Bandit Hounds Enter the Mountains, Killing Intent Draws Near, and Turmoil Rises Again in the Forest

Night was black as ink, shrouding the entirety of Azure Radiance Mountain.

Deep within the mountain forest, a bonfire crackled fiercely. Sparks leapt up now and then, illuminating several burly bandit silhouettes seated around it.

The men silently gnawed on roasted meat, none daring to speak. Only the faint sounds of crackling firewood and chewing remained in the woods.

After the deathly silence had lingered for a long while, the black-clad man seated in the center casually tossed away the scraps of roasted meat in his hand. The chunk of meat landed on the ground, kicking up a little dust.

"Something happened."

His voice was low and flat, betraying neither joy nor anger, yet all the mountain bandits seated around him froze at once, their hearts abruptly rising into their throats.

Everyone knew he was referring to Ma San and Old Fourth, who had been ordered to set up Demon-Luring Incense outside.

One bandit swallowed his unease, bowed, and asked softly, "Yu Zhutou, should we enter the mountains and search for them?"

Yu Zhutou before them was one of the strong pillars at the heart of the mountain stronghold.

He did not deliberately release any imposing aura. Yet merely sitting there quietly, he radiated a sinister chill forged through countless killings.

His back stood straight as a mountain, his features hard and angular, his eyes dark and placid.

The surrounding bandits, men who had spent their lives licking blood from knife edges, were utterly silent beneath his wordless pressure. Even their breathing instinctively softened, while deeply rooted fear hid in their hearts.

Yu Zhutou did not answer. He merely reached a hand into the blazing fire, pushed aside the red-hot coals, and casually turned the meat on the grill.

Flames licked at his palm, and waves of heat scorched the air, yet his flesh neither recoiled nor bore a single wound.

The robust physique of the Tendon Forging Realm had long since become impervious to water and fire. Ordinary blazing flames could not harm him in the slightest.

Only after a long moment did he slowly speak, his tone detached and icy. "Bring the mountain-searching hound."

No one dared delay. One man immediately turned and vanished into the deep night.

A short while later, low barking drew nearer. A pitch-black mountain-searching hound, as large as a calf, was led over.

The hunting hound's fangs protruded from its mouth, its nose constantly twitching, its eyes savage and vicious.

Yu Zhutou tore off a piece of freshly roasted meat and casually tossed it onto the ground.

Only after the mountain-searching hound lowered its head to devour it did he speak. His words were brief, yet every one carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Take it into the mountains tomorrow and search. Their deaths are nothing to regret, but there cannot be the slightest mistake in the matter the chief ordered."

Killing intent lurked in the latter half of his words. Nothing more needed to be said; everyone present understood the consequences.

"Understood!"

Several bandits bowed in unison, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

Deathly silence descended around the bonfire once more. Only the firewood continued to crackle as a suppressed, murderous air quietly enveloped the entire forest.

At daybreak the next morning, morning mist spread through the forest.

Liu Yunche woke early and put on the fully dried tiger-hide coat.

The entire tiger hide fit his body closely. Though plain and rugged, it did not hinder his movements in the least. Walking, shifting, and drawing his blade were all unimpeded.

He rose and stretched his limbs. His blood and qi flowed smoothly throughout his body, and after a night of rest, he had recovered to his peak condition.

He then picked up the remaining scraps of cloth and clothing, slowly left the cave, and continued the arrangements from yesterday.

Whenever he passed through a patch of forest, he scattered scraps of cloth here and there. Whenever he encountered small beasts moving through the woods, he quietly attached strips of cloth to them, using their movements to thoroughly muddle any trail of scent.

Layer upon layer of arrangements were made solely to create the most reliable illusion for himself.

Liu Yunche raced lightly through the forest. After several hours, he finally reached the mountain ridge crossroads where he had previously parted ways with Shi Qingyue and the others.

Following the direction Shi Qingyue had taken from memory, he sped away.

Within the forest, a tiger lord walked upright, his movements nimble. Many demonic beasts caught sight of that flash of yellow and swiftly fled, not daring to approach.

Along the way, traces of martial artists fighting could be seen everywhere in the woods: broken branches and dried bloodstains.

However, Liu Yunche could not be sure whether Shi Qingyue had left them behind.

"Looks like quite a few martial artists are active in this area."

Liu Yunche rubbed a fragment of demonic beast bone between his fingers. A trace of blood still remained on it, clearly indicating that the beast had not been dead for long.

He continued onward in that direction, casually dealing with any demonic beasts at the Skin Tempering level that he encountered.

If they were at the Flesh Tempering level, Liu Yunche generally chose to avoid them.

His purpose in coming here was to reunite with Shi Qingyue and the others, not to earn points.

Still, Liu Yunche had gained quite a bit along the way.

After deliberately avoiding a Flesh Tempering demonic beast, Liu Yunche faintly heard wave after wave of beastly roars, mixed with the clashing of weapons.

He rushed forward, carefully concealed himself in the forest, and cautiously looked toward the sounds.

On a dried-up riverbed, a Claw-Splitting Bear lay sprawled on the ground. A savage wound marked both its right hind leg and forelimb. Blood flowed without stop, and it could no longer move.

Beside the demonic beast, two groups stood facing one another.

Liu Yunche lay on the ground, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes. He recognized both sides.

One group was the people from Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall, with whom Liu Yunche had crossed paths before. Han Xu and Wang Yi were among them.

The other group looked arrogant, and the man at their head was even more haughty. He was none other than Liu Tianlin of the Liu Household, one of the three great Lineages.

A trace of indifference showed in Liu Tianlin's eyes. He seemed to stand high above all others as he looked at the people of Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall and said blandly,

"I want that Claw-Splitting Bear."

Without waiting for the people of Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall to react, he waved a hand, signaling the people behind him to carry the Claw-Splitting Bear over.

Two men stepped out from behind Liu Tianlin, only to have their path instantly blocked by people from Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall.

Seeing someone obstruct his way, Liu Tianlin's gaze turned slightly cold. In a flash, his body moved, and he appeared before the two men blocking the path almost instantly.

His palms abruptly turned iron-gray, as though forged from refined iron, and slammed fiercely toward the chests of the two men.

At that critical moment, someone likewise darted out from behind the people of Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall, moving almost at the same instant as Liu Tianlin.

The man raised his fists, which also turned iron-gray, and smashed them into Liu Tianlin's palms.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fists and palms collided, and the air roared as it exploded.

The two figures crossed back and forth across the riverbed. In a brief span of time, they exchanged several fierce rounds.

After another thunderous collision, the two finally borrowed the force to separate.

"Who are you?"

Liu Tianlin had gained no advantage in the exchange. He put away his contempt and asked lightly.

"My name is Li Youchen, fourth disciple of the Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall master. Greetings, Young Master Liu."

Li Youchen clasped his fists in greeting. He showed not the slightest displeasure at Liu Tianlin's brazen attack just now.

Only then did the two martial artists who had blocked the path return to the crowd with lingering fear, their gazes toward Liu Tianlin full of shock.

Liu Tianlin raised a brow. "Li Youchen? I have heard that name before."

He did not take Li Youchen to heart, and his expression remained calm.

"I want that Claw-Splitting Bear. I said so."

"You!"

Han Xu could no longer stand it. His face darkened as he spat out the word.

Born with Bear Bone, he was deeply favored and valued by Xue Changli. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Just as he was about to step forward and argue, Li Youchen reached out and pressed a hand onto Han Xu's shoulder. Han Xu felt an immense force descend upon him and found himself unable to move.

Wang Yi hurriedly grabbed Han Xu's arm and pulled him behind himself, signaling with his eyes that Han Xu must not act rashly.

Liu Tianlin did not take the little movements of the Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall group seriously. He merely stared quietly at Li Youchen.

The smile on Li Youchen's face did not change, but his words carried a trace of resolute refusal.

"This Claw-Splitting Bear is of great use to Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall. It absolutely cannot be given to Young Master Liu."

"Oh?"

Liu Tianlin lowered his eyes, and his gaze chilled. He no longer concealed his aura, allowing it to sweep wildly and arrogantly across the entire area, clearly ready to attack at the slightest disagreement.

Just as he was about to flare up, Li Youchen's smiling voice rang out again.

"However, meeting Young Master Liu today is also a great stroke of fortune."

"As the saying goes, no friendship without a fight. This Claw-Splitting Bear is perfectly suited to Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall's martial arts, so we cannot give it away."

"I happen to have a suit of Water-Covering Crocodile leather armor here. It would be just right for making an inner vest, and I can present it to Young Master Liu."

With that, he took a rolled-up piece of leather armor from his pack.

Liu Tianlin looked at the leather armor, which gleamed with a cold sheen beneath the golden light, and nodded to himself.

"The quality is quite good."

Water-Covering Crocodiles appeared in cold waters. Their hides had undergone countless temperings and were excellent materials for making inner armor.

Accepting this gift would both suppress the martial arts hall and spare him from needlessly drawing blades. It was killing two birds with one stone, and he made up his mind.

He reached out and accepted the leather armor Li Youchen handed over. With a hearty laugh, the coldness in his eyes vanished.

"Since that is the case, I shall take you as a friend."

With that, Liu Tianlin led the Liu Household disciples away without looking back.

Only after the Liu Household group had gone far away did Li Youchen secretly let out a breath.

At that moment, Han Xu finally shook off Wang Yi and could not help demanding loudly,

"Senior Brother Li, why are you afraid of him?"

"Why didn't you dare fight him?"

All the smile vanished from Li Youchen's face. He asked in a deep voice,

"Fight him, and then what?"

"The Liu Household is vast and powerful. There are quite a few Bone Tempering Realm martial artists among them, not to mention Blood Exchange experts stationed within their Lineage."

"Fight him, and you would feel satisfied."

"But what would happen to all these brothers? What would happen to Master?"

"Have you thought about any of that?"

Li Youchen's every question left Han Xu speechless.

The anger on his face gradually faded. He stood where he was, his gaze falling on the fellow disciples around him. For the first time, the people who had once been so enthusiastic avoided his eyes.

Yet pride still remained in his heart, and Han Xu muttered softly, "Even so, we shouldn't have acted like we did today..."

Li Youchen finished his unspoken words. "So humble and submissive today?"

"Senior Brother, Senior Brother. Junior Brother Han was merely angry for the moment. He will surely come to understand."

Wang Yi stepped between the two with a smile, trying to smooth things over.

Li Youchen let out a heavy sigh and said earnestly, "Junior Brother Han, in this world, it is not whoever has reason who is right."

"In this world, only this is the truth." As his words fell, he raised his fist.

Li Youchen patted Han Xu on the shoulder, then turned and instructed everyone, "Hurry and deal with the Claw-Splitting Bear. Leave this place."

Once everyone had gone to handle the demonic beast's corpse, Han Xu tightened his grip on his long blade, then loosened it after all. He turned and joined the others in cleaning up the scene.

From within a pile of grass, Liu Yunche witnessed the entire process.

His gaze drifted toward Li Youchen, and he could not help sighing. "Li Youchen is not someone to be underestimated."