Realm-Hopping Martial Master

Traveling north.

Qingfeng County.

A hundred miles out, near the last mountain range before Yongning Commandery City, the weather changed abruptly. Lightning split the long night; a mountain storm was imminent.

Jiang Shu skillfully stripped off a bearskin. The flames flickered, and soon the fragrance of the Mutant Beast permeated the air.

This particular Mutant Beast was not of a high rank, merely a First Rank. It was bear-shaped, but its fox-like ears were exceptionally sensitive to surrounding sounds.

It was the Fox Bear, the same type of Mutant Beast Qi Yuan had treated him to before!

「Inside the cave.」

A young woman of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a yellow gown, smiled faintly at Jiang Shu. "Brother Shang, the meat you're roasting smells wonderful."

Beside her stood two men, appearing to be in their early twenties, watching Jiang Shu with wary eyes.

"Have a skewer. Don't be polite; we're just taking what we each need," Jiang Shu said. "I traded the map from you, so I should offer something in return."

Although he had obtained a map to Yongning Commandery City from Old Chou, it was too simplistic and had led him astray several times. It was only a few days ago, in these mountain ridges, that he met this trio—two men and a woman—and learned they were also heading to Yongning Commandery City. They possessed a more detailed map, so he had traded for it. Of course, when traveling, who would use their real name? He had blended the names Shang Jibei and Shou Junming to create his new alias: Shang Junming.

"If I had met you earlier, Brother Shang, the food along the way would definitely have been much better," the young woman said. "Besides, Brother Shang, you're so strong! You felled a Second Rank Mutant Beast with just two strikes. If you hadn't mentioned you didn't know the way to the commandery city, I would have assumed you were a Martial Artist from there. I've heard that the Martial Artists from the commandery city are completely different from those in our county town. Many of them have mastered Middle Grade Martial Arts. They're all incredibly skilled, but I bet even the best of them are only about as strong as you, Brother Shang."

The young woman in yellow spoke with a coquettish and somewhat affected air.

After exchanging maps, Jiang Shu had initially parted ways with them. However, seeking shelter from the rain, they had unexpectedly reunited in this cave. He frowned slightly and didn't say much in response.

According to their earlier conversation, the young woman was Zhang Ruo, granddaughter of a martial arts school owner in Qingfeng County. Having broken through to the Bone Forging Realm at a very young age, her grandfather was overjoyed and had written a letter asking her to go to the commandery city to seek refuge with their main family clan. However, her grandfather's vitality was declining with age, making it difficult for him to escort her. Her father possessed mediocre Talent, had been lax in his Martial Arts training, and had only reached the Skin Grinding Realm. Thus, she was being escorted by two senior disciple brothers from her martial arts school. They too were talented, standouts in their martial arts school, and planned to seek refuge with the main clan in the commandery city.

Evidently, the standard of Martial Arts in Qingfeng County was considerably higher than in Pingling County. At least in Pingling County, Jiang Shu had never heard of any martial arts school Disciple reaching the Bone Forging Realm.

"Little Junior Sister, be careful when you're out and about."

Zhang Ruo hadn't yet reached for the meat skewer. Her protective senior disciple brother, Li Qi, took the offered skewer and carefully probed the meat with a silver needle.

Jiang Shu paid it no mind. He quickly finished his Fox Bear meat and retreated to a deeper part of the cave, where he squatted in the shadows, continuously cultivating his Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength.

Zhang Ruo might not harbor any ill intentions. Just like some schoolgirls from his previous life, who enjoyed acting coquettish and provocative to attract boys' attention. But that approach didn't work on him. He also had no desire to get entangled in the rivalry between the two senior disciple brothers. Once the rain stopped, he would part ways with them.

"Damn it, this weather looks nasty! This rain isn't going to be light. Huh, there are already people in the cave."

Jiang Shu had only just settled down when several figures burst into the cave. A heavy stench of blood clung to them, and each carried one or two Second Rank Mutant Beasts on their backs. They were clearly Martial Artists who had been hunting Mutant Beasts in the forest.

"We're just looking for shelter from the rain. Let's all squeeze in a bit; just give us some space."

Li Qi and his junior disciple brother Zhao Zhen exchanged glances. They positioned themselves in front of their Junior Sister Zhang Ruo, their hands already on their drawn blades. These five Martial Artists claimed to be seeking shelter, but who could be trusted when traveling in the wilds? Which Martial Artist out there didn't have a few deaths on their conscience?

「Outside the cave.」

The wind suddenly intensified, and rain poured down in torrents. The sounds of wind, rain, thunder, and the occasional howls of Mutant Beasts filled the air.

In the not-so-large cave, nine people were squeezed together. The atmosphere was charged with tension. Flashes of lightning and the flickering firelight intermittently illuminated each face.

Zhang Ruo frowned. Since the five men had burst in, two or three of them had been leering at her. Moreover, perhaps intending to protect her better, her senior disciple brothers Li Qi and Zhao Zhen had pressed even closer. This made her increasingly uncomfortable. Ordinarily, she would have snapped at them. But now, she held her tongue, her hand instinctively going to the small whip at her waist, which helped to calm her nerves.

After all, she and her senior disciple brothers were all Martial Artists at the Bone Forging Realm. No matter how audacious these five men were, there was a limit to what they could do.

However, this was ultimately her wishful thinking. Martial Artists from county towns were often too accustomed to peace, never truly understanding the dangers of the wider world. Jiang Shu had traveled far, and several reckless Martial Artists had already met their end at his hands.

"Which county town is this young lady from?" a dark-faced man suddenly spoke, his gaze fixed on Zhang Ruo, making no attempt to hide his scrutiny. "Old Yuan here travels through the nearby county towns often. Perhaps we'll have a chance to meet again?"