"Now, it's time to leave Lin County."
After breaking through to the Blood Refining Realm, Gu Qingfeng's senses sharpened considerably. The entire county now felt oppressive and unnatural, with an ominous blood mist hanging in the sky. In his eyes, Lin County had become a dead place—staying would mean certain death.
But before departing, Gu Qingfeng took the time to stabilize his cultivation. He consumed and refined the remaining three Blood Refining Pills, which had fewer restrictions on him after his breakthrough. In just a single day, he had absorbed all three. The power of these pills, tailored for warriors at his level, bolstered his Qi and blood significantly. With enough pills, he mused, advancing further in the Blood Refining Realm would be a matter of time.
Training as a warrior relies on two key aspects: martial arts and resources like elixirs. The former, exemplified by techniques such as the Collapsing Mountain Fist and Iron Body Technique, helps a martial artist hone their body and push past physical limits. Lacking the proper techniques, one must painstakingly progress on their own. However, with an abundance of elixirs, breakthroughs become much easier.
The day after his breakthrough, Gu Qingfeng made his decision to leave Lin County. He took his son, Gu Yang, with him and headed for the city gates.
Before long, they arrived. A group of constables and yamen runners were stationed there, guarding the exit. Gu Qingfeng frowned but pressed on.
The constables noticed him immediately.
"The county magistrate has decreed that no one is allowed to leave Lin County without permission!" barked the middle-aged constable in charge, his tone cold and authoritative.
Gu Qingfeng didn't respond. Instead, he observed the other constables, noticing how their hands instinctively tightened around their sword hilts. Their expressions were hard and wary, ready to draw weapons at the slightest provocation.
As the constable leader opened his mouth to shout again, Gu Qingfeng suddenly released Gu Yang's hand. He stepped forward and drove his shoulder into the man's chest.
Boom!
The impact was devastating. Gu Qingfeng's body, as tough as iron, caved the constable's chest inward. The man flew through the air like a ragdoll, dead before he hit the ground.
"Kill him!" someone shouted.
The remaining constables unsheathed their swords, charging at Gu Qingfeng with the intent to strike him down.
But Gu Qingfeng was faster. His right fist shot forward like a coiled dragon, smashing into one constable's face. The force of the punch was so great that it shattered the man's skull, sending blood and bone fragments flying.
The others swung their swords, aiming to cleave him apart, but the blades bounced off Gu Qingfeng's iron-hard skin. The recoil from their failed attacks left their swords chipped and their arms trembling.
"What?!" they gasped in shock.
Without missing a beat, Gu Qingfeng grabbed one of the blades in his hand and crushed it effortlessly. He flung the fragments at the remaining constables, and they tore through their bodies like deadly projectiles. Screams of pain filled the air as they fell to the ground, writhing and pleading for mercy.
"Please, spare us!"
Gu Qingfeng's face remained stern and cold. He methodically approached each one, delivering a fatal blow to end their lives despite their desperate pleas.
The fight had started abruptly—and ended just as quickly.
In the span of a few breaths, every constable and yamen runner lay dead on the ground.
Gu Yang, standing nearby, was frozen in shock, his face pale as he stared at the bloodied bodies. When Gu Qingfeng approached, the overwhelming scent of blood snapped him out of his daze.
"Father…" he stammered.
Gu Qingfeng's expression softened slightly. "The blood mist is everywhere. They were keeping the gates closed to ensure we all die here. That's the harsh truth of this world: if you don't kill, someone else will kill you. In these troubled times, kindness only leads to your own demise."
He placed a hand on Gu Yang's shoulder, his tone stern. "Today, I'm teaching you your first lesson. If you strike, make sure there are no loose ends."
Gu Yang hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering between his father and the corpses littering the ground. Finally, he nodded firmly. "I understand."
"Good," Gu Qingfeng said, satisfied. He had worried that Gu Yang's natural kindness and aversion to violence would be a weakness in this chaotic world. In times of peace, that kind of character might have been admirable—but now, it would only get him killed.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at the bodies on the ground. He had witnessed countless deaths over the years but had never been the one to kill—until today. Oddly, he didn't feel disturbed by what he had done. If anything, he felt exhilarated.
Yes, excited.
He didn't shy away from the feeling, nor did he dwell on it. The commotion at the gates would soon attract the attention of the authorities, and he had no intention of sticking around.
Taking Gu Yang by the hand, he led him toward the blood mist outside the city.
After Gu Qingfeng and Gu Yang had left, others, who had been hiding nearby, cautiously emerged from the shadows.
"Who was that guy? He didn't even hesitate to kill those constables!"
"Isn't he an instructor from the Golden Bull Martial Arts School?"
"He's crazy. Not only did he kill the constables, but he also dared to leave the city!"
The onlookers murmured in shock, some recognizing Gu Qingfeng from his years in Lin County. Hearing the name of the martial arts school seemed to reassure some of them. They cast nervous glances at the corpses on the ground, but when they looked toward the blood mist beyond the gates, their expressions became thoughtful, as though weighing their options.
No one knew what they were planning to do next.