Chapter 288: Chapter 143: Shadow Walk, Qualitative Change (Part 2)

As everyone watched, a deep fissure suddenly appeared above the floating lantern illusion.

As the fissure materialized, what was at first a hairline crack gradually widened into a passage large enough for a person to pass through.

The passage was pitch-black, making it impossible to see what lay within.

The Yin Walker, carrying an oil lamp, slowly approached the fissure.

The closer he got to the fissure, the brighter the flame on his lamp burned.

Shen Bai looked back at Zhao Sheng and his soldiers. "Aren’t you leaving?" he asked.

He noted that although the soldiers were gathered here, they showed no signs of wanting to leave.

Zhao Sheng shook his head. "We’re staying. A thousand men leaving at once would cause a stir. It would be trouble if we were discovered."

Shen Bai rubbed his chin. "From the looks of it, Marquis Fengjiang has already discovered us."

This incident on the Life and Death Road... aside from its connection to Wang Tianxing from Xinhua Academy, you could say it was Marquis Fengjiang’s doing from the start.

In other words, Marquis Fengjiang has intelligence. He’s discovered that the Great Zhou Country is moving troops through the Life and Death Road.

Because of this, Shen Bai felt that continuing to hurry along the Life and Death Road seemed rather pointless.

But when Shen Bai said this, Zhao Sheng shook his head.

"The Life and Death Road may be fraught with danger, but it’s actually much safer than the world outside."

"Marquis Fengjiang wouldn’t dare send more men into the Life and Death Road to cause trouble. After all, his main forces are likely focused on defensive matters."

"The so-called ’sabotage’ will be limited to what you encountered, Lord Shen. Now that this has happened, His Majesty will surely tighten security to prevent a recurrence. As a result, the Life and Death Road will paradoxically become a safer path."

Shen Bai mulled it over and had to agree.

While they were speaking, another Yin Walker emerged from the fissure, also carrying an oil lamp.

His face lit up with joyful surprise when he saw Shen Bai.

"Thank heavens, Lord Shen! It’s a relief to see you’re unharmed. Otherwise, Landlord Mu would’ve had my head."

For Shen Bai, the past three days had been uneventful.

For the Yin Walker, however, they had been pure agony.

The pressure from the outside world felt almost as intense as the pressure of traversing the Life and Death Road itself.

After all, the Yin Walker had noticed the increasingly unsettling way Elder Mu had been looking at him each day.

Fortunately, they had finally opened the fissure today and found Shen Bai unharmed, allowing the Yin Walker to finally release the breath he had been holding in suspense.

Shen Bai chuckled. "I’ve been fine, but you look incredibly tense."

A wry smile appeared on the Yin Walker’s face. "Please, Lord Shen, don’t tease me. Landlord Mu is extremely anxious. You should get going."

Shen Bai glanced back. "You’re staying here?"

The Yin Walker nodded. "Another colleague will establish the next Yin Waypoint. We just need to head toward that location. Once we arrive, we’ll proceed with the next phase of the plan."

Shen Bai nodded, knowing this forced march left no room for error.

At this thought, Shen Bai’s gaze fell upon Zhou Qing.

"Old Zhou, I’m heading out. When you have the time, let’s grab a proper drink."

Zhou Qing replied, "Don’t worry, Lao Shen. Once this campaign is over, I’ll come find you in Fenglin State."

They were both men of the Jianghu; there was no need for sentimental fuss.

Besides, the two sworn brothers were walking vastly different paths and were never destined to stay together for long.

Shen Bai understood this well, so without any further words of regret, he turned and stepped into the fissure.

As Shen Bai stepped into the fissure, the lamp in the Yin Walker’s hand flickered. The fissure then gradually sealed itself and vanished.

Zhao Sheng glanced back at Zhou Qing. "Lord Shen is destined for greatness. You can’t afford to slack off, either."

Zhou Qing nodded. "Don’t worry, General Zhao. I won’t hold my brother back. As long as I do my best to improve, I’ll have no regrets."

Zhao Sheng smiled but said nothing more. He waved his arm forward, his gaze fixed on the Life and Death Road ahead, his expression turning solemn.

"Move out!"

The men behind him hurried onward, following the path of the Life and Death Road.

...

「In the vast wilderness.」

At this moment, Elder Mu and numerous members of the Observatory were keeping an anxious vigil.

Every so often, their eyes would dart toward the massive fissure before them.

Three days prior, Shen Bai had mysteriously vanished into the Life and Death Road. Every member had been on edge since, terrified that something might have happened to him.

To put it bluntly, Shen Bai was the brightest star in all of Fenglin State. If anything were to happen to him, no one could shoulder the responsibility.

Even Lord Liu, Elder Mu, and Long Yan would likely fly into a towering rage.

The Yin Walker had said they would open the fissure in three days, but only the Observatory members themselves knew how agonizing that wait had been.

Now that the fissure was finally opening, they all held onto the hope that Shen Bai was safe inside.

Elder Mu gripped his longsword tightly, his eyes filled with a grave solemnity.

He too hoped Shen Bai was safe, but he didn’t know how much faith to place in that hope.

After all, this was the Life and Death Road, a place teeming with the unknown.

Even someone like Elder Mu would have to tread with extreme caution there.

Still, Elder Mu held on to a sliver of hope in his heart.

’After all, ever since Shen Bai arrived in Fenglin State, he has constantly delivered one unexpected surprise after another.’