Mage's Cultivation Journey 26

As Hun Chu ran while trying to press a bandage to his bleeding wound, he knew that he was cursed.

There was no other reason for almost all the missions he took part in recently to end up in an ambush. First, there was the caravan he was supposed to guard, only to end up ambushed by a new group of bandits.

His next big mission hadn’t been any more successful, where he tried to follow the mysterious expert and his charge once they left the city, with the task of making contact after assessing their capabilities, only to be interrupted by a bunch of gang members. Not only do they ruin any chance to make contact with that mysterious master.

Worse, Duan and his gang decided to follow him while he retreated from the battlefield, forcing him to push his limits, which made his old injuries worsen in what was supposed to be a safe mission.

At least he managed to deliver a report on the mysterious master, which counted as partial completion. A master who was assessed to be either in Bone Forging or Organ Refinement with a special style, and not like the Connate Realm, like Han Chu believed after watching him take down two Skin Refinement attackers with mere touches. At least, that was what the higher ranks believed once he reported his findings.

Then, there was his last mission. Just a safe, low risk patrol mission, one would barely challenge a novice Muscle Refinement martial artist. Even with his wounds yet to heal, he believed it to be an easy mission.

It started that way, but it ended up with him running desperately with his breath ragged, doing his best to stem the bleeding somewhat before his enemies caught up with him. Three of them. Skin Refinement.

He didn’t recognize them, but he recognized their style. Furious Wind, just like the rabble around Duan had been using … but, they were not as incompetent. It showed that their cultivation hadn’t been a result of piling pills.

Well, not fully. Hun Chu was confident that he could take them if it wasn’t for his injuries — old and new — which showed their foundation wasn’t as strong as it needed to be. Unfortunately, life wasn’t a fair duel. He pushed himself to the limit, the forest blurring as branches lashed against his face and arms, but he didn’t dare to slow down, no matter how much his legs and his lungs screamed in protest. Pain didn’t matter.

Survival did.

Running in desperation, he couldn’t help but wonder who he was dealing with. They were clearly not a part of Duan Gang; they were too competent for it. Yet, they also didn’t carry the insignia of Azure Blade Union, which was the only group that might assign multiple Skin Refinement martial artists just to get rid of one from the Iron Mountain Alliance.

Hun Chu winced when a bad step worsened his injuries rather than making it better, wishing that he had turned down the assignment. He might not have afforded the expensive medicine he used, but he could have healed the slow way. It would have just taken a year or two.

But, it was too late for regrets —

He had been thinking that when he heard a sudden sharp sound. He recognized it as the distinct sound of Furious Wind. Just like the namesake, their punches were accompanied by the whispers of the wind. The stronger the attack, the louder the sound.

Someone using Furious Wind didn’t surprise him. But a shout of pain did. He turned back to take a glance, not planning to slow down —

Only for his legs to freeze. He saw a familiar figure.

The young master from the camp. He covered the lower half of his face with a woolen scrap to turn it into a mask, but Hun Chu had spent a week watching them as a part of his mission, so he recognized him easily.

Yet, he had trouble believing the speed and power that accompanied his moves. The last time Hun Chu had seen him, he had just started learning Furious Wind, every move of his measured and careful, afraid of messing it up. Nothing like the current speed he moved. Fluid, confident, merciless.

More importantly, he was barely an Initiate. Now, he was clearly in the Peak of Muscle Refinement, every move of his empowered by his internal energy.

Despite years of experience, Hun Chu froze. He couldn’t help it. Not when he watched the kid fight against Skin Refinement Martial artists, one against three, and not lose.

Yes, he had the advantage from the ambush on his side, but that didn’t give him the ability to fight against higher realm martial artists. Certainly not when the higher realm martial artists had the advantage.

Yet, the young man fought against them, moving rapidly between them to prevent excitement, resisting the attacks easily. But, eventually, he would get tired.

Hun Chu changed direction and returned to support him.

He might be wounded, but he could occupy one of them if he pushed himself to the limit. Maybe even take one down, but that was less certain. Admittedly, that was not enough to guarantee their victory, but it was safer than escaping.

“Take the girl hostage,” one of the three shouted, and one split from the ground. Only then, Hun Chu see the girl, trying to stay concealed among the bushes while the battle raged on. “Let us kill these men, and we’ll not bother with you,” he continued, speaking to the young man. “We all come from the same school, after all.”

Hun Chu hoped that his mysterious steward was there to keep an eye on things, but the changing attitude of the young man told a different story. He abandoned his cautious fighting style, and lashed out against the two Skin Refinement Realm fighters.

That changed the equation. Fighting across realms was already a challenge, which he succeeded in only by using his greater capabilities to his advantage. His desperate attack, trying to push through two Skin Refinement experts backfired, and he was already receiving painful blows.

Hun Chu froze for a moment in fear. The young man’s desperate attack, rather than calling for help, could only mean one thing. His mysterious steward was not near.

That was bad news. While his attackers had been mistaken about the origins of the young man — Hun Chu had watched them when the young man learned the style back in Dongxi — it didn’t mean the young man wouldn’t give him up if it meant the safety of his companion.

Hun Chu reached into one of his pouches, and pulled a pill from a black and red bottle. Despite the disgusting smell, he threw it into his mouth, and the pill melted. He felt his internal energy burn with an unmatched intensity, allowing him to run faster.

He needed to keep the girl safe. That was the only possible way he could be safe, small though it might be to me. The pill allowed him to burn his internal energy for a speed burst, but it was only temporary, leaving the user exhausted and useless afterward. That was why it was only popular in hunting parties, used by scouts to draw the savage beasts to ambush spots.

It had been the reason why he hadn’t used it before. But, it felt like a better idea than expecting someone to sacrifice his companion for a stranger’s sake.

Yet, he was too late. Even when he pushed himself to the limit, the distance was too great. The first attacker caught up with the girl. “We will have —” he started.

Hun Chu noticed some kind of glint in the air, and immediately after, the attacker dropped down … dead. He stopped once again, but only when a familiar figure stepped from behind a tree, he realized what had been going on.

The steward had been watching them all along.

“I’m disappointed, young master. Just three pathetic Skin Refinement dogs, and you’re already struggling,” he drawled even as he waved his hand. Another glint, but this time, Hun Chu managed to identify the source. Two silver needles, flying forward eerily. It wasn’t impossible to dodge, but the young man managed to entangle the two despite his wounded state.

Hun Chu realized that the earlier assessment made by his superior was wrong. The steward might not be a Connate Realm master, but he was no mere Bone Forging expert either. He must be at least at the Organ Refinement Realm.

Hun Chu immediately knelt down, knowing that, facing a master, showing humility was the best way. If he ever believed that Hun Chu had actually brought danger to his charges willingly, his end wouldn’t be pretty. “This lowly one apologizes for disturbing your rest and accidentally bringing danger to you, master. If I knew you were here, I would have brought my battle to a different location —”

But, he was interrupted by another glint under the sun, followed by a tiny needle sinking into his flesh.

And, his consciousness disappeared.