Staring at the quaint box before him, Lin Huang’s fingers trembled slightly, a gleam of intense light flashing in his eyes.
The wooden box was four and a half feet long and a palm’s width wide. Though it looked unadorned and ordinary, it was crafted from premium thousand-year-old parasol wood, making it quite valuable. But what truly moved Lin Huang was the item inside. A blade! Having wielded a blade for ten years, Lin Huang could sense the wild, arrogant blade intent radiating from within.
He stroked the quaint box, his ten fingers quivering slightly. Before his departure, he had searched the Divine Weapon Library of the Divine General’s Mansion for three hours but failed to find a handy weapon. Today, he had finally found one!
"The item in this box is called Demon Suppression! By careful calculation, it should have a history of a thousand years. It is the true heirloom of the Jia Family. Although it is not worthy of being called a ’Divine Weapon’, it is still an extraordinary item. Even just for its sheer age, it is worth a fortune." Jia Wanjing’s voice echoed faintly in the room. As he gazed at the wooden box before him, his eyes were filled with reluctance. However, he was already a dying man; keeping it would serve no great purpose.
Demon-Suppressing Blade! Lin Huang formed a Seal Technique with his hands. Just as he was about to open the quaint box, Jia Wanjing’s voice sounded in his ears once more:
"If you open the box, it means you have agreed to escort Xuanxuan!
"And if you truly agree, are you sure you want to open it right now?"
Hearing Jia Wanjing’s words, Lin Huang gave a helpless smile. The older man was absolutely right. Judging from the aura exuded by the Demon-Suppressing Blade inside, this box hadn’t been opened for at least a century. The Blade Qi contained within must be terrifyingly potent.
"Well? Have you thought it through?" Jia Wanjing chuckled.
"Did you leave me any room for consideration?" Lin Huang smiled helplessly. Even without this Demon-Suppressing Blade, he probably would have had to agree. But the main reason Jia Wanjing was willing to entrust the Demon-Suppressing Blade to him was the power sealed within the box. Once this power was released, even an ordinary expert in the Celestial Element Realm might capsize in a mere gutter and suffer a fatal blow.
"Since that’s the case, step outside for a moment. I need to have a final word with Xuanxuan. Just focus on taking Xuanxuan to the Blood Triangle; I’ll arrange the rest!" Jia Wanjing’s expression turned solemn. "I am placing my daughter’s life in your hands. If she suffers even the slightest harm, not only will I haunt you as a ghost, but Fengg Wanli of the Blood Robe Alliance will not let you off easy either!"
"She won’t die before I do!" Lin Huang cupped his hands and said seriously. Since he had agreed to the task, he would naturally go all out. This was not just a transaction; it was a promise.
"I hope this thing will not be cast like pearls before swine in your hands!" As Lin Huang turned to leave, Jia Wanjing suddenly spoke from behind, leaving Lin Huang slightly bewildered by his words.
...
The next morning.
Jia Wanjing’s merchant caravan set off once more. From within the luxurious carriage, Jia Xuexuan’s worried voice drifted out from time to time, while the Lin Huang outside the carriage remained as inconspicuous as ever. Meanwhile, the real Lin Huang was leading Jia Xuexuan across mountains and ridges, heading straight for the Blood Triangle.
The two had quietly left the tavern late last night, plunging straight into the Qinglong Mountain Range.
It had to be said that the majestic grandeur of the Qinglong Mountain Range was rarely seen even in those Great Domains. It spanned tens of millions of miles from east to west and stretched north to south all the way to the edge of the East Spirit Realm. Lin Huang had traveled all the way from the Great Xia Dynasty to this place, crossing nearly Three Thousand Miles, yet he still hadn’t stepped out of the boundaries of the Qinglong Mountain Range.
To put it bluntly, the entire territory of the East Spirit Realm was encompassed by the Qinglong Mountain Range. Whether it was the spheres of influence of the Four Great Sects, the Ten Great Dynasties, or the hundreds of ordinary Dynasties, none could bypass the Qinglong Mountain Range.
Upon entering the forest, Lin Huang finally felt much more at ease. However, Jia Xuexuan was still immersed in the sorrow of parting, her face still bearing faint traces of tears. Although she had grown up carefree and innocent, she understood that after parting with her father yesterday, she might never see him again in this life. It was also the first time she had seen her father, who had spoiled her immensely for years, wear such an ashen and resolute expression.
"Xuanxuan, Master Jia is no ordinary man. Average people cannot do anything to him," Lin Huang comforted her as they walked. "Only when you successfully reach the Blood Robe Alliance will your father be able to rest easy!"
"Mhm!" Jia Xuexuan gave a low murmur of agreement, but she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm.
"Can we... not walk through the forest?" After a long time, Jia Xuexuan suddenly broke the heavy silence.
When Lin Huang turned his head, he finally realized that her gauze dress had been torn, revealing her snow-white shoulders. Her smooth, tender skin had also been scratched, showing faint bloody marks. Furthermore, Jia Xuexuan was clutching her ankle; it seemed she had sprained it.
Lin Huang’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he scratched his head rather sheepishly. He was used to traveling alone and had moved too quickly through the forest, making it difficult for Jia Xuexuan to keep up.
At this thought, Lin Huang couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed at Jia Wanjing. He thought, "It’s one thing for you, a Martial Marquis, to hide your Cultivation, but to not let your own daughter practice Martial Arts? You really are a weirdo."
Seeing Jia Xuexuan’s pitiful appearance, Lin Huang took a cloak from his Storage Ring and draped it over her shoulders. Then, he shook his head. "If we don’t travel through the forest, it will be very hard for us to reach the Blood Triangle alive."
"But I really can’t walk anymore!" Jia Xuexuan whispered, her voice as soft as a mosquito. Her delicate hands clutched her jade-like foot, her brow furrowing slightly, and her exquisite little face turned exceptionally pale from the pain.
"This... pardon my offense!" Lin Huang was put in a difficult spot. After an awkward smile, he grabbed Jia Xuexuan’s hands, placed them over his shoulders, and hoisted the girl onto his back before continuing into the forest.
"Put me down!" Jia Xuexuan initially widened her eyes in shock. Once she realized she was fully pressed against his back, a flush of crimson quickly crawled up her pretty face. She struggled forcefully against Lin Huang’s back a few times, but to no avail, as Lin Huang merely tightened his grip.
Carrying the alluring, delicate body on his back, Lin Huang could feel the smoothness of her thighs even through her dress, causing him to experience a slight Divine Split. He then gritted his teeth, focused on the surrounding environment, and continued marching forward.
It took a full half a quarter hour before Jia Xuexuan finally quieted down, resting obediently against Lin Huang’s back. Lin Huang moved like a monkey through the jungle, advancing at an extremely fast pace, completely unaffected by the girl on his back.
The two traveled through the dead of night and rested during the day to avoid encountering any Demon Beasts or Mercenary Corps in the mountains. As time passed, they drew closer and closer to the Blood Triangle...
"We won’t travel tonight. Let’s get some good rest. Tomorrow, we can walk out of the Qinglong Mountain Range. After traveling a bit further, we should be able to reach the Blood Triangle before sundown!" Inside a cave under the cover of night, the two sat around a campfire. Looking at Jia Xuexuan’s melancholy face, Lin Huang spoke consolingly.
"I miss my father!" Jia Xuexuan rested her head on her jade-like arms, speaking with a worried expression, "He has never practiced Martial Arts, and he’s suffering from a severe illness. I’m afraid..."
Hearing this, Lin Huang felt a bit of a headache. To be honest, he really didn’t know how to console Jia Xuexuan, because in his eyes, Jia Wanjing was undoubtedly going to die. If he gave Jia Xuexuan hope now, he feared she would only feel even greater despair later.
"Go to sleep early. We’ve been busy traveling these past few days and haven’t slept well. Tomorrow, you’ll be able to see your sister and her husband." Lin Huang patted the girl’s fragrant shoulder, then went to stand guard at the cave entrance.
At dusk the following day.
On the official road leading to the Blood Triangle, Lin Huang rode a horse with Jia Xuexuan, galloping swiftly toward their destination. Lin Huang had grown increasingly vigilant; the closer he got to the Blood Triangle, the greater the danger became.
This was because this was the final opportunity for the Fengyu Tower and the Celestial Thunder Sect!
Once Lin Huang passed the Blood Triangle, he would enter the sphere of influence of the Piaoxue Palace. If the people from the Celestial Thunder Sect and Fengyu Tower tried to make a move then, they would inevitably alert the Piaoxue Palace. Anyone with half a brain would not do such a thing.
Therefore, there were only two chances to kill him, Lin Huang. One was outside the Blood Triangle, and the other was inside it.
However, the Blood Triangle was a melting pot of the good and the bad. The factions were deeply intertwined, making it the most chaotic place in the entire East Spirit Realm. Even people from the Four Great Sects would have to weigh the consequences before acting inside the Blood Triangle. Moreover, the Four Great Sects had made an agreement with the factions in the Blood Triangle: anyone above the Celestial Element Realm was forbidden from making a move within the Blood Triangle, and the factions within the Blood Triangle were not to make things difficult for members of the Four Great Sects.
Therefore, the chances of the Fengyu Tower and the Celestial Thunder Sect making a move inside the Blood Triangle were slim. That left only one final possibility. If the Fengyu Tower and the Celestial Thunder Sect were dead set on taking Lin Huang’s life, they would definitely make their move here. Furthermore, he was afraid that no matter how Lin Huang disguised himself, he would hardly be able to escape their eyes.
When they were still twenty miles away from the Blood Triangle, Lin Huang suddenly dismounted. Looking at Jia Xuexuan on horseback, he smiled warmly and said: "For the rest of the journey, keep a distance of one mile from me. If I encounter any danger, immediately charge into the Blood Triangle!"
"What about you?" Jia Xuexuan’s expression changed, a hint of panic surfacing in her clear eyes. She naturally understood Lin Huang’s meaning.
Over the past few days, although the two hadn’t spoken much, Jia Xuexuan had already completely come to trust Lin Huang, even treating him as someone to rely on. But now... Lin Huang’s sudden words left her instantly flustered and entirely at a loss for what to do.
"As long as you escape, you can find someone in the Blood Triangle to save me, right?" Lin Huang looked at Jia Xuexuan and smiled consolingly. "Otherwise, we might both die here, and your father’s previous arrangements would be completely in vain."
"Mhm!" Gazing at the bright smile on Lin Huang’s face, Jia Xuexuan suddenly felt a throb in her heart. She then nodded forcefully, an unprecedented resolve appearing on her snow-white, pretty face.
Lin Huang smiled, though his heart grew increasingly heavy.
The two of them, one in front and one behind, traveled another ten miles like this...
Suddenly, the steed in front let out a loud NEIGH. Lin Huang abruptly looked up into the distance, his face instantly frosting over.
Not far ahead of Jia Xuexuan stood several imposing figures. Their gazes pierced the air and landed squarely on Lin Huang. The sheer sharpness in their eyes caused Lin Huang’s expression to change slightly.
Three people! Two of them were Celestial Element Martial Artists, one of whom wore a bamboo hat and was completely shrouded in a pitch-black cloak, making even their figure hard to discern. There was also a young man in the Earth Element Realm. Of the three, aside from the one draped in the pitch-black cloak, Lin Huang recognized the other two...