I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 172: Chapter 72: Spirit Master (3)

After testing it, he was even more shocked.

’This Jade Talisman can give an ordinary person speed comparable to a Middle Grade Martial Artist. If a Fourth Grade Martial Artist like Zuo Boyang were to use it, it would be like gaining a Great Success Level Body Technique out of thin air!’

For a Fourth Grade Martial Artist like Fang Rui, whose Body Technique was already at the Perfection Level, the effect was even more astounding. Paired with his Perfection Level Rapid Trace Step, he could leap two or three zhang at a time. It was like the legendary Liezi’s Wind Control; his movements were ethereal and graceful to the extreme, like a Banished Immortal.

”Amazing!”

He recalled the other two Jade Talismans Zuo Boyang had used. ’The Protective Jade Talisman created a Golden Bell Film, the Attack Jade Talisman conjured fireballs out of thin air, and this one... it lightens the body!’

Fang Rui had never even heard of such Jade Talismans before, let alone seen them on members of great clans like the Xia Family or the Lin Family. They were clearly precious beyond measure.

’Just... there’s no way to turn it off?’

Fang Rui discovered that once the Jade Talisman was activated, there seemed to be no way to stop it. He had no choice but to use the remaining time to push his Rapid Trace Step to its limits, testing the extremes of his speed with the talisman’s boost.

Only about thirty breaths later.

BANG!

The Jade Talisman shattered into dust, and the feeling of enhanced lightness vanished in an instant.

’Damn! It’s gone just like that?!’

Fang Rui felt his body suddenly become heavy, and he almost crashed headfirst into a wall. Thanks to his Perfection Level Body Technique, he pushed off the wall at the critical moment, spun in mid-air, and landed as lightly as a feather.

’What a pity. A perfectly good Jade Talisman, gone just like that.’

He winced at the loss, but on second thought, he felt better about it. ’It’s probably for the best that it’s gone. It might have had a tracking mark on it from that ruthless character in the Rebel Army.’

That was precisely why Fang Rui hadn’t dared to take it back with him, choosing to test it here instead.

’Still, I really want this kind of incredible power!’

’Sigh, when will a crude martial practitioner like me get to be a noble Mage?’

Fang Rui sighed wistfully. ’Actually, Mages in this world aren’t all that. Didn’t I kill Zuo Boyang even when he used a Jade Talisman? And that ruthless character from the Rebel Army, who’s probably a Mage, couldn’t necessarily beat me either!’

’I’m not jealous. Not jealous at all. Like hell I’m not jealous!’

He shook his head, suppressing the urge to rush over to the County Magistrate’s Office and seize the legacy of that ruthless character from the Rebel Army.

Then, Fang Rui suddenly remembered something. ’That night, I forced a secret from the Xia Family members: breaking through to the Upper Three Grades requires the aid of Spirit Medicine. Zuo Boyang also called this a Spirit Talisman. Both have the word ”Spirit” in them... I wonder if there’s a connection?’

’Whatever. I’ll have plenty of time to figure it out later.’

’This operation was a success. I completely eliminated Zuo Boyang and confirmed the existence of another Extraordinary Path. The gains have been substantial. Time to head back.’

As Fang Rui mused, his figure flickered, and he headed back toward Willow Alley.

...

Another two or three days passed in a flash. A general from the Rebel Army was dead, yet the army made no move. This became the city’s latest juicy topic of gossip, and Willow Alley was no exception.

In the early morning sun, many of the alley’s residents were gathered under the large willow tree at the entrance, eating breakfast and gossiping.

”That heroic figure has struck again! First the Tiger Gang and the Wild Wolf Gang, then the Lin Family, then the Xia Family, and now it’s the Rebel Army’s turn!” The voice was filled with malicious glee.

”The Rebel Army wasn’t so bad, really...” another person sighed.

”That’s what you think! Do bad guys write ’I’m a bad guy’ on their foreheads? If he wasn’t a bad guy, why would our hero single out that particular Rebel Army general instead of anyone else?” someone scoffed.

”Yeah, when have any of those so-called lords and generals ever been good people?”

”We can’t be so sure. For example, the one who killed the Rebel Army general this time might not be the same hero as before,” an old man said, shaking his head.

”How could it not be him? Otherwise, where would our Changshan City suddenly get so many experts?”

”Hah, who cares if it was him or not? It’s good entertainment for us either way. The Rebel Army lost a general and doesn’t even dare to investigate. They’re clearly terrified of that hero!” The speaker’s tone was full of admiration.

”Isn’t that obvious? That hero is as elusive as a ghost. Whoever he targets ends up dead, without fail. Who wouldn’t be afraid of that?”

...

’Even if that line of reasoning—”Putting the facts aside, surely he wasn’t entirely blameless?” or ”Why would the hero target him and not someone else?”—has a certain passive-aggressive ring to it, I definitely didn’t kill the wrong man this time.’

Zuo Boyang’s evil deeds were too numerous to list; compared to the rest, his actions as a Cao Thief were practically benign.

Of course, he wasn’t so noble as to eliminate evil for the sake of the people. Killing Zuo Boyang was simply a matter of pulling up the problem by its roots—a preemptive strike.

’It’s a shame that ruthless character from the Rebel Army is so cautious. He didn’t even order a search, just pulled back his troops. For the past two days, he’s been keeping an extremely low profile!’

The County Magistrate’s Office was guarded by elite soldiers in full armor, armed with Powerful Crossbows. Even Fang Rui wasn’t willing to force his way in and risk his life.

’Whatever. I have plenty of patience. I can play the long game.’

Initially, Fang Rui had targeted the ruthless figure in the Rebel Army because he might hold some of this world’s secrets.

Now, however, he had also set his sights on the man’s Extraordinary legacy.

’Time is my greatest ally. As an Immortal, it’s the one thing I have in abundance.’

Fang Rui shook his head, casting aside these scattered thoughts. He looked out at the two little girls hopping about and playing in the courtyard. ”Ling’Er, Nannan, come over here. Time for a quiz on the characters I taught you yesterday!”

”Oh? Oh!”

The two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, instantly wilted like frost-bitten eggplants. They nudged each other back and forth, slowly making their way over.

...

「Another half a month passed in a flash.」

Peace returned to the city once more.

Until one day—

Jiang Ping’an came rushing to find him. ”Brother Fang, I have news about your father!”

...