Chapter Thirty-Six: The Breeze Thieves

Bastard!

Qian Bo was so furious that he ground his teeth, but dared not utter another word of protest. If Luo Tian truly possessed the ability to guide others in their cultivation breakthroughs, then letting Lin'er get a bit closer to him was nothing much. After all, a true man knows when to yield and when to stand tall. He could afford to bow his head for now—once his strength surpassed Luo Tian's, there would be time enough to reclaim his dignity!

“Sirs, we’ve arrived at Qingfeng Town!”

The coachman announced respectfully. He had been on edge the entire journey, driving with utmost caution for fear that even the slightest mistake might offend these esteemed members of the Shenyang Sect. If that happened, whether he could keep his position at the Yang Family’s post station would be highly questionable.

“Good, let’s get off,” Luo Tian nodded, addressing the other two, then opened the carriage door himself. “Sir, how much do I owe you?”

He expected the coachman to be pleased and name his price—after all, he had earned it. But the graying middle-aged man startled at the question, his face almost crumpling with dismay. “Sir, you’ll be the death of me! For such a small service, how could I possibly accept your money?”

To take money from the Shenyang Sect would be to court disaster!

The coachman knew that if he dared accept payment today, he’d likely be chased out of Qingfeng Town by tomorrow. It wasn’t just about how the Shenyang Sect would deal with him—even the Yang Family’s post station would refuse to employ him again.

“Consider yourself sensible,” Qian Bo snorted coldly. Seeing the look on the coachman’s face, he finally felt a sliver of satisfaction. He frowned and snapped, “Well? Move along!”

“Yes, yes!” The coachman, relieved at the rebuke, was visibly more at ease now that he didn’t have to accept that dangerous money.

Luo Tian sighed softly, said nothing more, and did not insist on paying. He simply walked on in silence.

“Senior brother, don’t do that again,” Zhao Lin’er hurried to his side, speaking in a low voice as if sensing Luo Tian’s mood. “If you insist on giving them money, you’ll only be harming them. The sect’s power is vast. For matters like food, lodging, and travel, as long as we’re dressed as disciples, no one will dare ask us for anything.”

Luo Tian nodded mutely, his thoughts drifting.

After entering Qingfeng Town, Qian Bo, as if needing to vent his frustration, found the best inn and ordered the finest food and wine, indulging himself extravagantly. Luo Tian hadn’t intended to be so ostentatious, but seeing that the more Qian Bo spent, the more reassured the innkeeper seemed, he let it be and enjoyed the meal.

During dinner, Qian Bo eagerly tried to engage Zhao Lin’er in conversation, sharing amusing stories he’d heard and gossip from within the sect. Zhao Lin’er replied with polite reserve, while Luo Tian ignored them both, focusing solely on eating and drinking.

Shenyang Sect’s outer disciples?

In a corner of the inn, a young man ate and drank quietly, his eyes occasionally glancing at Luo Tian and his companions with burning intent. When Qian Bo arrogantly demanded three top rooms, the young man quickly settled his bill and slipped out into the night, vanishing without a trace.

The night passed uneventfully. Luo Tian rose early, intent on completing their mission as soon as possible. Though Qian Bo was clearly reluctant, his lack of strength and Luo Tian’s status as team leader left him no choice but to obey.

Of course, Qian Bo was far from convinced. He was already scheming to find an opportunity to test Luo Tian’s skills for himself—after all, high cultivation didn’t always equate to combat prowess.

Selecting three fine horses from the Yang Family’s post station, Luo Tian led the group along the route marked on their map. But after they’d traveled a short distance out of town, Luo Tian suddenly slowed, turning his head to scan their surroundings.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong?” Zhao Lin’er stopped as well.

These long-furred horses were exceptionally gentle, having been thoroughly trained by the post station staff. Even as first-timers with such mounts, which were first-tier demonic beasts, Luo Tian and Zhao Lin’er handled them with ease.

“It’s nothing, just a strange feeling,” Luo Tian shook his head lightly, flicked the reins, and his white long-furred horse trotted obediently forward.

For a brief moment, Luo Tian had felt as if he was being watched—but whether it was real or merely his imagination, he wasn’t sure.

He was probably just tired from these past two months.

Hmph, paranoid fool! All that mysterious posturing for nothing.

Qian Bo curled his lip in disdain, maintaining his brisk pace and taking the lead.

Only after the trio had left did several figures emerge atop a nearby hill.

A burly man with an imposing presence, eyes like burning coals, stared after Luo Tian and the others, his lips pressed in thought. His stature was formidable, with thick brows and large eyes, a mane of earth-yellow hair cascading down. Simply standing there, he seemed rooted to the ground, immovable.

“Big brother! That boy’s senses are sharp, but it’s wasted on him.”

A young man approached, bowing respectfully—the same one from the inn the night before.

“Of course. Once the Qingfeng Bandit Gang locks onto someone, their fate is sealed—especially if they’re from the Shenyang Sect,” the giant’s voice was cold and grim. “Since I, Sun Huangkun, established the Qingfeng Bandit Gang, I’ve seldom failed. Discovering outer disciples of the Shenyang Sect this time, Xiao Wu, you’ve earned merit.”

Hearing this, Xiao Wu grinned from ear to ear. “Big brother, those disciples were so arrogant—flaunting their robes, staying at the best inn, eating the best food, drinking the best wine. They were practically begging to be noticed!”

“Hmph. Typical of the Shenyang Sect—disciples with no substance, relying entirely on the Four Great Clans. How do they expect to surpass the Dayuan Sect with so little ability? Utter delusion!” Sun Huangkun’s tone was laced with contempt, clearly holding the Shenyang Sect in low regard.

“Exactly! The Shenyang Sect only looks after the parasites of the Four Great Clans and suppresses its ordinary disciples. They've chosen the wrong side! If you’d stayed, big brother, you’d have made a name for yourself—might even be an inner disciple by now,” Xiao Wu said indignantly.

“That’s all in the past—let’s not dwell on it,” Sun Huangkun replied coldly. “Any outer disciple allowed to leave the sect is bound to have valuables on them. This time, our prey must not escape!”

“Big brother,” another man stepped forward, cautious, “we still don’t know just how strong these three are—”

“No matter. I’ll make the first move to test them. If they’re too strong, you all stay back—I have my own ways to escape,” Sun Huangkun replied, brimming with confidence. He clenched his fist. “I’m now at the seventh turn of the Qi Condensation Realm, and my mastery of the Yellow Earth Art has given me a faint sense of the earth’s power. You have nothing to worry about.”