Chapter 29: Departure

"So poor?"

"Fine, let's go."

Yu Lin kicked Zhang Qing's corpse into the Si River with a single foot.

A splash rang out, and water droplets spattered.

Zhang Qing sank into the Si River.

Just as Yu Lin said.

This guy was really poor; on his body only a few Copper Coins and some black, glistening pills of unknown effect were found.

Yu Lin didn't dare gamble they were poison, so he left them and tossed them into the river along with Zhang Qing's corpse.

He had originally thought he might find some technique or the like... even the water droplets that could turn into a cage were discarded by the Dragon Lord.

Never mind, being safe is better than anything.

Yu Lin flicked his hair, brushed his soaking hair back into place, and strode forward.

The Dragon Lord's voice sounded beside his ear:

"Alright then, Yu kid, I thought you'd hesitate a bit. Not bad, not bad."

"No hesitation; hesitation leads to defeat."

"You have this resolve; whatever you do from now on will succeed. The Dragon Lord believes in you."

"Thank you, Dragon Lord. Another day I'll treat you to a one‑dragon service."

"One‑dragon service? You mean find me a dragon service? What kind of dragon? If possible, I'd like one that looks like the Ying Dragon..."

"It's a Wei Dragon."

"Wei Dragon? What kind of dragon is that?"

"It's a kind of red, long, fiery......"

"Wow, stop talking. Dragon Lord, I'm a proper dragon."

One month later.

Sigh.

Sitting cross‑legged on the ground, Yu Lin opened his eyes and let out a long exhale of foul Qi.

Benefiting from the abundant Qi here.

In just one short month, even without cultivation pills or elixirs, he has now reached Qi induction completion!

It's not that he doesn't want to use the Cauldron to aid cultivation; the Dragon Lord told him not to yet, as it needs to control the Cauldron to gather sun‑moon‑star essence.

He said that when he later practices Soul Cultivation, it will be extremely beneficial for both night‑travel and day‑travel realms.

Even if used now, it can strengthen the Soul, so that even after half a month without sleep, he won't feel any fatigue.

It can also enhance perception, making Qi manipulation smoother, and even allow the flesh body to perform some incredible feats.

In short, it's full of benefits.

It's just that the sun‑moon‑star essence condenses too slowly; in a month it only formed a single droplet.

Yu Lin drank it yesterday.

It had no particular taste, just made his whole body feel a little lighter and more comfortable.

He didn't notice the marvelous effects the Dragon Lord mentioned; perhaps he didn't drink enough. A few more drops and he'll feel it.

We'll talk about it later.

Yu Lin stood up, about to step out the door, when a knock sounded first:

"Master, master! Are you awake?"

"I'm leaving today."

"Come to bid you farewell, you.........."

Snap.

The door opened.

Liu Bang quickly withdrew his hand that was about to fall on Yu Lin, and laughed:

"Master, good morning."

"Hmm." Yu Lin nodded, seeing Liu Bang already dressed neatly, and said:

"Are the household matters arranged?"

Liu Bang nodded: "Yes."

"When I'm gone, I'll trouble you, Master, to look after Yuan'er and Ying'er..."

"If I don't return, let the two become your retirees."

Yu Lin's gaze fell on the bronze sword at his waist.

It was embroidered with patterns and adorned with multicolored beads.

Two seal characters, Chi Xiao, were carved on the blade.

"When was the sword forged?"

"We commissioned it half a month ago; it was finished yesterday. Master, do you like it? If you do, it's yours!"

He was about to unsheathe the Chi Xiao Sword and hand it to Yu Lin.

Yu Lin pressed his hand, pushed the Chi Xiao Sword back, and stared at him:

"Liu Ji."

"Hey, Master, you say."

"Your innate talent is extraordinary; now that you've entered the later stage of Qi induction, though you haven't learned any techniques, your martial skill is already excellent."

"Master, what are you trying to say? You still want me to kill that White Snake, right?"

"No."

Yu Lin gave him a slight smile: "Killing the White Snake isn't what I want to kill, but what you want to kill."

"Remember, nothing in the world is impossible."

"Just draw your sword."

"Go."

He patted Liu Bang's shoulder.

Liu Bang found Yu Lin odd and vague, leaving him very puzzled, and could only nod:

"Alright."

"Just draw your sword!"

"Master, I'm leaving!"

He knelt, bowed three times to Yu Lin, then turned and left.

Until he reached the doorway, he grabbed Xiao He's sleeve:

"Sir Xiao, take good care of my brothers' wives, children, and elders."

"Otherwise, even if I die, I'll come back to claim your life!"

Xiao He, knowing this departure was extremely perilous, nodded and said:

"Rest assured, I will watch over them from now on!"

"If it's a lie, from now on, you will be cut off from descendants!"

This is a poisonous oath, especially in these times.

"Hahaha!"

"Now that you say that, I'm relieved," Liu Bang laughed heartily, released his sleeve, and strode forward.

Until he vanished from sight.

Xiao He withdrew his gaze, intending to turn back and say something to Yu Lin.

But he was startled.

Because where was Yu Lin's figure?

Only a few bundles of Copper Coins were left on the ground.

"Indeed, it's a divine technique."

Several days later.

"Something's wrong?"

"Didn't we come here yesterday?!"

"Lu Wan!"

Liu Bang sat on the ground, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and shouted at Lu Wan.

"I'm here, brother, what's wrong?" Lu Wan hurried forward.

Liu Bang pointed to the stone marker he had made on the ground beside him:

"We were just here yesterday; why are we back today?"

"Didn't you say you knew the way?"

"Now a big trouble has arisen! Sigh!"

Lu Wan bowed his head shamefully: "Brother, it's my... my fault."

"Admitting fault is useless!" Liu Bang kicked his butt, raising a cloud of dust:

"Stick close to me and go!"

Under the scorching sun, the group trudged through the forest, drenched in sweat.

Until the sun shifted westward, Lu Wan suddenly pointed ahead and shouted: "Brother, look! Ahead is Fengxi Ze! This time we can't be wrong!"

Liu Bang squinted and saw a distant shimmering water marsh, glimmering with Golden Light under the sunset.

He wiped the sweat from his face, laughed and scolded: "If you lead us astray again, I'll throw you into the water to feed the fish! Come, let's rest over there!"

The others dragged their weary bodies to the water's edge, collapsing in a heap on the grass.

Zhou Bo pulled out a water bag, gulped a few swallows, let out a startled "Eh?" and hurriedly stood to count the people.

"Brother!"

Zhou Bo's voice changed tone: "Twenty‑seven people are missing!"

"What?!" Liu Bang sprang up like a leaping carp, eyes wide, scanning the surroundings.

Indeed, the once massive formation now visibly had many fewer members.

Fan Kuai wiped the sweat from his face and asked in a coarse voice:

"Brother, what do we do now?"

Liu Bang shrugged helplessly, looking despondent: "What can we do? Even our trip to Li Mountain missed the time, and now we lack manpower; either way it's a death sentence!"

Then just disperse! Each return to their own home, each find their own mother!

"Liu Ji!"

An Official Messenger "swished" his blade from its scabbard, the tip pointing at Liu Bang's throat:

"This is the great crime of exterminating the nine clans! I can cut you down right now!"

The surroundings fell silent instantly, everyone held their breath.

Liu Bang stared at the Long Sword's tip, eyes narrowing slightly, a cold smile curling his lips: "Exterminate the nine clans? Ha..."

"Clang—!"

As the Chi Xiao Sword left its scabbard, a red beam seemed to slash through the air.

The official messenger's head gave a "thud" and rolled to the ground; the headless corpse swayed, then collapsed with a boom.

Fresh blood spattered on the grass, reflecting the sunset, glowing red and blinding.

Liu Bang shook the blood droplets off his sword and said loudly:

"Going forward means death; turning back also means death!"

He looked around at the crowd:

"Those willing to follow me into the mountains, go! Those unwilling, scatter on your own! You decide what to do!"

Having said that, he strode forward without looking back, the Chi Xiao Sword gleaming with blood-light in the sunset, his silhouette stretched out long.

Fan Kuai was the first to follow, grinning broadly: "Big brother, wait for me!"

Lu Wan and Zhou Bo exchanged a glance, then hurried after him.

Gradually, one, two... more and more people followed behind Liu Bang.

The sunset cast their shadows on the ground, merging into a single dark mass where you could no longer tell who was who.