The journey from Lijiang Ancient Town to Kunming Railway Station takes four to five hours.
Yu Daochen, sitting in the passenger seat, gazed out the window with a solemn expression. Since the Zhenbao Gate was willing to offer another treasure to retrieve the Soul Guardian Bronze Badges, it meant other experts had also been dispatched. Zhenbao Gate likely had around seven experts with Tianzi-rank strength. Excluding those who had to guard the sect, at least three should have arrived.
As Yu Daochen was contemplating, his phone suddenly vibrated. He took out his phone and saw it was a text message.
(Are you alright over there?)
Yu Daochen found the ten characters amusing. In this day and age, why were people still using text messages? He felt it would be too much trouble for them to apply for a WeChat account.
Yu Daochen replied with a few words, (Nothing major happened.)
(Mm)
The text message simply replied with "Mm" and then there was no further response.
Yu Daochen felt a bit helpless. Normally, their conversations were either "good" or "mm," and even text messages were the same.
The journey was uneventful, with Qiangzi taking care of Su Qing in the back. Yu Daochen in the passenger seat watched the early morning scenery outside. He had originally thought he would be staying in Yunnan for ten days to half a month, but he didn't expect to be returning so soon.
By the time they arrived at Kunming Railway Station, it was already past ten in the morning. Qiangzi took a pair of sunglasses from his bag and put them on Su Qing. Then, he took out a black talisman from his pocket and stuck it on Su Qing's back. He chanted an incantation, and Su Qing suddenly sat up and followed Qiangzi out of the car.
Yu Daochen opened the car door and got out. The Heavenly Master's Mansion was not only skilled in spells and talismans but also in corpse manipulation, which was a unique art. Although it couldn't compare to the corpse handlers of Xiangxi, it was still considered first-class in the martial world.
Upon entering the railway station, Yu Daochen said to Qiangzi, "I'll go buy the tickets."
Qiangzi nodded and led Su Qing to sit on a nearby chair.
As Yu Daochen went to buy tickets, two men in black approached, wearing black glasses and hats pulled down low, obscuring their faces.
The two men sat next to Qiangzi and Su Qing. Qiangzi sensed something was wrong and was about to draw the copper coin sword from his waist when one of the men pressed his hand against Qiangzi's waist.
Qiangzi's expression changed. Although it was hidden by the man's sleeve, he could clearly feel it was a knife.
When Yu Daochen returned after buying the tickets, he saw two men in black sitting next to Qiangzi and Su Qing. Seeing Qiangzi's strange expression, he knew what was happening. He instinctively tightened his grip on the Kanglong Rod at his back. Although he couldn't reveal his identity in front of ordinary people, he didn't know what these guys might do.
"Let's find a secluded place to talk," Yu Daochen said.
The two men exchanged glances. One of them stood up and followed Yu Daochen to a certain spot.
They reached a deserted corner of the railway station. The man made the first move, drawing the crescent moon saber from his waist and slashing at Yu Daochen.
Yu Daochen drew the Kanglong Rod to block. The Kanglong Rod and the crescent moon saber collided with a crisp sound.
Yu Daochen kicked towards the man's abdomen. The man dodged, and Yu Daochen seized the opportunity, raising the Kanglong Rod and smashing it fiercely at the man.
The man raised the crescent moon saber, blocking Yu Daochen's downward strike.
Yu Daochen frowned slightly. Being able to block his attack, it seemed he was an elite disciple of the sect.
They both retreated a few steps. Yu Daochen stared at the man, his expression becoming serious. It seemed he had to end this quickly.
As the man was about to attack, Yu Daochen's grip on the Kanglong Rod tightened, and flames covered the rod.
Yu Daochen slashed directly at the man, the flames on the Kanglong Rod transforming into a wave of energy that struck the man.
The man raised his crescent moon saber, preparing to cleave through the flames attacking him. Yu Daochen followed closely behind.
The moment the man cleaved through the flames, Yu Daochen gripped the Kanglong Rod and smashed it at the man.
As the man was about to swing his crescent moon saber to block Yu Daochen's attack, Yu Daochen flicked away the man's saber with his other hand. With his other hand, he condensed a golden light and slapped it towards the man.
The man's expression changed instantly. He swung his crescent moon saber to slash at Yu Daochen, but it was too late. Yu Daochen's palm struck the man's chest with a solid impact.
Bang.
The man was sent flying backward. He struggled to his feet and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Stay put and circulate your energy to protect your heart and veins, and you won't die," Yu Daochen said.
As soon as Yu Daochen finished speaking, he turned and left.
He returned to where Qiangzi was sitting. The man saw that his companion hadn't followed and his expression changed. He knew his companion had been defeated.
Yu Daochen sat down next to the man, his voice cold, "You have two choices. Either you stab him, and I smash your head with my rod, or I take him away, and you pretend nothing happened."
The man remained silent. Yu Daochen looked at Qiangzi and said, "Let's go!"
Qiangzi controlled Su Qing and followed Yu Daochen towards the ticket gate.
At the ticket gate, Yu Daochen looked towards the entrance of the hall. Guo Cunhai, accompanied by four men in black, walked in.
Yu Daochen looked at Qiangzi with a serious expression, "Qiangzi, be ready. That guy is here."
Qiangzi nodded, his face grim. If it were just Guo Cunhai, he and Master Yu could handle him. But with four more people on the other side, these weren't the same as those two incompetent fools. They were at least of Di-rank strength.
Too much homework today. I'll thank all my lovely little ones for their gifts tomorrow.