Gu Sheng held his position, suspecting the man to be the vendor of the Shapeshifting technique, but lacking evidence. At this moment, he still needed to maintain his guise and wait for the fish to bite.
He had a premonition.
This was a big fish!
The audacity to follow alone after witnessing the earlier fight, yet without retreating, suggested a Martial Artist of the Jade Skin Realm. If the man truly was the vendor, he would undoubtedly carry significant wealthâperhaps even the accompanying secret technique or ointment for the Shapeshifting method!
Gu Shengâs heart burned with anticipation. Though outwardly he appeared weakened, he knew this person would not give up.
After gathering the spoils from the Black Wind Three Scourges, he retrieved the Corpse Dissolving Water and poured a bit over each of the three bodies. Soon, sizzling yellow smoke rose with an overpowering stench.
Gu Sheng cast a wary glance around, then quietly departed.
Some time later.
A medium-built, masked figure gracefully landed beside the three half-dissolved corpses. Gazing at their tragic state, the figure couldnât help but click his tongue and murmur:
"As expected, the black market doesnât offer easy prey. This supposed fat lamb was a wolf in sheepâs clothing. Luckily, you three brothers tested the waters for me. Iâve survived in Jianghu all these years by being cautiously meticulous!"
"An Iron Skin Martial Artist... Though his combat prowess exceeds typical Iron Skin Martial Artists, heâs injured nowâa great opportunity!"
"Earlier, while he was injured, his vigilance was at its peakâitâs unwise to strike at such moments. The best hunting opportunity is when the prey fully believes it is safe. I can wait longer!"
The masked figure lifted his gaze, eyes burning with greed.
Gu Shengâs wealth, combined with the Black Wind Three Scourgesâ loot, amounted to a fortuneâenough to tempt anyone.
He suppressed his presence and followed Gu Sheng at a distance.
Gu Sheng continued running.
He detected no sound from behind but knew the man was likely tailing him, waiting for an opening.
He wasnât in a rush.
Retrieving his hunting bow from the inn, he headed out of the city. If the pursuer was so cautious, Gu Sheng would actively create opportunities.
The city wall, though imposing, posed no obstacle for Martial Artists. Finding a secluded spot, Gu Sheng leapt over the wall in just a few quick movements, heading into the wilderness under the faint cover of darkness.
Sure enough, he detected that fleeting trace of presence againâthe man was still following.
Within the city, the pursuer could use buildings to conceal himself. But in the open countryside, especially in the desolate wilderness, it would be much harder. Gu Sheng was baiting this man into making a move.
Whew!
Just as Gu Sheng moved into the forest beyond the city wall, the whistling sound finally came. The timing was impeccableâthis was the moment when most would let their guard down.
A poisoned crossbow arrow gleamed coldly in the night sky, racing toward him.
In a split-second glance, Gu Sheng finally caught sight of the pursuer: similarly clad in black, masked, medium build, with eyes exposed full of murderous intent, charging in tandem with the arrow.
"Who are you?!"
Gu Sheng roared furiously, dragging his âinjured bodyâ as he barely dodged.
In truth.
A Jade Skin Martial Artist can sense the surrounding air with their pores, evading the arrow was effortlessâespecially since Gu Sheng had been alert for this hidden threat all along.
"Heh! The one whoâs going to kill you!"
The man sneered coldly, unfazed by the missed arrow. It had merely been a tactic to close the distance.
With a sharp cry, the manâs body twisted like a snake, unnervingly agile. Holding a dagger in each hand like snake fangs, he aimed for Gu Shengâs eyes.
Taking advantage of Gu Shengâs disrupted balance, this move was a decisive attack. If Gu Shengâs displayed skills were genuine, he wouldâve been blinded, followed by a grim death.
But Gu Sheng was clearly not ordinary.
The shock in his eyes vanished, replaced by bloodthirsty ferocity. With a simple, powerful moveâ"Stone Anchors the Ocean"âhis body steadied instantly.
"Iron Fist Across the River!"
Gu Sheng unleashed his full strength in an instant. Perfect mastery of the Iron Stone Fist combined with his Jade Skin Realm left no need for disguise. The big fish was hookedâthere was no longer any need for pretense!
His arms, like iron cables, struck against the twin daggers with such force that sparks flew.
Hunter and prey switched roles in an instant!
The oppressive weight of the punch surged like a mountain, sending chills up the vendorâs spine. He paled and cried out:
"Jade Skin Realm! How can you possibly be Jade Skin Realm?!"
He had observed Gu Sheng for ages in the shadows, witnessing his strenuous fight against the three, never displaying any strength beyond the Iron Skin Realmâa feat almost impossible for most Jade Skin Martial Artists, who can hardly control their power and speed when disguising.
Gu Sheng was an exception. His Perfect mastery of the Iron Stone Fist gave him control far beyond the norm.
Upon their initial clash, with Gu Sheng no longer holding back, the vendor immediately sensed the depth of Gu Shengâs true power.
Gu Sheng sneered viciously:
"If I didnât pretend to be weaker, how could I lure in a big fish like you?"
He had already deduced that the man was a Jade Skin Realm expert.
Gu Sheng felt a savage pleasureâhaving repressed his true strength for so long, he could finally unleash his pent-up frustration!
His punches, like enormous stones, carried overwhelming force as they pounded forward, thickening the air around them. Breaking through to Jade Skin Realm, Gu Sheng fought at full power for the first time, feeling an exhilarating urge to shout triumphantly.
Sometimes even a low-profile warrior needs to release his built-up wrath.
Faced with the terror of Gu Shengâs Iron Stone Fist, the vendor trembled, feeling as though he was utterly powerless. Despite being of the same realm, he felt insignificant before Gu Sheng.
"Shit! Iâve run into a cunning beast!"
The vendorâs internal composure crumbled. Never did he imagine the day he would fall victim to a trap. He retreated desperately, but Gu Sheng, having worked so hard for this moment, wasnât about to let him escape.
The wind of Gu Shengâs iron punches weighed heavily like a storm, suffocating the vendor.
Boom!
A tenfold burst of power erupted. Its might terrifying, Gu Sheng stood immovable like bedrock, his fists descending like mighty peaks, crashing straight into the vendorâs chest.
Crack!
A faint sound of bones shattering echoed, even the resilience of Jade Skin couldnât withstand Gu Shengâs ferocity.
The vendorâs face twitched uncontrollably, the shockwaves of force radiating through his body and making every tendon and bone scream in pain.
Fear gripped his heart.
"Sir, wait! I came to make a deal with you. Werenât you looking for the Shapeshifting technique along with the ointment? I came specifically for thatâletâs talk this out!"
"If you kill me, you wonât get your ointment!"
The vendor pleaded desperately while dodging furiously. In their brief exchange, he was entirely outmatched, unable to withstand even one or two attacks.
He revealed his identity voluntarily.