234: Diversion

The night was deep, and all sounds were hushed.

Inside the carriage, Qin Feng sat cross-legged in meditation, but his mind was entirely focused on the light screen in his Sea of Consciousness, which refreshed on time.

【Daily Intelligence Refreshed (zi hour):】

1. 【Green】: The Yin Demon Sect is infuriated by your repeated interference with their plans. Sect Master Zhongli Wu recently attempted to deduce your whereabouts using a blood sacrifice secret technique. However, the casting process encountered a powerful backlash and sanction from the residual aura of a ??? power, causing a major setback to the deduction core.

2. 【Green】: Before the Yin Demon Sect Saintess perished from the blood sacrifice backlash, she used her final spiritual intuition and fragmented deduction information to write down a blurry lead in blood—'White River Town,' where you are expected to arrive tomorrow. Before she died, she managed to write a residual character for 'White'.

3. 【Black】: Due to the failure of the deduction, Yin Demon Sect Master Zhongli Wu (Late Stage Martial Emperor) and the Corpse Demon Sect Master (Mid-stage Martial Emperor) have become even more murderous. They have decided to personally join forces and lead their elite subordinates to strike. If you proceed to White River Town as planned and are discovered while locked on, given your current strength, the probability of being killed in action or captured is as high as fifty percent. It is recommended to immediately stay away from any place names containing the word 'White' or significantly associated locations.

“What?!”

Qin Feng's breath suddenly hitched, and his mind shook violently. He nearly jolted out of his meditative state as a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

The two green pieces of intelligence were somewhat expected, even explaining where that inexplicable unease in his heart had come from—it was indeed the Yin Demon Sect making trouble, and they seemed to have suffered a huge loss, even losing their Saintess. But that black warning... two Sect Masters who are Martial Emperors personally taking action?! A death rate as high as fifty percent if locked on?!

This wasn't just taking him seriously; it was a total extermination order! A sense of absurd chill rose in Qin Feng's heart. He was only a Mid-stage Martial King; what right did he have to make two Martial Emperors, one of whom was a Late Stage powerhouse, not hesitate to join forces to personally hunt him down?

That remaining fifty percent chance of survival was likely the result of the System's evaluation including the combined strength of Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom, both Late Stage Martial Kings, the increasingly proficient Four Symbols Battle Array of the four of them, and the pile of abnormal Heaven Rank defensive gear on his body! Even so, it was only a fifty-fifty life-or-death situation!

“I can't go to White River Town! Absolutely not!” This thought exploded in Qin Feng's mind like a thunderclap. The System had clearly pointed out the risk with a black warning and given the suggestion to “stay away from places with the word 'White',” which was almost the most direct life-saving hint possible.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning emotions, and his eyes regained their clear sharpness. Without the slightest hesitation, he stood up and lightly knocked on the carriage wall.

Soon, the figures of Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom appeared silently by the campfire. Xia Ya, Ji Ruxue, and Xiao Chun were also startled awake and gathered around, their faces showing confusion.

“Senior Brother Tao,” Qin Feng said directly, his expression solemn, “I was feeling restless just now and had a vague premonition. That White River Town... I fear there is great danger looming, and it is by no means a safe place. I wonder if there is another path to bypass it and continue toward the Imperial Capital besides passing through White River Town?”

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed across Tao Yuanyi's gentle and calm face. He gave Qin Feng a deep look but did not press him on where the premonition came from. As a Core Disciple of Medicine King Valley, he knew well that some people were exceptionally gifted or had special Cultivation Techniques that gave them an extraordinary perception of crisis. He pondered for a moment, took out the leather route map from his robes again, and pointed to another more winding route by the faint embers of the campfire.

“To avoid White River Town... there is indeed a path.” Tao Yuanyi's finger landed on an area marked as a dense forest on the map. “Turn northwest from here and enter the edge of the 'Ancient Wood Deep Forest,' then cross the 'Old Crow Ridge' on its outskirts to bypass White River Town and its surrounding areas. However...”

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. “This path is much longer, taking at least five to seven days more. Furthermore, although the 'Ancient Wood Deep Forest' is only the edge, it is not a peaceful place. Yao Beasts haunt it, poisonous insects and miasma appear intermittently, and the path is difficult to discern, making it far more dangerous than the official road. There are even rumors that strange things occasionally happen deep in the forest, so ordinary merchants and Martial Artists stay far away from it.”

“Ancient Wood Deep Forest?” Qin Feng's heart stirred; the name seemed somewhat familiar. He quickly recalled and suddenly remembered—among the class a missions he had accepted at Medicine King Valley, the mission for the Alchemy Hall to find the 'Wood Guardian Spirit' mentioned a location that seemed to be deep within the 'Ancient Wood Deep Forest'! He hadn't expected to cross paths with this place under such circumstances.

Xia Ya scratched her head. “Yao Beasts? That's better than being surrounded by enemies in an ambush, right? With our current gear, dealing with Yao Beasts is easier than dealing with Martial Emperors who have brains.” She patted the black tortoise carrying mountain armor on her chest, not lacking in confidence.

Ji Ruxue said coldly, “The forest environment is complex, good for hiding and also good for ambushes. But since there's a premonition of danger at White River Town, the risks in the forest are controllable.” Her meaning was clear: choose the lesser of two evils.

Xiao Chun hugged Little Fire, who had been startled awake and was looking around blankly, and whispered, “I'll listen to Brother Feng.”

Cold Peach Blossom remained silent, merely turning her gaze toward Tao Yuanyi, waiting for his final judgment. Clearly, this husband-and-wife duo deferred to Tao Yuanyi's opinion.

Tao Yuanyi looked at Qin Feng with an inquiring gaze. “Junior Brother Qin, matters of premonition are profoundly mysterious, but a Martial Artist's spiritual intuition cannot be ignored. Are you certain you want to change course? The path through the Ancient Wood Deep Forest is indeed much more difficult.”

Qin Feng nodded heavily, his tone resolute. “Senior Brother Tao, I am certain. We absolutely cannot go to White River Town. Even if the Ancient Wood Deep Forest has Yao Beasts and obstacles, it is ultimately a 'natural disaster,' which is better than facing a carefully arranged 'man-made calamity.' Besides,” he glanced at the map, “we aren't going deep into the heart of it, just crossing the outer edge. If we act carefully, we should be able to pass. Spending more time is better than... stepping into a death trap.”

Seeing Qin Feng's firm attitude and reasonable justification (premonition + risk comparison), Tao Yuanyi no longer hesitated. He put away the map and said decisively, “Fine! In that case, we will change course to the Ancient Wood Deep Forest. There's no time to lose. We'll take a short rest tonight and set out immediately at dawn to bypass the direction of White River Town.”

He looked at Cold Peach Blossom. “Peach Blossom, I'll take the first watch, you take the second. We must stay alert.” Cold Peach Blossom nodded slightly.

Qin Feng cupped his hands. “Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother and Senior Sister.”

The campfire was completely extinguished, and everyone returned to their positions, but sleep did not return. The atmosphere had become significantly more solemn, with a tension like an impending mountain storm filling the air.

Qin Feng sat back in the carriage, lightly stroking the ink plum sword on his lap, his gaze deep. The Yin Demon Sect, the Corpse Demon Sect... to think he had been forced to the point where two Sect Masters were personally taking action. It seemed the previous grudge was too deep and had become a fight to the death. And that unknown power in the System prompt that 'sanctioned' the blood sacrifice deduction... was that '???' the mysterious woman in blue? Who exactly was she to be able to hide the secrets of heaven?

Regardless, his chance of survival now hinged on this temporary change of path.

Ancient Wood Deep Forest... Wood Guardian Spirit... He closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing, adjusting his state to its peak. The road ahead was unknown, and the danger might have only just begun.

A hint of fish-belly white appeared on the eastern horizon.

The two carriages quietly turned, leaving the original official road, crushing the wild grass as they drove toward the edge of that ancient forest in the distance, which appeared increasingly deep and inscrutable in the morning mist, like a crouching giant beast.