The merchant's words caused Yi Feng's expression to change.
"Because the bandits already know we're here."
Chen Hao immediately reached for his sword.
"How do you know?"
The middle-aged merchant looked toward the road behind them.
"We lost two scouts this morning."
His voice was calm, but his eyes were serious.
"Someone has been following this convoy since we left Firmament City."
Yi Feng looked around.
The streets were still crowded.
Merchants moved between the buildings, cultivators entered the city, and ordinary people continued with their business.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Yet Yi Feng couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"What's your name?" Yi Feng asked.
"Luo Zheng. I'm responsible for this convoy."
Luo Zheng pointed toward the road ahead.
"We need to reach Stone Ridge before tomorrow evening."
Yi Feng nodded.
"Then let's go."
The convoy left Firmament City shortly afterward.
There were six large carriages.
Several guards surrounded them, each carrying weapons.
Yi Feng and Chen Hao stayed toward the rear.
For several hours, nothing happened.
The road gradually became quieter.
The surrounding landscape changed from farmland to thick forest.
Yi Feng's eyes constantly moved between the trees.
Something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Chen Hao noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
Yi Feng lowered his voice.
"Stop talking."
Chen Hao immediately became alert.
Yi Feng stopped walking.
His hand slowly moved toward his sword.
"Everyone stop."
Luo Zheng looked back.
"What happened?"
Yi Feng stared at the forest.
"I don't know."
A guard frowned.
"Young man, don't create unnecessary panic."
Yi Feng ignored him.
His instincts were screaming.
Then—
Whoosh!
An arrow suddenly flew from the trees.
CLANG!
Yi Feng drew his sword and knocked it away.
Everyone froze.
A second later—
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Dozens of arrows shot from the forest.
"DEFEND THE CARAVAN!"
The guards raised their shields.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Arrows struck the shields.
Some guards weren't fast enough.
"ARGHH!"
Several fell to the ground.
Chen Hao's expression changed.
"They're here!"
Figures began emerging from the trees.
One.
Five.
Ten.
Then dozens.
They were dressed in dark clothing and carried various weapons.
Luo Zheng shouted:
"Formation!"
The guards immediately surrounded the carriages.
Yi Feng looked at the attackers.
Most appeared to be in the Qi Gathering Realm.
But their cultivation wasn't particularly impressive.
They're around the same realm as me.
Yi Feng tightened his grip.
His opponent charged.
"Die!"
The man's blade came down.
Yi Feng stepped sideways.
CLANG!
His sword blocked the attack.
The force pushed him backward several steps.
Yi Feng's eyes narrowed.
Fourth Stage.
The attacker grinned.
"Didn't expect that, did you?"
Yi Feng didn't answer.
He circulated the Life and Death Art.
His essence surged through his body.
Then—
Wind Chasing Sword!
His sword flashed.
The bandit's expression changed.
He barely raised his weapon.
CLANG!
The impact sent him stumbling backward.
Yi Feng followed immediately.
One step.
Two steps.
His sword moved faster.
Slash!
The bandit barely dodged.
A thin wound appeared across his shoulder.
"What?!"
Yi Feng didn't give him time to recover.
Thrust!
The sword stopped inches from the man's throat.
The bandit froze.
Cold sweat ran down his face.
Yi Feng stared at him.
"Tell me."
"Who sent you?"
The man's eyes flickered.
Then he suddenly smiled.
"You think I'm afraid of—"
BOOM!
A terrifying pressure suddenly descended from the forest.
Everyone stopped fighting.
Yi Feng's pupils contracted.
A figure slowly walked out from between the trees.
The man's cultivation aura was completely different from the others.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
Luo Zheng's face became pale.
"That's…"
Chen Hao swallowed.
"Yi Feng…"
Yi Feng stared at the newcomer.
The man's eyes swept across the caravan.
Then they stopped on Yi Feng.
"You."
He pointed at him.
"Hand over your sword."
Yi Feng's grip tightened.
The ancient sword remained completely silent.
For once, there was no strange reaction.
No mysterious voice.
No overwhelming aura.
Just a sword in his hand.
Yi Feng smiled coldly.
"You came all this way for my sword?"
The man stepped forward.
"Not just your sword."
His eyes became cold.
"We were told to kill everyone in this convoy."
He raised his weapon.
"But you…"
"You are the only one I'm interested in."
To be continued...