Chapter 78: Engaging the Enemy

Li Fei did not sleep all night, keeping his attention on the movements around him.

He waited until the sky turned slightly bright and the heavy rain stopped before he slowly moved forward.

More than thirty minutes later, he once again discovered traces left behind by the main force ahead.

Just like that, Li Fei tracked them until the afternoon, when heavy rain began to fall in the mountains again.

Because the distance was too great and the heavy rain had washed away many traces, Li Fei followed the wrong direction several times and had to turn back to find the path again.

Fortunately, he discovered trash and excrement casually discarded by the main force, which allowed him to get back on the right track.

The Peace God Sect was a cult after all, and the quality of its followers was uneven; although Zhao Yu had repeatedly ordered that no trash be left in the jungle, the followers had maintained this discipline at first, but after starting the maze array twice, enduring a night of heavy rain, and having already escaped so far, they no longer cared about this order from Zhao Yu.

Moreover, when nature calls, in a group of over a hundred people, there is always someone who needs to relieve themselves; asking them to carry their own waste was simply too difficult.

Therefore, Li Fei managed not to lose them.

It was not until dusk approached and the rain eased that the large force finally arrived at their destination.

This was a natural cave that the Peace God Sect had discovered long ago; it extended in all directions and was large enough to accommodate several thousand people.

Zhao Yu had arranged for people to guard this place in advance and had stored food, medicine, and some daily necessities inside.

This would be the next stronghold for the Peace God Sect.

"Sect Master!"

The Peace God Sect followers guarding the cave came up to greet them, looking very excited upon seeing Zhao Yu and the others.

"Is everything prepared?"

Zhao Yu asked.

"Yes, we have already started fires and prepared meat soup for the brothers in advance."

"Good, well done."

Zhao Yu nodded, then summoned a senior follower: "Go and arrange some capable brothers to keep watch on the perimeter; do not be careless."

"Yes."

This person nodded and turned to arrange for guards.

Afterward, Zhao Yu led the main force into the cave, where over a dozen fires had already been lit, with iron pots set up over them, boiling meat soup and steaming with heat.

The group, having traveled through the rain for two days, was already exhausted; smelling the aroma of the meat, they all showed happy expressions.

Zhao Yu's tightly wound mood also relaxed.

About an hour later, everyone had changed into dry clothes and sat around the fires to warm themselves, drink soup, and eat meat, the atmosphere lively.

"I would like to say a few words."

Zhao Yu, who was in the central position, stood up and said loudly.

Soon, the cave fell silent, and everyone looked at this Sect Master who had planned everything and led them in accomplishing a great feat.

"In this operation, everyone performed very well!"

Zhao Yu looked around and began his speech:

"We now have guns, bullets, and equipment; next, we will grow larger and stronger, and create new glory!

This time, everyone saw that the power of the Peace God is great; even when the Inspectorate sent over a hundred fully armed inspectors and the Stop-Weapon Academy sent official martial artists of the imperial court, they were still no match for us!

Everyone must believe that the sins of this world will eventually be washed away by us, and we will surely create a new world!"

Finally, he formed a strange seal with both hands and said with a solemn expression:

"The Peace God is immortal, the Underworld shall exist forever."

As his voice fell, a spell had been silently completed, and an invisible force spread through the cave.

As a Spirit Transformation realm mage, Zhao Yu could cast spells directly without the need for casting materials or related rituals.

"The Peace God is immortal, the Underworld shall exist forever!"

The people in the cave stood up one after another, shouting with fanatical faces.

Zhao Yu revealed a satisfied smile.

Just as he was feeling smug and thinking his life had reached a new peak, an abrupt sound came from outside into the cave:

Bang—

"Is that a gunshot?!"

Zhao Yu's expression changed, and he reacted immediately.

"Old He, go take a look!"

He turned to a sturdy-looking middle-aged man with a crew cut who looked honest and simple.

Old He nodded and quickly ran toward the outside of the cave.

Because his speed was so fast, the wind he stirred up caused the flames of the fires to sway violently.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Yu cursed with a gloomy face and then ordered:

"Everyone check your firearms, load your bullets, guard every entrance and exit, and prepare for battle!"

Then he picked a team of elites from the sect to follow him as he rushed out of the cave.

In the jungle, before the gunshot rang out, Li Fei was moving forward quietly.

Suddenly, the steel armor implant in his body stirred, sensing danger!

He leaped behind a large tree on his left without hesitation, and at the same time, a gunshot rang out.

This bullet failed to hit him, but it let him know that he had been exposed.

"Either I tracked them too closely and was discovered by the people they left behind, or they have already reached their destination, and this was discovered by the people responsible for perimeter security."

Several thoughts flashed through Li Fei's mind, and then he turned and ran without hesitation.

This was the choice he had predetermined: once discovered, flee immediately!

He had done his best to track them all the way here; if all went well, the people from the Inspectorate should have already found the markers he left along the way, so his credit for this mission was certainly guaranteed.

What he needed to do next was protect himself.

In the jungle, the follower who had been arranged for perimeter security and had discovered Li Fei saw him turn and run, and chased after him without hesitation.

While chasing, he blew the whistle hanging on his chest to provide his location to the others.

These people responsible for perimeter security were equipped with revolvers, but the jungle terrain was too complex to find a good shooting angle, so the follower simply gave up on shooting and just chased blindly.

He used to be a hunter in Luoshan and could hunt the fiercest wild boars in the mountains, so he was very agile in the forest. If it were on flat ground, he certainly couldn't outrun Li Fei, but in the complex terrain of the forest, Li Fei could not shake him off.

Listening to the rapid footsteps and the occasional whistle behind him, a fierce look flashed in Li Fei's eyes.

He stopped abruptly, turned, and drew his blade!

Clang—

A flash of snow-white blade light lit up in the dim jungle.

The follower rushing forward saw this and immediately raised the revolver in his hand, preparing to shoot.

Slap!

Li Fei stepped heavily into the mud formed by the rain, splashing a large amount of muddy water.

At this moment, a sentence suddenly appeared in his mind:

"Beyond seven steps, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the gun is both fast and accurate."

Blood Rage activated.

One Blood Soul was consumed, a warm current surged out, and powerful strength erupted within his body!

Bang!

Swish—

The sound of the gunshot and the sound of the blade cutting through the air rang out almost simultaneously.

Then, blood appeared, and the wrist of the follower holding the gun was severed!

Before he could let out a scream, Li Fei slashed his throat with the blade.

This time, Li Fei did not forget to dodge and did not get splattered with blood.

Watching the Peace God Sect follower slowly fall while clutching his neck, Li Fei wiped the rainwater from his face and said softly:

"The times have changed."

(End of chapter)