Infinite Hextech, I roam freely across the heavens.

The escort agency, which had fought fiercely against the mountain bandits, suddenly abandoned its carriages and turned to flee on horseback. Those who couldn't get a ride were crying and begging for a lift, looking as if they were being chased and bitten by zombies.

Seeing that the people would all run away if she waited any longer, Meng Li decided not to delay any longer.

"Stop right there! Anyone who moves will die!"

The sound, like a bronze bell, reverberated through the air, creating invisible waves of sound.

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Li casually snapped off a few tree branches and threw them out.

With a few splattering sounds, the few fast-running bandits were pierced through the chest like candied hawthorns, and died in the blink of an eye.

In an instant, the entire battlefield fell into stillness.

Faced with the threat to their lives, both the bandits and the镖局 (escort agency) members were trembling and dared not move an inch.

As Meng Li approached.

"Sir, I'll give you anything you want, just please ignore us."

That's enough for Meng Li's grandfather's head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) to slide to his knees and start kowtowing frantically.

"Me too, please spare me."

The bandit leader was no better; he looked big and burly, but he was actually the first to back down.

Seeing their leader like this, the rest of the underlings naturally followed suit, and in the blink of an eye, a whole group of them knelt down on the open ground in front of them.

Originally, Meng Li only wanted to ask for directions, but at this moment she suddenly realized that the reputation of martial artists in this world seemed a bit off; mere intimidation was not enough to achieve this level.

"Tell me, why did you run away as soon as you saw a martial artist?"

"what?"

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was taken aback upon hearing Meng Li's question.

"There's no reason why. If we don't run, are we just waiting to die?"

"Wait, sir, you're not a martial artist?"

"That's not right either. How could someone who isn't a martial artist kill someone from that distance..."

"I just came from the mountains and I don't know much about these things."

"That's right."

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) clapped his hands in sudden realization.

"It's that same old martial arts technique left behind by a reclusive master; it's truly harmful!"

"You seem to be still quite lucid. If you stop practicing now, it might not be too late. If you wait any longer, it will really be too late."

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me what I want to know."

"My lord, what I know are just rumors circulating in the streets. After all, very few who have actually seen a martial artist have returned alive. You can choose whichever you like to hear from the following..."

A moment later, as Meng Li listened to the镖头's long explanation, his face grew darker and darker.

"What does it mean for a heavenly book to be poisonous? Understanding its true meaning will turn it into a great demon that wreaks havoc on the world."

"What does it mean that after mastering ordinary martial arts, one becomes a living dead and is controlled by a true martial arts master with higher intelligence?"

"Damn it, is this still a martial arts world?"

The more I listened, the more something seemed off. But if only one person said that, it would be one thing. The problem is that no one present questioned it. If we exclude the fact that so many people are Oscar-worthy actors, then it can only mean one thing.

What this镖头 (bodyguard/escort) said is likely some kind of common sense in this world.

Considering the appearance of the gatekeeper of Xiaohan Temple, a reasonable explanation seems to emerge.

The fact that he went back as soon as he left the area, just like in the game, is clearly the behavior of a mindless undead. The reason he did this is probably because of the mission given to him by the undead at a higher level.

"No wonder it's called the Apocalyptic Martial Arts World, this is what the apocalypse is all about."

Meng Li felt as if the wrinkles in her brain had been smoothed out.

Originally, Meng Li had been planning to find some martial arts manuals to learn from, but upon hearing this, he realized that this thing was clearly chocolate-flavored poison. Even so, Meng Li still had some doubts.

He remembered that part of the mission rewards included martial arts skills. If we exclude the possibility that the system was deliberately trying to trick people, then it could only mean that the negative effects of martial arts skills could be purified.

"Similar to a perfect version of the T-virus?"

Without further thought, he realized that the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) and 山盗 (bandits) in front of him were too low-level, and he decided to find someone of a higher level in this world to talk to.

"Where are you headed? Could you give me a ride?"

It wasn't a question, it was a command.

As soon as he finished speaking, he hurled countless pebbles.

With the sound of billiard balls, the already few bandits were wiped out completely.

Now that we have the intelligence, these bandits who were used as a control group are no longer of any use. Taking care of them will also serve as a warning to others and make good use of their resources.

Didn't you see how terrified the remaining bodyguards were, trembling violently?

"Sir, please."

However, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was indeed an old man who had lived in this somewhat strange world for decades, and his mental fortitude was beyond question. He respectfully invited Meng Li to a cargo carriage belonging to the镖局 (bodyguard/escort agency).

A quick glance revealed that the carriage contained not some rare treasures, but rather some silk fabrics.

Meng Li glanced at it a few times and then lost interest. He sat cross-legged in the car, closed his eyes, and pretended to meditate, but in reality, he was checking the task list to pass the time.

With Meng Li, this formidable figure, present, the escort agency dared not delay.

They quickly collected their companion's body and continued on their journey.

When Meng Li entered, it was noon, and the sky was already gradually darkening.

The goods being transported by the escort agency weren't far, and they were originally expected to reach their destination by nightfall. However, they were robbed by bandits, so they naturally couldn't make it in time and could only find an open space by the official road to set up camp.

"Sir, would you like something to eat?"

Looking at the meat paste-like food handed over by the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), Meng Li glanced at it and shook his head.

Seeing this, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) wisely refrained from asking any further questions and quickly withdrew.

The bodyguards were all sitting together around the small pot in the middle.

The firelight cast somewhat distorted shadows on everyone, but the crackling sounds that echoed in the darkness brought a sense of peace.

Even with Meng Li, a ruthless figure, in the convoy, the warmth of the fire and the comforting food calmed everyone down considerably, and many acquaintances even began to whisper among themselves.

Of course, if it were before, they would probably have taken the opportunity to gulp down a few mouthfuls of the wine they brought from the city, but now who would dare to drink it? That would be like an old man drinking poison and having a death wish. If they accidentally offended Meng Li, they might not even be able to die.

In this peaceful atmosphere, the faint creaking of wheels could be heard from the darkness in the distance.

Meng Li was the first to hear it.

Even in the dark, with the help of a faint light source, he can achieve night vision.

Looking up, what came into view was a well-equipped team.

The group consisted of about several dozen people, pulling two carts covered with black cloth. Each of them rode a horse and wore pure black clothing, with a large "forbidden" character on their backs.

As they approached, some sharp-eyed members of the security escort agency spotted the visitors.

At that moment, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) Wang Ren came over.

"Sir, these are people from the Imperial Guard. Should you avoid them for a moment?"

"The Arms Prohibition Division?"

"Oh, my bad, I forgot you don't understand these things. The Forbidden Martial Arts Division is an elite force specially trained by the imperial court to kill martial artists."