165: Chapter 165 A New Look

Tiger Tyrant was embedded within the crater, his head lolling at an unnatural angle, blood seeping from his nose, mouth, eyes, and ears, with a clear indentation in his throat.

Its limbs twitched, and while a look of unbelievable horror and confusion remained in its golden pupils, its aura rapidly withered away.

A Nascent Soul Great Demon had been beaten to death with bare fists by a kid at the Qi Refining Early Stage?

Chen Zilong shook his slightly numb fists, walked to the crater, and took a look.

After confirming the tiger demon was dead, he finally turned around.

His breathing was a bit erratic.

Those few strikes just now had seemed simple, but in reality, they had mobilized most of his physical strength, which was no small burden for his current self.

But the effect...

Was not bad.

He looked at the tiger spirits and leopard monsters who were frozen in fear; his gaze was calm, yet it made those beasts shudder in unison.

"Leave none alive."

He spoke in a voice that wasn't loud, but carried an unquestionable coldness.

Zhao Tiezhu was the first to react, letting out a wild roar:

"Kill!"

The Guards' morale soared as they drew their blades and swords together.

With their backbone dead, the lesser demons had no will to fight and were soon slaughtered to the last.

As dusk approached, the scent of blood filled the air.

Setting up camp on the spot was the safest choice, as no one knew what else might emerge from the mountain forest at night.

Chen Zilong didn't stay idle.

He had Zhao Tiezhu lead men to drag the tiger demon corpses to the creek, while he personally got to work.

Skinning, bleeding, and deboning, his movements were as skillful as an old butcher's.

Using the physical strength and control of the Spirit Transformation Realm for such work was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but he did it meticulously.

The tiger skin was removed intact and could be sold for money.

Tiger bones were good medicinal ingredients.

As for the tiger meat...

He picked several of the fattest and most tender pieces of leg and rump meat, then carefully rubbed them with the coarse salt he carried and several wild spices he had gathered along the way to marinate.

A campfire was lit, a wooden rack was built, and large chunks of tiger meat were skewered on sharpened sticks and roasted over the fire.

Fat dripped down, the flames sizzled, and the rich aroma of meat quickly dispersed the scent of blood in the air.

Zhou Xiao finally stepped down from the carriage.

She had changed into a simple dress, and while her face was still somewhat pale, her eyes were very bright.

She walked to the fire and, through the dancing flames, looked at Chen Zilong, who was turning the roasting meat.

"Guard... Guard Chen."

She spoke, her voice softer than usual, "Thank you for today."

Chen Zilong looked up, the firelight reflecting on his face which was stained with a bit of soot. He grinned, revealing white teeth:

"It was my duty, Miss. You are too kind. Want a taste?"

He tore off a strip of meat that was charred on the outside, tender on the inside, and sizzling with oil, handing it over on a clean leaf.

Zhou Xiao hesitated for a moment before taking it.

The meat entered her mouth, fresh, tender, and springy. The spices perfectly brought out the flavor of the meat without any hint of gaminess.

She ate in small bites, but her gaze couldn't help but drift toward Chen Zilong.

She remembered the thrilling yet precise moment he sidestepped the tiger's claws, the unstoppable brutality with which he sent Tiger Tyrant flying, and the cold focus in his eyes when he crushed the Demon King's throat with a single punch...

This was not at all how a cultivator at the Qi Refining Early Stage should fight; he didn't even resemble any cultivator she had ever seen.

He was like an ancient ferocious beast in human skin, his power pure and overbearing.

"Guard Chen... were you a martial arts expert before?" she asked tentatively.

Chen Zilong's hand turning the meat paused for a moment, and he smiled:

"I suppose so. I practiced some forms for a few years, so I'm a bit stronger than most."

This explanation was clearly perfunctory.

But Zhou Xiao didn't press further.

Everyone has their own secrets, and she had hers as well.

She just suddenly felt that the mist surrounding this heavily injured Guard she had picked up halfway was even thicker than she had imagined.

The fire crackled, and the aroma of meat wafted everywhere.

The Guards, having survived the ordeal, laughed and talked loudly, boasting about their feats during the day. They admired Chen Zilong immensely and kept offering him toasts.

Chen Zilong refused no one, drinking bowl after bowl, yet his eyes remained consistently clear.

Late into the night, everyone gradually went to sleep.

Chen Zilong took the first watch, sitting by the campfire and watching the flickering flames.

Deep within his Primordial Spirit, that needle-like pain was still faintly throbbing.

He inspected his internal state; the pitiful bit of spiritual energy in his Dantian was circulating sluggishly, making negligible progress in repairing his Primordial Spirit.

Ten years...

Perhaps even longer.

He sighed, but there was no dejection in his eyes.

The road was long; he would just take it slow.

Just...

He glanced toward Zhou Xiao's carriage.

The way that girl looked at him seemed a bit different now.

Troublesome!

He shook his head and added a piece of wood to the fire.

The firelight reflected his calm face and the blurred outlines of the dark mountain forest in the distance.

The trial of Hugang Mountain was over, but what was waiting for the Zhou Family ahead?

The next day was sunny.

The morning light pierced through the forest mist, illuminating the mess on the ground and the extinguished campfire.

The tiger demon's corpse was piled up in the distance and burned to prevent the spread of disease.

The intact tiger skins Chen Zilong had stripped and the cleaned tiger bones were packed into the luggage wagon.

Wang Laowu marveled as he packed:

"Brother Chen's skill is even more efficient than the old hunters in our village!"

Zhou Xiao finished washing early and sat in the carriage, watching Chen Zilong and Zhao Tiezhu inspect the horses through a gap in the window curtain.

He had changed into a clean Guard uniform; his posture was tall and straight, and his profile looked sharp in the morning light.

Recalling the candid smile he gave her when handing over the roasted meat last night, Zhou Xiao felt her ears burn slightly.

"Miss, everything is ready. We can set off," Zhao Tiezhu reported from outside the carriage.

"Mhm."

Zhou Xiao responded and lowered the curtain, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

The convoy set off again, rolling over the residual bloodstains and scorched marks of Hugang Mountain as they drove out of the mountains.

Their speed was much faster than when they had arrived, likely wanting to leave this place of trouble as quickly as possible.

Chen Zilong still followed on horseback at the rear flank, his gaze vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

After yesterday's battle, the Guards looked at him with eyes full of awe, and even Zhao Tiezhu spoke to him with a hint of caution.

"Brother Chen,"

Zhao Tiezhu rode a bit closer and lowered his voice, "About yesterday... thank you. If it weren't for you, us brothers and the Miss would probably have perished here."

"I'm just doing what I'm paid for," Chen Zilong said calmly.

"It's not just about the money,"

Zhao Tiezhu shook his head; he was a blunt man, but he knew how to repay a debt, "I can tell you're no ordinary person. Following the Miss back to the Zhou Family..."

"It probably won't be peaceful either. If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word."

Chen Zilong glanced at him and nodded, "I appreciate the sentiment."

The convoy successfully left the territory of Hugang Mountain, and the road ahead gradually opened up.

Zhou Xiao lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the faint outline of the city in the distance; that was Qingyan City, where the Zhou Family was located.

The closer she got to home, the more her heart sank.

The internal strife among the various families in the city, her mother's worsening illness, and the predatory Wang Family...

This trip to find medicine had been a secret operation conducted behind many people's backs.

Now, bringing back a man of unknown origin whose strength was eerily powerful like Chen Zilong, she didn't know what kind of waves it would stir up.

She looked at the figure on horseback outside the window again.

His back was straight as a spear, silently facing the unknown storms of the road ahead.

Perhaps...

Bringing him back wouldn't be entirely a bad thing?

Zhou Xiao let out a soft breath, her gaze gradually becoming determined.

The wheels rolled on, kicking up dust.

The sunlight grew intense, stretching the shadows of the convoy and the people.

The bloodshed of Hugang Mountain and the warmth of the campfire had been left behind.

Ahead was Qingyan City, the Zhou Family, and a new vortex.

It was also an unexpected waystation on Chen Zilong's path to repairing his Primordial Spirit and reclaiming his power.