Chapter 305: 281 Pursuit, Part 1

Zhang Rongfang’s words made Zhang Yunqi nod continuously.

To uncover the truth, one must first conceal themselves and eliminate any possibility of being discovered.

Immediately, Zhang Yunqi carefully asked him about how to use the human skin mask and methods of disguising one’s physique.

After the two tried it out once or twice.

Around four o’clock, the ship gradually approached Kuaiyi Island.

On the black sea surface, the volcanic-shaped shadow slowly approached and grew larger with the speed of the ship.

Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Yunqi put on human skin masks, completely transforming into two different people.

Standing at the bow, the two gazed distantly at the island.

“This distance is sufficient. Going any closer might get us discovered.” Zhang Rongfang signaled the crew to stop.

Then they lowered the small boat.

The two boarded the small boat, using the oars to quickly approach Kuaiyi Island.

The small boat had a very shallow draft and high concealment. Additionally, Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Yunqi were both Super Grade experts, making them stronger and much faster.

The small boat quietly approached a cliff edge.

From a distance, Zhang Rongfang could clearly see, with his eyesight, that sentinels were specially positioned atop the cliff.

“Young master, should we go in alone?” Zhang Yunqi looked at Zhang Rongfang. By now, he naturally had his own methods.

“Alright.” Zhang Rongfang nodded.

The two quickly rowed the small boat toward the reefs, hid it in a crevice, and secured it.

Without another word, Zhang Yunqi swiftly disappeared into the coconut grove on the island.

After he left, Zhang Rongfang stood at the spot, surveying his surroundings.

With his twilight vision, this stretch of beach appeared like daylight to him.

“After practicing martial arts for so long, it’s time to stretch my muscles… It’s been a long time since I’ve smelled such free air…”

Zhang Rongfang took a deep breath, feeling slightly relieved.

Although it was an action, he felt a sense of ease and joy within.

Previously, he had been constantly in a protected state, consistently suppressing his martial arts training. Now, after having finally arranged everything, he was able to come out freely to relax a bit.

He felt like a tightly wound spring that had suddenly relaxed.

As for capturing disguised individuals and looking for the masterminds behind the scenes.

For others, it might be difficult, but for him, it was quite simple.

Ssss.

A soft sound, Zhang Rongfang sped towards the top of the cliff on the island.

Not long after.

On the cliff top, several members responsible for watching over the Linlang Association silently fell to the ground.

And Zhang Rongfang stood at a high place, gazing over the entire island, quickly finding the gathering spot for the island’s personnel.

The sea wind howled, and he instantly leaped, rapidly approaching that location.

Passing through a wide coconut grove, he arrived at a cluster of wooden cabins built in the forest.

These cabins were all suspended, with wooden pillars supporting their bases. Each cabin was quite spacious, accommodating at least four or five people.

At this moment, daylight was breaking, and some people were already up early, some fetching water, some washing up, and others practicing martial arts in the open space.

The island wind howled, adding to the cacophony.

Zhang Rongfang wasted no time, using the cover of grass and trees, he quietly approached one of the cabins.

He didn’t go in, just peered inside through the gap at the cabin’s window.

His robust twilight vision allowed him to discern, at a glance, which were disguised individuals and which were real people.

In this cabin, two people lay on one side, based on the twilight vision’s view of qi and blood flow speed and volume, they were merely ordinary people.

Zhang Rongfang did not linger and proceeded to the next cabin.

The total amount of qi and blood is reflected in the thickness of blood vessels, flow speed, and color in vision.

Thus, with extensive observation, he could generally assess the opponent’s strength level.

Of course, consecrated martial artists were different; their blood vessels and meridians were mixed with red and silver, which looked quite peculiar.

In a short while, thanks to the stealth of the Spiritual Snake Body Skill, he did not alarm anyone. In just a few minutes, he examined over ten cabins.

Finally.

In the camp, in the third cabin from the last, Zhang Rongfang’s gaze suddenly hardened.

’Found them!’

Ssh.

The door latch was snatched and broken by the Eagle Claw Skill, he pounced inside, grabbed someone still asleep on the bed, and swiftly turned to leave.

On the bed, a beautiful woman lay, utterly unaware that the person beside her had disappeared.

Soon, the door closed again.

Zhang Rongfang carried the man, using his body technique, and silently slithered like a giant python away from the camp.

He held the man in one hand, while the other had already used the pre-prepared sedative-infused cloth to cover his mouth and nose.

In just a few seconds, he moved tens of meters away.

He abruptly stopped, took out a whistle, and blew it.

A peculiar bird call resounded immediately.

Soon, Zhang Yunqi’s figure flashed towards him, landing amidst the forest.

“So fast!?” He looked in astonishment at Zhang Rongfang, who was holding the man.

“No rush, I’ll go take another look, you help me guard for a bit. Be careful not to tear their disguise skin, or these people may die of poisoning.”

Zhang Rongfang instructed him, then turned and disappeared again into the forest.

Zhang Yunqi looked at the nude man on the ground, this…

He had just found the camp… it hadn’t even been ten minutes…

So should he say, no wonder he’s a Daoist?

Suppressing his astonishment, he stepped forward to closely inspect the man on the ground.

Soon, he indeed found a very tiny skin tone difference on the edge of the man’s face, which seemed to indicate that he really was wearing a mask…

“This….!?”

He felt shaken, was it possible to find someone so quickly with such minuscule clues? It seemed Daoist does have rather impressive vision….

Sss, sss.

Suddenly, there were two more sounds.

Zhang Yunqi looked up and saw two more unconscious people, a man and a woman, thrown to the ground.

“That makes three. We’ve searched the whole camp. Let’s go back and interrogate them.” Zhang Rongfang said with a hint of disappointment.

Actually, he wanted to find a master to have some fun, to engage in combat.

But unfortunately… everyone here is a weakling.

Although there are many weaklings, a barrage of musket and crossbow fire is still quite powerful.

But it’s not as satisfying as a one-on-one duel with a master.

This world is so dull and monotonous, leading to his only form of entertainment now, being a duel with strong enemies and masters.

Zhang Yunqi found himself speechless, looking at the three people on the ground, suddenly feeling that he might be superfluous this time.

“With your skills and speed, why don’t we? Go visit the headquarters of the Linlang Association?” he said helplessly.

“Do you know where it is? I’ve heard it’s at least a few hundred nautical miles away, vast seas, where would you search? Even with favorable winds, it would take several days to get there, right?”

Zhang Rongfang is not entirely clueless.

Having been in Citong for so long, he at least learned something about the typical speed of sea ships in this era.

Several hundred nautical miles, even the fastest sea ship would take a few days to get there.

Not to mention searching all over the place.

He doesn’t have that much time to waste on this.

“I don’t know where, but they do.” Zhang Yunqi pointed to the three people on the ground.

“As far as I know, the Linlang Association has always trained sea birds as a communication tool.”

“Let’s interrogate them first and see, if it’s true we’ll act, if not, since we’re at this point, we’ll strike at the source.”

Zhang Rongfang smiled. He picked up two people and turned towards the small boat.

Zhang Yunqi picked up one person and followed behind.

Without any delay, when the two of them caught three people and returned to the sea ship, the camp on the island was already in an uproar.

Teams of people holding torches were shouting and searching everywhere.

The sound of constant alarm gongs was drifting in.

And Zhang Rongfang and the others had already taken a sea ship and headed off into the distance.

*

*

*

Outside of Citong, at a wild dock.

Two double-masted black oak ships quietly docked beside the pier, with faint lights swaying on board, sometimes rocking with the waves.

Zhu Wanguo gently pushed open the porthole, letting the slightly humid and salty air from outside in.

Looking at the ink-like night outside the window, the distant rolling hills, listening to the sound of the restless sea in his ears.

A faint touch of nostalgia appeared on his face.

“The jade sea is like ink, thoughts like smoke, golden clouds like a painting, the heart as vast as the sky. Glory and wealth are but illusions, reminiscing my old window, thinking of the countryside…”

“Young master is starting to be sentimental again…” Han Jia gently set down the lotus seed and white fungus soup she was holding, looking at Zhu Wanguo with slightly softened eyes.

“It’s just that I miss the past… back then, in the retreat of my master, every day was nothing but studying martial arts and literature, life was simple yet fulfilling.

And now, although I have everything, that pure happiness is something I can no longer feel…”

Zhu Wanguo sighed lightly.

“Young master is feeling homesick… and tired.” A trace of pity flashed in Han Jia’s eyes.

“Maybe. You’re considerate though. Actually, you don’t have to.” Zhu Wanguo walked forward and took the white fungus soup.

“Han Jia is willing.” Han Jia looked up at him with bright eyes.

“You…” Zhu Wanguo’s eyes flickered, just about to speak.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door, the rhythm slightly urgent.

“What is it?” The trace of softness in Zhu Wanguo’s eyes quickly dissipated, and his expression turned cold.

“Young master, the Chameleon found crucial information. It’s about the Agarwood Palace and the Rebel Sect!”

The person outside the door replied in a deep voice.

“Oh? Come in.” Zhu Wanguo’s heart was stirred.

The Agarwood Palace represents the Great Dao Teaching, Zhang Ying, and the Rebel Sect, has always been in Citong locally, waving the flag of rebellion against the Great Spirit.

If the two could be linked together, then…

His mind suddenly flashed with all kinds of speculative thoughts and calculations.

The door opened, and a member of the Thousand Teachings Alliance entered, kneeling on one knee.

“Young master, this is a secret scroll document from the Chameleon.” He offered a wax-sealed bamboo tube with both hands.

Zhu Wanguo picked up the bamboo tube, broke the seal, and took out the document.

After unfolding it, he examined it carefully.

It densely recorded the secret contacts between the Rebel Sect and the Agarwood Palace, with specific times, locations, and people involved.

“Good, good, good!! If this matter spreads… that Zhang Ying is afraid to have her name ruined! If arranged properly….”

Suddenly, he seemed to see something red out of the corner of his eye.

’What is that?’

Zhu Wanguo frowned slightly, looking in that direction.

It was outside the window.

Outside, in the distance, hundreds of meters away from the ship, on a semi-hill hill.

A red dot flickered.

“Red dot?”

He frowned and walked closer to the window, trying to see clearly.

BOOM!!!

In an instant, the entire ship shook violently.

The ship rocked violently, losing balance.

The floor vibrated, items from high places slid off, smashing onto the ground. The teapot and cups on the table tipped over and rolled away.

The entire cabin was in chaos.

The corridor outside also came with a series of exclamations, followed by the sound of bodies falling in succession.

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