Pursuit

"Girl, what do you take Beast Martial Soul masters for? Tracking Soul Masters with high Soul Power Levels have a sense of smell no worse than Soul Beasts. Besides, mountain paths are hard to travel, and Aunt Huo is frail. She can't handle a wilderness march." Lin You explained as he drove the carriage.

If he were acting alone, or traveling with Yuhao, there would be nothing to discuss. They could simply set off on a journey whenever they pleased.

As a level-ten Soul Master, his physical abilities far surpassed those of an ordinary strong man. Meanwhile, due to Martial Soul amplification, Huo Yuhao's dynamic vision, nerve reaction, accuracy of action, and agility and coordination had all improved alongside her Soul Power Level under the comprehensive enhancement of her Spirit Eye Martial Soul. She had already surpassed him.

Lin You's explanation immediately dispelled Huo Yuhao's various thoughts. For a while, the atmosphere grew somewhat gloomy, with only the unceasing hoofbeats and the rumble of racing wheels echoing outside.

This official road was straight and broad, a rare main road. It was now the latter half of the night, and there was scarcely a soul in sight. Only the shadows of trees on either side kept slipping backward, reflected in Huo Yuhao's vacant eyes.

This was her first time traveling so far from home. Her experiences over these past years had felt like a dream.

But if this truly was a dream, then please, never let her wake up!

Suddenly, Lin You's expression changed slightly. Inside the woodshed, he had deliberately left a strand of hair infused with Hydrogen element soul power on the doorknob, using it as one of his remote sensing points.

Although his Martial Soul could only control Hydrogen atoms within a certain range nearby, if he used parts left behind from his own body—such as that strand of hair—he could sense the surrounding environment over a long period, using it as a point of vision.

And now, that strand of hair seemed to be transmitting some unusual information, making his heart abruptly tighten.

"So soon? It hasn't even been an hour." He muttered, his brow deeply furrowed.

Thinking of how smoothly they had escaped tonight, Lin You had already formed certain suspicions. He immediately gripped the whip and lashed it rapidly. The steed neighed as it continuously accelerated.

"Little You? Have they come?"

The carriage curtain was pulled open, and howling wind rushed inside. Huo Yun'er's uneasy voice came from within.

Lin You did not answer. Instead, he shouted toward the other side of the carriage, "Girl, open the rear door! Auntie, fasten your seatbelt and don't fall out. If you see pursuers, pull the ring and throw it directly!"

"Okay!"

Huo Yuhao's crisp reply came from the rear of the carriage. With a creak, the stuffy interior immediately became fresher as air flowed through it. At the same time, the carriage gained a little more speed as air passed through the opening at the back.

Lin You had no worries whatsoever about Huo Yuhao's aim or throwing speed. With her wrist strength and ruler-like eyes, plus over half a month of training, throwing a Hydrogen Grenade was as easy as pie.

As he drove the carriage at full speed, Lin You drew a short dagger, cut off a strand of hair, and opened his palm. It immediately drifted swiftly backward.

After that, he repeated the process every ten minutes, showing no regret as his long hair became a mess as though it had been chewed by a dog. Rather, it was precisely because he had discovered that parts of his body could be used in this way that he had grown his hair long.

An hour later, as Lin You repeated the motion, alarm bells rang in his heart. Through the strand of hair's perception, he clearly caught an ominous presence rapidly closing in. His eyes sharpened as he shouted in a low voice, "Yuhao, prepare for battle. They're faster than expected!"

Inside the carriage, Huo Yun'er's face instantly turned pale. Her hands clenched tightly, but she forced herself to remain calm. Following Lin You's previous instructions, she quietly sank into a soft airbag, ready for any emergency.

Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, appeared exceptionally calm. She knew that whenever You-ge made a move, it was indiscriminate area-wide destruction. At this moment, she was the only one who could protect her mother.

Suddenly, silver light flashed. A moon-white blade streaked past the front of the carriage. Lin You's expression shifted as he violently pulled the reins, abruptly changing the carriage's direction and sending it racing into the dense forest on either side.

As the carriage plunged deeper into the woods, the surroundings became dim and profound. The branches and leaves of the trees swayed in the wind, making rustling sounds.

Using the special abilities of his Martial Soul, he continuously manipulated the surrounding Hydrogen atoms, constructing invisible barriers in an attempt to slow the pursuers.

A series of hurried footsteps shattered the forest's silence. Immediately afterward, several black shadows sprang from between the trees and charged straight at the carriage.

At that moment, Huo Yuhao opened her blood-red eyes. Tomoe spun within her pupils, instantly catching the movements of those black shadows. She immediately poked her head out of the carriage, gripping a Hydrogen Grenade tightly in both hands. Her gaze burned as she aimed at the incoming shadows, decisively pulled the ring, and swiftly threw it.

The Hydrogen Grenade did not strike the black shadows, but it hit the tree trunk beside them perfectly. The instant it made contact, flames erupted.

A blinding flash burst forth, followed by a thunderous boom. The Hydrogen Grenade exploded in midair, forming a scorching flame area that instantly blocked the pursuers' path.

Amid painful screams, the black shadows that had been like arrows loosed from a bow immediately fell to the ground like broken-winged birds. Though the violent explosion only rang out once, the extreme heat ignited their clothing and faces. In the blink of an eye, nothing remained but charred remains, motionless and silent.

Such astonishing power made the pursuing black shadows freeze in unison. Their momentum faltered, and even their pursuit slowed.

The next second, a shrill howl rang out from among the black shadows. The four people chasing them no longer hesitated. Light flashed around their bodies, while the leading man in black—the one who had made the final sound—displayed one white, two yellow, and one purple Soul Ring. He was unmistakably a Soul Ancestor expert!

The others also revealed their Martial Souls. All four were at the Soul Elder level, with one white and two yellow Soul Rings. Though that was not the optimal configuration, their strength was not to be underestimated. Their long pursuit had consumed much of their soul power, but Soul Masters were still Soul Masters, their physical abilities far exceeding those of ordinary people. Their figures flickered at high speed as they rapidly closed in, nearly within arm's reach.

Seeing this, even Huo Yuhao, who had been relying on the power of the Hydrogen Grenades, could not help growing nervous. In order to force them back, she could only keep throwing Hydrogen Grenades. But because the initial surprise attack had already passed, aside from leaving the enemies covered in dust and grime, she failed to inflict any further damage.

Watching most of the weapons Lin You had painstakingly crafted go to waste without achieving any results made her even more anxious.

"Girl, use the one with the skull on it!"

Lin You's voice rang out, immediately jolting the battle-inexperienced Huo Yuhao awake. She had never been one for fighting, and though the enemy's strength had frightened her, if begging for mercy could bring safety, they would not have come here to intercept and kill them.

No matter what, to protect her mother, even if she was terrified, she had to summon her courage!