In the mountains several dozen li southwest of Guangyuan Market, an unremarkable little flying boat slipped silently through the air, barely a few zhang above the ground, concealing its passage with extraordinary care.
But as it skimmed over a vast stretch of dense forest, a dark shadow suddenly appeared in the sky above, and an enormous Bone Boat emerged amid swirling black qi.
Cries of alarm immediately rang out from the little flying boat below. Five or six figures shot out, trying to abandon the boat and flee.
But it was already too late.
The enormous Bone Boat merely shuddered, and billowing black mist poured from beneath its hull, engulfing all the air below.
Chill winds swept through the mist amid ghostly wails and howls. A series of booming explosions rang out, followed by desperate screams.
Moments later, when the black mist rolled back into the ship, the air below was utterly empty. Nothing remained.
With a rumbling roar, the enormous Bone Boat soared away again, becoming a tiny black speck on the horizon in the blink of an eye.
A long while later.
On a densely leafed tree in the forest below, what looked like an ordinary thick branch blurred and writhed, transforming into a tall figure. It was Wang Yu.
At some point, he had turned his blue robe inside out, revealing a mottled green lining resembling camouflage clothing, and pressed his body tightly against the trunk at an odd angle.
As long as he remained motionless, anyone looking from a distance would have been unable to tell that someone was hiding there.
Standing on the branch, Wang Yu watched the enormous Bone Boat disappear into the distance and let out a long breath.
Had he not fled quickly enough and in time, and had Tian Ziying's deceptive