Chapter 111 - 107: Fugitives Over the Mountains and Ridges

Jiang Shu’s tone was indifferent, the sunlight casting on his face like the smile of a ruffian. In the Banquet Hall, blood flowed and seeped into the wooden planks. "Murder... Murder!" "Third Uncle... Third Uncle is dead." "This... This Jiang Shu, he’s not human!" "Go tell the Family Head..." "Go report to the officials..." Several younger members trembled as they collapsed on the ground, their legs giving way beneath them. No one had expected such a drastic change to occur in just a short span of time. The same Jiang Shu they had just been mocking had actually kicked Yao Wenyuan, the strongest in the Skin Grinding Realm, sending him flying, and then beheaded one of the Yao Family’s Bone Forging Realm powerhouses with a single slash! "Tell me, now that you’re all so cowardly, what were you pretending to be before?" Jiang Shu said. "In the next life, be good people." One had already been killed. A few more made no difference. At the County Yamen, it was uncertain whether Old Chou would be able to hold them off. However, Jiang Shu figured that, unless absolutely necessary, his master wouldn’t take action. By now, Jiang Shu had some guesses about his master’s identity. Most likely, he was an official figure of the Da Jing Dynasty. His master had told him to cause trouble at the Yao Family, supposedly to test his strength. But more importantly, it was because his master didn’t want to see the Yao Family continue to dominate Pingling County. What he had done so far should be about enough. Jiang Shu wielded his knife. One. Two. Seven. Cries of horror fell on deaf ears. Using a piece of fine silk from one of the younger members to wipe the blade clean, Jiang Shu sheathed his knife, picked up the leopard ring pommel knife from underfoot, and headed straight for the exit. Killing had been enjoyable. But now, it was his turn to flee for his life! 「At that moment.」 Outside the Yao Family residence, chaos had erupted. The scene of Jiang Shu killing inside could not be seen from outside, but the screams of terror were unmistakable. Numerous servants stumbled and ran, some to report to the Family Head, others to report to the authorities directly. Toad Leap! Snow Stepping Technique! "Monstrous beast, stop right there!" a thunderous shout erupted from behind him. But Jiang Shu had no intention of getting entangled. He had easily overcome the previous Bone Forging Realm adversary because his knife technique was well-cultivated. The Yao Family’s Bone Forging Realm knife technique, though ranked, was hardly a match for his own Break Limit Thirteen-Move knife technique. After a brief exchange of blows, he had seized an opening when his opponent was unprepared, unleashing the White Tiger Carrying Corpse strike. This allowed him to take down his adversary without expending too much Vitality. The Bone Forging Realm powerhouses now in pursuit would only be stronger. If he were to engage them single-mindedly, he would find it difficult to make his escape from Pingling County! Within the Bone Forging Realm, he was unmatched. But in the county town, the strongest was Magistrate Nie of the Refining Internal Realm! Especially after talking with Old Chou, Jiang Shu realized that the force of the Refining Internal Realm was genuine force, completely different from that of Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists. Consequently, he no longer had any desire to fight a Refining Internal Realm practitioner. What he needed to do now was to escape the inner city! Once he left Pingling County and made for the mountains, heading straight to Black Mountain County Town, who could catch him! The movement techniques he had purchased from the Martial Artist’s Alliance proved extremely useful. The Snow Stepping Technique was used for traveling quickly, the Toad Leap Technique was for explosive bursts, and the Little Beidou Steps were for dodging through crowds. Before anyone could react, Jiang Shu had already closed in on the city gate! "I am Yao Zhengxing, the Family Head of the Yao Family! Shut the city gates now!" Yao Zhengxing roared from behind. "The Yao Family offers a hefty reward! I will also secure you a commendation from Magistrate Nie! You beast, you’re dead meat!" Yao Zhengxing was relentlessly in pursuit. He was filled with regret now! He should have listened to his Third Brother at the time and gone directly to kill that beast! What about other wealthy families? What about the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School? Could they possibly have stood in the way of the Yao Family? If he had just been a bit more assertive back then, how could such a grave mistake have occurred! Upon hearing the chaos from the servants, he had burst out from his room. There was no time to check the situation at the Banquet Hall; he just chased. Even now, he had no idea whether his Third Brother and his son were alive or dead. "Who dares!" Jiang Shu shouted, seeing that the sturdy Government Officials from the County Yamen were indeed starting to close the gates. Using a combination of the Toad Leap and Fierce Tiger Jumping techniques, Jiang Shu brandished the leopard ring pommel knife in his hand and slashed towards the Government Officials. They scattered in fright. Jiang Shu seized the opportunity and dashed into the outer city. Yao Zhengxing was still hot on his heels! But clearly, the movement techniques in the Yao Family’s collection were nothing special. The more Yao Zhengxing chased, the greater the distance between him and Jiang Shu grew. This was especially true at the bustling junctions between the inner and outer cities. Relying on the Little Beidou Steps, Jiang Shu maneuvered like an eel, not only maintaining his speed but even accelerating, while Yao Zhengxing was constantly hindered. He could only watch helplessly as Jiang Shu’s figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance. From a window seat in a tavern overlooking the scene, Chou Hai observed Jiang Shu’s escape. This boy, even compared to the Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists of the county town, he’s not weak at all. The Yao Family, it seems, their Yuan Qi was greatly damaged this time. Pingling County should quiet down a bit; what’s the point of all this commotion? It was already a remote place. With the Yao Family occupying so many resources, how can ordinary people learn martial arts and serve the Da Jing Dynasty? I see this Nie Gaozhan, though his name means ’far-seeing,’ might as well be deemed ’short-sighted.’ He stretched his muscles and prepared to go downstairs. 「By noon.」 Once it was clear Jiang Shu was uncatchable, the Government Officials from the County Yamen acted with surprising alacrity. Portraits of Jiang Shu were plastered all over both the inner and outer city. The Yao Family’s affairs spread through the streets and alleys, becoming a topic of ridicule. With two Bone Forging Realm powerhouses suddenly gone, the Yao Family’s strength plummeted among the prominent families. Many other prominent families took the opportunity to kick them while they were down, snatching back the shops they had previously lost. During this time, Government Officials also came to question Chou Hai about his Disciple Jiang Shu. But Chou Hai feigned complete ignorance and, to demonstrate his supposed anger, unilaterally expelled Disciple Jiang Shu from his school. Amidst the turmoil, Pingling County gradually settled down again. 「Meanwhile.」 Jiang Shu, holding the map given by Old Chou, was trying his best to determine his direction. Yongning County is adjacent to Black Mountain County. Although Pingling County, according to the map, belongs to Yongning County, the actual distance to Black Mountain County Town is clearly shorter. Black Mountain County is mostly surrounded by mountain ranges, and its Martial Artists fight fiercely for resources. Yongning County, on the other hand, is relatively peaceful. Pingling County is in an awkward position: it enjoys the peace of Yongning County but is geographically similar to Black Mountain County. Consequently, in Yongning County Town, Martial Artists from Pingling County rank even lower than those from other county towns and are mocked as country bumpkins or hillbillies. Conversely, the Martial Artists from Black Mountain County look down upon Pingling County’s peaceful ways. Truly an awkward position, pleasing neither side. Jiang Shu moved swiftly, quickly crossing an unknown number of mountain ridges. The mountains grew lower, and ahead, open plains stretched out. I wonder what kind of opportunity Old Chou was talking about, he mused. Is the recipient of the letter someone with a significant background? By now, Jiang Shu could only guess that the opportunity mentioned by Old Chou must be related to the Refining Internal Realm. It might even be the offering of a Middle Grade Cultivation Technique.