A "Tail" on the Road

It has a tail.

Lin Xiao suddenly stopped, his voice very low.

Lu Yuan didn't stop walking, his Soul Power flowing quietly. The Blue Silver Grass was slightly warm in his palm, and his senses spread out like a fine net.

The morning mist had just dissipated, and the forest was damp. They walked for half an hour after leaving the cave before the sun finally rose.

"About two hundred paces behind." Lin Xiao licked his canine teeth, his amber pupils slightly contracting. "One. Soul Power level 20+, clumsy at surveillance, but quite cautious."

Lu Yuan tapped his leg twice with his fingers.

"From when?"

"You followed me as soon as we came out of the cave." Lin Xiao scoffed, "You got into trouble?"

"There's a Teacher Sun in the college," Lu Yuan didn't deny. "He had someone watching me when I left."

"You're so petty."

The two continued walking at the same pace. After another fifteen minutes, a narrow valley appeared ahead.

The valley is flanked by steep cliffs covered with vines and rocks. A winding path runs through the middle, creating a complex terrain.

Lu Yuan glanced at the terrain.

"We can make our move up ahead," he said in a low voice.

Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow. "A counter-attack?"

"Hmm." Lu Yuan nodded. "The other party only wants to monitor, or wait for an opportunity. Let's create an 'opportunity' for him."

He quickly explained the plan.

They pretended to argue over a different path, then parted on bad terms. Lu Yuan took the left path alone, deliberately revealing his position. Lin Xiao had already circled around to the side and lay in ambush, ready to strike when the pursuers got close.

"Are you alright with your injury?" Lu Yuan asked.

Lin Xiao grinned, his right hand slightly open, a flash of dark keratin appearing at his fingertips.

"Take care of a level 20 opponent, more than enough."

Without another word, the two quickened their pace and entered the valley.

The valley was dimly lit and littered with rocks. Reaching a fork in the road, Lu Yuan stopped and pointed to the left.

"This way," he raised his voice slightly, "It's marked on the map, it's closer."

Lin Xiao immediately retorted, "Bullshit! The one on the right is the main road. What year is your crappy map from?"

"Bought last year!"

"Last year? This terrain changes three times in a year!" Lin Xiao scoffed. "Go wherever you want, I'll go to the right."

"What ever."

Lu Yuan turned and walked down the path to the left. Lin Xiao cursed and stepped to the right.

The two separated.

Lu Yuan walked alone on the left-hand path. The gravel was sharp and uncomfortable underfoot, so he walked slowly, stopping every now and then to pretend to look at the map. His Soul Power quietly spread out.

Thirty steps.

Fifty steps.

He walked to a recess in the mountainside, where the shadows were heavy. He squatted down and pretended to tie his shoelaces.

I heard very faint footsteps behind me.

It stopped twenty paces away.

A few breaths later, they drew closer. Fifteen steps. Ten steps.

Lu Yuan suddenly stood up, turned around, and shouted, "This way is blocked!"

Before the words were even finished, a dark figure suddenly appeared from behind the pile of rocks on the right!

It was as fast as a black lightning bolt.

Lin Xiao's right claw swelled with dark, keratinous flesh, aiming straight for the attacker's throat.

The stalker was a tall, thin man dressed in coarse gray-brown clothes. His expression changed drastically, and in a moment of haste, he unleashed his Soul Power and dodged to the side.

Too slow.

The claws grazed the shoulder, leaving a trail of blood.

The man groaned in pain as his Soul Ring lit up—two white ten-year cycles. His Martial Soul was a short sword; he swung it to parry while simultaneously trying to retreat.

There's no way out.

Seven or eight dark blue vines sprouted from the ground and wrapped around his feet. The vines were not thick, but they were exceptionally tough and covered with fine barbs.

Blue Silver Grass!

The man tripped.

That one pause is enough.

Lin Xiao's second claw strike landed, its dark, sharp claws gripping the man's right wrist, which held the knife.

Click.

The sound of the wrist bone cracking was clearly audible.

The dagger slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground. The man screamed, still trying to struggle. Lin Xiao's left knee slammed into his lower back with ruthless force.

He groaned softly, and his body went limp.

The entire process took less than five breaths.

Lu Yuan strode forward, the Blue Silver Grass vines tightening, binding the man's legs tightly. Lin Xiao twisted his left arm and pressed him to the ground.

"Don't move," Lin Xiao said coldly. "Move or die."

The man lay face down, panting heavily, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His right wrist was twisted grotesquely, bleeding profusely.

Lu Yuan squatted down.

Who sent you?

The man gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Lin Xiao increased the pressure on his hand.

"Ah--!"

"Answer."

The man's eyes flickered, and finally he spoke in a hoarse voice, "... Teacher Sun."

Lu Yuan's eyes turned cold.

"Purpose?"

"To monitor your movements... to see where you go, who you meet." The man swallowed hard. "And... to create surprises when necessary."

Lin Xiao scoffed. "An accident? That sounds nice. It's just about finding a chance to kill him, right?"

The man acquiesced.

Lu Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"What about the Hundred Refinements Pavilion?" he suddenly asked. "What's the relationship between Teacher Sun and the Hundred Refinements Pavilion?"

The man was taken aback.

"Teacher Sun... has dealings with Shopkeeper Jin of the Hundred Refinements Pavilion," he said in a low voice. "You questioned the Triangular Array at the academy before, and Shopkeeper Jin was very unhappy. Teacher Sun accepted a bribe."

Lu Yuan nodded.

It was pretty much as he guessed.

He stood up and looked at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao didn't answer, but acted directly. His right hand, with its five fingers together and covered in dark keratin, transformed into a hand chop. It cleanly and decisively slashed at the back of the man's neck.

A muffled thud.

The man's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

"Not kill?" Lu Yuan asked.

"Killing him will cause trouble." Lin Xiao waved his hand. "The body needs to be disposed of, the blood will Soul Beast. Knock him unconscious, tie him up, and throw him into a ravine. If we're lucky, he'll wake up; if we're unlucky..."

He didn't finish speaking.

Lu Yuan did not object. The Blue Silver Grass vines bound the man like a dumpling, Lin Xiao picked him up, walked to the steep slope deep in the valley, and threw him down.

Below, vines and thorns grew densely, and the sound of a heavy object rolling down could be heard.

Silence soon returned.

The two returned to where the path met.

Lin Xiao tore off a piece of his clothing to wipe his hands, the movement casual. Lu Yuan looked towards the valley's exit, his eyes cold.

"Teacher Sun... Hundred Refinements Pavilion," he repeated softly.

I never expected them to go so far.

Leaving the academy and venturing into the wilderness, they still wouldn't give up. And they didn't just want to monitor; they also wanted to "create an accident."

This is a stalemate that can't be resolved without a fight to the death.

After wiping his hands, Lin Xiao casually tossed the cloth aside.

"Troublesome," he commented, glancing at Lu Yuan. "The enemy you've made is quite petty."

He paused, but a glint of excitement flashed in his amber vertical pupils.

"Looks like things won't be peaceful on this journey."

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze.

"Scared?"

"Scared?" Lin Xiao asked as if it were a joke. "I'd love to have more fun. Hiding all day is incredibly boring."

He moved his left shoulder, and a little blood seeped out from the bandage, but he didn't care.

"But speaking of which," he looked at Lu Yuan, "Your Blue Silver Grass, the timing of that binding move was quite good."

"It's barely usable," Lu Yuan said calmly.

He didn't say much, turned around and continued walking out of the valley.

Lin Xiao followed.

The two walked out of the valley, and ahead lay rolling hills. Vast Sea City was still far to the east.

The journey is still long.

And hostility has become an ever-present threat.

Lu Yuan touched the letter in his pocket. The address of Old Shipyard Alley was still there, hard as a board.

He quickened his pace.

Lin Xiao lagged half a step behind, his amber pupils scanning the surrounding forest like a wary cheetah.

The wind blew by, carrying the earthy smell unique to the wilderness.

It was excessively quiet.