Although the earth warmed up in March, it was still a little cold.
If one had just come out of the forbidden zone, they wouldn't feel anything about the cold. But if one stayed outside for a long time, their body would still feel the bone-chilling cold.
Especially at night, the coldness was even heavier.
As the cold wind blew, Xu Qing's figure didn't stop at all. He just wrapped the leather jacket tighter around his body.
He still had things to do, so he carefully shuttled through the camp at night.
Along the way, he saw some wild dogs baring their teeth at him. But after meeting his gaze, they seemed to sense the smell of blood on him and shut up and hid.
Xu Qing looked away from the wild dogs and continued forward.
When he reached a house in the central area, he squatted in the dark and motionless, staring at a large house in the distance.
There was an extinguished bonfire there.
Xu Qing remembered that Pang Shan went there when he parted with Ma Si, so he wanted to wait and see if Ma Si would go out at night.
The cold invaded his body, but Xu Qing's figure seemed to be petrified. He stood there, motionless, waiting patiently.
Behind him, on the roof of a building, Master Seven and his servant also followed. Looking at Xu Qing squatting there, Master Seven smiled.
"Just as I expected, this little wolf cub wants to kill all of us."
"I'm looking forward to seeing how this kid will perform if he enters the forbidden zone next door." Master Seven also squatted down, watching with interest as he spoke to the servant beside him.
The servant smiled and squatted beside Master Seven, sizing up Xu Qing in the distance.
Seeing that time had passed and an hour had passed, Xu Qing frowned slightly.
After thinking for a while, he turned around and left through the shadows. His whole person was like a ghost, coming and going without a sound.
He didn't immediately return to the Thunder Team's residence, but circled around nearby.
After making sure that no one was following him, Xu Qing entered the Thunder Team's courtyard and quietly returned to his house.
After entering, he took a deep breath and rubbed his hands, as if to dispel the coldness in his body with this action.
Then he wiped the blood off his body and sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes showing that he was deep in thought.
"These scavengers need to go out at random times. Moreover, Ma Si is a pervert, so as long as it doesn't take long, no one should notice his death. Pang Shan probably won't be vigilant because of this."
"But to be safe, we still have to get rid of Pang Shan as soon as possible." Xu Qing narrowed his eyes.
Just like when he killed Maimed Bull, he, who grew up in the slums, did not allow any hidden dangers that could threaten his life.
Killing Ma Si was because the other party had snatched his items and threatened him. He was prepared to deal with Pang Shan for the same reason.
After pondering for a while, Xu Qing took out Ma Si's belongings from the leather bag and checked them carefully.
Most of them were miscellaneous items, and there was also a palm-sized piece of metal. There was nothing special about it, and it seemed to be a material.
In addition, there were more than 70 spirit coins, which was a huge sum of money for Xu Qing.
He counted them carefully and took out the white pellets. After comparing his white pellets with Ma Si's, he found that these white pellets were not fresh.
Therefore, he believed 70% of what the store owner said.
After thinking for a while, Xu Qing took out a white pellet and swallowed it. Then, he closed his eyes and felt it silently.
Soon, he felt a warm current rising in his body and finally converging at the mutation point on his left arm. It was a comfortable feeling.
After a while, when the feeling disappeared, Xu Qing opened his eyes and immediately looked at his left arm. The two mutation points there were slightly lighter, and the tingling sensation had also lessened.
"It's working." Xu Qing's eyes were filled with joy. He took out a second white pellet and swallowed it.
The same feeling continued to emerge until it dissipated again. The tingling sensation also disappeared.
A refreshing feeling rose in his body. It was very comfortable, as if his flesh and blood had been cleansed. This made Xu Qing feel that his speed and strength seemed to be stronger.
He did not continue to consume the remaining white pellets. He put them in the leather bag and closed his eyes to cultivate.
The night was silent.
Early the next morning, Xu Qing opened his eyes and got up to go out.
As soon as he opened the door of the house, he saw Lei Dui sitting cross-legged in the courtyard. He seemed to be doing breathing exercises.
Xu Qing did not disturb him. He gently opened the door of the courtyard and carefully closed it. Only then did he walk away.
Today's wind seemed to be colder than last night. Not only did it make people shiver when it blew on their bodies, even the wild dogs hid in their holes and rarely came out.
Xu Qing could see fog appear as he breathed. This reminded him of some bad memories of his time in the slums.
He hated the cold.
This was because the cold was a disaster for a homeless child. He needed to struggle hard to survive.
Therefore, when Xu Qing passed by a clothing store in the cold, his footsteps could not help but stop. He looked at the thick and clean clothes hanging in the store.
He touched the bulging leather bag and turned to walk in.
There were not many people in the shop. Xu Qing came in and looked at the hanging clothes. He looked very seriously.
At the side of the cabinet, the store owner glanced at Xu Qing. He did not pay much attention to him and instructed the shop assistant beside him.
"Go to the back and tidy up. Take out the custom-made clothes that have not been collected for a month and sell them."
"What if the person who ordered the clothes comes back?" The shop assistant seemed to be new and hesitated.
"Come back?
Every once in a while, someone will go missing in the camp. Some will die in the forbidden zone, and some will mysteriously disappear. The only ones who can come back are ghosts. Go. "
The store owner waved his hand impatiently, and the shop assistant quickly ran to the back hall.
Soon, before Xu Qing was done choosing his clothes, the shop assistant came out with a large number of clothes. After hanging them one by one, Xu Qing took a fancy to a dark-colored fur coat.
It was a coat that had been ordered by someone else but could not be collected again.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, when Xu Qing walked out of the store, he was wearing the dark-colored fur coat.
This coat was not thick and cold. When he wore it, it was much warmer than the clothes Xu Qing had previously worn.
However, because he was thin and small, it was like a coat on his body. It was very uncoordinated.
However, Xu Qing was very happy. He carefully avoided some dirty places as he walked.
Just as he was about to look for Pang Shan, he noticed that there was a commotion outside the camp. At the same time, many of the scavengers in the camp walked out. They looked in the direction of the noise with anticipation.
Xu Qing also raised his head to look.
Gradually, he saw a convoy of more than ten carriages under the sunlight. They were heading towards the camp in a mighty manner.
The people sitting on the carriages, even if they were just guards, were dressed in bright clothes. Their faces were rosy, and their eyes were bright. Most of them had astonishing spirit energy fluctuations.
As for the people in the carriages, Xu Qing could not see them, but he could guess that they were people of noble status.
Xu Qing had heard of such a convoy from the Thunder Team. It seemed that they often came to the camp, either to do business or to buy Seven Leaf Grass to refine White Pills.
Pang Shan's figure appeared in the crowd. After attracting Xu Qing's attention, he no longer paid attention to the convoy. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and stared at Pang Shan as he began to follow.
However, perhaps because of the convoy's arrival, the camp was very lively the entire day. A market was formed, and Xu Qing did not find an opportunity.
It was late at night when he saw Pang Shan return to the big house again. Hence, he put away the dagger in his sleeve and turned to leave.
Although he did not have an opportunity to attack that day, Xu Qing was very patient. After returning to the small house, he wore the new clothes and meditated. He did not take them off even when he was sleeping.
It was not until dawn again that he was prepared to go out and look for opportunities that he took off the fur coat and changed into his old leather jacket.
Looking at the new clothes, Xu Qing felt that he had been a little reckless yesterday.
At that moment, Xu Qing was wearing the old leather jacket and walking in the camp. He passed by the market with many people. His gaze seemed to be sizing up the place where the convoy was stationed, but in reality, he was looking for Pang Shan.
In the distance, Seventh Master yawned as he sat on a roof with his servant. His gaze swept across the convoy and then looked at Xu Qing. He asked the servant beside him casually.
"Has the invitation been sent to Master Bai?"
"Seventh Master, it has been sent, but Master Bai said that he has been unwell recently …"
"Unwell?
He is a doctor. He is … Eh, I remember this kid wearing new clothes yesterday. Why did he change back today? "As Seventh Master spoke, he noticed Xu Qing's clothes and was surprised.
While Seventh Master was puzzled, Xu Qing's gaze locked onto Pang Shan in the crowd.
Just like that, under Xu Qing's gaze, the whole day passed.
As the night came, Pang Shan, who was about to walk back to his house, changed his direction for some reason. He actually walked toward the outer ring in the night.
That place was relatively remote.
"He found me?" Xu Qing frowned and narrowed his eyes. His gaze gradually became colder.
He did not follow. Instead, he looked around until he was sure that Pang Shan was going alone. Then, he took a detour and sneaked into the dark, arriving at the outer ring ahead of Pang Shan.
After confirming that there was no ambush, the coldness in his eyes intensified. He hid in the dark.
At that moment, Pang Shan had also reached this area. His footsteps suddenly stopped.
"Little brat, I noticed someone following you yesterday. Come out. This place is very remote. It's suitable to dispose of your body. If you don't dare to come out, I won't be alone next time. Even if Captain Lei protects you, we, Blood Shadow, will still make you pay the price."
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. Since Pang Shan had already said so much, there was no need to hide anymore. Hence, he walked out from the dark.
"Ma Si didn't sneak out for work. You killed him, didn't you? I underestimated you." Pang Shan smiled viciously and looked at Xu Qing who walked out.
"But it doesn't matter. I didn't like him for a long time. Even if you didn't kill him, I planned to kill him the next time I went out. So, I have to thank you. I don't care if he lives or dies, but something in his leather bag should be with you, right?"
Pang Shan looked at the bag at Xu Qing's waist with greed in his eyes. Without waiting for Xu Qing's reply, his body swayed. His chubby body burst out with a speed that exceeded the second level of Qi Condensation.
The psionic fluctuations on his body were also much stronger at that moment. It even formed a layer of Qi Condensation around his body. His entire body was like an ice ball, crashing towards Xu Qing.
He was not at the second level of Qi Condensation. At that moment, his psionic fluctuations had already reached the third level.
It was precisely because of this, and because he was looking for something in Ma Si's leather bag, that he went out alone.
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. It was his first time fighting a cultivator head-on. The air around his opponent's body was obviously made of psionic energy, but he believed in his own strength and speed.
So, the moment his opponent arrived, Xu Qing rushed out. His speed exploded with all his might, leaving behind some afterimages.
In the blink of an eye, he dodged Pang Shan's body. While Pang Shan was obviously stunned, Xu Qing was already behind him. He raised his right hand and also exploded with all his might, punching out.
This was the first time Xu Qing had used all his power. The punch directly set off a series of popping sounds. When it landed behind Pang Shan, there was a bang.
Pang Shan's entire body trembled violently. The barrier formed by the air around his body shattered inch by inch. His internal organs tumbled, and when he spat out blood, Xu Qing's eyes were filled with murderous intent.
When he raised his right hand, an iron skewer appeared. His body swayed, and he instantly passed by Pang Shan's side. The iron skewer was about to pierce Pang Shan's head.
But in the next moment, Xu Qing's expression changed slightly, and he quickly retreated.
The moment he retreated, a sinister light appeared in Pang Shan's eyes.
Two black lines suddenly drilled out of his ears, one in front and one behind. They whistled sharply as they went straight for Xu Qing's face.
The two black lines were black centipedes with wings. They were extremely fast, and just as they were about to close in, Xu Qing pulled out a dagger with his left hand and cut them off.
The last centipede was less than seven inches away from Xu Qing's eyes when it was cut off.
This dangerous scene caused the murderous intent in Xu Qing's eyes to grow even stronger, and he rushed forward again.
Taking advantage of Xu Qing's previous retreat, Fatty Shan's internal organs had recovered a little.
At that moment, his round body was rapidly retreating. He raised his hands and formed a seal. His face instantly turned red, and he directly spat out a mouthful of poisonous fog at Xu Qing.
The fog tumbled and covered a large area. It quickly swept towards Xu Qing. Everywhere it passed, there was a sizzling sound. It was clear that the poison was very strong.
After doing all this, Pang Shan's face was pale, and his stomach shrank. He retreated once again. There was both ruthlessness and fear in his eyes.
Xu Qing's valiance was beyond his expectations.
He didn't expect that even though he was at the third level of Qi Condensation and had a body full of poisonous attacks, he would still almost be killed in one blow.
This poisonous fog was his trump card. If it still couldn't do anything to Xu Qing, he would have to shout to make Xu Qing wary.
If he only shouted, it would be difficult for him to obtain Ma Si's item.
In fact, he still had a forbidden item that he hadn't used yet. The side effects of this item were great, but he still took it out. It was a piece of amber.
As he hesitated, he looked at the area where Xu Qing was surrounded by the fog.
But the moment he looked, the fog violently rolled in all directions, and Xu Qing's figure rushed out.
His speed was so fast that Pang Shan's vision blurred. His heart thumped. His right hand was about to crush the amber, and he wanted to shout, but it was too late.
A black iron skewer with incomparable sharpness arrived in an instant. It pierced through his head like a hot knife through butter. Blood splashed out and landed on Xu Qing's body.
Pang Shan's body stiffened. He wanted to turn his head, but he couldn't. His body slowly fell to the ground and stopped moving.
Xu Qing didn't look at Pang Shan's body. He panted and looked around vigilantly.
This place was remote. After confirming that he hadn't attracted any attention, he quickly approached Pang Shan's body and took his leather pouch.
Just as he was about to stab it with his poisonous fangs, Xu Qing noticed that Pang Shan's right hand seemed to be holding something. He pried open Pang Shan's fingers and saw a piece of amber that was mostly shattered.
This item looked normal and there was nothing special about it, except for a scorpion tail sealed inside.
Xu Qing carefully took it and did the same thing to the corpse. After the corpse turned into a pool of blood, he quickly left.
As he left, he wiped off the blood on his body and disappeared into the night.
At this moment, Master Seven and his servant walked out of the darkness.
Master Seven looked at the place where Xu Qing disappeared. He didn't seem to care about the battle between Xu Qing and Pang Shan. Instead, he thought for a while and revealed an expression of realization.
"I know. That kid didn't wear new clothes because he was afraid of getting blood on them. He's afraid of being poor and cares about his clothes."
The servant next to him also let out a sigh of relief.
For the whole day, Master Seven had been thinking about why that kid didn't wear new clothes. Now that he finally had an answer, he didn't have to think about the reason every time he heard it.
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Although there are two chapters, they are both large chapters. This chapter is almost 4500 words long, and the next chapter is close to 4000 words long.
Actually, it can be split into three chapters, but I don't think there's a need to do so. It will destroy the integrity of the chapters.
I hope everyone can feel my sincerity. Thank you for your support, brothers and sisters.