Martial Saint through Reading

Within the water mist, a golden sword flew back, hovering at his side, with blood coagulating and dripping down the blade.

Below.

Zhao Qing and Yaao Qieming exchanged dozens of blows, his expression growing increasingly anxious and grim.

Where is Laang Li Xiong? Why hasn’t he used his ultimate move yet?!

If this goes on, he won’t be able to hold out.

Pretending to slash with his spear, he retreated explosively to the nearby boat.

Immediately, he focused his gaze, looking toward the water’s surface.

The surface had long been stained red with blood; under the overlay of night and mist, he could barely make out numerous wrecked hulls and floating corpses.

Among those corpses, one in particular was especially large, not to mention the eye-catching tiger skin.

Tiger skin...

Zhao Qing was looking for Laang Li Xiong’s position, hiding beneath the water surface, subconsciously ignoring these corpses.

But in the next instant.

Tiger skin?!

Laang Li Xiong! Dead?!

Zhao Qing’s heart trembled, his gaze quickly swept back.

It really is Laang Li Xiong!

Did he suffocate underwater?

The waves were sizable, and Laang Li Xiong’s powerless corpse knocked against the hull.

The whole river was blood-colored, the tiny hole in Laang Li Xiong’s heart was not easily detected.

"Damn useless!"

In an instant, Zhao Qing lost his will to fight.

No matter how Laang Li Xiong died, he alone could not defeat Yaao Qieming.

Without hesitation, Zhao Qing thrust his spear into the river surface, and with immense force, his small boat retreated at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

Just as the small boat retreated into the water mist, a buzzing sound rang in Zhao Qing’s ears.

He hurriedly turned his head, only to see a black streak piercing through the mist, shooting towards him.

Puchi——

The black streak effortlessly passed through him, and Zhao Qing directly plunged into the river canal.

And at this moment.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Yaao Qieming pursued with his spear.

Pushing aside the water mist, there was only a small boat, the thief nowhere to be seen on board.

"Where is he?"

Yaao Qieming frowned, looking around.

"Kill them!"

All around was the sound of fighting.

"Escaped?"

Strange.

Laang Li Xiong jumped into the river and disappeared, and that Zhao Qing also suddenly fled...

In the river!

Yaao Qieming suddenly thought of something, hurriedly lowering his eyes to the river surface.

The canal ahead floated with Zhao Qing’s body.

The canal behind floated with Laang Li Xiong’s body.

"..."

Yaao Qieming felt a chill down his spine, unconsciously tightening his grip on his spear.

Two masters of the Meridian Unlocking Realm, about as strong as himself, died inexplicably before him.

The cold night canal, scarlet water mist.

There was definitely a master hidden in the dark!

He thought of a rumor.

The foremost talent of Xirong County, Chu Ming of the Canal Transport Bureau, protected by a super master.

Even multiple late-stage Meridian Unlocking Realm and Upper Meridian Unlocking Realm Perfection masters who attacked the Xirong County Government at night perished at this master’s hands.

Could it be, the rumor is true?

Yaao Qieming turned his head towards the center of the convoy, wanting to ask, but his legs wouldn’t budge an inch.

Such a master would not reveal himself easily.

After brief contemplation, he dispelled distracting thoughts and charged into the water mist, spear in hand.

Water bandits, leave none behind.

At the center of the convoy, atop the mast.

Chu Ming stood at the mast’s peak, observing Yaao Qieming’s every move.

Soon after, a message came from the Wind Spirit Race’s Communication Clan Leaf.

"Clan Leader, all materials have been retrieved."

The Wind Spirit Race’s Feeng Zhi and Feeng Yi led their people in retrieving the Threads of Nourishing Essence and Red Light Treasure Water hidden among the provisions.

"Hmm, go and clear out the water bandits’ hideouts, leave none alive."

"Understood."

"..."

The battle endured until the east gradually brightened.

The water bandits had the advantage in numbers, but they were no match for the well-trained Guard Army, coupled with Yaao Qieming’s command, they nearly annihilated these water bandits who had emptied their nest.

The convoy rested on the river canal, and after inspection and tallying, the Guard Army suffered only a few hundred casualties, without losing a single bit of the grain supply.

On one of the ships.

The Guard Army’s Yaao Qieming hesitantly knocked on the cabin door where Chu Ming was located.

"Chief Clerk Shen, Commissioner of Canal Transport Mr. Chu."

This Meridian Unlocking Realm expert, who held high status in Pingzhong County, bowed first in greeting.

"Does Lord Yao have business?" Shen Yu sat at the table, eating breakfast.

"..." Yaao Qieming, looking at the porridge on the table, momentarily forgot why he came.

"The water bandits attacked last night, were the two of you unharmed?" After a pause, he finally squeezed out a sentence.

"Everything’s fine, Lord Yao’s Guard Army protected us well." Chu Ming stood up to return the gesture, "Has Lord Yao eaten? If not, join us for a bite."

"No need." Yaao Qieming glanced around the cabin, unable to find the person he sought, disappointment flickering in his eyes.

He intended to thank the mysterious master behind Chu Ming, but the person evidently didn’t wish to show up.

Yaao Qieming bowed and took his leave, Chu Ming seeing him off for a few steps.

Upon returning to the cabin.

"Chu Ming, Lord Yao was here looking for someone, wasn’t he?" Shen Yu smiled knowingly.

"Hmm, likely."

"I heard from the Guard Army, the water bandits who attacked last night included two Meridian Unlocking Realm masters, did you take them out?" Shen Yu stared at Chu Ming.

"This batch of provisions must not be lost."

"No, I mean to ask, under seventeen years old, killing someone every few days, and they’re Meridian Unlocking Realm experts, slaughtering them as easily as pigs or dogs, is this normal?"

"..."

...

Half a day later.

While Chu Ming was reading, the Wind Spirit Race Communication Clan Leaf reported back.

"Clan Leader, several water bandit hideouts have been cleaned out."

"Bring everything back to the clan."

"Understood."

"Clan Leader, Lix Yan from the Great Derivation Sect has also gone to wait for the Clan Leader in Xirong County."

"Got it."

Chu Ming had not let Lix Yan from the Great Derivation Sect partake in the plan, having released him.

However, the man insisted on repaying a life-saving debt and refused to leave.

After some thought, Chu Ming gave him a token, instructing him to wait in Xirong County.

If the man truly arrived there despite his grievous wounds, it would indeed demonstrate a persistent will to repay the favor.

Putting away the communication from his clansmen, Chu Ming’s eyes grew deeper.

As his strength increased, his perspective and situation evolved accordingly.

The current situation of the Great Qin Dynasty seemed calm, but was actually fraught with undercurrents.

The King of North Snow and the Blood Evil Sect...the attitude of the one on the Dragon Throne towards the Tiger Armor Army... and the surrounding strong countries in the north, south, east, and west, eyeing it covetously...