Chapter 65: It's That Qin Army Lackey!

"How is it? Have they chased after us?"

Yan Xicai moved away from the cliff and ran for several kilometers in one breath before stopping, panting.

At this moment, besides Pu Wen who had been following him, there were only eight Aurora City law enforcers left by his side. In the panic just now, almost everyone had scattered.

"No." A law enforcer looked back. "It should be safe here."

"Damn it... what are the law officers of Aurora City doing?! They actually let Fire-Tamperers infiltrate." Yan Xicai cursed. "Accountability! This matter must be held accountable! I want them to give me an explanation!"

Just as they were talking, a figure hurried toward them.

"Is it a Fire-Tamperer?" Seeing him coming, Yan Xicai's nerves tightened immediately.

"No, it's Xiao Jian." Seeing the person's face, a law enforcer said immediately, "His legs aren't very good, he runs a bit slowly."

"He's been trailing behind the team... could he have been swapped by a Fire-Tamperer?" Someone in the crowd whispered.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed immediately. They looked at the sweating Xiao Jian vigilantly, as if wary of something.

"Young Master Yan, wait for me..." Xiao Jian limped and stumbled from afar, his face pale.

However, before he could get close to the crowd, Yan Xicai said coldly:

"Stop!"

Xiao Jian was stunned on the spot.

"Who are you?"

"I... I'm Xiao Jian." Xiao Jian was scared out of his wits and answered incoherently. "My dad is Jian Changlin, the gardener in your house... I even poured tea for you this morning. Don't you remember me?"

Yan Xicai narrowed his eyes and gave a look to the law enforcer beside him, who understood immediately.

He drew a short knife from his waist and walked slowly toward Xiao Jian.

"Young Master Yan, what are you..."

"Verify your identity." Yan Xicai said lightly. "You walk too slowly, so the possibility of you being swapped by a Fire-Tamperer cannot be ruled out."

"I didn't! Young Master Yan! I really didn't!" Xiao Jian became anxious immediately. "I run slowly because I have a lame leg. I really wasn't swapped..."

"Whether you were swapped or not, we'll know once we cut open your face."

The law enforcer walked up to Xiao Jian, the cold light of the short knife reflecting on his face. Xiao Jian's legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a thud.

"Young Master Yan, don't cut my face... I beg you, I'm already a cripple. If you cut my face again, how will I live in the future..."

The law enforcer holding the knife hesitated when he saw this. He looked back at Yan Xicai, who waved his hand impatiently.

"Why are you looking at me? Cut."

"...Sorry, brother."

The law enforcer grabbed Xiao Jian by the collar, the sharp tip of the knife pierced his cheek, and then he sliced down with force bit by bit...

A shrill scream came from Xiao Jian's throat. His face twisted in pain, scarlet blood oozed from his skin, and a hideous knife wound crossed most of his cheek, revealing the flesh and blood underneath...

Underneath the flesh and blood, there was no other face.

The law enforcer put away the short knife, stood up, and nodded slightly to Yan Xicai and the others. "It's him."

Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, the crisis is resolved." Pu Wen looked toward the cliff. "Those Fire-Tamperers didn't chase after us, they must have other goals..."

"As long as they don't come to provoke us, I don't care what they do." Yan Xicai said in a deep voice. "As long as 24 hours pass, they will definitely die... Before that, we have more important things to do."

"This time, to bring you into the Ancient Vault, I've used up all my connections and favors. If I still can't step onto the Path of the War God, I'll never be able to take charge of the Star Chamber of Commerce in my life."

"Let's get this straight, I can only use the Path of the Book to help you plunder killing intent. Whether you can step onto the Path of the War God yourself has nothing to do with me." Pu Wen glanced at him.

"I don't need you to remind me."

Yan Xicai's eyes flashed with ruthlessness. He waved his hand, "Let's go, hurry up."

Everyone followed behind Yan Xicai and headed straight into the depths of the Ancient Vault. In the vast wilderness, only one figure covered in blood was left lying on the spot like a corpse.

Xiao Jian struggled to climb up, a shocking knife scar running across his cheek. He stared blankly at the departing crowd, his eyes full of gray.

A moment later, he finally came to his senses, gritted his teeth, and followed their footsteps step by step...

……

"Is this the interior of the Ancient Vault of the War Path..."

Under the gray sky, Chen Ling, wearing a bright red opera robe, stood alone in the wilderness, muttering to himself.

Chen Ling didn't chase after any of the factions. There was still enough time before the Ancient Vault of the War Path opened again... During this time, it was better to let the conflicts ferment on their own. He believed that this chaotic slaughter was far from over; it had only paused temporarily.

In other words, let the bullets fly for a while longer.

And Chen Ling also needed some time to find a way to steal the foundation.

He clearly remembered that before entering the Ancient Vault, the leading law officer said that when one finds resonance in blood and fire, and gathers enough killing intent in the slaughter, one will have the opportunity to attract the foundation of the Path of the War God...

How exactly should this be done?

Chen Ling thought while climbing over a small hill.

Not far from the hill, a long, narrow gully was embedded in the earth. In the gully, ten figures wearing armor were standing together with weapons, as if discussing something.

Looking at their attire and weapons, they didn't look like people from this era... Was this the ancient killing intent projection the law officer mentioned?

Chen Ling hesitated for a moment, walked straight down the hill, and headed toward the gully.

As soon as he stepped into the range of the gully, the ten armored figures seemed to notice something and turned their heads sharply.

They stared fixedly at the red-clad Chen Ling, as if he were their father's killer, and roared:

"It's that Qin army lackey! Kill him!!"

The next moment, the ten people raised their spears and charged toward Chen Ling with murderous intent.

Chen Ling was stunned for a moment. He subconsciously took a step back, his foot leaving the gully. Immediately after, the ten armored figures stopped, as if they had lost their target, and turned to walk back.

They put down their weapons and gathered together, as if discussing something.

Chen Ling: ...?

He stepped into the gully again with a thoughtful look. The ten people were suddenly furious, raised their weapons, and charged toward Chen Ling!

"It's that Qin army lackey! Kill him!!"

Chen Ling retracted his foot, and they stopped talking and turned back again... Chen Ling took another step out.

"It's that Qin army lackey! Kill him!!"

“……”

"It's that Qin army lackey! Kill him!!"

“……”

After repeating this several times, Chen Ling's expression toward the ten people in the gully was extremely strange... Aren't these just NPCs?!