79: Colorful Clouds Chasing the Wind

The bandit-suppressing fast boat broke through the turbid river water, sailing along the tributary into the increasingly turbulent and treacherous Black Water Ravine.

Steep cliffs lined both banks, and dense trees blocked the sun, cutting the sunlight into fragmented pieces and casting large, deep shadows. The waterway became narrow and branched here, filled with hidden reefs and undercurrents—a perfect paradise for Water Bandits to hide and commit crimes.

"Everyone, be careful. According to reports, the incident occurred at the river bend ahead."

Senior Brother Shi Poyue stood at the bow, his voice low, his eyes scanning the eerily quiet river ahead like a hawk.

Chen Linsheng nodded silently, his hand resting on the cold shaft of the Solid Iron Long Spear. His mind sank into his body, feeling the harmonious Python Dragon Strength and the solid power brought by the Iron Arm Skill in his arms.

He had been practicing hard lately, even attempting to integrate the "Triple Wave Surge" exertion technique—which he had grasped after reaching Major Achievement in Overlapping Waves Archery—into his close-quarters spear techniques. Now was the perfect opportunity to test it.

The fast boat cautiously entered the river bend, and as expected, they saw two damaged merchant ships leaning crookedly against the shore. There were obvious saber and axe marks on the planks, along with bloodstains that hadn't completely dried.

"There!" A sharp-eyed soldier pointed to a narrow fork on the left, where the shadows of several small boats were faintly visible.

"Chase them!" Shi Poyue gave the order, and the fast boat immediately turned, shooting into the fork like a sharp arrow.

The light inside the fork was even dimmer, and the sound of water gurgled.

Before they had chased very far, they saw five or six dilapidated small boats fleeing in panic toward the depths. Figures flickered on the boats—about twenty or thirty people in mismatched clothing, holding harpoons, machetes, and other weapons. They truly looked like a disorganized mob.

"Water Patrol Division business! Drop your weapons and surrender!" Shi Poyue shouted with full breath, his voice rolling out in waves, making the leaves on both banks rustle.

Seeing this, the Water Bandits did not surrender; instead, several small boats turned back to block them. They let out strange cries and began shooting scattered arrows.

"Courting death!" Shi Poyue snorted coldly. Just as he was about to act, Chen Linsheng stepped forward.

"Senior Brother, let me try my hand."

Shi Poyue glanced at him and nodded. "Be careful."

Chen Linsheng took a deep breath, his feet firmly rooted on the bumping bow. The Solid Iron Long Spear in his hand vibrated, emitting a low hum.

He locked onto a burly Water Bandit at the front who was holding a thick-backed machete and appeared to be a minor leader.

It was time to test his new insights!

The Python Dragon Strength within him erupted, his blood surging toward his arms like the merging of a python and a dragon.

At the same time, he skillfully adapted and transformed the "Triple Wave Surge" exertion technique from his Major Achievement in Overlapping Waves Archery, integrating it into the thrust of the Startled Swan Spear!

"Startled Swan Glimpse · Layered Waves!"

Murmuring in his heart, Chen Linsheng's arm thrust out violently!

This thrust seemed no different from usual—fast as lightning, aimed straight at the Water Bandit leader's chest.

The bandit leader saw the spear coming and grinned savagely, swinging his thick-backed machete to parry. He was confident that his brute strength and the thick blade were enough to block this seemingly ordinary thrust.

"Clang!"

The spear tip collided with the blade, producing a crisp sound.

The bandit leader only felt a surge of fierce power, numbing his arm. He was horrified but could still hold his ground.

However, this was only the beginning!

Just as the first layer of force passed, a second, more concentrated and penetrative hidden force followed closely behind like a lurking ocean wave, erupting violently!

"Crack!" The thick-backed machete was actually forced into a crack by this hidden force!

The bandit leader's webbing between his thumb and index finger split, blood flowing freely, his eyes filled with unbelievable terror.

Before he could react, a third layer of wave force—swirling with a tearing and strangling power—had already penetrated directly into his body through the spear tip!

"Pfft—!"

The bandit leader was struck as if by a heavy blow. His chest visibly caved in, and he was sent flying several yards back as if hit by an invisible giant wave, crashing heavily onto the water surface with a large splash. It was clear he wouldn't survive.

One thrust, triple force! Breaking defense, destroying the weapon, and killing the enemy!

The fast boat fell silent instantly. Both the Water Patrol Division soldiers and the remaining Water Bandits were deterred by this earth-shaking thrust.

That seemingly ordinary thrust actually contained such terrifying, layered, and unpredictable power!

"Good!" A brilliant light erupted in Shi Poyue's eyes, and he couldn't help but cheer.

He could see that Chen Linsheng's thrust had already captured some of the essence of "Aura," and his use of force was far superior to that of an ordinary Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artist.

Chen Linsheng slowly withdrew his spear, his heart also filled with joy.

Integrating the Layered Waves exertion into his spear technique was indeed amazingly powerful!

This made him even more determined on his path of fusing his martial arts.

With their leader killed in an instant, the remaining Water Bandits lost all will to fight. Under the onslaught of the Water Patrol Division soldiers, they were soon either killed or surrendered.

The battle ended, and everyone began to clear the battlefield, searching the bandits' boats and the temporary camp they had built on the nearby shore.

"Boss! Senior Brother! Come quickly!" Zhao Tiezhu emerged from the hold of a larger bandit ship, his face ashen and his voice carrying suppressed anger.

Chen Linsheng and Shi Poyue walked over quickly and lifted the hatch. A foul air mixed with the smell of sweat, mold, and a faint scent of blood hit them.

In the dim cabin, twenty or thirty people were packed tightly together—men, women, and even half-grown children. Every one of them was emaciated, their eyes numb with fear, and their hands and feet were bound with coarse ropes.

"Bastards!" Shi Poyue was furious. He grabbed a captured Water Bandit and shouted sternly, "Speak! What is going on with these people?!"

The bandit was already scared out of his wits. Slumping to the ground, he tearfully confessed, "Hero, spare me... It was... it was the higher-ups who ordered the transport... Not just this ship, two batches were sent away a few days ago... They are all refugees and poor families tricked or kidnapped from the neighboring Linchuan Prefecture... They said... they said they were being sent to Qinghe County... for... for a great use..."

"Transported where? Handed over to whom?" Shi Poyue's voice was as cold as a winter wind.

"I... I really don't know... Every time we reached the designated location, someone would meet us. They were masked, and I couldn't see them clearly... I only... only know it seems to have... have something to do with the Black Mountain Gang..."

"Black Mountain Gang! It's the Black Mountain Gang again!" Shi Poyue trembled with rage, punching the gunwale and sending wood chips flying. "Kidnapping people, how utterly heartless! What do they want to do?!"

Chen Linsheng's heart also chilled. Connecting this to Zhang Yuchen's bizarre state of needing to consume blood and Qi, the fate of these kidnapped people could well be imagined!

This was no longer just a Jianghu dispute, but a revolting, demonic act!

"Senior Brother, this is no small matter. We must immediately escort these criminals and witnesses back to the county yamen and inform the Master and the County Magistrate!" Chen Linsheng said solemnly.

"Right!" Suppressing his anger, Shi Poyue ordered, "Organize the team, take all the prisoners and these victims, and return immediately!"

Just as everyone had escorted the prisoners ashore and was preparing to set off—

Suddenly—

"Wu—wa—!"

A shrill, piercing howl—sounding like both crying and laughing, as if it could penetrate the Soul—rang out without warning from the distant mountains!

This howl contained a bizarre power that pierced the eardrums and shook the mind.

Most of the Water Patrol Division soldiers on the boat and on the shore turned pale, feeling their blood surge and their heads spin. A few with weaker cultivation even collapsed directly to the ground and began to vomit.

Even Senior Brother Shi Poyue swayed, his expression instantly becoming solemn, clearly having been significantly affected.

Chen Linsheng also felt an evil mental power trying to invade his mind and disrupt his Qi.

But his Hunyuan True Body Foundation was solid, and coupled with the powerful mental perception and composure from his Tracking Perfection, the spirit book in his mind vibrated slightly, and the discomfort receded like a tide. His eyes instantly regained their clarity.

He snapped his head up and looked toward the sound. In the distant sky, a mass of thick, ink-like, churning black cloud was whistling past the mountain ridge at an incredible speed!

Wherever that black cloud passed, the trees below seemed to have all their vitality instantly drained, withering, turning yellow, and becoming fly ash at a visible rate!

It was as if a trail of death was spreading through the mountains!

"What kind of ghostly thing is that?!"

Chen Linsheng was terrified. From that black cloud, he felt an extremely filthy, deathly, and predatory evil Aura, far more heart-palpitating than the Jade Water Toad!

This was definitely no ordinary Essence Spirit or Martial Artist!

"Danger! Senior Brother, get in the water!"

Chen Linsheng reacted extremely quickly, grabbing Shi Poyue, who was still resisting the influence of the howl, and preparing to jump into the river.

In the water, with his Mastery of Water Nature and Hunyuan True Body, he might have a slim chance of survival.

Just then—

"Shoo—!"

A brilliant and dazzling seven-colored light, like a rainbow bridge piercing the sky, shot out from another direction!

That light was pure and sharp, carrying a noble righteousness that could cleanse evil and purify the world. Its speed exceeded the limits of visual capture!

"Ah—!"

A painful and angry shrill scream came from the black cloud, as if it had been severely burned by the seven-colored light.

It suddenly stalled, churning even more violently. Having clearly suffered a loss, it didn't dare flee in its original direction and hurriedly turned, flying desperately toward the deeper mountains.

Chen Linsheng's pupils contracted, his eyes fixed on the source of the seven-colored light.

Beneath the distant clouds, a magnificent, snow-white giant crane was soaring with its wings spread.

On the back of the crane stood a woman, facing the wind.

She wore a tight-fitting, moon-white martial outfit that outlined her tall and vigorous figure.

Her black hair fell like a waterfall, tied up with only a simple jade hairpin. Her face was hard to see clearly due to the distance, but her cold, frost-like, and aloof temperament seemed to transcend space and reach straight into one's heart.

In her hand, she held a longbow with an ancient design that nevertheless flowed with a shimmering treasure light, the bowstring still vibrating slightly.

Obviously, that world-shaking seven-colored arrow that forced back the black cloud just now had come from her hand!

"That's..." Shi Poyue had also barely suppressed the discomfort in his heart and followed Chen Linsheng's gaze. When he saw the crane and the person clearly, his eyes widened, and a look of extreme shock and disbelief appeared on his face as he cried out:

"Colorful Clouds Chasing Wind, Shen Rushuang! It's Shen Rushuang, ranked forty-fifth on the hidden dragon ranking! Why would she appear here?!"

hidden dragon ranking? Shen Rushuang?

Chen Linsheng's heart shook violently.

Although he didn't know exactly what the hidden dragon ranking was, hearing this title, seeing this Aura, and the style of that world-shaking arrow, he knew that this woman was definitely a peerless Genius far beyond his imagination!

The white crane gave a clear cry and, carrying the woman named Shen Rushuang, turned into a white rainbow and chased after the fleeing black cloud, disappearing into the sky in an instant.