Chapter 68. Those Who Smelled (3)

Zheng Yilong (鄭溢龍).

At the age of thirty, he made his debut in the Jianghu and, within two years in Sichuan, he began to stand out. Soon, he was invited to join the Yitian Alliance as a skilled expert. The Yitian Alliance treated him with great respect, and he rose steadily, becoming an elder of the alliance in his mid-forties, which was quite rare in the history of the Yitian Alliance. This was not just a matter of skill but also a testament to his exceptional political acumen.

Gradually building his strength, he eventually became the Grand Elder at the age of sixty, reigning above all other elders. However, he had a tendency to act too rashly. The Yitian Alliance leader had long seen through his ambition to set up a puppet leader and become the real power behind the throne.

Ultimately, due to the leader's cunning, evil, and experienced machinations, Zheng Yilong had no choice but to become a dog that only listened to the leader's commands. This was because the leader had been secretly collecting all the evidence of his corruption. The leader had allowed him to become the Grand Elder precisely to control all the elders through him.

'Is that damn bastard here?'

Xuliang recalled the face of the man who had ruthlessly cut off his right leg in the final moments of his life. That cunning old monster never did anything to his own detriment. If his own safety was at stake, he would sell even his grandchildren, a heartless piece of trash.

This was why he had not appeared even after Xuliang had been chased for a week and suffered countless injuries. He only showed up to strike when Xuliang was critically wounded in a fierce battle with the King of Beasts.

'That bastard cut off my leg.'

Xuliang's eyes seemed to shoot out blades.

Roar.

The forest fell silent in the face of the unconscious killing intent.

'Zheng Yilong...!'

His imposing figure, his spotless white attire, and his meticulously groomed beard, which deserved the title of "Beautiful Beard." Though he had not met him often, Xuliang remembered every wrinkle on his face, the greed in his clear eyes, and his twisted expression.

Swoosh.

The cold killing intent turned into a burning rage, scorching his body. His head felt as if it was turning white with anger.

"......!"

He wanted to tear his limbs apart and feed them to the dogs.

"......Sir! ......Young Sir!"

He wanted to capture that bastard first and torture him with all the killing techniques and interrogation methods he had learned. He wanted to make him beg for death.

Squeak.

Xuliang's eyes grew sharper, like the torn eyes of a demon.

At that moment, a low, heavy voice echoed.

"Young Master!"

Xuliang was startled and looked at Madongfil.

Madongfil's face was pale, his forehead drenched in cold sweat, and his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Why...?"

Xuliang suddenly realized his mistake. His overwhelming killing intent had been blocked by Madongfil with all his might.

Swoosh.

As Xuliang struggled to suppress his killing intent, Madongfil finally let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry. I made a mistake."

"Huff. No, it's not."

"Are you okay?"

"Of course. Don't worry."

Though he said that, Madongfil was inwardly shocked.

'He's incredible.'

How could an ant see the talons of a hawk soaring in the sky? Yet, Madongfil thought he knew Xuliang's strength to some extent.

'I was wrong. This is terrifying...'

The burning killing intent, surrounded by qi, almost caused internal injuries. If that dense killing intent had exploded, he might have suffered real internal injuries.

Another point that shocked him:

'He hates the Yitian Alliance. Deeply.'

It was an emotion he had not known during the past year. While it was natural for a demon of the New Sect, the hatred of the young master seemed to go beyond that.

"Is there anyone else? Any other information?"

"No. For some reason, as a Grand Elder, it must be a significant matter. They seem to be controlling information thoroughly."

"That's to be expected."

It had been like that from the beginning. The Yitian Alliance leader, thinking he had gathered enough strength, focused all his efforts on obtaining faster and more accurate information rather than expanding his power.

In the north, the Yitian Alliance; in the south, the Heavenly Demon Sect. Their information networks are unparalleled in their respective territories. If forced to compare, the Yitian Alliance excels in breadth, while the Heavenly Demon Sect excels in precision.

'The Yitian Alliance leader, that old man, targeted the Heavenly Demon Sect's General and Grand Law Master as my last mission.'

In other words, he believed that if the Heavenly Demon Sect could be dismantled, he could control the world. And he thought he had built enough power to do so.

'But it failed.'

The Yitian Alliance leader's trust in the King of Beasts was absolute. He might have genuinely believed that he could assassinate the three key figures of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

In reality, even eliminating one of them would shake the Heavenly Demon Sect, creating a power vacuum that the Yitian Alliance would not have missed.

However, that mission failed due to the unexpected escape of Xuliang, known as the King of Beasts.

'And now, a year later, Zheng Yilong has entered Jiangxi. He certainly didn't come alone.'

Why? Why did that bastard come to the vicinity of Jiangxi?

"Young Master."

"Yes?"

A hint of worry appeared on Madongfil's usually stern face.

"Are you okay?"

"...Yes."

Xuliang handed the letter back to him.

"When does the convoy depart?"

"It's set to depart tomorrow morning."

They are resting longer than expected, probably out of consideration for the patients traveling with them.

"I see. You should rest too."

"Ah, yes."

Xuliang walked out slowly.

Madongfil, who had been watching his back, called out again.

"Young Master."

"What? Do you have something else to say?"

"No. Just..."

Madongfil smiled and bowed. His smile now looked quite natural.

"It's an honor to see you again."

Xuliang also smiled.

"I'm glad too."

Glad, but not in a situation where he could laugh and chat happily.

Back in the carriage, Xuliang sat by the window, lost in thought.

'Zheng Yilong.'

Thump!

His heart beat fiercely. The blood flowing through his veins seemed much thicker.

'He's coming? You, you bastard?'

His fists trembled, the veins on the back of his hands bulging as if they would burst.

But then,

'...Damn.'

Suddenly, his strength drained away.

He weakly pressed his forehead.

'Stupid... What does it matter if that bastard is around here or not? Why do I keep thinking about him?'

What was my goal? To escape, to be free?

When he abandoned his past life, he also abandoned the name King of Beasts. No matter how angry and resentful he was, there was no reason to kill that bastard now.

A life away from the Jianghu. Even though it was still a muddy swamp, he wanted to live comfortably in a place where the concept of the martial world did not exist.

To achieve that beautiful dream, he wanted to leave the New Sect.

If he could leave the New Sect, there would be no obstacles. He would visit the safe houses he had set up in various parts of the Central Plains, recover his martial arts, and start a new life with a substantial fortune.

If that happened... he could live the true life he had longed for for decades.

'Yes. Don't forget my goal. Don't abandon my dream.'

Life is unpredictable. Even if you follow your plan, a single misstep can ruin everything. Letting your emotions get the best of you can push a happy life further away.

Don't act like a fool, like an ignorant child.

Zheng Yilong? Even if the Yitian Alliance leader were right in front of him, he should pretend not to know and ignore him.

Even if that bastard had a significant impact on his death, he should just bury it and move on.

Yes, that's what he should do. He should live for his dream, just as he had been doing. If he acts rashly now, he will regret it later.

'Damn.'

Thump, thump!

His heart beat stronger with each passing moment. He knew it was wrong, but his body reacted first.

'I want to kill him.'

A reddish light seemed to seep from his tightly closed eyes. It felt like he would run out to where that bastard was as soon as he opened his eyes.

'I want to tear him apart and kill him.'

It was as if someone was whispering seductively in his ear.

Laugh if you want to laugh. Cry if you want to cry.

And if you want to kill, kill.

Just live as your heart desires.

"Ah!"

Roar!

The rising demonic aura. The dark shadow qi in his stomach seemed to boil and rise to his throat, ready to be expelled into the world.

Zhu Hua's eyes widened.

"Young Master?!"

He had entered without a word, lost in thought, and suddenly emitted a dangerous demonic aura. Though he managed to suppress it and prevent it from leaking out of the carriage, it was only a matter of time.

At that moment, Jinhu, who had been sleeping, suddenly opened his eyes.

Thump, thump.

Jinhu quickly climbed onto Xuliang's lap.

Roar.

The demonic aura that seemed ready to explode calmed down.

"Ah!"

Xuliang opened his eyes. The red glow that had filled his pupils was gone.

Drip, drip.

The cold sweat on his forehead testified to the immense mental strain he had just experienced.

"Young Master, are you okay?"

Xuliang did not answer. He was too dazed to respond.

His eyes, which had been