After running through the forest for a while, Chen Xingwu noticed that the scholar ahead had suddenly stopped.
The scholar turned around, drew his long sword, and seemed ready to fight him to the death.
Seeing this, Chen Xingwu's lips curled into a slight smile. He felt no fear facing an ordinary person who had never practiced martial arts.
Although the man was indeed running quite fast, it seemed his stamina was finally giving out.
"Ah, still just a weak scholar after all."
Seeing that the other man had stopped running, Chen Xingwu drew his own long sword from his waist. He focused intently, intending to kill him in one fell swoop. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit.
Even facing a scholar, Chen Xingwu showed no sign of underestimating his opponent; this was a habit he had cultivated over many years.
…
Feng Yang, long sword in hand, waited intently for the other man to approach him.
The bodyguard in front of him was not weak.
Over the past few days, Feng Yang had learned from these bodyguards how martial artists in this world were classified.
Martial artists in this world primarily cultivate a power called 'Jin'.
Those who have just entered the realm of martial arts are generally called 'Jin-training' martial artists.
Martial artists at this level are only slightly stronger than ordinary people; they don't possess much Jin within their bodies.
The wealthy merchant's servants were roughly at the 'Jin-training' level.
It is very easy for a martial artist to reach the Jin-training level; anyone willing to put in the effort, coupled with a sufficient supply of food, can reach this level without much difficulty.
However, the 'Entering Jin' level, which follows Jin-training, is different. Only martial artists who reach the Entering Jin level can truly be considered skilled martial artists.
To enter the 'Entering Jin' level, a martial artist not only needs to work hard, but their innate talent is also crucial.
The bodyguards in the caravan were almost all at this level.
Those who reach this level can freely mobilize their internal energy to aid in combat, making them a world apart from ordinary people.
Facing a martial artist who had reached the "Entering Jin" level, Feng Yang dared not be careless in the slightest.
However, at the very moment the opponent swung his sword, a look of surprise appeared in Feng Yang's eyes.
He discovered that he could clearly see the bodyguard's sword-wielding movements from the side.
This speed was far too slow!
How could the opponent's sword-wielding speed be so slow?
Facing the long sword swung towards him, Feng Yang's expression turned strange.
He slightly turned his body and easily dodged the attack. The next second, Chen Xingwu swung his sword again, but Feng Yang dodged it just as easily.
Seeing Feng Yang's ghostly speed, a look of fear appeared in Chen Xingwu's eyes.
He realized that even with his "Entering Jin" level eyesight, he couldn't perceive the scholar's dodging movements at all!
Could it be that this scholar possessed the strength of "Transforming Jin"?
But why couldn't he sense any internal energy within the opponent?
This scholar is strange.
Chen Xingwu quickly realized that with his current strength, he definitely couldn't kill the scholar.
He had to go back and inform the head bodyguard. Thinking of this, Chen Xingwu planned to retreat.
But his movements were too slow.
'Thud.'
In an instant, a sharp blade had pierced Chen Xingwu's chest.
He stared at Feng Yang in front of him, his face filled with disbelief.
When exactly did this blade pierce his chest?
"You..."
Chen Xingwu wanted to say something, but with his chest severely injured, he felt as if his lungs were burning, making it difficult for him to breathe.
His consciousness began to fade. His lips moved slightly, and after uttering, 'So fast...' he collapsed to the ground, completely lifeless.
Such a severe injury was only survivable momentarily because Chen Xingwu had reached the "Entering Jin" level.
If it were an ordinary person, they probably wouldn't even be able to speak before dying on the spot.
"So weak?"
Feng Yang looked at the body of the bodyguard on the ground, and fall silent with a strange expression on his face.
This bodyguard with the strength of 'Entering Jin' was actually this weak in front of him.
This was something Feng Yang had never expected. If he had known this would be the case, he wouldn't have needed to run away at all.
Feng Yang estimated that even if all these 'Entering Jin' martial artists attacked him at once, they would hardly pose a threat.
Realizing this, Feng Yang remembered the valuables carried by the deceased wealthy merchant in the caravan.
"With money, things would go much more smoothly."
Without much hesitation, Feng Yang took the bodyguard's valuables and hurriedly returned along the route he had come from.
…
Zhu Hao fled swiftly through the forest.
Perhaps due to the intense running, he felt as if his lungs were about to burst.
Looking at the two bodyguards behind him, however, they showed no signs of fatigue.
Zhu Hao was almost too exhausted to run; he simply had very little strength left.
"Fine, I'll fight them to the death!"
Exhausted, Zhu Hao slowly drew his long sword, intending to fight the two bodyguards to the death.
But just then, he saw a man wielding a long knife approaching from a distance.
"This man…"
Upon seeing his clothing, Zhu Hao immediately recognized him as another passenger from his carriage.
Moreover, Zhu Hao could see blood dripping steadily from the long knife in the man's hand.
The bodyguards who had been chasing him had also vanished.
Seeing this, Zhu Hao quickly realized a possibility.
"Could this man have killed the bodyguards who were chasing him?"
Realizing this, Zhu Hao, as if grasping at a straw, shouted at the other party, "Save me!"
...
After glancing at the young man pleading for help, Feng Yang recognized him.
This guy seemed to be the wealthy merchant's son.
Feng Yang began to analyze the situation quickly.
He could choose not to save this man.
That way, after the man died, Feng Yang could seize the wealthy merchant's wealth, maximizing his profits. This way, he would get the most money.
If he chose to save the wealthy merchant's son, then the wealth from the caravan would naturally have to be returned to him.
At best, the other party would only give Feng Yang a portion of the wealth as a thank-you gift.
However, Feng Yang also saw other potential advantages in doing so.
Judging from the wealth possessed by this wealthy merchant, his family must have considerable influence in Immortal Sect City.
If Feng Yang saved them, he might be able to use their influence to help him accomplish something, such as finding the murderer who slaughtered the entire Linjiang Village.
Thinking about it this way, the money didn't seem so important to Feng Yang anymore.
"Hmm... saving this person was more beneficial than harmful."
Feng Yang considered all this, but it was all just a matter of a single thought.
After carefully weighing the pros and cons, he brandished his long sword and charged towards the two bodyguards in the distance.
"Hmph, courting death!" Seeing Feng Yang attack, the two bodyguards showed no fear, and disdainfully sneer at him.
Although the long sword in Feng Yang's hand was still dripping blood, looking quite frightening, the two bodyguards, as martial artists at the "Entering Jin" level, naturally wouldn't be scared away by a bloodstained blade.
After all, facing an ordinary person who hadn't even reached the "Entering Jin" level, they had no reason to run away.
In the minds of these two bodyguards, this scholar would be quite remarkable if he could withstand three moves.
After three moves, this scholar would undoubtedly be dead!