Chapter 50: Pursuing the Duel

When the young man with a dual iron ruler at his waist, a straw hat on his head, and Cloud shoes on his feet entered, Zhao Xing immediately recognized him.

"Brother Zhao? Is that you?" Shen Zhui was also surprised to see Zhao Xing.

"It seems you two know each other?" Chen Shijie smiled and asked.

"Of course, Head Constable Shen is the most outstanding and youngest constable in the Martial Office," Zhao Xing clasped his hands in respect.

"I dare not claim such a title. In the Martial Office, experts are as numerous as clouds. I was just fortunate to complete a few tasks," Shen Zhui replied modestly in front of Chen Shijie. "I know Brother Zhao mainly because he is responsible for the Tianfu area 'Anping Town,' which is also under my jurisdiction for maintaining peace."

The agricultural officials were responsible for advising on farming and inspecting Tianfu, while the constables of the Martial Office were in charge of maintaining peace in towns and villages. Zhao Xing had crossed paths with Shen Zhui several times while working in the countryside and had a good impression of him.

"Since you know each other, I don't need to introduce you," Chen Shijie laughed. "Shen Zhui, Zhao Xing, you two can chat on your own."

Chen Shijie left space for the two young men. Shen Zhui looked at Zhao Xing and spoke first, "I didn't expect the person I was supposed to protect would be you, Brother Zhao. What a coincidence."

"Protect?" Zhao Xing was puzzled. "Brother Shen, your task is to protect me? Is it because of the Xuantian Sect causing trouble again?"

Shen Zhui adjusted the iron ruler at his waist and explained, "It involves the Xuantian Sect. After the officials in Nanyang County were arrested, it brought about negative impacts. They managed to escape without a trace, but many strongmen took the opportunity to cause trouble, committing numerous crimes, making it truly unsafe."

"Moreover, with the East Lake Mountain about to open, Valley City is on high alert, and security levels have been raised significantly."

Hearing Shen Zhui's explanation, Zhao Xing understood that Chen Shijie not only found him a sparring partner but also arranged for a bodyguard from the Martial Office. Old Chen was indeed reliable when it came to handling matters.

"Then I'll be relying on Brother Shen during this time," Zhao Xing said.

"It's my duty, no need to be polite," Shen Zhui replied. Although he was an additional bodyguard, Shen Zhui wasn't going to be by Zhao Xing's side all the time. When Zhao Xing went to the Department of Agriculture for work or study, Shen Zhui didn't need to accompany him unless Zhao Xing left the city, in which case he would accompany him.

Additionally, at Zhao Xing's request, they would spar twice every morning and afternoon. The location was set at Chen's residence, which was spacious enough to allow for the use of magic arts.

Their first sparring session was akin to a game of cat and mouse. One person would escape, and the other would chase, with the range confined within Chen's residence.

Shen Zhui stood still, waiting for Zhao Xing to make the first move. As a martial artist, and given the limited space, if he made the first move, Zhao Xing wouldn't stand a chance. Therefore, the rule was that Shen Zhui could only start pursuing after ten breaths following Zhao Xing's initial move.

"Rising Wind!" Zhao Xing cast a spell, stirring up a wild wind that scattered sand, not to attack but to disrupt the line of sight.

Whoosh~ Shen Zhui squinted his eyes, pressing down on his straw hat. Although he couldn't see Zhao Xing's position with his eyes, as a martial artist, his sense of the body's Yuan Qi allowed him to still sense Zhao Xing's location.

But in the next moment, a hint of surprise flashed across Shen Zhui's face.

"He's vanished?!"

Standing on the training ground, Shen Zhui looked up at the clouds above in astonishment.

"The clouds are masking his Yuan Qi fluctuations? But when did these clouds appear? I didn't even notice."

"A dual technique in one breath? During the Rising Wind, he also completed the Walking Cloud?"

Just at the beginning, Shen Zhui realized that Zhao Xing was different from others he had encountered. However, he was still mistaken; Zhao Xing wasn't using a dual technique but a triple technique in one breath.

In an instant, he had cast Walking Cloud, Rising Wind, and Rainfall.

"Pitter-patter~" Raindrops fell on Shen Zhui's straw hat, and before the ten breaths countdown ended, it turned into a torrential downpour!

"Splash splash~" The rain blurred Shen Zhui's vision, reducing visibility to within five meters.

"Clang clang clang~" The iron ruler vibrated, locking onto a direction, suddenly emitting two beams of white light, swiftly piercing through the rain.

The beams cut through the rain curtain for twenty to thirty meters, briefly clearing the view. Shen Zhui's eyes flashed with sharpness, locking onto a blurry figure.

As the ten breaths countdown ended, he began the 'pursuit.'

Zhao Xing, meanwhile, hid behind a willow tree on the east side of the training ground, preparing for the second technique—Scarecrow Technique.

"I just broke a divine action scarecrow, which should have attracted his attention, but to escape the pursuit, one scarecrow isn't enough."

Zhao Xing gently broke off a willow branch while carefully listening to Shen Zhui's movements.

"Brother Zhao, the game is over," Shen Zhui leaped down from an artificial hill, instantly surpassing the blurry figure.

"Is it?" The blurry figure spoke with Zhao Xing's voice, "Brother Shen, why not take a closer look?"

"A scarecrow?" Shen Zhui was taken aback.

"Brother Shen, it's still early," the scarecrow unraveled itself. Since it had touched Shen Zhui, the scarecrow's mission was over. A scarecrow couldn't possibly defeat Shen Zhui unless it was made of thirty great strength golden steel, but this was just a [Divine Action Scarecrow], made from ordinary willow branches.

"I was fooled by a scarecrow? His Scarecrow Technique is so exquisite that it can even produce sound?" Shen Zhui's expression began to change.

To know, he was at the seventh stage of Gathering Essence, while Zhao Xing, according to Chen Shijie's introduction, was only at the third stage of Gathering Essence!

As the strongest genius in the Martial Office, he was being toyed with by a third-stage Gathering Essence magic arts from the Department of Agriculture?

Shen Zhui drew both rulers.

He was going to get serious.

"Tap tap tap~" The Cloud shoes stepped rhythmically in the rain.

But Zhao Xing also noticed something was off. After the first scarecrow unraveled, Shen Zhui's movements became difficult to track.

Two breaths later, Shen Zhui's footsteps disappeared.

Or rather, they didn't disappear but completely blended into the rhythm of the raindrops.

Zhao Xing controlled the Walking Cloud, using Yuan Qi to make subtle adjustments, altering the rhythm of the falling rain.

But each time, Shen Zhui could adjust his body method within two breaths, quickly blending into the environment.

In this way, during rapid movement, Zhao Xing also couldn't discern his exact position.

For Zhao Xing, Shen Zhui had also vanished.

"His body method has reached the level of Nine Turns Entering the Micro, Old Chen really found me a good sparring partner," Zhao Xing's eyes showed some excitement.

This was exactly the level of opposition he wanted. In such a confrontation, his efficiency in purifying Yuan Qi would also increase.

"Recreate the scarecrow, rise!"

Soon, the second scarecrow appeared under the willow tree, its height and build almost identical to Zhao Xing.

"Go!" Zhao Xing commanded the scarecrow to hide elsewhere in Chen's residence, to confuse Shen Zhui's line of sight.

Another ten breaths passed, and the third scarecrow took shape.

But just as the third one began to move, it stepped on two dry branches.

"Crack~" The branches snapped with a clear sound.

Although quickly covered by the sound of rain, in Zhao Xing's ears, it was piercing.

At the same time, Shen Zhui in the rain also caught the anomaly, no longer concealing his form, and fiercely pursued.

"Not good," Zhao Xing's expression changed slightly. He immediately abandoned the scarecrow and ran in another direction.

(End of Chapter)