Chapter 10: Crafted Bronze Cannon

Xu Yuan had already run more than ten miles when he was mysteriously dragged back.

The Holy Maiden beamed triumphantly: "You killed one of ours and think you can run? Not so easy!"

The cannon's muzzle swung around, locking onto Xu Yuan.

"I ask, you answer. If you lie even once, I'll reduce you to dust."

Xu Yuan still said nothing; the Holy Maiden had already begun her interrogation—the boy was already at her mercy.

"Where is the June Bug?"

Xu Yuan scanned his surroundings: Accountant Liu was bound in iron chains, head drooping, clearly of no use.

Around him, everyone was the enemy.

This altar—thankfully, it was only an altar, with no other restrictions, not enough to trap him.

Seeing the boy still pretending to be deaf and mute, the Holy Maiden laughed angrily: "You think I'm afraid to kill you?"

The bronze cannon atop the palanquin blazed with crimson light! Kill this boy, turn the maid's soul into a yin soldier, and she'd answer anything.

Zhao Yong and the others turned pale, scrambling back several zhang away.

This type of crafted bronze cannon could fire several kinds of shells—explosive and solid.

Normally, you'd load a solid shell for a single target, but if it was accidentally loaded with an explosive, they'd be caught in the blast too.

Xu Yuan spun around and dashed into Elder Qiao's study.

But the moment he moved, the crafted cannon rotated its barrel, automatically tracking its target.

Xu Yuan ignored it entirely, slipped into the study, twisted through corridors, and slipped out through a small gate in the side courtyard.

Only the inn staff knew about this gate.

The crimson glow of the bronze crafted cannon grew brighter, yet the shell never fired.

The cannon's body swelled outward—someone suddenly shouted: "No! It's going to burst!"

The Holy Maiden sensed something was wrong; with a rustle, she leapt through the shattered rear panel of the palanquin and shot toward the courtyard gate.

Zhao Yong and the others were terrified—some leapt over walls, others dashed through gates, all fleeing the courtyard at top speed.

Accountant Liu, bound in chains, stared wide-eyed and strained to jump…

Boom!

The bronze crafted cannon exploded.

The side courtyard was ravaged as if by a storm—bamboo, plum blossoms, flowers and grass shattered instantly!

The rock garden was blasted into the air; seven or eight stones flew over ten zhang away, crashing onto the street beyond.

The courtyard wall collapsed in neat sections; the study's front doors and windows shattered, the walls riddled with countless holes.

The palanquin split into pieces; a half-man-deep crater appeared on the ground!

Accountant Liu was flung outward—a large shard of cannon barrel, shaped like a roof tile, pinned him to an undamaged wall, his eyes bulging, already dead.

Outside the courtyard, the Holy Maiden's hair was stuck with wood splinters—how had she ever been so disheveled?

Her rage boiled over: "Chase him! I want him dead!"

Zhao Yong and the others immediately surged out like wild beasts.

"When did this brat tamper with it?!" the Holy Maiden snarled.

The maid bowed her head behind her, guessing it was last night.

But how could this boy possibly tamper with a crafted artifact?

Even if he truly ate the June Bug, he's only a Ming Xiu—different paths are like different mountains; he shouldn't even understand how crafted artifacts work, let alone tamper with them.

Xu Yuan had only been hiding inside the palanquin, never intending to tamper with it.

But seeing the yin soldier's master in the front courtyard, he thought it wise to prepare—so he casually made some "modifications" to the palanquin.

As he worked, Xu Yuan realized the artisan who built this palanquin was far inferior to his stepmother.

His stepmother had drilled him daily; though not a Craft Xiu, Xu Yuan understood these craft arts intimately.

"This thing looks flashy, but it's nothing special—a silk pillow stuffed with cotton."

So tampering was easy.

Xu Yuan hadn't heard the Holy Maiden threaten Accountant Liu.

Could something bought by the Northern Capital Divine Mechanism Camp really be shoddy?

Zhao Yong and his men knew the town well; Xu Yuan hadn't run far before they caught up.

Xu Yuan twisted through alleys, but couldn't shake them off.

Zhao Yong was anxious too—if he didn't capture Xu Yuan quickly after the Holy Maiden's humiliation, he'd surely be blamed.

He carefully studied Xu Yuan's route, leapt onto the wall, and scrambled onto the roof beside him.

Wu Xiu were exceptionally agile.

He sprinted across the rooftops, leapt over two courtyards, then soared forward like a great roc, landing precisely before Xu Yuan.

This was a narrow alley; two others were still chasing from behind.

Zhao Yong stood up, radiating authority: "You won't escape."

Xu Yuan saw Zhao Yong blocking his path—but didn't slow down. Zhao Yong sneered, shook his sleeves with a sharp crack—they tore apart, his arms swelling thicker than Xu Yuan's thighs!

Xu Yuan suddenly opened his mouth: Puff!

A pill glowed gold and silver, shooting at Zhao Yong at high speed.

Zhao Yong was surprised: "A Rank Dan Xiu?" Then he sneered: "Pathetic level."

He stepped forward, reached out his palm toward the pill, and exhaled sharply: "Hey—"

The pill, capable of snapping a tree as thick as a bowl, was caught in his hand!

The pill spun rapidly in his grip; Zhao Yong clenched hard, producing a screeching squeal, white smoke rising from his palm.

Then, Zhao Yong spread his palm, and the pill had already come to rest in his hand.

Clear palm prints were left on the pill!

"Accept your fate," Zhao Yong said coldly.

Yet he saw a strange smile appear at the corner of Xu Yuan's mouth.

Xu Yuan had already rushed to his front; Zhao Yong reached out to grab, certain of success. Zhao Yong had already decided that once he caught him, he would first snap the boy's two collarbones to give him a small lesson.

But as the large hand extended halfway, the arm suddenly went limp and dropped; Zhao Yong suddenly felt his life force draining away rapidly!

Xu Yuan rushed past Zhao Yong; his body brushed against Zhao Yong's arm, and Zhao Yong crashed down with a boom.

"The Merchant's Law... the price for a life..." Zhao Yong drew his last breath, finally understanding.

"Master!" The two men chasing behind Xu Yuan were greatly startled; they threw themselves onto Zhao Yong's corpse, shaking it repeatedly and calling out.

Why chase any further? The master has been killed; if we catch up, we will only be throwing our lives away.

Thus, a scene of deep affection between master and servant played out in the alley.

Xu Yuan moved like a nimble and agile leopard, weaving and turning through the streets and alleys, bursting out of the town, and swiftly charging into Ghost Wushan.

By the time the Saintess and her group arrived, Xu Yuan had long since vanished without a trace.

The Saintess's face turned iron-green with rage; the maid forced herself to check Zhao Yong's corpse, retrieved that pill, and presented it to the Saintess for inspection: "The price for a life."

"It must have been searched from Huang Wanliang, and refined using his alchemical cultivation method."

"Zhao Yong was not vigilant for a moment and fell for his trick."

The Saintess pinched her fingers, and the pill was crushed flat like dough: "An unranked level!"

The few people from the Zhao Fur Shop were clearly stunned; knowing that the boy was only at this level, they should chase him down no matter what, to serve the Saintess with loyalty and avenge the master!

The Saintess cursed inwardly: "A fool, leading a group of cowards!"

Her gaze swept coldly over the few of them, and she had already marked them in her mind as "bait."

"Wu Haishan!" The Saintess called out: "You are also a Rank Dan Xiu; is there any way to catch him?"

(End of this chapter)