Chapter 109: Blood Pill (II)

Outside the city walls, a group of bandits was busy trying to rob a caravan.

Time was against them, however. They had to finish the raid before the City Guard arrived, or they would have no choice but to flee. Those elite soldiers, though only 30 in number, were disciplined, armored, and coordinated in battle formations that the bandits could not hope to match.

It wasn't long before the lookout bandit shouted, "The City Guard is coming! Retreat!"

"

Damn

, they're this fast?" another cursed.

"

Shit

, just a little longer. We're almost done!"

"Retreat! All of you, pull back now!" the leader bellowed.

In a moment of carelessness, the leader was sent flying by a powerful blow from the caravan's Blood Qi Realm expert. At the same time, over a dozen arrows shot toward the martial artist, forcing him back. Seeing this, the rest of the bandits wasted no time and began their retreat. If they didn't leave now, it would soon be too late.

When the battle ended, Lin Zheyu quietly followed the bandits. Rustling leaves marked the swift passage of fifty-eight burly men through the forest. Their familiarity with the terrain made their pace swift and steady, as if they were walking on flat ground.

"Faster! Take the path on the right," commanded the leader.

That trail was treacherous, impassable for horses, and would likely force the City Guard to abandon pursuit. Only after they had passed through the rugged trail did the group finally allow themselves to relax a little.

A sharp swish cut through the air as a cold gleam flashed. A throwing knife shot out from the dense forest and buried itself in the forehead of the bandit leader. His eyes widened in shock and unwillingness.

"Who's there?" shouted the bandits, and those armed with crossbows fired toward the direction the knife had come from, but they found no sign of the enemy. Crossbows were devastating in an ambush, but in the forest, they were of little use when attacked from the shadows.

"Leave the goods, and I'll spare your lives!" Lin Zheyu's icy voice echoed through the forest.

The bandits' expressions hardened as they turned their gaze to another man. With their leader dead, only he could decide their next move.

This one's a true expert

, thought the man grimly.

Qiu Wei had been at the peak of the Organ Forging Realm, and for someone to kill him so easily with a throwing knife, the attacker had to be a Blood Qi Realm martial artist, and not an ordinary one at that.

Damn it! What's a Blood Qi Realm expert doing ambushing small fries like us?

If it were a head-on battle, their numbers and crossbows might give them a decent chance. But here in the woods, with the enemy hidden and striking from the shadows, they didn't stand a chance.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his frustration, the man said in a low, steady voice, "Put the goods down. We're leaving."

The bandits exchanged glances, unwillingness written all over their faces. They had lost several brothers to seize this loot. Still, they clenched their teeth, dropped the goods, and carried their leader's corpse as they fled deeper into the forest.

Lin Zheyu slowly emerged from the forest and picked up the items scattered on the ground. He counted through the spoils; there wasn't much, just some gold, silver, and jewelry. The bandits had only targeted valuables.

Lin Zheyu estimated the haul could fetch around 80 to 100 taels of silver. He muttered, "These bandits really have it rough. Risking their lives for barely 100 taels worth of loot, only for me to rob them of it." Despite his words, he felt no guilt but only a passing sigh.

These bandits usually survived by hunting and gathering herbs. They had people dedicated to watching merchant convoys, and when an opportunity arose, they would gather to strike. If they got lucky with a big job, a single raid could let them live comfortably for several years.

Time passed slowly, and before long, seven more days had gone by. Lin Zheyu stored the stolen goods in a hidden location. They were difficult to sell openly and could only be disposed of in the black market, which opened on the first and fifteenth of each month.

During those seven days, he encountered another bandit raid. However, that group was too greedy and failed to retreat in time, resulting in most of them being wiped out by the City Guard. Their loot was confiscated as well, much to Lin Zheyu's regret.

After the new year, the weather grew warmer, and the distant war seemed to have reignited. Lin Zheyu often saw troops being redeployed from afar, marching toward the front lines. He also saw many refugees passing by.

On the mountain, Lin Zheyu, as usual, practiced the Sixfold Saber technique in a wide, open area while keeping watch on the camp's movements. It was then that he noticed dozens of frail refugees passing by on their way to Songyi City. Halfway along the road, a group of burly men emerged from the forest. After saying something to the refugees, they led them away.

How strange... Those men look like the bandits hiding in the mountains. Why would they be so eager to take in refugees?

wondered Lin Zheyu.

He had seen this several times now; whenever refugees passed by, people would emerge from the mountains and lead them away.

A troubling thought crossed his mind, and his expression darkened as he thought,

I'd better follow them and take a look.

With their level of strength, those bandits could easily survive by hunting alone. Surely they wouldn't resort to something as vile as eating human flesh? Lin Zheyu frowned, finding that unlikely, yet he still couldn't figure out why they were taking in the refugees.

Outside Lion Valley, a thin veil of mist hung in the air. It was a toxic blend of smoke and miasma; without proper preparation, staying inside for too long could lead to severe illness or even death.

"Hurry up! Once we're inside, there'll be food," shouted a burly man, urging the refugees forward as he led them toward Lion Valley.

"Big Brother, once we deliver these refugees, we'll have 38 contribution points. I hear the fighting's started up again, so more and more refugees are coming. Soon we'll have enough to reach 100 contribution points and trade for a Blood Pill," said a man with a grin.

"

Heh!

Once I eat that Blood Pill, I'll become a Blood Qi Realm expert. Then I can rob whoever I want!" said the burly man greedily.

The Blood Pill was a reward promised by a man who claimed to be a priest of the Nine Nether Sect. He had told them that consuming it would allow them to directly break through to the Blood Qi Realm. And the Blood Pill wasn't the only thing; the priest's exchange list contained all kinds of treasures, including elixirs said to prolong life by 10 years.

"Big Brother, once we have enough contribution points, help me exchange for one too. I'll save it for when I reach the peak of the Organ Forging Realm," said another man hopefully.

"No rush. There'll be enough for everyone. Work hard and earn more contribution points. In the future, anyone who reaches the peak of the Organ Forging Realm can trade them for a Blood Pill and step into the Blood Qi Realm!" said the burly man loudly. His words drew a round of cheers from the underlings around him.

The refugees looked frightened at those words. They wanted to leave, but facing this group of vicious men, none dared voice their fears.

"M-My Lord, you said there'll be food when we arrive... you're not lying to us, are you?" one of them asked timidly, mustering his courage.

"Why would we lie to you? There are already plenty of people there. Once you arrive, you'll be able to farm and till the land again. You'll become part of the Nine Nether Sect, and the Great Demon God will watch over you!" said the man, mimicking the priest's solemn tone.

"Thank you, My Lord! Thank you!" said the refugees gratefully. At this point, survival was all that mattered. Along their journey, they had watched their companions die one after another, and despair had settled deep in their hearts. Most cities no longer accepted refugees, and even when kind people distributed porridge outside the walls, there was never enough to go around.

Rustle, rustle.

A gentle breeze swept through the forest, stirring the trees. Lin Zheyu circulated the Tortoise Breath Grand Method with all his strength, suppressing his aura to the bare minimum as he followed behind the group. He had heard clearly what that burly man had said just moments ago.

Blood Pill? Contribution points?

murmured Lin Zheyu inwardly, curiosity stirring.

What kind of pill is this Blood Pill, that it can directly allow someone to break through into the Blood Qi Realm?

For a martial artist to break through into the Blood Qi Realm, a sufficiently powerful spirit was essential. Only with a strong enough mind could one perceive qi and blood, and then fuse it with the body's essence and qi under the guidance of the spirit, forming the power of blood qi.

If this Blood Pill truly allowed a person to break through directly, could it mean it also possessed the ability to enhance the spirit itself?

I've been in Songyi City for so long, and I've never seen an actual pill. Everything used here is decoctions brewed from herbs. Even people like Xu Qinyi and Ren Qingfeng, scions of esteemed families, rely on medicinal decoctions. Interesting... It seems Lion Valley is hiding quite the secret,

thought Lin Zheyu, a glimmer of intrigue flashing across his face.