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Chapter 198: An Unexpected Encounter
🕑 Added 2025-06-04 10:10:08 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
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In the summer fields, the peanut plants bloomed with clusters of golden flowers, numerous as the stars in the sky. Every leaf of the holly trees along the roadside was clearly illuminated, forming clusters like pale hydrangeas.
He Yiming slowly lowered the curtain and exchanged a glance with Yuan Lixun beside him. As the carriage swayed gently, they shared a silent understanding and smiled at each other.
This was a caravan of over a hundred people. Every guard in the convoy was an Acquired Stage expert handpicked from Tianluo Country. Even the coachman, one of them, possessed an Inner Energy cultivation of no less than seven layers.
However, within this convoy, everyone knew that the truly powerful ones were not these guards, but the three Innate powerhouses in the caravan.
For a single caravan to have three Innate presences would be incredibly startling if the news spread.
They were, of course, He Yiming and Shui Xuanjin, who had packed their belongings and were traveling with Mao Lieguang.
To say that they were not interested in such a gathering of Innate powerhouses would be self-deceiving. So, He Yiming, thick-skinned, selected some items from the Imperial Treasury, and then the three Innate masters set off together.
Innate powerhouses are never treated lightly anywhere. Yu Xiaoyi had already prepared the best carriages, coachmen, and guards for them.
Everything was taken care of; they only needed to move to the carriages.
Among the ten large carriages, there were five luxurious ones. Besides one spare, a carriage was even prepared for Yuan Lixun. This showed how meticulous the Tian Luo imperial family was towards He Yiming, the newly appointed master.
However, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun still stayed in the same carriage.
Over a hundred capable and formidable guards accompanied them. Although their combat strength was not regarded by the three Innate powerhouses, for ordinary people, this was a powerful force that could not be ignored.
Along the way, even when passing through Taicang County, no bandit group dared to plot against them.
Although the Red Scarf Bandits and other four bandit groups had disappeared in Taicang County, these people were like wild grass in spring, never truly eradicated.
However, He Yiming knew that behind these new bandits, there must be the shadow of Kairong Country. Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to revive so quickly in just over a year.
Holding Yuan Lixun's small hand, He Yiming carefully explained the local geography and customs to her. Although he himself only had a partial understanding, this did not hinder his casual improvisation.
Suddenly, He Yiming stopped. He looked up, peering through the curtain into the distance, a hint of surprise on his face.
"Young master, what's wrong?" Yuan Lixun asked obediently.
He Yiming shook his head slightly and said, "There might be some trouble, but it has nothing to do with us. Let them handle it."
At this moment, the convoy had slowly come to a halt, not due to their own reasons, but because a group of people had blocked the main road ahead of them.
The leader of the convoy was a middle-aged man over forty named Yu Kefan, one of the Tianluo Country's imperial family members. He enjoyed the deep trust of the current Kingdom Lord, which is why he was entrusted with the heavy responsibility of escorting the three Innate masters to Kairong Country.
Seeing the sudden change ahead, even though he would not have dared to believe that anyone would be so blind as to attempt to rob three Innate powerhouses, he immediately spurred his horse forward.
Arriving at the front of the convoy, his gaze was like lightning, and he immediately discerned that the blocking convoy was not to be trifled with either.
This convoy consisted of about two hundred people and twelve large carriages, all guarded by experts.
Although he was surprised, his mind was not disturbed in the slightest. Indeed, no one would panic when backed by three Innate masters.
Raising his eyebrows, Yu Kefan said loudly, "Friends ahead, please clear the main road."
From that convoy, one person stepped out. This person had a very composed appearance. His gaze swept over Yu Kefan's convoy, and he immediately showed a joyful expression, saying, "Is Your Excellency the leader of this convoy?"
Yu Kefan paused slightly, a cold feeling running down his back.
In his convoy, there were three Innate powerhouses. Even if he had the courage of a bear and a leopard, he wouldn't dare to admit that statement.
He snorted coldly and said, "Why does Your Excellency ask?"
The person opposite chuckled and said, "Brother, I see some luxurious carriages in your convoy. I wonder if you would be willing to sell one to us? The price can be negotiated."
Even with Yu Kefan's extensive experience, encountering such a situation was a first for him.
He looked again at the convoy ahead, and immediately understood the reason.
Among that convoy, there were also many luxurious large carriages, but one of them, just from its appearance, was extremely extravagant.
At this moment, several people were trying to repair something around this large carriage, clearly because the carriage had broken down midway, thus delaying the entire convoy.
He was secretly alarmed. The owner of this large carriage must be extraordinary, otherwise, it would be impossible for so many people to willingly wait for him.
However, as soon as he thought of the three important figures in his own convoy, his confidence immediately surged.
Yu Kefan unhesitatingly shook his head and said, "Your Excellency is joking. Our carriages all have purposes and cannot be sold. Please instruct your men to clear the main road."
The face of the person opposite immediately darkened. His voice turned cold, "Brother, I'm advising you kindly. It's just one carriage to share. Otherwise..."
Yu Kefan laughed heartily, looking up, "And if we don't share one?"
The person said nothing, his eyes growing colder.
The atmosphere between the two sides immediately became tense. Their respective subordinates also gripped their weapons. Gradually, a dangerous, gunpowder-like aura filled the air, seemingly ready to ignite at any moment.
He Yiming frowned. They were truly unlucky to encounter such a situation. If the two sides were to fight, then Shui Xuanjin and Mao Lieguang would certainly not be suitable to make a move, and ultimately, it would fall to him to deal with it.
He felt a slight anger in his heart. What that person was doing was no different from blocking the road and robbing.
He Yiming snorted coldly. Although the three of them were Innate powerhouses, sitting in the carriage, they had restrained their True Qi as much as possible. But at this moment, He Yiming intended to circulate his True Qi and release his aura.
However, at this moment, he heard a familiar voice sound from the opposing convoy.
"General Ting, what exactly happened? Is it necessary to draw swords and guns?"
This voice still carried a hint of a not-yet-faded youthful tone, clearly from a young man under twenty.
However, upon hearing this voice, He Yiming's heart was immediately filled with joy. He lifted the carriage curtain without hesitation, his body already leaving its original spot like a ghost, and sped towards the speaker like a gust of wind.
His movements were incredibly fast, almost in the blink of an eye, he had already arrived in front of that person.
The broken-down large carriage of the opposite convoy suddenly shook, then burst open towards He Yiming's side. An old man shot out like lightning from countless fragments of wood, abruptly blocking He Yiming. At the same time, he thrust out a palm, and sharp, piercing sounds burst continuously like firecrackers, demonstrating the power of this palm strike.
He Yiming's heart clenched. Only then did he realize that there was also an Innate powerhouse inside this large carriage.
This Innate powerhouse, like them, must have concealed all their aura, quietly staying in the carriage. That's why neither side had detected the other's presence.
His mind raced, and his hand subconsciously struck out.
With his current strength, which could be considered the best below the Single-Line Sky Realm, this palm strike, though not exerted with full power, was still swift as wind and fierce as fire, irresistible.
With a muffled sound, He Yiming's figure suddenly stood still. His body was unmoving like a mountain, his eyes filled with arrogance.
The person who met his palm strike, however, was as if struck by lightning, uncontrollably retreating backward, slamming into and cracking the large carriage behind him.
Only at this moment did the two Innate powerhouses finally see each other's faces.
Then, they both exclaimed in surprise, their faces simultaneously showing a hint of astonishment.
"Who are you..."
"Stop..."
Countless people shouted out in anger, but no one dared to make a rash move.
Suddenly, someone shouted excitedly, "Elder Brother He..."
He Yiming laughed heartily, "Brother Mingjin, I never expected to meet you here! How have you been recently?" He finished speaking, and without waiting for Xie Mingjin to answer, he slightly turned and cupped his fists in salute to the Innate master, saying, "Brother Ting, I was reckless just now, please forgive me!"
It turned out that the voice He Yiming had just heard belonged to Xie Mingjin of Fire Crow Country.
They were of similar age and had been good friends before He Yiming advanced to Innate. He Yiming naturally treated him differently.
And the one who intercepted He Yiming was Ting Shi Guang, the Nation Protecting Master of Fire Crow Country. However, at this moment, this Innate powerhouse had an expression of disbelief, looking at He Yiming with an incredulous look, as if he didn't recognize him at all.
It wasn't until He Yiming cupped his fists in salute that he stammered twice as if waking from a dream, "Master He, is it really you?"
He Yiming paused slightly, then said with a wry smile, "Brother Ting, who else could it be but me?"
He thought to himself, Could Master Ting have had a problem during his martial arts cultivation?
A hearty laugh came from another luxurious large carriage. Shui Xuanjin had dismounted at some point and was striding towards the location. Not far from him, Mao Lieguang also dismounted his carriage, but he was far less enthusiastic than Shui Xuanjin, merely nodding coldly towards them.
This attitude immediately reminded He Yiming of Mao Lieguang's arrogant demeanor when they first met. It seemed that Mao Lieguang's attitude towards people truly varied.
He Yiming couldn't help but wonder how a person with such a character could have advanced to Innate. However, on second thought, advancing to Innate seemed to have no direct connection to a cultivator's character, but rather a great deal to do with their character and luck.
"Brother Ting, ten years, no harm done, I trust?"
Ting Shi Guang's eyes brightened slightly, "Brother Shui is here too! What a coincidence..." His eyes shifted, and he immediately saw Mao Lieguang. His words faltered for a moment, then he looked relieved and chuckled, "Brother Shui, Brother He, are you also heading to Kairong Country?"
Shui Xuanjin smiled and nodded, glancing at the now dilapidated luxurious carriage. He chuckled, "Yu Kefan, bring our spare carriage for Brother Shui to use."
Everyone on both sides was already gaping in astonishment. They had initially thought that only their own convoy had Innate powerhouses, but they never expected that both sides not only had experts of that caliber but also appeared to be very familiar with each other.
Yu Kefan dared not delay, immediately acknowledged, and ordered the spare large carriage to be driven over.
Ting Shi Guang did not decline, simply nodding slightly to Shui Xuanjin.
At their level of strength and status, it was naturally impossible for them to care about a mere carriage. If the roles were reversed, Ting Shi Guang would have made the same choice.
Since the misunderstanding had been cleared, everyone naturally continued on their way. However, unlike before, the two contingents had merged, becoming even larger.
The person who had confronted Yu Kefan earlier was a disciple of the Fire Crow Country's imperial family named Ting Guili. His status in Fire Crow Country was comparable to Yu Kefan's in Tianluo Country. The two could be said to have become acquainted through conflict. After the convoys merged, they even started calling each other "brother."
He Yiming invited Xie Mingjin into his luxurious carriage. Xie Mingjin gladly entered, and was momentarily stunned upon seeing Yuan Lixun.
"Brother Xie, this is my wife, Yuan Lixun of the Jinlin Yuan Family," He Yiming introduced with a smile.
Xie Mingjin immediately focused and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, sister-in-law."
Yuan Lixun's heart sweetened, and she prepared his tea and snacks with extra care.
Sitting in the carriage, Xie Mingjin said happily, "Elder Brother He, although I'm in Fire Crow, I've heard of your remarkable achievements. To have you as an elder brother, my life has no regrets."
He Yiming laughed wryly, "Nonsense, what remarkable achievements could I possibly have?"
Xie Mingjin quickly said, "How could you not? In Jinlin Country, you killed Bloody Butcher Lu Xinwen; in Taicang County, you annihilated two thousand bandits with one blade; and in Tianluo Country's capital, the national battle against Master Cheng Fu of Kairong Country. These deeds have spread throughout Fire Crow!"
He Yiming was stunned for a long while. The other things were fine, but the rumor of slaying two thousand people with one blade, even though it wasn't the first time he'd heard it, still made him smile wryly.
However, he already understood that the more he tried to explain such matters, the more rumors would spread, so he simply let it be and ignored it.
The two talked for a moment, and He Yiming now understood why they had suddenly appeared here.
Fire Crow Country also belonged to a small country within Kairong Country's sphere of influence. This time, the gathering of many Innate masters also invited Ting Shi Guang.
Before Ting Shi Guang set off, he summoned Xie Mingjin to accompany him.
They had originally intended to meet He Yiming in Kairong Country's capital, but they didn't expect to encounter He Yiming before reaching their destination.
This time meeting Xie Mingjin, although he seemed a little more mature than before, his true nature had not changed much. Therefore, He Yiming felt particularly relaxed when spending time with him.
This feeling had become increasingly rare as his strength continuously improved. Even in He Family Village, he only experienced it when he was with his beloved ninth brother, Yitao.
As for his other brothers, even Elder Brother Yitian, though still close as family, He Yiming clearly felt that they tended to be more and more reserved in front of him.
Although He Yiming tried his best to change this, some things simply couldn't be changed to his liking.
After a while, He Yiming suddenly stopped speaking. He pondered for a moment and finally made a decision in his heart, saying, "Brother Xie, when I, your elder brother, advanced to Innate at your esteemed residence, I once promised Old Mr. Zhien that if I achieved something within three years, I would certainly protect him and strengthen his meridians to help him break through to the Innate Realm."
Xie Mingjin's face immediately showed a hint of nervousness, staring at He Yiming motionlessly.
He Yiming smiled slightly. Xie Mingjin was still Xie Mingjin; all his thoughts were written on his face. But precisely because of this, He Yiming held him in high regard.
"My schedule is quite tight, but I'll probably be staying in Kairong Country for a while this time. If Old Mr. Zhien is willing to move to Kairong Country, that would be for the best."
Xie Mingjin nodded ecstatically, agreeing wholeheartedly, and immediately ordered Xie Mansion's confidants to return to Fire Crow.
Although Xie Zhien was very old, he was remarkably robust. For the opportunity to break through to the Innate Realm, let alone traveling to Kairong Country, he would gladly tour the Northwest Countries if it meant achieving his goal.
In another luxurious large carriage, Shui Xuanjin and Ting Shi Guang sat opposite each other.
The two of them were old friends. Although their ages differed by over fifty years, their friendship was deep.
Ting Shi Guang pointed with his hand and said, "Brother Shui, Mao Lieguang personally accompanying you two. That's quite an impressive showing."
Shui Xuanjin chuckled dismissively, "Don't you know his personality? If Brother He hadn't dampened his arrogance, how could he be so well-behaved?"
Ting Shi Guang's eyes flashed, "So, the recent rumor that Master He defeated Mao Lieguang with one move isn't false?"
Shui Xuanjin smiled proudly, his face showing unconcealed triumph, as if the one who made the move wasn't He Yiming, but himself.
Ting Shi Guang opened his mouth, mumbling, "Impossible, impossible..."
Shui Xuanjin said displeased, "Brother Ting, what's impossible?"
Ting Shi Guang smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Shui might not know, but Master He actually successfully advanced to Innate in our Fire Crow Country. But it hasn't even been two years since he successfully advanced." He took a deep breath and said, "Two years! Can less than two years of cultivation truly defeat Mao Lieguang?"
Shui Xuanjin opened his mouth to speak but ultimately closed it. In his heart, he had the same thoughts.
Those who can advance to Innate are certainly geniuses. Those who surpass these geniuses are naturally geniuses among geniuses, but what about those who surpass these geniuses too much...?
For a moment, the two were speechless. However, in Ting Shi Guang's heart, he was devoured by a poison called regret.
If he had known earlier that He Yiming had such potential, then their Fire Crow imperial family, even if they had to sell everything they owned and go bankrupt, would have invited him to serve as Fire Crow's Nation Protecting Master.
But at this moment...
Ting Shi Guang looked at Shui Xuanjin, who was deep in thought. The envy and jealousy in his heart were truly beyond words!
