Chapter 1035: You Were Quite Farsighted

Editor: Henyee Translations

Xuan Dong’er clenched her fist tightly, her face livid with anger. “It must have been Xuan Louze who killed Fourth Brother! We must not let him go unpunished!”

Xuan Dongsheng, with a grim expression, asked, “Are you sure it was Xuan Louze who did it?”

“Who else could it be?” Xuan Dong’er was furious, her face contorted with hatred. “Big Brother, deploy the shadow guards and hunt down Xuan Louze.”

Xuan Dongsheng pondered for a moment before addressing the Xuan family patriarch. “Grandfather, whether or not Xuan Louze killed Dongsi, he deserves to die. Grandfather, let’s kill him!”

The Xuan family patriarch thought about Xuan Louze’s actions over the past few days and agreed. “Arrange it. Make sure you bring back Xuan Louze’s corpse to see me!”

Xuan Dongsheng bowed, “Yes, Grandfather.”

The Xuan family patriarch called Xuan Daye over. “How are the preparations for tomorrow’s succession ceremony?”

Xuan Daye’s eyes were filled with hatred. “Everything is ready, and with Xuan Louze out of the picture, the ceremony will proceed smoothly.”

The Xuan family patriarch nodded slowly. “Tomorrow’s ceremony must not go wrong.”

Xuan Daye replied firmly, “Yes, Father.”

…

In a canyon.

Chu Qingzhi and her group were riding through a long, narrow canyon when they were suddenly blocked by a pile of rocks. They had to stop.

Zeng Huo had a bad feeling. “If we’re attacked here, we’ll be trapped like fish in a barrel.”

His words were barely out when a voice echoed from above. “You were quite farsighted!”

They looked up to see the canyon’s edge lined with men, all wearing iron masks and armed with crossbows, swords, and knives. They looked imposing and ready for battle.

Zeng Huo’s heart sank. “These are the Xuan family’s mid-level shadow guards!”

The Xuan family had three levels of shadow guards: entry-level for general assassinations, mid-level for assassinating skilled fighters, and high-level for targeting high officials or royalty. If they knew Tang Jinghong was here, they would have sent the high-level shadow guards.

The enemy acted decisively, pouring buckets of liquid onto them.

The leader lit a torch, staring at them menacingly.

Tang Jinghong’s heart raced. “It’s oil!”

Everyone’s hearts sank as they pressed against the canyon walls. The oil splashed onto the ground, startling their horses, which bolted towards the other end of the canyon.

The five of them used their lightness skills to move along the canyon walls, but soon, Chu Qingzhi changed direction and flew up to the canyon’s edge.

A barrier of spiritual energy shielded her from the oil, and she moved like a ghost towards the top of the canyon.

The shadow guard leader threw the torch down, igniting a roaring fire that engulfed the canyon floor. A wave of heat rose, and Chu Qingzhi reached the top of the canyon.

She formed a seal with her hands, generating a terrifying force that sent shadow guards tumbling into the flames below.

The screams from below were harrowing, like those from a hellish inferno.

The group, retreating along the canyon wall, heard the screams and felt their hearts tighten. But the flames were already upon them, leaving no room for hesitation…

The shadow guard leader, terrified, ordered, “Kill! Kill them all!”

The shadow guards raised their crossbows, firing at Chu Qingzhi.

Arrows rained down on her, but Chu Qingzhi fearlessly advanced. Arrows turned to dust before her, and as she approached, more shadow guards were sent plummeting into the fire.

The leader drew his sword and charged at Chu Qingzhi.

She sidestepped him effortlessly, kicking him into the flames.

“Ahhh—”

Chu Qingzhi smiled coldly, then flew to the other side of the canyon.

The shadow guards on the other side, seeing Chu Qingzhi as a killing god, felt deep fear and began retreating as they shot at her…

Chu Qingzhi wouldn’t let them escape. She condensed her spiritual energy into a whip, lashing out. Anyone struck fell into the canyon, like dumplings into boiling water.

In no time, the shadow guards were all in the canyon.

Chu Qingzhi used her whip to knock down the remaining barrels of oil, intensifying the flames. She wanted to ensure nothing remained.

Once done, she finally stopped. “Good thing I know things others don’t, or I’d be dead by now.”

“Qingzhi!” Tang Jinghong’s voice came from below.

The canyon was almost a straight line, with no footholds in between. Even the highest martial artists couldn’t climb it.

“Jinghong, I’m here,” Chu Qingzhi replied. “I’m exhausted. I’ll rest a bit before coming down.”

Tang Jinghong was deeply worried. “Rest well. We’ll find a way up.”

They needed to exit the canyon to climb up, so they made their way out, finally reaching Chu Qingzhi.

By then, her spiritual energy had partially recovered.

Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang saw Chu Qingzhi meditating and thought she looked like a high immortal, especially while meditating, exuding an ethereal aura.

“Qingzhi, are you hurt?” Tang Jinghong rushed to her.

Chu Qingzhi opened her eyes. “I’m fine. Let’s keep moving.”

Seeing it was still early, Tang Jinghong suggested, “Why don’t we rest a bit more?”

Chu Qingzhi took his arm and stood. “No need. I’m mostly recovered and can continue.”

Yuan Hongjun noticed her pale face and expressed concern. “Master, maybe we should rest a bit longer?”

At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached. They braced for another attack but saw a group of soldiers heading towards Liang City.

“Are these Chen Zang soldiers?” Chu Qingzhi asked Tang Jinghong.

He wasn’t sure. “Their uniforms say so, but we can’t be certain anymore.”

“Let’s follow and see what they’re up to,” Chu Qingzhi suggested.

Tang Jinghong agreed. “Alright.”

They trailed the soldiers towards Liang City.

Chu Qingzhi observed, “There are over ten thousand of them. They’re not very strong, and their formation is loose, but their weapons are decent.”

Tang Jinghong speculated, “They might be conscripted refugees.”

“Possibly,” Chu Qingzhi said, focusing on the leader. “Jinghong, is that leader one-eyed?”