Guer Khan had three arrow wounds. Even though they hadn’t struck any vital points, each arrow had pierced straight through his body—and this was on top of his pre-existing injuries.

So it wasn’t long before Chu Lingguang caught up to him.

"Don’t kill me! I can give you countless silver taels, even our Turkic Kingdom’s Divine Beast Breathing Method!"

Guer Khan pleaded desperately.

But secretly, he was gathering his remaining strength, planning a desperate counterattack once Chu Lingguang got closer.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Chu Lingguang decisively drew his bow and fired a volley of arrows at Guer Khan. Guo Wei had always told him that when you’re out in the world, you should watch more, listen more, and talk less. He had always been an obedient student, so he wasn’t about to waste his breath on Guer Khan.

"Chu Lingguang." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Guer Khan had only sensed an approaching presence. When he saw the figure clearly, he couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.

THWACK! THWACK!

He used all his remaining strength to block the first two arrows, but the next two pierced through his chest.

He possessed a six-layer Dharma Aspect and a Qi Power Gang Shield, but in his grievously wounded state, he couldn’t unleash much of their power. The Barbaric Bow in Chu Lingguang’s hands was one he himself had meticulously prepared. He had originally intended to use it to kill Chu Lingguang, even coating the arrow shafts with a potent poison. He never imagined he would become Chu Lingguang’s prey instead.

"I’m a noble prince! Do you have any idea..."

Guer Khan tried to struggle and intimidate Chu Lingguang, but Chu Lingguang ignored him, continuing to draw his bow.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

He emptied his quiver, turning Guer Khan into a human pincushion who died with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Knowing death was certain, Guer Khan had tried to charge and take Chu Lingguang down with him, but his body finally collapsed ten meters away.

Watching him die right before his eyes, Chu Lingguang immediately withdrew. He didn’t advance to search Guer Khan’s body for any valuables.

For one, Guer Khan had been pierced by over twenty arrows that had even penetrated his armor. Anything he might have been carrying was likely destroyed.

And even if something had survived intact, Chu Lingguang didn’t want it. He was worried that searching the body would leave clues, and he’d then have to waste time destroying the corpse to cover his tracks.

’With the Eastern-looking old man to vouch that I didn’t follow them, I need to get out of here now.’

Of course, just to be safe, Chu Lingguang doubled back. He picked up a Turkic Curved Saber and stabbed each of the men he had shot down several more times.

Finally, he did a head count to confirm he hadn’t missed anyone, ensuring no one was left alive. Only then did he discard the Curved Saber and the Barbaric Bow. Under the cover of night, he used the Wind-Chasing Step and ran all the way back toward South City.

By the time he emerged from the mountain forest, the sun was already high in the sky. To avoid attracting attention, he stayed off the main roads, using his Celestial Master Technique for cover as he took the smaller paths back to South City.

He didn’t arrive back at Master Yan’s home until noon.

"Brother, where did you go last night? Master and I looked for you all night long."

Hei Hu, who had been standing guard in the courtyard while cleaning his spear, jumped three feet in the air when he saw Chu Lingguang return.

"I was training on the Canal. Where’s Master?"

The moment he returned, Chu Lingguang had sent out a Spiritual Sense Fluctuation but hadn’t detected Guo Wei anywhere in Master Yan’s home.

"Master and Master Yan are still out looking for you. They’ve been worried sick! You stay here and don’t go anywhere. I’ll go get them."

Hei Hu urged.

About forty-five minutes later, Hei Hu returned with Guo Wei and Master Yan.

"Master."

Chu Lingguang knelt. He was about to explain everything, but Guo Wei, sensing something was amiss, simply waved his hand. "You must be hungry. Let’s eat first."

Guo Wei knew Chu Lingguang wouldn’t disappear for an entire night without reason; something must have happened. He had even found Chu Lingguang’s small fishing boat at the mouth of the inner canal and had spent the entire day asking around and searching for him. Thank goodness Chu Lingguang had returned safely.

Guo Wei let out a sigh of relief. How could he possibly have the heart to scold him?

Seeing Guo Wei’s reaction, Master Yan tactfully refrained from asking any questions. The two men had a tacit understanding.

A short while later, the four of them finished their meal.

Guo Wei called Chu Lingguang into his room alone.

"Master, last night by the inner canal, I overheard..."

Chu Lingguang trusted Guo Wei completely, so he immediately recounted everything that had happened the previous night, leaving out no detail.

The moment he heard that some Tianzhu people were discussing Xie Xiaohuan, Guo Wei knew it was a trap. ’It’s possible Xie Xiaohuan has snuck back into Great Yuan,’ he thought, ’but how could his whereabouts be known by the Tianzhu people?’

’Even if he were meeting with a contact, only key figures would know about it. How could it possibly be leaked to them?’

A trick like this might fool Chu Lingguang, but not him.

However, his concern had clouded his judgment. The fact that Chu Lingguang fell for it so easily only proved how much he cared for his master and wanted to do his part to rescue Guo Xiaotian.

The thought warmed Guo Wei’s heart.

Then, when he heard how Chu Lingguang had been in the forest and discovered that Guer Khan had not only brought a True Martial Realm expert but also had Iron Wolf Eagles on patrol, he couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for his disciple.

Chu Lingguang carefully recounted how he had hidden in the bushes and narrowly avoided being discovered. Guo Wei knew that evading the Spiritual Sense Fluctuation of a True Martial Realm expert was no easy feat. But he also knew Chu Lingguang was no longer the naive boy who had taken a full year of practicing the Iron Mountain Fist just to produce a flicker of Fist Force. He had trained at the academy and the Trial Ground and had become sworn brothers with Mo Shan and his three companions. He had his own network now; the Kung Fu he knew was no longer limited to what Guo Wei himself had taught him.

He knew that Chu Lingguang was the type to repay kindness, a diligent and hardworking student. He had been willing to chop down a Dragon Claw Tree in the Trial Ground for Du Wushuang’s sake—a trustworthy and grateful young man like that would never lack for friends.

’It’s even possible that one of his teachers at the Trial Ground secretly taught him the Turtle Breath Method.’