Online Game: Me, with Unparalleled Comprehension

Although it wasn't real, the experience itself, and the freedom to do whatever he wanted with that power, did give him a sense of release and pleasure.

In this martial arts world where strength reigns supreme, power is the greatest passport and shield; morality is irrelevant.

That's just an excuse for the weak to band together for warmth.

The faint sense of constraint from the real world that I felt seemed so distant and insignificant at this moment.

He shook his head, banishing those pointless thoughts.

Enjoy yourself, but don't forget your business.

He quickly took off his black night clothes and stuffed them into his backpack.

He changed back into his usual dark blue outfit, smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, put on the wide-brimmed bamboo hat, and pulled the brim down.

In the blink of an eye, he returned to being that inconspicuous ordinary swordsman among the crowds of the martial arts world.

Having determined his direction, he stopped and moved about. This time, he didn't use any extraordinary lightness skills, but simply walked slowly along the quiet alley towards the south gate of Dali City at a pace slightly faster than that of an ordinary person.

He occasionally encountered patrolling soldiers hurrying along the way, but no one gave him a second glance.

After successfully exiting the city gate, there were still many pedestrians and carriages on the official road outside the city, discussing the matter. Most of the topics revolved around the appearance of the Four Evils in broad daylight and the newly spread news that the Prince of Zhennan's heir had been kidnapped.

Wu Feng mingled in the crowd, his ears keenly picking up bits of information:

"Have you heard? Young Master Duan Yu has really been captured! Right on the way from the Prince's residence to the palace!"

"Was it done by the Four Evils? Weren't they chased out of the city by the high monks of Tianlong Temple?"

"A diversionary tactic! It must be a diversionary tactic! That cunning old fox Duan Yanqing deliberately showed himself in the city to lure away the experts from Tianlong Temple and the main force of the Prince's Mansion, so that Yun Zhonghe and Ye Erniang could take advantage of the situation!"

"This is a huge problem... The Prince of Zhennan only has this one son!"

"The Prince's mansion has already dispatched people to search everywhere, and the reward is frighteningly high..."

"Which direction did they go? Wanjie Valley? Or Diancang Mountain?"

"Anything is possible, but I heard someone saw a suspicious figure heading southwest, which... seems to be the direction of Wan Jie Valley?"

Wu Feng listened, and he already understood.

Duan Yanqing played this move brilliantly.

Taking advantage of Duan Zhengchun's anxiety about his son and his reliance on the experts of Tianlong Temple, they successfully diverted the main fighting force, and the kidnapping plan was executed cleanly and efficiently.

Wanjie Valley is a place filled with poisonous miasma and has a complex terrain, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is the perfect place to hide hostages and coerce the Duan family.

"The Valley of Ten Thousand Calamities..." A glint of light flashed in his eyes.

The terrain there was fairly familiar.

More importantly, in order to kidnap and hide Duan Yu, the Four Evils would inevitably have to disperse their forces, and it is very likely that the person in charge of guarding him would not be all four of them together.

Previously, the four of them had stuck together, so he had no way to make a move.

Now the opportunity has arrived.

This allows you to take the opportunity to eliminate this long-sought target, obtain the kill reward and the government bounty, and also get involved in the main storyline of Duan Yu's abduction. You might even trigger other hidden missions or benefits later on.

Get more in one fell swoop.

Without further hesitation, Wu Feng quickened his pace, swiftly breaking away from the crowd of pedestrians on the official road and turning into a secluded mountain path.

After confirming that no one was watching him, he took a deep breath and activated the Lingbo Weibu and Tiyun Zong techniques simultaneously!

"Whoosh—!"

His figure transformed into a pale blue streak, no longer concealed in the slightest, and he pushed his lightness skill to its limit, speeding towards the vast mountains in the southwest where Wanjie Valley was located!

The sharp sound of clothes rustling through the air rang out in the forest, and the figure left only a blurry afterimage on the retina.

The tall trees, rugged rocks, and deep ravines seemed to transform into a smooth road beneath his feet, rushing past him at breakneck speed.

Night was quietly falling.

But his hunt has only just begun.

The Prince of Zhennan's mansion was now in complete chaos and turmoil.

Duan Zhengchun's face was ashen as he paced back and forth in the hall, his usual dashing demeanor completely gone, replaced only by anxiety and anger.

He had just led his men to chase the Four Evils for dozens of miles outside the city, but they hadn't even caught a glimpse of them. Instead, he received an urgent report from his household that his son, Duan Yu, had been kidnapped right under his nose.

"A diversionary tactic... Duan Yanqing, you've really got your eye on me!" He slammed his fist hard on the rosewood table beside him, making the teacups jump.

"Brother Chu, Brother Gu! Immediately send more men to search the area centered on Dali City! Dig three feet into the ground to find Yu'er! Focus the search on the southwest direction, especially the Wanjie Valley area!"

Chu Wanli, Gu Ducheng, and other family retainers bowed and accepted the order, then hurriedly went to make arrangements.

Duan Zhengchun rubbed his throbbing temples, then remembered something else and said to the guard beside him, "Has the Princess Consort found out? She must be worried. I'll go check on her."

He hurried to Dao Baifeng's secluded courtyard. The gate was ajar, and it was quiet inside.

Duan Zhengchun pushed open the door and entered. Dao Baifeng had changed into a brand new Taoist robe with the same gray and white color scheme. He was sitting on a futon in the main room, with his back to the door and facing the portrait of the Three Pure Ones, seemingly meditating.

"Phoenix..." Duan Zhengchun stepped forward, his voice filled with guilt and reassurance, "Don't worry about Yu'er. I've sent out all my men to search for him, and we'll definitely bring him back safely. Duan Yanqing came for me; it's my fault that Yu'er is in this mess..."

Dao Baifeng didn't turn around, nor did she move an inch.

Her voice came through, unusually calm yet chillingly cold: "If Your Highness truly feels remorse, then you must find Yu'er. He is my lifeblood. If he suffers even the slightest harm because of your feud with Duan Yanqing... I will never forgive you."

Duan Zhengchun was stung by the coldness in her words, and opened his mouth as if to say something.

Dao Baifeng, however, had already given the order to leave: "I'm tired and need to rest and pray for Yu'er. Your Highness is busy with official duties; please go and arrange the search. Please."

Duan Zhengchun looked at her straight back, which refused to communicate, and felt a mix of emotions. He was anxious about his son's safety, helpless about his wife's indifference, and even a little regret that his family had been implicated because of his affair.

He sighed: "Well... take good care of yourself. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."

After saying that, he shook his head, turned and left the courtyard, his back view showing some fatigue and haste.

Only when the footsteps had completely faded away and the courtyard gate was closed again did Dao Baifeng's tense back relax almost imperceptibly.

She slowly turned her head and looked in the direction Duan Zhengchun had left. Her eyes were complex and unreadable, filled with hatred, resentment, and numbness. Deeper still, there was a trace of lingering fear and relief from the nightmare she had just experienced and the near exposure.

Fortunately... fortunately, I changed out of those tattered clothes in time and cleaned up the marks on my body, barely managing to maintain a semblance of calm.

If Duan Zhengchun discovers something amiss, who knows what kind of unforeseen events might occur at this critical juncture.

She turned her gaze away, looking out at the deepening twilight and swaying bamboo shadows, and couldn't help but let out a soft, extremely weary sigh.

Marrying Duan Zhengchun was truly the worst luck imaginable.

Have I enjoyed any good days? It's just been all these upsetting and frustrating misfortunes.

And that masked villain who barged into her life like a nightmare and dragged her into the abyss... She closed her eyes tightly, pressing that face, which only revealed a pair of cold eyes, into the deepest part of her memory, along with that unforgettable humiliation and fear.

Now, all she hopes for is Duan Yu's safe return. She has no energy left to think about anything else.

The outlines of the southwestern mountains resemble a lurking giant beast against the deep blue sky.

A figure was moving at an astonishing speed through the mountains, arriving at Wanjie Valley.