Returning to the Martial Arts Hall

"This is going too far!"

The usually composed Murong Canghai could not help but roar in anger.

"Senior Murong! Let's go."

Shen Changsheng, who had previously been the hot-headed one, was now the one urging him to leave.

"Sigh." Jiang Lianyue shook her head in helpless resignation, sheathed her long sword, and walked out first.

Murong Canghai's face was livid, but he had no choice but to swallow his pride.

He gritted his teeth, cupped his fists heavily, and said:

"Miss Xia, I have fulfilled my duty to bring you and your servant safely to your destination... The Origin Pill you promised me..."

His martial foundation had been damaged; if he could obtain a high-grade Origin Pill, there might still be a glimmer of hope to recover some of his strength.

Xia Bingbing frowned, looking toward her cousin for help.

The girl Yun'er crossed her arms, her brows furrowed as she snapped:

"If it weren't for Brother Tianjun stepping in to turn the tide, Sister Bingbing and I would have been dead long ago! How can you call this a safe delivery? You have the nerve to ask for payment!"

Han Tianjun's hand, which had been reaching into his robes, paused and shifted to the hilt of his sword. He glanced sideways and said coldly:

"Get out. I will not say that word a third time."

"Fine! Fine!"

Murong Canghai cupped his fists forcefully, his face dark, and turned to leave in a fury.

Even if he had to grind his teeth to dust, he could only swallow his resentment.

This escort mission had been utterly humiliating!

By now, the sky had brightened.

Li Qiming and the others, fearing the witch might return, rented a carriage at a post station at the foot of the mountain and hurried toward Dragon Spring City without pause.

Everyone had suffered varying degrees of serious injury, leaving only Li Qiming in high spirits.

He drove the carriage, carrying the group, traveling day and night.

One day later.

They finally arrived at the gates of Dragon Spring City.

Looking at the familiar city gates, Li Qiming finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Throughout the journey, he had been worried that the witch A-Lian would hunt them down.

After all, she was obsessed with killing him, to the point of being completely deranged.

Li Qiming still couldn't figure out what he had done to provoke that witch.

It seemed to be because of Chen Ajiu?

But how did Chen Ajiu get involved with such a terrifying witch?

He couldn't make sense of it no matter how hard he tried!

Still, it was fortunate they had returned safely. The witch must have suffered a loss at the hands of Han Tianjun and sustained heavy injuries, leaving her unable to strike again for the time being...

After a day and a night of recuperation, the complexions of Shen Changsheng and Jiang Lianyue had improved.

Only Murong Canghai looked ashen; although his wounds had stopped bleeding, his martial aura was growing weaker and weaker, and he had coughed up quite a bit of blood along the way.

As the group stepped off the carriage at the city gate, Shen Changsheng couldn't help but ask:

"Senior Murong, how are your... injuries?"

"Heh, the martial arts I spent my life perfecting are likely about to dissipate entirely."

Murong Canghai forced a smile, looking utterly miserable.

The old man cupped his fists toward Shen Changsheng and bowed his head.

"Senior, what are you doing?"

"Brother Changsheng, I have failed you, letting you suffer along with me. This is the Canglan Blade Art I promised to your martial arts school."

As he spoke, Murong Canghai pulled the blade manual he had prepared from his robes and handed it over.

Since it was for the school, Shen Changsheng had no choice but to accept it.

"I had the silver sent to the school before we departed. We are now even. Since we owe each other nothing, I shall take my leave."

Murong Canghai cupped his fists once more, then turned and walked into the city.

"Senior!" Shen Changsheng couldn't help but call out to him, "If you return to the Qi Family like this, I fear..."

"Do not worry. A useless, broken body like mine is better off dead than alive. Besides... I have dedicated my life to the Qi Family; they will see to my needs... My life was owed to the head of the Qi Family to begin with, so no matter what, I must return."

With that, Murong Canghai walked away without looking back.

Everyone watched his hunched back gradually merge into the vast sea of people, as if from this moment on, a generation of high-spirited top-tier swordsmen would completely vanish from the martial arts world, becoming indistinguishable from the common folk.

For a moment, a thousand emotions welled up in their hearts.

"What are your plans?"

Suddenly, Jiang Lianyue spoke up and asked.

"Returning to the martial hall, of course."

Shen Changsheng looked toward her.

"I mean for the future." The silver-badge Demon Catcher nodded slightly.

"The future?"

Shen Changsheng and Li Qiming exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion.

Both of them could tell that this cold, beautiful, and stunning Demon Catcher seemed to have a hidden meaning behind her words.

"Han Tianjun's sword was not forged by hiding at home and practicing."

Jiang Lianyue said.

Shen Changsheng's heart jolted.

As the senior disciple of the Dragon Roar Martial Hall, he was exceptionally gifted and had almost never encountered an opponent among his peers.

His path of martial arts had been far too smooth.

However.

This escort mission made him deeply realize his own inadequacies.

Both were swordsmen, yet Han Tianjun was similar in age to him, and even without drawing his sword, he had forced the powerful A-Lian to flee in a sorry state.

Shen Changsheng was curious; he had been thinking the whole way, if the other party were to draw his sword, how powerful would he be?

He wanted to see it.

He wanted to become the person who could force the other party to draw his sword.

Shen Changsheng cupped his hands toward the Demon Catcher, "I ask for your guidance, Miss Jiang."

Jiang Lianyue did not mince words:

"Join the Demon Catchers, slay demons and eliminate evil, and hone your sword through killing; that is the true path. Otherwise, you will never reach the pinnacle in your lifetime."

Shen Changsheng was lost in thought.

Her words were by no means alarmist; actual combat and life-and-death struggles were indeed of great benefit to the martial path.

He had contemplated the Dragon Roar Sword momentum for many years without the slightest progress, yet during this fight with the Demon Sect elder, under the threat of death, he had actually grasped a faint trace of sword momentum.

This was the naked verification of her words.

Shen Changsheng could not help but feel moved.

Although he was a true disciple of the Dragon Roar Martial Hall, the martial hall was quite open-minded in this regard. As long as the disciples were willing, they could hold positions in various major factions, which helped the martial hall extend its influence into every industry.

For disciples to branch out and spread their wings was naturally convenient for the martial hall in many ways.

However, once one became a Demon Catcher, they belonged to the imperial court, not the martial arts world.

There would also be many inconveniences; at the very least, it would not be as free.

"It's fine, take your time to consider it. You and Li Qiming can come to the Demon Suppression Division to find me at any time."

Jiang Lianyue glanced at Li Qiming and said slowly.

It seemed that she also held Li Qiming in high regard.

Li Qiming nodded along, feeling at a loss; he hadn't expected to be involved in this as well.

It seemed she wanted him to join the Demon Catchers too?

However, he had no such plans for the time being; after all, this profession sounded extremely dangerous.

This mission had left him shaken. Although his own strength had surged, he had not yet adapted to it, nor had he fully mastered the power that had suddenly increased.

He would rest and regroup for a while, then plan carefully.

"Many thanks! I will go back and consider it..."

Shen Changsheng cupped his hands, feeling genuinely grateful.

After all, the Demon Catchers were not something anyone could join just because they wanted to.

Without Jiang Lianyue, people from the martial arts world would have no path to join; she had given him an incredibly precious opportunity that many others would envy.

Shen Changsheng and Li Qiming turned, preparing to leave.

"By the way, I must remind you that as you progress further on the martial path, you cannot avoid the Great Yan Dynasty..."

Jiang Lianyue spoke with implication, but she could only offer a slight reminder, as it was inconvenient to say more.

The two fellow disciples looked at each other, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes. They understood that there must be secrets hidden within, but they also knew better than to ask further.

The two nodded, then turned and walked toward the martial hall, their figures soon merging into the crowd.