C13 I Have a Secret(2)

"What's the good news?" Xiaoming approached Qin Han with a sly smile.

"Our brother has made a breakthrough!" Before Qin Han could respond, Qin Che interjected, raising an eyebrow at him. "Isn't that right, brother?"

"Yes, yes, I've just advanced to the third level of Qi Control," Xiaoming confirmed after a quick self-assessment.

"What's so great about that?" As Qin Che whispered into Xiaoming's ear, Xiaoming, curious, enhanced his hearing and realized they were speaking in code. Qin Che's expression brightened as if he had just struck gold, but then it darkened ominously, casting a new, unsettling gaze upon Xiaoming.

"Fellow warrior, with the demon beasts dispatched, we must take our leave. Farewell!" Without further ado, he turned and strode off, showing no concern for the injured in his party. Xiaoming was left scratching his head, wondering what that scholar had said to make him leave so abruptly.

Not one to dwell on such matters, Xiaoming headed back to Great Tiger Village. Overthinking was pointless; he had no time for mind games.

Upon his return, he was surprised to find Wu Ziming playing with the children. The burly Wu Ziming, spotting Xiaoming, quickly extricated himself from the little "demons" to greet him.

"Xiaoming, how did it go? Are you okay?" Wu Ziming approached with genuine concern.

"Yes, tell me, Xiaoming, what exactly happened?"

"Those cultivators just flew off without a word."

"There was even one who was injured. Hold on, you're not hurt, are you?"

The villagers chimed in one after another, their voices blending into the cacophony of a bustling marketplace.

Bang!

"Silence, everyone, please calm down," the village chief commanded, gong in hand and leaning on his cane.

"Xiaoming, please recount the events for us."

Xiaoming relayed the incident from start to finish, and the villagers listened with sighs of relief, grateful that the village chief had recruited a band of cultivators who worked for free. Otherwise, they would have been out of luck with both the demon beast and the payment. Some grumbled about why the chief hadn't called on Xiaoming instead, but the chief was in a bind—money is easy to pay back, but favors are harder to repay.

Yet, amidst the crowd, a sense of fear toward Xiaoming began to take root in some hearts. After all, cultivators were known to be a law unto themselves.

Elsewhere, a group of cultivators, burdened with two wounded companions, were making their way back to the Waning Crescent Sect at a reduced pace. The sword-riding cultivators were already slow, and with the added weight of the injured, their speed was even less than that of eagles, yet they dared not pause for a moment.

"The message has been sent back to the sect, Senior Brother," Qin Che announced, crushing a jade slip and sending a streak of golden light into the distance.

"We've balanced the scales this time," Meng Ke lamented, holding Duo Er in his arms. He regretted bringing her along, his self-reproach culminating in a heavy sigh.

"Come on, our good deeds outweigh the bad, right? Such crucial intelligence should earn us at least ten Origin Energy Pills, hehe..." Only someone as carefree as Qin Han could remain so optimistic.

"Big brother, this area isn't under our control. Sending the news back should at least spare us from punishment. But let's face it, this information, as vital as it is, is also of no use to us."

Given the vast distance from the Waning Crescent Sect, Qin Che was skeptical that their Sect Master would dare to take such a risk. Their sporadic conversation was soon lost to the howling winds above.

Having said their goodbyes to the villagers, Xiaoming and Wu Ziming set off on their donkey cart. The demon beast hunt had delayed them significantly. By the time they left Great Tiger Village, the sun was nearing its zenith. With no shade from trees on either side of the road in the blazing summer heat, they had no choice but to trudge back under the relentless sun.

"Ah! I just remembered something I have to do," Xiaoming exclaimed, brandishing a banana leaf he'd found somewhere, startling Wu Ziming from his drowsiness.

"What's going on, Xiaoming?" Wu Ziming asked, his concern mounting as he noted Xiaoming's grave expression. He hoped it wasn't something important they'd forgotten at Manager Ding's behest.

"It's 'brother,'" Xiaoming insisted on the correct form of address.

"Uh..." Wu Ziming was momentarily at a loss for words. This was hardly the time for formalities.

"Keep an eye on Ami for me. I need to take care of some business," Xiaoming said, passing the reins and whip to Wu Ziming before heading off.

"Huh? A number two?" Wu Ziming exclaimed in surprise. Do cultivators actually need to use the restroom? No, but why was taking a dump such a solemn affair?

"Let's get moving. There are no wild beasts near the main road, so no worries," Xiaoming said before dashing into the nearby forest. He seemed to be in quite a hurry.

Out of nowhere, symphonic music filled the air. Wu Ziming listened intently to the familiar tune, recognizing it as an electronic variation of "Ode to Joy." Was music necessary for a bathroom break?

In less than fifteen minutes, a thunderous boom startled the birds from their perches in the forest.

"What's going on, Brother Xiaoming? That was loud!" Thankfully, it was midday, and the area wasn't crowded. Otherwise, such a noise would have sent people running to alert the patrol team.

Wu Ziming quickly left the car and ran into the forest, only to find Xiaoming climbing out of a massive crater. The sides of the pit were partially molten, with plumes of black smoke rising from within. Wu Ziming was too astonished for words.

This had to be a meteorite!

"Come on, we need to leave! It'll be bad if someone shows up," Xiaoming urged, pulling Wu Ziming back to the car to avoid being spotted by anyone from Dragonslayer Keep.

Rewinding to the moment Xiaoming stepped into the forest, he retrieved a mechanical gear belt from his wristwatch. After strapping on the gear-studded belt and pressing a button, a cacophony of symphonic music began to play. The gears on the belt whirred into action as black electric light surged from within, enveloping him.

As the black light faded, Xiaoming stood clad in mechanical armor. The upper body was covered in a sleek, grayish-white armor with a high-tech look, while the rest was accented with dark green against a black base. His helmet resembled a gaping insect mouth, complete with fang-like decorations and a single, crimson eye that emitted a menacing glow.

Indeed, Xiaoming was a transmigrator, and what's a transmigrator without a few tricks up his sleeve?

"Silent Flash Mode activated!" The thrusters on the back of the armor opened slightly, and a white light flashed. Xiaoming's figure stretched and then vanished. High above, the two fang-like sensors on Xiaoming's face unfolded, scanning for the tracker previously placed on Qie Ke.

The projected map indicated that the nearest city was Qingfeng City, roughly forty-two miles away. Xiaoming had underestimated their flight speed; in just half an hour, they had covered the three hundred miles to Qingfeng City. If he were to return to the House of Golden Virtue to unload the goods before resuming the chase, he would have to confront the formidable defense array of the Waning Crescent Sect and force a violent entry.

Elsewhere, a voice said, "Senior Brother, Qingfeng City is just ahead. Our sect has a stronghold there; we'll be safe once we arrive." Qin Che, gazing at the distant, majestic city walls, felt a wave of relief wash over him. Throughout their journey, he had been the only one fraught with anxiety, dreading Xiaoming's pursuit. Indeed, even the cleverest of minds have their drawbacks.

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