Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun dared not sleep.

He could only enter a very shallow meditation, allowing his body to recover for a moment, while dispersing some of his senses into the surrounding water.

Seaweed swayed.

Small fish dart through the crevices of the reef.

In the distance, oars can be seen paddling through the water.

Further away, a regular, soft sound came from some kind of metal instrument.

Hound boat.

They're here again.

Xilun opened his eyes, showing no surprise.

In those three days, Clement had caught up with him six times.

On his first occasion at the Sea Cliff Bay, he used lightning to blast the water's surface, sinking a small boat and escaping into the shipwreck area amidst the chaos.

The second time, at the old saltworks drainage outlet, he used the sewage and cold air to freeze two guards, stole the potion, and left through the underground canal.

The third time, at the abandoned lampposts on the north shore, Clement personally took action, slicing half of the wooden pier open with a single sword strike. He used his Water-Splitting talent to dive into the underwater reefs, his right leg being grazed by the sword energy.

The fourth time, he was tracked by the Blood Compass on a red algae beach. He deliberately left a lot of fake bloodstains, circled back behind the pursuers, and killed a guard carrying the compass.

The fifth time, the Tusol people learned their lesson and stopped pursuing in small groups. Instead, they used boat lights, hounds, crossbows, and sluice nets to gradually close the bay.

He was forced to dive into deep water and nearly died from lack of oxygen and low temperature, but he survived thanks to his adaptive organs.

The sixth time, this evening.

Clement slashed out with his sword from thirty paces away.

The sword light skimmed across the water, severing half of Xilun's sleeve and cutting open the skin on the outside of his left arm.

If he hadn't sunk into the water beforehand, that sword would have severed his neck.

Six pursuits.

They never truly escaped.

Each time, it's just squeezing out from an even smaller dead end.

Xilun looked down at his hands.

The knuckles are somewhat white.

The wound on his palm kept splitting open and then being sealed by the cold breath, turning into a dark red and black hard mark.

He could clearly sense that the Xuan Yin Breathing Technique had reached a certain edge.

Not on the verge of becoming a master.

It is a deeper, colder, more instinctive place.

In the past, he was circulating cold energy.

Now, the cold breath begins to reshape his breathing, blood, bones, and internal organs.

Every injury, every time being forced underwater, every time relying on the cold to seal blood and heal wounds, is a forced tempering.

But the door wasn't open yet.

The problem isn't a lack of resources.

It wasn't pain either.

It is a true "formula".

Let cold no longer be an external force, but a rule that the body acknowledges.

Xilun looked up.

A fine ripple appeared on the water outside the cave.

It's not a fish.

It was a small copper ball used for exploration, tied with a thin line, slowly sinking down along the crevice of the reef.

The people of Tusol began searching the reef caves.

Xilun reached out and pressed his hand against the water's surface.

The chill spread silently.

A thin layer of frost formed on the surface of the small copper ball, and the internal spring paused for a moment.

In that brief moment, Xilun slipped into the water through the side seam.

The next moment, a low shout came from outside the cave.

"There's a response!"

The crossbow bolt pierced the seawater.

Lead bullets followed and fell.

Xilun sank close to the reef, its water-dividing ability creating a very thin film of water that slightly deflected its trajectory.

Yet a lead bullet still grazed his shoulder and back, taking away a piece of flesh and blood.

He didn't turn around.

Outside the reef cave, ship lights illuminated the sea.

Four hound boats formed a fan shape, with crossbows mounted on the bows and men leading black dogs with brass rings at the stern. The black dogs lay on the edge of the boats, their noses twitching, their gray-blue eyes fixed intently on the water.

Clement stood on the middle boat.

He didn't look too good either.

Three days of relentless pursuit were not without their burdens, even for a third-tier player.

Moreover, every counterattack by Xilun was extremely dangerous.

He has already lost seven guards, destroyed a Blood Compass, and had two sections of the backup water-sealing net burned through by lightning.

But Clement was not angry.

His gaze remained steady.

Hunters cannot hate their prey.

Once you're filled with hatred, your hands will become erratic.

Haste makes mistakes.

The second-in-command lowered his voice and said, "Captain, he went deeper into the reef area. The waterways there are complicated, and the ship can't get in."

He won't go far.

Clement watched the fleeting shadow beneath the surface of the sea. "His wound has reopened."

The deputy paused for a moment, then said, "But... he recovered too quickly. Logically speaking, injuries to the right chest and left rib should have killed an ordinary second-tier fighter long ago."

Clement nodded slightly.

This is precisely the most troublesome part.

Xilun is not immune to weakness.

But he weakened very slowly.

He was like a wounded sea monster; given a little water, a little chill, and a little time to catch his breath, he could struggle back to his feet.

Looking at the water, the deputy couldn't help but ask, "Why is the Third Elder so determined to kill him? If we could recruit him..."

Before he could finish speaking, he realized he had misspoke and immediately lowered his head.

Clement did not blame him.

He had thought about this question as well.

A man like Xilun, if employed by Tusor, would be better than ten ordinary hunting parties.

He can cure pollution, suppress cults, unify the northern region, and even fight against third-tier opponents at the second tier.

But precisely because of this, he cannot stay.

He refused to back down.

Unwilling to give up their lives.

They are unwilling to put their future into any family's box.

As long as such people live, they will continue to disrupt the order.

He can outmaneuver Oin today, and he can outmaneuver Tussol tomorrow.

What's even more frightening is that he's about to be promoted.

Clement recalled what O'In had said to him in the secret room.

"I killed him not because of hatred."

"It's because he's growing into a knife that doesn't belong to us."

Clement raised his hand.

"Place the remnants of the water-blocking net to block the outer waterways. Don't rush into the water; force him to move towards the shallows."

The deputy whispered, "What if he continues diving into deeper water?"

"Then let's wait."

Clement said, "The injured cannot stay in the water forever."

……

Siren crossed the reefs.

The water behind them suddenly became murky.

Water sealing net.

Although it wasn't a complete sheet, it was enough to make the nearby water flow sluggish, as if it were filled with invisible iron sand.

The talent for water division is suppressed.

The speed of the Xilun River dropped sharply.

Instead of charging straight ahead, he immediately turned and slid close to the seabed, disappearing into a narrow crevice of stony coral.

The sharp stone edges sliced ​​through the leather armor and grazed the skin.

He gritted his teeth against the pain, contracted his body, and squeezed through a crack that seemed impossible to pass through.

The wound on his chest was compressed.

My vision went black.

A string of blood bubbles rose from the water.

Xilun gritted his teeth and used his cold breath to suppress the burst wound.

can't stop.

The water-sealing network was forcing him to leave the deep water.

Clement wanted to drive him to the shallows.

The shallow waters allow boats to approach, enabling crossbows and short guns to be used effectively, and even allowing Clement to personally engage in combat.

Of course, Xilun could not do as he wished.

He swam deeper into the water.

But after swimming a dozen or so feet, a strong feeling of suffocation suddenly surged up.

The adaptive organs are protesting.

He hadn't had a proper rest in too long. Although his internal organs could adapt to the underwater environment, he couldn't erase the damage to his body out of thin air.

The chill in his blood grew stronger, his heartbeat slowed, and if this continued, he would lose consciousness underwater.

By then, Clement will not need to lift a finger.

The sea will collect his body.

Xilun's eyes darkened.

He had to change direction and swim toward a shallow cave below a sea cliff.

It was not far from the encirclement line of Tusol.

But there is air.

There is also seepage of freshwater from underground.

He needs that little bit of time.

Ten minutes later, Xilun climbed into the shallow water hole.

The cave is slightly larger than the previous reef cave, with upside-down stone spikes hanging from the ceiling and the ground covered with slippery moss.

At the deepest point, a small spring of fresh water seeps out from the rock wall and drips into a natural stone depression.

Xilun first brought the spring water over to clean the wound.

The moment the sea salt was rinsed away, the pain exploded like fire.

A vein throbbed slightly on his forehead, but he made no sound.

After treating the wound, he took out half a bottle of Yinlingyuan Water.

This is something we can't skimp on.

If you save until you die, it's meaningless.

Xilun tilted his head back and took a small sip.

The cold, medicinal power flowed down the throat and into the abdomen, like an ice needle piercing deep into the body.

The Xuan Yin breathing technique naturally draws in the cold, causing it to travel up the spine and then spread to the limbs.

He then took out a piece of the Heart-Cleansing Incense.

It did not ignite.

The water cave is damp, making it easy for smoke to escape and for pursuers to detect it.

Xilun simply held the incense stick to his nose, inhaled the lingering fragrance, and barely managed to calm himself down.

He then entered into deep meditation.

This is not a safe deep meditation.

It's a meditation with one foot on the edge of a cliff.

External perception has not been fully recovered.

The body's repair process has not yet fully commenced.

The spiritual core was forced to split in two, one half sinking into the cold air, and the other half listening to the movements outside the water cave.

This is very dangerous.

If one is not careful, one's breathing will become uncontrollable, and one's mind may be dragged into a coma by exhaustion.

But Siren was used to doing things in dangerous situations.

Time passed little by little.

The cold air circulates within the body.

This time, it reached a deeper layer of the visceral membrane.

The lungs, pericardium, stomach wall, intestines, kidneys—all the soft and vulnerable parts—were gently contracting under the chill.

In ordinary people, internal organs can become necrotic when exposed to cold.

Xilun's internal organs, however, slowly adjusted under the influence of adaptive viscera.

They no longer resist the cold.

Instead, learn to let the chill become a protective layer.

Xilun vaguely understood something.

When he cultivates the Xuan Yin Breathing Technique to the master level, he can use cold breath to temper his muscles and bones, seal blood and stop pain, and freeze the enemy's blood and energy.

It may be at the extraordinary level, but it might not be stronger than Han.

Instead, it makes itself a container for cold.

It's not about borrowing the cold.

Instead, it causes coldness.

Every breath brings a chill to the flesh and blood.

The thought had barely formed when a sudden, sharp pain shot through my chest.

As if sensing a threat, Clement's remaining sword energy abruptly sliced ​​through the newly formed chilling aura.

Xilun groaned, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

My meditation was almost interrupted.

Just then, the water outside the cave trembled slightly.

Someone is approaching.

Xilun opened his eyes.

too fast.

He only rested for less than half an hour.

Outside the water cave, the sound of oars hitting the water could be heard.

A voice, hushed to the utmost, said, "The smell of blood is nearby."

Another person said, "The captain said to wait for him to come out."

"Wait? If we wait any longer, the credit will be gone. He's injured like this, how many people can he kill?"

A cold glint appeared in Xilun's eyes.

Another person trying to steal credit.

No matter how disciplined a family hunting team is, it's impossible for everyone to be like Clement.

Greed draws people closer.

If you get too close, you will die.

Three guards sneaked into the water hole.

This time they were much more cautious. Instead of all of them going into the water, two of them set up crossbows at the cave entrance while one of them advanced with a shield.

The shield's surface is inlaid with silver-gray metallic patterns, which can withstand cold breath and water lines.

Xilun leaned against the stone wall, not making a move immediately.

The shield-wielding guards approached step by step.

"come out."

His voice was strained, but he forced a fierce tone, "You can't escape."

His response was a soft cough from deep within the cave.

Very weak.

The three of them's eyes lit up at the same time.

The shield-bearer quickened his pace by half a step.

Just as he took that half step, the puddle beneath his feet suddenly collapsed.

It's not a ground collapse.

The water was instantly pumped out, creating a slippery vacuum.

He lost his balance.

Xiren lunged out from the shadows to the side, crashing into his opponent's arms almost touching the shield.

The shield-wielder reacted quickly, slashing horizontally with his short sword.

Xilun did not dodge.

The blade sliced ​​across his abdomen, leaving a bloody gash.

At the same time, he pressed his left hand against the other person's neck.

A chilling aura erupted.

The shield-wielding guard froze in his throat, his cry trapped inside.

The two crossbowmen at the cave entrance immediately pulled the trigger.

Xilun grabbed the shield-bearer and spun him around.

puff puff!

Two crossbow bolts pierced the shield and leather armor.

Using the corpse as cover, he threw a short blade with his right hand.

A crossbowman was stabbed between the eyebrows and fell backward.

The other person turned and ran.

Xilun kicked up a stream of water from the ground.

The waterline wrapped around the man's ankle and dragged him down.

Just as he was about to replace the Soul-Suppressing Nail, a faint sword sound suddenly came from outside the cave.

Xilun's pupils contracted.

Without any hesitation, he fell backward into the water.

The sword light pierced through the cave entrance.

The guard who was entangled in the waterline didn't even have time to scream before he was sliced ​​open along with half of the stone wall.

Clement has arrived.

Outside the water cave, the third-tier hunter captain stepped into the shallow water.

His rapier was still dripping water.

He glanced at the corpse on the ground and finally frowned.

It's not because someone died.

It was because these people disobeyed orders.

"I told you, don't go into the cave without permission."

No one responded.

Those who are alive can no longer escape, and those who are dead can no longer hear.

Clement looked up into the depths of the water cave.

Xilun rose from the water, leaning against the rock wall, holding a golden spear in his hand.

The two looked at each other from a distance of more than ten steps.

Water droplets fell from the top of the cave.

a drop.

a drop.

Clement said, "You killed three more of my men."

Siren's voice was hoarse. "They want to kill me."

"So they didn't die unjustly."

Clement slowly raised his sword. "But I must give my family an answer."

Xiren stared at him. "Did you give me the family's result, or the Oin's result?"

Clement's gaze paused slightly.

Xiren continued, "Oin has just seized power, and his position is not yet secure. He needs to kill me to establish his authority and also to prevent my promotion. You know that."

"Know."

"You know he might not always believe you."

Clement paused for a moment. "That's not something I should be thinking about right now."

"Then what should you consider?"

"Command complete."

Xilun suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, tinged with the smell of blood.

"So you are the knife."

Clement's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the sword.

Xilun's words, though not harsh, were like a nail, piercing into an old wound.

He joined the Tusol Guard at the age of fifteen.

My father was a Konoe, and so was my grandfather.

They had guarded the manor, the patriarch, the autumn hunt, and the names that sat behind the long table.

His father died seventeen years ago in a coastal mutiny, leaving behind only half a bloodstained family crest before his death.

With the family crest in hand, the mother received a pension from the Tussol family, the younger brother was able to attend school, and the younger sister married a respectable clerk.

Clement never felt ashamed of making knives.

If the knife is steady enough, it can protect the person behind the sheath.

He looked at Xilun and said, "You don't make knives, so the people around you will constantly be dragged into danger because of you."

Xilun's eyes turned cold.

Clement continued, "The woman who took the box, the Brotherhood's butler, your teacher, and those in the North who depend on you. The higher you go, the more dangerous they become."

"Is it safer to look down?"

"At least there is order."

"Whose order?"

Clement did not reply.

Because they all know the answer.

The sword light suddenly burst forth.