“The officials are definitely looking for Xiao Qingqing too.” Ke Li crossed her arms and lifted her chin slightly.
“If we can find Xiao Qingqing before anyone else and protect her, it’ll save a lot of trouble.”
“Do you want me to be eating pork chop rice in there?” Yang Liuqing shot her a look.
Being found by the officials early might be safe, but personal freedom would also be restricted.
“Master, that was self-defense. It’s fine.” Ke Ling told her not to feel guilty.
It was the correct decision made under life-threatening circumstances.
“Xiao Qingqing’s sense of ethics and morality is still too strong.” Ke Li shrugged.
“Have to say, too much human flavor.”
“Get out of here. If it’s not human flavor, is it beast flavor?” Yang Liuqing took the bag of food from Ke Ling while shooing Ke Li away with her hand.
“I’ll bite you!” The latter hopped up, pretending to bite.
“Alright, stop messing around. We still need to find a hiding spot.” Ke Ling stopped the two of them.
“There’s a square nearby. Let’s check it out first.” Yang Liuqing wasn’t very familiar with Xiaoya Bay.
She only vaguely remembered where the landmarks were.
Past the square, there was a nearly abandoned building complex.
Earlier, Ke Ling had observed the surveillance cameras in the area and found that many weren’t even powered—they were just installed.
When it came down to it, Xiaoya Bay’s local population was tiny, with most people concentrated in the small towns and villages.
In the city, you could barely see anyone in the malls on Saturdays and Sundays.
Trying to avoid the powered surveillance cameras, the trio reached the square in no time.
Some of the gaps between the pavement tiles had grass growing out of them.
Clearly, no one had maintained the place for a long time.
The nearby buildings were completely dark.
Even the streetlights weren’t on.
Around the square, however, solar-powered lights provided continuous illumination.
Yang Liuqing decided to rest here for a while and have a late-night snack.
Logically, having run so far, she could afford to relax.
But just as she sat down, a dissonant voice came from above.
“Hiya! Finally found you, little bro. Running so far made me search all over~!”
The three looked up and saw a man wrapped entirely in bandages crouching on a flagpole nearby. His blood-red eyes locked onto Yang Liuqing like a hound’s.
Looking closer, they noticed a large curved blade at least 1.7 meters long strapped to his back.
This sudden intruder was definitely not an ordinary person.
“Strange, little bro, why do you look more like a girl than in the photo? Oh well, same difference. That body of yours, worth 500 million, is going to be taken by me—Chise Liequan~”
“Huh? How much?!” Yang Liuqing, who had been tense a moment ago, couldn’t help exclaiming at that incredible number.
“500 million RMB, what’s the problem?” The bandaged man calling himself Chise Liequan spoke as casually as if chatting about everyday matters.
“Oh my god, I’m worth that much?” Yang Liuqing almost wanted to sell herself.
Five hundred million RMB—a sum she couldn’t earn in ten lifetimes.
Earlier, she thought that Magic Potion would sell for, at most, ten million.
She never expected it to be worth 500 million RMB.
Did these filthy rich people not care about money at all?
“Can we negotiate? Give me half first, and I’ll obediently go back with you?”
“…Are you an idiot?” Chise Liequan paused, his tone exasperated.
“Master, be careful. He’s about to attack.” Ke Ling warned in a low voice.
She and Ke Li were now almost completely incorporeal.
This was to make it easier to assist Yang Liuqing when necessary.
“Best not to struggle. It’d be a pain if I hurt you.” As he spoke, he moved, and a bandaged arm shot out to grab Yang Liuqing.
The latter’s pupils contracted. Her concentration peaked.
The next moment, she used the tip of her foot to push off and dodged nimbly.
This made Chise Liequan, who had pounced down, a little surprised.
The intel said Yang Liuqing was an ordinary person. Even if she had recently gained abilities, there was no way she could avoid the capture of an A-Class Transcendent like him.
“Xiao Qingqing, I seriously suspect you smell too good, which is why this stray dog tracked you down.” The incorporeal Ke Li feigned an attitude of enjoying the spectacle.
In truth, she was ready to help at any moment.
They weren’t rushing to intervene because they wanted Yang Liuqing to get used to real combat as quickly as possible.
The Zhurou Rong she had killed earlier had just gained his ability and didn’t know how to use it properly.
This Chise Liequan was different—his level was far higher.
Fighting him would accelerate her growth.
“Smell your head.” Yang Liuqing replied softly.
She was a little puzzled.
She had pushed the Treasure Donkey Car into the sea and switched to the Dafei speedboat. Things like scents shouldn’t have been traceable.
But Chise Liequan’s arrival clearly indicated one thing.
Transcendents couldn’t be understood by common sense.
This guy was even more of a dog than a dog!
“Interesting. Looks like I’ll have to put in a little effort.” Chise Liequan took the blade off his back and untied the restraining rope.
Then, the half-opened scabbard fell to the ground, revealing a long, curved blade glinting with cold light.
“Don’t worry, I’ll use the blunt side of the blade.”
“…” Yang Liuqing was speechless.
Being hit by the blunt side of that huge curved blade would still break her bones!
He was just sore because she dodged his attack.
There was no need to be so ridiculous about losing face, was there?
With no other choice, she grabbed empty air, and the Huayue Zimu Sword materialized in her hand.
Seeing this, even Chise Liequan couldn’t hide his surprise.
That girl could actually conjure a Big Sword out of thin air.
“Master, please be sure to kill him. Otherwise, there’ll be endless trouble.” Ke Ling reminded her.
This Chise Liequan’s tracking ability was too strong.
They simply couldn’t truly hide.
“Even if you say that, I don’t have much confidence.” Yang Liuqing bit her lip lightly.
The enemy was obviously an old hunter. As a rookie, she’d be lucky just to hold her ground, let alone kill him.
“Xiao Qingqing, have a little more faith in yourself. You can do it!” Ke Li gave rare encouragement.
She also hated trouble.
If the hound escaped, he’d just come after them again.
And it was highly likely he’d bring a bunch of other hunters with him.
“You two say it like it’s easy.” Yang Liuqing gripped the Huayue Zimu Sword firmly, took a light breath, and sharpened her focus to its maximum.
For her, this was her first true battle.
Chise Liequan made the first move.
His speed was absurd—covering several meters in an instant.
The long curved blade swept horizontally.
“Dammit! What happened to that ‘blunt side of the blade’?!” Yang Liuqing hurriedly dodged.
The blade’s arc flashed by, slicing the flagpole in the square, which clattered to the ground.
“Just as I thought. You can see my attacks.” After his initial probe, Chise Liequan was certain that there was something seriously off about Yang Liuqing.
The effects of that Magic Potion far exceeded expectations.
He even felt tempted to take it for himself.
But if he did that, next time he’d be the one being hunted.
If you can’t become powerful enough to set the rules, don’t bother dreaming of true freedom.
“Ke Ling, Ke Li, I kind of want to run.” Yang Liuqing felt a chill on her neck.
If she had been even half a beat slower, her head would have fallen off.
“Master, please abandon that fantasy. It’s impossible.” Ke Ling poured cold water on her.
The enemy was too fast. Even if they could run, just turning their backs would be asking to be cut down—ten times over.