29: Chapter 29 Tracking

The next day, Ye Jing took Ye Xuan and Hei Feng to the village entrance.

Hei Feng, by Ye Jing's side, had been fed extremely well over the past few days and had grown sturdy and strong.

After they waited at the village entrance for a while, Duan Peng walked over unhurriedly. Seeing that Ye Jing had brought the hound, he didn't care that Ye Yi was missing.

Duan Peng took out a strip of cloth and handed it to Ye Jing: "I heard this hound of yours has a very good sense of smell. See if it can find the thief's trail!"

Seeing this, Ye Jing patted Hei Feng: "Hei Feng, go forward and take a sniff."

Hei Feng obediently sniffed the scent on the cloth, then let out a howl and ran toward the mountain pass ahead.

Ye Jing also hurriedly said, "He's found something! Quick, keep up!"

Hearing this, Duan Peng signaled the Bailiffs beside him to follow the hound.

The group headed up the Qinling Mountains, traveling about ten kilometers before arriving at a steep mountain pass, which was none other than Duantou Ao.

Seeing how treacherous this place was, Duan Peng became quite nervous. He gripped his blade tightly: "Elder Ye, are you sure this hound hasn't led us the wrong way? Why would a thief run to such a steep and dangerous place?"

Hearing this, Ye Jing explained, "Lord Duan, the steeper the mountain, the better it is for a thief to hide! It won't be easy to find his tracks for a while."

Hearing this, Duan Peng felt it made sense, so he said to those around him, "Everyone, stay sharp! The thief is likely hiding here. Once he's spotted, take him down immediately!"

"Yes!"

The path through Duantou Ao was difficult to traverse. The further they went, the more rugged the ground became, with dense forests and overgrown weeds everywhere.

Ye Jing was also uncertain. Along the way, he asked Duan Peng about the thief's background.

Duan Peng only said he was a fleeing minor leader of Horse Bandits who used dual axes. He frequently committed crimes across different areas and was now wanted by the government.

But he didn't say anything more specific, only that the higher-ups took this thief very seriously and he had to bring him to justice.

Hearing Duan Peng say this, Ye Jing grew increasingly uneasy. Duan Peng even made him and his son walk at the very front. If they really found the thief, wouldn't he and his son be the first to be attacked?

According to Duan Peng, this minor leader only had great strength and was nothing to fear.

But Ye Jing gripped his hunting knife tightly, feeling very apprehensive. Perhaps he was a bit fearful, thinking the opponent was a desperate and vicious criminal?

They searched for about an afternoon, and it was almost dark.

Duan Peng also became somewhat irritable: "Old man Ye, is this dog of yours intentionally leading us in circles? Why haven't we found anything after searching for so long?"

Ye Jing explained, "The thief's tracks are hard to find. After so much time, the scent has mostly dissipated, making it very difficult to track. Please be patient, Lord Duan."

"Tsk! Old man Ye! Don't say I didn't warn you. If this thief escapes, you'll be the first one I hold accountable!" Duan Peng warned.

Ye Jing's heart was filled with irritation; this Duan Peng was truly detestable!

Just then, Hei Feng stopped.

Ye Jing immediately looked ahead and saw a low cave amidst a pile of rocks not far from them.

Duan Peng immediately raised his hand to signal the Bailiffs to stop, and Ye Jing quickly pulled Ye Xuan to hide to the side.

Had they found the thief?!

Seeing this, Duan Peng immediately ordered the Bailiffs beside him: "Go! There will be a heavy reward for whoever catches the thief!"

"Yes!"

The Bailiffs swarmed forward, rushing toward the Stone Cave.

"Who's there!" a shout came from the Stone Cave, and then a burly man holding dual axes rushed out.

The Full-bearded Man wore only a coarse jacket, his muscles bulging. He was extremely surprised to see Duan Peng and the others; he hadn't expected to be found while hiding in such a remote mountain pass.

He immediately roared, "Corrupt official! Die!"

Before the Bailiff at the very front could even raise his staff, he was struck by an axe, and blood splattered all over the ground.

The Bailiff, hacked but not yet dead, wailed in agony.

This burly man was extremely vicious, showing no mercy with his axes.

Seeing this, the other Bailiffs felt like retreating, holding their long staffs as they confronted the villain.

The burly man snorted coldly, "Corrupt official, you've chased me for so long and only brought this many people? Are you looking down on me?!"

Duan Peng immediately drew his long sword and cursed, "Thief, do not be so arrogant!"

He leaped into the air, his long sword carrying a gust of wind as it slashed directly at the burly man's face. A fierce light flashed in the burly man's eyes; showing no fear, he suddenly tensed his left arm to block in front of him.

His right axe swung upward in response. With a crisp "clang," sparks flew from the collision of blade and axe.

Duan Peng felt his arm go numb, and his figure stalled slightly in the air. He quickly withdrew his strength and dodged to the side.

He was somewhat surprised; this thief had quite a bit of strength!

Duan Peng shouted sternly, "Everyone, attack!"

He raised his long sword to attack the burly man again, and the surrounding Bailiffs also used their staffs to strike from the left and right.

Under the siege of five or six people, the burly man was becoming a bit overwhelmed. He let out a great roar and spun his body, his axe knocking away Duan Peng's sword.

The wooden staffs in the hands of several Bailiffs were also split apart by the powerful axe attack.

The shadow of the axes swept out like a black whirlwind, the blades whistling through the air with a sharp howl, creating an impenetrable defense within three feet of his body.

Two Bailiffs near the front were about to swing their blades forward when they were forced back repeatedly by a horizontal sweep from the burly man. Stumbling, they were grazed by the wind of the axes, and bloody gashes immediately opened on their waists.

"Everyone, get back!" Duan Peng shouted.

To the side, Ye Jing watched the Axe Technique used by the burly man without blinking; he could tell at a glance it was some kind of powerful offensive skill.

When used, it made it completely impossible for enemies to get close.

However, Ye Jing noticed that although the burly man's Axe Technique was formidable, there was a sense of being unable to sustain it. He couldn't maintain it for long, and his defense was soon broken by Duan Peng.

Seeing the burly man's Axe Technique slowing down, Duan Peng immediately stepped forward and slashed at the man's arm again. The burly man was already near exhaustion after performing that move.

Facing Duan Peng's attack, the burly man could no longer dodge. With a scream of pain, a bloody gash was instantly cut into his arm, and his axe fell from his hand.

Seeing this, the other Bailiffs immediately pounced, their wooden staffs raining down relentlessly on his body.

The staffs surrounded the burly man, making him unable to move even half a step.

The burly man was also fierce. His axes had been aimed at taking lives, and after seeing blood, he became even more crazed. The strength within him continued to swell until his eyes finally turned crimson. He let out a great roar, his immense strength sending the Bailiffs surrounding him flying.

As he hacked wildly with the axe in his hand, the Bailiffs blocking him were struck one by one, blood splattering everywhere.

He charged straight at Duan Peng. Duan Peng was pale with fright; before he could dodge, the blade had already lunged forward and struck him in the head.

Seeing this, Ye Jing knew that the burly man's strength was immense and Duan Peng was certainly doomed.

He immediately said to Ye Xuan, "Xuaner! We have to run!"

With that, Ye Xuan patted Hei Feng, signaling for it to lead the way.

Father and son fled quickly down the mountain.

Duan Peng's body swayed, his eyes staring fixedly at the burly man in disbelief. Blood bubbled from his mouth; the axe had buried itself three inches deep into the top of his skull.

Before dying, he let out a trembling groan: "You... you're actually a Third-Stage Martial Artist!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was kicked to the ground by the burly man. Covered in blood, the man laughed maniacally: "If I hadn't hidden my strength, how could you government dogs have sent only you trash to capture me!"

The burly man laughed wildly, then his gaze fell on a distance. He spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm and cursed, "Trying to run! Have you asked my great axe first?!"

With that, he immediately rushed over to pursue the two fleeing villagers.