NOVPUBThe only groups that travel back and forth across the border between the two countries are some armed escorts and merchant caravans.
"Let’s go,"
Su Changkong said, and together with Duanmu He, they headed towards Heavenly Wolf Pass.
The two passed through the routine inspections and questioning of the soldiers guarding the checkpoint and successfully left Heavenly Wolf Pass.
"It’s really chaotic..."
Half a month later, Su Changkong looked at the corpses scattered across the ground and couldn’t help but sigh.
Having left the territory of the Great Flame Empire, Su Changkong and Duanmu He encountered three waves of bandits within half a month.
If they were ordinary people, they would have to rely solely on luck to cross the border between the two countries, unless they were with a caravan or armed escort that had martial artists or guards!
Some of these bandits were wanted criminals who had committed crimes within the Great Flame Empire or Wuji Empire, others were vagrant outlaws, and still others deliberately became bandits in this lawless land, hoping to strike it rich by taking shortcuts.
However, Su Changkong didn’t need to take action against these bandits; Duanmu He volunteered and easily slaughtered them, routing them completely.
Although Duanmu He hadn’t experienced much actual combat, after all, he was an Innate Martial Artist, and it was extremely easy for him to kill a bunch of thieves.
"It’s getting dark; let’s rest up ahead,"
Su Changkong glanced at the sky and, seeing no inns nearby, they had no choice but to rest in the wilderness.
"Hmm," Duanmu He had no objections.
Within a grove of trees, Duanmu He started a fire while Su Changkong sat cross-legged beside it. He quietly contemplated the True Beast Brutal Bear and practiced the Five Animal Frolics. Over these past two and a half months of traveling, he had been meditating and training on the road.
Su Changkong’s Five Animal Frolics had also improved, and he felt he was about to make a breakthrough, enabling him to comprehend a killing move for Bear Play, much like he had for Monkey Play!
As the night deepened, Duanmu He yawned beside the fire, feeling waves of sleepiness that puzzled him, "Although we’ve been traveling all this time... my constitution shouldn’t make me this tired!"
While Duanmu He was slightly perplexed, Su Changkong suddenly opened his eyes with an icy look and said, "Which friend resorted to using such trifling methods as poison? If you have any advice, why not show yourself!"
Su Changkong could detect a faint odd scent in the air, which triggered a reaction in the Heaven Silkworm True Qi within him. It was drifting in with the wind, and he immediately realized someone was making a covert move—there was poison in the air!
"I’ve been poisoned?" Duanmu He was shocked. With Su Changkong’s reminder, he started to feel dizzy and his vision wavered. He was an Innate Martial Artist and for someone to poison him with the wind without his notice showed just how formidable the attacker was.
"This brother, the old man has come for this lad. You are free to leave, and the old man, Hundred Poison Old Man, would be immensely grateful! You have already been affected by my Gentle Wind Scatter. Here is the antidote, which I offer to you. Please show some respect and leave immediately!"
From the darkness, a hoarse and elderly voice sounded, echoing around the forest. The voice was enhanced by True Qi, making it difficult to pinpoint its source, yet the speaker introduced himself, wishing for Su Changkong to leave.
"Hundred Poison Old Man?"
The name made Duanmu He’s face change drastically.
Hundred Poison Old Man, this was a Monster Man from the Demon Sect within the territory of the Great Flame Empire, not very high in cultivation, but adept at using poison. Even those stronger than him had to be cautious or they would fall prey to his schemes!
And the target of Hundred Poison Old Man was Duanmu He!
"I heard from my father that he once led a team to exterminate the Hundred Poison Old Man’s sect—the Hundred Poison Gate... He doesn’t have the guts to take revenge on my father, so he’s after me?" 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Duanmu He was both shocked and angry, growing more and more dizzy, and even his True Qi was unresponsive. The Hundred Poison Old Man’s tactic of poisoning with the wind was truly impossible to defend against!
Meanwhile, not far away, a hissing sound emerged, and a green snake slithered out of the trees, carrying a small bottle towards Su Changkong.
The Hundred Poison Old Man claimed he didn’t want more trouble and was willing to offer Su Changkong an antidote, on the condition that he leave.
As the green snake neared within several feet of Su Changkong, he shook his head helplessly. With a flick of his finger, he projected A Single Drop Penetrates the Stone!
"Puff!"
The green snake carrying the ’antidote’ was hit by this flick and exploded like a balloon, splattering poison blood all around, covering over a ten-foot radius.
"Sizzle sizzle sizzle!"
The soil that came into contact with this poison blood emitted black smoke and was corroded into bottomless pits.
"Such treacherous poison, Hundred Poison Old Man!"
This scene filled Duanmu He with both shock and anger. The Hundred Poison Old Man claimed he was offering an antidote to Su Changkong, but it was just a ruse to deceive him. The green snake carrying the medicine bottle was filled with poison blood, and a single drop would be lethal. The attacker had deliberately done this, hoping the snake would explode at close range to catch Su Changkong off guard!
"You really want to meddle in others’ affairs? Must a person of your skills be someone else’s dog?"
The voice of the Hundred Poison Old Man, laced with a hint of malice, came from all directions. The former head of the Demon Suppressing Department, Duanmu Tao, had eradicated his sect, but Duanmu Tao wasn’t just the lord of the Demon Suppressing Department; he was also a celebrated Five-Qi Grandmaster beyond his reach.
After he received news that Duanmu Tao’s son had left the Demon Suppressing Department, he waited for an opportunity to strike, following them all the way outside the border, ensuring no one else was following in secret before he chose to act.
The identity of the black-clothed blade man was unknown to the Hundred Poison Old Man, but he was very cautious. As soon as he used the ’Gentle Wind Scatter,’ the other man detected it.
