Chapter 554 - 318: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada!

This was the upper reaches of the Chishui River. Under the bright moonlight, the rolling mountain range in the distance could faintly be seen—it was the northern foothills of Wumeng Mountain. Among the towering peaks, the mountain path was steep. Zhang Dabao and the others had to drag and haul with all their might just to move the horse and camel carriages to the banks of the Chishui River.

Liu Lang looked around and said in surprise, "Didn’t Wang Ji say he had already arranged the boats? Why aren’t they here?"

Zhang Dabao shook his head, equally puzzled. Without the boats, all of them—along with the grain—would have to wait here, needlessly increasing their risks. Although this place was desolate, once dawn broke, there would still be people coming to hunt or gather medicinal herbs. If they were spotted, unexpected complications would inevitably arise.

Beside them, Jin Peng couldn’t help but tear off his fake beard, his expression betraying his anxiety. "Could the Shopkeeper be a no-show?

"With this much grain, if we’re discovered, we... all of us will become wanted fugitives by the Government Office."

"Don’t panic, don’t panic, let’s just wait a bit..."

Before Zhang Dabao could finish, Liu Lang pointed downstream and raised his eyebrows. "Aren’t they here? I knew it... Huh?"

An almost imperceptible, cold and sinister aura swept over from the boats on the distant river, cutting Liu Lang’s words off in his throat. His expression instantly turned solemn. Gripping his blade’s hilt with his right hand, he said in a deep voice, "Everyone, be careful. Those aren’t our people!"

"What?!"

Before Jin Peng and the other Celestial Sect disciples could comprehend the situation, a soft gasp of surprise drifted over from the distant boat. "You aren’t people of Poshisu Country?

"Wei People?

"Interesting, how interesting. To think that the horse bandits trading with those grain merchants are actually Wei People in disguise, haha..."

Liu Lang waved his hand, signaling the people behind him to prepare themselves, while he focused his gaze on the newcomers and asked, "Who are you?"

However, even without knowing their identities, he was already well aware that these newcomers were not to be trifled with. The leader’s Cultivation, along with the heavy, oppressive aura wrapped in Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism, sent a profound chill through his heart. It felt just like when he had faced Xiao Jinghong at the Wu Mountain Mutual Market. But compared to that duel with Xiao Jinghong, Liu Lang’s strength had since improved. He wouldn’t be so intimidated by this arrival that he lacked even the courage to draw his blade.

"You ask who I am?" the leader replied. "Little brother, didn’t your elders ever teach you that before asking such a question, you should first state your own name?"

"I never change my name under any circumstances," Liu Lang declared. "I am Wolf Six!"

"Wolf Six?"

As the boats drew closer, the newcomer’s figure gradually became clear, and the people standing behind him also revealed their true appearances. There were over a dozen individuals dressed in black, wearing Scale Armor under black cloaks, their heads covered by bamboo hats and veils. The leader sized Liu Lang up, his eyes filled with a teasing smile. "Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t recognize the lineage of your Saber Dao."

Hearing this, Liu Lang held back his temper. He observed them for a moment before a look of realization dawned on his face. "So it’s you lot—the Five Poison Sect!"

The leading man in black was somewhat surprised. "You actually know that we are from the Five Poison Sect?"

"Hmph!" Liu Lang sneered. "A bunch of stray dogs, disgusting bugs that only dare to hide in dark corners. Do you really think you’ve hidden yourselves well?"

Having discerned their identity as the Five Poison Sect, Liu Lang knew there would be no peaceful resolution today, so he decided he might as well indulge in some verbal sparring. However, as he spoke, he was secretly waving his hand to signal the others behind him to get ready. Towards Zhang Dabao in particular, his hand was waving so fast it became a blur.

Zhang Dabao quickly caught on. He hurriedly pulled a bamboo tube from his sleeve and lit it with a flint. A brilliant streak of light instantly shot up into the sky.

Seeing this, the leading man in black narrowed his eyes, staring intently back and forth between him and Liu Lang. After a moment, he finally spoke in a sinister tone. "What a sharp-tongued brat!"

Before his voice had even faded, he transformed into a dark blur, crossing a distance of a hundred feet in the blink of an eye. "Remember! The one who kills you is Yan Jingchen of the Five Poison Sect!"