Chapter 68: Time to Return!

Cheng Yi’s face was dark, on the verge of erupting in anger.

Within the Research Institute, his reputation was considerable. As a ninth-rank martial artist, his strength was among the top, and his temperament was calm yet decisive, always able to keep his mind clear. Many of the Institute’s most challenging problems had been solved by him. The Director valued him immensely, deciding to allocate resources to elevate him to the rank of General, so he could lead the Institute’s armed forces.

This time, although the Director had ordered that a General-level martial artist be dispatched, few took it seriously. With Cheng Yi taking charge, such a minor issue was hardly worth worrying about. Not only did the Institute’s bigwigs trust him implicitly, but the high-ranking martial artists who followed him were full of confidence in his abilities.

He himself felt the same.

Not only a mere Fang Qingyun—even other major forces in Flower City would be flattened under his heel.

But now, he realized he had been too optimistic.

Moreover, the enemy was definitely not as they had guessed—certainly not just that little brat Fang Qingyun.

So many traps—Fang Qingyun had left the Institute only yesterday. How could he have set all this up in such a short time? Even if he split himself into three, it wouldn’t be possible.

Was he really so clever, able to calculate everything in advance? And was he somehow immune to the toxic air while laying traps in the Poisonous Marsh?

“Which force is behind this, and why are they targeting the Research Institute?” Cheng Yi felt a headache coming on.

The Institute was domineering and held a transcendent position. It had blocked many people’s paths and made countless enemies, both deliberately and inadvertently. Judging by that alone, the list of possible adversaries was endless.

“Should we keep pursuing?” Cheng Yi stared ahead.

Decisive as he was, even he began to hesitate.

If it were anywhere else, Cheng Yi would hunt them down to the end. But here, in the Poisonous Marsh, the enemy had too many advantages. His group was now mentally exhausted and physically injured to varying degrees. If they encountered another ambush...

They might all perish!

...

Bang!

With a dull thud, Shen Yuan was knocked to the ground by a single punch from Fang Qingyun.

Nearby, Du Lin had already collapsed.

Fang Qingyun stretched and moved his body, occasional crisp sounds echoing from his joints.

At that moment, his body seemed heavy as a mountain; merely looking at him induced a suffocating sense of oppression.

He stood unmoving, then suddenly struck.

Sizzle!

Where his fist passed, the space twisted, the void boomed.

Bang!

His fist struck a tree.

Crack!

A tree more than fifty centimeters in diameter was pierced straight through.

This sight made Shen Yuan’s pupils contract. He exchanged glances with Du Lin, both filled with fear.

He’s gotten stronger again!

In such a short time... Is there really such genius in this world?

“Not bad,” Fang Qingyun remarked with a faint smile.

He had nearly mastered this body and could now increase its attributes further.

But he was in no rush.

He turned his gaze back to the path he’d come.

The Research Institute’s people ought to be catching up soon.

He had left so many traps for them to enjoy; most likely, they would choose to go around. Of course, there might be stubborn ones among them.

Whichever situation arose, it was time to call it quits.

“You can go now,” Fang Qingyun suddenly said.

Du Lin and Shen Yuan stood dumbfounded.

“Sir, what did you say?” Du Lin asked, vacant.

“I said, it’s over. You can go back. I should go home and sleep. After all this trouble today, I’m exhausted,” Fang Qingyun replied, so casually and naturally, as if it were just thirst requiring a drink.

Du Lin and Shen Yuan were utterly confused.

They stared blankly at Fang Qingyun.

Was he drunk, or had they been beaten so badly they were hallucinating?

He had killed five guards at the gates of the Research Institute, destroyed the Institute’s surveillance—a blatant provocation. The entire Institute was alarmed, dispatching countless experts to hunt him down.

And now he said he wanted to go home and sleep?

Had he been poisoned silly by the marsh’s toxic air?!

Did he think this was a game, that he could just stop whenever he wanted?

He wouldn’t dare step into Flower City—let him try!

Try it!!!

Ah!!!

“What are you standing there for?” Fang Qingyun glanced at them. “I’m heading that way. You can return however you like, say whatever you want to your people.”

“But remember, from today, you are my dogs. Got it?”

Fang Qingyun stretched lazily.

Shen Yuan and Du Lin remained silent.

After a long pause, Shen Yuan asked quietly, “Sir, what are you really thinking?”

To be Fang Qingyun’s dogs—fine.

They didn’t want to die, so they’d already revealed many Institute secrets.

If those things came out, the Institute would execute them without mercy—that would actually be the best outcome.

But they truly didn’t understand Fang Qingyun.

From the very beginning, he was an enigma.

“What I think is none of your concern,” Fang Qingyun said with a cheerful smile. “Just keep yourselves alive and wait for my call.”

“Remember, survival comes first. Ignore everything else.”

“Sell my information if you like—the more, the better; it’ll increase your chances of staying alive.”

With that, Fang Qingyun turned and walked deeper into the Poisonous Marsh.

Shen Yuan and Du Lin watched his retreating figure, at a loss.

He really left?

Heading back to Flower City?

What did he take the Institute for?

Du Lin asked awkwardly, “What do we do now?”

“What else?” Shen Yuan took a deep breath. “As he said, our priority is keeping ourselves alive.”

If they couldn’t manage that, nothing else mattered.

Moreover, the only reason they agreed to be Fang Qingyun’s dogs was to survive.

Keeping themselves alive—was that so difficult?

Not at all.

If they died, who would care about Fang Qingyun!

Shortly after Fang Qingyun left, Cheng Yi arrived with a group of high-ranking martial artists.

Seeing the two collapsed figures, Cheng Yi frowned deeply.

“Du Lin, Shen Yuan, what happened to you two?”

Not only the Institute, but even in all of Flower City, there were barely more than a hundred high-ranking martial artists. Everyone knew each other, especially among the Institute’s personnel.

This time, the Institute had issued a kill order with generous rewards, enticing many experts.

Shen Yuan and Du Lin exchanged glances and replied bitterly, “We encountered Fang Qingyun and were thoroughly beaten.”

Beaten?

Everyone present was baffled.

They were supposed to be hunting him.

Yet those who got ahead were beaten instead.

Just beaten? Nonsense!

But Cheng Yi said nothing, only asking, “Are you sure it was Fang Qingyun?”

“Yes, it was him!” Shen Yuan and Du Lin answered without hesitation.

Following Fang Qingyun’s instructions, they replied honestly, prioritizing their own survival.

“Then why didn’t he kill you? He already defeated you, didn’t he?” Cheng Yi pressed.

“We don’t know!” Du Lin replied with a bitter smile. “That guy is truly strange. He had plenty of chances to kill us, but never did. He just chose to beat us.”

Cheng Yi and the others immediately recalled the Institute’s researchers.

Fang Qingyun had had ample opportunity to kill them, yet only used them as bait, killing just a handful of guards.

Thinking of themselves, and the many odd traps they’d encountered along the way, Cheng Yi and his group found Du Lin and Shen Yuan’s words strangely believable.

“Wait a moment!” someone questioned. “You say it was Fang Qingyun? He’s only been a martial artist for a few days—how could he defeat two high-ranking martial artists?”

Shen Yuan shook his head. “If you ask me, who can I ask? But we’re certain—it was Fang Qingyun!”

Cheng Yi waved his hand, stopping the interrogation. “Du Lin, where did Fang Qingyun go?”

“He went further inside,” Du Lin pointed in the direction Fang Qingyun had left.

Cheng Yi stared in that direction, silent.

The other martial artists exchanged uncertain glances.

Should they pursue?

If Du Lin and Shen Yuan were telling the truth, Fang Qingyun had enough strength to defeat two high-ranking martial artists—what awaited them up ahead?

If they were lying, it was even worse.

These were two high-ranking martial artists.

Cheng Yi felt a surge of irritation.

He was being led by the nose.

Ever since his men entered the Poisonous Marsh and fell into the first trap, it was as if they’d been poisoned; everything was under the enemy’s control.

Should he pursue, or not? Had the opponent already anticipated his every move?