The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 269: Chapter 266: Making Friends Far and Wide

Guiyuan County.

Guiyuan City was no longer the dilapidated ruin it once was. Most of the houses within had been repaired, and the city walls had been rebuilt, making them far sturdier than before.

Yang Fangyu gazed at the city’s burgeoning prosperity with great satisfaction.

If all went according to plan, Guiyuan County would likely become their fiefdom.

Although he was the Prefect of a prefecture, being a Prefect and a Viscount with a fief were two entirely different concepts.

A Prefect, in the end, was just a hired hand receiving a salary from the Court. But if he became the Viscount of this city, everything within it would become his private property.

The tax revenue alone would be enough to make him obscenely wealthy.

Not to mention he would get to experience what it felt like to be a true local tyrant.

Since it was his own territory, he naturally had to manage it with care.

Li Huan walked to his side. "We owe a great deal to Brother Bai for this."

"If it weren’t for Brother Bai setting up his Poison Array, we would never have been able to rebuild Guiyuan City so quickly."

Yang Fangyu nodded in agreement.

Especially when compared to the miserable state of the nearby counties.

The Demon Sect’s offensive had never ceased. The surrounding counties were even slightly stronger than them, yet their walls had still been breached by the Demon Sect’s monsters and barbarians, forcing the inhabitants to retreat. Many had died in the process.

Compared to those places, Guiyuan was practically a paradise.

As the two were talking, Bai Yuan walked over.

"Brother Yang, Brother Li, the city’s fortifications need to be repaired as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to defend if the Demon Sect launches a major assault."

"Ah Yuan is right."

Yang Fangyu nodded in agreement.

Bai Yuan’s Poison Array was indeed powerful, but it couldn’t stop the Demon Sect’s incursions forever.

The moment those at the Great Wall discovered the anomaly of Guiyuan County, they would surely send more experts. By then, it would be too late to reinforce Guiyuan City’s defenses.

At that moment, a general from the Yang Family’s private army approached the three of them.

"My lord, a chaotic battle involving over a hundred people has been spotted fifty li outside the city."

Yang Fangyu raised an eyebrow. "Have their identities been confirmed?"

The general shook his head. "Those people are quite skilled. We didn’t dare get too close."

Hearing this, Bai Yuan and the other two fell into thought.

Although they had been focused on managing Guiyuan County, they also regularly sent out scouts to gather information about the surrounding area.

Just as Yang Fangyu was about to volunteer to investigate, Bai Yuan spoke up first, "I’ll go take a look."

Seeing Bai Yuan offer to handle it, Yang Fangyu chuckled. "Very well."

Over a hundred skilled Martial Artists, less than fifty li from Guiyuan County, posed a significant threat. They had to investigate the situation clearly first, or they would face disaster when trouble arrived at their doorstep.

Bai Yuan immediately followed the general out of the city.

He had taken on this task simply because he was the most suitable person for it.

’When it comes to the ability to survive in the mountain forests, I’m probably ranked among the best in all of Shuofang.’

...

He and the Yang Family general were both swift. It took them only an hour to reach the mountain forest that had been mentioned.

There, a group of Daoists and Monks were hunting down several dozen people.

Bai Yuan recognized one of them at a glance: Feng San of the Cao Bang.

’The Celestial Profound Sect is actually making a move against the Cao Bang!’

He was astonished.

The Celestial Profound Sect and the Cao Bang were both major powers in Xuan Yang. Clearly, the Celestial Profound Sect felt they had the Cao Bang cornered, or they would never have acted so brazenly.

Judging by his appearance, Feng San was clearly severely injured; otherwise, he wouldn’t be getting chased down by a group of Celestial Profound Sect disciples.

The Celestial Profound Sect already held a greater advantage in the Northern Lands, not to mention they had two great masters presiding over them. The Cao Bang’s defeat wasn’t entirely unexpected.

The general looked at Bai Yuan. "Lord Bai, what should we do now?"

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as a plan formed in his mind.

...

Only the faint moonlight could be seen in the mountain forest.

Tree branches flew past, receding rapidly behind him.

"HUFF... Ugh..."

Supported by two Cao Bang disciples, Feng San sprinted wildly. Blood oozed continuously from the wound in his right side, and the lower half of his body was now completely stained red.

It wouldn’t be long before he died from blood loss.

Even though a Martial Artist’s Qi and Blood far surpassed an ordinary person’s, he couldn’t withstand losing blood like this.

"Damn that Celestial Profound Sect!"

Feng San’s eyes were bloodshot. He wished he could flay that Elder Monk from the Celestial Profound Sect alive.

Those bald donkeys all spoke of compassion, yet their methods were extremely vicious. The Celestial Profound Sect had first seized Fenggu City, then launched a surprise attack on the Cao Bang.

’Although, it was I who first ordered the Cao Bang members to attack Fenggu City...’

He never expected that Elder Monk to lead his men to surround the Cao Bang’s base directly. Outmatched, Feng San had been severely wounded.

’If nothing unexpected happens, I’m definitely going to die here.’

’As for revenge... that Elder Monk has already slaughtered the Cao Bang’s men. He clearly doesn’t intend to leave any loose ends for the Cao Bang to find.’

Feng San hadn’t expected the seemingly benevolent Elder Monk to be so ruthless when he struck.

Just as his mind was racing—

"AH!"

A Zen Staff smashed the head of the Cao Bang member to his right, splattering a mix of red and white onto his face.

Out of the corner of his eye, Feng San saw that only he and the young gang member to his left remained of the Cao Bang.

Having lost the support on his right, Feng San’s body collapsed powerlessly, and he pitched forward onto the ground.

"A Cao Bang Squad Leader? Is that all you’ve got!"

A fat Monk with a large head and big ears raised his Zen Staff and brought it crashing down toward the back of Feng San’s head.

If this strike landed, Feng San would suffer the same fate as the gang member before him.

Just as the Zen Staff was raised high and about to fall, a short, stocky middle-aged man suddenly appeared in front of Feng San, blocking the blow for him.

The man was unarmed, engaging the fat Monk with nothing but his bare fists.

In just three moves, he forced the fat Monk to retreat.

The fat Monk stumbled back a few steps, staring in horror at the stout man.

He cultivated a Buddhist Body Refining technique and possessed extraordinary strength. Yet, the man before him had managed to send him reeling, a testament to his immense power.

He was just about to advance and fight again.

But then he saw the stocky man wave his right hand, and a large cloud of pungent, red mist burst forth.

The fat Monk instinctively shut his eyes. When he opened them again, the stocky man and Feng San were gone.

Seeing this, a chill ran down his spine.

’That man’s Body Technique is truly terrifying! To be able to escape with Feng San on his back in such a short time...!’

"Where are they?"

A commanding voice sounded from behind the fat Monk.

The fat Monk turned to see an old Monk with white hair and a white beard standing behind him. But the usually benevolent Elder Monk was now spattered with blood, making him look quite terrifying.

Beads of sweat rolled down the fat Monk’s cheeks.

"Ma... Master, Feng San was rescued by an unknown expert."

Hearing this, the Elder Monk’s eyes narrowed slightly.

After wounding Feng San, he had gone to fight another Cao Bang expert.

He had rushed over immediately after killing that expert, but unexpectedly, something had still gone wrong.

Given Feng San’s injuries, even a Martial Artist at the Blood Refining Pass should have been able to kill him. Yet he had still managed to escape.

The Elder Monk’s expression gradually turned grim.

He had made thorough preparations to annihilate the Cao Bang. As long as he killed every last one of them, then even if the main Cao Bang faction became suspicious, they might not necessarily take action against the Celestial Profound Sect.

But now, if Feng San escaped and Cao Bang experts came to Dingzhou, it would undoubtedly make a powerful enemy for the Celestial Profound Sect.

Not only would this plan have yielded no benefits, but it would also have stirred up huge trouble.

"Did you get a clear look at who it was?"

Elder Monk Fatong’s voice was ice-cold.

"An ordinary-looking man, about four chi tall."

Elder Monk Fatong took a deep breath. "Go to the Precepts Hall and receive your punishment."

At these words, the fat Monk’s legs began to tremble in fear.

It was said that even those who made it out of the Precepts Hall alive were left half-dead.

Elder Monk Fatong barked, "Keep searching!"

...

Deep in the mountain forest.

The disciples of the Celestial Profound Sect were no longer in sight.

Feng San leaned painfully against a large pine tree, staring intently at the short, stocky man before him.

"Who are you?"

He gritted his teeth against the pain.

"You don’t need to know."

The short, stocky man said in a gruff voice.

"Why did you help me?"

"Does it matter?"

Feng San fell silent. After a long while, he asked again, "What do you want as payment?"

As someone from the underworld, he knew very well that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Since this person had saved him, he must be after something.

A playful smile touched the corners of the stocky man’s mouth. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I have a grudge against the Celestial Profound Sect."

Hearing this, Feng San’s tense heart finally relaxed a little.

This was undoubtedly the best of all possible scenarios, but of course, he wouldn’t trust the man so easily.

The stocky man didn’t seem to plan on staying long. "Go west for two li, and you’ll reach the Yellow Sand River. Follow the river downstream to Xia Ping County. You can survive if you get there."

Feng San’s eyes lit up when he heard this.

Xia Ping County was currently occupied by a power from Xuan Yang, the Jiangnan Commerce Association, which was on good terms with the Cao Bang.

As long as he reached Xia Ping County, his life would be saved.

"Thank you."

Feng San forced himself to his feet.

Without a backward glance, the stocky man plunged into the forest and disappeared.

Afraid that the Celestial Profound Sect’s men would catch up, Feng San didn’t dare linger. He immediately followed the stocky man’s directions, heading west until he reached the bank of a great river.

After hastily bandaging his wound with strips of cloth from his clothes, he fashioned a simple raft and drifted downstream.

In the woods along the bank of the Yellow Sand River.

A young man watched this all unfold.

’Even though Feng San is badly hurt, he’s still stronger than an ordinary Yijin Martial Master. Getting to Xia Ping County shouldn’t be a problem for him.’

’As for whether he’ll encounter danger along the way, or what will happen after he reaches Xia Ping County, that’s not my concern.’

That’s right—the short, stocky man from before had been him in disguise.

He had saved Feng San for the sole purpose of causing trouble for the Celestial Profound Sect.

He had killed quite a few members of the Celestial Profound Sect. Although they couldn’t find any evidence, with their domineering style, they certainly wouldn’t let the matter rest.

Rather than wait for the Celestial Profound Sect to make a move, it was better to stir up some trouble for them first.

And the major trouble that was the Cao Bang was more than enough.

Although the Cao Bang’s power was a notch below the Celestial Profound Sect’s, it was enough to keep Cangsong Taoist and Monk Fatong busy. Then they wouldn’t have the time or energy to come to Guiyuan County looking for trouble.

Watching Feng San struggle onto the raft and float downstream, Bai Yuan’s figure flickered and vanished into the mountain forest.

...