Chapter 004: A body as insignificant as grass, only to be killed

Xia Feitan, with an expression of anger, pushed open the door.

The somewhat spacious inn during the day began to become bright and lively, yet the rooms on the second floor still appeared somewhat quiet

Guo Hou, upon hearing this, nodded without hesitation, took out a curved dagger about half an arm's length from his bosom, and handed it to Chen Qian

After clearly seeing the name on the booklet, Chen Qian grabbed the booklet in his hand and, without hesitation, jumped out of the room's window in just a few quick steps

As the scenery around him changed, he quickly left the city where the houses were clustered and stepped into the jungle outside the city.

The Xia family is powerful and wealthy, far beyond what the Chen family can compare to. They are nobility and giants, while my family is but grass and ants. Grass cannot persuade nobility, wealth cannot buy peace, and power cannot threaten their foundation. However, there is one point in which I am the same as them

No longer able to endure, there is no need to endure any further

Before committing murder, one must maintain a steady heart

Hello!

Chen Qian seemed to wander aimlessly and soon spotted several servants of the Xia family in an inn at the center of the city, but he walked straight past them without any hesitation

Swish

Before long, he suddenly heard a commotion behind him, followed by the sound of heavy objects falling in succession

I wish to stay and see if there are any opportunities left. The Kaiyang faction has swallowed countless silver taels from the escort agency, yet they remain so indiscriminate. I am unwilling to accept this, especially since the target of the Xia brothers' revenge is me. If we part ways, not only will the risks you face as my senior brother be somewhat reduced, but I will also be able to evade more flexibly

After entering the jungle, Chen Qian's running path became erratic, no longer following a straight line

After a long while, a sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor on the second floor

As for Chen Qian, he maintained his momentum, continuing to move forward, though his form had lost some of its agility. The entire person swayed unsteadily and directly plunged off the bank with a "splash," falling into the rushing waters.

As he gazed around, Chen Qian suddenly noticed that the servants of the Xia family, who had originally gathered in the inn's hall, were almost all gone. However, in the stable outside, several of their horses belonging to the Xia family were also missing.

Time flows gently, the sun sets in the west, and in the blink of an eye, it is night.

A knock on the door sounded, and Chen Qian rose to open it, revealing Guo Hou's face behind the door

When the final stab pierced Xia Feitan's lower body, the man finally ceased his actions. Although his face was covered with a cloth, obscuring his features, it was still possible to vaguely discern Chen Qian's visage.

Blood flowers bloom, and a slender line of blood appears on Xia Feitan's neck

Someone has arrived

"Disciple, it is time for us to set out on our return journey," Guo Hou said in a calm tone. Although he tried his best to appear composed, the sorrow on his face was unmistakable.

The Xia family holds considerable influence throughout the entire Hanzhou Prefecture, not only possessing vast assets but also having a well-known martial arts school as their foundation, with many followers. Furthermore, their father is a powerful official in Hanzhou Prefecture

My approach is straightforward, and it may have future repercussions. However, since the Xia family has already made up their mind to lead the Chen family's escort agency to follow in the footsteps of the Xiao and Luo families, no matter how severe the consequences may be, they cannot be worse than this. What is there to fear!

After committing murder, one must walk steadily

Run! Run! Run!

Chen Qian quickly discerned the identity of the other party from the sound, and a thought flashed through his mind: "I have set many traps along this route, which should be able to delay his speed. As long as I reach the edge of the dry water and board the prepared small boat, I can escape from him. After all, this person is not a Qi and Blood martial artist and cannot use Qi to walk or employ lightness skills"

"Senior Brother, you have misunderstood." He waved his hand to interrupt Guo Hou's words, and Chen Qian said, "As you know, although I was unable to enter the sect this time, I have severely embarrassed the Xia brothers. Given their temperament, it is very likely that they will have their servants intercept us on the road with ill intentions. Therefore, I hope you can leave by waterway to avoid them"

Although the inns in this red county have developed due to the large flow of visitors, they are still not comparable to a true large city. Additionally, being located in the harsh and cold northwest, they may be smaller in scale, but there are still many operational and security loopholes. Therefore, as long as one is cautious, with Chen Qiansuo's level of cultivation, it is not difficult to avoid the attention of ordinary people.

Knock knock knock

This voice sounds somewhat familiar, as if it belongs to the man named Mo Lu whom I encountered earlier at the Kaiyang Courtyard

The blade is sharp, clearly a rare and excellent weapon

After nearly a meal's time, Chen Qian's words finally convinced the simple-hearted Guo Hou

Before Chen Qian arrived at the inn in the Xia family for accommodation, he had already left for more than an hour, during which he used the time to scout escape routes and set traps

Looking at the blood-soaked figure before him, now silent, he removed the cloth from its face, revealing the expression that Xia Fei Tan had frozen on his face.

Upon realizing this, Chen Qian's expression changed sharply, revealing a look of determination.

The escort agency has severed most of its ties with the main family in Xizhou, and it has merely not yet been removed from the family genealogy. The incident involving Ye Yi has left lingering repercussions; when issues arise, the main family, in order to avoid suspicion, does not dare to inquire further.

At this very moment

Hmm. Chen Qian nodded and suddenly spoke, "Senior brother, could you lend me your short knife for self-defense?"

As he pondered, a smile unexpectedly appeared at the corner of Chen Qian's mouth

The sound of breaking through the air came from behind!

"If that is the case, why do you not leave with me?" Guo Hou asked in confusion

My mother, being a woman of modest means, is already exhausted from managing the escort agency and household affairs. My father is in a state of confusion, and my senior brother is of a simple nature, often lacking initiative in matters. The influence of the Xia family within the government is considerable, making it even less reliable. Therefore, this matter can only depend on me

At that moment, Chen Qian's ears twitched slightly as he faintly caught a subtle sound from outside the door

The blade is crescent-shaped, resembling the style of the grasslands, and the edge is wrapped in a leather pouch. Chen Qian took the knife and drew it effortlessly.

A person like an arrow, a spine like a bow

The route was short, yet filled with numerous and cunning traps, which afforded Chen Qian precious time. As he saw the water within reach, the swift currents of the water and the map were certainly beyond what could be traversed on foot. Moreover, the pursuer behind him was clearly still some distance away, allowing Chen Qian to feel a slight sense of relief.

Complaining to himself, Xia Feitan's expression grew increasingly sinister: "Not only did Chen Qian ruin my good fortune and make me look foolish, but the quota for the inner disciples that I had planned is also gone. All I got was a manual for internal breathing techniques, which is a significant loss! If I do not kill this scoundrel, my heart's hatred will not be resolved! It is not just him that must die! His entire family must perish! Tomorrow, I will contact Liu Sandao to help me eliminate this thorn in my side and this pain in my heart!"

"What a scoundrel! How could you employ so many ghostly tricks!" A shout filled with anger came from behind, resonating with great strength

After more than an hour, Chen Qian finally returned, his clothes bearing a bit of dust, as if he had just emerged from a muddy area

The legs alternated rapidly, as Chen Qian twisted his waist and swayed his hips, keeping his center of gravity extremely low. With each step, he advanced nearly three feet, pressing down with the soles of his feet and gripping the ground with his toes.

Kill

The incident occurred suddenly. Xia Fei Tan, who had always enjoyed a smooth and prosperous life, found himself in a state of panic, struggling without even having time to gather his strength. A tremendous force erupted from beneath the fabric as he attempted to push away the arm that was pressing down on his head.

Looking at this face, recalling the other party's arrogance and the difficulty of resistance a few hours ago, the stark contrast made Chen Qian feel as if the heavy stone pressing on his heart had lifted slightly, bringing a sense of relief to his chest

This knife was given to Guo Hou by Chen Qian's cousin, Chen Shan. Guo Hou carries it with him at all times but is reluctant to use it, which is why the blade shows no signs of bending or chipping, appearing as if it were newly forged

Then a series of knocks came from outside the door

A group of useless individuals, they can't even manage to pursue a lock-in layer martial artist properly

Command

After escaping, I will be able to handle things with composure. Now that the third son of the Xia family is dead, the Xia family naturally no longer needs to persecute my Chen family escort agency to support the third son. If there are still future troubles, we can at worst fight to the death.

At this point, the smile on Chen Qian's face became increasingly stern and cold.

As he spoke, he removed all his clothing, took a small booklet from his pocket and placed it on the table, then turned and lay down on the bed: "If that brat were to appear before me right now, I would immediately flay him alive just like those few lackeys... Hmm?"

"In that case, I will take my leave first. You must pay attention to your safety," Guo Hou said, still feeling somewhat uneasy. "I have arranged for both horses to be transported by boat. You can use the silver you have to rent a horse from the post station."

Then this person moved their hand continuously, and the short knife pierced through Xia Fei Tan's chest from his heart. The blade moved up and down with incredible speed, without a trace of trembling!

Before Chen Qian could react, he felt a chill on his back and chest, as a sharp blade pierced through his chest

"Kaiyang Breathing Technique"

With his departure, the room was instantly filled with silence, leaving only the ever-expanding scarlet bloodstain on the bed

At this moment

No matter your identity, beneath the blade, blood will flow no more than five paces, and one will lie dead! A common man wielding a knife can slay nobility!

Creak!

No matter how wealthy, powerful, or well-connected a person may be, they still possess only one life; this is fairness! And I will use my own life to seek fairness!

The Chen Family Escort Agency, which my mother has been striving to maintain, has seen more than half of its escorts disperse over the years. The remaining ones are mostly individuals who have benefited from my father's kindness. It is already rare for these people to stay and offer support. Aside from my elder brother, I cannot expect them to stand up for the three of us in the Chen family and engage in conflicts with others. Moreover, the agency's livelihood is deteriorating day by day, and many have already begun to contemplate leaving.

The servants of the Xia family must have gone out to carry out some orders. With this thought in mind, Chen Qian did not delay any longer and disappeared into the inn

He showed no signs of impatience; as he turned smoothly, his eyes swept across the nearby table, and in that glance, he happened to catch sight of a small booklet

In the inn, Chen Qian sat quietly on a chair, deep in thought, and a hint of dangerous light became increasingly clear in her distinctly black-and-white eyes

Contemplating within, Chen Qian rose and exhaled, the turmoil in his heart still difficult to calm

Just as Xia Fei and Tu Shutan were lying down, he suddenly exclaimed, his eyes wide open, and abruptly raised his hand to point upwards, his mouth agape as if about to shout

Hello!

Seeing the somewhat unnatural expression on his senior brother's face, Chen Qian sighed inwardly, silently apologizing, and said: "Senior brother, I do not intend to return with you."

Hmm? Guo Hou was taken aback for a moment, then his tone became somewhat urgent, "Junior Brother, please do not think too negatively. This initiation method is not the only way out. In two years, you can completely return to Master and seek his guidance..."

Just at this moment

Killing is indeed different from combat. Xia Fei's arms are powerful, and originally I had no chance of winning in close quarters with him. However, in his panic, he surprisingly did not know how to exert his strength and could only struggle in vain

When committing murder, one must keep a steady hand

The shadowy figure swiftly slashed with the short knife held in the other hand

Suddenly, blood gushed forth, and a large amount of blood stained the front of Chen Qian's clothing, also moistening the red beads hanging around his neck. The beads regained their luster, and strands of fresh blood began to seep inward. The light and shadow within the beads shifted, as if something was brewing.

It is indeed the case that not long after returning to the inn, Chen Qian came back. The room that had just been reserved had not yet been used when he was informed that it was no longer needed. The junior disciple, who had been given high hopes, was unable to fulfill his wishes. Anyone who experienced such events in a short period of time would find it impossible to remain calm

At this moment, he unreservedly walked into the inn where the Xia family and their companions were staying

A scene intermingled with horror, regret, pain, and incredulity

A figure descended from above, landing squarely on Xia Feitan, causing him intense pain from the impact. Subsequently, the person waved their hand, and a piece of cloth covered Xia Feitan's mouth and head, silencing his cries.

After collecting the knife and bidding farewell to his senior brother, Chen Qian did not linger in the inn but hurriedly left. He changed his clothes in a corner and then wandered the streets nonchalantly. In these chaotic times, it is quite normal for people to carry weapons.

Thinking of this, he quickened his pace significantly.

The cold light flickers