Sharing Intelligence, the Two Resolve to Withdraw Early

Inside the cave, Shi Qingyue tossed down the massive python's heavy corpse, then casually brushed the dust and blood from his shoulders.

For the past three or four days, Shi Qingyue had been staying here. With practiced hands, he stripped the python's skin and made himself a snakeskin apron.

His fighting style was exceedingly rough and unrestrained, heedless of minor details.

His clothes had long since become tattered beyond repair through rounds of hunting. Now, his outfit was a patchwork of hides from all kinds of demonic beasts.

He wore a cowhide coat on his upper body, while a ring of snakeskin wrapped his lower body, fastened in place by a demonic beast tendon.

Ignoring his appearance, he collapsed onto the ground and muttered to himself,

"I wonder how the others are doing now. It's about time I went looking for them."

After resting for a full hour, Shi Qingyue rose and left the cave, heading in the direction where they had originally scattered.

The mountain forest was deep and secluded, the wind rustling through the trees.

Another hour passed. As Shi Qingyue walked through the forest, his gaze remained steady, though he carried an air of vigilance.

Suddenly, he halted, his eyes fixed tightly upon a clump of grass.

Both hands clenched into fists as he secretly gathered his breath. Should the need arise, he could erupt into action at once.

Slowly, the disturbance behind the grass grew louder, followed by the sound of footsteps.

Then, an orange-yellow figure entered Shi Qingyue's sight, the king character on its forehead especially striking.

Shi Qingyue's body tensed, the force in his fists primed to strike. Yet gradually, he noticed something wrong with this Tiger Lord's gait.

All at once, a familiar voice, laced with laughter, drifted over on the wind.

"Qing Yue, how did you end up looking like this?"

Shi Qingyue's attire made him look exactly like a wild man of the mountains and forests.

There was teasing amusement in Liu Yunche's voice. Smiling eyes and brows revealed the joy of their sudden reunion.

Looking closely, Shi Qingyue realized this was no Tiger Lord at all. It was clearly Liu Yunche, the very person he had just been muttering about.

His tightly clenched fists abruptly relaxed, and he slowly let out a breath.

As Shi Qingyue spoke, he walked toward Liu Yunche. The two sized each other up, each able to see how the other had changed.

He said irritably, "Yunche, you've got the nerve to talk about me? How did you end up looking like this too? Who are you trying to scare with that appearance?"

At this, Liu Yunche's delight faded, and he said gravely, "This is an important matter. It is also one of the reasons I hurried over to find you."

Seeing his solemn expression, Shi Qingyue knew this was no small matter. He immediately put aside his joking manner, grabbed Liu Yunche, and hurried back to the cave.

By then, dusk had fallen. The setting sun had already slipped behind the mountains. The two sat beside the campfire as it burned quietly, its flickering orange-red flames endlessly stretching and tugging at their shadows.

Liu Yunche solemnly took the Demon-Luring Incense from his robes and handed it to Shi Qingyue.

"What is this?"

Not understanding, Shi Qingyue reached out to accept the strange pill and examined it carefully.

"Yunche, what is this thing?"

Liu Yunche explained, "This is called Demon-Luring Incense."

Shi Qingyue's gaze fell upon the strange pill. From its name, Demon-Luring Incense, it was presumably meant to lure demonic beasts.

Thinking this, he turned and quietly looked at Liu Yunche. Knowing him as he did, Shi Qingyue was certain there was more to the story.

Sure enough, the next moment, Liu Yunche's steady voice sounded. "I got this from two bandits."

Shi Qingyue's eyes narrowed, and even his hand stirring the campfire paused. "Bandits?"

Liu Yunche then told Shi Qingyue how he had discovered the Demon-Luring Incense, only concealing the dangers of the battle and the fact that the two bandits had been Flesh Tempering martial artists.

"Some time ago, the old man and I encountered bandits on our way back from Prefecture City."

"These people are all vicious and heinous. Yunche, were you injured?"

Concern filled Shi Qingyue's face as he carefully inspected Liu Yunche.

"Those two bandits were poor fighters. They did not even dare to face Concealed Edge head-on. They lost their nerve before the fight even began, so dealing with them took little effort."

Liu Yunche spoke lightly. After that battle, he had gained a clear understanding of his own strength.

Among Skin Tempering martial artists, he had virtually no opponents. Even if he encountered a Flesh Tempering martial artist and could not defeat them, he could still retreat calmly.

Speaking of the bandits, a trace of inquiry appeared in Liu Yunche's eyes. "Qing Yue, how powerful are the bandits in Verdant Grain County?"

Shi Qingyue frowned as he explained, "There are many bandit forces, and nearly all of them occupy deep mountains and ancient forests."

"The largest bandit force among them is called Blackwind Stronghold."

"Its chief is a Blood Exchange martial artist, and beneath him are the Four Beams and Eight Pillars, twelve people in all."

"The Four Beams and Eight Pillars?" Liu Yunche asked doubtfully.

"That's right, the Four Beams and Eight Pillars. They consist of four Bone Tempering Realm Beam Masters and eight Tendon and Bone Realm Pillar Chiefs."

"Such an enormous force?" Liu Yunche's brows furrowed deeply, because Ma San had mentioned the words Blackwind Stronghold before dying.

Seeing Liu Yunche's expression, Shi Qingyue joked half-seriously, "Yunche, don't tell me you took this thing from someone from Blackwind Stronghold?"

Liu Yunche fell silent, his brows drawing together.

"This..." Shi Qingyue was left speechless.

He patted Liu Yunche's shoulder and gently consoled him. "Yunche, you've always been careful in your actions. As long as no one saw you, Blackwind Stronghold can do nothing."

Liu Yunche steadied himself. He believed he had handled everything thoroughly; it would not be so easy to trace the matter back to him.

Liu Yunche shifted the topic and continued,

"This Demon-Luring Incense can draw in demonic beasts. That One-Horned Roar we killed a few days ago should not have appeared in that stretch of forest."

"At the time, we thought it was merely a coincidence. But afterward, I encountered Tao Clan martial artists hunting a Golden Radiance Lion."

"A Golden Radiance Lion? That's an excellent mount. Tao Xiaoyun certainly has good fortune." Shi Qingyue sighed with feeling.

He put away his admiration and said seriously,

"If that is the case, then this group of bandits is plotting something enormous."

"They act in secrecy, covertly luring demonic beasts from the depths into the outer regions."

"If descendants of major lineages were to die at the claws of demonic beasts, there would be far too much room for manipulation."

Liu Yunche said, "Exactly. We are few and weak. We should find He Wu and the others as soon as possible, so we can huddle together for warmth."

Shi Qingyue asked, "Yunche, what do you intend to do?"

Liu Yunche pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"We will prioritize protecting ourselves, find the other three as soon as possible, and then leave Azure Radiance Mountain early."

Shi Qingyue considered this briefly, then nodded in approval.

"Yunche, those are the words of someone mature beyond his years. But that is fine. You and I did not join this hunt for its rewards anyway."

"Exactly so." Liu Yunche nodded.

Afterward, he took out the Fire Ganoderma he had unexpectedly obtained and said to Shi Qingyue,

"Qing Yue, I obtained this Fire Ganoderma by chance. Let's split it and refine it together."

As he looked at the ganoderma, its patterns distinct and its body suffused with crimson spiritual radiance, gratitude shone in Shi Qingyue's eyes.

"I have already taken Fire Ganoderma once. Taking more would be useless. You should refine it yourself. I can stand guard for you."

"If you increase your strength, we will be better able to face the crisis that is coming."

Liu Yunche nodded and did not try to persuade him further.

He and Shi Qingyue had grown up together, and their friendship ran deep. Naturally, there was no need for empty politeness.