Chapter 8

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Chapter 8: I Have Arrived

Titles in the Great Xia Empire were not easily granted.

The conditions for obtaining one were strict.

More importantly, some conditions could not be achieved through individual effort or even the efforts of a small group. For example, the empire had a fixed limit of seventy-two titles—there could be fewer, but never more.

Normally, all positions were occupied, and only when a titleholder died did a new spot open up.

Additionally, one needed to accumulate enough merit.

But above all, potential was the most crucial factor. The younger the candidate, the greater their future prospects—hence, younger warriors were prioritized.

This time, Xue Feishuang and Yun Liuhuo had been selected because of their age, potential, and achievements.

If they missed this opportunity, it could mean losing the chance at a title forever.

That was why both sides were giving it their all.

Yet Xue Feishuang had never imagined that she would be at such a severe disadvantage right from the start.

She clenched her fists.

She refused to accept this outcome.

"Who’s there?"

Suddenly, she raised her head and stared toward the entrance.

A black-feathered eagle, its ten-meter wingspan casting a large shadow, landed gracefully atop a nearby building.

"Yun Dongji!"

Before anyone else could react, Yuluan rushed out of the hall.

The visitor was none other than Yun Liuhuo’s brother, Yun Dongji—Xue Feishuang’s direct rival in the title battle.

A smirk played on Yun Dongji’s lips.

"Miss Yuluan, it’s been a few days. I’ve missed you dearly."

Yuluan’s eyes burned with anger.

"You, Yun Dongji! Were you the one who tipped off the Blood Fox thieves about the wolf pack attack?"

Yun Dongji feigned innocence.

"Miss Yuluan, don’t slander me. I follow the rules of the empire’s title battle strictly. How could I do such a thing? That said… I do know where Zhao Yu of the Blood Fox and Shiqing of the Silver Fox are hiding. If you kneel and beg me, perhaps I’ll tell you."

"Despicable scum!" Yuluan seethed. "Do you take me for a fool?"

Yun Dongji chuckled.

"A fool? Not exactly. But in my eyes, you’re insignificant."

Yuluan’s fury boiled over. She unsheathed her sword, ready to strike him down.

But Yun Dongji simply sneered.

"Kill me? Use your head, Yuluan. The Yun family is about to secure two titleholders. That kind of influence is invaluable. You’d do well to show me some respect."

"Are you threatening me?" Yuluan’s voice was cold.

"Yes, I am." Yun Dongji crossed his arms, looking down at her smugly. "Let’s do the math, shall we? With my brother’s strength, he has probably already killed the Night Stalker. Hahaha! In just three to five days, he’ll return and claim his title. Meanwhile, you haven’t even found a single member of the Blood Fox thieves."

He smirked.

"Look at the gap between us. Do you really think you can compete with my brother for the title? How laughable."

Yuluan gritted her teeth, filled with resentment.

Xue Feishuang walked out slowly. Her bright and charming face added a touch of warmth to the world, but her cold demeanor and words were as chilling as the arrival of winter.

“There are no Blood Fox thieves here, nor anyone else. If you kill someone, no one will know.”

At her words, Yun Dongji’s expression changed.

“Kill!”

Yuluan could no longer contain her anger and shot into the air. Yun Dongji hurriedly urged the black-feathered flying eagle to soar high into the sky, dashing upward like lightning.

“Coward!” Yuluan shouted. “A real man would come down and fight!”

The black-feathered flying eagle circled high above as Yun Dongji sneered. “Don’t be arrogant; you will never find the Blood Fox thieves—never! I’m going to help my brother hunt down the Night Stalker. Once my brother completes the title battle and claims his title, let’s see if you still dare act so wild in front of me. A double title holder from the Yun family is not someone you can afford to offend.”

“Just wait! I’ll make you pay!”

The black-feathered flying eagle carried him away.

Yuluan turned to Xue Feishuang and asked fiercely, “General, why didn’t you let me kill him for real?”

“We still have time; there are still chances,” Xue Feishuang replied. Though she felt despair inside, she refused to give up. As long as the title battle had not ended, she would continue to fight—that was who she was.

Yuluan sheathed her sword, frowning. “How can we find them? Unless Zhang Yang returns, there might be a chance.”

Xue Feishuang thought of Zhang Yang’s extraordinary abilities and couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.

“Then let’s look for my junior brother!”

“Send the order to everyone: abandon the search for the Blood Fox thieves and focus all efforts on finding Zhang Yang!”

Yuluan immediately took action.

Just a little over half a day later, the sound of a bull’s roar echoed toward the Blood Fox thieves’ stronghold.

The two women inside rushed out at once.

From a distance, they saw Zhang Yang riding the Ironback Blue Bull, a flash of blue light as he charged forward.

“Senior Sister, I’m here.”

Xue Feishuang smiled and nodded.

Yuluan, being impatient, rushed up and grabbed Zhang Yang’s ear, scolding, “Monster! Where have you been? The general has been scolding me all day because of you! Do you know how worried she was? You made me suffer!”

“I went the wrong way,” Zhang Yang admitted awkwardly.

Yuluan rolled her eyes. “How could you make such a mistake?” She then noticed the person on the bull’s back and asked, “Who is this?”

Xue Feishuang also stepped forward.

Zhang Yang replied, “Oh, he’s the Night Stalker.”

“Who?!”

The two women exclaimed in unison.

Zhang Yang smiled and explained, “He’s the Night Stalker that Yun Liuhuo is hunting in the title battle. I ran into him and saved him.”

“We haven’t lost yet! We haven’t lost yet!” Yuluan shouted excitedly.

A light blush appeared on Xue Feishuang’s usually composed face, revealing her own excitement.

She had felt hopeless, holding onto only a glimmer of hope, but she never expected Zhang Yang to bring her such a big surprise.

Zhang Yang helped the Night Stalker down.

“It is indeed the Night Stalker,” Xue Feishuang confirmed after seeing his face. “This man has good character, but he offended the tenth martial lord among the seventy-two martial lords. Since this title battle is hosted by the martial lord, he was included in it.”

She took out a pill and fed it to the Night Stalker before signaling the Snow Guards to protect him.

Everything was settled.

Xue Feishuang smiled. “Junior Brother, thanks to you, I still have a chance to complete my title battle.”

“It was an unexpected encounter, purely accidental,” Zhang Yang replied.

Yuluan joked, “Luck is also part of strength.” She stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Yang’s arm. “Come, let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“To find the Blood Fox thieves.”

“Haven’t they already left?”

“With your keen eyesight and instincts, you might discover where they escaped to.”

“Is that so? Turns out I’m really that talented.”

“……”

Under Yuluan’s guidance, Zhang Yang examined the tracks in all eight directions.

Most of the prints were hoof marks, indicating that the Blood Fox thieves had all left on horseback.

Zhang Yang felt speechless—he knew nothing about horses and only understood the Blood Fox thieves from what the two women had told him. How could he possibly determine the escape routes of Zhao Yu of the Blood Fox and Shiqing of the Silver Fox?

However, upon closer inspection, he did notice differences in the hoof prints. Each horse left a distinct mark, and he was surprised by his own keen eyesight.

Beyond that, he found nothing more.

Until they reached the back mountain, at the last set of hoof prints.

Zhang Yang stood there for a while, unmoving.

“Do you see anything?” Yuluan asked eagerly.

“Don’t speak,” Zhang Yang replied.

Yuluan quickly covered her mouth.Zhang Yang did not look at the deliberately left hoof prints. Instead, he tilted his head and listened intently. Then, he walked forward to a smooth rock wall and pressed his ear against it.Yuluan followed suit, enhancing her hearing with elemental energy in an attempt to listen, but she heard nothing. Confused, she looked at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang pointed at the rock wall and said, “There are people inside.”