Chapter 201: Circulating And Stopping (II)

Chirp, chirp.

Outside the carriage, Little Black chirped twice and pointed with its paw at its back.

Following Little Black's gestures, Liang Yunhui used a water flask to wash the mud from its body. The girl was clearly bored; aside from practicing martial arts and reading, there was little to do on the road. She was super happy to have something to do, so washing the animal's back was no issue.

The wheels rumbled as the caravan moved along. This stretch of road was rough, mostly mountainous terrain, and the journey jolted with every turn. As dusk began to fall, the convoy came to a halt. There happened to be a flat clearing nearby, which was an ideal place to camp for the night. If they pressed on, they might not find another suitable spot before darkness descended.

After feeding the Ox Horse, Lin Zheyu entered his carriage, donned his five-hundred-kilogram heavy armor, and placed his valuables, along with a water pouch filled with concentrated medicinal broth, into his pack. The guards from Guangxuan Escort Agency formed a defensive circle as they set up camp, while the other travelers grouped up in twos and threes. Over the past month, Lin Zheyu had grown familiar with Liang Yunhui and her mother, Liang Yuhan, so they camped together every night to look out for one another.

Whoosh, whoosh.

After the caravan halted, Liang Yunhui changed into loose training clothes and began practicing with her sword. The blade whistled sharply through the air with each swing. Her swordsmanship was elegant and graceful, a beautiful sight to behold. Unfortunately, her clothing was loose, concealing her figure; otherwise, the display would have been even more striking.

"Little Yunhui, keep an eye on things for me. I'm heading out for a bit," Lin Zheyu said to her.

In the past, he would have Little Black stand guard while he went into the mountains to train and break through his limits. But after getting to know Liang Yunhui and her mother, he began asking Yunhui to watch over things instead.

Her mother, Liang Yuhan, was a quiet and reserved woman who rarely spoke. Whenever Lin Zheyu tried to start a conversation, she ignored him, so he found it easier to speak directly to the daughter. He knew that if anything happened, her mother would surely step in.

"Alright, Uncle Zhao." Liang Yunhui sheathed her sword and smiled brightly.

Once Lin Zheyu and Little Black had disappeared into the forest, she changed her position, facing his Ox Horse carriage, and continued her sword practice.

"That man's interesting, and seems quite strong. I wonder what he goes into the forest for every few days," a young man from Guangxuan Escort Agency said with a smile as he watched Lin Zheyu's departing figure.

"Probably searching for something," Cui Mengruo replied casually.

She had no interest whatsoever in that plain-looking middle-aged man. What intrigued her instead was the beast named Little Black. Still, her grandfather had warned her not to covet what belonged to others, so she dismissed the thought entirely.

"Mengruo, here. This one's ready," the young man said with a grin, handing her a piece of roasted meat.

It had just rained, leaving the firewood damp, but they had poured a layer of special fire oil over it, allowing it to ignite easily. Once the fire caught, they added the wet logs, drying them in the flames before use. At first, Lin Zheyu hadn't known this trick, but later he had bought some of that same fire oil himself. As long as it wasn't raining, he could light campfires for roasting meat.

"No need. I can roast my own," Cui Mengruo said flatly, refusing the meat he offered.

The man was the son of her mother's cousin, Chu Bin. Chu Bin's talent was exceptional, and perhaps even greater than hers, so their families hoped to unite them through marriage. But Cui Mengruo had no interest in him. While other girls her age were raised with music, poetry, and refinement, her life had revolved almost entirely around martial training ever since her extraordinary aptitude had been discovered.

Fortunately, she loved martial cultivation and had thrown herself into it completely. Her natural talent was outstanding; at such a young age, she had already advanced to the Blood Qi Realm. Martial cultivation was her entire world, and she had no intention of wasting time on romance or sentimental matters.

"Everyone, stay sharp tonight. We're entering the territory of the Giant Python Stronghold. They're formidable, with two Marrow Refining Realm martial artists among them. Don't underestimate them!" a burly man shouted from atop his Ox Horse.

"Yes, sir!" the men of Guangxuan Escort Agency responded in unison.

"Fifth uncle, is the Giant Python Stronghold really that strong?" Cui Mengruo asked, taking a bite of her roasted meat, her expression showing a trace of worry.

With two Marrow Refining Realm martial artists, their strength was indeed formidable. Although the escort team itself included three Marrow Refining Realm experts and several Blood Qi Realm martial artists, forming a powerful force in their own right, Guangxuan Escort Agency was responsible for not only guarding valuable cargo but also ensuring the safety of over seventy travelers. If a confrontation truly broke out, they would likely suffer heavy losses.

"Don't worry. We've dealt with them before. Your grandfather knows the second chief of the Giant Python Stronghold. As long as we pay a small price, there shouldn't be any problem," the burly man said with a reassuring smile.

Though his face showed nonchalance, his heart was heavy with caution. It was precisely because Cui Xiaofeng had once dealt with the Giant Python Stronghold that, after hearing his accounts, the man had developed a deep wariness toward them.

"Relax, Mengruo. The Giant Python Stronghold is nothing to fear; they can't stir up any real trouble. Uncle Yuanliang, why are they called the Giant Python Stronghold? Do they really tame giant pythons?" Chu Bin asked curiously.

"That's right. The Giant Python Stronghold practices a unique snake-taming secret art. They breed and command numerous powerful pythons, some of which have even reached the fourth transformation of blood qi. Once we travel a few more kilometers ahead, you'll see pythons scattered throughout the mountains and forests; almost all of them are raised by the Stronghold," Cui Yuanliang explained.

Not far away, Liang Yuhan and her companions also heard Cui Yuanliang's words, and their vigilance instantly heightened.

"Mother, Uncle Zhao won't be in danger, will he?" Liang Yunhui paused, worry clouding her eyes as she looked toward Liang Yuhan.

"He'll be fine. He's strong, and that beast he raised isn't weaker than I am. Keep practicing your sword. There's no need to worry about Zhao Hao," Liang Yuhan replied calmly.

Her voice was beautiful; cold yet carrying a crisp, ethereal tone. After speaking, she fell silent once more. In all the time Lin Zheyu had traveled with her, he had rarely heard her utter more than a few words. She was a woman of quiet solemnity, withdrawn and reserved.

***

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Lin Zheyu and Little Black darted swiftly through the forest. Even while wearing five hundred kilograms of heavy armor, he moved with effortless grace, his figure gliding like a ghostly shadow between the trees.

Swoosh.

A flash of silver burst through the air, followed by a sharp metallic ring as the Golden Scale Saber slid back into its sheath. A giant python, five meters long, fell from midair in five cleanly severed pieces.

"Why are there more and more pythons? Is there a nest up ahead?" Lin Zheyu stopped, his brows knitting slightly.

The further he advanced, the more frequently pythons appeared. This last one was already the fourth he had slain.

I should change direction. This area isn't suitable for training,

Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

He would be weakened after pushing his body past its limit. If a powerful python appeared, things could turn dire.

"Little Black, come back," Lin Zheyu called out to the beast in the distance.

After Little Black returned, he changed course and continued deeper into the forest. About two kilometers later, he finally stopped. In this new direction, the number of pythons had decreased drastically, and almost none could be seen. Lin Zheyu carefully inspected the surroundings, and once he was certain the area was safe, he began his training.

"Alright, go hunt. Once you're done, come back here," Lin Zheyu said to Little Black.

After breaking through his limit, his body would inevitably weaken. Though he could still make his way back in the heavy armor, it would take a long time to recover. With Little Black helping to share the burden, however, he could return much more quickly.

Because it had just rained, water still dripped intermittently from the forest canopy. As Lin Zheyu stepped on the soft, damp earth under the weight of five hundred kilograms, each stride left a deep footprint, yet it did not hinder him in the slightest.

Huff~.

A fierce surge of fist momentum rose from Lin Zheyu's body as he began striking the air, his punches carrying overwhelming force.

Barbaric Ox Charge!

Ox Horn Thrust!

***

Blow after blow of the Barbaric Ox Fist roared forth, and in an instant, fierce gales swept through the forest, howling with the force of his strikes.