Spying

Chapter 41: Spying (Second update)

But!

Another voice rang out, dispelling Wang Yan's worries.

"Big brother! Don't worry! That Black Kid won't get away!" another cultivator chimed in.

Black Kid? They shouldn't be looking for me! Wang Yan thought after hearing this. Although he was no pale, delicate pretty boy, his complexion was perfectly ordinary. He certainly wasn't a Black Kid. Then something suddenly struck him. Hmm? That cultivator's voice sounds like something I've heard somewhere before. It's familiar!

Just then...

Rustle, rustle, rustle! A jumble of footsteps sounded, accompanied by rustling leaves. The cultivators seemed to be coming toward him...

Tch! Don't tell me they've mistaken me for him! Wang Yan cursed inwardly at the sound. With that thought, he pinched his fingers together, and the Water-Fire Blast Card appeared in his hand...

Just then!

Crash! Three figures appeared in the woods, though it was still too dark among the trees to make out their faces.

It's them? Although Wang Yan couldn't see all three faces clearly, he recognized their clothing and builds. They were precisely the three patrolling cultivators from the Lü Household who had bullied the Fair-Skinned Girl. Something clicked, and he immediately understood. These three are looking for that reckless Black Kid!

Indeed.

Back at the Pill Shop, Wang Yan had seen these three Lü Household cultivators furtively following the Black Youth. The Black Youth was probably in trouble. All three Lü Household cultivators had reached major completion of the Cultivation Realm, while the Black Youth was only at minor completion of the Cultivation Realm. Although his build suggested he wasn't someone to trifle with, this was one against three. Even with his Immortal Cards that could cast spells instantly, Wang Yan didn't think he had much chance of winning. Naturally, he wasn't about to stick his neck out and help.

Yet somehow, the Black Youth had evidently escaped...

Running into them again here made Wang Yan feel rather unlucky. If these three mistook him for their quarry, they probably wouldn't pass up such a fine opportunity to kill him and seize his treasures. At that thought, his heart grew heavy, and he became even more careful not to make the slightest sound or leak a trace of magical power.

Ever since Wang Ziling had punctured his dantian and Wang Yan had obtained the Immortal Card Artifact to replace it, he had noticed that although he circulated magical power far more slowly than ordinary cultivators, he could conceal its aura much more thoroughly. Ordinary cultivators merely drew their auras back into their dantians, which still leaked faint traces. Wang Yan, however, drew his into the Immortal Card Artifact, leaving practically no spiritual energy or magical aura leaking out...

That counted as one of its advantages.

Of course, concealing one's aura worked against Cultivation Realm cultivators because they generally couldn't project their spiritual senses outward to detect things. Core Condensation Realm cultivators were another matter: they could extend their spiritual senses. At the very least, the Aura Concealment Technique was useless if one got too close to a Core Condensation Realm cultivator.

"Strange! That Black Kid was clearly injured. He shouldn't be able to run very fast!" the middle-aged Lü Household cultivator leading them muttered. He paused, then asked a cultivator beside him, "Are you sure you haven't led us the wrong way?"

"Of course not! There's definitely a scent trail left by that kid in this direction!" the other cultivator, a short man who looked to be in his twenties, hurriedly replied. After a pause, he continued, "Let me keep looking!" With that, he formed a series of hand seals. Threads of blue-green light surged between his hands, and he suddenly opened his mouth wide...

Whoosh! Swish, swish, swish, swish! A startling whirlwind churned inside the cultivator's mouth, with a mass of dull blue-green light spinning within it. A powerful whirlwind swirled through the air, and countless threads of blue-green light within several dozen feet rushed toward his mouth...

At the sight...

What kind of divine ability is that? Wang Yan wondered, his interest stirred.

Suddenly!

"Hmm!? Over there!" As though he had discovered something, the cultivator abruptly looked toward the large tree where Wang Yan was hiding and shouted in a low voice...

"Go!" the other two Lü Household cultivators barked...

Tch! How did he discover me? Wang Yan wondered, puzzled. He tightened his grip on the Water-Fire Blast Card and readied his other hand to form a seal...

Suddenly!

Rustle! Wang Yan heard leaves stirring behind him.

Then!

Thud, thud! Heavy footsteps sounded, as though someone were fleeing a few hundred feet behind him.

Hmm? Wang Yan instantly realized what was happening. He hurriedly stopped his hands and looked back in surprise, only to see a dark figure sprinting away. With that iron-block build, he didn't need to guess to know it was the Black Youth. Relief washed over him. I never expected that big black fool to be nearby...!

Just then...

"After him!" the three Lü Household cultivators shouted, racing off as three streaking figures...

"You damned bastards... you dogs of the Lü Household!" The Black Youth's furious curses rang out from the woods...

"Hmph! You offended our Lü Household, and you still think you can run?"

"Bastards!"

"...!"

Before long, the three Lü Household cultivators had chased the Black Youth far away... Their curses drifted back from the distance...

"Whew!" Wang Yan breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn't been discovered, or he would have faced another life-and-death battle. He knew very well that although he had succeeded several times against cultivators at major completion of the Cultivation Realm, he couldn't count on being so lucky every time...

"That big black fellow is probably done for!" Card Fairy said.

"Yes! This Lü Household doesn't seem to be anything good either. I..." Wang Yan nodded, cursing. Then, as though he had suddenly remembered something, he hurriedly said, "I'll go take a look! See if there's an opening!" With that, red light flashed beneath his feet, and he followed in the direction the three cultivators had chased the Black Youth...

"Hey! You brat, don't tell me you want to help that big black fellow? That doesn't sound like you!" Card Fairy asked, puzzled.

"Hmph! The Lü Household sent people to hunt me down. Am I not supposed to take revenge?" Wang Yan snorted coldly.

"Uh...!"

As they spoke... he had only sprinted a few hundred yards.

He could faintly hear...

"Hah!"

Clang, clang, clang!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Furious roars came from the distance, along with the clash of metal and the howling of gusting winds. Clearly, the Black Youth hadn't managed to get far. They had already caught up with him, and a fight was underway ahead...

They caught him! Wang Yan immediately slowed down, concealed his aura, and approached without a sound, creeping forward several dozen yards.

Through gaps in the overlapping layers of leaves, he could see...

Swish, swish, swish, swish! Piercing whistles erupted through the air. The three Lü Household cultivators had surrounded a dark figure. Their fingers jabbed repeatedly, sending out three flying swords-one blue, one red, and one blue-green-which turned into streaks of light and shot furiously toward him...

"Hah!" The Black Youth's dark muscles bulged all over his body. He held his enormous black iron staff, orange threads of light surging around both hands as he struck again and again. Despite its thickness, the staff swept through his hands, stirring up blasts of fierce wind...

Fast as the flying swords were, he struck them with uncanny precision, sending them bouncing away amid shrill metallic clashes...

But!

Even so...

The other two flying swords still struck the Black Youth from time to time, leaving bloody cuts. He seemed badly wounded...

Before long, the Black Youth was drenched in blood, and his movements grew slower and slower. The three Lü Household cultivators seemed to have expended considerable magical power controlling their flying swords as well. Their expressions had turned strained, and their circulation of magical power had slowed...

"Big brother! Let's take him down!" one cultivator shouted.

"No! Don't fight him at close range! Haven't you suffered enough?" the middle-aged cultivator shouted. His fingers moved rapidly, controlling his flying sword as it relentlessly attacked the Black Youth's weak points. His attacks were vicious indeed...

"Oh? That big black fellow seems to have cultivated a fairly powerful Body-Refining Technique too!" Card Fairy said at the sight.

"Body-Refining Technique?" Wang Yan's interest stirred, and understanding dawned on him. That's right! Those flying swords are so sharp, yet they only leave shallow cuts when they strike him. That shouldn't be possible...! He thought, Still, that big black fool probably can't hold out much longer, and there's no opening for me to strike!

Just then...

"Hah! Die!" The Black Youth suddenly unleashed a tremendous roar. Orange light rippled over his entire body, and he spun the pitch-black staff in his hands, whipping up a fierce whirlwind as he charged toward one of the Lü Household cultivators...

"Dodge!" the other two Lü Household cultivators shouted at the sight.

But it was already too late. The Black Youth jerked his hands and hurled the pitch-black staff forward...

Whoosh! With a startling whistle through the air, it hurtled toward the Lü Household cultivator.

"Damn!" The Lü Household cultivator had never expected such a move and cried out in alarm. He knew just how formidable that black iron staff was. With no time left to dodge, he abruptly pointed before him, and his short-sword magical artifact instantly transformed into a streak of blue light that blocked his front.

Clang! An ear-piercing sound erupted as the short-sword magical artifact before the Lü Household cultivator was knocked flying. He seized the chance to dodge to one side.

But!

Thump! With a muffled impact, the black iron staff still caught the Lü Household cultivator, sweeping him off his feet as though he were riding clouds and mist... He flew fifty or sixty feet before landing in the woods...

"Junior brother!" the other two Lü Household cultivators cried out. Their fingers jabbed repeatedly, and their flying swords shot toward the Black Youth's back...