Chapter 55 - Peak Bone Tempering Stage (1/2)

“That’s the path up the mountain.”

The beggar and Zhuo Fan poked their heads through a bush close to a narrow mountain path.

Zhuo Fan looked ahead and frowned seeing 30 Bone Tempering guards.

With his strength and Savage Moon, along with Blood Infant’s help, it wasn’t hard to charge through. But to do it without anyone noticing was the problem.

Any noise here would attract the elder from Hell Valley stationed within. And since Xue clan’s Profound Heaven expert was after him, he’d have a hard time coming out alive.

After careful deliberation, Zhuo Fan shook his head. He’d have to rely on the little beggar if he wanted to go within the mountain’s range.

“Xiao Ning, where’s the secret tunnel?”

Zhuo Fan looked at the little beggar, the latter was still feeling afraid of what he had witnessed some time ago. He wasn’t crying but still sniffed.

“C-come with me.” said the little beggar while sniffing hard, then he and Zhuo Fan vanished from the bushes.

Zhuo Fan felt helpless. [Why is this kid more of a coward than a mouse? Ever since he saw what I did, he keeps crying from fear, even now.]

[They were the enemies chasing you down, not your family. So why are you crying so hard?]

Zhuo Fan secretly cursed but was resigned to his fate. Who told him to agree to this little beggar’s deal? He imagined that after he followed the beggar to the mountain, he’d be facing some ferocious spiritual beasts while the beggar kept crying at the side.

Sighing, Zhuo Fan travelled with the beggar through a dark forest. After a long time, they found a narrow tunnel next to a hidden stream.

“T-this is it.” The beggar forced himself to stop sobbing, but his body still shivered, “W-when I was little, I used to play with my dad and brothers in these woods!”

Zhuo Fan lifted an eyebrow as he inspected the cave and the surroundings. It was such a remote place that only a native would know of.

He guessed that the little beggar must have stumbled upon this cave when he was playing with his brothers, or the Hell Valley would’ve sealed it by now if they knew of it.

“Alright, Xiao Ning. Go in first, I’ll be right behind you!”

Zhuo Fan shouted as he pushed the little beggar in. He didn’t think this place held a trap, but his years and years of experience still showed his cautious nature.

The little beggar was aware of the meaning and rolled his eyes in anger, and stooped to go in.

Suddenly, a loud shout was heard.

“Ning’er, stop!”

Whoosh!

With a sound of the wind, a large figure blocked the two’s path. The man looked like he was in his forties and wore luxurious clothing over his tall and sturdy body. His pair of large eyes flashed with the explosive power of an expert.

“Peak Bone Tempering expert!”

Zhuo Fan frowned and his hands tightened, “Are you the Clan Head of the Xue clan, Xue Wanlong?

“Good eyes!”

Xue Wanlong praised, “Where you the one who harmed my eldest son, Xue Gang?”

“Indeed,” Zhuo Fan smiled, “He wanted to take one of my people. Sparing him was already kind enough!”

“What, yours?”

Xue Wanlong was shocked and turned to the little beggar. The little beggar blushed as he hid behind Zhuo Fan.

Xue Wanlong’s expression turned weird.

“Dad!”

Just then, a yell was heard. A youth in white landed next to Xue Wanlong, “Ha-ha-ha, I knew Ning’er would be hiding here.”

“Dad, let me help you take him back!”

The youth looked thrilled. He disregarded Zhuo Fan and flew to the little beggar.

[Bastard, this kid is way too cocky, treating me like air!]

Zhuo Fan squinted and secretly cursed. When the youth was close to him, he struck with a red palm.

The youth felt his energy turn sluggish and his blood vessels rupture. In this moment of deadly crisis, Zhuo Fan struck like lightning and grabbed his neck.

“What are you doing?” Xue Wanlong roared.

He didn’t think his son would be caught so easily.

To be honest, he saw Zhuo Fan as a 5th layer Qi Condensation cultivator and was still skeptical of how he hurt his eldest son and guards.

But now he knew.

Compared to the kids he raised in his clan with all his heart, Zhuo Fan was akin to a savage beast bathed in blood. He was weaker, but his timing was perfect and his methods vicious.

Before Zhuo Fan, his two sons were nothing more than greenhouse flowers.

With a snicker, Zhuo Fan raised the youth up high, “A 5th layer Qi Condensation cultivator. He must be your second son, Xue Lin, right?”