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Chapter 240: Whim of the Moment
🕑 Added 2025-06-20 20:19:34 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
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A continuous plain stretched out under the sky, with no hills or ridges, as calm as the sea on a windless day.
This place was already far from the capital of Kairong Country.
About twenty strong horses and three ordinary carriages sped across this Northwest plain.
Although the three carriages looked very ordinary, the horses pulling them were anything but.
Including the knights, the horses they rode, though not necessarily exceptional steeds, were all excellent military horses.
Among all the horses, there was only one strong horse, red like fire and blood, with no saddle on its back, no one riding it, and no harness to pull a carriage.
It was like a lone ranger, following closely behind one of the large carriages, galloping neither fast nor slow.
The curtain suddenly lifted, revealing He Yiming's face.
As soon as it saw He Yiming, the riderless red horse immediately neighed, and even its long tail swayed behind it.
He Yiming laughed loudly, and then, a sudden thought struck him. He turned and said, "Lixun, riding in a carriage is too tiring. How about we ride horses instead?"
Inside the carriage, Yuan Lixun smiled faintly. Just as she nodded, she felt a tightening around her waist. She was already embraced by He Yiming, and then, as if soaring through the clouds, she flew out of the carriage and onto the excited Hong Ling horse.
The Hong Ling horse's large eyes sparkled with excitement. It immediately dashed off, instantly surpassing the leading knight. Its four hooves churned, its long mane streamed, its magnificent posture like a homing pigeon enduring hardships to cross oceans, like a petrel soaring in a storm.
In almost a blink of an eye, it had become a tiny black dot in everyone's eyes.
The leading knight reached out a hand, opening his mouth to speak, but the words died on his lips.
He suddenly remembered his status and theirs. Even the Supreme Elder and Elder Lu, who were sitting in the carriages behind, paid no mind. How could he, then, have the right to call out to them?
The curtain of one of the two carriages behind them had lifted at some point. Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi exchanged a smile. However, their gazes then turned to the last carriage.
At this moment, there was a hint of alarm and doubt in their eyes.
Since they had left the capital of Kairong Country, they had declined Zhan Tianfeng's kind offer of an escort, bringing only a group of Hengshan Mountain disciples towards Tianluo Country.
Along the way, they did not wish to attract attention, so the prepared carriages, though not small, were not luxurious. However, the horses pulling the carriages and the mounts ridden by the disciples were all carefully selected. Although not as precious as the Hong Ling horse, they were definitely presentable.
On these three ordinary carriages, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun naturally shared one, Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi shared another, and the last one was for the mysterious One Hundred and Eight to ride alone.
However, to the surprise of Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi, two Innate experts, ever since One Hundred and Eight entered the carriage, they had lost all sense of this super expert.
In their perception, there seemed to be no one in that last carriage.
Even when they had focused their True Qi to its peak, they still could not hear or sense any sound coming from behind.
Suddenly, a gust of north wind howled...
Although this was not the Northern Frontier Ice Plains, the wind here was not small at all.
After the strong wind blew, there was a fluttering sound. The curtain of the last carriage suddenly billowed up. Although it only lifted halfway, and it was only a fleeting glimpse, Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi both clearly saw what was inside the carriage.
They were both startled, then turned and looked at each other, a hint of surprise and uncertainty in their eyes.
A moment later, under Lu Zhengyi's questioning gaze, Yu Jinglei nodded imperceptibly.
Lu Zhengyi stepped forward, came to the last carriage, clasped his hands, and said, "Senior Bai, Elder He and Miss Yuan have gone riding for pleasure. Should we wait here, or proceed slowly?"
Inside the carriage, there was dead silence, as if One Hundred and Eight inside had not heard the words.
As Lu Zhengyi spoke, all the Hengshan Mountain disciples held their breath. In their hearts, someone whom even the Supreme Elder and the Elder called "Senior" was surely not someone they could approach.
However, after a long while, there was still no human voice. Only the continuous north wind and a few sporadic horse neighs.
Lu Zhengyi hesitated, then repeated himself. This time, however, his tone was even more sincere and his attitude more humble.
It was an extremely rare thing for an Innate expert to speak to someone in such a low-key manner.
A ridiculously absurd feeling arose in everyone's hearts, but no one dared to laugh, or even show the slightest smile.
It was still quiet, with no sound.
Lu Zhengyi gritted his teeth, took a step forward, and gently grasped a corner of the carriage curtain.
He was fully on guard. As soon as there was the slightest unusual movement, he would immediately let go and retreat. Judging by how Senior Bai treated Supreme Elder He Yiming, as long as he could quickly leave, he probably wouldn't be pursued to the death.
Finally, under everyone's watchful eyes, the carriage curtain was lifted.
However, to everyone's dumbfounded surprise, the carriage was empty.
Lu Zhengyi lowered the curtain. Although he was mentally prepared, a strange expression still hung on his face.
Returning to Yu Jinglei's side, Lu Zhengyi whispered, "Uncle, did you see when he left?"
Yu Jinglei shook his head slightly and said, "I didn't see him." He turned and looked in the direction He Yiming had just left, saying slowly, "Perhaps, Senior Bai went after Elder He."
"But Elder He hadn't left yet when we came out," Lu Zhengyi lowered his voice and said, "Could it be that Senior Bai had already left before Elder He did?"
Yu Jinglei's mouth twitched slightly, a hint of red appearing on his face.
If One Hundred and Eight had truly slipped away before they came out, then so be it. However, if this person did not do so, but rather left after they came out, without anyone noticing, that would be truly terrifying.
After pondering for a moment, Yu Jinglei shook his head and said, "Forget it, tell them to hurry up and try to meet up with Elder He soon. Sigh, he's already a Supreme Elder, yet he's still so..."
At this point, Yu Jinglei seemed to have suddenly remembered something and immediately stopped speaking.
Although He Yiming was a Supreme Elder of the Single-Line Sky Realm, he was not yet twenty years old. It seemed that it was not a big deal for him to occasionally do something that seemed frivolous in the eyes of those who were older and more composed.
No matter how dissatisfied Yu Jinglei was, he could not be critical of this small matter.
After the two elders re-entered the carriages, the team set off again, accelerating towards Tianluo Country.
Of course, expecting them to catch up with and find Supreme Elder He Yiming in a short time was also out of the question.
The sound of the carriages gradually faded, and when everything returned to calm.
A patch of ground suddenly bulged upwards. Slowly, One Hundred and Eight's figure appeared on this empty ground.
He looked up, and his eyes once again glowed like small suns.
Since he was hired by He Yiming, he had never done such a thing in front of others. But now, with no one around, he naturally didn't care.
No one knew that in his eyes at this moment, a peculiar angle change was forming.
Like a high-magnification astronomical telescope, his eyes could even see things tens of thousands of meters away clearly.
Not only that, this vision also had powerful penetrative ability, plus it could simulate various functions of many advanced instruments like thermal imagers. No matter how fast the Hong Ling horse was, it would be impossible for it to escape his detectable range in a short time.
With this ability, which could be called clairvoyance, even He Yiming, in terms of tracking ability on such an open plain, was far inferior to him.
Soon, he locked onto the direction, and his eyes quickly returned to normal. Then, with a shift of his feet, he dashed forward with unparalleled speed.
His body was as if weightless, almost floating three inches above the ground. A mere stride covered ten meters. His two feet were like high-powered machines, gaining speed faster and faster, until finally, a blur appeared.
The route One Hundred and Eight took was not a straight line, but a wide circle, avoiding Yu Jinglei and the others.
However, even so, it only took him less than an hour to catch up with the Hong Ling horse and follow it closely like a shadow.
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He Yiming held Yuan Lixun, and the two rode together. The strong wind blowing across their faces made them even more delighted, feeling as if they could travel the entire world on the Hong Ling horse.
The Hong Ling horse let loose its hooves and ran wildly, no longer bothering with the horse team behind it. It galloped and soared across the grasslands at its top speed, flying like a dart.
Although there was no saddle on its back, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, with their current abilities, were not affected in the slightest. Moreover, the Hong Ling horse was inherently extremely stable when galloping, remaining as steady as a mountain even when running at such a furious pace.
They didn't know how long they had been running like this, but the Hong Ling horse was covered in dense beads of sweat.
However, even so, it still seemed not to have had enough, instead playfully stomping its feet, as if it could go on forever.
It was He Yiming who felt a little reluctant. He gently stroked the horse's back and lightly squeezed its flanks with his legs.
The Hong Ling horse immediately understood its master's intention, and its speed gradually slowed down.
Like people, horses should not stop immediately after a long period of continuous galloping. Instead, they should proceed at a slow trot for a period of time.
He Yiming looked back, and as far as his eyes could see, there was nothing.
After the Hong Ling horse's wild run, the group of Hengshan Mountain disciples had long been left behind, somewhere unknown.
Yuan Lixun suddenly covered her mouth and smiled, saying, "Yiming, you're looking for Mister One Hundred and Eight, aren't you?"
He Yiming nodded slightly. He closed his eyes, and his ears twitched faintly.
Although there was no sign of life from One Hundred and Eight, He Yiming could not hear his voice. But if he wanted to keep up with the Hong Ling horse, he would certainly give He Yiming an opportunity to hear him.
Indeed, a moment later, He Yiming opened his eyes, a hint of subtle triumph in them.
If One Hundred and Eight stood still, even an immortal would not be able to discover him. But if he wanted to track the Hong Ling horse, he would have to reveal his whereabouts.
Upon seeing the triumphant look in He Yiming's eyes, Yuan Lixun immediately understood. She smiled sweetly and asked, "How far is Mister Bai from here?"
"Very close." He Yiming laughed loudly and said, "Brother Bai, come over quickly, otherwise we're leaving."
Upon hearing his summons, the distant One Hundred and Eight immediately sped up. Once he picked up speed, even a fine horse like the Hong Ling horse would have to give way.
A moment later, One Hundred and Eight finally appeared before them.
Looking at the expressionless One Hundred and Eight, He Yiming said with a forced smile, "Brother Bai, we were carried away by the moment just now, and were a bit rude. Please forgive us."
One Hundred and Eight looked up and said coldly, "It's no problem. I am your bodyguard. My task is to ensure your safety, not to limit or restrict your activities."
A strange light flashed in He Yiming's eyes. He hadn't expected One Hundred and Eight to be so agreeable on this matter.
However, One Hundred and Eight immediately followed up, "But if your lives are threatened, I also have the right to forbid you from entering dangerous places."
He Yiming paused, then asked, "What dangerous places?"
"Places that could kill you."
He Yiming's mouth twitched slightly, trying to suppress the urge to roll his eyes.
If there was a place that could kill him, why would he go there? This guy's words truly lacked human touch.
Yuan Lixun chuckled, looked up at the sky, and said, "Yiming, it's getting late. Should we go back, or wait here for the Elders?"
He Yiming chuckled, pointing ahead, and said, "Since we've come this far, why go back? I heard a horse team setting up camp there just now. Let's go stay there for the night."
Yuan Lixun nodded slightly. Since it was He Yiming's decision, she would support it unconditionally.
As for One Hundred and Eight, as long as He Yiming did not enter what he considered dangerous areas, there would be no objection.
As he said, he was the bodyguard for He Yiming and his wife, not their superior or elder.
The three people and one horse continued forward, but this time He Yiming consciously slowed the horse's pace so as not to startle others with the Hong Ling horse's speed.
Before the sun overhead gradually set below the horizon, they had already reached the front of the caravan.
This was a medium-sized caravan of over three hundred people. From a distance, He Yiming could see many people dressed in different clothing. Some were setting up tents, some were making fires for cooking, and others were on alert.
Although these people clearly came from different factions, their division of labor was orderly, indicating that this was clearly not their first time cooperating on this road.
He Yiming suddenly felt Yuan Lixun's questioning gaze. He smiled slightly and said, "These people should be small merchants. If they travel alone, they will inevitably be robbed. So, by uniting, even if they don't hire protection, as long as they travel together, their safety can be greatly improved."
Yuan Lixun was then relieved. Although the Yuan Family was not a prominent family with a thousand-year heritage, hundreds of years of history had accumulated a considerable family fortune.
There were many people in the manor, and even if they wanted to transport goods, the retainers, attendants, and housemen in the manor were enough to handle it.
So, although she had heard of such small merchant caravans, this was her first time seeing one.
At this time, those responsible for guarding and keeping watch had discovered them, and there was some commotion within the entire caravan.
However, because there were only three of them, the commotion quickly ceased. Most people returned to their work, but in their direction of travel, ten or so more people appeared, scrutinizing them with wary gazes.
Facing these cautious gazes, He Yiming chuckled heartily, clasped his hands, and said, "Gentlemen, my wife and I, and this Eldest Brother, were in a bit of a hurry and missed our lodging. We'd like to ask to stay here for the night."
The leader was a stern-faced man, looking capable and with sharp, piercing eyes that swept over He Yiming and the two others, as if trying to discern their origins.
However, he was quickly disappointed, as he suddenly realized that he couldn't see through these few people at all.
His usually proud discernment seemed to have failed him at this moment.
The only feeling these three people gave him was... unfathomable.
His brows furrowed slightly. He vaguely felt that such individuals should not be offended.
He cleared his throat and said, "Gentlemen, I am Xu Su, the leader of this team, from Tai'a County in Tianluo Country. We just returned from Kairong Country. May I ask if the three of you are from Kairong Country or Tianluo Country?"
He Yiming held his head high, a rather arrogant expression on his face.
Xu Su and the people behind him were all sharp-eyed individuals. Seeing He Yiming's expression, they immediately cursed their bad luck inwardly; they had encountered someone from Kairong Country.
The two countries were neighbors, and although there was no war, the residents on both sides of the border had some sense of competition.
Kairong Country was one of the Three Great Northwestern Powers, with thriving national strength, naturally incomparable to Tianluo Country. Therefore, people from Kairong Country always had a superior attitude in front of people from Tianluo Country.
However, just as their brows furrowed, they heard He Yiming declare loudly, "Of course we are from Tianluo Country."
Strictly speaking, only He Yiming was from Tianluo Country, Yuan Lixun was from Jinlin Country, and as for One Hundred and Eight... Heaven knows where he was from, he could be directly ignored.
However, since He Yiming was the leader at this moment, everyone automatically became people of Tianluo Country.
