Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

"This spring water is clear and sweet, truly a rare find," Xu Fu exclaimed. "It has been a long time since I have tasted such a flavor."

Yang Ling nodded in agreement: "Although the spring water is sweet, it is not advisable to stay for long. We need to recover our strength as soon as possible and continue our journey."

Xu Fu looked slightly puzzled: "Now that we've escaped the desert, why the rush?"

Yang Ling patiently explained, "Leaving the desert doesn't guarantee safety. The Xiongnu pursuers may not give up, and the situation in the Central Plains is still unclear. Only by returning quickly can we ensure our safety."

Xu Fu suddenly realized his mistake and immediately stood up: "Sir, your considerations are thorough. Let us set off now."

After a short rest, the two were about to leave the oasis when they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching again.

"This is bad! The pursuers are coming again!" Xu Fu's expression changed drastically, and his long sword was already drawn.

Yang Ling also circulated his inner energy, preparing for battle. He knew this battle would be extremely dangerous.

The Xiongnu cavalry arrived in an instant, surrounding the two men. The leading general shouted sternly, "Do you really think you can escape? Quickly hand over the elixir, and perhaps you can at least have your bodies intact!"

Xu Fu gripped the hilt of his sword and coldly replied, "If you wish to obtain the elixir of immortality, you must first pass through the long sword in my hand!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already charged into the enemy lines. Yang Ling followed closely behind, and the two once again faced the enemy side by side.

In the fierce battle, both sides displayed their skills. However, the Xiongnu soldiers were numerous and well-trained, and after a prolonged battle, the two fighters gradually began to feel the strain.

"Such attrition is not a good strategy," Xu Fu said urgently as he parried the attack. "We must find a way to break through."

Yang Ling looked around the oasis and suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Follow me to the water source!"

Although Xu Fu was unaware of the situation, he followed closely without hesitation. The Xiongnu cavalry pursued relentlessly, and just as they were about to catch up, Yang Ling suddenly channeled his power and struck the water.

With a deafening roar, a massive column of water shot skyward, sending the pursuers flying and throwing them to the ground. Xu Fu seized the opportunity to break through the encirclement with Yang Ling.

"Brilliant plan, sir!" Xu Fu looked back at the routed enemy army, filled with sincere admiration.

Yang Ling smiled and said, "This is only a temporary measure. We are still not out of danger and must leave the oasis as soon as possible to find another place to stay."

After successfully breaking through, the two dared not stop for a moment, forcing their exhausted bodies to hurry away from the oasis. They knew that the Xiongnu cavalry would not give up easily.

Night fell, and the Milky Way shone brightly. Having found a secluded spot to rest, Xu Fu chewed on his dry rations and asked, "What should we do next?"

Yang Ling pondered for a moment and said, "Although we are not far from the Central Plains, the road ahead is fraught with dangers. We should try to avoid direct confrontation with the enemy."

Xu Fu understood: "Should we take a roundabout route to confuse the pursuers?"

Yang Ling nodded approvingly: "That's exactly right. Choose a winding path to make it difficult for them to determine our direction."

Just as the plan was finalized, they suddenly heard the faint sound of horses' hooves approaching from afar.

"Someone's there!" Xu Fu stood up alertly.

Yang Ling also activated his internal energy and became vigilant. Those who appeared at this time were mostly Xiongnu scouts.

Sure enough, a Xiongnu cavalryman appeared in the woods. Upon spotting the two, he immediately shouted, "They're here! Capture them at once!"

Yang Ling and Xu Fu turned and fled. They knew that if they were entangled, their chances of survival would be slim.

The cavalrymen pursued relentlessly at incredible speed, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

"This kind of fleeing is not a long-term solution," Xu Fu said urgently as he ran. "We must find a way to escape."

Yang Ling surveyed the surrounding terrain and suddenly had an idea: "Follow me!"

They pulled Xu Fu and slipped into the dense forest. The cavalrymen pursued them into the woods, only to find that the two had vanished without a trace.

"Damn it! Where are you hiding?" the cavalryman roared angrily.

It turned out that Yang Ling had successfully shaken off his pursuers by using the cover of the trees and the complex terrain. The two hid deep in the jungle, holding their breath and observing the movements outside... The cavalry searched for a long time without success, and finally left in frustration.

"Sir, your wisdom is truly extraordinary!" Xu Fu exclaimed sincerely as he watched the cavalry disappear into the distance. "I never imagined you would be able to escape through the dense forest."

Yang Ling said calmly, "This is a last resort. Now is not the time to relax. We must leave this forest and find another place to stay."

Just as they were about to set off to continue their journey, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps again...

The two men immediately exchanged alert glances, both seeing a grave look in each other's eyes. "Could it be that the pursuers have returned?" Xu Fu asked in a low voice.

Yang Ling shook his head: "It's still unclear, we must proceed with caution."

They quickly hid in the shadows, intently listening for footsteps. The footsteps drew closer, accompanied by heavy breathing; clearly, the newcomers were also exhausted.

Before long, a figure dressed as a merchant from the Central Plains came into view. The man carried a bag on his back, looked around after entering the woods, and then leaned against a tree to rest.

Seeing that they were not pursuers, the two relaxed slightly, but still remained hidden in the shadows to observe.

The merchant rested for a while, took out his dry rations and water and ate them, muttering to himself, "What a bad year! I've gotten lost and encountered a sandstorm. I wonder when I'll be able to get out of this dense forest."

Xu Fu's mind stirred slightly, and he gestured to Yang Ling with his eyes. Having received approval, Xu Fu appeared and asked, "Brother, have you lost your way?"

The merchant was slightly alarmed upon first seeing Xu Fu, but quickly relaxed: "So we are fellow travelers. I am Meng Huaishan, and I have indeed lost my way in this forest."

Xu Fu laughed and said, "We also wish to leave the forest; why don't we travel together?"

Meng Huaishan was overjoyed: "I am deeply grateful for your kindness!"

During their conversation, they learned that Meng Huaishan was a merchant from the Central Plains who had lost his way on his return journey from trading in the Western Regions. Upon hearing Yang Ling's identity, he was filled with respect and offered his full assistance in helping him return to the Central Plains.

With Meng Huaishan joining them, the journey became much easier. He was familiar with the terrain and led the two away from treacherous sections and patrol routes, and soon they emerged from the jungle.

Unexpectedly, after emerging from the forest, they found themselves facing a vast grassland stretching out before them. "Where is this?" Meng Huaishan asked, bewildered.

After examining the map closely, Yang Ling said, "According to the map, this is the territory of the Xiongnu. We must proceed with extreme caution and avoid encountering the enemy."

Meng Huaishan's expression changed upon hearing this. Having traveled to the Western Regions for many years, he knew the Xiongnu were fierce: "The Xiongnu territory? Isn't it even more dangerous?"

Xu Fu comforted him, saying, "Brother Meng, don't worry. As long as you handle things carefully, you will be able to pass through safely."

The three then embarked on a journey through Xiongnu territory. They traveled by day and hid by night, remaining vigilant at all times. Although they occasionally encountered small patrols of cavalry, they skillfully avoided them.

After several days of arduous travel, they finally reached the edge of the Xiongnu territory. In the distance, the green mountains and clear waters of the Central Plains were faintly visible, and hope was within reach.

"We're about to escape danger." Meng Huaishan gazed at the mountains and rivers, a look of joy on his face.

Yang Ling nodded: "Although we are close to the Central Plains, we must not be careless. There may be patrols along this route, so we must be cautious."

Xu Fu also agreed: "What you say is absolutely right. Although we have repeatedly evaded pursuers on this journey, it is hard to guarantee that we will not be intercepted. We must remain vigilant at all times."

The three found a secluded spot to rest, preparing to travel under the cover of night. Just as they were getting ready to set off, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves rushing towards them.

"Not good! The pursuers are coming again!" Meng Huaishan's face turned pale, and his long sword was already drawn.

Yang Ling and Xu Fu immediately began to prepare for battle, knowing that this battle would be extremely dangerous.

The Xiongnu cavalry arrived in an instant, surrounding the three. Their leader roared, "How dare you trespass on our sacred land! Surrender now!"

Meng Huaishan gripped his sword hilt and coldly replied, "We are merely lost merchants, with no intention of offending you. We hope the general will grant us this favor."

The general sneered, "Stop making excuses! You're clearly a spy from the Central Plains! Seize him!" (End of Chapter)