The Evacuation Was Set in Stone, Yet Deadly Peril Rose Again in the Deep Mountains

Jiang Xu sized up the three of them, a polite smile on his face, then nodded.

"Since that is the case, follow behind us."

Tao Xiaoyun's eyes curved like crescent moons, making her seem like the girl next door. She softly thanked him, "Many thanks, Senior Brother Jiang."

She swung herself onto the Golden Radiance Lion and beckoned for the Tao Clan martial artists to follow behind.

"Senior Brother Jiang."

Liu Tianlin and He Chaoyang also clasped their fists toward Jiang Xu in thanks.

Jiang Xu nodded in reply, considering their greetings exchanged.

Though the two were proud and aloof, they held Jiang Xu in great respect.

That was because Jiang Xu had already become a Tendon Forging martial artist at such a young age. He possessed outstanding talent, upright character, and a love of reading, earning him the nickname Bookworm.

His reputation throughout Green Grain Martial Academy was exceptionally high.

Jiang Xu led everyone before the other two Tendon Forging martial artists and clasped his fists. "Steward Pei, Steward Yan."

Then he gestured toward the people behind him and said warmly, "These junior brothers and sisters wish to withdraw from the hunt, so I will lead them out."

Steward Yan nodded. "I also have two people who wish to withdraw. Since that is so, Steward Jiang may as well take them along too."

As his words fell, Steward Yan summoned the two youths behind him.

Steward Pei suddenly spoke from the side. "This Red Dog Zheng cub should be taken out together with them by Steward Jiang as well."

At those words, everyone's gazes fell upon the crimson cub, already sunk into deep sleep.

Someone from the Martial Academy had already stopped the bleeding from its wounds. After repeated battles and upheavals, the young beast had long been utterly exhausted.

Longing shone in He Chaoyang's eyes. He had heard that certain martial arts powerhouses had bathed in the essence blood of exotic demon beasts when they were young, allowing their physiques to undergo astonishing transformations.

If they raised this Red Dog Zheng a little longer before killing it for its blood, perhaps he too could become one of those legendary martial arts powerhouses.

Liu Tianlin sighed softly. Once this Red Dog Zheng cub fell into Green Grain Martial Academy's hands, there would be no chance of obtaining it again.

In a few years, the Martial Academy would likely gain another guardian demon beast.

Tao Xiaoyun did not trouble herself overly with something she could not obtain. Her gaze drifted from time to time toward the youth in tiger skin, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Jiang Xu pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Steward Pei, if this Red Dog Zheng is properly raised, the Martial Academy may gain another Blood Exchange Realm combatant. I ask that Steward Pei accompany me."

"That will do. Brother Pei, accompany Steward Jiang on this trip. Yan will remain here to clean up the loose ends."

Steward Pei readily agreed with a smile. "Steward Jiang is indeed cautious. Since that is so, Pei shall accompany you on this journey."

He turned to look at the mountain bandits lying together with their tendons and bones crippled, his gaze indifferent.

"Those bandits are yours to deal with, Brother Yan."

Steward Yan laughed heartily. "A few mere bandits are hardly worth mentioning."

Half an hour later, the group proceeded in the direction beyond Azure Radiance Mountain.

Riding the Golden Radiance Lion, Tao Xiaoyun unknowingly made her way to Liu Yunche's side.

The Golden Radiance Lion cast a glance at the frail human beside it. Its nostrils flared, and a deep, muffled rumble rolled from its nasal cavity, carrying heavy vibrations.

It did not understand why its master was so interested in such a weak human. Could this be mating, as described in its inherited memories?

Tao Xiaoyun did not know what her mount was thinking. She dismounted lightly and said, "Greetings, sir."

"You are too courteous, Miss Tao." Liu Yunche returned her greeting with clasped fists.

The corners of Tao Xiaoyun's lips rose as she praised him.

"Your performance just now was truly astounding. At merely the Skin Tempering stage, you were able to exchange two moves with that vicious man."

"Though I am a woman, I especially respect geniuses such as yourself. I came to trouble you this time because I wished to make a friend."

"More friends mean fewer enemies. I am Liu Yunche. Greetings, Miss Tao."

Liu Yunche smiled, while countless thoughts flashed through the depths of his heart—recruitment, probing, and more besides.

Seeing this, Tao Xiaoyun's expression turned serious. "I am Tao Xiaoyun. Greetings, Brother Liu."

Within the crowd, Liu Tianlin and He Chaoyang had been silently watching this exchange.

He Chaoyang committed the name to heart, repeating it under his breath. "Liu Yunche..."

Liu Tianlin raised his brows slightly, a trace of doubt surfacing in his eyes. Another Liu? Could he be from a collateral branch of the family?

After hearing that Liu Yunche had exchanged two moves with Yu Zhutou, Steward Pei, who was walking ahead, could not help turning back to examine him.

He asked curiously, "Young friend, are you a descendant of the Liu Household?"

Liu Yunche had not expected to draw Steward Pei's attention. Secretly raising his guard, he clasped his fists and replied, "Senior, sharing the Liu surname with the Liu Household is purely coincidental."

"This junior lives in the eastern part of the city."

"The eastern part of the city..."

Steward Pei thought carefully. "There is indeed a Liu family there. The head of the household seems to be called Liu... Wangzhou?"

"My father is Liu Wangzhou."

Tao Xiaoyun silently remembered the name, planning to investigate it thoroughly once she returned home.

As this was their first meeting, she did not wish to seem overly eager. She would simply consider him a new friend for now; the rest could wait until they returned to the city and learned his background before making a decision.

Steward Pei rubbed his chin with his fingertips. He vaguely remembered that this man was a Bone Tempering martial artist, though he had left no impression on him. He was presumably an entirely ordinary fellow.

He came from the Pei Clan. Though it could not be called a flourishing house, it still had three Bone Tempering Realm martial artists holding down the fort.

"I wonder whether you come from a martial hall or are a disciple of the Martial Academy?" Steward Pei asked again.

Liu Yunche respectfully replied, "This time, I came with Elder Lu of the Martial Academy."

"So that is how it is." Steward Pei was somewhat surprised. "Since you have caught Elder Lu's eye, you must possess extraordinary talent."

He encouraged him. "Young friend, cultivate diligently. Do not disappoint this regard."

A trace of surprise flashed through Liu Yunche's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged. "Many thanks for Senior's guidance."

For some time afterward, the group traveled in silence, with few speaking.

Deep within Azure Radiance Mountain, upon a protruding ledge of a cliff, a middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back.

Mountain winds howled past, making the middle-aged man's sleeves snap loudly. He looked down at the rolling sea of trees below, then moved—and leaped directly from the high cliff.

Just as he was about to fall, the tendons and bones within his body rang in unison. His qi and blood surged like rivers bursting through their dikes, rumbling through his meridians.

Threads of qi and blood also diffused over the surface of his body, making him resemble a blazing furnace, his momentum vast and mighty.

With a light tap of his toes against the treetops, he effortlessly sprang into the distance. Within only a few breaths, nothing remained but an afterimage.

"It is said that above the Blood Exchange Realm, one may walk through the air. I wonder what kind of sight that would be."

Mountain mist turned into afterimages behind him, and his heart brimmed with longing.

Suddenly, as though sensing something, he stopped in an open clearing.

His eyes narrowed as he shouted, "What rat dares spy on me?"

The next moment, a figure slowly emerged from the depths of the clearing. Dressed in black and holding a long saber, the figure stared at him without uttering a word.

For a moment, the clearing was frighteningly silent, and the air itself seemed to have frozen solid.

"Who are you? Chen has never met you before. Why do you block Chen's path?" Chen Sanmu asked with a frown.

This suddenly appearing figure was impossible for him to gauge, but the aura exposed on the surface was unquestionably that of a Blood Exchange martial artist.

"The one who will kill you!"

A cold, indifferent voice came from the saber-wielder.