Chapter 5: The Wild Calls of Changming

Dusk was falling, the sky darkening toward evening.

Beneath the glow of the setting sun, several dark shadows flashed rapidly across the eaves, startling a flock of crows into flight.

Zhao Zhen glanced back at the two men hot on his heels, his brow deeply furrowed.

“What methods are those two using? I’ve changed direction four or five times, yet they still manage to follow me all the way here.”

“You little bastard, if you’ve got the guts, don’t run. Don’t wait until Old Yuan catches you, or he’ll break your legs for sure!” Yuan Jingui shouted, panting heavily.

Though unwilling to admit it, the fact was plain before him.

Master Jin Guang’s disciple was incredibly fast—truly a wolf tired by a half-grown child’s pace. Such stamina was almost supernatural.

Zhao Zhen said nothing, simply firing another shot behind him, employing a hit-and-run tactic.

Bang!

This time the bullet hit no one. Yuan Jingui and the big man were both extraordinary beings; their earlier injury was due to carelessness and underestimating Zhao Zhen, the young upstart, which had allowed the ambush to succeed.

Now forewarned, they easily dodged with a slight sidestep.

“Kid, you don’t have to run. We’re friends of the Master and won’t give you a hard time,” the big man gasped, equally out of breath.

“Don’t try to fool me. Do you take me for a three-year-old?” Zhao Zhen muttered, firing another shot.

Though still missing, the frustration was palpable to Yuan Jingui and the big man.

Unable to catch him, unable to attack him, and suddenly struck by an unseen shot from nowhere—after so many years as a seasoned fighter, this was the first time they’d felt so vexed.

After nearly an hour of pursuit, Zhao Zhen remained vigorous, his speed undiminished. The big man finally gave in.

“Stop, stop, I admit it, kid. I really admit it. Don’t worry, we won’t harm you. We just want to ask about your Master’s whereabouts.”

“Old Wen, you…” Yuan Jingui’s face soured. If they were to give up now, wouldn’t that shot he took earlier have been in vain?

“Old Yuan, you can keep chasing if you want, but I’m not wasting any more time here. Not to mention this kid’s incredible stamina, but if he’s learned the Master’s Golden Escape technique, even if we catch him, what can we really do?”

Yuan Jingui gritted his teeth, still reluctant but aware that Old Wen was right.

“Damn it! You little bastard, stop running! We’re not chasing you anymore!”

Seeing the two men halt, Zhao Zhen also stopped beneath the eaves.

“You’re friends of the old man?” Zhao Zhen raised an eyebrow. As he questioned them, a talisman was already clutched between his fingers.

As always, if anything felt off, he was ready to flee at once.

---

“Yeah, Wen Liang Gong.”

“Yuan Jingui!”

Yuan Jingui frowned, clearly displeased.

“Yuan Jingui? The Long-Crying Wild Dog?” Zhao Zhen tilted his head.

At last, he understood why this shifty middle-aged man looked familiar.

Yuan Jingui, father of Yuan Tao, nicknamed the Long-Crying Wild Dog.

The Wild Dog, scientifically known as the “Sedge,” is a fox-like creature smaller than a fox, with a bluish-yellow coat, moving in packs like dogs, howling like wolves at night.

In Zen Buddhism, “Wild Dog’s Cry” is a term used to describe the nonsensical ramblings of those who have not yet achieved enlightenment, deceiving others.

The nickname implied that Yuan Jingui habitually babbled nonsense, sowed discord, and caused trouble—a notorious ‘troublemaker.’

Now seeing him in person, the name suited him perfectly. No wonder people say nicknames are never wrong, even if names are.

“Tsk, didn’t expect your reputation to be so grand, Old Yuan,” Wen Liang Gong teased with a mocking grin.

“Get lost,” Yuan Jingui rolled his eyes, fully aware of the sarcasm.

“Ha ha ha, kid, what’s your name?”

“Zhao Zhen.”

“Zhao? Does the Master’s real surname also happen to be Zhao?” Wen Liang Gong was slightly surprised.

“Who knows? You’re well aware the Master never reveals his real name to us.”

“How do you know we know the old man?” Zhao Zhen asked.

He was certain he had never met these two before, nor had he ever demonstrated the Golden Escape technique in front of outsiders. So how did they know about his Master?

This was crucial. If he couldn’t figure this out, he could be recklessly exposed as the Master’s disciple, branded as an extraordinary being, and become a marked man.

Though not afraid of trouble, Zhao Zhen did not want to become a public enemy without cause.

“Your talisman between your fingers,” Wen Liang Gong pointed to the yellow talisman on Zhao Zhen’s fingertip.

“That’s a special talisman used by the Master to perform the Golden Escape technique. I’ve seen the Master use it, so I recognized it immediately back in the forest.”

“Oh…”

Zhao Zhen nodded on the surface, but inwardly he wanted to slap himself.

How had he forgotten such an obvious flaw?

His lack of worldly experience was glaring.

“What brings you to the old man?”

“We need a favor from the Master.”

---

“Then you’re late. A few days ago, the old man left me alone and went off to enjoy himself.”

At this, both Yuan Jingui and Wen Liang Gong were taken aback.

They had anticipated the Master’s unpredictable movements and came hoping to get lucky and find him.

What surprised them was that the Master, who cherished his disciple like a precious treasure, would actually let him wander alone.

Considering Zhao Zhen’s age—no more than eleven or twelve—was the Master not worried about his safety? Or was he confident the boy could at least protect himself?

Thinking of the Master’s formidable skills, the two soon understood.

Indeed, if the boy had truly mastered the Golden Escape technique, few in the world could kill him in a direct confrontation.

“Little brother, since you’re the Master’s successor, you must understand his signature Golden Escape technique, right?”

“Who knows?” Zhao Zhen shrugged.

“Hey, brat, I advise you to be polite. After all, we’re all friends of your Master and your elders!” Yuan Jingui barked.

“Elders?” Zhao Zhen chuckled, eyes filled with disdain.

“If you really cared about respect and hierarchy, how could you possibly join the extraordinary beings?”

Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Wen Liang Gong’s eyes.

He had thought Zhao Zhen was well protected by the Master, naive and inexperienced, thus easy to deceive.

But now, it seemed otherwise.

“Looks like your Master must have told you about the extraordinary beings.”

“Let me be clear: I have no interest in your group, so I suggest you stop bothering me. Otherwise…”

Before he finished, Zhao Zhen pointed to a military camp not far behind him.

“That’s the artillery camp of Marshal Li.”

“So what? You don’t think we’re afraid of Marshal Li, do you?” Yuan Jingui sneered.

They were extraordinary beings who could escape the artillery’s targeting zone before bombardment began.

Unless the artillery was pre-informed of their exact location and bombarded indiscriminately, Yuan Jingui didn’t take cannons seriously.

Faced with Yuan Jingui’s contemptuous words, Zhao Zhen merely smiled innocently.

“No, no, what I mean is, if you don’t want a few tons of shells exploding right in front of you next second, it’s best you keep your distance. Got it?”