Chapter Twenty-Six Behind You

  Late at night, around midnight.

  Outside Luoyang City, a team of over 200 people marched in silence, hastening their journey with an air of urgency.

  Everyone was dressed the same, with a fan-shaped hat, flying eagle uniform, and high leather boots that reached their knees. No mistake, it was the Eagle Guards, the Eagle Guards who patrolled at night, the detestable Eagle Guards. Because there seemed to be an unwritten rule that whenever the Eagle Guards appeared at night, someone would die, only the number of deaths varied each time.

  Wu Fan was also among the crowd at this time, his eyes fixed tightly on the front of the team, on the tall and majestic new hundred-family Zhong Xiu. The reason was simple: Wu Fan knew in his heart that the news about discovering a demon's evil spirit was false! It was something Rain Fragrance had concocted, with the sole purpose of getting rid of Zhong Xiu, who posed a huge threat to Wu Fan.

  After meeting with Yu Xiang, Wu Fan had been staying at home and hadn't made any moves. So, how did Zhong Xiu find out about the news of a demon causing trouble outside Luoyang City? As Wu Fan thought about this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of alarm in his heart, because he had already thought of a possibility - that not only him, Wu Fan, was an internal spy controlled by Maitreya Sect within the Xisi or even the entire Luoyang Eagle Guard Thousand Households!

  Is there anyone else? Who is it?

  Wu Fan's heart sank, he was not a short-sighted fool, he understood that an organization like the Maitreya Sect, which defied authority and caused chaos, would at most be able to wreak havoc for a time, but ultimately would not be a match for the state's violent machinery, and would eventually walk the path of destruction. Wu Fan did not want to sink with the Maitreya Sect's broken ship, so he had long made up his mind that as soon as he had the opportunity, he would leave. In this way, those hidden spies who were lurking in the thousand households of Luoyang, were a huge threat to him!

  "Halt!"

  When Wu Fan heard the order to drink, he raised his head to look and found that they had unknowingly arrived at a dense forest outside Luoyang City.

  Zhong Xiudai instructed Wu Fan and Qian Rui to come over together, saying: "Wu Zongqi, you lead fifty men to circle around from the left flank! Qian Zongqi, you lead fifty men to circle around from the right flank! The rest of you, follow me!"

  "Ah!"

  Wu Fan and Qian Rui exchanged a glance, then bowed their fists in unison.

  As he gestured to his subordinates to follow him, Wu Fan's gaze remained fixed on Zhong Xiu, and his heart was racing wildly. There was no way around it - this new Bai Hu wasn't like Chen Yu, who had been beheaded by Wu Fan with a single sneak attack. Having opened up all 365 acupoints in his body, he had already reached the "Gathering the Sea" realm, making him a formidable opponent. Wanting to kill him would be extremely difficult, and at least Wu Fan himself couldn't do it!

  The forest is quiet, with only the sound of insects chirping. As people walk by, even the insect sounds disappear without a trace.

  "Whoosh!"

  A flock of birds living in the forest was startled, panicked and cried out, flying around in all directions.

  "Who?"

  "Don't run!"

  Wu Fan's eyes rolled around, he let out a loud shout and suddenly darted out at incredible speed.

  The sudden movement left the Eagle Guards who stayed behind looking at each other in dismay, as if asking what to do next. Without Wu Fan's command, they eventually discussed and decided to form a formation and move forward slowly.

  Actually, there is no one, Wu Fan is just using the excuse to leave the main force, he wants to go and personally take care of Zhong Xiu. This is the promise made by Yu Xiangnu to him, and also his request to Yu Xiangnu. The situation in Yingyangwei is now complex and unpredictable, Wu Fan has no choice but to be extremely cautious, otherwise, not to mention thinking about how to survive, he won't even know how he died!

  On the other hand...

  After venturing deep into the forest, Zhong Xiu was no longer the drunkard he once was. He had become extremely vigilant, and with his whiskers framing his face, he looked like a majestic lion leading its pride into battle. But Zhong Xiu was still Zhong Xiu, a man with little patience, and as he hadn't seen any sign of the so-called demon person, he couldn't help but feel irritated.

  At this moment, a black figure suddenly appeared in the distance, moving extremely fast, and escaped far away in the blink of an eye. Confident in his bravery, Zhong Xiu was not surprised but delighted, thinking to himself that it was time to make a name for himself, and ordered his subordinates to stay put, before dashing out like a wild beast, with a speed that surpassed even the person ahead!

  After chasing for about half a minute, Zhong Xiu couldn't help but feel a sense of vigilance. The reason was simple: the person in front kept walking and stopping, always staying within his line of sight, yet not letting him get close, as if deliberately luring him somewhere.

  Zhong Xiu was just hot-tempered, not stupid, seeing this strange situation, he didn't continue to chase after her like before, and slowed down his pace.

  "Rustle!"

  Suddenly, footsteps came from beside her, and Zhong Xiu's eyes turned fierce as she shouted: "Which scoundrel is hiding? Come out!"

  Wu Fan also saw someone's shadow moving over here, so he hurried over, but who would have thought that as soon as he walked over, he bumped into Zhong Xiu, this damn bastard.

  "It's me! Wu Fan!", Knowing that if he didn't come out, Zhong Xiu would attack, Wu Fan hastily walked out, his hands raised to his chest, a bewildered expression on his face, looking around and saying: "What? Did Lord Bai also see someone's shadow and came after them?"

  "Hmmph!"

  She snorted and remained silent.

  Wu Fan slowly put down his hand, his eyes rolling around in confusion, seemingly lost in thought.

  Zhong Xiu raised her head to gaze at the moonlight, then looked around and suddenly smiled, saying: "I suddenly feel that the scenery here is quite good!", The tone of the words changed: "It's just right for you to make a grave, what do you think, Wu Zongqi? With mountains and rivers, it's great! Hehehe......!"

  Wu Fan's heart suddenly sank, and he thought to himself: "Damn it! The relationship between the hunter and the prey is not fixed, they can change roles! I've made a mistake! How did this bastard think so quickly?"

  "Gulu!"

  Wu Fan swallowed hard and said with a somewhat guilty conscience: "Bai Hu, sir, don't joke about this! I... haven't offended you in any way, have I?"

  Zhong Xiuxiu sneered, drawing out half of her dagger, and said: "Do you know what the brothers in the hundred households secretly call you? 'Upper Official Killer'! As long as you're around, someone will be uneasy! Moreover... a shameless person like you who is born to rebel against authority, Commander has wanted to get rid of you for a long time. He's just afraid of getting his hands dirty, so it's better if I, who am not afraid of getting my hands dirty, take care of it!"

  Wu Fan took a deep breath, he didn't expect things to have developed in such a strange way. His hand slowly rested on the hilt of his Fourteen Postures knife, and he smiled, saying: "Commander Bai! There's someone behind you!"

  Zhong Xiu's eyes narrowed into a slit, he couldn't tell from Wu Fan's hypocritical face whether what he said was true or not, so while staring at Wu Fan's movements, he tried to use the corner of his eye to scan.

  "Cheers!"

  After all, he was a hot-tempered man, so Zhong Xiu decided to take the initiative and struck back with a fierce and unparalleled slash!

  "Crack!"

  "Whoosh!"

  Taking advantage of the opportunity, Wu Fan quickly drew a three-foot fine steel treasured sword from the Fourteen Postures Sword Sheath and hacked at him with a downward motion.

  Under these circumstances, running was definitely out of the question, and even if he could run, Wu Fan wouldn't be able to outrun them. He decided to make a desperate last stand, at least until Yu Xiang discovered something was amiss and came to his aid.

  "Ahhh!!!"

  Clashing blades, ringing steel!

  "Whoa!"

  A flash of light flashed by, and three feet away from the trunk of a large tree, a fine steel treasured sword was nailed, entering the wood three inches deep, buzzing and trembling!

  Wu Fan's arms hung in front of him, his pale face even paler, staring at the cracked tiger mouth and the gurgling blood, gritting his teeth in agony.

  Unexpectedly, Wu Fan really didn't expect that Zhong Xiu's reaction would be so quick and swift. After realizing there was no one behind him, he turned around and relied on his skill of identifying the source of sounds to suddenly clash with himself, exerting a huge force that even sent his own knife flying out, terrifying to the extreme!

  Is this the extent of "gathering energy into a sea"?

  Wu Fan looked at Zhong Xiu's ferocious face, which was full of murderous intent, and secretly cursed in his heart.

  Step by step, she approached Wu Fan, her teeth clenched like a vicious wolf warning its kin not to fight over food: "You hypocrite with a fake smile all over your face, your doomsday has arrived! I'll get rid of you quickly and cleanly, just to save time! You should be grateful!"

  Wu Fan's face piled up with a smile, shook his head and laughed: "Hundred House Lord, there is someone behind you!"

  ……

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  PS2: Thank you to Cangjianwengzi for the 588 coin reward, thank you to Buqiangdazhizi for the 100 coin reward, and thank you to Huorenrshengzi for a vote of evaluation. Thanks!