Outside the dense forest, the bus stood still.
Chen Xu carried the sleeping mother and daughter, one in each hand, and strode down the road.
"Dad... Dad." The little girl ran out of the cave, leaped up, and landed on his shoulder.
Chen Xu had no way to deal with her for the moment. Since she had not done anything harmful to him, he simply ignored her and let her climb all over him.
With nothing else to do, Chen Xu summoned Tianwu and checked his gains.
Strength: 27.2 Constitution: 34.5 Agility: 23.8 Energy: 16.0 (Blood-Qi Force) Psychic Energy: 208.74 Martial Dao: Martial Form, One Aperture (Beast Bronze Statue) Martial Arts: Myriad Beasts Bronze Statue Art (Level 4), Incomplete Life-Nourishing Breakthrough Method (Level 9), Blood Surge Through the Nine Apertures (MAX, can be fused) Special Effects: Beast's Will Level 3, Colossal Beast Physique Level 5, Aerial Leap Level 12.
Having gained nearly 200 points of Psychic Energy in one go, Chen Xu was extremely satisfied and immediately poured it into the Myriad Beasts Bronze Statue Art.
The Myriad Beasts Bronze Statue Art instantly rose to the seventh level. As his physical attributes strengthened, his entire body grew another size, and his normal height surpassed 2.2 meters.
After breaking through the second Essence Aperture in one smooth motion, Chen Xu slightly increased his speed and rushed toward Qianshui Commandery.
Tianshui Commandery Martial Pavilion.
"The cause of the sudden thunderstorm in the suburbs is unknown, but the Public Security Office has already dispatched additional personnel to investigate as a priority." A woman dressed like a secretary respectfully reported to the Pavilion Master, who was teasing a parrot.
"I understand." Luo Yao waved his hand, signaling for the secretary to leave.
"Here, Little Joy, eat some more." His attention was entirely focused on the parrot.
The office door was kicked open, frightening the parrot into flapping its wings and flying out the window.
His gaze swept over the furious woman, and Luo Yao spoke in a flippant tone. "Deputy Pavilion Master Yan, what wind brought you here?
As it happens, I just acquired a batch of excellent tea. Why not sit down and have a taste? Women who lose their temper all the time tend to get wrinkles."
"Pavilion Master Luo is certainly in a fine mood." Yan, Deputy Pavilion Master, sneered sarcastically.
Luo Yao remained good-tempered and showed no sign of anger. He crossed his hands and leaned back in his executive chair.
"The weather is so lovely. Why should anyone be so impatient? Deputy Pavilion Master Yan, you are simply too serious."
"If Pavilion Master Luo did not spend every day frequenting brothels and appearing at major casinos, I would not be like this.
Since taking over as Pavilion Master, you have never handled a single official matter. The number of times you have been stationed at the Martial Pavilion can be counted on one hand. Search your conscience—have you lived up to the title of Pavilion Master?"
Yan, Deputy Pavilion Master, stomped her shoe heavily against the floor. "Is pleasure more important, or are the Martial Dao affairs, great and small, throughout the commandery more important? Pavilion Master Luo should know perfectly well."
Luo Yao beamed, looking like someone humbly accepting criticism while refusing to change in the slightest.
Seeing his shameless, unrepentant appearance, Yan, Deputy Pavilion Master, felt another surge of inexplicable anger rise within her.
In the end, it turned into a helpless sigh. "If only her talent had been sufficient for her to become a Martial Artist, how could Tianshui Commandery have ended up in the hands of such an irresponsible Pavilion Master?"
In some places, a Deputy Pavilion Master might even wish for the Pavilion Master to neglect his duties, but she was different. She sincerely hoped that Qianshui Commandery would grow stronger and stronger under the leadership of an outstanding Commandery Governor and Pavilion Master.
Only after she fell silent did Luo Yao say, "Does Deputy Pavilion Master Yan have anything else to say? You did not come all the way here just to lecture me, did you?"
"Take a look." Yan, Deputy Pavilion Master, threw several photographs at him, which Luo Yao easily caught.
The photographer had been in a crowded square, taking pictures for a couple.
Naturally, the focus of the photographs had nothing to do with them.
As the Pavilion Master, Luo Yao naturally had some skill. His gaze landed on an inconspicuous figure behind the couple in the pictures.
"The person in these photographs..." Luo Yao's voice turned solemn. "When were these taken?"
"At around three yesterday afternoon." Yan, Deputy Pavilion Master, answered immediately.
"What is certain is that he is still in Qianshui Commandery."
Although he had deliberately disguised himself somewhat, he had still been recognized by the Pavilion Master and Deputy Pavilion Master of the Martial Pavilion.
He was a wanted fugitive from the Great Abyss, one of the Martial Alliance's members, Martial Artist Geng Tong.
This man was vicious beyond measure. It was said that, when he had been trying to break through to become a Martial Artist, he heard from somewhere that slaughtering humans could increase his chances of success. He killed nearly a hundred people in an entire village overnight.
As for whether it had actually increased his chances of breaking through, Luo Yao did not know. Perhaps only Geng Tong himself could answer that question.
To avoid alerting the enemy, the Martial Pavilion had taken no action. Or rather, they knew that the firearms available for use within the commandery could hardly threaten a Martial Artist.
"You want me to make a move?"
Luo Yao already understood why she had come.
"Before firearms reach a certain quantity, they are as fragile as ants when facing Martial Artists. You are also a Martial Artist, so you should understand that very well."
"Besides, a wanted criminal has appeared within the commandery. As the dignified Pavilion Master of the Martial Pavilion, you should act whether by duty or reason."
"If you refuse to act and let him go, what will the Chief Pavilion Master of Peace Prefecture City think? What will the important figures in Abyss Capital think? You should know that well enough."
After saying that, she left behind a stack of documents and walked away.
"Peace Prefecture City?"
When he heard Yan, Deputy Pavilion Master, mention that place, Luo Yao sneered inwardly. Did it still deserve the word "peace"? And did some of its important figures deserve the official robes they wore?
The way he acted now was also a performance for certain people. Those who did not know how to hide themselves would meet a certain end—the previous Pavilion Master of the Qianshui Commandery Martial Pavilion had provided an excellent example.
"It will only take a little longer." Luo Yao's eyes were profound, and no one could know what he was thinking.
He opened the documents. The fugitive's current location, strength, and other details were all clearly recorded inside.
As he was reading, an icy voice sounded behind Luo Yao. "Pavilion Master, are you looking for me?"
A fierce wind swept in from behind. Luo Yao blocked it with a backhand strike, then quickly pulled away.
When he saw the three men standing side by side, his heart sank to the bottom.
"You truly think highly of me, Pavilion Master Luo. Three Martial Artists joining forces to kill me."
"To be honest, you should thank someone. He let you live a little longer." Evil Old Ghost lightly licked his lips, looking at Luo Yao as though he were food.
"Oh? Then could you tell this Pavilion Master who it was?" Luo Yao remained expressionless and looked exceptionally calm.
"This Pavilion Master will certainly entertain him properly to show my gratitude."
Before his words had even faded, he abruptly fled in the direction opposite the three of them.
He had always believed that as long as the green hills remained, there would be no shortage of firewood. Knowing he could not win yet stubbornly standing his ground was, in his view, an exceedingly foolish act.
Perhaps not expecting the dignified Martial Pavilion Master to flee the moment he spoke, Evil Old Ghost and Blind Old Ghost did not immediately give chase.
He seemed somewhat different from the Pavilion Masters they had seen before, those who declared, "If the commandery lives, I live; if the commandery falls, I fall."
The wanted criminal had clearly expected it. Without even hesitating, he gave chase at once.
The two pursued one another, smashing through the walls of the Martial Pavilion and charging outside.
If you enjoy this book, please add it to your bookshelf so you will not lose it next time.
Before you continue