Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Li Fu expressed the worst-case scenario.

He recalled the hunting knife he had seen at Yin Hu's waist earlier, and his vigilance increased.

When they are exhausted and their strength has dropped to its lowest point, Yin Hu will probably appear in front of them with that hunting knife, and that will be the time when the hunting knife comes in handy.

"Besides finishing off prey, a hunting knife is also used to skin it. I suppose he's prepared to use that hunting knife, which has cut off the heads of countless targets, to cut off my head as well."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhaoxue and Wei Ying felt both annoyed and heavy-hearted.

Enraged by the other party's despicable and cunning ways in which they were toyed with and hunted like wild beasts;

The weight of this strategy lies in the fact that this seemingly simple yet extremely difficult-to-counter tactic of exhausting the enemy is highly likely to succeed in this specific mountainous environment.

Humans aren't made of iron; they need rest.

A day has passed.

Night finally fell.

The mountains and forests of Qin Prefecture were wild and desolate, and the official road barely passed through them, with no sign of human habitation for dozens of miles around.

The three of them had no choice but to find a relatively open clearing in the woods with their backs against a huge rock, where they planned to spend the night.

"Although the darkness of night narrows his field of vision, we cannot let our guard down, for he also has the cover of night."

Li Fu knew that this night would be anything but peaceful.

Even if we arrange for three people to take turns on duty, it won't help.

All three must be on high alert, as Tiger's arrows can pierce through large trees, and even resting behind a tree is dangerous.

"Moreover, the Tiger could attack from any direction."

Tiger Yin was indeed not going to give them any chance to catch their breath.

As night falls, the forest becomes even more secluded and deathly quiet, with only the occasional cry of an owl adding to the eeriness.

The tiger's roar would still suddenly erupt, sometimes from afar, sometimes seemingly nearby, accompanied by a cold arrow shot out from the darkness.

Although they were all narrowly blocked or avoided by the night watchmen, they were enough to wake up their companions who had just lain down and had not yet fallen asleep.

There were four or five such attacks in one night!

"Damn it, what is this?"

Song Zhaoxue gritted her teeth in anger, while Wei Ying's face was also frosty.

Unlike his previous surprise attacks, Yin Hu's more lethal tactic was to openly tell them that they were being watched, leaving them helpless.

Li Fu's expression was also cold.

"One can imagine that the Tiger is probably taking a leisurely nap in a dry and warm tree hole or mountain hollow right now."

It would wake up every now and then, shoot an arrow from afar like a cat playing with a mouse, let out a roar, enjoy our frightened and exhausted appearance, and then go back to rest with satisfaction.

They have completely seized the initiative.

At midnight, after another surprise attack by a cold arrow, Li went to the road.

"By nightfall, he didn't shoot arrows that far anymore; it sounded like he was only a few dozen paces away."

After a brief discussion with Song Zhaoxue and Wei Ying, the three of them decided to abandon their passive defense and instead try to rush towards the general direction from which the arrows were coming, intending to surround and force Yin Hu to reveal himself.

However, when they rushed to the spot where they had launched their surprise attack, it was already empty, with only the rustling of leaves in the night wind.

Only one large tree had a broken arrow stuck in its trunk.

The broken arrow was deeply embedded in the tree trunk, like a silent mockery from the Tiger, a cold warning, or an ominous prophecy—

They will be like this arrow, easily broken by him, the hunter.

The three returned empty-handed, and Song Zhaoxue and her companion were even more furious and mentally exhausted.

Back at their resting place, almost no one could truly sleep soundly in the latter half of the night, their ears constantly perked up, catching any unusual sounds from the forest.

As the eastern sky began to lighten, the two, who had not had a good night's rest, could hardly hide the deep weariness on their faces.

Li Fu, on the other hand, showed almost nothing.

Staying up all night wouldn't be a big deal for him, but he couldn't continue like this indefinitely. He couldn't stay on high alert the whole way, guarding against a deadly sneak attack from a top expert.

"fine!"

Song Zhaoxue mustered her spirits and looked at the gradually thinning trees ahead, encouraging herself and her companions.

"Look, the trees aren't so dense anymore. We'll be able to get out of this ghostly forest soon."

Once we reach open ground, without these towering ancient trees to conceal him, let's see how he'll hide and launch sneak attacks!

Li Fu, however, was not so optimistic and shook his head.

"Does an archer have to leave the dense forest to kill people?"

As long as there is a high slope, a ravine, or even a protruding boulder, he can still take advantage of the terrain from a distance of a hundred paces and continue to harass us.

but……"

He paused.

"Zhaoxue, you're right. Once we're in a more open area, it will indeed be more difficult for him to hide and harass us, and our pressure may be reduced a bit."

At this moment, Li Fu desperately hoped to possess an unparalleled lightness skill to reverse this passive situation.

If he could catch up with Yin Hu, he didn't believe Yin Hu could be his match.

After another morning of trekking, the three of them finally emerged from the densest and most wild primeval forest.

Although still nestled among mountains, the road was noticeably wider, with shorter and sparser trees on both sides, and wisps of smoke could even be seen in the distance.

Although still nestled among mountains, the road was noticeably wider, with shorter and sparser trees on both sides, and wisps of smoke could even be seen in the distance.

Along the official road, every ten miles or so, one or two simple tea stalls would appear, providing a place for travelers to rest.

After walking for a while, Song Zhaoxue was exhausted, her mouth was dry, and she was hungry.

Upon seeing a tea stall with a thatched shed by the roadside ahead, the area was open and spacious.

Although the thatched hut was simple, it could block the view from all directions.

There were four or five old wooden tables under the shed. At that moment, besides them, there were two or three other tables where travelers and merchants were resting and drinking tea.

The visibility here is decent, and if an enemy approaches, it is not easy to completely hide one's presence. It is indeed a rare place to rest during a journey.

Although Li Fu and his companions had brought dry rations and water, they were all hungry after the fierce battles and escapes, and after being harassed by Yin Hu all night. It would be best if they could have some hot food.

The aroma of food wafted from the shed, and steam rose from the hot tea.

"Li Fu, Wei Ying, let's rest here for a while."

Song Zhaoxue suggested, her face revealing her exhaustion.

Eating and drinking are secondary; the main thing is to rest.

Li Fu surveyed his surroundings and saw that although this place was not absolutely safe, it was much more open than the dark and dense forest. If Yin Hu wanted to approach silently and launch a sneak attack, it would be much more difficult.

"good!"

The three of them found a table at the very back, against the earthen wall of the tea shed, and sat down.

The stall owner was an old man in his fifties, with dark skin and nimble hands and feet. When he saw a guest arrive, he quickly greeted him with a smile and wiped the already clean table with a cloth.

"Gentlemen, you must be tired from your journey!"

Would you like some tea and rice?

"I have some freshly brewed coarse tea and some homegrown vegetables here. I can stir-fry a few dishes. If you don't mind the simplicity, I also have handmade noodles."

"Please, sir, serve three bowls of hot tea first, then stir-fry a few of your signature dishes, and finally make three bowls of noodles."

Li Fuwen said, his gaze still subtly sweeping outside the shed.

"Okay!"

Please have a moment, we'll be right there!

The old man responded and quickly turned back to the kitchen behind the shed to get busy.

Before long, three bowls of steaming coarse tea were served. Although the tea leaves were ordinary, the tea soup was clear and had a fragrant aroma.

All three were thirsty, and each took a few sips. They felt a warm current flow down their stomachs, and their spirits seemed to be lifted.

A short while later, several small dishes were served.

A plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, bright green .

A dish of tofu with sauce, its aroma irresistible; and a small dish of thinly sliced ​​cured pork, glistening with oil.

Although they are all home-style dishes, they are clean and fragrant.

Next, three large bowls of steaming hot, clear-colored hand-pulled noodles, sprinkled with scallions, were served.

"My father-in-law's cooking is quite good."

The aroma was so enticing that Song Zhaoxue couldn't help but praise it.

The old man wiped his hands on his apron and said with a simple smile, "You flatter me, sir. It's just some simple mountain food; as long as it's palatable, that's fine. Please enjoy your meal."

After saying that, he went to greet the other guests.

The old man appeared calm and his demeanor was normal. The other guests at the other tables were also eating, drinking, chatting, and laughing normally, and there were no obvious signs of an ambush nearby.

"Wait a minute, I'll eat first, you can eat later."

Li Fu said to the two women, then picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks and chewed it slowly.

The dish was cooked to perfection, resulting in a refreshing and delicious taste.

He also tried the tofu and cured meat, and they were indeed delicious, as were the noodles, which were chewy and smooth.

This is something to be cautious about.

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm immune to all poisons. It's torture to just look at a table full of food laid out in front of me."

Song Zhaoxue's appetite was whetted, and she also picked up her chopsticks.

However, Li Fu had only been eating for a short while when he picked up another piece of cured meat. Just as he was about to put it in his mouth, his expression suddenly changed!

He did not feel any discomfort; there was no abdominal pain, no dizziness, and no numbness in his limbs.

However, the Nine Yang True Qi flowing within his body suddenly accelerated its operation, spontaneously expelling the poison!

"Don't eat it! The food is poisoned!"

Li Fu gave a low shout, his gaze sharp as a knife as he swept over the food on the table.

"What?!"

Song Zhaoxue was stunned upon hearing this, and the chopsticks in her hand froze in mid-air.

She carefully examined herself and found no signs of poisoning. However, hearing Li Fu's certainty, she dared not be negligent and immediately looked inward, discovering an unusual movement of her true energy.

"Miss, how are you?"

Wei Ying reacted a little slowly, and seeing the drastic change in Li Fu and Song Zhaoxue's expressions, she asked urgently.

She didn't feel unwell immediately; her first concern was for Song Zhaoxue's safety.

"I...I'm fine for now."

Song Zhaoxue forced herself to remain calm and looked at Wei Ying. Upon seeing her, her pupils contracted sharply, and she exclaimed in shock, "Wei Ying, you...your tongue!"

"I...I didn't eat anything, I...what happened to me?"

Wei Ying was startled by Song Zhaoxue's horrified gaze, but she couldn't see her own blackened tongue. Suddenly, she felt a strong wave of dizziness, and the scenery in her eyes blurred and turned black. The world spun around her!

Her body swayed, and she was about to collapse.

"Wei Ying!"

Li Fu and Song Zhaoxue rushed forward at the same time, supporting her from both sides and gently placing her on the bench.

Not only her tongue, but Wei Ying's originally rosy lips also quickly turned a dark bluish-green color.

His face turned pale and ashen, clearly indicating that he had been poisoned.

"The heat and aroma of the dishes may contain poison." Li Fu glanced at the hot dishes.

"What?"

Both you and I are immune to all poisons, so the poisoning is not severe and we are not in serious danger for now.

But she can't.

Song Zhaoxue was anxious and quickly helped Wei Ying up, pressing her palms against the back of her chest.

"What a potent poison."

Li Fuxin's heart sank suddenly.

Wei Ying, as a successor of the Wujin Cang'an Temple, also possessed a profound foundation in internal martial arts, yet she was so easily poisoned.

"What...what happened to you guys?"

"Why did he collapse while he was eating?"

"Could there be something wrong with the food?"

"Old man, old man!"

The merchants and pedestrians at the next few tables, who had been eating, drinking, and chatting normally, suddenly changed their expressions, thinking they had encountered a shady business, and jumped up and shouted.

"Miss...

Wei Ying's breathing became disordered and her mind became somewhat unclear in the blink of an eye.

Li Fu said in a deep voice.

"There are no warning signs at the beginning of the poisoning, making it difficult to detect. By the time it takes effect, the poison has already penetrated deep into the internal organs, and ordinary people have no time to treat it!"

It's even more domineering than the golden cup tea of ​​the Rat.

However, he couldn't very well take the opportunity to send in his Nine Yang True Qi, thus interfering with Song Zhaoxue's efforts to expel the poison.

Song Zhaoxue was extremely anxious at this moment. Although Wei Ying was nominally her maid and guard, the two had been together since childhood and were as close as sisters, with almost no distinction between mistress and servant.

Seeing that Wei Ying was on the verge of death, she disregarded the depletion of her own true energy and continuously channeled it into Wei Ying's body to protect her heart and remove the deadly poison.

"Wei Ying, hang in there."

While circulating her internal energy, Song Zhaoxue spoke urgently to Li Fu.

"Li Fu, you protect our law."

Be careful... This time, the Twelve Fierce Zodiac Signs are not just represented by the Tiger alone!

After these series of changes, she seems to have lost some of her usual carefree attitude and gained more composure and decisiveness.

Just then, the old man cooking in the kitchen behind the tea stall heard something was wrong and ran out in a panic, carrying a spatula.

"What's wrong?"

Dear guests…

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Wei Ying, who was being supported by Song Zhaoxue from behind and whose face was ashen. He was so frightened that he dropped the spatula in his hand to the ground with a clatter.

"Oh, young lady, what's wrong?"

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with the old man's food!"

The old man spoke in a panic, unaware that a dark color was rapidly spreading across his face and neck!

Suddenly, his face turned as terrifying as a dead man's!

"Ah...run!"

"I've seen...I've seen a ghost!"

Seeing this terrifying situation, the others were immediately terrified and fled in all directions.

The old man was cooking in the kitchen, placing the dishes one by one as they were cooked, and serving them all at once. Fearing that someone might secretly put poison in the dishes, he was also exposed to the heat when serving them, which caused him to be poisoned as well. However, because he had been exposed to the heat for a while, the poisoning was slow to take effect.

"Old man, don't speak. We know this has nothing to do with you."

You've been poisoned too!

Li Fu sensed something was wrong and stepped forward to support the swaying old man.

"Wh...what? Where did I...?"

The old man's eyes were already starting to glaze over, his lips were trembling, and he could no longer speak coherently. He was just panting heavily, his face full of pain and confusion. He was on the verge of death and did not understand what had happened.

He was not skilled in martial arts, so the effects of the poison were even more severe and deadly.

Li Fu dared not hesitate. While keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings, he placed one palm on the old man's back and channeled a stream of pure and yang Nine Yang True Qi into his body to help protect his heart meridian and remove the toxins.

"Poisoning, a despicable and insidious tactic."

Although Tiger chased them like prey, he didn't poison the arrows, which didn't seem like the kind of underhanded tactic he would use.

"It seems their fighting styles are quite different, definitely not the work of one person; twelve other fierce individuals must have made their move!"

"Last time, the three of them—Sheep, Horse, and Ox—came out together."

I have killed three people, and the Twelve Fierce Beasts know that I am not easy to deal with.

Could it be... that the team is led by Yin Hu, one of the four top masters of the Twelve Fierce Signs, with other Fierce Signs skilled in using poison assisting them?

How many people came?

Or perhaps... the remaining seven fierce generals have already unleashed their full power.