Chapter 34

Night was like ink, shrouding Luo Bay County in a deathly silence.

Occasional dog barks were quickly swallowed by the deep darkness.

Qian Bo hunched over, moving like a wind‑blown dead leaf, silently hugging the wall base.

His cloudy old eyes now flashed with a sharpness belied by his age, warily scanning every corner where danger might hide.

Those Wan family sentries, both open and covert—hah, old man I've wandered the jianghu for so many years, I can still see through this little trick.

He tried to keep his breathing long and smooth, each step falling in shadow, avoiding places the moonlight might reach.

Years of experience and familiarity with every nook of Luo Bay County had become his greatest reliance now.

Sneaking into the county town went smoother than expected; perhaps the Wan family focused their main force on besieging the Wang manor, leaving the outskirts a bit lax.

"Almost… almost there…"

Qian Bo murmured silently, sweat beading on his forehead and sliding down the wrinkles to soak his collar.

After days of desperate flight, his strength was exhausted; he clung only to a single belief.

Xuan Qing young master's entrustment and the safety of the Wang family weighed on him like two mountains, making it hard to breathe yet giving him endless drive.

Following the simple map given by Wang Xuanqing, he twisted and turned, finally arriving at a secluded corner in the south of the city.

Before him stood a dilapidated rice shop, doors and windows shut tight, cobwebs everywhere, clearly abandoned for a long time.

This was it—the secret contact point left by Young Master Wang Mingyuan.

Qian Bo steadied himself, went to the shop's back door, raised his thin hand, and, per the agreed signal, tapped lightly—"tok‑tok‑tok… tok‑tok."

Three long, two short—the sound rang especially clear in the quiet night.

He held his breath, his heart leaping to his throat.

After a moment, a tense, wary voice came from inside the door: "Who?"

Qian Bo's throat was dry; he cleared it and answered in the lowest yet clearest voice he could manage, the code phrase Xuan Qing young master had repeatedly impressed upon him: "Blue bird flies fish, old friend returns."

Inside the door fell silent for a few breaths, as if confirming something.

"Creak—" a soft sound, the old wooden door was pulled open a crack.

In the dim light appeared a young face etched with anxiety and fatigue.

When he made out the person standing outside, the wariness on that face instantly turned into immense surprise and disbelief.

"Qian Bo? You… you really came!"

The person inside was precisely the Wang family junior sent out on Wang Shan's orders to deliver a letter, who had been waiting here at this secret outpost for news—Wang Mingyuan!

He clearly hadn't expected that, at this moment, the one arriving would be Qian Bo, far away at the Heavenly Confucian Academy.

Seeing Wang Mingyuan, Qian Bo's taut nerves finally loosened for an instant, and he nearly plopped down on the ground.

He forced himself upright, panting sharply, and grabbed Wang Mingyuan's arm: "Young Master Mingyuan, hurry! Don't… don't delay!"

He trembled as he drew from his bosom an object wrapped layer upon layer in oilcloth, square and solid, feeling quite heavy in hand.

"This is… what Young Master Xuan Qing ordered this old servant to risk his life to deliver! Quick! Hand it over to the family head at once! Perhaps… perhaps it can save the Wang family!"

Qian Bo's voice was hoarse, as if he'd expended all his strength.

The moment he thrust the item into Wang Mingyuan's hands, he could no longer support himself, sliding down against the door frame, gulping great breaths; the days of travel, tension, and fear washed over him like a tide.

Wang Mingyuan cupped the heavy oilcloth parcel in both hands; even through the thick wrapping he seemed to sense an indescribable, solemn and vast power within.

His eye sockets instantly reddened, his voice choking: "Big brother… big brother he… he still worries about home…"

A great hope and grievance intertwined, striking his heart.

These days, the Wang family has been besieged, with no outside reinforcements and internal troubles; he has guarded this secret outpost, each day feeling like a year, his heart already being eroded bit by bit by despair.

At this moment, this "life‑saving thing" from his distant elder brother is nothing less than a ray of light in the darkness!

"Grandfather… the family… is saved!"

Wang Mingyuan murmured to himself, carefully tucking the oilcloth parcel into his bosom, keeping it close.

He bent over, strained to help the nearly collapsed Qian Bo up: "Qian Bo, rest assured! I'm off now! I will personally deliver this to grandfather's hands!"

"Good… good… Young Master Mingyuan, be careful… in all things…"

Qian Bo weakly gave his warning.

Meanwhile, at the Wang Family Manor.

"Boom!"

"Bang!"

"Clang!"

Outside the manor, the four Wan family experts at Body Refining seventh and eighth layers, like tireless mad dogs, took turns attacking the light shield of the 【Misty Spirit Gathering Array】.

Fist force, water bolts, sword glints, palm winds—various spiritual lights ceaselessly struck the pale‑blue shield, raising ripples, yet the shield stood firm as rock, only its hue seeming to dim a little.

Inside, the Wang family youths were no longer panicking as before, but seeing the enemies' fierce assaults outside and hearing those dull impacts, their hearts remained uneasy.

Under the old locust tree, Wang Shan's face was as still as water, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes fixed on the four figures leaping up and down outside the shield.

The fortified array's defensive power is indeed astonishing; for now it can still hold.

But he knows clearly this is only temporary.

Each defense drains energy from the array's core module and the scarce spirit stones in the storeroom.

What also anxieties him is that the 【Spirit Plant Points: 3572】 number on the system panel remains unchanged.

Just a little more, just a tiny bit more and we could exchange for an 【Obstacle‑Breaking Pill】!

If he can break through to Body Refining eighth layer, he'll have greater confidence to face Wan Hong!

Time!

What he lacks most right now is time!

That old coot Wan Hong, his patience is probably about to run out.

These four guys are just appetizers; the real thunderbolt strike could descend at any moment!

Just as Wang Shan was anxious to the point of almost urging the system again, his heart suddenly stirred!

No, no, it's not the alert that the spirit plants have matured.

But rather a more concealed feeling that also makes the heart race—a secret family message transmission!

It's Mingyuan!

It's a message sent by that kid Mingyuan!

Wang Shan immediately focused his mind, receiving the fragmented information appearing in his mind.

「Grandfather...... Xuan Qing brother...... life-saving item...... grandson has obtained it...... try to send it back! 」

Just a few short words, yet they exploded like a thunderclap in Wang Shan's mind!

Xuan Qing!

It's Xuan Qing!

This kid actually……

He actually sent something?!

A warm current impossible to describe instantly surged through Wang Shan's whole body, dispelling days of anxiety and fatigue, igniting fierce hope in his heart!

He didn't know what Xuan Qing had sent, but in this desperate moment, any shred of aid from the outside world was enough to let one see hope of survival!

"Xuan Qing……good! good! I, the qilin son of the Wang family!"

Wang Shan's voice trembled with excitement; he suppressed his excitement and immediately replied via secret arts: "Mingyuan, received! Return quickly! Be careful! Safety first!"

After replying, Wang Shan took a deep breath, striving to calm his excited emotions.

He again turned his gaze toward the outside of the light shield, watching the four Wan family cultivators still attacking fiercely; his eyes gained a trace of composure and calm.

What could the life-saving item sent by Xuan Qing be?

Something that would make Xuan Qing so solemn, even entrusting someone to risk their life to deliver it, is certainly not ordinary.

Moreover, it's even at this critical juncture……

Could it be……

Wang Shan's mind raced; suddenly he recalled some vague information previously leaked by the Shangguan family—that old dog Wan Hong's strongest technique is the 【Black Fiend Claw】, vicious and poisonous, extremely yin and evil.

And this Xuan Qing child, studying the righteous aura at the academy……

Could it be that……

"Righteous aura……restrains evil arts……"

Wang Shan's heart jolted; a bold guess surfaced.

At that moment, the long-awaited system prompt finally arrived, late but welcome!

【Ding! The host's cultivated Clear Heart Grass has finished batch ripening, yielding 1350 plants and earning 410 Spirit Plant Points.】

"Success!"

Wang Shan's heart leapt with joy; he immediately checked the system panel.

【Spirit Plant Points: 3982】 Three thousand nine hundred eighty-two points!

Only one step remains to reach the four thousand points needed for the Obstacle-Breaking Pill!

What's even more exciting is that he faintly sensed a familiar aura rapidly approaching the Wang Family Old Residence—it was Mingyuan himself!

That kid actually managed to sneak back successfully!

"Righteous aura……restrains evil arts……Obstacle-Breaking Pill……Xuan Qing, my grandson, truly heaven helps me!"

Wang Shan clenched his fists, his eyes blazed with unprecedented light; his previous repression and frustration vanished, replaced by a confidence brimming with hope and determination!

Wan Hong, you old dog, your doom has arrived!