Chapter 1203: Chapter 29: Encountering Assassins

The sun climbed higher, with its scorching rays causing pain in the eyes.

On the official road, hundreds of people and dozens of beast carts remained at a standstill.

"Two ladies, I just received news that another incident involving the assassination of a Holy Daughter candidate occurred on the official road, and this time, it’s extremely severe. Master Helai, for your purity and safety, ordered a message to request that we change our route. Miss Yanluo is worried about the delay in the journey and refuses to change the route," Qian Lang recounted the events.

Qin Yue heard that another Holy Daughter candidate was killed and had their face disfigured and defiled, her expression shifted.

"If that’s the case, let’s change the route to avoid encountering assassins," she glanced surreptitiously at Feng Lian beside her.

"The diversion involves treacherous paths where even beast carts are unusable, requiring us to traverse on foot. If you want to go, count me out," Hua Yanluo shot Qin Yue a look.

At the mention of mountain paths, Qin Yue turned pale. Her family background was average, and it took considerable expense to prepare her attire. How would she face people in Hu City if she took the mountain paths?

"Then, how about this, Feng Lian, you decide. Do you want to take the official road or the mountain path?" Qin Yue, being clever, looked at Hua Yanluo and Qian Lang, knowing she couldn’t offend either side, so she directly asked Feng Lian.

Hua Yanluo snorted, knowing Qin Yue to be a fence-sitter. This woman was no good.

Though Feng Lian was also of Heavenly Fox Mixed Blood, unlike the sycophantic Qin Yue, she barely spoke throughout the journey and brought no maid, her demeanor icy cold like a block of ice.

Yet, for some reason, Hua Yanluo dared not underestimate her.

"What of the assassins; we’ll just kill them," Feng Lian coldly remarked, turning back to the beast cart without a glance.

"Did you hear that? None of the three of us will take the mountain path unless you want to escort empty carts to Hu Capital," Hua Yanluo declared triumphantly, as she climbed aboard.

"Since the elder sisters have decided, Qin Yue will follow them," Qin Yue said softly.

This left Qian Lang in a bind, unsure whether to obey Master Helai’s orders.

If not, since none of the three candidates agreed to leave, he would be in a difficult position.

"Since everyone has decided, guests follow the hosts, I won’t force it. But Lord Qian Lang, double your vigilance on the journey," Yun Sheng cast a meaningful glance at Feng Lian’s beast cart.

Earlier, if not mistaken, when the assassin was mentioned, a hint of murderous aura emitted from Feng Lian.

Three women on a stage, all three bringing unrest.

The road ahead surely wouldn’t be peaceful.

Beast carts thus reverted direction, continuing along the official road as planned.

Three days passed quickly. The journey on the official road was peaceful, and the beast carts traveled nearly half the distance.

"Ladies, the hour is late; a lake lies ahead. We have secured a helmsman to guide us across. Please disembark to cross the lake, after which lies a town where we’ll spend the night," Qian Lang glanced at the broad lake.

With only a few merchant vessels on the lake, the area was not suitable for an assassin’s ambush.

He sighed with relief and guided the beast carts onto several cargo boats.

Yun Sheng and a few others boarded a more luxurious boat.

Aboard the boat, Yun Sheng discreetly scanned the surroundings.

She quickly sensed a few malevolent presences on the vessel.

What was inevitable had come.

Just then, the helmsman at the bow suddenly lunged, launching a punch at Qian Lang.

The killing intent was as swift as lightning, causing Qian Lang’s heart to jolt. He stepped forward, his hands morphing into wolf claws with a whoosh.

"Peng!"

The two exchanged blows from a distance, causing the entire boat to rock.

"Assassins! Protect Doctor Yun and the three Holy Daughter candidates!"

Even before Qian Lang’s voice faded, the Half-Beast Warriors scattered to guard the women.

Hua Yanluo and Qin Yue’s faces were livid with anger.

"Is Qian Lang’s brain malfunctioning, claiming to protect Doctor Yun, a lowly Half-Beast Medical Woman, as if she compares to us?"

"I don’t need your protection," Feng Lian’s tone remained unchanged, though murderous intent flashed in her eyes.

She waved a sleeve, sending a gust towards a nearby assassin.

The air tore apart instantly; the assassin couldn’t scream as Feng Lian shattered their heart with one palm, tossing them aside.

"Finally caught you. Admit it, were you the ones who killed the Guard Team last time?" Feng Lian’s stern face flushed red.

"Kekeke, not bad power, and quite feisty. Little beauty, which incident are you referring to? We’ve killed so many Sky Fox Guards that I’ve lost count," the helmsman, wearing a bamboo hat, tore off his mask.

A half-beast man with triangular eyes, exuding wickedness, was revealed.

A deep blue Thunderbolt mark dotted his forehead.

"Thunder Demon Hermit!" At sight of the mark, Qian Lang’s expression drastically changed, exclaiming.

Thunder Demon Hermit was a renowned assassin on the Bahuang Continent.

He hailed from the Thunder Peng Bird clan, known for his lustful and murderous nature, defiling many of his tribal women, resulting in a tribal hunt.

Thanks to his mastery of superior Thunder Magic, he repeatedly escaped using his abilities. Over time, he amassed a group of renegades from various tribes, engaging in assassination activities.

"Kekeke, you’re called Qian Lang, right? Good eyesight. On account of recognizing me, I’ll leave your corpse whole later," Thunder Demon Hermit had ambushed along the route, killing many from the Sky Fox Tribe.

Women of the Sky Fox Tribe were among the most beautiful in the major tribes, frequently targeted by Thunder Demon Hermit. This time, upon encountering the convoy escorting Holy Daughter candidates to Cangdu, he trailed them to the waterway before launching an attack.

He hadn’t expected someone as skilled as Qian Lang to be escorting, nor did he expect Feng Lian, one of the candidates, to possess considerable strength.

Facing Thunder Demon Hermit’s lascivious face, Hua Yanluo and Qin Yue now regretted bitterly, their intestines almost turning green.

If only they had known, they would have preferred the mountain trail over encountering such a formidable Thunder Demon Hermit.

Only Feng Lian’s face remained filled with vengeance.

"I don’t care who you are; all I know is, you killed my brother, and I’ll avenge him!" Feng Lian came to compete for Holy Daughter primarily seeking revenge.

Her brother, Feng Wei, was the leader tasked with escorting the second batch of Cangdu candidates to Hu Capital; none returned with him and his hundred soldiers.

"Ha ha, bold words. Let me show you today the true power of Thunder Demon Hermit!" The helmsman, wearing a bamboo hat, emitted a chilling laugh. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He and a few henchmen abruptly changed course, leaping off the boat.