Chapter 48: Ye Tian Is Nothing Short of a Demon

The two of them, chatting and laughing, left the cave without even realizing it. Ever since they had entered that hidden realm, more than six hours had passed; now, the morning breeze stirred, and the first rays of the new day hung upon the treetops.

“Hurry back,” Ye Tian took the lead, not forgetting to warn, “Be careful—those armed helicopters may still be around.”

“I know,” came the reply.

But before he could finish, the whistling of bullets suddenly tore through the air above them!

“Watch out!” Ye Tian had no time to react; suddenly, something soft pressed against his back—Gu Qingcheng, at some unknown moment, had thrown herself atop him, forcing him down with all her strength.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

A dense hail of bullets ripped through the canopy, tearing up the soft earth, filling the woods with flying dust and swirling smoke.

Tens of thousands of rounds poured down like a storm. In less than a minute, the lush forest was obliterated, leaving behind nothing but devastation.

On a nearby mountaintop, eight helicopters sat quietly, smoke still drifting from the muzzles of eight machine guns.

“Reporting to the family head—we’ve found Ye Tian. Both targets were swept by the machine guns and are most likely incapacitated!”

“Excellent!” Qian Wanbao’s delighted voice sounded from the phone.

“Teams One through Four, move in to locate them. Teams Five through Eight, stay on the summit and prepare to provide air support at any moment.”

“Keep me updated at all times.”

“Yes!” Twelve members of the Qian family responded in unison.

The call ended. Each of the twelve men, armed with a large-caliber rifle loaded with 7.62mm rounds, began to silently make their way down the mountainside.

…

“Senior Sister!”

Hidden in the distant shadows, Ye Tian cradled Gu Qingcheng in his arms, his expression twisted with fury.

Gu Qingcheng’s eyes were closed, her elegant palace dress shredded, her once-fair shoulders and back torn open, embedded with shrapnel—a sight that made one’s blood run cold.

He had never imagined he would fall victim to Qian Wanbao’s ploy!

The immortal’s treasure map clearly hadn’t been in Wu Ba’s sole possession; Qian Wanbao must have copied it as well.

That was how these armed teams had tracked them so easily, setting up their ambush while he and his senior sister were inside the cave seeking treasure.

Lying in wait for the prey to come to them!

The heavy machine guns had left Gu Qingcheng gravely wounded. Without immediate treatment, not even a god could save her.

Even as she drifted near unconsciousness, she murmured, “The ginseng… didn’t get destroyed, did it?”

“The ginseng is fine.”

Ye Tian’s voice was cold as ice, his eyes bloodshot and frightening.

He silently took a ginseng root from his pack, sliced a piece off with his knife, and placed it in Gu Qingcheng’s mouth. Then, using a secret technique, he sealed her acupoints.

He forcibly anchored her life.

“Senior Sister, wait for me here.”

Ye Tian took off his jacket, gently covering Gu Qingcheng to keep her warm, then drew his broadsword and strode toward the open ground, away from the shelter of the trees.

“Reporting to the family head, Ye Tian has been spotted!”

The assault squad, conducting a methodical search, suddenly saw Ye Tian standing openly in a clearing—alive!

The squad leader, Qian Cheng, was stunned, swallowing hard.

How could this man still be standing?

They had just seen the helicopters’ concentrated firepower pour down upon him. How, in the blink of an eye, was he up and moving as if nothing had happened?

Was a Beidou-level martial artist truly so formidable?

“Where is he now?” came Qian Wanbao’s urgent voice over the phone.

Ye Tian, today it will be you or me—one of us won’t leave Qianlong Mountain alive! Qian Wanbao gritted his teeth in his heart.

“He isn’t running. It seems he’s waiting for us.”

“Notify the teams on standby to blanket the area with fire!” Qian Wanbao immediately ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

But before the words were out, Ye Tian’s figure vanished from sight.

“Family head, Ye Tian has disappeared again!”

“Damn it!” Qian Wanbao cursed between clenched teeth. This Ye Tian was like a lingering specter. “Continue the search! Do not split up under any circumstances—this man’s strength is terrifying. Don’t let your guns make you careless!”

As if we needed you to tell us… Qian Cheng couldn’t help but complain inwardly.

They had just witnessed tens of thousands of 7.62mm rounds sweep over Ye Tian and his companion, yet he was not only unscathed, but not a drop of blood could be seen.

When even heavy machine guns couldn’t break his defenses, who would dare let down their guard?

“No need to search—I’m right here.”

A sudden voice rang out nearby.

All twelve members of the squad felt their hearts seize. They instinctively turned toward the sound.

Ye Tian stood atop a tree branch as thick as a bowl, a broadsword in hand.

“Ye Tian, you’re bold indeed! Knowing we’re armed and yet you come to your death?” Qian Cheng shouted.

“Ye Tian, he’s right in front of you?!” Qian Wanbao’s voice came frantically from the phone, but no answer came.

Ye Tian gave them no chance to speak. In a flash, he vanished again.

The next instant, he was in the midst of the squad!

A cold blade flashed!

One member, panicking, pulled the trigger—only to find his new assault rifle sliced clean in two.

So was his body.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

The others were petrified.

Ye Tian did not pause. With a single stroke, he changed position, appearing behind another, and struck again—swift, precise.

Crack! Crack!

In mere seconds, the sharp clang of metal sounded again and again. As captain, Qian Cheng didn’t even have time to give an order—his eleven men were all cut down.

Then, the blood-soaked blade pressed coldly against his throat.

“What about Ye Tian? Respond!” came the voice from Qian Cheng’s still-raised phone. Its screen glowed with the anxious face of Qian Wanbao, the clan head.

Just seconds before, his team had been deploying calmly. Now, Qian Cheng was as if gripped by a ghost, unable to speak.

But Qian Wanbao had no idea his squad leader truly was in the grasp of the reaper.

Ye Tian casually drew his blade across Qian Cheng’s throat, took the phone from his hand, and activated the call recording.

“Qian Wanbao—long time no see.”

“It’s you, Ye Tian!”

On the other end, Qian Wanbao was utterly shocked. He could scarcely believe that in the time it took to exchange a few words, Qian Cheng was already dead.

Ye Tian was a true demon.

“It’s me.” Ye Tian grinned. “Clan Head Qian, what boldness you have. I didn’t expect you to value me so highly that you’d even resort to using military weapons in secret just to kill me.”