Chapter 261: Chapter 260: The Rain Stops and the Fog Rises

"Brother, you don’t think those two followed us, do you?"

The journey had been uneventful, but as they neared their encampment, Zhang Hu, who was at a slightly lower realm, grew anxious.

He kept glancing back down the mountain.

But the view was obscured by a thick forest and swirling mist. With his level of strength, there was no way he could see anyone.

Li Gui shook his head. "We’re already here. It’s pointless to worry about whether they followed us or not."

"Just remember, there’s a Blood Envoy on this mountain who’s achieved Great Success in the ’Blood-Flesh Armor,’ plus dozens of others who’ve reached Minor Achievement in their Blood Body. And that’s not even counting the hundred-plus sect members here."

"Even if they did come, they’ll just die on this mountain today!"

Hearing this, Zhang Hu relaxed considerably. After all, counting everyone from the highest to the lowest cultivation realms, there were over two hundred people on the mountain.

Two hundred against two.

Any fool could see who had the advantage!

The two hurried onward into the mountains with their heads down. After about two miles, a figure in a red robe flashed out from the woods, blocking their path.

"Why are you two only just now getting back? You’re three days late. Where are the goods?"

The man was fair-skinned and plump, with a seemingly kind face that gave off an honest and good-natured impression.

But the cold glint in his small eyes made Li Gui and Zhang Hu feel as if they were being watched by a venomous snake, sending a chill down their spines.

Faced with this aggressive, three-pronged interrogation, the two of them dropped to their knees without a word, kowtowing and crying out:

"Lord Blood Envoy, spare us!"

"On this trip, we ran into a Cloud Pattern Captain from the Demon Suppression Bureau! We couldn’t retrieve the flesh and blood. It’s a miracle from our ancestors that we even made it back alive to see you!"

"We beg you, Lord Blood Envoy, to overlook our transgressions and spare our worthless lives!"

Watching the two men wail and cry, the blood-robed Blood Envoy narrowed his eyes to slits. He wasn’t surprised that a Cloud Pattern Captain had come to Cold Rain City. His voice was simply ice-cold as he asked,

"The Demon Suppression Bureau’s Cloud Pattern Captains all have the power of the Leakless Realm. You’re telling me the two of you escaped from a Leakless Realm master’s grasp?"

...

Of course, Li Gui and Zhang Hu didn’t dare admit they had been captured. The story they’d told Wu Chen about refining the Hundred Life Pill had been a complete fabrication, but if the Lord Blood Envoy found out they had only survived because their enemy had let them go, they’d be dead in an instant.

Tears and snot immediately started streaming down Li Gui’s face. He put on a pitiful expression and said,

"My Lord, we heard a tip-off beforehand and sensed something was wrong, so we immediately bolted. They never even had a chance to make a move. That’s how we managed to escape by the skin of our teeth."

"Zhang Hu and I split up and ran for a full day and night before we dared to surface. Then we took a massive detour just to get back here to see you!"

"We did it all just to bring you the news that a Cloud Pattern Captain is in Cold Rain City!"

He sounded utterly sincere, but the red-robed Blood Envoy’s expression only grew more sinister. His voice dripped with killing intent as he said,

"I’m only at the Perfection stage of the Blood Coagulation Realm, yet I could give you a half-hour head start and still hunt you down and kill you."

"What makes you so confident you could escape from a Leakless Realm master?!"

’You think you’re so tough? Then why don’t you try removing this Blood Palace seal on me?!’

Li Gui only dared to think this. Faced with the Blood Envoy’s interrogation, all he could do was remain on the ground, kowtowing frantically and begging for his life.

He kept repeating that absolutely no one had followed them.

"Idiots! You pair of idiots!"

The more Li Gui insisted, the more the red-robed Blood Envoy knew things had gone horribly wrong. He viciously kicked the two men, sending them tumbling.

He already had a suspicion. It wasn’t that the Cloud Pattern Captain had failed to catch them, but that he’d been trailing them this whole time!

For all he knew, their pursuer could arrive at any moment!

Li Gui and Zhang Hu wouldn’t have dared to resist. After being kicked and sent rolling across the ground, they just scrambled back into a kneeling position and resumed kowtowing, muttering pleas for mercy.

FWEEEET—

The red-robed Blood Envoy didn’t spare them another glance. He put two fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill, piercing whistle.

As the whistle faded, about ten breaths later, a rustling sound came from the forest up on the mountain.

Soon, the mist behind the Blood Envoy roiled like boiling water. Then, a hundred-odd figures shot out from the fog, landing and taking up positions around him.

Most of these men were at the Perfection stage of the Organ Refining Realm or higher, and the core members all possessed the power of the Blood Coagulation Realm.

The hundred-odd men stood expressionless, their hands resting on the hilts of the sabers at their waists. A murderous aura instantly descended upon the woods.

One of the core members stepped forward. He glanced at the two men still kowtowing on the ground, then cupped his fist to the red-robed figure.

"Lord Blood Envoy, the assembly whistle... has something happened?"

The red-robed Blood Envoy said coldly, "These two may have led a Cloud Pattern Captain here. Form squads of ten and secure the surrounding forest. I’m going to send word to the Upper Envoy!"

"A Cloud Pattern Captain?!"

The core member’s voice rose slightly. "My Lord, have the reinforcements Cold Rain City requested arrived?"

"Most likely."

The Blood Envoy nodded and said nonchalantly, "Don’t get too tense. Cangwu City only has a handful of Cloud Pattern Captains. It’s probably just one of them, sent to scout out the situation in Cold Rain City."

"It’s one of their usual tactics."

"Unfortunately, it seems these two idiots may have led him right to our doorstep."

"So we have to be on our guard, just in case."

He gestured toward the two men still kneeling on the ground, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

If he wasn’t so short on men right now, he would have killed them both with a single blow.

But upon hearing this, the core member beside the red-robed Blood Envoy breathed a sigh of relief.

"My Lord, if it’s just one, even if he is some damn Cloud Pattern Captain, why would we need to trouble the Upper Envoy to handle it?"

"There are hundreds of us here! If he really dares to come alone, we can just work together and melt him down into a puddle of blood and gore!"

"Even if we’re not strong enough, we still have you to lead us!"

"You’ve already reached Great Success in your divine arts. Taking down a single Cloud Pattern Captain should be no trouble for you!"

He couldn’t resist adding a bit of flattery at the end.

"It’s not that simple."

The red-robed Blood Envoy shook his head, ignoring the flattery. His expression was cautious as he said,

"To be safe, we should still inform the Upper Envoy that a Cloud Pattern Captain is here. That way, they can take precautions too, in case more than one has come."

"Besides, Cloud Pattern Captains have the power of the Leakless Realm. You must not underestimate them. I’m not afraid of them, but there’s no harm in being cautious."

Seeing the red-robed Blood Envoy’s serious tone, the core member’s smile vanished. He bowed and said, "You are right to reprimand me, my Lord! I have learned my lesson!"

The red-robed Blood Envoy waved a hand dismissively. "Get to it. Squads of ten, on high alert. If you notice the slightest disturbance, converge immediately. Don’t give them the chance to pick you off one by one!"

"Better yet, crush him before he even gets into the forest!"

"Yes, my Lord!"

The core member nodded and turned to give orders to the men.

But in the next instant, he froze.

Just then, a light, amused voice drifted up from the mist below, reaching the ears of everyone present:

"Why go to all that trouble? I’m right here. Come on, try and kill me."

"Such audacity!"

Hearing the voice, the red-robed Blood Envoy’s face hardened. He knew his suspicions were correct—they had been followed.

He shot a hateful glare at the two men still kneeling on the ground, but he knew this wasn’t the time for punishment.

"Everyone, with me! We will slay this fiend!"

The red-robed Blood Envoy roared, drawing the blade from his waist.

The surrounding men also drew their blades, pointing them down the mountain toward the source of the voice.

From within the churning mist below, a lone figure began to walk slowly toward them.

The figure advanced at an unhurried pace, as if he were backed by a thousand Demon Suppression Guards surrounding the mountain. His bearing was one of absolute calm.

At that moment, Li Gui and Zhang Hu, still prostrated on the ground, exchanged a glance and immediately rolled out of the way.

They couldn’t see the figure behind them, but that familiar, overwhelming aura—like the sky itself was collapsing—was all the confirmation they needed:

He was here!

They had already suffered at his hands; they knew just how powerful he was. Their roll was executed with practiced, silky-smooth precision.

And in the very instant they rolled clear...

Several streaks of white light shot out from the mist.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!—

A sharp, explosive sound echoed from the mist as the streaks of light arrived in an instant, crashing into the crowd.

At least a dozen men failed to react in time and were struck by the light.

POP! POP! POP! POP!—

A series of dull pops followed. The men struck by the light erupted into a fine mist of blood, vanishing on the spot.

Not even a corpse remained!

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