TM CH38

Chapter 38 A Sudden Killing Intent

Rong Qi paused. He couldn’t see clearly, so he moved closer to Gu Yunxing and carefully sniffed the source of the blood.

Rong Qi: “Are you injured?”

Gu Yunxing: “Just a small cut on my palm, nothing serious.”

Rong Qi’s breath hitched. He fumbled to find the wound and indeed felt undried bloodstains on the palm of his right hand.

Gu Yunxing explained with a wry smile, “I cut it myself. Last night, my mind was foggy, so I had no choice but to resort to this method.”

Rong Qi: “What about the hemostatic herb you found a few days ago?”

“It’s just a small wound. It’s fine,” Gu Yunxing replied in a low voice. “What we need to worry about now is the boat.”

Both of their expressions grew serious. It would have been fine if something had happened earlier or later, but the trouble arose only after they had successfully built the boat. The purpose behind it was self-evident. Calculating the time, Zhou Yuan and his apprentice were likely already at sea.

Gu Yunxing: “The poison was only administered by Zhou Shun. The captain also fell victim. I saw him unconscious and being taken away by Zhou Shun.” Whether the act was to cover up the abnormality or if the captain had been completely unaware, it remained unclear.

“Right Protector Rong, they are all people from your ship. Do you know anything about their backgrounds?”

Rong Qi frowned. His knowledge of the master and apprentice was limited to ‘ordinary boatmen who were taken by force to the sea.’ If they had any hidden identities, it would certainly be troubling.

“I left the palace for one reason only, and the only people with the same goal as me are Xu Yan and Shen Qi.” As if Rong Qi had figured something out, a hint of killing intent leakef from his eyes. “I thought they were merely trying to stop me from finding the Tianyuan Manual by forcing the ships to stop sailing. I never expected they’d have another trick up their sleeve.”

The three coastal outposts of Lihuo Palace controlled all ship movements at the docks. Looking back now, it seemed the ship he had so painstakingly found was also part of their scheme.

He sneered. “They only know how to use these petty tricks.” If nothing else, Zhou Shun was likely an inside man planted by Xu Yan or Shen Qi.

Gu Yunxing clearly caught the underlying meaning. “No wonder Zhou Shun wanted to kill you.”

“Kill me?” Rong Qi blinked, confirming that he was unharmed, then quickly realized. “So, you fought him?”

Gu Yunxing fell silent.

Rong Qi narrowed his eyes. “The wound on your hand wasn’t self-inflicted, was it?”

Gu Yunxing: “……”

Rong Qi got his answer from his silence.

Gu Yunxing sighed helplessly. “He wasn’t very skilled, and his courage was even less. He ran off as soon as I blocked his attack.”

Remembering the moment when he had opened his eyes to a sword hanging above the head of a certain demon, Gu Yunxing admitted that he had panicked at that moment and reacted by raising his hand to block.

But the other party didn’t seem inclined to appreciate it.

Rong Qi’s expression changed several times before he finally forced out a sentence, “Gu Yunxing, this venerable one is not the kind of person who repays favors. Even if you save me, I might not return the favor.” Sacrificing oneself to save another was something that would be mocked by everyone at Lihuo Palace.

At that moment, the others in the cave began to wake up one by one. They quickly learned about Zhou Shun drugging them, and their moods sank deeply.

Fang Ruoyao nearly burst into tears. “Why? That ship could fit everyone, so why did Uncle Zhou have to do this?”

Zhou Shun was quiet and timid, and he had taken good care of her during their time on the island. A while ago, because of Rong Qi, they had split into two groups, and Fang Ruoyao had secretly been upset for a while. Now, she couldn’t understand it at all.

Fang Lian sighed deeply as he saw his younger sister so sad.

Yan Fan sat alone in a corner, unusually silent.

Their group had been building the ship much longer than Rong Qi and Gu Yunxing, and now, with everything falling apart, their hearts were even heavier.

Rong Qi didn’t want to listen any longer. After helping Gu Yunxing clear the effects of the drug, he planned to go down to the riverbank to take a look.

Although he had his suspicions, he still held onto some hope until he saw it with his own eyes.

The rain was still falling outside the cave, though it had eased up a little. Perhaps sailing out to sea during a rainstorm wasn’t impossible after all, and Zhou Yuan had merely used it as an excuse.

Rong Qi narrowed his eyes and headed toward the spot where the small boat had been docked.

When he arrived, it was as he had expected. The boat was gone, and the place was empty.

The last shred of hope in his heart was shattered.

Zhou Shun had indeed taken the boat. This meant they would have to stay here for the time being. And even if they built a new boat, it would be difficult to navigate the sea smoothly without boatmen familiar with maritime affairs. Moreover, they didn’t know the specific sea routes at all.

Just yesterday, they had hoped to sail off the island, but today they had no choice but to accept the current situation. This turn of events left Rong Qi feeling frustrated.

He walked along the river a little further, reaching the edge of the forest.

The river gradually grew narrower until it ceased to flow. He noticed large dragging marks on the ground nearby.

Following the marks, he left the forest and came to a shallow bank. Beyond it lay the endless ocean.

Suddenly, Rong Qi sensed something unusual.

At the distant shoreline, something appeared to be swaying. His eyes sharpened, and he hurried toward it.

It was a boat.

The small boat that carried everyone’s hopes was gently floating between the tides.

Long vines extended from the large hole in the boat’s hull, snaking all the way to the depths of the shore. At the other end of the vines, two severed ‘anchors’ were firmly fixed in the sand, their upper bodies facing upwards, maintaining the posture of their final moments.

“Boom—” At some point, dark thunderclouds gathered overhead, and the sound of rain grew louder.

Inside the cave, the others had regained their strength and were roasting meat over the fire.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded. Rong Qi’s expression was grave as he went straight to Gu Yunxing and said, “Zhou Yuan and Zhou Shun are dead!”

Recalling the almost unnatural manner of their deaths, a chill ran down his spine. Near the shore, just a step away from the sea, they had been buried in the sand, their necks strangled by vines that were tied to the dilapidated boat.

It was as if someone had maliciously fashioned them into the shape of anchors.

Rong Qi was certain. “That freak has returned.”

Gu Yunxing: “Did you run into him?”

Rong Qi shook his head. “No, I followed the river to the shore and found the two bodies. The freak must have gone elsewhere after torturing them.”

Fang Lian, who had been listening, grew somber. “If that’s true… our escape route is cut off. We have to find a way to avoid him.”

Rong Qi sneered. “Avoid? Where do you expect to avoid him? Is this place not hidden enough?”

The island was so small. If that freak wandered around every day, were they supposed to live in constant fear? Today it was Zhou Yuan and Zhou Shun who had met a gruesome end, and the sight of it stirred not only dread in Rong Qi but also a burning desire to eliminate the threat.

That freak had to die, or they would never find peace.

Fang Lian: “So, are you suggesting that we take the initiative and confront him? This person is skilled beyond ordinary men. Even if we join forces, we might not all make it out unscathed.”

“Anyone can have weaknesses. Most of the people he’s encountered on this island only knew how to flee in terror. The truth is, he’s never truly met someone who wants his life.” Rong Qi turned to Gu Yunxing, not hiding the malice in his gaze. “In Lihuo Palace, killing isn’t just about martial arts skill.”

Gu Yunxing met those eyes, feeling as if he too was scorched by the intense killing intent.

When he snapped back to reality, he said, “It’s worth trying.”

Fang Lian looked over in shock, only to see that his friend’s expression was serious. After a long while, he sighed. “Fine. If you want to try, then this humble Fang will brave death to join you… oh, and the demon.”

That night, they gathered together to discuss their plan to surround and kill the freak. Fang Ruoyao and Yan Fan took up positions at the tunnel entrance, keeping watch.

Late into the night, they faintly heard a muffled roar coming from the depths of the earth, sounding particularly terrifying in the desolate night where only the wind could be heard.

Fang Ruoyao tightly gripped her brother’s arm and whispered, “Big brother…”

Fang Lian patted her shoulder, offering a soft, comforting reply, “It’s alright.”

The next day, Gu Yunxing and Rong Qi left together, heading towards the forest at the foot of the mountains.

“The first time I came here, I immediately thought it was the perfect place for an ambush,” Rong Qi said, gazing up at the towering cliff. “The cliff drops straight down, and to climb up, you’d have to use lightness skill. That gives us an advantage. There’s also a narrow opening higher up, perfect for hiding and delivering a fatal blow.”

Over the past two days, Gu Yunxing had come to fully understand the methods used by the people from the demon palace. When it came to ambushes and assassination, Rong Qi clearly had considerable expertise.

Rong Qi continued, clearly enjoying himself as he spoke “The key is… it almost feels like a dead end, doesn’t it?”

With towering mountains blocking the way ahead and a murderous monster pursuing from behind, anyone who had fled here in a panic must have been filled with utter despair and terror.

Gu Yunxing took something out and handed it to him. “It’s time to return this to its rightful owner.”

The cilin landed in Rong Qi’s palm. He paused for a moment before pulling it out. The blade immediately reflected a cold gleam.

Rong Qi’s lips twitched. “I thought you weren’t planning on returning this.”

Gu Yunxing: “It was just temporarily placed by the Right Protector’s side. Once this matter is settled, please remember to return it to me.”

Rong Qi couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “This looks like my dagger!”

Gu Yunxing remained silent.

Rong Qi, in a rare display of generosity, chose not to press the issue further. The sword he had taken from Fang Ruoyao had never been used. Zhou Shun had taken it, and after his death, it had disappeared as well. Now, Rong Qi found himself without a proper weapon.

Fortunately, the cilin, though not a sword, was something he was used to wielding.

After a moment’s thought, Rong Qi pulled out a bag of hidden weapons and emptied it, scattering all sorts of items on the ground — throwing darts, sleeve arrows, steel finger rings, and more, the clinking sounds filling the air.

He counted the items, then loosened his outer robe. In front of Gu Yunxing, he hid the weapons in various places on his body. Finally, he donned his robe again, and once more, he looked every bit the elegant man he was known for.

Gu Yunxing: “……” He was amazed.

Rong Qi was even quite generous, giving Gu Yunxing a steel finger ring and gesturing for him to wear it on the index finger of his right hand.

“Look, there’s a mechanism here. Push outward with the pad of your thumb, and the hidden weapon will shoot out.”

Gu Yunxing glanced at it briefly, then asked without changing his expression, “I didn’t see it. Where is it?”

Rong Qi immediately shot him a look of disdain that clearly said, “You can’t even see this?” He leaned closer and pointed it out.

His finger brushed lightly against Gu Yunxing’s hand. “See it now?”

Gu Yunxing lowered his gaze and stared at it for a moment. Suddenly, he reached out with all five fingers and grabbed Rong Qi’s hand.

Rong Qi looked at him questioningly.

Gu Yunxing smiled faintly and quickly withdrew his hand.