Volume 3, Chapter 142 – Your Father Has Been Robbed by Me
Volume 3, Chapter 142 – Your Father Has Been Robbed by Me
The night passed without incident. The next morning, Cheng Yuan led his merchant caravan back on the return journey, eager to deliver the medicinal herbs he had acquired at auction to his daughter. His caravan was of moderate size—dozens of horses laden with goods purchased from the prefecture. Aside from the ordinary handlers, he had also hired several armed escorts for protection. To ensure safety, everyone—even the horses—carried low-grade Master-grade Protective Talismans.
“We’re about to enter unpatrolled territory, Constable Wang. Please remind the men to stay alert.”
As they gradually distanced themselves from the prefecture, Cheng Yuan cautioned the burly man beside him.
“Don’t worry, Shopkeeper Cheng! I, Wang Xiao, may only be a second-rate martial artist, but in the bandit-infested lands of Yongning Prefecture, those who can best me can be counted on one hand!”
The burly man spoke with confidence—and not without reason. The martial path was divided into six major realms, from lowest to highest: third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, grandmaster, legend, and myth. However, due to the extreme difficulty of martial arts, 90% of martial artists remained stuck at the lowest third-rate level. Someone like him, who had reached second-rate, was already considered outstanding.
“Of course, of course!”
Cheng Yuan nodded along, though inwardly he grew anxious. He had traveled this route countless times and knew all too well the dangers lurking within. There was no room for carelessness.
Sure enough, trouble arrived swiftly.
As the caravan advanced along the official road, a strange explosion suddenly erupted ahead. A violent gale rose from the ground, sweeping up sand and stones like a raging tidal wave, hurtling toward them.
“Watch out—strong winds!”
Cheng Yuan shouted a warning.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the gust slammed into them. The men hastily covered their mouths and noses, gripping the reins tightly to avoid being blown away.
The wind was fierce, but not enough to lift the horses or cargo. However, the swirling dust blotted out the sky, reducing visibility to less than three meters. Even face-to-face, it was nearly impossible to make out each other’s features.
Amid the chaos, screams began to rise one after another.
“Something’s wrong—this isn’t just wind!”
Cheng Yuan yelled, simultaneously crushing a talisman in his hand. A translucent ice barrier, roughly three meters tall, instantly encased him—a life-saving treasure given to him by his daughter.
At that moment, sharp whistling sounds pierced the air as arrows shot toward Cheng Yuan. Yet every one of them was deflected by the barrier.
Cheng Yuan sucked in a cold breath. Had he reacted even a second slower, he would have been turned into a pincushion.
After the volley of arrows, the dust finally settled. Cheng Yuan scanned his surroundings—only to find all his companions lying dead or groaning on the ground. He was the only one left standing.
“I thought you said barely anyone in Yongning Prefecture could rival you?”
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Cheng Yuan glanced at the wounded Wang Xiao, his expression exasperated.
At the same time, dozens of masked men emerged, encircling them. Each carried a powerful bow and weapons now slick with fresh blood.
“Boss, what do we do with the shopkeeper?”
One of the bandits turned to their leader—a wiry, middle-aged man.
“If he’s the shopkeeper, he must be wealthy. Capture him. We’ll extort his family once we confirm his identity.”
The leader’s voice was cold and methodical.
“Extort my family? Brother, I advise you not to.”
Cheng Yuan sighed, speaking as if offering sincere counsel.
“Why not?”
The wiry man frowned.
“My name is Cheng Yuan. My daughter is Cheng Hongling. You’ve heard of her, haven’t you? The prodigy of the Honghua Sect, who broke into the top sixty of the Western Radiance Dynasty’s Immortal Seed Ranking at just twelve. Do you really think you’re capable of extorting her?”
Cheng Yuan relayed his identity calmly.
“What?! Cheng Hongling?! Is that true?”
“I’ve seen Cheng Hongling’s portrait. This old man does resemble her somewhat.”
“We’re doomed! We just robbed Cheng Hongling’s father! What do we do now? I heard that woman’s already a Unity Realm expert!”
The mention of Cheng Hongling’s name sent the bandits into a panic.
“Good. Now that you know fear, you may leave. I’ll pretend this never happened.”
Cheng Yuan smiled in satisfaction.
“Leave? I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”
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The wiry leader fell silent for a moment before suddenly snarling:
“First, I don’t know if you’re telling the truth! Second, even if you are, we can’t just walk away. Who’s to say you won’t go back on your word? On the other hand, the Honghua Sect is tens of thousands of miles 1 里 (lǐ), 1 li = 500 meters/~0.31 miles from here. If we kill you and silence the witnesses, what can your daughter do? How would she ever know who did it?”
“A pity. Things aren’t as simple as you think.”
Cheng Yuan chuckled ruefully, pulling out a Thousand-Mile Communication Tube from his pocket.
“I can describe your appearance to her right now. Where could you possibly hide? Besides, I doubt you’ll break this barrier before she arrives.”
“Damn it! He really has a communication tube!”
One of the bandits shouted in alarm.
“Whether we can break it remains to be seen!”
The bandit leader refused to back down. Gripping his broadsword, he took several steps back, bending his knees slightly. His muscles tensed like a drawn bowstring, gathering momentum—then he lunged forward, delivering a devastating “Mountain-Splitting Strike” onto the barrier.
Clang!
A metallic screech rang out as sparks erupted from the point of impact.
The sheer recoil sent the leader stumbling backward, his sword arm trembling violently as if struck by palsy.
“Boss! What now?”
Another bandit asked anxiously.
The leader’s face twisted in hesitation, unsure of how to proceed.
“Heh. A bunch of trash daring to play at banditry.”
A man’s voice suddenly echoed from afar.
Everyone turned to see three figures approaching. The leader was a tall, slender middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes, holding a folding fan. His refined demeanor made him seem like a cultured scholar. Behind him trailed a short, pudgy attendant.
These two were none other than the pair who had conversed in the private chamber of the “Golden Gathering Auction House”.
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“Who the hell are you calling trash?!”
One of the bandits stormed forward in rage.
The middle-aged man didn’t even break stride. With a casual flick of his foot, a pebble shot out like an arrow, whistling through the air before smashing into the bandit’s forehead.
Boom!
The man’s head exploded like a watermelon, splattering blood and brain matter in all directions.
Most of the onlookers had no idea what had just happened, scrambling away in terror before exchanging bewildered glances.
Those who had seen it were horrified—such a tiny pebble, yet with enough force to obliterate a human skull.
“Friend, I don’t know—”
The bandit leader’s eyes darted, intending to negotiate first. But before he could finish, an overwhelming pressure descended from above, forcing him to his knees.
“Divine Sense Suppression! You—you’re a Unity Realm cultivator?!”
The leader trembled, glancing around to see his men in even worse states—flattened against the ground, unable to move.
“Unity Realm?”
Cheng Yuan’s heart sank. He still didn’t know whether this newcomer was friend or foe.
“Still standing? You must be a second-rate martial artist.”
The middle-aged man praised lightly—before vanishing.
When he reappeared, he was already behind the bandit leader. The edge of his fan glistened with two fresh drops of blood.
“Thud.”
Without warning, the leader’s head toppled from his shoulders, his face frozen in shock. A fountain of blood gushed from his neck, drowning his expression in crimson.
“A shame. You were only second-rate, after all.”
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The man smirked disdainfully before turning toward Cheng Yuan.
Unsure of the man’s intentions, Cheng Yuan hesitated, debating how to respond.
But the middle-aged man gave him no chance. With a single palm strike, he slammed into the ice barrier.
Crack!
The barrier groaned under the force, fissures spider-webbing across its surface.
The man didn’t withdraw his hand. Instead, searing fire qi erupted from his palm, scorching the ice relentlessly.
“Sigh. So you are an enemy.”
Cheng Yuan sighed in resignation, then activated the Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to speak to his daughter.
Meanwhile, Cheng Hongling, who was at the Honghua Sect, heard her father’s voice and casually picked up her own communication tube, assuming he just wanted to chat.
“Daughter… I fear I’ve truly encountered trouble this time. Take care of your mother in the future. I’m proud of you.”
Cheng Yuan’s voice was calm, deliberately avoiding a plea for help. He knew the attacker was also Unity Realm—he didn’t want his daughter risking herself for him.
Cheng Hongling’s beautiful eyes widened. She bolted upright from her bed, her voice frantic:
“Father! What’s wrong?!”
“Nothing.”
Cheng Yuan brushed it off.
“Indeed, it’s nothing. Your father has been robbed by me. Remember his voice—this will be the last time you hear it.”
The middle-aged man attacking the barrier interjected coldly.