Chapter Thirty-One: He Got Away

The aura emanating from Ling’er pressed so heavily on Chen Yu and Liu Changsheng that they could scarcely breathe; even the protection of their inner energy proved futile. Liu Changsheng had never witnessed such a strange technique before—he even suspected that the young girl before him might not be human at all.

Without further hesitation, he quickly stepped back, making it clear he wished to distance himself from Chen Yu.

“My apologies for any offense, Miss. I, Liu Changsheng, offer my sincere regrets,” he said, bowing as deeply as his aged back would allow, displaying his submission. Though he could not see through Ling’er’s strength, it was obvious she existed on a level far beyond his own—he had no choice but to yield.

Witnessing this, Chen Yu was seized by utter despair. If even Liu Changsheng had surrendered, what hope was there for himself?

“Miss Ling’er, I was wrong, I was foolish. I’ll leave Linhai forever, never to return. Please, I beg you, let me live!” he pleaded, his tone changing instantly as he began to grovel.

But Ling’er was unmoved. She opened her right hand, where a wisp of flame began to burn, then condensed, finally taking the form of a blazing spear.

Liu Changsheng’s face changed drastically. He didn’t know what kind of martial art this was, but to materialize inner energy in this way—it meant she was at least a master of divine force!

Chen Yu’s face was deathly pale, his lips parched, legs trembling uncontrollably, and suddenly, a hot wetness spread through his trousers—he had been frightened into wetting himself.

Anyone could sense the terrifying power radiating from that spear. For Chen Yu, and even for Liu Changsheng, it was as if a hundred of himself would not be enough to withstand it.

And this was merely a casual move from the girl’s hand.

“Master Liu… please, save me…” Chen Yu looked at Liu Changsheng, making a final, desperate plea.

But Liu Changsheng, well aware of the situation, ignored him.

Ling’er was always economical with words and decisive in action. Once the spear was formed, she gripped it tightly.

With the crack of a sonic boom, the spear, wreathed in flames, shot toward Chen Yu.

“Please, show mercy!” A sudden, commanding shout echoed through the forest.

Ling’er clicked her tongue and, with a thought, the spear veered aside, whistling past Chen Yu’s ear.

Behind him, a sea of fire exploded, annihilating any trace of life—nothing could survive in that inferno.

Liu Changsheng drew a sharp breath, gazing at the flames that seemed as though they could consume the sky itself. For the first time, he felt true fear.

Chen Yu was thoroughly terrified, but sly as ever, he took advantage of the distraction and fled toward the city.

Ling’er frowned, but did not pursue him. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the darkness.

A dignified old man stepped out, a gentle smile on his face.

“I hope your explanation will satisfy me,” Ling’er said, suppressing her fury; her mind still teemed with the desire to kill Chen Yu, and her lapse had let that old fox escape.

The old man chuckled, then coughed several times. “Don’t be so hot-tempered, young lady. I’m here to help you.”

“But you helped him get away.”

“And I saved you from prison.” As he spoke, he patted his shoulder badge. “You young people are too impulsive, always wanting to kill at the drop of a hat. But this is a society ruled by law, not the primitive wilds. Kill someone recklessly, and you’ll be locked up.”

Having finished, he noticed the other old man nearby and greeted him respectfully. “Ah, Elder Liu, you’re here as well. No wonder. But as everyone knows, Chen Yu is a notorious figure—we’re troubled by him in our department too. He’s always so slippery, never leaving any evidence.”

Ling’er, hearing this, calmed herself. Soon, her dragon horns and scales faded away, and she was once again a delicate, gentle girl.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Zhang Guodong, in charge of martial arts affairs. So don’t go killing people under my nose. If you must fight, wait for the martial arts tournament and sign a life-and-death agreement, then we’ll have no say.” These words were clearly meant for Ling’er; it was obvious she had a murderous intent and would not easily let things go.

Ling’er snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Zhang Guodong breathed a sigh of relief. He could not discern the girl’s background, but it was clear he was no match for her. If she had truly wanted to kill Chen Yu, there would have been nothing he could do to stop her.

“Elder Liu, at this martial arts tournament, no matter what happens, you must stand on Jiang Xiaotian’s side. After all, you’re a righteous man and wouldn’t let Chen Yu off easily, right?” Zhang Guodong said with a cheerful smile, beginning his maneuvering.

But Liu Changsheng wanted none of it. After such a mess, all he wanted was to stay out of sight, not to step forward.

Zhang Guodong seemed to have expected this outcome. He pointed in the direction Ling’er had gone. “Did you see? That girl is with Jiang Xiaotian.”

Liu Changsheng was stunned, new wrinkles appearing on his weathered face.

Ah, when had the Liu family fallen so low?

Did he even have the right to refuse anymore?

Having finished his business, Zhang Guodong hurried to catch up with Ling’er by car.

“Miss, don’t be angry with me. I’m acting for your sake. Besides, if Chen Yu were to die now, Jiang Xiaotian’s identity would never be clarified. Don’t worry, we’ve been investigating Chen Yu far longer than you have. He won’t miss this martial arts tournament. When the time comes, the authorities will provide you with some assistance, ha ha.” Zhang Guodong rubbed his hands, genuinely pleased.

After all, Chen Yu was a notorious villain, but for lack of evidence, they could never issue a warrant. So Zhang Guodong hated him as much as anyone.

“Oh? Then why are you helping Jiang Xiaotian?” Ling’er retorted.

Zhang Guodong coughed. “Well, to be honest, first, we want to get rid of Chen Yu ourselves. Second, I hope that after the tournament, Jiang Xiaotian will join the government. He’s a promising talent.”

Ling’er gave no reply, quickening her pace. Right now, she only wanted to check on Jiang Xiaotian; everything else could wait.

“Chief, why did the higher-ups suddenly demand we recruit Jiang Xiaotian?” asked the young man beside him in the car.

“I’m not sure, but he’s certainly remarkable,” Zhang Guodong replied noncommittally. In truth, he knew well that the root of everything probably lay with that girl—she was far from ordinary.

As Ling’er departed, the raging fire in the forest gradually died down. Yet the massive crater left by the flames could never be restored.

After a long while, the wind began to blow again, and at the edge of the crater, two figures appeared.

Their bodies were pitch-black, blending into the night like phantoms, with auras as faint as the dead, as if they scarcely existed.

If these two were to show themselves in Linhai, the city’s martial world would be thrown into chaos.

For they were true masters of divine force! To them, feats as grand as moving mountains and overturning seas were no longer the stuff of legend or cinema—they could accomplish such things with ease.

One of them bent down, picked up a clod of earth and sniffed it, then nodded to his companion.

They could confirm—the temperature here was not something any human could produce.

It was the work of a dragon.

“She’s been here. She survived.”

“Should we report this?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary.” As they exchanged information, a girl’s voice suddenly cut in.

They were both alarmed, retreating swiftly into the darkness, but their eyes locked onto the small girl perched on a branch, idly playing with a butterfly knife and swinging her feet in apparent leisure.

But when the two masters of divine force saw her, their eyes filled with terror.

They did not attempt to flee. Instead, they quickly pulled out their communication devices.

Because they knew escape was impossible—their only hope was to make the greatest contribution in the shortest amount of time.

But as their screens lit up, the girl leapt from her perch. A few seconds later, she returned to her original spot.

The two men, exalted as demi-immortals among mortals, stood motionless where they were.

Their eyes remained open, but the light of life had vanished from them. With the next gust of wind, their bodies fell apart, scattering across the earth as nourishment for the land.

The girl flicked the blood from her knife, gazed up at the moon, and sighed. “Sister, from here on, it’s up to you.”