CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: DESPERATE SITUATION!

"Whiz! Whiz!"

Two more arrows flew through the air, blocking Li Qingmu’s escape from both sides.

"Splash!"

Li Qingmu retreated backward, fell into the creek, and narrowly avoided this wave of attacks.

The cold creek water stimulated his legs, making him even more alert. He saw the black-clad figures rushing towards him and without hesitation, shook off his cloak from his shoulders, then slapped it into the water.

The cloak whipped up the creek water and splashed it towards the three black-clad figures who were rushing forward first.

In the midst of the spray, the three black-clad figures instinctively closed their eyes and raised their hands to block, giving Li Qingmu the opportunity to wade through the river and dash into the dense forest on the opposite side.

Ahead lay the official road, where trees were sparse, making it hard to find cover. But in the dense forest, it was different; this place was surrounded by terrain and vegetation, ideal for concealing oneself and escaping pursuit.

"Damn it! A bunch of useless idiots, letting him get away like that? Chase him!"

"Splash, splash, splash!"

The black-clad figures ran through the water waves, closely chasing him.

This area was mountainous and forested. These black-clad figures believed that in such a desolate place, they could silently kill without being discovered. It seemed perfect and leisurely, but who would’ve thought that the person they were chasing had such cunning methods, constantly diving into the old forest?

Even now, as autumn set in, with the weather turning colder and the plants withering, these ancient forests had plenty of evergreens that provided the best cover for him. In just a short time, they’d lost track of Li Qingmu’s trail.

Qian Yi appeared behind the group. He looked at the forest of grass and trees, with sunlight streaming through in patches, and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead due to running, cursing, "Where’s he? Where the hell did he disappear to? Are you guys useless, losing track of a scholar who can’t even tie a chicken?"

"Mr. Qian, this person’s methods are very clever. He excels at using the technique of diversion to confuse us. We’ve been following him all the way, but he’s fooled us several times!"

One of the black-clad figures remarked. Qian Yi instantly flared up, "You are supposed to be the elite assassins, yet you’re tricked by his blinding techniques? Are you pigs? I’m so angry, really pissed off!"

Qian Yi jumped and cursed, thinking that if things went wrong, that noble in Capital City would surely cause trouble for him, and he felt like killing someone out of anger!

"Split into two teams, no, four teams, three people per team. Even if we have to set the forest on fire, we must drag him out!"

As Qian Yi spoke, filled with murderous intent, several black-clad figures exchanged glances and immediately spread out to pursue him.

"Rustle, rustle!"

Li Qingmu ran to the foot of a small hill, seeing the dark figures searching everywhere in the distance. He first walked a short distance to the right, then followed the footprints back and slipped down a nearby small steep slope.

The vegetation was dense here; once Li Qingmu slid down, he couldn’t be seen. When those black-clad figures caught up and saw the footprints, they were about to pursue him.

"Wait! Wouldn’t we lose track again if we followed this trail? This trick has fooled us several times, yet we always fall for it. It’s really irritating!"

One black-clad figure stopped his companion, looking frustrated.

That person said, "If we keep worrying about being tricked, we’ll never catch him. Let’s spread out again and pursue him from different directions. As soon as someone sees him, signal immediately! Damn it, we won’t believe we can’t catch him!"

"Good, this method is good! Damn, this guy is slippery like an eel, really knows how to run! If we catch him, we’ll certainly cut him into pieces!"

"That’s right, kill him!"

The three black-clad figures cursed, then dispersed again.

Once they spread out, Li Qingmu’s chances of being discovered increased, and his pressure intensified.

He carefully lifted a section of shrubbery, prepared to move into a mountain gulch, but there, a black-clad figure was searching for him.

The two suddenly confronted each other, the black-clad figure joyfully thinking he’d claimed first honors, only to see Li Qingmu leap forward, his dagger gleaming coldly, cutting sharply towards him.

"He’s here..."

He instinctively shouted and swung his longsword to block, but Li Qingmu was too fast; plus, his dagger’s trajectory was cunning, slicing diagonally down from the assassin’s neck seam to the wrist.

"Thunk!"

The sound of flesh being cut opened, with the black-clad figure seeing his longsword piercing into Li Qingmu’s arm, yet Li Qingmu’s dagger mercilessly slashed his neck and wrist, spurting blood instantly.

"This...this...uh..."

The trachea was severed, making his words airy and indistinct. Li Qingmu kicked him down, stole his longsword, and fled.

The strong smell of blood here would soon draw those killers, putting him in even greater danger!

"He’s over there, Eleven’s dead! Chase him, he’s wounded. He can’t escape, hahaha!"

"Keep chasing, follow the blood trail. Let’s see how he continues to hide?"

Previously toyed with by Li Qingmu, the black-clad figures had pent-up anger. Seeing him wounded, they knew he wouldn’t get far, so they chased him with red eyes.

Li Qingmu clutched his wounded arm as he darted through the forest, watching the increasing number of black-clad figures behind him, realizing today might be his last.

"Yue’er..."

He wasn’t actually afraid of death; three years ago, he faced assassins with the determination of dying. But thinking about the little wife at home waiting for him, he felt a pang of reluctance and resentment. Why? Why treat him this way?

He didn’t fight or seek, even unwilling to make connections with high officials, desiring only to go home and accompany his wife. But why couldn’t he achieve such a simple wish?

You beasts!

Li Qingmu was filled with anger, wanting to perish together, but thinking of his wife’s face, as beautiful as the bright moon, made him hesitate.

Up ahead, a clearing appeared, with vegetation thinning, and the wind gradually picked up; Li Qingmu’s footsteps faltered as he gazed at the misty cliff ahead, stunned...

"Hahaha..."

A wild laugh echoed from behind, filled with ridicule and satisfaction. Li Qingmu slowly turned around and saw a very familiar face.

"Qian Yi?"

Looking at the entourage of black-clad figures surrounding him, he couldn’t believe his eyes, "It’s you?!"

"Haha, yes, it’s me. How’s it going, surprised, huh? Hahaha... Li Qingmu, your day has come! Your death day is here, do you know that? I’ll make you understand what a fate worse than death feels like!"

Qian Yi grinned maliciously, waved his hand, and the black-clad figures approached again.

"For whom are you working?"

Despite the peril, Li Qingmu’s basic judgment remained intact. Qian Yi was merely an average student in the academy; how could he have the means and money to hire such a number of killers to hunt him down?

Surely someone else was plotting behind this!