Simultaneous Transmigration: Freedom Across the Heavens

Chapter 85 Let's Hold Back

Fifty miles outside of Yeji Town, the official road was deserted.

Pedestrians were few and far between, with only occasional travelers and horse caravans hurrying by, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Wuwangang is a transportation hub connecting three directions. Going straight ahead leads to the capital, turning left leads to the desert, and turning right leads to Guankoujin, from where you can take a boat directly to Jiangnan.

The only teahouse on the hill is called "Five Bowls Over the Hill". It is simply furnished, but with a pot of refreshing cold tea, it has become a must-stop for passers-by to rest.

Especially in the sweltering summer.

Legend has it that if you drink five bowls of herbal tea at this teahouse, you can pass through the checkpoint smoothly, because you won't be able to drink any more.

Inside the teahouse, a few passersby sat around chatting, sharing anecdotes from the martial arts world and local gossip, creating quite a lively atmosphere.

Beside him, at a table, were two people, both exceptionally tall; the one on the left had fair skin, untouched by the elements.

The man on the right, dressed like a monk, had dark skin and a shiny bald head. These two were none other than the Twin Bears of the Northern Desert.

Black Bear, picking his teeth with an iron skewer between his fingers, said, "Brother, when are we going to do another job? Yesterday's tender chicken was really delicious."

The polar bear picked up the rough porcelain bowl, downed the chilled tea in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said, "You just had a good treat yesterday, and you can't resist again today?"

The black bear chuckled: "We just didn't get enough to eat. There's so little meat, how could it be enough for the two of us?"

White Bear: "Let's wait a bit longer. Ji Wudao has been running his shop for many years, so he's bound to know a few wandering martial artists. If someone hadn't offered a hefty sum, I wouldn't have wanted to take this job..."

"Besides, we still have a gathering at Wubagang. Let's not linger too long in this small place, lest we miss something important."

At another table, Wu Tengkong, a young man from Wuwei, lowered his head and whispered in the ear of the old man beside him, "Old fox, those sitting over there are the Northern Desert Duo, should we...?"

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand.

The old fox quickly grabbed his hand and pressed it down hard, saying, "Kid, we镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) don't meddle in other people's business. Don't go looking for trouble."

The boy pouted, somewhat unwilling. Who doesn't dream of being a chivalrous hero? Especially a young person who has just entered the world of martial arts, who can't stand seeing such villains running rampant.

The weather was hot and the sun was scorching, making people feel hot all over.

The seats at the very back of the teahouse.

Bai Li, wearing a cloak, sat at a nearby table in the teahouse, overhearing the conversation between the Northern Desert Duo.

He had found it strange before. It was true that the Northern Desert Duo liked to eat human flesh, but their blatant provocation and public murder seemed suspicious no matter how you looked at it.

As expected, someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Bai Li put down his teacup, stood up, and glanced at the two of them indifferently: "The Northern Desert Duo!"

Black Bear glanced at him and saw that he was wearing a cloak. He assumed that he was just another novice in the martial arts world who had come to cause trouble for them, hoping to make a name for himself with his passion.

He slammed his hand on the table: "Where did this little brat come from? Doesn't he know how to write the word 'death'?"

choke!

A streak of silver light pierced the air, so fast that only a faint afterimage remained.

Bai Li drew his sword, its silver light flashing like fireflies. The tip of the sword touched the throat of the Northern Desert Duo, swift, accurate, and ruthless, without the slightest hesitation.

The black bear's angry expression froze on its face, while the white bear's lips curled into a cold smile, its scarlet spots mottled. Neither of them could react until their deaths.

Bai Li sheathed his sword swiftly, not even glancing at the two corpses on the ground, before turning and walking towards the teahouse door without looking back.

Only after his figure disappeared at the end of the official road did the crowd in the teahouse erupt in a cacophony of voices and discussions.

"My God! Who is that person? He's incredibly powerful! He killed the Northern Desert Duo with a single sword strike!"

"The Northern Desert Duo! Those were ruthless killers, and they're dead just like that? So satisfying!"

Wu Tengkong's eyes lit up as he looked at the two Fiends of Mobei who were lying on the ground, his blood boiling with excitement.

To live a life of chivalry and revenge, to help the weak and punish the strong—that is the true spirit of the martial world, and that is the path I should walk.

"I've made up my mind."

The young man, full of vigor and determination, declared, "Old man, I'm not going to the Western Regions. I'm going to Wudang Mountain to become an apprentice."

The old fox felt helpless; the subordinate he had just recruited was about to be gone.

"You brat, why do you want to go to Wudang Mountain to become a disciple? It's more than a thousand miles away from here."

The boy scratched his head, a look of longing on his face: "That's different. The greatest grandmaster in the world, Master Zhang, is on Wudang Mountain!"

Seeing the gleam in his eyes, the old man knew he couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he could only shake his head helplessly. Young people have their own ambitions, so let him go and try his luck.

After eliminating the two scourges of the northern desert, Bai Li's mind slowed down, and he returned to Wild Chicken Town. This matter was only half done; if it wasn't completed, his thoughts would not be clear, and the Great Dao would be difficult to achieve.

Finding out who's behind it all is too easy; whoever benefits is the one, and you can't be wrong nine times out of ten.

In the center of Yeji Town stands a large two-courtyard mansion with blue bricks, gray tiles, and vermilion gates; this is the residence of the clan elder, Ji Wan.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was harmonious, filled with laughter.

Ji Wan sat high on the head chair, his face ruddy. To his left and right sat the town's gentry, Ji Qian and Ji Bai.

The three of them looked at Ji Sandao kneeling in the middle of the hall with smiles.

Ji Sandao kowtowed three times in a row, leaving red marks on his forehead.

After performing the grand ceremony, he raised his head and said respectfully, "Elder Wan, I truly admire the three of you for your hard work in organizing this thousand-chicken banquet."

Ji Wan smiled but remained silent.

Ji Bai's smile grew even brighter as he thought of the generous gift Ji Sandao had sent the night before. "Sandao, don't worry. Wudao can no longer participate in the Thousand Chicken Banquet. With your unique skill of 'Three Knives and One Chicken,' you'll definitely be the best."

Ji Wan stroked his long beard and raised his hand, saying, "San Dao, get up first. We're all family, no need for formalities."

"Thank you, Elder Xie!"

Ji Sandao stood up and hurriedly said, "Elders, please allow me to serve you tea as a small token of my appreciation."

As he spoke, he picked up the teapot on the table and respectfully poured tea for the three of them.

Ji Wan and Ji Bai nodded in satisfaction, picked up their teacups, and took a small sip.

Out of the corner of their eyes, the two glanced at Ji Qian.

Ji Qian remained expressionless, but inwardly felt genuinely sorry for Ji Wudao.

He sighed, and finally picked up the teacup, touched his lips to the tea, and put it down.

Unfortunately, Wudao, you've blocked everyone's path to wealth; this is your fate.

Seeing that the three elders had finished their tea, Ji Sandao finally felt relieved. He returned to the hall and bowed again, saying, "Please rest assured, elders, if I am fortunate enough to win the championship this time, all my future needs will be met by purchasing from you."

Ji Wan finally smiled, about to say a few words of praise: "Three slashes..."

97

"So they're all in cahoots!" Bai Li descended from the eaves, dressed in a green robe, and slowly stepped into the main hall.

Ji Wan, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, sensed the newcomer's ill intentions and gave Ji Bai a meaningful look before saying, "May I ask which esteemed hero you are? I wonder if I have offended you in any way?"

Ji Bai reached under the table and pressed the mechanism hard, but nothing happened.

Bai Li ignored Ji Bai's petty actions, turned to look at Ji Sandao, and said, "You're the one who hired the Northern Desert Duo, murdered Ji Wudao's young son, and crippled his hands?"

Ji Sandao looked innocent and shook his head repeatedly: "Great hero, you're joking. What 'Northern Desert Duo'? I don't know what you're talking about."

He spoke with conviction, but his fingers unconsciously curled.

Bai Li said calmly, "I'm not handling a case for the imperial court. What evidence do I need? If I think you are, then you are."

These words are extremely arrogant.

Ji Wan's expression changed drastically. He slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Where did this brat come from? I've hosted the Thousand Chicken Banquet for thirty years, and I've befriended countless sect leaders and important officials in the court. You..."

"Noisy."

Bai Li stomped his foot, shattering the floor tiles. A pebble flew through the air and struck Ji Wan squarely in the forehead with a thud. The pebble pierced through the skull and emerged from the back of his head, splattering red blood and white brain matter onto the chair.

Ji Wan didn't even utter a sound. His head was upside down, his eyes wide open, dying with his eyes still open.

"Ah...murder...murder!" Ji Bai was so frightened that her hands and feet trembled. She tried to stand up several times, but her whole body was weak and she slumped in the chair, her mouth trembling incessantly.

Bai Li looked at Ji Sandao indifferently, as if he were looking at a dead man.

Knowing he was doomed and the shadow of death loomed over him, Ji Sandao, in a fit of desperation, shouted angrily, "What right do you have to kill people? What right do you have to decide our lives?"

Bai Li interrupted him: "Didn't you all think you were stronger than Ji Wudao, which is why you hired someone to kill him? Now, I'm stronger than you."

Upon hearing this, Ji Sandao froze on the spot, his mind a complete mess, muttering to himself, "Yes, you are stronger than us, so we are powerless to fight back."

"Ji Wudao is stronger than me. With him around, I'll never get the title of 'Big Chicken Overlord'. Shouldn't he die?"

He deserves to die!

As Ji Sandao spoke, his expression became increasingly ferocious, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Bai Li's tone was icy: "Killing someone is merely a matter of a head falling to the ground, but you have gone further—killing them out of their spirit!"

"It wasn't me! It was that old bastard Ji Wan who forced me to do it!"

Ji Sandao tried to shirk responsibility, roaring, "It was him! He said that if I didn't do it, he would make sure I had nowhere to stand in Wild Chicken Town. I was forced into it!"

Ji Qian closed his eyes and remained silent. He knew there would be retribution. Although he was not directly involved, he tacitly agreed and was an accomplice.

Bai Li's gaze swept over the three people in the hall. Ji Sandao looked crazed and hysterical.

Ji Bai looked terrified and kept begging for mercy;

Ji Qian closed her eyes and resigned herself to her fate.

Bai Li unleashed his true energy, and the violent energy swept over the three of them. Like kites with broken strings, the three were blasted three meters away and died instantly.

Seeing that the three were dead, Bai Li did not leave. He remained standing in place and said calmly, "Come out, you on the roof!"

"Cough cough."

Lu Xiaofeng pretended to cough twice and jumped off the roof.

He was still dressed in his luxurious attire, and gave an awkward laugh: "Bai Li, how have you been? It's been several months since I last saw you. Your martial arts skills have improved quite a bit!"