Chương 92: No Way Out But Through

Truth be told, Fang Tao had been nursing a flicker of annoyance. But the moment Zhang Huaijin addressed him as "Brother" and explained his reason for leaving, that lingering frustration dissolved. Zhang Huaijin had been rather rude. Accepting the Foundation Establishment Pill and then immediately making moves to leave? Anyone would have taken offense. It made Huaijin look calculating, like a man who took what he wanted and bolted without a single thought for courtesy or connection.

But Fang Tao knew the Zhang family's situation well. This wasn't an excuse. He wasn't lying. And now, by calling him "Brother," Huaijin was drawing them closer, not pushing them apart. A slow smile crept back onto Fang Tao's face.

"Good. There's nothing to forgive. But remember what I said, if you ever think about marriage, you come to the Fang family first. I promise you, whether it's beauty or bearing, our daughters have no equal." Huaijin offered a polite nod.

"I understand your kindness, Brother. If that day ever comes, I'll come knocking on your door." He had no desire to offend Fang Tao. A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from a Purple Mansion Realm family was not someone you crossed lightly.

"Then go. Travel safe," Fang Tao said, his voice carrying genuine warmth.

"Thank you, Brother." With that, Zhang Huaijin bid farewell and left the Fang estate, Zhang Liwei and the other two following close behind. —— The moment they stepped past the boundaries of Wushuang Mountain, Zhang Yunli, who had been practically vibrating with pent up words, finally let loose.

"Second Brother! You're a hot commodity! So when are you getting me a sister-in-law?" Zhang Liwei and Zhang Wujian both turned to look at him, grinning.

"Yeah, Second Brother!" Zhang Wujian added with a teasing lilt.

"Some men your age are already grandfathers!"

"Yunli," Huaijin said flatly, "if you don't speak, no one will mistake you for a mute, you know." He didn't wait for a reply.

"Now move. Stay sharp. Keep the pace." His voice left no room for argument. Even here, far from the main roads, danger lurked. Wushuang Mountain was sparsely traveled, but cultivators still passed through. If word got out that they were carrying a Foundation Establishment Pill, someone would get desperate. The smiles vanished. The three fell into formation behind him, faces hardening. They moved fast, keeping to remote paths, avoiding any town or road where eyes might linger. Enjoying this book?

Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Not one of them suggested stopping to browse a market or rest at an inn. The only thought in their minds was getting back to the green bamboo mountain as quickly as possible. —— Three days blurred past in a haze of tension and aching muscles. Zhang Huaijin and his group finally neared the borders of Langya County. Their shoulders loosened slightly. The knot in their chests began to ease.

"Stop," Huaijin said.

"Rest. Recover your spiritual energy." The trio practically collapsed where they stood. Three days of non-stop travel, sleeping little, eating less, and watching every shadow was exhausting for anyone, let alone Qi Refining Realm cultivators. They sat cross legged on the forest floor and began to circulate their energy. Huaijin stayed standing, eyes sweeping the surroundings. They were deep in the Purple Dusk Mountain Range now.

A few hundred meters ahead lay a Tier 1, upper grade spirit vein called Pine Fish Cliff. Dense, ancient pines stood like sentinels all around. From above, if anyone were watching from the distant peaks the formation of trees supposedly resembled a fish swimming through an emerald sea. Hence the name. Pretty. Huaijin didn't care about pretty. He stretched out his spiritual sense, letting it ripple outward like unseen fingers brushing through the air. And then, his expression froze. Two auras.

Two separate directions. Both hurtling straight toward them at breakneck speed. And beneath those auras, the raw, unmistakable bite of killing intent.

"Ambush! Move! NOW!" Huaijin's roar split the silence like a blade. Zhang Liwei's eyes flew open. Zhang Wujian and Zhang Yunli scrambled to their feet, faces pale. They didn't ask questions. They just ran. Behind them, the enemy closed in fast. Huaijin's face darkened, fury flashing behind his eyes. They weren't going to outrun this. Not with Liwei and the others slowing them down. The enemy had at least mid stage Foundation Realm cultivators, maybe higher. Running was just wasting spiritual energy.

The leak had happened the moment they left the Fang estate. Either that, or the Fang family themselves had leaked the info… It didn't matter now. They had to fight.

"Stop!" Huaijin commanded.

"Prepare yourselves. This is going to be a bloodbath." Zhang Liwei's expression twisted. He had reached the same conclusion. Zhang Wujian and Zhang Yunli looked deathly pale. They had never been in a real fight. Never stared down death like this. Fifteen breaths later, two converging forces broke through the trees and surrounded them. Twelve figures in total. Six from each direction, as if prearranged. Each group had two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and four Qi Refining Realm disciples.

Left side: a fifth and seventh level Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators. Right side: a fifth and sixth level Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators. Huaijin's eyes narrowed to slits.

"Hand over the Foundation Establishment Pill," one of the masked figures said, "and you walk away breathing." The two enemy groups exchanged glances, slightly surprised to see each other, but neither hesitated. The pill was the prize. They wouldn't back down. Huaijin said nothing. His silence was louder than words.

"Protect yourselves," he murmured to the trio behind him. A flash of light erupted from his Spirit Beast Pouch. The Purple Spirit Tiger, Haihu materialized with a thunderous roar, muscles coiling, fangs bared. Then Zhang Huaijin moved. Not back but forward.

"Since you won't take the olive branch, you'll take the sword!" someone snarled.

"Kill him!" The four Qi Refining Realm cultivators struck as one, sealing off every angle of escape. Front and back. The remaining eight Qi Refining Realm cultivators charged at Liwei and the others. Inside Zhang Huaijin's Sea of Consciousness, his spiritual sense exploded outward. Six Yin Yang Divine Needles materialized, silent, invisible, deadly. Whoosh. An invisible ripple passed through the air. Six of the eight charging Qi Refining cultivators dropped mid-stride. Their eyes stayed wide open.

Their life forces simply vanished. Dead before they hit the ground. The two who remained, both at the late stage, stumbled to a halt, terror flooding their faces.

"What… what just happened?!" Even the Foundation Realm cultivators jolted, their attack stuttering for just a heartbeat.

"One seventh level Qi Refining Realm. One eight level." Huaijin's voice was cold as he spoke.

"Don't disappoint me." His words snapped Zhang Liwei and the others out of their daze. Zhang Liwei was ninth level Qi Refining Realm. Zhang Wujian and Zhang Yunli were both seventh level. And the Purple Spirit Tiger was eighth level. If three cultivators and a spirit beast couldn't handle two Qi Refining Realm opponents, then the Zhang family had no future worth protecting anyway. Huaijin turned back to face the four Foundation Realm cultivators, his gaze flat and merciless. The real fight was just beginning.