The laughter from Kongming stopped, and he recalled the recent changes in the situation, his gaze shifting.

“Well then, since it’s Brother Zhenxu from Zhenyi Sect, I’ll give you some face today.”

Zhenxu, he had heard of, was undoubtedly a high-level figure within Zhenyi Sect, just below the Five Sons of Ming Mountain.

The person in front of him had a strong Daoist aura, definitely a Daoist, and the power he sensed from him was significant, likely due to the worship of Spiritual Veins.

Getting into trouble with such a master just for a furnace Ming Fei wasn’t worth it.

Especially now that he’s tracking Great Dao Teaching’s Daoist Zhang Ying, he couldn’t afford any unnecessary complications.

At this moment, Kongming and the others sat down to eat.

With matters settled on both sides, they each took their seats.

Soon, Zhang Rongfang and Ding Chong got up to settle the bill and leave.

As for the group from Kunning Sect, they quickly left protecting the woman, without looking back.

There were no grateful tears following the hero-saving-the-beauty moment; instead, they kept their heads down, saying nothing, and swiftly left.

Obviously, the name of West Sect True Buddha Temple was too daunting for them.

Zhang Rongfang also hadn’t expected Ding Chong to be so impulsive. That Kongming was indeed a top-level master from the True Buddha Temple with the character Kong.

The weakest among the masters he encountered with the character Kong was also at the pinnacle of Three Emptiness worship.

Such masters, and Ding Chong just rushed out without saying a word.

Although he used his Zhenyi Sect disguise identity, it’s best to avoid trouble.

This guy, acting so fearlessly, did things in a somewhat strange manner.

After eating.

Both parties remained mutually undisturbed, each returning to their rooms.

Zhang Rongfang and Ding Chong slept separately, their rooms were adjacent.

In the middle of the night.

Zhang Rongfang was sitting cross-legged, entering a state of meditation, cultivating Literature.

Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound from the next room.

In the darkness, he abruptly opened his eyes, realizing the noise came from his brother Ding Chong’s room.

Soon, after a faint sound of the door opening and closing, there was no more sound.

Obviously, Ding Chong had gone out to handle something at night.

‘It’s so late… could it be because of the woman from the daytime?’ Zhang Rongfang sat cross-legged, shaking his head slightly.

It’s clear that after returning to his room, Ding Chong learned something, undoubtedly related to handling the aftermath of the incident from the daytime.

That woman may have fled quickly, and Kongming’s group may have shown face by letting her go.

But showing face at that time didn’t imply they’ll do so always.

If the monks of the West Sect were so easily dealt with, they wouldn’t be feared and avoided by everyone.

“Didn’t we agree not to cause trouble or attract any hassles on the way?” Zhang Rongfang sighed softly.

Soon after, the sound of the door opening and closing came from next door again.

Clearly, Ding Chong had returned.

After feeling relieved, Zhang Rongfang continued to meditate.

The next morning.

As the sky was just lightening.

They got up early and arrived at the dock.

“Things aren’t quite right,” Ding Chong said softly to Zhang Rongfang, as he stood beside him.

“I went to investigate around last night, we might have been targeted!” His expression turned slightly serious.

“Targeted?” Zhang Rongfang was speechless, without needing to think that it must be due to yesterday’s incident. Isn’t all this trouble caused by you?

“No worries, just follow my lead from now on. We’ll keep a low profile, focus on patience, and avoid impulsive acts until we reach Ze Province,” Ding Chong whispered.

Who was impulsive?? But Zhang Rongfang, being a kind person, didn’t think that helping yesterday was wrong despite the trouble caused.

At this point, though speechless, he still nodded outwardly.

“Okay!”

Actually, since the incident at the inn yesterday, he felt something was amiss.

It was unlikely that Kongming with the character Kong from the True Buddha Temple would casually give face to an allegedly false Zhenyi Sect Daoist.

Moreover, it was too much of a coincidence to encounter such masters from the True Buddha Temple in a small peripheral town while resting for just one day.

He thought of his master Chongxuan rushing to send him away.

Clearly, another force didn’t want them to leave safely.

Thus, even if they hid their identities, split into light and dark teams, trouble still found them.

At the dock, they quickly chose a medium-sized single-deck building ship.

After negotiating the fare with the ship’s owner, they planned to charter the ship downstream.

“Rest assured, even if ten more of those people come, I can still ensure your safe departure. The main concern is other variables.”

While preparing the supplies on the ship, Ding Chong confidently assured Zhang Rongfang.

“As long as it’s not the strongest masters with the character Kong from the True Buddha Temple, others are not worth worrying about!”

These words made Zhang Rongfang look at him differently.

Evidently, the guide兼保镖 arranged by his master was exceptionally capable.

“Thank you, Brother, now I feel at ease,” he said, cupping his hands.

At this moment, they waited and chatted aboard the ship, anticipating the departure time.

The time set by the ship’s owner was half an hour later.

Time ticked away.

As the departure time neared, the sailors began securing the thick ropes tied at the dock, lifted the anchor, and were about to retract the boarding plank.

Suddenly, a figure rapidly approached from a distance, stepped on the dock, and soared into the air.

In mid-air, the person performed several flips, landing lightly amid the exclamations of the people around, on the ship’s side where Zhang Rongfang and Ding Chong were.

“Brother Ding, it’s been years since we met, and you’re still the same, always meddling in other people’s business.”

The newcomer had hair and beard all white, wore a black python robe, stood on the side of the boat, with a tall and strong figure, hands behind his back, exuding the demeanor of a master.

“King Yan, Yan Xi?!” The expression of Ding Chong, previously full of confidence, instantly changed, and he quickly stood up.

Why would a Grandmaster of the Sensing Sect suddenly come here!?

He felt something bad was going on.

Yesterday, he had a keen sense of something wrong, and secretly went out at night to check.

He found that the Kongming group was missing one person, and immediately became alert.

The next morning, he promptly warned Zhang Rongfang.

Originally, relying on just that few people, he was confident to protect them entirely.

But now… they came so quickly!

“Grandmaster Ding pretending to be a Zhenyi Sect person, I must say, it’s quite convincing.”

At the dock below the ship.

A group of monks from Kongming laughed loudly as they approached.

“If it weren’t for the fact that anyone once seen by this Buddha is unforgettable, I’m afraid Grandmaster Ding would have deceived us.”

“Grandmaster Yan, thank you for your trouble this time.” Kongming clasped his hands at King Yan, Yan Xi, from a distance.

“It’s my duty to serve the chief.” Yan Xi’s face was calm, eyes tightly fixed on Ding Chong.

“Ding Chong, we old folks should find a place to talk alone; let the younger ones handle the rest.” His gentle voice, though, made Ding Chong’s face change again.

He never expected the Western Sect to act so swiftly. The most crucial thing is that they mobilized so much power…

“This is trouble….” Ding Chong took a deep breath, glanced at Zhang Rongfang beside him. “Yan Xi is an experienced Grandmaster, even a god-worshiper. That Kongming is at least a Three Emptiness, impenetrable to force. I’ll hold them off momentarily, you find a direction to flee! I know your body technique is exceptional, now is the perfect time to use it!”

Zhang Rongfang’s face grew solemn, aware the situation was dire.

Since the Western Sect reacted so quickly and sent a Grandmaster to track them, it meant they didn’t care about tearing the facade anymore.

Even the situation at the Great Capital might be problematic.

He had planned to accumulate attribute points to enhance his Golden Toad Skill level on the way, but encountered so much trouble just after setting out.

“Do not resist!”

Before he could react, suddenly a large hand grabbed his arm.

Immense strength swept over, spinning Zhang Rongfang, and hurling him fiercely far away!

By the time Zhang Rongfang could react, he had been flung dozens of meters away by Ding Chong.

Landing with a thud, Zhang Rongfang rushed forward for several steps to dissipate the impact, then looked back to see Ding Chong engaged in combat with Yan Xi on the ship.

While Kongming and the others turned towards him, heading his way.

“Run!”

Ding Chong’s shout echoed from afar.

Immediately Zhang Rongfang dashed off, the edge of the river quickly distancing him.

Perfect.

He had long wanted to travel alone; with Ding Chong there, he dared not show his full prowess.

Bound hands and feet, not daring to capture anything to restore his flesh.

Now, with the Western Sect and others following, they were holding off Ding Chong, preventing him from becoming an obstacle, which was exactly what he wanted.

Afterwards, he could roam freely, unhindered!

Zhang Rongfang earnestly used the speed of External Medicine’s body technique, ‘crazily’ rushing forward.

Passing through two woodland areas, at the third hill slope.

He was finally caught up by Kongming and his companions.

In the dense forest.

Only Zhang Rongfang, Kongming, and two accompanying vicious monks were present.

The surroundings were silent with not a single wild animal in sight.

Standing still, Zhang Rongfang took a deep breath, already smelling a faint scent of blood and flesh wafting from Kongming and his companions.

The scent was subtle, but indeed there…

Just right, there was no Ding Chong here, nor any other onlookers. Plus, it was deep in the forest….

Zhang Rongfang’s heart stirred with desire.

With no one around, maybe…

“Run? Let’s see where you can run now!” Kongming chuckled wryly, stepping towards Zhang Rongfang.

“Let’s see where you can run today!”

“Seize him!” Kongming shouted sharply, lunging forward.

Zhang Rongfang’s heart leapt with joy, he wouldn’t even have to lift a hand, he’d never seen prey rush towards his mouth in this lifetime…

Whoosh!!

Suddenly, a sharp piercing sound rushed from not far away.

A circular phantom moved at high speed, slicing towards Kongming fiercely.

Bang!

Kongming raised his palm, intercepting the circular phantom, but the immense force knocked him several steps sideways.

“Who is it!?” He shouted harshly, looking at the direction the phantom had flown from.

“The Wishing Wheel!” Suddenly he identified the circular weapon pinned to the ground—that was the iconic weapon of another faction of the Great Dao Teaching—the Wishing Wheel!

In the distance, a white shadow quickly maneuvered through the trees, approaching swiftly.

In no time, the white shadow lightly landed, standing in front of Zhang Rongfang protectively.

It was a tall man in a white Taoist robe, with silver white arms.

This man had a handsome face, with a fixed gentle smile, making it impossible to harbor any malice at first sight.

“I am Ding Rui.

Seeing injustice, drawing my blade to assist, I merely can’t tolerate you three martial arts masters bullying a gentle Literary Cultivator.”

“`

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep