Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao did not waste words with Daoist Yinli. He struck with a single saber slash, directly chopping off Daoist Yinli’s head. But from his neck, a stream of light swiftly shot out, attempting to flee into the distance.

Quick as lightning, Chen Chao reached out and grabbed it. Trapped within his palm, the stream of light gradually morphed into Daoist Yinli’s likeness.

Looking at Chen Chao, the tiny figure struggled for a moment, then pleaded, “Chen Chao, you can’t kill me, you can’t! If you spare me, the Infatuation Daoist Temple can do many things for the Great Liang.”

Since when would a Temple Master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, the leader of the foreign lands, speak to a martial artist in this manner?

Chen Chao looked at Daoist Yinli and shook his head.

“Ahh... I can swear a blood oath...”

But as white mist began to rise from Chen Chao’s palm, it gradually enveloped the tiny figure. Slowly, it seeped into him, completely erasing his existence.

Only after a full quarter of an hour did Chen Chao withdraw the mist and open his hand. The image of Daoist Yinli had vanished completely without a trace.

Only then, did Chen Chao speak calmly: “There is retribution.”

......

......

Almost an hour later, Yun Jianyue and Yu Xiyi returned, their expressions grim.

Halfway through the pursuit, Yun Jianyue had belatedly realized that Daoist Yinli must have used a diversion tactic to lure the tiger from the mountain. Once he figured that out, he immediately called Yu Xiyi back and they returned here.

But on the way back, his heart had already grown cold. Given the Chief Enforcer’s nature, if he truly managed to escape, they would never have another chance to find him again.

When they returned, dawn had already broken. Yun Jianyue just happened to catch sight of the young martial artist sitting atop the broken city wall.

He had already changed into a pitch-black outfit, his complexion pale.

After seeing Chen Chao, Yun Jianyue said in a low voice, “We fell into the Chief Enforcer’s scheme - he lured the tiger from the mountain. At this moment, he’s likely already returned to the temple. What should we do now?”

Failing to kill Daoist Yinli here meant leaving behind a huge problem. What came afterward would only be even more troublesome.

Chen Chao nodded. “If he didn’t die, it’ll probably be very difficult to kill him later.”

Yu Xiyi cursed, “That old bastard, cunning as hell, scheming like a damn bastard!”

“Given how many years he’s cultivated, it’s only natural he’d have something up his sleeve.”

Chen Chao said with a faint smile. “Still, him being alive is indeed a headache. Better he’s dead.”

Yu Xiyi was about to speak again, but Yun Jianyue had already noticed something off and asked suspiciously, “Chen Chao?”

Seeing Yun Jianyue had caught on, Chen Chao did not try to hide it. He stepped aside, revealing a human head behind him, who else could it be but Daoist Yinli?

Yun Jianyue gave Chen Chao a complicated look and said, “You knew it was a diversion all along?”

Yu Xiyi also cursed, “You son of a bitch, and you didn’t say anything?”

Chen Chao rolled his eyes, then turned to Yun Jianyue and said, “Maybe your cultivation talent is a bit better than mine. But when it comes to scheming? Even ten of you put together couldn’t outmatch me. As for Yinli, sure, he’s cultivated for so many years and has some cunning, but in my eyes, he’s nothing special. Even if I were three or five years younger, and he wanted to play mind games with me, I’d still toy him to death.”

What Chen Chao said was just the plain truth. Daoist Yinli might have been a genius in cultivation, and he might have had some cunning, but to Chen Chao, he was nothing special. Chen Chao had earned his experience dancing at the edge of life and death.

What was a man like Daoist Yinli compared to that?

Yun Jianyue did not say much. After a moment of silence, he finally asked, “May I bring the Chief Enforcer’s head back to the temple?”

Chen Chao nodded and agreed readily, “Of course. If you don’t take his head, am I supposed to go hang it on the gate of the Divine Capital?”

At that, even Chen Chao could not help but laugh. If he did do something like that, he might end up holding unmatched prestige in Great Liang, becoming second only to the Great Liang Emperor himself. But from that point on, the grudge between him and the foreign lands would truly be beyond reconciliation.

Chen Chao reached out and took the demon bead back from Yu Xiyi, tossing it to Yun Jianyue with a smile. “If not for this demon bead, thais Daoist Yinli might have already fled the moment things went south. Fortunately, our friend’s Sword Dao cultivation reaches the highest heavens. Otherwise, I would have been dead long ago.”

Yu Xiyi had just been about to curse again, but hearing the words “Sword Dao cultivation that reaches the highest heavens,” he nodded in satisfaction and swallowed the rest of his insults.

Yun Jianyue accepted the demon bead without being overly polite. With this pearl and the Chief Enforcer’s severed head, the boat would have already sailed. Even if anyone in the temple still wanted to say something, they would be powerless to turn the tables.

Chen Chao suddenly said, “How you got this demon bead, who recorded the images within, it’s up to you to figure out how to explain it.”

After all, Chen Chao had a sharp mind and had already considered many things.

Yun Jianyue looked at Chen Chao and suddenly said, “That day when the Temple Master went to the Divine Capital, the Chief Enforcer was waiting to ambush him en route. Then this demon bead recorded the whole thing. It should have all been a scheme. Was it one deliberately set in motion by His Majesty the Emperor?”

Chen Chao glanced at him. He was not surprised Yun Jianyue had managed to figure that much out. After all, Yun Jianyue was not stupid. Given some time, he was bound to work it through.

Chen Chao met his gaze and said calmly, “You need to understand, this all began with you people. Everything that happened afterward was just pushing the boat along with the current.”

Yun Jianyue thought for a moment, then said nothing, only nodding.

Chen Chao let out a breath of relief. At this point, he truly feared Yun Jianyue might take it too hard. If that happened, all their prior efforts really would have gone to waste.

If Yun Jianyue could not come to terms with it, then why go to all this trouble? Would wiping out the Infatuation Daoist Temple outright not have been far simpler and more satisfying?

But it was just a passing thought, Chen Chao knew full well that doing all of this had been no easy task.

Yun Jianyue put away Daoist Yinli’s severed head and prepared to leave when Chen Chao suddenly spoke up: “There are Great Liang spies within your Infatuation Daoist Temple. I believe you’ve met them. Once you return, you must protect them. If even one of them dies, then everything I said to you before becomes null and void. After that, Great Liang and your Infatuation Daoist Temple will be locked in a fight to the death.”

Yun Jianyue turned to look at Chen Chao, frowning slightly. “Those people matter that much to you? More than the bigger picture?”

When Yu Lu had said something similar earlier, Yun Jianyue had already been puzzled. He just had not asked, especially since the main player had not been present at the time.

Chen Chao shook his head. “I don’t think in terms of the bigger picture. If I did, you wouldn’t have seen Zhen Ye die in the Divine Capital.”

“Just youthful hotbloodedness? You’re not the same as you were back then anymore.”

Yun Jianyue felt he had never truly seen through this young man standing before him.

Chen Chao only smiled. “I’m just in my early twenties. Where would I get that kind of apathy?”

Yun Jianyue said nothing. He merely clasped his hands to both Yu Xiyi and Chen Chao before turning to leave. In the blink of an eye, he became a streak of light and vanished from their sight.

Once Yun Jianyue was gone, Yu Xiyi finally ripped away his clothes while gritting his teeth. His body was riddled with wounds, he had just been holding on all this time. Now that Yun Jianyue had left, he could finally let himself relax.

Chen Chao shot him a glance and laughed. “Dying for face, suffering for pride.”

Yu Xiyi did not respond. He simply clapped a hand on Chen Chao’s shoulder.

In the next moment, Chen Chao also bared his teeth in pain, sucking in a sharp breath and glaring at Yu Xiyi with resentment.

Yu Xiyi chuckled in mockery, “Dying for face, suffering for pride.”

The two young men exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

Yu Xiyi and Chen Chao supported each other as they walked down the long street. A group of government constables came rushing over but did not dare get too close, only watching from a distance, eyes filled with admiration as they looked at the young Lord Warden Commander.

Yu Xiyi raised his voice and shouted, “Go find a tavern, quick! Your lord wants a drink!”

Chen Chao smiled without saying a word. He did not stop the guy either. After all the narrow brushes with death, they had managed to make it through alive, this truly called for a good drink.

Soon, some of the constables knocked open the doors of a tavern and said a few words to the owner. The tavern owner was visibly thrilled, saying he would go wake his wife so she could serve wine to the Lord Warden Commander.

He clutched a wine jug to his chest and said that although his wife was getting on in years, she was still beautiful, bringing her out to serve wine might be a feast for the Lord Warden Commander’s eyes.

That left Chen Chao somewhat speechless. The way the man said it made him sound like some corrupt official exploiting the common folk.

But then the tavern owner grinned and explained that his wife had always admired the Lord Warden Commander. Now that the chance had come, she just had to meet Chen Chao and see what he really looked like.

In the end, he actually did call his wife out. Chen Chao shared a bowl of wine with her and chatted casually for a bit before the woman reluctantly took her leave.

Watching all this, Yu Xiyi smacked his lips and said, “Chen Chao, you really are something. From eighteen to eighty, they all can’t help but like you?”

Chen Chao rolled his eyes and said nothing.

Yu Xiyi took a big swig of wine and sighed. “It looked easy, but I had to pull out everything I had just to barely survive. This kind of business, if I had to do it again, not a chance in hell.”

Chen Chao nodded with a smile. “Who would willingly walk around with their head hanging by their belt every day?”

Yu Xiyi grinned and said, “But damn, that fight was satisfying. Took down a great daoist sage, I can brag about that for two days straight.”

“Only two days?”

Chen Chao gave Yu Xiyi a sidelong glance.

Yu Xiyi raised his eyebrows. “This time, I teamed up with you guys. Next time, it’ll be Your Father alone, one sword in hand, whoever’s got a problem, I’ll cut them down!”

Chen Chao chuckled. “When that time comes, I’ll be the one with a problem.”

Yu Xiyi cursed, “Then I’ll cut you down!”

Chen Chao couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. He just smiled and turned to a constable standing by the door. “Bring me some paper and a brush.”

Yu Xiyi looked puzzled. “What do you need that for?”

Chen Chao replied with a gentle smile, “There’s a girl in the Divine Capital waiting to hear that I’m safe. If I don’t write to her, she’ll be worried to death.”

Yu Xiyi stayed silent. Somehow, that one sentence from Chen Chao hurt more than if ten Daoist Yinlis had attacked him at once.