Ambush on the Road

On the Official Road.

The carriage sped along. Inside, Lin Qing and Wei Bei sat facing each other, with Ji Ping, Ma Ziye, and Lin Shurou beside them.

For the past half month, the threat of the Spirit-Devouring Demon Child had kept Wei Dong and the others inside the Soul-Calming Office's town. They had hardly ventured out.

Today was their first trip to the Prefectural City. Wei Dong had been clamoring for a proper meal at a restaurant and a visit to the Golden Treasure Tower to buy resources for his martial training.

But as the carriage passed through a dense forest, it lurched to a sudden stop. Ma Ziye, who had been dozing, slammed her head against the carriage wall.

"Ow! Little Ma, what happened?" Ma Ziye asked, puffing out her cheeks.

"E-evil spirit!" Little Ma, the constable driving the carriage, shouted with a stammer.

"What?" Ma Ziye cried in alarm.

Lin Qing was already the first to leap out. His gaze sharpened when he saw a young man in white blocking the road: the Spirit-Devouring Demon Child, who had vanished half a month ago.

Wei Dong jumped out as well, his face turning deathly pale. He had heard that the Spirit-Devouring Demon Child's host possessed strength comparable to an Origin Astral Martial Artist.

"What do we do? Run! Didn't they say this bastard had left the Prefectural City?" Even Wei Dong began to stammer.

"You go first. I'll hold him off!" Lin Qing said grimly.

"Lin Qing, we should split up. If you stay alone, you'll die for certain," Li Ping said under his breath.

"Right, split up. Whoever survives, survives!" Ma Ziye agreed.

"Don't worry. Go, quickly. The Spirit-Devouring Demon Child might not be able to kill me. Besides, he's here for me." Lin Qing's tone was