Chapter 50: The Uninvited Guest

Two days later, Yun Yufeng entered the outer reaches of the Encircling Mountains alone, still the solitary swordsman, without companions. The little Greedy Wolf followed at his side, but the low-level beasts of the outer region failed to catch its interest. Of all the creatures they encountered along the way, Yun Yufeng would occasionally prepare a small amount for food, but for the most part there was no bloodshed; an unspoken truce seemed to exist, as if the little wolf held a lofty pride of its own.

Now, with Yun Yufeng’s strength nearing the late fourth tier, he traversed the outer range without the slightest pressure, forging ahead through brambles and thorns, heading straight for the summit of Encircling Mountain.

He passed by martial artists hunting low-level magical beasts. Seeing this slender, youthful boy traveling alone, some offered help with genuine enthusiasm, but Yun Yufeng politely declined them all.

After a day of swift travel—by now the third evening since leaving the manor—Yun Yufeng had entered the territory of fourth-tier magical beasts, reaching the base of the Encircling Mountains at last.

He looked up: the main peak of Encircling Mountain soared into the clouds, shrouded by mist—a magnificent sight.

Throughout the journey, Yun Yufeng did not employ his spiritual power; with his vast, ocean-like sea of consciousness, using it would have defeated the purpose of his training. Thus, he had partially sealed his own spiritual force and would not draw upon it unless absolutely necessary, refusing to use it to probe his surroundings.

He sought to hone the keen perception of a martial artist—most importantly, a warrior’s intuition. Only those who possessed such intuition could be deemed true warriors.

All along, Yun Yufeng maintained the art of concealment, a personal practice unopposed by his clan. As a result, few people truly knew his cultivation level.

Here in the mountains, Yun Yufeng had even less reason to reveal his true abilities. The magical beasts seeking trouble were many. The little Greedy Wolf only displayed the strength of a third-tier peak beast; to the fourth-tier denizens, it looked like easy prey, a soft target for healthy mischief.

Thus, the magical beasts were left disappointed, while the little wolf was delighted—one after another, crystalline cores were slipped into Yun Yufeng’s pouch. These, as the little wolf saw it, would be its future rations. In its mind, any core entering Yun Yufeng’s pouch belonged to it.

Yet Yun Yufeng did not intend to linger here; his goal lay at the mountainside of the main peak, where the mist coiled and fifth-tier beasts prowled. Only in such a place could his current strength find a worthy trial.

The sun had dipped below the horizon; the sky was awash with crimson, and the moon was slowly rising, hanging in a corner of the heavens. Wings fluttered in the forest as magical beasts hunted their evening meal; some of those Yun Yufeng encountered were now at the peak of the fourth tier.

Night was falling. Yun Yufeng deftly gathered a pile of branches, snapped his fingers, and with a puff, lit the fire. He skewered a wild rabbit, roasting it while sprinkling various seasonings.

The little Greedy Wolf sat nearby, eyes fixed on the rabbit, drool dripping freely.

Originally, the little wolf scorned ordinary meat; anything without energy held no appeal. But by chance, Yun Yufeng once tossed away a bone after finishing some roasted meat, which happened to land by the little wolf’s mouth. Somewhat melancholically, it licked its lips—and thus became enamored with roast meat. Now, whenever Yun Yufeng roasted a rabbit, half would become the wolf’s share.

Cuirong, the little maid, had tried and failed many times to tempt the wolf with food, but Yun Yufeng had succeeded quite by accident. If she were to learn of it, it’s hard to say whether she’d laugh or cry.

The campfire crackled merrily. The rabbit was soon done, its rich aroma drifting outward. Yun Yufeng took a knife, cut half, and tossed it to the little wolf, who caught it with glowing eyes, clutching it with its paws to eat. It even held the meat high to avoid the dirt, prompting Yun Yufeng to shake his head in amusement—this creature actually cared about cleanliness, truly a rare oddity.

A little over half a mile away, several figures dressed in black huddled together, deep in discussion.

“Boss, that kid’s having dinner, about a mile from here. Should we go now and…” The small, wiry man drew a finger across his throat.

“No rush. Let’s eat something ourselves first. Maybe tonight’s his last meal—let him eat his fill.” The leader of the group gave a sinister smile.

“Better to be well-fed before work. These magical beasts are getting more troublesome; I’ve barely eaten all day for fear of losing track of him. No matter what, we must finish this tonight, or we’ll never earn favor. Old Seven, that kid is something else—he’s left no trace of battle with beasts along the way. Tomorrow, I’m sticking to the boss. I can’t follow someone so quietly,” complained a black-clad man of medium build.

Old Seven replied, “Stop complaining, Old Five. The master ordered us to wait until he entered the mountains. It would’ve been easier to finish him outside, but who knows what the master’s thinking? This spoiled brat could have been dealt with easily.”

The leader snapped, “Enough. If it’s so easy, Old Five, why don’t you go do it? He’s walking along as if it’s a stroll in the park, much more relaxed than you, a peak fourth-tier. Eat and get ready—we’ll wrap him up together.”

“Yes, boss.”

The leader gazed in Yun Yufeng’s direction, eyes glinting with danger. He didn’t understand the master’s concerns, but whatever the reason, orders were orders; even at the cost of his own life, he would carry them out. If told to strike in the mountains, then in the mountains it would be.

The moon climbed higher, its pale light casting a silvery sheen over the leaves.

Yun Yufeng, with the little wolf, climbed a tall tree and settled in, preparing to rest. Suddenly, he caught sight of a faint shadow moving toward his position—a harbinger of hostile intent.

His expression grew cold. He set the little wolf down and slid silently down the trunk, melding into the shadows. The art of concealment rendered him one with the darkness, leaving no trace of energy.

Four black-clad figures emerged beneath the tree, scanning the area but seeing no one—only the fire crackled on.

“Boss, have we been discovered?” Old Five whispered.

“Not necessarily. Maybe he just stepped away. Hide for now,” the leader ordered as they melted into the darkness.

A mocking smile played at Yun Yufeng’s lips as he hefted his heavy sword. Its black blade gleamed with no light, an edge without sharpness—a masterpiece of subtlety.

The spot the wiry man had chosen happened to be Yun Yufeng’s own hiding place. The moment he settled in, Yun Yufeng’s sword cleaved down, its raw power overwhelming the frail figure. The man died instantly, uttering only a muffled cry.

As their comrade fell, the other three heard the commotion and lunged toward the sound. The leader’s aura surged with battle energy—at least the peak of the fifth tier.

Yun Yufeng did not linger in the shadows. He revealed himself, meeting his foe head-on. The heavy black sword swept up, trailing shadows, striking down at another black-clad man.

A sharp whistling cut through the air as the leader leapt over the fire, scattering sparks, his broadsword slashing downward, battle energy flaring with a force as if to shatter the heavens.

Even before the man arrived, a tyrannical aura and the blast of force pressed in. With one comrade already dead, bloodlust erupted within him. The black-clad men were furious—their supposedly simple task had taken an unforeseen turn; this seemingly tender youth was ruthless indeed.

Sensing the broadsword’s approach, Yun Yufeng’s thoughts raced. Gritting his teeth, he maintained his downward stroke, hacking out a hundred times in the blink of an eye. The air exploded with the sound of blade against blade.

The black-clad foe before him barely managed to raise his sword before the relentless onslaught left him dazed. At first, he felt little force behind the blows, but terror quickly dawned on his face.

Wave after wave of battle energy surged through the moment of contact, concentrating on his forearm and erupting deep within. Agonizing pain shot to his bones, muscles tearing under the strain. As he howled, Yun Yufeng withdrew, then reversed his grip, swinging upward to meet the incoming broadsword.

A crisp metallic clash rang out. Yun Yufeng staggered, his sleeve torn to shreds, exposing an arm where the purplish hue quickly faded.

He steadied himself, the heavy sword trembling in his grasp. The power of his life-force surged, mending the wounds. Outwardly his arm was only lightly injured, but his muscles and meridians had suffered; his palm split open, blood streaming down the blade.

Wariness in his eyes, Yun Yufeng demanded in a deep voice, “Who are you?”

The broadsword-wielding man stared in surprise. Their previous clash had ended in a draw—the youth was only at a disadvantage, not defeated.

Ignoring the question, the black-clad man lunged, broadsword spinning like a windmill, launching a direct assault. His experience told him Yun Yufeng was stalling for time and he gave no chance, going all out. The earlier exchange had revealed that the boy’s reserves of battle energy surpassed the fifth tier, though his combat experience was still lacking.

Helpless, Yun Yufeng forced his energy to surge. Flames erupted from the hilt, instantly cauterizing the blood. Thanks to his life-force, the wound quickly scabbed, filling the air with the acrid scent of burnt flesh.

The blood was staunched for now, but each clash risked tearing the wound anew.