Read Novel Full Vol. 16 Chapter 62
Portent of Trials
A trained martial artist would have noticed the silent man attired in teal robes and sporting a small hat had not taken a single breath. If he was not watching with his back leaned against the rear wall of the kitchen, he would have been imperceivable. It was not achievable if one had mastered just Eclipse in Divine Realm. Although Hua Feihua’s method of veiling his presence was simple, it was far from simple to execute.
Thanks to the opportunity to inherit potent internal energy, Hua Feihua had a jump start to his martial arts journey. Once he started adventuring, he enjoyed an abundance of exposure to martial arts, even learning the most advanced breathing technique abroad – Turtle Breath Technique. The technique allowed the user to erase all traces of life, and Hua Feihua was strong enough to easily go three days without breathing. In combat, that would render his opponent stupefied and at their wits end. In the realm of covert work, it allowed him to go undetectable. Not even his first teacher was able to perform the skill. This was the exact skill that allowed him to perform acts of theft without ever being caught.
Although he was able to shake off his foe again, Hua Feihua remained as still as a rock this time. Despite having stood still for a good while, he still broke into a cold sweat. He could tell that the person on his tail was one of the strongest alive.
Hua Feihua was lucky enough to have a sage in the Western Region’s help him master the foundations of Buddhisim’s internal discipline, enjoyed Zhuo Fengru’s mentorship and had been exposed to disciplines not available in the Central Plain during his adventures. His exposure to a variety of disciplines combined with his pre-existing knowledge inspired a new mental cultivation that finally took form as a qinggong method last year. He knew he was going up against strong challengers in Hangzhou and was eager to test his new discipline against them, never expecting he would be forced to resort to it before even catching a glimpse of his foe.
When he searched for tonight’s target from the rooftop, Hua Feihua spotted a silhouette in a room that drew so much of his attention that he accidentally leaked energy. His moment of distraction led to his present regret. Not only did he have plenty of experience as a thief, but he also had strict demands; if he could not follow his pre-determined approach, then he would rather have given up on his prey. Nevertheless, he did not expect a nightmare to strike him due to his moment of carelessness.
Hua Feihua’s movements could be described as a light breeze that followed the wind. In comparison, his target was a gale, a gale that blew as if it was hail of arrows right beside his ears. What frightened him most was that he was already fleeing before he had finished thinking. He saw the need to flee using his new skill combined with Turtle Breath Technique to escape if he could keep seven metres between them. As a thief, engaging in combat was never a priority when faced with an opponent even accounting for his current martial prowess. As a thief, the top priority when facing an opponent was escape. This mantra that his shifu passed down was what kept him elusive.
What froze Hua Feihua was a sense of fatigue that infected every part of his body despite all his energy stores being full. This kind of fatigue never plagued someone who had achieved mastery in martial arts unless they were experiencing fear and panic as a blade closed in on their heart. As if achieving this without even meeting was not scary enough, he was able to mask all traces of his appearance in a split second, which was why Hua Feihua did not try to search again.
Ever since arriving in Hangzhou, Hua Feihua sensed someone watching him, but he could not find any traces until now. There was a saying among thieves that there was always a chance, and people revered thieves who never failed, never realising that their failure was their last. Compared to losing one’s life, failure was negligible. Hence, Hua Feihua never feared failure.
Hua Feihua took a deep breath without letting air out and tugged up a corner of his lips. There was still plenty of time left in the day.
The room on the third floor in the east was usually closed off. Rather, the third floor was usually closed, yet it was cleaned three times daily. The variety of room designs from that third floor across the thirteen large rooms – three of which were the best rooms in the building – were reserved for the most honoured guests and provided a clear view of the lake.
“It’s me.” Affableness was one of Proprietor Chen’s many strengths, such as the fact that he could recognise the odd atmosphere after his cordial introduction. “I apologise for not greeting you all due to how busy it has been.”
The people in the room turned a blind eye – and ear – to Proprietor Chen as their focus was elsewhere.
“Ah, there’s nothing left. It was only for a second,” said Jin Buhuan.
Song Lian and Ling Yaoshi shook their heads, agreeing with Jin Buhuan.
Bai Zhiqing asked his wife, “My Lady, did you… hear his movements?”
Keeping her gaze fixed into the distance, Lady Bai shook her head. “No… There are two people.”