While the various planets were struggling to fight against the black demons, Yi Feng, who was in the Linglong Pavilion, also experienced several narrow escapes from death in his dreams, which were equally perilous.
Since the battle at the Soul-Severing Cliff.
Yi Feng had become the public enemy of the Nanli Kingdom. With the kill order issued by the Snow Moon Holy Land on his head, he could only embark on a journey of escape with the Youth in Black, wandering the martial world, the two of them carving out a bloody path with their swords.
Although this wandering journey was arduous, it elevated their friendship once again, transforming them from mere drinking buddies into life-and-death brothers who shared trials and tribulations.
Compared to the past, when he was entangled in the vain reputation of the secular world, the current days of freely settling gratitudes and grudges made him feel much more exhilarated.
As for sect alliances and martial world favors.
These so-called superficial worldly sentiments had long been cast to the back of Yi Feng's mind. He had already seen through the ways of the world and lived more transparently. As a result, his state of mind reached a higher level, and his Dao heart became increasingly resolute.
Through the bitter battles of their escape, his cultivation base continued to skyrocket!
Killing a man every ten paces, leaving no trace over a thousand miles, roaming the ends of the earth with a sword in hand, drunkenly laughing at the mortal world.
Breaking through heavy sieges all the way, with countless treacherous souls falling by their hands, Yi Feng and the Youth in Black lived the life of wandering martial artists, experiencing both hardships and carefree joy.A few years later.
They finally temporarily shook off the pursuers from all sides. Traveling westward, they stepped into the borders of the Raging Fire Kingdom, finally getting a chance to settle down and live a few days of peaceful and leisurely life.
On this day.
The sunset glow was like brocade, and the setting sun was like blood.
The two crossed the border of the kingdom and stopped to drink and rest at a small inn at the foot of Yandang Mountain.
This was a necessary route for trade between the two countries, where all kinds of people gathered. It had always been a mixed bag of dragons and fishes. Even if they held long swords and looked like cultivators at first glance, it was not surprising.
As soon as the two sat down at a small table outside the inn, a Waiter enthusiastically came forward to greet them.
Two guest officers, are you here to eat or to stay?
The Youth in Black hesitated to speak, looking at the wine jars in the inn and awkwardly turning his head away.
At a glance, it was obvious he was penniless.
Seeing this, Yi Feng chuckled lightly, began to fumble in his robes, and responded generously.
Ten catties of peach blossom wine, a fat...
Halfway through his words, his heart sank, and he quickly changed his phrasing.
Just ten catties of peach blossom wine!
Then, his left hand fumbled in his robes for a long time, only fishing out a piece of broken silver and a few dozen copper coins.
The Waiter, however, looked calm.
As if he was used to this sight, he immediately took the money with a smile and left briskly.
That brisk movement made Yi Feng's chest ache, feeling as if his heart was bleeding. It wasn't that he was stingy; it was just that after wandering for these past few years, his savings had been completely eaten up. Life was hard.
Seeing the youth sitting opposite him also looking exhausted, Yi Feng felt even more guilty. The two of them just sat there awkwardly, neither saying a word in tacit understanding.
It wasn't until a large jar of peach blossom wine was brought to the table.
The Youth in Black seemed to suddenly come alive, busily pouring the wine and clinking bowls!
With a bowl of wine in his stomach, his whole body felt warm.
The two then gradually opened up and started discussing where to go in the future.
Yi Feng sighed helplessly and filled the youth's wine cup.
Sigh...
If this continues, the two of us will have to drink the northwest wind. I've really made you suffer, brother, following me on this escape without a few days of peace. I, Yi Feng, will definitely repay this favor in the future.
Hearing this, the youth smiled, his eyes full of a carefree spirit.
Hey!
This master has long been used to the life of wandering the martial world. This little matter is nothing!
The two clinked their cups and drank it all in one gulp. Seeing that most of the wine had been consumed.
The youth's eyes gradually revealed a hint of melancholy, looking back at Yi Feng with a look of wishing iron could turn into steel.
Brother.
It's not that I want to criticize you, but you are still too kind-hearted! Along the way, we had so many opportunities to pull off a big score, but you insisted on saying no stealing and no robbing. Isn't that just being stubborn!
This master didn't ask you to bully the commoners. Occasionally wiping out a bandit lair is also eliminating evil for the people, what's wrong with that?
If things really go on like this, I won't be able to pay back the debt I owe you in this lifetime, not to mention the great matter of us going back for revenge.
Hearing these words, Yi Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Obviously unable to even take care of his own escape, this guy was still thinking about making some extra cash. He was truly a natural-born troublemaker.
But thinking about it carefully, he really should solve their current predicament, and then ponder the future path. A man who does not avenge a wrong is not a gentleman; that dog-shit Holy Land must be eradicated!
He gave a slight nod, temporarily agreeing to it.
You make sense.
Next time, next time if we run into bandits, we brothers will pull off a score!
Hearing the words about next time, the youth sighed helplessly.
He simply stopped talking about this topic and secretly wondered if he should take advantage of their recent free time to pick up some mercenary jobs of beating people up or something.
For the past few years, he could only flee and hadn't worked at all, so naturally, he had no money or time to enjoy himself. He wondered how that girl from the Lihua Palace was doing, and if her dancing had improved...
Just as the two were silently drinking and scheming.
Suddenly.
A burst of noise came from the surroundings!
Please, Immortal Master, give us a few days of grace, our small shop really cannot produce five hundred taels of silver!
Nonsense! You opened your shop on the territory of my Sword-Swinging Sect, so naturally, you must pay the monthly silver. Without the protection of my Sword-Swinging Sect, how could a few ordinary mortals like you survive in this chaotic borderland?
This... our small shop only earns some hard-earned money, and the whole family relies on this shop to make a living. Even in a year, we couldn't produce five hundred taels. I beg the Immortal Master to see clearly!
Can't produce it? I don't care if you sell your sons and daughters or what you do, in short, if you can't produce the monthly silver, don't even think about opening the shop in the future! My Sword-Swinging Sect is a major cultivation sect, you know the consequences of angering our sect!
Immortal Master! Immortal Master, have mercy!
The pleading words were already filled with a crying tone, and many people were alarmed and looked back.
Yi Feng and the Youth in Black also paid curious attention.
Only then did they see a few gray-robed cultivators standing in the small inn, looking high and mighty. No matter how the Old Shopkeeper pleaded for mercy, they were completely unmoved.
The scene was truly too tragic to look at, inevitably arousing pity in people's hearts.
The strange thing was that none of the passing guests seated around dared to make a sound. They all just peeked quietly, seemingly afraid of bringing disaster upon themselves.
Yi Feng noticed their uniform attire, and after pondering their words just now, he had an idea. He figured that these young cultivators came from a sect that should be quite powerful, definitely not something ordinary people could provoke.
While he was still quietly observing, the Youth in Black sitting opposite him could hardly sit still.
After just a few glances, anger surfaced in his eyes.
Fortunately, Yi Feng gave him a timely look, so he didn't attack in a rage.
The youth seemed very dissatisfied with Yi Feng's performance, his brows furrowing slightly.
Yi Feng didn't explain immediately either, but picked up a cup of watered-down wine, turned around, and quietly inquired at the neighboring table.
Everyone, sorry to bother you with a question.
What kind of sect is this Sword-Swinging Sect, and why is everyone so afraid of them? And on what grounds do they collect the monthly silver from this inn?
As soon as the question was asked, the people at the neighboring table looked at each other in dismay.
Only a kind-faced and good-hearted old man quietly revealed the truth to Yi Feng.
Young hero, there is something you do not know.
This Sword-Swinging Sect is a major cultivation sect on the border of our Raging Fire Kingdom, reaching a full seventh-grade rank. For generations, they have occupied the dozens of miles around Yandang Mountain. They are a sect in name, but ruthless bandits in reality!
"How could we commoners dare to provoke these cultivators? We can only part with our wealth to avoid disaster and swallow our pride to survive."
"Young hero, the martial world is treacherous. It is best to avoid stirring up trouble..."
Hearing these whispered words of advice, Yi Feng secretly bowed his head in thanks.
Just as he turned and set down his wine cup, the Youth in Black at his table, unable to quell his anger, glared at him and spoke in a deep voice!
"Brother!"
"These mongrels are nothing but a bunch of trash. Why did you stop me?!"
He was not wrong.
In this world, sect ranks were determined by cultivation realms and combat prowess. From lowest to highest, they were divided into the Pulse Opening Realm, Qi Nurturing Realm, Heaven Gate Realm, Absolute Beginning Realm, Divine Mansion Realm, Heavenly Sun Realm, and Origin Infant Realm. These major realms corresponded sequentially to sect grades, with the tenth grade being the lowest.
As for higher realms, they were beyond the knowledge of ordinary people.
This sect was only a seventh-grade power, and its strongest existence was merely at the Heaven Gate Realm. To the current Yi Feng and the Youth in Black, they were indeed nothing but trash.
However, seeing that this guy's temper was about to boil over, it was obvious he could not be talked down with just a few words.
Yi Feng could only quietly pull him aside to the edge of the official road.
"It is not that I am trying to stop you, but there is no need to take action right now."
"Even if you kill these lackeys, you will only be helping this small inn temporarily. Once we leave, the Old Shopkeeper and his family will have to bear even more of their wrath. Helping them like this does more harm than good, and it does not solve the root of the problem."
Hearing this, the Youth in Black's eyes widened in surprise.
"Solve the root of the problem..."
"What do you mean?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Feng smiled and leaned in to whisper in his ear.
"Did you not just say that we should pull off a heist every now and then? Is this not a ready-made opportunity? Let us be patient and wait. We will follow the trail to the source, and then catch them all in one fell swoop. Would that not be beautiful?"
Hearing this, a look of realization finally dawned in the eyes of the Youth in Black, and a profound smile appeared on his face.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
"You are so wicked, and this master loves it!"
"I did not expect that in just a few years, you seem to have become much more ruthless and experienced than before. Your plan is better. We will do as you say, and in a bit, we brothers will pull off a big one!"
"This time we have to make enough profit, then hurry up and find a place to enjoy ourselves!"
The two hit it off instantly and returned to the wine table, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Watching the few gray-robed cultivators leave arrogantly amidst the weeping in the inn, they lost their mood for drinking and quietly followed after those men.
They followed silently all the way, climbing the stone steps straight toward the middle of Yandang Mountain.