I was a mineral prospector in Chengdu, who transmigrated into the body of a mortal sword immortal.

Chapter 77: Rescue? Trap?

The night wind rustled through the withered grass, masking the faint sound of Li Bai's departing footsteps. He didn't look back, his figure swiftly disappearing into the deeper darkness, resolutely leaving in the opposite direction from the ominous locust tree, and also from the majestic Chang'an. The travel permit and silver coins in his arms clung to his skin, bringing a touch of real warmth, but the coldness and uncertainty of the road ahead were more piercing than the autumn night wind.

He needed to find a safe place as soon as possible to clear his mind and decide where to go next. The image of Mount Shu quietly surfaced from the depths of his memory.

But at this moment, he must first confirm one thing.

Li Bai stopped in the darkness, crouching low and holding his breath almost to a standstill. Spiritual energy flowed slowly through his body, enveloping him like the finest silk, suppressing his body temperature, aura, and even life force to the lowest possible level. This was the "Concealing Breath Technique" from the Shu Mountain's basic cultivation methods, learned in the secret realm to evade powerful demonic beasts, but now it became his best means of uncovering the truth.

He lay prone behind a small earthen slope about thirty feet away from the old locust tree. The terrain here was slightly higher, with sparse weeds, and he could see the outline of the locust tree through the gaps in the grass. The moonlight was obscured by clouds, and only a very dim light could outline the twisted branches of the locust tree and the undulating ground around it.

Time passed in silence.

Li Bai remained motionless, as if he were one with the earth. The wound on his leg had begun to throb again during his hurried walk, but compared to the tension he was feeling now, the pain was almost negligible. His gaze was fixed on the direction of the locust tree, his ears picking up every unusual sound in the night wind.

The wind whistled through the wild grass and through the gaps between the locust tree branches.

A few barks came from afar, faint and distant.

Further away, from the direction of Chang'an City, the faint sound of drums could be heard; it was already the third quarter of the morning.

Just as Li Bai was about to doubt whether he was being overly sensitive—

He heard it.

The faintest breathing sound.

It wasn't the sound of the wind, nor the rustling of grass, but the breathing of a living being, carried with body heat and moisture, which it couldn't completely eliminate even when deliberately suppressed. It was very light and slow, but it was definitely there.

Moreover, it happened in more than one place.

Li Bai held his breath and focused his spiritual energy on his ears. The subtle sounds gradually became clearer in his perception.

To the left front, about fifteen zhang away, behind the tall patch of weeds to the east of the locust tree. The breathing was steady and long, with even intervals, clearly indicating that the person was trained and knew how to control their breath.

To the right rear, about twenty feet away, on the edge of a low-lying pit west of the locust tree. His breathing was slightly rapid, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension, but it was also well suppressed.

Two directions.

Two ambushers.

Li Bai's pupils contracted slightly.

He slowly shifted his gaze, carefully discerning the terrain in the dim light. The patch of weeds to the east, waist-high, was enough to conceal a person, and its view covered the locust tree and an area of ​​about ten feet around it. The edge of the pit to the west was slightly lower, but a weathered rock about half a person's height served as cover. From there, he could monitor the other side of the locust tree and create crossfire with the eastern side.

A perfect ambush point.

Moreover, judging from their breathing, the two had been lying in wait there for quite some time. Their patience, their professionalism, their choice of location—these were things that ordinary lookouts arranged by Duan Qiniang could never have accomplished.

The accomplice needs to be concealed and move quickly, not to set up an ambush in such an open area.

These can only be pursuers.

Li Bai's heart sank.

The Imperial Advisor? Gao Lishi? Or perhaps the hidden force behind the scenes related to the "Xiling Divine Kingdom"?

Did they discover the secret passage exit? Or did they find out about the rendezvous plan from Duan Qiniang? Or was the bribed jailer or guard a double agent all along?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but Li Bai had no time to think them through.

He has to make a decision.

just now.

Should we risk approaching to try and confirm the other person's identity? Or should we leave immediately, abandoning what might be our only rendezvous point?

Li Bai closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Fragments of memories from his past life flashed through his mind—the sorrow and helplessness hidden in Yang Xiaohuan's eyes when that cold dagger pierced his chest on the streets of Chengdu in 2003. At that moment, he lost everything because of his hesitation and cowardice.

Memories of this life followed immediately—the words spoken by the High Priest of the Western Mausoleum Divine Kingdom when he handed the Azure Lotus Sword to him in the Shu Mountain Secret Realm: "The sword is the blade of the heart. The one who wields the sword must be able to distinguish right from wrong, and make a decisive decision when necessary. Hesitation is a desecration of the sword."

When it's time to make a decision, make a decision.

Li Bai opened his eyes, and there was no longer any confusion in them.

He slowly backed away.

He took each step firmly, landing on the balls of his feet first, then slowly lowering his center of gravity to avoid making any noise. He chose a completely different route from where he had come—instead of retreating directly, he first circled around to the east, using several low mounds and thickets of grass as cover to get away from the line of sight of the two ambushers.

This process is extremely slow and extremely cautious.

It took him nearly a quarter of an hour to completely break free from the thirty-zhang distance.

When he finally retreated to the edge of a deep ditch that could completely conceal his body, a fine layer of cold sweat had seeped down his back. It wasn't from exhaustion, but from the physiological reaction of extreme tension.

He lay prone at the bottom of the ditch, listening intently.

In the distance, the direction of the locust tree remained quiet.

But Li Bai knew that beneath that silence lay two fully drawn bows and two unsheathed swords.

Without further hesitation, he turned around and began to stealthily move away from Chang'an and the locust tree.

This time, his speed was noticeably faster.

Spiritual energy flowed through the meridians of his legs, making each step light yet powerful, leaving only faint footprints in the soft soil. He no longer tried to completely erase the traces—that would greatly slow him down—but instead chose a compromise: walking along the edges of weeds, exposed rocks, or small paths covered with fallen leaves, minimizing any clues that could be followed.

At the same time, he kept changing direction.

First head north, which is away from Chang'an, but also the direction leading to the official road. The pursuers will likely set up roadblocks on the official road, so we can't go directly there.

After traveling about two miles, he turned northwest, entering a more desolate area of ​​low hills. There were no farmlands or villages here, only vast stretches of weeds and scattered rocks. The terrain was undulating, limiting visibility, but this also greatly increased the difficulty for pursuers in their search.

The sky was still pitch black, but a faint glimmer of dawn was beginning to appear on the eastern horizon.

The end of Yin hour and the beginning of Mao hour.

It's almost dawn.

Li Bai stopped behind a sheltered rock for a short rest. He took out a water pouch from his robes—one of the supplies Duan Qiniang had prepared; it was made of leather, small, but filled with water—and carefully took a sip. The cool water slid down his parched throat, bringing some comfort.

He leaned against the cold rock, closed his eyes, and began to analyze the current situation.

The rendezvous point is most likely a trap. Duan Qiniang's rescue plan may have been exposed. What is her current situation? Is she safe? A wave of worry washed over Li Bai, but he quickly suppressed it. At this moment, he was powerless to change what was happening in Chang'an, a thousand miles away. All he could do was protect himself first.

He possessed nothing of value. A coarse cloth shirt, a pair of cloth shoes, a fake travel permit, a few loose coins, and a Qinglian sword. That was all. His only food was two hard flatbreads tucked in his pocket, and the water in his water pouch was dwindling with each sip.

He was unfamiliar with the terrain outside the city. In his previous life, as a geological engineer, he knew the geological structure of the Sichuan Basin like the back of his hand, but that was his knowledge of the macroscopic topography. As for the specific wilderness on the outskirts of Chang'an City where he was now, he knew nothing about which path led to which place, where there were villages for supplies, or where there were dangerous areas to avoid.

The imperial court has likely already cast a net to capture him. The escape of a high-ranking prisoner from the imperial jail, the theft of the Azure Lotus Sword from the Imperial Preceptor's residence—either one of these events would be enough to shake the court. Arrest warrants may have already been issued, and checkpoints, post stations, and even villages along the route may have received requests for assistance. His face, his coarse clothes—walking in broad daylight would be extremely risky.

Where should he go?

Returning to Chang'an? That would be walking into a trap.

Go to Luoyang? Go to Jiangnan? The world is so vast, where can I go?

A thought, like a flash of lightning in the darkness, emerged clearly and intensely.

Shushan.

Only Mount Shu.

That secret realm where he obtained the Azure Lotus Sword and embarked on the path of cultivation. That mysterious place that concealed the secrets of the Xiling Divine Kingdom and the relics of the Sanxingdui civilization. That place where he could gain greater power and truly take control of his own destiny.

More importantly, Mount Shu is located in Shu, in Sichuan.

That place was the hometown of Yang Xiaohuan in her previous life, the birthplace of Yang Yuhuan in this life, and the "Land of Abundance" that he cherished deeply in both his past and present lives.

Go to Mount Shu.

It wasn't just to evade capture, nor was it just to increase strength.

It is also for... to change the future.

Li Bai opened his eyes and looked southwest. Although his view was blocked by hills, he seemed to be able to see through the mountains and out of the misty, ethereal mountain.

He needs a map, needs to confirm the direction, and needs to plan the route.

But before that—

Li Bai suddenly listened intently.

In the distance, the faint sound of voices could be heard.

It was very faint, from at least a mile away, but in the quiet of dawn, the voices of several men could still be discerned, their tone urgent, carrying a clear sense of searching.

The pursuers are coming.

It was faster than he expected.

Li Bai immediately stood up, stuffed the water pouch back into his robes, and channeled his spiritual energy throughout his body once more. He did not choose to continue northwest, but instead turned due west—where the mountains were deeper, the terrain more complex, and it was easier to hide there.

He had just left the rock less than ten feet away—

"Whoosh!"

An arrow pierced the air, grazing his left shoulder before embedding itself in the trunk of a withered tree in front of him, its fletching still trembling.

"Over there!"

"Chase!"

Shouts came from behind, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps.

At least five or six people.

Li Bai's heart skipped a beat, and he increased his speed even further. He frantically channeled his spiritual energy into his legs, each step covering more than ten feet, making him fly through the weeds and rocks. The wind whistled in his ears, the blades of grass brushed against his cheeks, causing a slight stinging sensation, and his heart pounded violently in his chest.

He dared not turn around, and could only rely on his senses to judge the distance and location of the pursuers.

The sound of arrows piercing the air rang out again, this time three arrows were fired simultaneously.

Li Bai ducked and rolled on the ground, three arrows whizzing past his head and sides before embedding themselves in the soil. He rose to his feet, a long sword now in his hand.

The Azure Lotus Sword was drawn.

The sword gleamed with a cool luster in the dim light, with a faint blue light flowing around its tip. The hilt felt warm to the touch, resonating with his spiritual energy and emitting a deep hum.

Li Bai did not turn around to fight.

He continued running forward, and with a flick of his wrist, the Azure Lotus Sword swept backward.

There were no sword moves, no set pattern; he simply poured pure spiritual energy into the sword and unleashed it with a sweeping motion.

"laugh--"

A pale blue arc of sword energy flew out from the sword, skimming the ground as it flew backward.

Wherever the sword energy passed, the weeds were cut off at the roots, and the soil was turned upside down.

Several exclamations and muffled thuds came from behind, and the footsteps of the pursuers clearly stopped.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Bai accelerated again, rushing into a denser thicket ahead. Thorny branches tore his clothes, leaving bloody marks on his arms and calves, but he paid no attention, simply charging forward with his head down.

Behind the bushes was a steep slope.

The slope descends to a dry riverbed.

Without hesitation, Li Bai leaped off the cliff.

His body plummeted through the air, the wind whistling past his ears. He adjusted his posture, using his spiritual energy to protect his entire body. Just before landing, he bent his knees and rolled to dissipate the impact, then ran forward along the riverbed without stopping.

The riverbed is full of pebbles and sand, which amplifies the sound of running footsteps. However, the towering riverbanks on both sides also provide cover, blocking the pursuers' line of sight and arrows.

Li Bai ran westward along the riverbed for about half a mile until he was sure that no pursuers were following him for the time being. He then stopped at a bend in the riverbank, leaned against the rock wall, and gasped for breath.

Sweat soaked his inner shirt, clinging stickily to his body. The wound on his leg had reopened during the frantic run, and blood seeped out, staining a small patch of his coarse cloth trousers red. His lungs burned with pain, and every breath carried the metallic taste of blood.

But he is still alive.

Moreover, he shook off the first wave of pursuers.

Li Bai slowly slid down to the ground, took out a strip of cloth from his robes, tore off a piece, and re-bandaged the wound on his leg. His movements were practiced and swift, an instinct honed during his previous life exploring the wilderness.

After bandaging himself, he took out his water pouch, took another small sip, and then broke off a small piece of the remaining hard bread, chewing it slowly. The bread was hard and dry, requiring vigorous chewing to swallow, but it was essential for maintaining his strength at this moment.

He ate while listening intently to the sounds around him.

The only sounds in the riverbed were the wind and the faint chirping of birds in the distance.

The pursuers didn't follow. Either they were stopped by the sword energy and lost track of him; or they judged the riverbed to be too complex to venture further; or... they went to gather more people to launch a wider search.

Either way, he must leave this place as soon as possible.

It's almost bright.

The pale light of dawn was spreading across the eastern horizon, tinged with a faint orange-red. The stars faded, the darkness receded, and the distant mountain outlines began to emerge.

Once daylight breaks, his whereabouts will be impossible to hide.

Li Bai swallowed the last bite of the cake, put away his water pouch, and stood up.

He needs to determine the direction.

Mount Shu is located in the southwest.

He is currently in the western suburbs of Chang'an City. His exact location is unknown, but his general direction should be west or southwest.

He looked up at the sky.

In the pre-dawn sky, the stars had not yet completely disappeared. He found the Big Dipper and the North Star. Relying on his astronomical knowledge from his previous life as a geologist, he quickly determined true north.

Then, he faced southwest.

There, the mountains rise and fall, shrouded in mist and clouds.

That's the direction he's going.

Li Bai took a deep breath and returned the Azure Lotus Sword to his dantian. The moment the sword entered his body, a warm spiritual energy flowed back, circulating throughout his body and slightly relieving his fatigue and pain.

He took one last look in the direction of Chang'an.

The majestic city that bore his name as a poet, witnessed his tragic love story, and imprisoned his body was now shrouded in the last darkness before dawn, with only its outline faintly discernible.

Goodbye, Chang'an.

Goodbye, Yu Huan.

Wait for me to come back.

Li Bai turned around, took a step, and walked towards the mountains in the southwest without looking back.

His shadow gradually lengthened in the brightening morning light, eventually disappearing behind a low hill.

And behind him, about two miles away, under the old locust tree—

Several dark figures emerged from their hiding place and gathered around the locust tree.

"The person didn't come," a deep voice said.

"There was some noise from the northwest just now, it might have been him, but we scared him away," another voice replied, sounding annoyed.

"Lost them?"

"The terrain on the other side of the riverbed is complicated. He runs very fast, and... he knows martial arts; his sword energy is very strong."

"Sword energy?" The first voice became noticeably serious. "Wasn't he supposed to be just a scholar?"

"The intelligence was wrong. Or... he had a fortuitous encounter during this time."

A brief silence.

"Report to the Grand Preceptor immediately. The target escaped, heading southwest. He appears to possess martial arts skills, his sword aura is sharp. I suggest sending more experts to intercept him along the way, focusing on searching the roads leading to Shu."

"yes!"

Several dark figures quickly dispersed and disappeared into the gradually brightening morning light.

The old locust tree still stands alone on the edge of the mass grave, its branches swaying gently in the morning breeze, as if nothing had ever happened.

Only the trampled weeds under the trees, and the shallow marks left behind the grass on the east side and the edge of the pit on the west side, prove that a silent battle took place here last night.

The victor of the contest has already embarked on the long journey to Sichuan.