The Smiling, Proud Wanderer: From the Moment He Picked Up Qu Feiyan

On the Xiang River, the winds and clouds change in an instant.

The Jiangxin platform, which was just moments ago the center of attention and a place of great fanfare, is now a scene of utter devastation. Broken wooden planks, jagged gashes, and the dark, heavy sword deeply embedded in the stone base silently testify to the earth-shattering power of the strike that had just occurred.

Almost everyone's attention was drawn to Tian Boguang as he plummeted from mid-air and crashed heavily onto the roof of a covered boat, the force of which caused the entire boat to sink.

Before he could even regain his footing, he used the recoil to spring up again, skimming across the water like a dragonfly, and landed on another boat. One after another.

Occasionally, when the boats are too far apart, they will leap up with great effort, eliciting gasps from the crowd.

Finally, with a broken red line trailing behind him, he leaped onto the riverbank, staggered a few steps, and disappeared into the depths of a dense reed bed, completely fading from people's sight.

However, while everyone's attention was focused on Tian Boguang, a gaze as sharp as a hawk's never left Liu Zhengfeng.

It's Ma Bao.

He didn't care about Tian Boguang's life or death, Shen An's victory or defeat, or even the reputation of Songshan.

He only cared about Liu Zhengfeng; this credit belonged to him.

As for the black light that just emerged from the academy?

Ma Bao's eye twitched involuntarily.

Let's not investigate further. What if we find something?

That power? Could Zuo Lengchan unleash such an attack?

Perhaps it was Dongfang Bubai who happened to be passing by, found Tian Boguang disgusting, and struck him.

He just stared intently at Liu Zhengfeng, and actually saw something.

In the opposite direction of everyone's gaze, behind Liu Zhengfeng, he saw a figure, like a ghost blending into the shadows, quietly slip out from the side gate of the academy.

The man moved with incredible speed, without alerting anyone. Hugging the wall, he vanished around the corner in a few flashes. His direction was clearly along the riverbank, heading downstream where Tian Boguang had fled!

That figure looked very familiar.

Ma Bao's pupils suddenly contracted!

Yes! It's him! The man in black who quietly left the Liu residence late that night!

Although he had changed into a gray cloth robe, his figure and his ghostly stealth manner were absolutely unmistakable!

Although he didn't understand why he was chasing after Tian Boguang, Ma Bao wouldn't let such an opportunity pass. He couldn't hold back any longer, and after giving an order to his men, he also chased after Tian Boguang.

Downstream from the riverbank, in a secluded spot overgrown with reeds.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Tian Boguang leaned against a small tree about the size of a bowl, his chest heaving violently like a broken bellows. Every part of his body ached, and every part of him was protesting.

Shen An's sword strike, seemingly only injured his left arm, actually shattered the bones in the left half of his body with its domineering and savage force transmitted through the heavy sword.

Liu Zhengfeng's palm strike, seemingly "missed" and off-target, was no ordinary blow from a Hengshan master wielding his fury. The force of the palm strike penetrated his body, injuring his right shoulder and causing his right arm to go numb, making it almost impossible for him to lift it.

As for that most terrifying black shadow... it caused the least damage; severing his completely useless left arm actually made him less of a burden.

He knew he had to leave as soon as possible, to leave this place of trouble. But he was simply... out of strength.

Although he had used his right hand to press several acupoints on his body during his escape to temporarily stop the bleeding, the dizziness caused by excessive blood loss kept coming in waves, impacting his nearly collapsing will.

Just then, a series of footsteps came from behind.

Alarm bells rang loudly in Tian Boguang's mind!

He turned around abruptly, pressing his right hand firmly against the knife he hadn't had a chance to draw at his waist, adopting a defensive stance.

Not far away, an old man dressed in a gray cloth robe, with a thin face and three long wisps of beard, stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching him.

"You are..." Tian Boguang gripped the knife tightly, shouting with a fierce but weak voice.

The person who arrived was none other than Qu Yang, who had quietly followed them.

Qu Yang looked at Tian Boguang's miserable appearance, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

His expression contained regret, confusion, and a hint of disappointment.

"Why didn't you choose a confidant, but instead chose to live?" Qu Yang asked, somewhat puzzled.

Qu Yang had obviously overheard Tian Boguang's conversation with Shen An about "friendship" and "loyalty" on the Jiangxin platform. Qu Yang was quite impressed by Tian Boguang's words and his heroic spirit of "a scholar will die for one who understands him."

Qu Yang originally thought that Tian Boguang had found a kindred spirit with whom he shared a different stance but could resonate spiritually, just like he had with his brother Liu Xian.

He originally thought that Tian Boguang simply hadn't had time to reform himself and that there were still some redeeming qualities in his nature.

Unexpectedly, at the critical moment of life and death, all his grand words became empty promises.

He chose to flee in a sorry state, choosing to live a life of ignominy.

A person who doesn't even have the courage to die for a close friend has no value in the "close friend" and "loyalty" he speaks of.

He didn't even want to die.

That would really be a death sentence.

"What does this have to do with you?" Tian Boguang stared intently at Qu Yang.

Qu Yang sighed softly. He had thought that since he had invited Brother Liu, he wouldn't have to take action himself.

But that dark figure? Never mind, we can't investigate it too deeply.

At that moment, this elder of the Sun Moon Sect had the same thought as Ma Bao: The world of martial arts is too vast and the waters too deep; some things are best left untouched.

Forget it, let's fulfill our promise to that little brat Shen An first, and then kill this Tian Boguang.

"Yes, what does it have to do with me? I'm just here to kill you."

Before he could finish speaking, he shook his head, put away his pointless sighs, and moved swiftly to stand in front of Tian Boguang. He then pointed his right hand, fingers pointing like a sword, at Tian Boguang's brow.

Tian Boguang was utterly devastated!

He estimated that even at his peak, he probably wouldn't be a match for this person, let alone now that he was seriously injured!

He could only rely on instinct to frantically pour the remaining internal energy in his body into his right arm, wielding the knife in his hand into a dazzling silver-white light curtain!

Whirlwind Blade Technique!

At this moment, the speed of his swordsmanship was unprecedented! One blade of light overlapped with another, so fast that it created layers of afterimages in the air, as if a shield made of blades had been erected in front of him!

However, its power is too low.

"Ding!"

With a crisp sound, Qu Yang's fingertip precisely touched the spine of the blade, and a subtle internal force penetrated the knife. Tian Boguang felt a violent tremor in his hand, and he could no longer maintain his stance.

Qu Yang's fingers moved incessantly, like butterflies flitting among flowers, continuing to tap towards Tian Boguang's brow.

Just at this critical moment, a sharp whooshing sound came from the side!

"You demonic cult members, cease your violence!"