Martial Dao: I Can Enhance My Talents

Chapter 286: Chapter 285: Chu Feng Returns to the Sect

「Jinhuang Inn.」

Fang Han sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, mentally practicing his Swordsmanship and Body Technique.

For the past few days, he had lived in seclusion, spending most of his time in his room. He only occasionally stepped out into the courtyard, giving off the impression that he was in seclusion to absorb the Vajra Fruit’s medicinal power.

In reality, however, he had already converted the Vajra Fruit. He had been living in seclusion these past few days to focus on his Cultivation.

With his Root Bone Talent amplified 128-fold, the Inner Qi from his Profound Wind Technique surged like a great river, and his Cultivation advanced steadily toward the Peak of Late Fifth Grade.

To his delight, with his Swordsmanship Talent and Stepping Talent both amplified 128-fold, he could now make progress without any physical training, relying solely on mental practice.

Although the speed of improvement couldn’t compare to actual physical practice, it was an excellent alternative when such training wasn’t feasible.

’My Talent has reached such a level... It’s no longer mundane...’

Fang Han slowly concluded his meditation, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

His current Swordsmanship and Body Technique Talents were beginning to give him a feeling of transcending the mundane.

It felt as if they were gradually becoming something miraculous, evolving into an ability that was profound beyond comprehension.

’By my calculations, the outside world should believe I’m about done ’absorbing’ the fruit.’

Ending his mental practice, Fang Han stood up. He decided he would check out tomorrow and return to the Sect.

However, just as he stood up to stretch his limbs, he heard footsteps approaching his room.

A moment later, the footsteps halted outside his door, and a young woman’s voice called out.

"Young Master Fang, I am a maid serving Supervisor Lan of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. My lady asked me to bring you a letter."

’A letter from Lan Yuexin?’

Fang Han raised an eyebrow.

’Lan Yuexin? Why would she write me a letter?’

’He and Lan Yuexin weren’t close enough to be exchanging correspondence.’

Filled with a sliver of doubt, he opened the door and took an elegant, wax-sealed envelope from the maid.

’What could it say?’

After seeing the maid off, Fang Han returned to his room, broke the seal, and took out the paper inside.

As his eyes scanned the neat script, his expression grew increasingly grave.

The letter’s contents were simple, just a few short lines, but they revealed a piece of critical information:

"Yin Huang of the Netherworld Pavilion may intend True Inheritor Fang harm. Be wary. Take heed."

It was signed with a single word: "Yuexin."

’Is Yin Huang... suspecting me for Shen You’s disappearance?’

Fang Han frowned.

From an outsider’s perspective, given the bad blood between the Qingxuan Sect and the Netherworld Pavilion, it was perfectly normal for a Celestial Pride True Inheritor from the latter to target one from the former.

But his intuition told him there was more to it. The only other reasons he could think of were Shen You’s death and that enormous sum of money.

Yin Huang was likely targeting him because he suspected his involvement in Shen You’s death.

Although he had been meticulous in erasing all traces after killing Shen You, the timing of his arrival in Jinhuang City was just too coincidental.

Add to that the long-standing feud between his Qingxuan Sect and the Netherworld Pavilion, and it was only natural that he would fall under suspicion.

’When it comes to conflicts between sects, merchant guilds are smart enough to protect their own interests and usually choose to stay out of it. So why would Lan Yuexin warn me?’

What surprised Fang Han was that Lan Yuexin would send him a secret warning.

’Was this simply a gesture of goodwill, or did she have some ulterior motive?’

He pondered for a moment, then held the letter over a candle flame and watched it burn to ash.

Regardless, he would remember this favor.

’Eighty-second on the Celestial Pride List...’

Fang Han’s expression was calm and placid, but a dozen different thoughts were already racing through his mind.

Yin Huang, ranked eighty-second on the Celestial Pride List and a True Inheritor of the Netherworld Pavilion, was on a completely different level from Chu Feng, the man he had defeated.

Although he was quite confident in his current strength, he wasn’t so arrogant as to think he could go head-to-head with a veteran expert from the Celestial Pride List who was ranked a full twelve places above him.

Especially not when his opponent had likely already laid a trap.

’The wisest course of action is to avoid a direct confrontation for now.’

Fang Han made his decision in an instant.

It wasn’t that he was afraid to fight; he simply understood that the path of the Martial Dao wasn’t just about reckless aggression and brute force.

When one was outmatched, the wise choice was to assess the situation and ensure one’s own survival.

The most important thing right now was to return safely to the Qingxuan Sect.

Once he was back within the Sect’s borders, Yin Huang wouldn’t dare make a move against him, no matter how powerful he was.

His mind made up, Fang Han wasted no more time.

He quickly packed his belongings and strapped the Flowing Wind Sword to his waist.

He then took a deep breath and began circulating the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill.

In an instant, the vibrant aura around him receded like a tide, quickly turning inward until it was completely silent and still.

His heartbeat grew slow and forceful, his blood flowed almost silently, and his body temperature dropped until it was indistinguishable from the surrounding environment.

It was as if he had transformed into a piece of dead wood or a common stone, his very presence fading to almost nothing.

If one were relying on aura perception alone, even a master of the Upper Three Grades would find it nearly impossible to detect him without seeing him with their own eyes.

Such was the profound effect of the Top Grade Breath Concealment Secret Technique, the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill, upon reaching the stage of Minor Achievement!

WHOOSH!

Fang Han gently pushed open the door, his figure like an insubstantial shadow as he melted into the darkness of the corridor.

The inn’s corridor wasn’t empty; attendants occasionally walked past carrying trays of tea and snacks, and other guests would open their doors to come and go.

But by combining the Wind and Cloud Escape with the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill, Fang Han’s steps became as light as a goose feather, landing without a sound, his aura perfectly concealed.

He moved like an invisible specter, weaving through the gaps between people and the shifting play of light and shadow, cleverly avoiding everyone’s notice.

At one point, an attendant carrying a tray passed just a foot away from him, yet remained completely oblivious to his presence, walking straight on by.

Without breaking his stride, he quickly and silently descended the stairs.

He passed through the bustling main hall, walked out the front doors of the Jinhuang Inn, and disappeared into the throng of people on the street.

Once outside the city gates, he didn’t take the main road. Instead, he abruptly changed direction and executed the Wind and Cloud Escape, darting into the dense forests beside the path like a wisp of green smoke.

He sped off, following a more secluded path that still led in the general direction of the Qingxuan Sect.

「Several hours after Fang Han left the inn.」

An inn attendant arrived outside Fang Han’s room carrying a kettle of hot water and knocked gently.

"Pardon the intrusion, guest. I’ve brought your hot water."

There was no answer.

The attendant waited a moment before knocking again, this time with more force. Still, only silence.

He found it strange. ’This esteemed guest from the Qingxuan Sect, despite keeping to himself, maintained a very regular schedule. He should have been in his room at this hour.’

After a moment’s hesitation, he gave the door a tentative push and found it wasn’t latched.

He pushed it open a crack and peeked inside. The room was empty. The bed was neatly made, there was no sign of anyone, and the luggage was gone.

"Huh? He left?"

the attendant muttered, then hurried downstairs to report the situation to the Shopkeeper.

The Shopkeeper frowned upon hearing the news but didn’t pay it much mind.

People of the martial world came and went like the wind; leaving without a word was common. As long as the guest had paid in advance and didn’t owe any money, it was none of his business.

’Fang Han is gone?’

However, this exchange between the Shopkeeper and the attendant happened to be overheard by a man in the corner of the main hall. He appeared to be leisurely sipping tea, but his eyes were constantly darting toward the stairwell.

This man was one of the Netherworld Pavilion disciples Yin Huang had sent to watch Fang Han.

His expression changed in a flash. He shot to his feet, no longer bothering to conceal his identity, and bounded up the stairs, bursting directly into the room Fang Han had occupied.

As expected, the room was empty. All that remained was a faint, almost imperceptible scent of sandalwood in the air.

’This is bad!’

Cold sweat instantly beaded on the Netherworld Pavilion disciple’s forehead as he panicked.

’The target slipped away right under our noses!’

He didn’t dare to delay. He rushed out of the inn and sprinted toward the Netherworld Pavilion’s city residence.

...

「The Netherworld Pavilion’s City Residence.」

"What?! He’s gone?!"

Yin Huang shot up from his seat as he listened to his subordinate’s trembling report.

His aura erupted uncontrollably, and the room’s temperature plummeted under the pressure of his icy killing intent.

"Senior Brother, please forgive me."

The Netherworld Pavilion disciple who delivered the news dropped to his knees with a THUD, trembling like a leaf.

"Use. Less."

Yin Huang forced the single word from between his teeth, his expression so dark it looked like a storm cloud.

He hadn’t expected Fang Han to be so vigilant and cunning, managing to slip away from the numerous experts he’d sent to watch him.

"Zhao Ying!"

Yin Huang barked.

"Senior Brother."

Zhao Ying entered, his expression equally grim.

"Come with me to the inn. See if you can pick up his trail!"

Yin Huang snorted coldly and strode out, with Zhao Ying hurrying to keep up.

A short while later, the two arrived back at the room Fang Han had occupied in the Jinhuang Inn.

Yin Huang’s hawk-like gaze swept over every corner of the room, his expression growing fouler by the second.

The room was spotless; there were almost no personal items left behind that could be traced back to Fang Han.

Zhao Ying, meanwhile, knelt down, his nostrils flaring slightly. He activated his unique Tracking Secret Technique, carefully trying to sense any minute scent left in the air.

After a moment, his brow furrowed deeply, his face twisting into a troubled frown.

"Well?"

Yin Huang asked, his voice cold.

"Senior Brother, besides the inn’s own incense and the scents left behind by the attendant and ourselves, I can’t detect any other person’s scent!"

Zhao Ying said, straightening up and shaking his head.

"It’s as if... Fang Han was never here at all. He must have cultivated an exceptionally potent Breath Concealment Secret Technique!"

’An exceptionally potent Breath Concealment Secret Technique?’

Yin Huang’s pupils constricted.

’Even a master tracker like Zhao Ying couldn’t pick up a usable trace of Fang Han’s aura in this room?’

’This means the Breath Concealment Secret Technique Fang Han practices is of an extremely high Grade, and he has already reached a very high Realm of mastery!’

He thought back to Shen You’s disappearance—that scene had also been scrubbed clean, leaving behind almost no valuable clues.

His suspicion instantly skyrocketed.

"Fang! Han!"

Yin Huang’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked audibly. The killing intent in his eyes was so thick it was almost tangible.

’It had to be you! You killed Shen You, stole the money, and now you’ve slipped away right under my nose... Good. Very good!’

He was now almost certain that Shen You’s death and the disappearance of that massive sum in silver notes were inextricably linked to Fang Han.

With Fang Han gone, the chances of recovering the more than four million taels of silver were now slim to none.

After all, Fang Han wouldn’t carry such a huge sum on his person forever. Even if they caught him later, they’d never recover the lost four million-plus taels.

"Keep a close watch on any news regarding Fang Han!"

Yin Huang’s voice was bone-chillingly cold.

"The moment you find any trace of him, or if you discover he has left the Qingxuan Sect, report to me immediately!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Ying and the other disciple bowed deeply in acknowledgement.

...

「Qingxuan Sect, Main Gate.」

A travel-worn figure with a gloomy expression walked slowly through the sect gates, bathed in the last rays of the setting sun. It was Chu Feng, who had been away "clearing his head" for some time.

Compared to the fury and dejection he’d shown upon his departure, his expression was much calmer now.

But deep within his eyes, a far more profound gloom and chilling severity had taken root, like a frigid pool brewing a storm.

The disciples he passed along the way stopped to bow, but their gazes were filled with a complex mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, and even an almost imperceptible hint of distance and pity.

The look in Chu Feng’s eyes grew colder still as he strode directly toward the True Inheritance Courtyard.

He didn’t return to his own villa. Instead, he changed course and walked directly to Villa Thirty-Five in the True Inheritance Courtyard—the residence of Fang Han.