I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 185: On Black Tiger Ridge (Part 3)

Duan Rong’s heart stirred, and he bent down to pick up the long sword by his feet. Holding the hilt, he thought to himself, "Read Artifact Spirit."

Artifact: Dual-edged long sword

Artifact Spirit Tier: Unranked

Devouring Requirements: None

Devouring Effect: None

Duan Rong looked at the blank data panel, feeling a burst of astonishment. However, he immediately realized that the sword in his hand was brand new and not the lightweight soft sword originally belonging to Huang Gaizu.

Duan Rong’s eyes flashed, and he immediately understood that this person did not want to reveal his identity.

Yuan Shouzhi killed Huang Gaizu and tore the black cloth from his face.

Yuan Shouzhi was familiar with the many experts in Xianggu County. He had already guessed about seventy to eighty percent based on the sword path, but seeing Huang Gaizu’s thin, sinister face, Yuan Shouzhi’s heart still skipped a beat.

At this moment, Yuan Shouzhi finally raised his head and looked at Duan Rong, who had also thrown away the sword and met Yuan Shouzhi’s gaze.

Duan Rong’s face was also covered with a black cloth, exposing only his eyes. Yuan Shouzhi looked at Duan Rong with curiosity and amazement in his eyes.

This person was clearly a friend, not a foe, but his methods were intricate and mysterious, causing Yuan Shouzhi to become highly vigilant.

At the sight of Yuan Shouzhi, Duan Rong was startled, realizing that this was the person who had followed and monitored him for three days over a month ago.

Thoughts whirled in Duan Rong’s mind, and he immediately understood the situation.

Yuan Shouzhi’s surveillance and investigation of him was clearly ordered by Ximen Yong. And Ximen Yong’s investigation was likely due to Duan Rong’s close association with Ximen Kankan, raising Ximen Yong’s suspicion and wariness.

Duan Rong felt a burst of frustration.

"Alright! I came all this way to save you, and you went and found someone to investigate me!"

Duan Rong felt infuriated and rolled his eyes at Ximen Yong before suddenly vanishing into the wilderness by the official road.

Ximen Yong did not expect Duan Rong to suddenly leave. He immediately ran a few steps and stood by the road, shouting, "Brave warrior, might you leave your name so my Ximen family can repay you for your great kindness one day!"

Ximen Yong’s voice echoed in the night wind, but the only response was the rustling of the trees.

"Master, the person is already gone," Yuan Shouzhi said standing behind Ximen Yong.

"Gone?" Ximen Yong stood by the roadside, murmuring as he looked into the dark night, finding it hard to let go.

"This person must have quite a background!" Yuan Shouzhi said thoughtfully, his gaze flickering.

Duan Rong’s lightweight body technique and flying knife skill amazed him. Even if he encountered them, it would be a difficult challenge. But what surprised him more was Duan Rong’s ability in perception insight. Duan Rong had warned him when Huang Gaizu scattered poisonous powder. And when he used the flying knife to assist him, the impeccable timing was truly alarming for Yuan Shouzhi!

"This person must be the scion of a prestigious family with deep knowledge!" Yuan Shouzhi said thoughtfully.

Ximen Yong, hearing this, turned his head, his eyes unfocused as he looked at Yuan Shouzhi. At this moment, Ximen Yong’s mind kept replaying Duan Rong’s eyes; they seemed familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before.

Ximen Yong had average talent in martial arts, but he had a great sense for business. After years in the business arena, he had developed the skill of recognizing people with just one glance and remembering them even after a year.

Duan Rong’s eyes seemed familiar, not by coincidence; he must have seen them somewhere before.

He just couldn’t remember for the moment. "Those eyes..."

"Master, we should be returning!" Yuan Shouzhi reminded Ximen Yong, seeing him standing by the roadside in a daze.

Ximen Yong finally came to his senses, looking past Yuan Shouzhi, and said in a deep voice, "Get the Golden Wound Medicine and dress the wounds of the brothers first."

"Master, your wound also needs treatment," Yuan Shouzhi said.

Ximen Yong glanced at his shoulder, the bloodstain having soaked through half of it, but he glanced at the injured guards and the corpses on the ground, sighing heavily, "My Ximen family has truly suffered heavy casualties this time!"

In the wilderness, Duan Rong executed the Cloud Serpent Step, his figure flickering when suddenly halting. He heard the snort of a horse. Having just joined Yuan Shun Escort Agency as a servant disciple, he had worked in the horse stable, dealing with horses daily. He was familiar with the different snorts of a horse’s nose and would not mistake it.

Duan Rong’s mind stirred, and his divine sense extended again, immediately locking onto a chestnut horse not far away.

With a flicker of his figure, Duan Rong arrived at the chestnut horse. The horse, tied under a tree, was grazing on wild grass. The lush, juicy summer grass in the wilderness was a sweet treat for the chestnut horse.

Duan Rong reached to touch the saddle, which was branded with the words "Xu’s Stable."

Duan Rong’s heart stirred. "Sure enough, it is a horse from the coach house!"

It seemed the horse was ridden by Huang Gaizu. Duan Rong quickly unfastened the horse and led it onto the official road. With a leap, he mounted the horse, no longer needing to execute the Cloud Serpent Step in the wilderness.

But just as Duan Rong was about to spur the horse to leave, he suddenly paused, holding back the whip. After some thought, considering that Ximen Yong’s group had so many injured guards and the need to transport the deceased guards’ bodies back, and only one horse remained alive.

Duan Rong sighed deeply and muttered to himself, "It’s only because you’re Kankan’s father; otherwise, I wouldn’t even bother."

Saying so, Duan Rong pulled the reins, turned the horse around, and finally lashed the horse’s rear. The chestnut horse, feeling the sting, galloped along the official road.

Ximen Yong and his group had just bandaged the wounded when the crisp sound of horse hooves suddenly echoed on the quiet official road.

Yuan Shouzhi unsheathed his sword, standing ready. Soon, they saw a rider approaching.

A man and a horse suddenly halted several yards away, and Duan Rong dismounted.

Recognizing the figure and posture, Yuan Shouzhi immediately identified him as Duan Rong, saying, "It’s the one from before!"

However, Yuan Shouzhi did not sheath his sword. Frankly, he was quite wary of Duan Rong and wasn’t sure of his intentions for returning now.

Yuan Shouzhi always believed there was no unprovoked kindness in this world. The person’s mysterious identity and sudden appearance on this ridge seemed strange. His eventual return only heightened Yuan Shouzhi’s suspicion.

Duan Rong suddenly lashed the horse’s rear, and the chestnut horse, receiving the whip, immediately galloped forward. With a flicker of his figure, Duan Rong vanished into the wilderness by the road again.

"He has brought us a horse," Ximen Yong said and suddenly jumped up. Despite his half-dressed wounds, he rushed to the edge of the wilderness and respectfully bowed, yelling, "Brave warrior! Please accept Ximen Yong’s gratitude!"

In the wilderness, Duan Rong, executing his body technique, heard Ximen Yong’s shout but continued leaping ahead without looking back...

Ximen Yong bowed in respect for a long time before rising. Turning his head, he saw Yuan Shouzhi had already seized the chestnut horse, and Yuan Shouzhi glanced towards where Duan Rong disappeared into the wilderness, his gaze flickering. Their group had lost most of the guards, and while the rest were injured, only one horse remained to pull the carriage.

To transport the injured, they would have to abandon the bodies. To take the bodies, they would have to leave the injured. It was a dilemma. Yuan Shouzhi initially planned to leave one to watch over the bodies while taking the others back and then send for the bodies later. But now, with this chestnut horse, the bodies no longer needed to be left in the wilderness overnight. Truthfully, the scent of blood would attract wild beasts, making it unsafe to leave the bodies there.

They couldn’t possibly let their fallen brothers end up without intact corpses.

Yet, this person delivered a chestnut horse at this moment, no wonder Ximen Yong was moved! Even Yuan Shouzhi, at this point, felt a sense of guilt for his previous suspicions about the person.

"Could this person perhaps be related to the Ximen family?" Yuan Shouzhi suddenly thought, his eyes shimmering.