Engagement

Li Fei did not sleep all night, constantly keeping watch over the movements around him.

He waited until the sky began to brighten and the heavy rain stopped before slowly moving forward.

More than thirty minutes later, he once again discovered traces left behind by the main force ahead.

And so, Li Fei continued tracking them until the afternoon, when heavy rain began falling in the mountains again.

Because the distance was too great, and because the heavy rain had erased many of the traces, Li Fei went the wrong way several times and had no choice but to turn back and search for the right direction again.

Fortunately, he found the garbage the main force had casually discarded, along with the feces they had left behind. Only then was he able to pick up the right trail again.

After all, the Tranquil God Sect was a heretical cult, and the quality of its followers varied greatly. Although Zhao Yu had repeatedly ordered them not to leave any garbage behind in the jungle, the followers had been able to maintain that discipline at first. But after activating the Bewildering Array twice, enduring a whole night of heavy rain, and escaping so far, they no longer cared about Zhao Yu's order.

Besides, everyone had to answer nature's call. In a group of more than a hundred people, there would always be someone who needed to relieve himself. Asking them to carry their own waste along would have been far too difficult.

Therefore, Li Fei had finally managed not to lose the trail.

It was not until dusk approached, when the rain gradually weakened, that the large force finally reached its destination.

This was a Natural Cave the Tranquil God Sect had discovered long ago. Its interior branched in all directions, and it was spacious enough to accommodate several thousand people.

Zhao Yu had arranged for people to guard this place in advance, and had already stored food, medicine, and some daily necessities inside.

This would be the Tranquil God Sect's next stronghold.

"Leader!"

The Tranquil God Sect followers guarding the cave came forward. They were extremely excited when they saw Zhao Yu and the others.

"Is everything ready?"

Zhao Yu asked.

"Yes, we already lit fires for the brothers and prepared meat soup."

"Good. Well done."

Zhao Yu nodded, then called over a senior follower. "Go arrange for some capable brothers to keep watch around the perimeter. Don't let your guard down."

"Yes."

The man nodded and turned to arrange the sentries.

Only then did Zhao Yu lead the main force into the cave. More than a dozen fires had already been lit inside, with iron pots set over them and meat soup boiling away, filling the air with steam.

After traveling through the rain for two days, everyone was utterly exhausted. Now, smelling the meat, they all wore happy expressions.

The tension that had gripped Zhao Yu also relaxed.

About an hour later, everyone had changed into dry clothes and was sitting around the fires, warming themselves, drinking soup, and eating meat. The atmosphere was lively.

"I'd like to say a few words."

Zhao Yu, standing at the very center, rose to his feet and spoke loudly.

The cave quickly fell silent. Everyone looked toward this leader who had commanded them with everything under control and led them in accomplishing something tremendous.

"Everyone performed very well in this operation!"

Zhao Yu swept his gaze around the cave and began his speech.

"Now we have guns, ammunition, and equipment. Next, we'll grow bigger and stronger and create new glory! As everyone saw this time, the power of Tranquility is mighty. Even with more than a hundred fully armed Overseeing Bureau Inspectors sent by the Overseeing Bureau, and Registered Martial Masters sent by the Cessation of Hostilities Bureau on behalf of the imperial court, they still weren't our match!

"Everyone must believe that the evil in this world will ultimately be washed away by us. We will surely create a new world!"

At the end, he formed a strange seal with both hands and said solemnly, "Tranquility is immortal; the Nether Land shall endure forever."

As his voice fell, a spell was completed soundlessly, and an invisible force spread through the cave.

As a mage of the Spirit Transformation Stage, Zhao Yu could cast spells directly without relying on spellcasting materials or related rituals.

"Tranquility is immortal; the Nether Land shall endure forever!"

The people inside the cave rose one after another and shouted with fanaticism written across their faces.

Zhao Yu revealed a satisfied smile.

Just as he was basking in triumph, feeling that his life had reached a new peak, an abrupt sound came into the cave from outside.

Bang—

"Was that a gunshot?!"

Zhao Yu's expression changed, and he immediately reacted.

"Lao He, go take a look!"

He turned and spoke to a stocky, middle-aged man with a crew cut who looked honest and simpleminded.

Lao He nodded and hurried toward the mouth of the cave.

He moved so quickly that the wind he stirred made the flames of the fires sway violently.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Yu cursed darkly, then ordered, "Everyone check your firearms, load your weapons, guard every entrance and exit, and prepare for battle!"

Then he selected a squad of elite members from the sect and rushed out of the cave with them.

In the jungle, before the gunshot rang out, Li Fei was moving forward stealthily.

Suddenly, the Steel Armor Implant inside his body stirred restlessly, sensing danger!

Without hesitation, he leaped behind the large tree to his left. At the same time, a gunshot rang out.

The bullet failed to hit him, but it told him that he had been exposed.

"Either I followed too closely and was discovered by someone they left behind, or they've already reached their destination and one of the people guarding the perimeter spotted me."

Several thoughts flashed rapidly through Li Fei's mind. Then he turned and ran without hesitation.

This was the choice he had planned beforehand: the moment he was discovered, he would flee! He had already done everything he could by following them all the way here. Barring any accidents, the Overseeing Bureau's people should have discovered the marks he had left along the way, so he would certainly receive no shortage of credit for this operation.

All he needed to do next was protect himself.

In the jungle, the follower assigned to guard the perimeter—and who had discovered Li Fei—saw him turn and run. Without hesitation, he chased after him.

As he ran, he blew the whistle hanging from his chest, providing the others with his position.

The people responsible for guarding the perimeter were all equipped with revolvers. But the jungle terrain was too complicated, and they could not find a good angle for shooting. So the follower simply gave up on firing and charged after Li Fei with his head down.

He had once been a hunter in Mount Luo and could track the fiercest wild boars through the mountains, so he was exceptionally nimble in the woods. On level ground, he certainly could not outrun Li Fei, but in the complex mountain terrain, Li Fei could not shake him off.

Hearing the rapid footsteps behind him and the whistles that sounded from time to time, a vicious glint flashed through Li Fei's eyes.

He suddenly stopped, turned around, and drew his blade!

Clang—

A flash of snowy-white blade light illuminated the dim jungle.

Seeing this, the follower charging from ahead immediately raised the revolver in his hand, preparing to fire.

Smack! Li Fei stomped heavily into the mud formed by the rain, splashing a great sheet of muddy water.

At that moment, a sentence suddenly surfaced in his mind:

"Beyond seven steps, the gun is faster; within seven steps, the gun is faster and more accurate."

Blood Rage activated.

One Blood Soul was consumed. A warm current surged outward, and immense power erupted within his body!

Bang! Swish—

The gunshot and the blade's slicing sound rang out almost simultaneously.

Then blood blossomed. The wrist holding the gun was severed! Before the follower could cry out, Li Fei's blade swept across his throat.

This time, Li Fei did not forget to dodge and avoided getting splashed with blood.

Watching the Tranquil God Sect follower clutch his neck and slowly collapse, Li Fei wiped the rain from his face and said softly, "The times have changed."