Chapter 249

In the southwestern region of the Eastern Wilderness, northeast of San Chuan Gorge, lay He Gou Town.

“Friend, why persist? Your master already licks the emperor’s boots. What’s left to defend?”

“If we don’t claim this land, Tiger-Chasing forces will seize it soon enough.”

“It’s just dead mortals, Friend. Why fuss over trash?”

“Be smart. Don’t make us finish you.”

Outside a blood-soaked courtyard, the wounded mayor Qu Ming stood defiantly against five Eastern Wilderness accompanying cultivators.

The cultivators had come pillaging, slaughtering resisting families during their raid.

Qu Ming intervened to protect his townsfolk, though his seventh-level Gathering Qi cultivation paled against their Eighth Level leader. Bruised and battered, he remained outmatched.

The cultivators found this puzzling. News of Eastern Wilderness’ defeat should’ve emptied nearby towns—mayors and cultivators alike had fled. Yet this fool guarded a mortal-filled backwater, even fighting to avenge dead peasants.

Qu Ming spat blood, not bothering to explain principles these jackals wouldn’t understand. He grinned bitterly. “Wasting words on beasts? Like playing flute to oxen!”

Beams of light smashed him backward.

“Mayor!”

“Take everything! Just spare him!”

Townspeople surged forward, kowtowing through tears.

The Eighth Level cultivator’s eyes narrowed at the noisy rabble. A comrade summoned Fire technique flames – their standard solution for leftovers.

Amid the chaos, a boy clutching a farmer’s sleeve whispered,

“Master could save him.”

[No original names/terms altered. Tense standardized to past. Gender pronouns (he/his) maintained for Qu Ming. Colloquialized dialogue while preserving idioms. Simplified sentence structures for readability.]

He pushed the thought away with a shake of his head. His master’s special identity could bring death upon them both if discovered. Having traveled from the lawless Bei Feng City through countless dangers, now nearing Tiger-Chasing army territory, they couldn’t afford impulsive actions.

The boy Yuan Cheng had been a war refugee begging in Bei Feng City’s streets, surviving on scraps with torn clothes. Two years ago when he turned ten, everything changed after meeting a scavenging middle-aged man. The man took him as disciple, clothed and fed him, teaching cultivation methods that transformed the beggar into a cultivator. After swearing a blood oath, the man revealed himself as Yang from western Tiger-Chasing Dynasty – dangerous knowledge during the ongoing war between nations.

Master and disciple posed as father-son paupers in Bei Feng City until news came of Eastern Wilderness’s military collapse. As Tiger-Chasing forces advanced eastward, they began journeying west to meet friendly troops, arriving yesterday at He Gou Town where current events unfolded.

Before cultivation, Yuan Cheng had grown numb to suffering. His master’s care rekindled his humanity.

"Want to save him?" Yang Guanfeng sensed his disciple’s turmoil.

"Yes. But we can’t. I’m still weak," Yuan Cheng shook his head. "If we help others, who’ll help us?" Though young, his harsh life taught clear understanding of survival.

Yang Guanfeng silently observed the barely-conscious Qu Ming, seeing traces of Gao Hui in him. They’d make good companions if they met.

As they turned to leave, Yang Guanfeng suddenly stiffened. Following some inner prompting, he gazed westward – dead eyes lighting up like rekindled embers.

"Master?"

"Hide yourself, Cheng’er. Wait here."

"What will you do?"

The master smiled faintly. "Kill some people."

Meanwhile at northern front’s forward camp:

Murong Qiuhan stored true essence from their latest kill – a Condensing Essence cultivator. "Your wind technique handles deserters well. You…"

Beside her, Yang Lingrui suddenly blazed with energy before streaking northeast as golden light.

"Hey! What’s happening?!" She grabbed her golden pouch and gave chase.

…

At He Gou Town:

"Run… before it’s too late!" Injured Qu Ming forced his cultivation methods to push civilians to safety despite his wounds.

"Run? Where?" The fire-wielder laughed. "Whole town’s burning!"

As he prepared to hurl flames, his vision blurred. Crushing chest pain overwhelmed him before the fireball got extinguished.

Boom!

The attacker flew backward, his technique snuffed mid-air.