Chapter 95: Blind Master
Chapter 95: Blind Master
“Seventeenth!”
“Eighteenth!”
…
Relying on sheer willpower and a robust body, Mu Feng did not fall. Instead, using the cover of night and the dense forest, he took down one careless guard after another.
In just half an hour, a full twenty guards lay lifeless on the ground. Some were pinned to trees by sharp bamboo stakes, their heads split open by a palm strike; others had their throats crushed, while a few showed no visible wounds externally, but inside, their organs were shattered into pieces by savage force, blood oozing from their skin… Without exception, all had become withered, desiccated corpses after death.
After robbing twenty guards of their power, Mu Feng fought with growing ferocity. Yet, he still dared not rashly engage the experts among the pursuers. The wound left by the sword strike from Chief Transmission Disciple Mu Tie was far too severe. Any remotely intense battle would immediately tear it open, causing blood to spurt like a fountain. If he were unlucky enough to be pinned down by several experts, certain death awaited.
One hour quickly passed.
After scouring almost the entire mountain with nothing to show for it, the mud-splattered guard commander approached Mu Tie in shame, kneeling as he said, “Young Master, we… we…”
“You still haven’t caught that boy, Mu Feng?”
Mu Tie, seated cross-legged in meditation upon the ground, slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at the sea of torches blanketing the mountain and gave a light smile.
Interesting!
Originally, after severely wounding Mu Feng with his sword, he assumed Mu Feng would be captured immediately and executed in public. He never expected Mu Feng, after suffering such a fatal wound, could endure this long!
“Yes!”
The guard commander bowed his head in shame, not daring to conceal anything from Chief Transmission Disciple Mu Tie.
Mu Tie looked towards the vast Forest Sea growing more indistinct under the hazy moonlight and asked calmly, “How many have died in total?”
“Twenty. As of now, we’ve found twenty cold corpses. Without exception, each killed by a single strike. Regardless of success or not, Mu Feng struck once and then retreated immediately, putting distance between us. He doesn’t go far, just circles the mountain, but refuses direct combat. He specifically targets guards who’ve strayed away or are careless!”
The guard commander reported loudly, gritting his teeth at the mere mention of Mu Feng.
Among the twenty cold corpses were two of his own Personal Guards, both carelessly pinned to trees by sharp bamboo stakes. Several times, he had personally spotted Mu Feng’s figure, yet could never catch up. That guy seemed to have a body made of iron; despite terrible injuries, he ran faster than a hare, making this previously lofty commander look very bad.
“Twenty?”
Mu Tie was also surprised, his eyebrows raising slightly. So, they had still underestimated that boy Mu Feng’s strength!
“Chasing is worse than blocking!”
Behind Mu Tie, an old man also sitting cross-legged slowly lifted his head. His eyes held no pupils; he was clearly blind. Behind him, standing in a straight row, were five black-robed figures wearing Bamboo Hats. The blind man paused, then slowly continued, “Commander Zhao, more guards and Chuangong Hall stewards are arriving from Mu Manor. Since the enemy remains only on the mountain and we still can’t catch him, why not try another method?”
Block?
The heavily armored commander’s eyes brightened upon hearing this. He bowed and stepped back, “This subordinate understands! Thank you, Blind Master!”
“Blind Master, what is your assessment of Mu Feng?” Looking at the retreating back of the guard commander, Mu Tie asked the old man behind him.
“One word: kill!”
Though physically blind, the old man understood things more clearly than anyone, as if he had a perfect grasp of everything. “Young Master, you’ve just begun cultivating the Heartless Sword Dao. Your Dao Heart is not yet stable. Anything that hinders your cultivation must be slain; anything less makes proving the Dao impossible. The Heartless Sword Dao, the Emotionless Sword, hinges on one word: ‘severing’. Only by cutting off all seven emotions and six desires can one ultimately achieve true emotionlessness!”
“Yes!”
Mu Tie bowed respectfully, taking the lesson. While aloof and cold towards others, he was reverent in the presence of this blind old man.
Though just an old servant beside Master Heartless True Person, both his status and strength were absolutely extraordinary. His mission descending the mountain was to assist Mu Tie in worldly training, hoping he might one day reach the True Human Realm, even the Saint Realm. Having such a master to guide him alongside was immensely beneficial!
At some point, Mu Feng realized the situation was turning grim.
Fewer guards roamed alone; they now moved in large groups with experts at the ready. Every exit from the mountain was guarded by large detachments, strictly blocking his escape. Simple watchtowers were erected every thousand meters in the mountains, piled high with dry hay and firewood beneath. Upon discovering his trail, guards no longer swarmed after him directly. Instead, they first lit the firewood, signaling his position to others. Quickly, teams of elite guards would converge from all directions. Instead of immediately attacking, they built new watchtowers, weaving a tightening net, gradually shrinking the encirclement.
Slowly, the space he had to maneuver dwindled. No matter where he tried to hide, figures pressed in. Clearly, more guards had joined the hunt. A slight mistake revealing his location would instantly bring hordes closing in. Several times, he nearly got entangled by experts hidden among the ordinary guards.
“A brilliant move. Netting, pursuing, blocking, advancing step by step. It seems Mu Tie isn’t just formidable; he has powerful strategists aiding him!”
After several close calls that nearly cost him his life, Mu Feng had no choice but to act with extreme caution. Peeking half his head from dense foliage, he looked down at Mu Tie serenely meditating cross-legged at the mountain’s base, then turned and left. Lightly touching a branch with his toes, he leaped to a large tree five meters away. Under the veil of night and the dense forest canopy, he calmly searched for his next target.
Soon, he arrived near a remote watchtower. After careful observation, he began silently closing in.
A tall tree, five or six guards, a pile of firewood – that was a simple watchtower. But its effect was potent, squeezing Mu Feng’s movement area smaller and smaller, leaving him seemingly nowhere to run.
Rustle… rustle… rustle…
Getting closer, Mu Feng slid down from the tree and crept nearer, hunching low.
Leaping tree to tree was faster, but made him an easy target in open areas. Skulking low, using shrubs and rocky debris for cover, gave him a better chance for a swift, fatal strike.
Perhaps carelessly, perhaps wearily, only one skinny guard stood watch in the tree. The others were slumped against the trunk, sound asleep, their sharp swords and blades fallen to the ground. No snores, no stirring – they slept the deep sleep of exhaustion. Even the guard supposedly on watch swayed drowsily on his perch, head drooping as if about to fall asleep standing up.
“Go die!”
After sneaking within a dozen steps, seeing the oblivious guard perched in the tree, Mu Feng gave a cold smile. He drew a sharp bamboo stake from his back.
Taking aim at the guard’s chest, ready to hurl it with force, suddenly, a pricking sensation shot between his brows. An overwhelming sense of danger surged through him. Looking up, he saw the guard standing in the tree: eyes closed, seemingly resting. But his body was deathly cold, his face coated in a layer of dark Yin Energy – dead for a long while.
No good, it’s a trap!
Mu Feng startled, twisting around desperately. But before he could take a step, cold, sinister winds began swirling around him. Gloomy balls of Ghost Fire abruptly flickered to life, floating eerily up and down!