Chapter 346 281: Return

He hadn't forgotten that he was still being hunted. It was better to keep hiding in Taicang Mountain.

"Alright then. I'll head back to Cangshui County first."

Han Yuan grinned.

Seeing Han Yuan's smile, Ding Zihu could almost foresee the bloodbath that was about to engulf Cangshui County.

Before this, Han Yuan had told him why he had left Cangshui County.

So, Ding Zihu knew what he was going back to do.

"Looks like a lot of people are about to have a bad day."

Ding Zihu said with a smile.

"Let's go... Back to Taicang Mountain first."

Han Yuan didn't say much more.

To return to Cangshui County from the Ten Thousand Mountains, they naturally had to pass through the Taicang Mountain Range.

So the two of them still had a ways to go.

「More than half a month later.」

Ding Zihu remained in Taicang Mountain.

He planned to spend some time cultivating there.

As long as he could break through to the Seven Spirits Realm, he would no longer have to fear being hunted by Ash Tower.

And so, Han Yuan was on his own again.

This time, however, he had a cat with him.

"MEOW~ With that Ding Zihu fellow gone, Lord Meow feels a bit out of sorts."

The Orange Cat yawned, bored.

"We'll see him again eventually."

Han Yuan said.

"True... Luckily, that kid Liao Feng was sensible enough to get me a lot of dried fish."

The Orange Cat said with a chuckle.

While passing through the Taicang Mountain Range this time, they had also paid a visit to the Wuhuo Tribe.

Liao Feng had given them many local specialties.

Among them was a small bundle filled with dried fish. Afraid of losing it, the Orange Cat carried it on its back.

"Let's go."

Han Yuan gazed in the direction of Cangshui County and smiled.

...

「Jianghe Province.」

The landscape of Jianghe Province had changed dramatically with the emergence of the Spirit Sun Sect.

Now, with the resurgence of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, the Great Ling Dynasty was in decline. To stabilize the situation in Jianghe Province, the Court had recalled its original Inspector, Yang Wanli. In his place, they had specially appointed the Spirit Sun Sect's Sect Leader, Hong Pengtian, as the new Inspector.

This was done, naturally, to win over the Spirit Sun Sect.

The price was that Jianghe Province had become the Spirit Sun Sect's domain.

With the Spirit Sun Sect taking control of Jianghe Province, the former Observatory Director Zhao Mengtian, Vice Director Jiang Henian, and others were all transferred away, replaced entirely by members of the Spirit Sun Sect.

On the surface, Hong Pengtian still acknowledged the rule of the Great Ling Dynasty.

But in reality, Jianghe Province had completely fallen under the control of the Spirit Sun Sect.

Cangshui County Town, naturally, could not escape this fate.

「This day.」

A figure quietly appeared near Cangshui County Town.

He looked toward the city gate and saw that it was guarded by disciples of the Spirit Sun Sect.

Anyone with a covered face had to remove all concealment before they could enter Cangshui County Town.

If they didn't cooperate, they weren't even allowed to leave. Instead, they would be detained and interrogated thoroughly.

'This Spirit Sun Sect is even more tyrannical than when I was around.'

Han Yuan muttered.

"MEOW~ So what's your plan?"

"You're wearing a cloak. They'll never let you in."

The Orange Cat said.

"Fat Thief, do you think I need to hide my face right now?"

Han Yuan asked with a smile.

After hearing Ding Zihu call it Fat Thief so often, he had started using the name too.

The Orange Cat didn't seem to mind the nickname much.

"When you say it like that, I know there's a good show coming."

The Orange Cat snickered.

Han Yuan smiled, took off his conical hat, and simply walked toward the city gate.

There was a slow-moving line at the city gate.

When it was Han Yuan's turn at the front, the Spirit Sun Sect disciples guarding the gate just waved him through casually.

This was a bit unexpected for Han Yuan.

He asked one of the Spirit Sun Sect disciples at the gate, "Don't you think there's something wrong with me?"

The Spirit Sun Sect disciple said impatiently, "If you're going in, then hurry up. Don't waste my time, or I'll have you arrested and taken to the County Government Office!"

From this Spirit Sun Sect disciple's tone, it was easy to tell that the Spirit Sun Sect now called the shots in the Cangshui County Government Office.

Han Yuan sighed and pointed to a wanted poster on the wall. "Take a closer look."

Seeing Han Yuan's serious expression, the Spirit Sun Sect disciple turned to look, then said in surprise, "It does look a bit like you."

Han Yuan nodded. "It is me."

The Spirit Sun Sect disciple immediately snapped, "Get lost! Do you know who's on this poster?"

"That's a sworn enemy of our Spirit Sun Sect! How dare he appear here so openly?"

Now it was Han Yuan's turn to be exasperated.

He hadn't expected this guy to simply not believe he was Han Yuan.

He sighed and said, "I am Han Yuan."

"If you don't believe me, why don't you take another look?"

The Spirit Sun Sect disciple peeled the wanted poster off the wall and examined it doubtfully.

"You know, the more I look, the more it looks like you."

"You guys, come over here and take a look."

Hearing their senior brother, several other Spirit Sun Sect disciples hurried over.

Then, they too began comparing Han Yuan to the poster.

"It really does look like him..."

"Could it be... you're really Han Yuan?"

one Spirit Sun Sect disciple couldn't help but ask.

"I really am Han Yuan."

Han Yuan nodded.

"This..."

The disciple hadn't expected Han Yuan to admit it so directly and was stunned into silence.

"If you're really Han Yuan... why did you come back?"

the disciple who had first questioned Han Yuan asked in astonishment.

"To kill people, of course."

"Who's in charge of your Spirit Sun Sect here?"

"Take me to him."

"Or I'll slaughter all of you."

Han Yuan said with a smile.

An invisible wisp of Evil Qi suddenly emanated from him.

The clueless senior Spirit Sun Sect disciple finally realized that this man was indeed Han Yuan.

In an instant, his face changed dramatically!

'If the man in front of me is really Han Yuan... doesn't that mean my life is in danger?'

After all, who was Han Yuan?

The Spirit Sun Sect's senior-most disciple and the Grand Elder Yang Fanyu had both been slain by this man!

Logically, this person should have fled Jianghe Province.

Who would have thought he'd suddenly appear here?

That was why he had just let his guard down so completely.

But now, it seemed the other party really was Han Yuan!

For a moment, the senior Spirit Sun Sect disciple's face turned pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Relax. If you take me to him, I promise I won't kill you."

"I, Han, am a man of my word."

Han Yuan said with a smile.

"Do you really mean that?"

the senior Spirit Sun Sect disciple couldn't help but ask.

"Of course. Now hurry up and lead the way."

Han Yuan urged.

The senior Spirit Sun Sect disciple, thinking he was being subtle, shot a look at his junior brothers before leading Han Yuan toward the County Government Office.

After seeing their senior brother leave with Han Yuan, the other Spirit Sun Sect disciples quickly used their Lightweight Skill to take a shortcut.

By the time the senior Spirit Sun Sect disciple arrived at the County Government Office with Han Yuan,

the place was already on high alert.

Many Spirit Sun Sect disciples were already in formation.

Furthermore, hundreds of armored soldiers stood guard in front of the County Government Office.

Seeing the commotion, the nearby commoners fled, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire even if they didn't know what was happening.

By the time Han Yuan arrived, everyone in the vicinity had left, except for the members of the Spirit Sun Sect and himself.

And, of course, a cat.

"Looks like I'm pretty famous."

"To think they'd welcome me with such a grand display."

Han Yuan laughed.

But the senior Spirit Sun Sect disciple couldn't manage a smile no matter how he tried.

Soon,

a tall, elderly man with a graying beard walked out of the Cangshui County Government Office.

Jianghe Province was vast, so the Spirit Sun Sect naturally wouldn't station an Innate Grandmaster here.

In fact, this tall, elderly man was the Fifth Elder of the Spirit Sun Sect, named Qi Bei. His cultivation was profound, having reached the Half-Step Innate realm.

After seeing Han Yuan in the flesh, he snorted coldly, "I never thought you'd dare show your face here!"

Han Yuan sounded a little disappointed. "Are you the one with the highest cultivation from the Spirit Sun Sect here? Isn't there anyone stronger?"

From Han Yuan's tone, Qi Bei could feel the utter contempt the other man had for him.

He roared, "Han Yuan, you only managed to ambush the Grand Elder with an Array! Do you really think you're an Innate Grandmaster?"

Hearing this, Han Yuan burst out laughing. "What do you mean, 'think'?"

Then, his eyes narrowed as he said flatly, "In fact, I am!"

BOOM!

He instantly blurred into an afterimage, appeared in front of Qi Bei, grabbed his head with one hand, and violently smashed it against the stone lion by the gate!

Gore splattered everywhere.

The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, an act of extreme, effortless violence.