Lu Chen hurried toward the county town through the night.
The night was deep, and the mountain wind cut like a knife.
Lu Chen unleashed the Golden Ape Piercing-the-Forest Leg. Like a streak of blue, he flew through the woods, across streams, and over mountain paths.
As the sky paled, Scarlet Cloud County finally appeared in the distance.
After entering the town, Lu Chen headed straight for Wang's Ginseng Shop.
On an ordinary morning, the shop would already have opened its doors. Workers would be moving herbs, and their fragrance would fill the halls. Today, the entire street was unusually quiet.
The shop's gates were shut tight. Several guards stood outside, blades at their waists and tension on every face.
Security was just as tight inside the courtyard, with guards patrolling everywhere.
Lu Chen entered the shop and hurried to Qiao Yuan's quarters.
Wang Shouyi stood beside the bed. Master Ge Ye sat nearby, his face exhausted, dried medicine and blood still staining his hands. Several empty medicine bottles sat on the table, with silver needles scattered beside them.
But Qiao Yuan, lying on the bed, was no longer breathing.
He lay there quietly, his face ashen. Thick white bandages covered his body, yet dark red blood had seeped through them.
Wang Shouyi turned at the sight of Lu Chen. His voice was low and hoarse.
"You're too late."
"Qiao Yuan's injuries were too severe. There was nothing we could do."
Helpless grief showed on Lu Chen's face.
Qiao Yuan had taught him the Golden Ape Piercing-the-Forest Leg. He owed the man for that instruction.
He had never imagined it would all happen so suddenly.
Ge Ye sighed in grief. After so many years together, he and Qiao Yuan had become friends who would have faced life and death together.