Chapter 53: Backstab
“Alright.”
Since Ji Yuan had spoken, Qiu Qianhai didn’t bother making any pointless explanations, like saying there was no problem with Xiong Youfu or that he was trustworthy.
“Then what do we do now? Run or fight? I’ll follow your lead.”
Ji Yuan instinctively wanted to say “fight,” but when the words reached his lips, he suddenly stopped.
Life only came once—he couldn’t afford to be careless.
He could make countless mistakes when it came to drawing talismans or refining pills, but in matters of life and death, he could only afford to make a mistake once at most.
So, in the end, he said, “Run!”
If they could run, they should run. If they couldn’t, then they would fight.
That had always been Ji Yuan’s way of doing things.
“Alright.”
“If we’re running, do you have a place in mind?” Ji Yuan asked.
“Yes.” Qiu Qianhai nodded. “Let’s go to Blackwater Market. Among the many marketplaces in Yunyu Marshlands, Blackwater Market is the most chaotic, just like this Qingbo Market—full of mixed fish and dragons. I used to hide there all the time.”
That sounded reasonable.
Ji Yuan was about to change direction and head toward Blackwater Market.
He planned to send Qiu Qianhai there first.
Once he was sure there was no problem, he would return to Zengtou Market himself.
“Qian! Qian!”
Suddenly, loud shouts came from the other side of the island, followed by a green magic boat skimming across the water. Standing on the boat was a tall and burly man.
Seeing him, Qiu Qianhai immediately stood up.
“Xiong! What are you doing here?!”
The newcomer was none other than Qiu Qianhai’s sworn friend, Xiong Youfu.
Xiong Youfu glanced at Ji Yuan, his eyes showing a flash of panic, but he quickly turned his attention back to Qiu Qianhai.
“I heard something happened at the Qin family’s side, like someone showed up, so I came to check on you.”
“As long as you’re fine, come on, let’s hurry back. Don’t wander around out here.”
Xiong Youfu urged him.
If it weren’t for Ji Yuan’s earlier warning and suspicions, Qiu Qianhai wouldn’t have thought too much at this moment.
But unfortunately, now he did. He looked at Xiong Youfu in front of him and said in a low voice, “I’m not going back there.”
“Not going back? Then where are you going? Is there anywhere safer than that place around here?”
As soon as Qiu Qianhai said he wasn’t going back, Xiong Youfu immediately became anxious.
Qiu Qianhai didn’t answer, while Ji Yuan had already silently activated the flying sword in his storage pouch... The man before them was only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. It wouldn’t take much effort to deal with him, but they couldn’t afford to be careless.
“Seriously, where are you going?!” Xiong Youfu seemed really worried about Qiu Qianhai’s safety.
“Xiong…” Qiu Qianhai’s voice was low, his expression tinged with bitterness. “Are you going to stab me in the back too?”
“What? What are you talking about?!”
Xiong Youfu’s eyes flickered with panic.
“That time at Blackwater Market’s dock, I was the one who saved you, wasn’t I? And now, you’re here to betray me…”
Qiu Qianhai shook his head as he spoke.
“Qian, I… He…”
Xiong Youfu’s lips trembled, and finally, he clenched his teeth and admitted harshly, “I was blinded by greed… It’s all because the Qin family offered too much!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Qiu Qianhai had already thrown out two crescent blades.
The blades arced like a full moon, coming at Xiong Youfu from both sides.
At the same time, Qiu Qianhai shouted, “Together!”
Clearly, he was speaking to Ji Yuan, afraid that he might not be able to take Xiong Youfu down quickly, which could lead to further complications.
So, calling Ji Yuan to gang up on him was naturally the best solution.
If they could gang up on him, why bother with a one-on-one fight?
As soon as Qiu Qianhai made his move, Ji Yuan followed suit.
The flying sword he had already prepared shot out instantly, and his right hand tapped several times in the air.
Each tap released a faint blue spiritual glow.
The glows shot straight at Xiong Youfu’s limbs and his forehead.
Meanwhile, the left hand hidden in Ji Yuan’s sleeve flicked, releasing three hair-thin spiritual lights aimed at Xiong Youfu’s chest.
In an instant, nearly ten attacks struck at Xiong Youfu.
Even with all his talismans and magical tools activated, he couldn’t withstand the overwhelming assault.
Ji Yuan’s single flying sword alone sent his mirror-like protective artifact flying, and Qiu Qianhai’s crescent blades slashed through, severing his head in an instant.
As the head rolled through the air, Qiu Qianhai’s expression remained unchanged.
“He owed me a life. Consider it repaid.”
“Yeah, hurry up and gather the loot…”
Ji Yuan hadn’t even finished speaking when something shot out from Xiong Youfu’s chest, shooting straight toward the sky.
“Not good!”
Ji Yuan’s flying sword chased after it, but it was already a step too late.
“Boom—”
A dazzling silver flower bloomed in the sky. Ji Yuan’s face darkened, and Qiu Qianhai quickly explained, “That’s a little gadget made by a weapon refiner in Blackwater Market. It’s called ‘Death Signal Firework.’ Once the owner dies, it automatically launches and explodes.”
“It’s signaling the Qin family. Let’s go!”
While they spoke, they didn’t pause for a moment.
Qiu Qianhai destroyed the body while Ji Yuan gathered the loot. Within a breath’s time, the Black Wind Boat entered the water, and the two disappeared from the scene.
Even their aura was masked by the lake water, leaving no trace behind.
Once submerged, Qiu Qianhai pointed in a direction, signaling Ji Yuan to head to Blackwater Market.
But Ji Yuan glanced that way and shook his head, steering the boat in another direction instead.
The two of them kept circling underwater.
But no matter how they circled, Ji Yuan never strayed far from Qingbo Market.
They stayed close until, after several hours, the effect of the Water Repelling Talisman wore off, and they emerged to hide on a deserted island.
“Not going to Blackwater Market?” Qiu Qianhai asked as soon as they surfaced.
“No.”
“After killing someone, our first instinct would be to go to Blackwater Market. The Qin family would probably think the same. So instead, we’ll do the opposite and hide right here in Qingbo Market… They probably wouldn’t expect us to be this bold.”
As Ji Yuan spoke, he had already taken out his usual disguise gear from his storage pouch.
Qiu Qianhai nodded slowly. “But what if they do guess that we’re hiding here in Qingbo Market?”
Ji Yuan took out some furnace ash and smeared it evenly on his face.
“If we’re going to be found either way, what’s the difference between being found here or at Blackwater Market?”
“We just fight to the death.”
“True.” Qiu Qianhai nodded. “Fighting to the death is what I do best.”
The two of them immediately started disguising themselves.
For Qi Refining cultivators without divine sense, these disguises were still useful. But if they ran into a Foundation Establishment cultivator with divine sense, it would be completely ineffective.
“Why did you come to Qingbo Market in the first place?” Ji Yuan asked.
“Mining. You know about Cold Iron Sand, right? It’s ridiculously expensive. Mining here is way more profitable than fishing or anything else, but it’s dangerous, so most people don’t dare to come.”
Qiu Qianhai glued thick, coarse black beard strands to his chin and temples.
It was pretty much what Ji Yuan had guessed. He nodded and asked again, “Then why did you come to Zengtou Market looking for me? You even got yourself exposed.”
Qiu Qianhai’s hands paused for a moment but quickly resumed as if nothing had happened.
“No reason. It’s just been a long time since I came back, so I thought I’d come see you.”
Ji Yuan saw through it but didn’t press further. Instead, he changed the subject.
“Cripple Li asked me to tell you that he agreed.”
“Heh, and he waits until now to say that crap? Too late.” Qiu Qianhai sneered, showing no surprise at the response.
“He’s your uncle?”
“Yeah, my eldest uncle.”
After saying that, Qiu Qianhai let out a long sigh and stood up.
In just a short while, he had transformed from a young man into a burly man with an open shirt, a face full of coarse features, and even a complete change of clothing.
“My parents and my second uncle’s entire family were killed by the Qin family. I wanted to team up with him to take revenge on the Qin family, but he’s a coward—never had the guts to agree. So I did it myself.”
Qiu Qianhai patted the dust off his body, speaking with complete indifference.
“How did you get back at the Qin family?” Ji Yuan asked again.
At the mention of this, Qiu Qianhai grinned.
“The Qin family’s third young master has a taste for men…”
“He took a liking to you?”
Ji Yuan asked instinctively.
Despite Qiu Qianhai’s current rugged appearance, his original looks… While not quite on par with Ji Yuan, among the fishermen, he could still be considered quite handsome.
“No, I offered myself.”