Chapter 211: Treasure Map (II)

"I'm full, so I’ll be going out for a walk," Lai Chang suddenly said halfway through the meal.

"Alright, go ahead. But remember, don't do anything foolish," Lai Mao said seriously, glancing at him.

It had been Lai Chang's idea to stay at this inn, and Lai Mao knew full well what his brother was thinking. This wasn't within city limits, so rules were looser here. With Lai Chang's level of strength, as long as he didn't run into a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist, escaping would be no issue.

"Don't worry, I'm always careful," Lai Chang said with a sly grin.

He cast a quick glance toward Lin Zheyu, who was still eating, then slipped out through the back door. The sky outside was already dark, but the streets remained lively with people.

"

Heh

, I'd like to see what secrets you're hiding," Lai Chang sneered.

If not for his wariness toward Lin Zheyu, he would have already made a move on Liang Yuhan. Once he was sure no one was around, Lai Chang moved swiftly, leaping up to the second floor of the inn and landing outside Lin Zheyu's window. With a push, the window creaked open, and he slipped inside. He began rummaging through the room, hoping to uncover something of value.

Lai Chang had long been intrigued by Lin Zheyu. Every few days, Lin Zheyu would leave the convoy to venture into the forest alone, only to return in a visibly weakened state. The unusual pattern had caught his attention, and not his alone. Others in the convoy had noticed too, though few cared enough to investigate.

"Is he practicing some kind of forbidden art? Or did his cultivation go wrong, causing deviation? Or... something else?" Lai Chang muttered to himself. After searching through drawers and cabinets, he still found nothing of use.

"It looks like he got some skill with poison, but it's amateurish," Lai Chang scoffed, running a hand along the large chest by the bed and sniffing his fingers. Having roamed the world for years, his knowledge of poisons was vast, and without it, he would have died long ago.

Clang.

He drew a dagger from his robe and struck hard, splitting the lock on the chest.

"Let's see what treasures you're hiding...

Hm?

Armor? What the hell?" Lai Chang muttered in confusion, staring at the heavy armor inside the chest. Lifting it in his hands, he was startled by the immense weight.

"Why would this guy carry such heavy armor around? Don't tell me that he's cultivating body-refining techniques as well?" Lai Chang wondered aloud.

Lin Zheyu's leg techniques had reached an extraordinary level, so much so that even while wearing five hundred kilograms of armor, he still moved with the grace of a swallow. For months, no one had realized that he always wore the armor when he went out alone.

Bang.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a resounding crash.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Lin Zheyu's calm, indifferent voice cut through the air.

Lai Chang's heart jolted. He leapt toward the window without hesitation.

Whoosh.

He felt a violent gust surge from behind, and his heart tightened.

So fast!

he thought in alarm.

Lai Chang prided himself on his leg techniques. His agility and strength had allowed him to dominate Bafang City. Yet now, the lightness technique he was most proud of was utterly crushed.

Bang!

Reacting instinctively, Lai Chang twisted his waist mid-air, forcibly changing direction. His blood qi roared to life, surging through his body as he unleashed three times his usual strength. Years of experience told him this was a fight for his life, and he gave it everything.

Swish.

A flash of silver sliced through the darkness. Lai Chang pulled out a uniquely shaped short blade from nowhere and thrust it toward the oncoming force behind him. The blade, forged from black iron, was a superior weapon and his weapon of choice. As an assassin-type martial artist, he relied on speed and agility to close in and strike a fatal blow in an instant.

Lin Zheyu's expression remained calm. As Lai Chang's blade flashed toward him, a faint sneer crossed his face. He shifted his body slightly, fist turning to palm, and effortlessly sidestepped the strike. His right hand shot out, seizing Lai Chang's wrist in an iron grip. A terrifying force erupted from his palm as the bones in Lai Chang's wrist cracked audibly and were crushed to pieces in an instant.

Damn it!

Lai Chang's heart filled with terror.

It was his first time encountering such a powerful opponent. The man before him was far stronger than he had ever imagined. He was, at the very least, at the Marrow Refining Realm. Ignoring the shattered bones in his right arm, Lai Chang activated his life-risking secret art, and the blood qi within his body began to boil violently.

"

Hm?

" Lin Zheyu uttered a low sound of surprise.

After cultivating the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, Lin Zheyu's perception had become exceptionally keen. He immediately sensed Lai Chang's rapidly rising aura. Clearly, Lai Chang also practiced a life-risking technique similar to the Boiling Blood Secret Art. Such techniques took time to activate, however. Lin Zheyu’s left hand clenched into a fist, the muscles in his arm bulging as sixfold blood qi erupted at once. With a sharp crack, his fist pierced through Lai Chang's chest as easily as tearing through paper.

Splurt.

Lai Chang spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. From the moment their eyes met to his death, less than ten seconds had passed. Lin Zheyu flung the corpse aside; blood gushed from the gaping hole in his chest, pooling rapidly on the floor.

"Too bloody," Lin Zheyu muttered, frowning at the mess of blood on the ground.

Lai Chang had been far weaker than Lin Zheyu expected. That punch hadn't even used his full strength, yet it still pierced the man clean through, sending blood spraying everywhere. Martial artists of the Blood Qi Realm were generally strong in offense but weak in defense. They relied on explosive vitality for power but lacked sufficient bodily resilience. Only upon reaching the Marrow Refining Realm, when martial cultivation penetrated deep into the bones, would a martial artist's physique truly strengthen.

Lin Zheyu himself had once been the same—strong in offense but lacking in defense, until he practiced the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual, which compensated for that weakness. Wiping the blood from his hands, he crouched and began searching through Lai Chang's belongings. Since Lai Chang had traveled all the way from Bafang City to the Central Plains, he likely carried all his possessions with him.

"3,800 taels of silver, eh. Not bad. And these short blades... forged from black iron. So this was his preferred weapon style," Lin Zheyu murmured.

He went through the man's belongings carefully. There wasn't much of value; mostly silver, ten short blades forged of black iron, a few poisons, and some universal antidote pills. Beyond that, there was little worth keeping.

"

Hm?

What's this? A map?" Lin Zheyu's eyes lit with curiosity.

It was an ancient-looking map, its surface marked by the wear of time. The material used for it was unknown, smooth to the touch, and faintly cool, unlike ordinary parchment. A map drawn on such fine material was surely no ordinary one.

A treasure map? Could it be that this guy came to the Central Plains for whatever is marked on it?

Lin Zheyu wondered to himself.

It was only half a map. He suspected the remaining half might be in the hands of Lai Chang's companion. After packing away everything of value, he changed into a clean set of clothes.

"Attendant," Lin Zheyu called.

Before long, the attendant came running over in a hurry. Guests who could afford upper rooms were all considered distinguished, and none could be neglected.

"

Ah!

" the attendant cried out in shock.

Inside the room lay a cold corpse with a gaping, fist-sized hole in its chest. Blood still gushed steadily from the wound, spreading across the floor.

"

Huff... huff...

" The attendant took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

"Sir, what... what happened here?" He inhaled deeply and asked in a trembling voice. He recognized the man on the floor as one of their guests.

"This man appeared in my room out of nowhere. It seems he intended to steal something. When I caught him, and he tried to escape, I accidentally killed him. What's the procedure here? Do I need to report to the authorities or to the overseeing faction?" Lin Zheyu asked calmly.

A market like this clearly operated under someone's protection. Since he was in the right, it was best to follow the local rules.

"I'll report this to the manager, sir. He'll send someone to handle it. My apologies for the disturbance, and allow me to prepare another room for you right away," the attendant said respectfully.

Lin Zheyu found the response satisfactory. As a former member of the Feihong Gang, he was well-acquainted with such procedures. As long as the dead man wasn't anyone of importance, no one would intervene. Lai Chang and Lai Mao were outsiders from Bafang City like him, so they had no influence here.

After switching rooms, Lin Zheyu descended the stairs. Liang Yuhan and Liang Yunhui were still eating below. Martial artists had large appetites, and after months of traveling and eating on the go, it was rare to enjoy a proper meal, so they indulged a little. Liang Yuhan glanced at Lin Zheyu; seeing he was fine, she lowered her head and continued eating gracefully, her manners refined like those of a noble lady trained from youth.

Lin Zheyu descended the stairs slowly. Instead of returning to his table, he walked toward Lai Mao. The earlier fight had been swift and decisive. Lai Chang's death had come in an instant, with little noise. The bustling atmosphere downstairs had drowned out any trace of the commotion.

"What is it?" Lai Mao asked coolly, glancing up at him.

"I just saw your companion," Lin Zheyu said with a faint smile. Before Lai Mao could respond, he added, "He snuck into my room to steal something. I accidentally killed him with a single punch."

Bang!

Lai Mao's expression changed drastically. He shot to his feet, slamming his palm down on the table, shattering it instantly. Lin Zheyu took a single step back, quietly circulating his blood qi. If Lai Mao made a move, he would seize the opportunity to strike and kill him outright. The reason he had told him the truth was precisely to provoke him into attacking. Once Lai Mao struck first, Lin Zheyu would have every right to retaliate in self-defense.

But instead, Lai Mao drew a long breath, suppressing his rage. His face, however, was ashen and grim.

"Surely you're joking," Lai Mao said in a deep, controlled voice.

"Go upstairs and see for yourself. If you still wish for revenge afterward, you're welcome to come find me," Lin Zheyu replied with a calm smile.

In a blur, Lin Zheyu moved to Lai Mao's side and patted his shoulder casually. In that moment, the tracking powder hidden in his palm was transferred onto Lai Mao's robe. This wasn't the right place to fight, so he marked his target first, planning to finish the job elsewhere. Since he had already killed one brother, it was only prudent to eliminate the other. There could be no loose ends. Besides, Lin Zheyu also wanted to see if the remaining half of the map was in his possession.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Lai Mao's eyes widened in alarm. The instant Lin Zheyu approached, his instincts screamed danger, and he flared his blood qi and retreated swiftly. Yet Lin Zheyu's speed was terrifying, his movement fluid and ghostly. In the blink of an eye, he was beside him, a hand pressing down on his shoulder. Lai Mao hadn't even had a chance to resist.

So strong! Damn it, why would an expert of this level hide among common travelers and follow the Guangxuan Escort Agency's convoy to the Central Plains?

Lai Mao wanted to curse aloud. His thoughts raced as he took a deep breath, forcing down the fear in his heart along with the fury he felt at hearing of Lai Chang's death.

"Senior, spare my life! I meant no offense, so please forgive my intrusion!" Lai Mao immediately yielded, speaking with deep respect. The moment Lin Zheyu had gotten close enough to touch him, he knew there was no escaping.

"

Uh?

"

Lin Zheyu froze, momentarily stunned. He had imagined many possible reactions from Lai Mao, but not this one. Truly a seasoned wanderer of the martial world, the man knew when to bend and when to yield.

"Let's talk somewhere else," Lin Zheyu said calmly when he noticed the other patrons beginning to look their way.

Lai Mao's earlier outburst had drawn attention; the shattered table had everyone around glancing over with curiosity. Among the onlookers were several capable Blood Qi Realm martial artists.

"Mother, Uncle Zhao won't be in trouble, will he?" Liang Yunhui asked anxiously.

Beside her, Little Black sat munching on roasted meat, bored but content. It wasn't as tasty as beast meat, but it would do. The creature had no interest whatsoever in Lin Zheyu's affairs. Its world revolved entirely around food.

"Don't worry. He's very strong, so nothing will happen to him," Liang Yuhan said softly.

A glimmer of surprise flickered in her eyes. She had suspected Lin Zheyu was powerful—but not so powerful that he could subdue Lai Mao without even lifting a hand.