident.

The trees on either side blurred as Zhou Yi sped past.

My Mortal Grade martial skills are really not keeping up with my current level anymore, Zhou Yi thought to himself. When he used his Vital Energy from the Vitality Realm to run his footwork, he felt the efficiency of his Vital Energy significantly decrease. Although his speed was indeed faster than in the Strength Channeling Realm, Zhou Yi couldn't unleash his current maximum potential.

In a short while, Zhou Yi arrived at the location where the signal had been sent. A member of the Patrol Team was already lying on the ground. The two beside him stood back-to-back, vigilantly observing their surroundings. One of them saw Zhou Yi arrive and shouted, "Sir, be careful!"

As soon as he spoke, Zhou Yi's figure had already vanished. The Weirdness, which was about to attack, froze in place. It couldn't comprehend how this person had been there just moments ago.

Before it could figure out the answer, it sensed its vision suddenly seeing its own body, and then its consciousness dissipated.

Zhou Yi looked at the corpse of the Weirdness on the ground. It was actually a peach tree, split in half by his blade.

Although he had only just entered the Vitality Realm, that strike just now had surpassed the one his master had demonstrated. Was this the benefit of refining the physical body to its extreme? He could already contend with those in the middle stage of the Vitality Realm despite only being in the initial stage.