Following the taxi driver’s suggestion, Ling Chen chose the closer path. Though called a path, it was actually a dirt road less than half a ter wide. Fortunately, it hadn’t rained for days, and the ground was dry. After walking for a short distance, he noticed a lot of trees appearing on both sides of the road, lush and dense.
As he walked, Ling Chen took out his phone and dialed Tang Guolun’s number. Given the current situation, calling for support seed the safest option. The call connected quickly, and Ling Chen shared his approximate location with Tang Guolun, asking him to send soone over as soon as possible. Of course, it was most important to bring Ji Gang.
Just as the call ended, Ling Chen noticed a shadow flash through the trees not far away, disappearing in an instant.
With the shadow’s appearance, Ling Chen imdiately stopped in his tracks. It was obvious that the shadow had to be Qin Chuan. Looking at the surrounding darkness, Ling Chen felt a headache coming on, having no idea where Qin Chuan might be hiding. Damn! Such a despicable move. A top-tier Heavenly List expert refusing to confront directly, instead choosing to play dirty. Truly shaless.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in. Ling Chen turned his gaze to the approaching direction of the wind, only to see nothing there. At the sa ti, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder from behind. Before Ling Chen could react, a powerful force struck his back with a resounding impact.
Thud!
A mouthful of fresh blood was spat out, and Ling Chen’s body flew several ters away, landing heavily on the ground.
After lying on the ground for over ten seconds, Ling Chen’s body gradually regained feeling. However, the intense pain caused his arms to tremble slightly. He tried several tis but failed to get up. Upon hearing footsteps approaching from behind, Ling Chen turned over and saw Qin Chuan slowly approaching in the darkness.
"Why?" Ling Chen asked in a deep voice, "Did Su He order you?"
"This isn’t the Heavenly chanism Pavilion’s order," Qin Chuan replied coldly.
Puzzled, Ling Chen asked, "Then... why do you want to kill ?" He had thought Qin Chuan was following Su He’s orders, but it seed that wasn’t the case.
"Since its establishnt, the Skyhawk Pavilion has never suffered a defeat, except when they encountered you, causing significant losses to the pavilion."
Hearing this, Ling Chen’s expression changed, realizing his guess was correct. Qin Chuan was indeed with the Skyhawk Pavilion.
"So, you’re trying to save face for the Skyhawk Pavilion?"
"You could say that," Qin Chuan said coldly. "Your death would not only compensate for the Skyhawk Pavilion’s failure, but also benefit the Heavenly chanism Pavilion. I know Su He wants to deal with you, but he’s been hesitant, unable to make up his mind. With your death, I believe your father wouldn’t stand by idly."
Struggling to stand, Ling Chen panted, "Looks like I’m dood to die today. But before I go, I have one last request."
"Speak."
"I hope..." Ling Chen parted his lips, and as he started speaking, his gaze suddenly fixed on a point behind Qin Chuan. At the sa ti, his lips curled up into a slightly relaxed smile.
Noticing the change in Ling Chen’s expression, Qin Chuan asked coldly, "Why are you smiling?"
"I think I might not die tonight. Don’t you agree, Mr. Ji?"
As his voice fell, Qin Chuan’s heart sank. He quickly turned to look behind him. But there was nothing there except dense trees.
Tricked?
Qin Chuan hesitated briefly, then imdiately shifted his gaze back to where Ling Chen had been. As expected, Ling Chen had already vanished without a trace.
Trying to escape... Qin Chuan chuckled lightly, holding the Longquan Sword, his body turned into a re shadow and disappeared into the darkness.
At that mont, Ling Chen exerted the Nine Yang Qiankun Step to its fullest, racing over the flatland like a storm. After running an unknown distance, he suddenly heard the sound of flowing water nearby. Following the sound, Ling Chen quickened his pace, sprinting several dozen ters ahead until he saw a river more than thirty ters wide.
Opportunity!
Ling Chen’s eyes lit up; it seed fortune was favoring him. Without hesitation, he leapt into the river. Fortunately, the water wasn’t too turbulent, and the surface was calm. The deeper he got, the deeper the river beca, reaching about three ters. Ling Chen subrged himself at the river’s bottom, staying as still as possible, only rising to the surface for fresh air when he’d run out.
Ling Chen hid underwater for more than half an hour. During this ti, Qin Chuan never appeared.
anwhile, hundreds of ters away from the shore, beams of light scoured the surroundings. Guided by Tang Guolun and Jiang Yunkai, dozens of n with flashlights searched for Ling Chen.
"Kai, tell them to shout louder. Maybe Ling Chen can hear us," Tang Guolun instructed.
"Alright."
However, at that mont, Ling Chen was hiding underwater and couldn’t hear the shouts from Tang Guolun and the others. As ti passed, Ling Chen exchanged air and slowly moved underwater. When he surfaced again, he found himself dozens of ters away from the grove he originally escaped from.
I should have shaken off Qin Chuan by now! Ling Chen thought to himself. Carefully observing, he ensured no one was nearby before starting to move toward the shore. But just then, sensing sothing, Ling Chen abruptly turned around. In an instant, a cold gleam flashed before his eyes. Following that, an intense pain shot through his chest.
Staring at the Longquan Sword piercing through his chest, Ling Chen’s pupils shrunk, filled with disbelief.
"Did you really think you could escape my grasp?"
The voice reached him, and he saw Qin Chuan’s figure appear on the riverbank. With a light step, he seed to walk effortlessly on the rippling water, approaching Ling Chen.
When he reached Ling Chen, Qin Chuan bent down, grabbed the Longquan Sword’s hilt, and pulled it out forcefully, sending a spurt of fresh blood into the river.
Ling Chen clutched his wound, panting heavily. Yet, he could feel his life force rapidly draining away.
"Ling Chen!"
"Chen!"
"..."
Vaguely, Ling Chen seed to hear soone calling his na. Moreover, in his gradually blurring vision, it seed as if lights were shining from afar.
As the calls grew clearer, Ling Chen tried to respond but found his throat blocked, unable to produce any sound.
Under Qin Chuan’s cold gaze, Ling Chen’s eyes slowly closed, his entire body losing balance and collapsing into the water. Watching Ling Chen’s body fully subrge, Qin Chuan lingered for several minutes. Only when the lights and voices grew nearer did he walk away on the water’s surface, vanishing into the thick darkness of the night.
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