Appearance

Luo Xi's situation was different from Zhou Qing's.

After killing Eagle Wolf Guard members, Zhou Qing could simply flee into the deep mountains and ancient forests, evade pursuit, and emerge again once the storm had passed.

But although Luo Xi had luckily escaped Vajra Gate back then, he had been severely wounded by Vajra Gate's Grand Elder. Though he was a Xiantian Realm grandmaster, he had only just entered the realm. His foundation had been damaged, and even his Embryo of Artistic Conception had been shattered outright.

Several years had passed, yet Luo Xi's injuries had not improved in the slightest. He needed medicine every day merely to cling to life, selling martial arts through the Black Market in exchange for silver.

The reason he had recently sold the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique was, according to Wind Full Tower's intelligence, that his injuries no longer had any hope of recovery and had begun to worsen. He was nearly at the end of his oil, with his lamp about to go out, and simply wanted to disgust the present-day Vajra Gate before he died.

"Rest assured, my lord. This official will immediately arrange men to search the entire city for Luo Xi!"

Zhang Yuan said at once.

"Tell the men below to take it seriously." Zhou Qing took more than a dozen thousand-tael banknotes from his robes. "This is compensation for their hard work. Whoever discovers Luo Xi will receive an additional reward. But if anyone dares slack off, they will be beheaded without mercy."

As his words fell, Zhou Qing suddenly slammed his palm down on the table.

In an instant, the table was shaken into powder by a terrifying force.

If you wanted the horse to run, naturally you had to feed it grass.

Zhou Qing understood this well, so he was generous with his money and never stingy.

Combining authority with favor produced the best results.

"My lord, this official will certainly give his all and will not dare be careless in the slightest."

Zhang Yuan accepted the banknotes with both hands. Cold sweat had already seeped across his forehead; clearly, Zhou Qing's bearing had intimidated him.

Zhou Qing waved a hand. "Enough, enough. Stop with this empty ceremony and hurry up with it."

With authority and favor working together, Zhang Yuan, the County Magistrate of Ping'an County, did not dare discount Zhou Qing's orders in the slightest. He immediately deployed men to stake out every pharmacy in the city and wait for Luo Xi.

The constables and yamen runners had no complaints, and were in fact extraordinarily enthusiastic.

After all, Zhou Qing was lavish with his money. With a single move, he had put up over ten thousand taels. Even lowly yamen runners like them could each receive nearly ten taels.

One had to know that their monthly pay was only a little over three taels.

This was equivalent to two or three months of their wages. Now, all they had to do was stake out a dying man to receive such generous compensation. Naturally, no one was unwilling.

Moreover, Zhou Qing was an honorary guest of the Eagle Wolf Guard. Even without any reward, they would not have dared slack off in the slightest.

For a time, yamen runners and constables were stationed outside every pharmacy within Ping'an County, waiting only for Luo Xi to show himself.

Ping'an County was not large, and the number of pharmacies was limited, so the stakeouts did not require much effort.

Furthermore, Luo Xi was seriously injured and had difficulty moving. As long as he dared show himself, he would never escape the eyes of the yamen runners and constables.

Just like that, two days passed.

The yamen runners and constables kept watch day and night, their eyes wide as saucers, afraid of missing even the slightest trace of Luo Xi. Meanwhile, Vajra Gate martial artists had also appeared in Ping'an County City, searching everywhere for Luo Xi's whereabouts.

Finally, on the morning of the third day.

A ragged, pale-faced figure staggered into a pharmacy. But the moment he entered, his injuries proved too severe and his strength too thoroughly depleted; he fainted on the spot.

Outside the pharmacy, the yamen runners and constables who had been staking it out for days saw someone enter, and such a severely injured person at that. When they saw him collapse to the floor, they immediately rushed into the pharmacy like wolves and tigers, surrounding him tightly.

One constable stepped forward to inspect him carefully, then said excitedly, "Chief, this is Luo Xi, the man Lord Duan Shui Liu is looking for."

"Excellent! We finally waited him out!"

The chief constable was beside himself with excitement, his face brimming with delight.

He immediately waved his hand, ordering his men to carry Luo Xi out of the pharmacy. Then he personally escorted Luo Xi as they hurried toward the county yamen.

Along the way, the chief constable repeatedly urged the yamen runners to quicken their pace.

They knew full well that this was an enormous merit. So long as they safely delivered Luo Xi to the county yamen and placed him before the Eagle Wolf Guard's honored guest, the rewards would surely be substantial.

Not long afterward.

The Vajra Gate martial artists also tracked their way to the pharmacy.

But by the time they arrived, they were one step too late. From the pharmacy owner, they learned that Luo Xi had already been taken away by the yamen runners and constables.

"Why would people from the yamen take away a traitor like Luo Xi?"

The Vajra Gate martial artists looked puzzled, their hearts filled with confusion.

"No matter what, we must take Luo Xi, that traitor, away."

"That's right. Even if he is dead, we must bring his corpse back to Vajra Gate. We cannot let others snatch him away, or where would Vajra Gate's face be?"

"Let's go. A mere county yamen cannot stop us."

"The strongest person in the county yamen is only a Second-rate Martial Artist."

At once, the Vajra Gate martial artists hurried after them in the direction of the county yamen.

In their eyes, a mere county yamen was nothing to fear.

They had to capture Luo Xi, that traitor, with their own hands and bring him back to Vajra Gate for punishment. Even if he was dead, they had to bring his body back; otherwise, they could not answer to the sect master.

Meanwhile.

The yamen constables had already carried the unconscious Luo Xi to the county yamen.

"You did well. This is your reward!"

Zhou Qing took out several banknotes and rewarded the yamen runners and constables before him.

"Thank you, my lord!"

The yamen runners and constables all broke into delighted smiles at the sight.

"My lord, how should this man be handled?" one constable asked cautiously. "His injuries are so severe. Should we call for a physician?"

"There is no need. I will handle it myself."

Zhou Qing waved his hand.

"This lowly one spoke out of turn!"

The constable apologized, then withdrew with the other yamen runners.

Zhou Qing helped the unconscious Luo Xi sit up, circulated the Primordial Chaos True Art, transformed it into the true qi of the Hundred Herbs Evergreen Art, and transferred it into Luo Xi's body to begin treating his injuries.

Before long.

Luo Xi woke from his unconsciousness.

"You're awake!"

Seeing Luo Xi awaken, Zhou Qing withdrew his hand.

"Did you save me?"

Luo Xi looked around, then spoke.

"That's right."

Zhou Qing nodded.

"Thank you for saving my life." Luo Xi clasped his fists, then said, "But I am being pursued and cannot remain here long, lest I bring trouble upon you."

"I know. Vajra Gate martial artists are pursuing you." Zhou Qing said calmly, "But unless Vajra Gate's current sect master comes in person, they cannot cause me much trouble."

"You know who I am!"

Luo Xi was startled upon hearing this.

He truly had not expected Zhou Qing to know that Vajra Gate was pursuing him, much less dare to save him.

"You saved my life. Is there something you need my help with?"

Luo Xi asked in a deep voice.

"Talking to smart people really does save effort." Zhou Qing smiled. "I saved you because there is indeed something I need your help with."

"I am already a cripple in this state. What could I possibly help you with?"

Luo Xi asked doubtfully.

"For you, this is merely a matter of lifting a hand." Zhou Qing said. "I need the Xiantian-level Primordial Chaos True Art. As the son of Vajra Gate's former sect master, I assume you know of this ancient cultivation manual."