Chapter 42: Relentless Pursuit

Lu Wei said farewell to Ye Liuyun and the others, then left the Ye Clan.

He left the city for a circuit, then returned secretly. He intends to protect Ye Liuyun from the shadows, so that he won't be killed by his enemies.

He already missed a Mo Tianheng this time, and he can't let Ye Liuyun get into trouble again!

Just from the Bloodline Power Ye Liuyun unleashed, he knew Ye Liuyun was the person the Prince was looking for, and his future would be boundless.

Although he didn't see Ye Liuyun fight, that single punch was enough for him to gauge its depth.

A Body Refining Eighth Level cultivator can project True Essence outward. The power of one punch even nears the pinnacle of True Origin Triple. This is undoubtedly a once‑in‑a‑hundred‑years genius.

Ye Liuyun returned straight to the Hall and said goodbye to Feng Wanru.

"Aunt, I've always wanted to go out and explore. Now there are a few chances to go to the Tianyun Prince's Mansion, and I want to take a look."

"Fine! It's also time for you to go out and train!" Feng Wanru, for once, was seriously earnest. A different light gleamed in her eyes.

"Aunt! After I settle there, I'll bring you over! I don't want to be apart from you for long. I have strength now, and I'll protect you in the future!" Ye Liuyun said with a smile.

"You silly kid!" Feng Wanru scolded aloud, yet her eyes were full of tenderness, unlike her usual indifferent air.

"What? You don't believe? Let me show you my strength," Ye Liuyun said, about to demonstrate.

"If you believe, that's not enough; stop showing off! But you must be careful—always keep a Trump Card, don't expose everything. Especially your Bloodline Power, lest others exploit it! Don't forget what I told you; the world outside is treacherous!"

Feng Wanru, for the first time, gave him a long list of instructions, then turned her body away and brushed her hand across her face.

Ye Liuyun suddenly noticed that Feng Wanru had actually put on the bracelet he had given her!

Thus he became excited again, babbling nonstop to Feng Wanru—explaining how he misunderstood Lu Wei, how he promised him, and then rattling off a heap of his recent cultivation progress…

Feng Wanru listened quietly, unusually not finding him annoying enough to interrupt. While listening, she examined him carefully, as if to memorize his appearance.

Suddenly, Feng Wanru also realized that the handsome youth before her could already hold his own. She smiled with genuine relief.

And that smile caused Ye Liuyun to lose his focus for a moment!

"Aunt, your smile could topple a nation," Ye Liuyun praised sincerely.

"You brat, you've got guts, daring to tease me!" Feng Wanru pretended to be indignant.

"How could I dare tease you! Everything I said was sincere!" Ye Liuyun hurriedly explained.

Feng Wanru smiled faintly. "Fine, considering you're about to leave, I won't quibble with you! And don't nag me; hurry up and get ready."

"Alright!" Ye Liuyun finally left the Hall and went to Wanbaoge to bid farewell to Liang Xue.

He first took out the pills he had saved during this period, then bought some medicinal herbs. Only then did he discuss the main matter with Liang Xue.

"Your decision is right! That scoundrel Ye Liuyun is just an isolated case; the Tianyun Prince's Mansion isn't as terrible as you imagine. From what I know, the Prince treats the common folk fairly, and his golden‑armored troops are strictly disciplined. Fortunately you didn't miss this chance!" Liang Xue said confidently.

"Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease!" Ye Liuyun heard this and completely relaxed.

"When are you leaving? Is there anything you need to prepare before you go?" Liang Xue asked.

"Nothing much to prepare. I'm here today just to say goodbye. If I return later, I'll definitely visit you. Barring any mishap, I'll leave the day after tomorrow." Ye Liuyun said.

Liang Xue, however, showed no trace of sorrow or the melancholy of parting.

She simply told Ye Liuyun: "The county town also has a Wanbaoge; when the time comes, you can sell pills, buy herbs, just go with a Zi Card."

"Hmm! But I'm leaving, why didn't I notice you a bit sad?" Ye Liuyun asked curiously.

Liang Xue gave a sly smile, then said seriously: "You have a brighter future; I'm happy for you, so why be sad? Before you go, let me give you a parting gift."

"Sure! What gift?" Ye Liuyun was receptive.

Liang Xue sent Yu Er to fetch a map and handed it to Ye Liuyun. "Although you're a bit direction‑challenged, it's better than nothing. Also, I suggest you set out early to avoid taking the wrong road and wasting time."

Ye Liuyun made a grimace, but still took the map. He thought Liang Xue's advice had some merit.

Then Ye Liuyun bought plenty of seasonings, food, and clothing, said goodbye to Yu Er, and left Wanbaoge.

With everything prepared, Ye Liuyun that night imprinted the map onto his mind, and set out early the next morning.

Before departure, Aunt gave him a letter to read after he entered the Tianyun Prince's Mansion.

"Could it be some brilliant stratagem?"

Ye Liuyun didn't think further, tucked the letter away, spurred his horse and galloped out of the city.

Feng Wanru watched him off until his silhouette vanished, then returned to the Hall with moist eyes.

Ye Liuyun was heading to Tianyun County Town, passing through Wuyang County. Since the road ahead was familiar, he urged his horse to run faster.

Near noon, he suddenly stopped to rest.

When dismounting, a faint smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.

The City Lord's guards, indeed, had not given up!

Ahead lay a dense forest, the road threading through its middle—a perfect ambush spot.

He tied his horse to the roadside and walked into the forest. After a short while, his figure vanished.

In the forest ahead, several Black-clothed Persons looked toward their leader, awaiting his command.

The leader also wondered, "Did this kid spot us? That shouldn't happen! Yet why did he stop right in front of us?"

So he signaled, and two Black-clothed Persons chased toward the direction where Ye Liuyun had vanished.

But after a long while, there was no sign, and the two Black-clothed Persons did not return.

"Bad! They must have been discovered!" the leader sensed something amiss and ordered all Black-clothed Persons to surround the direction of Ye Liuyun.

Soon, they found two corpses dressed in black—the very two he had sent earlier.

At that moment, he heard the sound of an arrow whizzing through the air. Before he could shout a warning, one person was struck and fell from the tree.

He immediately gathered everyone, only to discover five of his own men were now missing.

"Damn! That kid is an archer. Everyone stay together, keep some distance, don't scatter."

As soon as he finished speaking, another arrow whooshed through the air.

"Poof!" A person on the far right was hit by an arrow and fell.

"Right side! Charge together!" He immediately ordered everyone to rush to the right.

But at this moment, another person on the left side was struck by an arrow.

"What's going on? Could it be more than one person?" Upon hearing this, all the black-clothed people began to worry.

"Pfft! Ah!" Two sounds rang out; the black-clothed person at the rear let out a miserable scream before dying. A stream of true qi pierced directly through his chest from behind.

"We've been ambushed! And it's not just one person ambushing us." All the black-clothed people thought the same.

"Retreat!" the leader of the black-clothed people commanded, and everyone wanted to run out of the Mi Lin.

Ye Liuyun closely followed behind, continuously using Spiritual Sense Lock on the black-clothed people, then shooting arrows left and right at will.

Since it's all Spiritual Sense Lock, his arrows can home in on the target themselves. Thus, to these black-clothed people, it seemed as if someone were shooting arrows at them from different directions.

Finally, seeing that few remained, he directly began shooting. In the end, out of more than twenty black-clothed people, only five escaped from the Mi Lin.

They dared not delay; after leaving the Mi Lin, they fled all the way.