Fated Agreement.
Li Guanyi looked at the starlight appearing on his palm. On the bronze cauldron, the White Tiger Dharma Form had been completely activated, ready to leave his body, replaced instead by the Red Dragon Dharma Form pressed firmly against the bronze cauldron, unable to extend even a claw.
The small White Tiger Dharma Form raised its head on the young man's shoulder, striding proudly.
Such power was not illusory.
Li Guanyi's first thought was to return immediately.
Let that third prince of the Iron Le Kingdom, who bore the Azure Wolf, experience the Dharma Form martial arts.
But he was indeed exhausted at this moment.
He could only plan to rest and come back tomorrow.
As for the beautiful Yaoguang before him, Li Guanyi still harbored a strong sense of vigilance.
There was no hatred or kindness in this world without reason; to gain something, one must pay a price. As for the so-called fate, Li Guanyi had heard similar claims before. He instinctively rejected this so-called destiny placed before him and replied:
"Fated agreement? Unfortunately, I am already bound by another."
The young man's voice was calm and sincere.
"Previously, an old man named Si Ming got ahead of you."
"Perhaps you can go speak with Old Man Si Ming."
"See where I should go?"
It would be best if you two got into an argument.
The silver-haired Yaoguang's voice remained tranquil, undisturbed: "I am merely an assistant, not a guide. Your path is chosen by you, not bestowed by anyone. According to the ancient agreement, if you become a hero who stabilizes the chaotic world, I will assist you."
"If you become a monarch who ignites the flames of chaos, then it will be Po Jun seeking you."
"Whether it is Yaoguang or Po Jun, they are merely different facets of the same star."
"The king who stabilizes the chaotic world and the overlord who ignites the flames of chaos can both be you."
Yaoguang rose again, returning to sit beside the campfire, quietly kneeling and lowering her gaze:
"This is a secret realm completed five hundred years ago by my ancestors and that generation's White Tiger Grand Sect. There is much astrological knowledge and wisdom here. I will continue to cultivate here. You do not trust me, and I will not force you to accompany me. However, if you still need the guidance of starlight, you may come find me."
"I know our fated connection will not be severed."
Li Guanyi looked at the stars in the sky and said without hesitation:
"It is already late at night, so I will take my leave."
He donned his clothing, picked up the heavy ink blade, slung the plain rainbow bow over his shoulder with twelve arrows, and quickly departed. The hooded Yaoguang sat before the campfire, her gaze calm. The boy, who had been fleeing for ten years, did not look back, while the silver-haired Yaoguang merely watched the campfire quietly.
The two brushed past each other.
After a long while, the water stream fell silent once more.
Yaoguang extended her hand to take down the roasted bun, flipped through a scroll, and slowly bit into the bun.
The sound of the scroll turning.
Crisp.
Yaoguang paused for a moment.
"……"
"So hard."
She flipped it to the other side.
And continued to nibble.
……………………
"This world really feels off. First Si Ming, then this Yaoguang, the Eastern Land Star Observation School..." Li Guanyi walked briskly outside Guan Yi City in the night. Regardless of whether they had good or malicious intentions, they represented a very clear meaning.
Trouble.
A word that a wanted person and a fugitive despised the most.
Li Guanyi raised his head to look at the night sky, the stars bright and dazzling.
He had had enough of a life on the run.
Five days ago, he had submitted the matter of the travel documents to the officials.
Once he entered the country, once he grasped the Xue family's inheritance, he would leave the Chen Kingdom; upon leaving, he would write a farewell letter, informing the old master of the Xue family about the secret realm, to repay his kindness. But now was not the time; it was still somewhat unsafe.
What fate, what Si Ming, had nothing to do with me.
Looking at the clear and beautiful night of this era, the young man's mood finally lightened as he walked quickly towards Guan Yi City. There was no curfew in Guan Yi City, but the city gates would still close, only opening when the sky began to brighten. Li Guanyi planned to wait early.
The night was too quiet, so sounds traveled particularly far.
As Li Guanyi hurried towards Guan Yi City, suddenly, a sound of crying drifted in the wind, followed by a sound that made his hair stand on end.
A sharp, crisp sound, like steel tearing through the air.
The sound of a blade!
Li Guanyi's pupils contracted. He concealed himself behind a large tree, pressing his right hand against the trunk, circulating his internal qi, and leaping over a meter high, climbing up the tree in two or three moves, hiding among the leaves. The aura of the bronze cauldron flowed within his eyes, enhancing his vision.
The White Tiger Dharma Form crouched on his shoulder, also looking over curiously at the distance. The Dharma Forms possessed their own unique traits; even without a high martial realm, they could still exert their effects.
The White Tiger monitored and guarded against enemies.
The sound of crying drifted in the wind, not far from here: "No, help!"
"Help me!!"
Li Guanyi looked down from above and saw a stout old man kicked aside, struck on the head with a knife handle, blood streaming down. A cart nearby had been overturned, vegetables rolling out, while another person had their wrist twisted. The leader was vaguely like a bamboo pole with a sack over it, his round face covered in pockmarks.
Li Guanyi had a good memory and recognized who it was—
Qian Zheng.
He was a wanted criminal along with Yue Qianfeng.
Li Guanyi recalled what the patrol had said that day: Qian Zheng, a border army sergeant, had become part of a rout, leading a dozen men to roam and commit crimes, ruthless and bloody, having killed dozens and violated many women. Recently, the common folk had been warned not to travel alone in and out of the city and villages.
At this moment, it was just outside the city, an hour before dawn, when the villagers were bringing vegetables.
A border army sergeant, this was an elite entry-level martial artist.
Li Guanyi fell silent. He slid down from the tree, turned, and quietly retreated. An entry-level martial artist, leading a dozen men, Li Guanyi, a boy who had been crushed by the third prince of Iron Le, was definitely no match. The best strategy was to retreat. He took a few steps, and the sounds began to fade.
"We are just poor people going to Guan Yi City to sell vegetables, sir, please show mercy."
"Girl! Girl, run quickly!"
"Hahaha, big brother, there's a little girl here with some looks!"
"Good, good!"
"Old man, old woman, open your eyes and see what your daughter looks like, hahaha."
The young man's steps slowed, then stopped. The White Tiger Dharma Form on his shoulder drooped its head, appearing dejected. He looked up at the stars and pursed his lips.
Throw a copper coin, turn around on the front, and run on the back.
He took out a copper coin and flicked it into the air.
The coin flipped.
It had not yet landed.
The young man gripped the plain rainbow bow and had already turned to stride away.
The temperament left by his bloodline from his past life seemed to still be surging within his soul, not so easily dispersed. A clan member who only wanted to farm, do not force me to plant you in the ground. At this moment, he had several reasons to leave; there were many people on the opposite side, and he had not yet entered the realm. But there was only one reason to do this, and that was enough.
He felt discontent in his heart.
Strike first, do his best, if he couldn't win, then retreat!
Li Guanyi drew the bow and quickly climbed the tree, raising his hand to draw the bow and notch an arrow. The plain rainbow bow drew silently in the night, the arrow aimed at one of the men. Li Guanyi's heartbeat slowed, his fingers released, and the bowstring's whistle was clear in the night, like a soaring eagle.
That man was reaching for the girl when the arrow pierced his throat.
The wolf-tooth arrow forged from fine steel, worth one or two silver coins each.
Given by the young lady.
Twenty arrows for a flask.
Cost price fifteen silver coins.
First two silver coins!
A month's salary at the Rejuvenation Hall gone.
In the night, the arterial blood gushed out, causing the surroundings to fall silent in an instant. Qian Zheng, a former border army soldier, his eyes sharpened instantly. He rolled over and pulled out a large rattan shield from behind him, while the others acted like ordinary mountain bandits. Li Guanyi steadied himself, drawing and shooting arrows. The sound of arrows slicing through the air was sharp.
Two!
Three!
A sharpshooter on the battlefield was an absolute nightmare. Accompanied by his slaughter, the White Tiger Dharma Form gradually transformed, shaking its body, its fur bristling, fierce light radiating from its eyes, breathing heavily, while Li Guanyi's mind cleared of all distractions, arrows raining down like a storm.
Qian Zheng swung down heavily with a knife, cleaving an arrow in mid-flight.
But the severed arrowhead still surged forward.
His internal qi burst forth, his body twisting, his left hand grasping the arrow, yet he still felt pain in his palm, his expression changing: "This is a strong bow and crossbow, at least three hundred taels of good bows to shoot such stable arrows."
Over there, a subordinate attempted to grab someone as a meat shield.
But before he could reach, he was shot through the throat, collapsing while clutching his neck.
The speed was fast, the frequency high, the bow's resilience excellent, and the arrow's center of gravity stable.
The accuracy was also extremely high.
He was a scion of a noble family!
Guan Yi City, Xue family?!
Qian Zheng reacted, shouting: "He's in the trees to the southwest, charge over, crouch low, hold the shield, don’t grab any hostages. This is a scion of the Xue family with a divine bow, at least ten years of cultivation, the arrow speed is extremely fast, your side movements could get you shot dead!!!"
"Quick, quick!!!"
The remaining few grabbed their shields and rushed towards the trees.
Li Guanyi notched another arrow, circulating his internal qi, the arrow shot out explosively. The spinning arrow was the Xue family archery technique taught to him by Xue Shuangtao. Although it couldn't pierce the rattan shield, the rotation was enough to unbalance the opponent, and the second arrow would be enough to pierce their throats.
Nineteen arrows, fifteen evil thieves, all perished.
The smell of blood was thick, only Qian Zheng, when shooting arrows, would shift his shield to deflect the force, allowing the arrows to scatter. He slammed his shield heavily against the tree, his internal qi exploding, and this tree was directly smashed!
Li Guanyi lost his balance and leaped down.
Qian Zheng hid behind the shield, charging forward like a raging rhinoceros.
Qian Zheng's eyes turned red.
At this moment, he only hoped that the Xue family scion opposite him was not like those sharpshooters at the border, not only skilled in archery.
Li Guanyi notched the last arrow on the plain rainbow bow.
All changes felt like the battle he had against the third prince of Iron Le today.
But this time was different.
The White Tiger Dharma Form roared, the young man's black hair fluttering, as he leaped back while drawing the bow. Golden flowing wind coiled around the arrow, causing his eyes to faintly shimmer with a White Tiger-like glow.
In the next moment, even the bow itself vibrated violently.
The arrow shot through the air.
Like a golden thread.
In an instant, it pierced through the rattan shield.
Qian Zheng barely avoided it, but the arrow's speed was too fast. Even as an entry-level martial artist, he was instantly pierced through his internal qi defense, shot through his left arm, the tearing golden wind shredding half of his shoulder, leaving blood and bone behind, continuing its momentum skyward.
Qian Zheng let out a howl.
He drew his knife and severed his own left arm, gasping heavily.
The rattan shield that had once protected his life was now shattered. He felt a sense of disorientation, as if his life would shatter like the shield. Gritting his teeth, he drew his knife, staring at the Xue family scion across from him.
In the sky, the White Tiger Seven Stars had risen to the zenith.
Then he saw the young man opposite him throw the golden-threaded battle bow to the ground.
Slowly, he drew out a heavy black battle knife.
A killing intent akin to that of a seasoned warrior surged forth.
(End of Chapter)