Volume Three, Chapter Ninety-Six: Encounter with the Man in Yellow Once Again

Two days later, at dusk, outside Immortal Melody Town.

Yu Mu stood atop a tall tree, gazing at the quiet town before him. The village was peaceful and harmonious, yet Yu Mu dared not rush forward. Though he was now far from the City of Freedom, he could not be certain whether the news of his pursuit had reached this place.

Immortal Melody Town was built against the mountains, flanked on both sides by deep, precipitous ravines. With Yu Mu’s current flying abilities, he could not bypass them. Thus, he could only wait for the dead of night to slip quietly through the town.

Descending from the tree, Yu Mu transformed himself into another tree of the same kind, standing silently nearby. There was still some time before midnight, just enough to study the newly acquired Hundred-Change Hemp Rope.

The Black Wind Boots, after much adaptation along the journey, were now mostly mastered. His use of them for flight was still lacking, largely due to his own flying aptitude, but he had made considerable progress compared to before.

Yu Mu placed both the book and the Hundred-Change Hemp Rope into his inner space. Opening the book, he found its contents chaotic, a jumble of information. After meticulous sorting, he finally extracted the most important details.

The main function of the Hundred-Change Hemp Rope, once wielded by the Hall Master, was as a weapon—a whip. Unfortunately, the art of the whip required a separate technique, which was not recorded in this book nor found among other items. Thus, its primary use was lost to him.

However, another major function was documented in great detail, clearly the result of the Hall Master’s own research. This function made use of the rope’s inherent qualities to bind or weave nets. It was similar to the skill Yu Mu had used in ambushing assassins, but with the added ability to operate at a distance, greatly expanding its versatility.

Other features, such as changing length or thickness, were auxiliary and served as supporting functions.

Yu Mu recited the incantations, practicing until he was nearly proficient. By then, night had fully fallen. He shifted back into human form and stealthily entered Immortal Melody Town.

The town was long and narrow, with only one main street running through it.

Yu Mu moved cautiously, hiding in the shadows as he proceeded. Once again, he saw the Drunken Immortal Tavern. The scene of drinking with Meng Fang for the first time was still vivid in his memory, as was the mischievous, adorable face that appeared simultaneously in his mind.

Recalling these fond moments, Yu Mu couldn't help but smile.

Just then—a deafening crash shattered his reverie and left his ears ringing, his vision darkened, and he nearly stumbled.

As the cymbals sounded, crowds poured out from alleys, rooftops, and houses, each wielding a light, illuminating the street as if it were daytime.

A wild laugh echoed from above: “Little thief, I knew you’d come here! Foolish to think you could sneak through this town—I’ve long since laid a net, waiting for you to deliver yourself. Hahaha…”

Yu Mu looked up. In the glow, a figure slowly appeared in the sky.

Was it anyone but the man in yellow?

Yu Mu cursed inwardly: “Damn! I’ve been discovered after all.”

It wasn’t this man he feared, but the exposure of his whereabouts, which would surely bring relentless pursuit from the Freedom Alliance.

“How did he know I’d already arrived here?”

This question was crucial.

Yu Mu thought quickly, then suddenly darted into the crowd. He did not engage in combat, instead weaving through like a wildcat—darting left and right, slipping out from the throng, and sprinting toward the town’s edge.

The man in yellow watched from above, both startled and furious. He had never imagined that, in less than a year, this boy would grow from a powerless thief to someone with such skills.

While Yu Mu mingled with the crowd, he could not attack. By the time Yu Mu broke free, it was too late. Yu Mu abandoned the street, darting through houses and seeking inhabited places to escape.

Most residents here were relatives of the disciples of the Joyous Path. However anxious he was, the man in yellow dared not harm these people. Helpless, he could only give chase.

Yu Mu finally escaped the town. The man in yellow immediately summoned his twin cymbals. With a clang, the cymbals missed, merely causing Yu Mu to stagger slightly.

“What a strange technique!” The man in yellow was shocked.

He blamed the thief who had stolen his original cymbals; the new instruments were of poorer quality and less familiar, making it far easier for the enemy to evade.

While amazed at Yu Mu’s agility, he also complained in his heart about his ineffective tools.

Yu Mu dodged the attack and plunged into the dense forest.

Once within the woods, Yu Mu moved as freely as a fish in water, growing ever more nimble and swift, vanishing within moments, four or five miles deep into the wilderness.

As for the furious man in yellow, he now found himself alone. This small Incense Hall of Immortal Melody Town had only one chief and one deputy; the latter he had left guarding the hall, and the others could not keep pace with him.

He had thought dealing with such a petty thief would be a trivial matter; who could have guessed the boy would slip from beneath his very eyes? How could he bear it?

Having once suffered Yu Mu’s ambush, he was furious but dared not be careless. He maintained a safe altitude, wary of another surprise attack.

Suddenly, he saw a figure move atop a tall tree, leaping toward him. The man in yellow, rather than alarmed, was pleased—the enemy had no other skills that troubled him, so long as he avoided poison.

He immediately summoned his twin cymbals, but the figure accelerated, slipping between the cymbals and continuing to fly forward.

“Impossible! He’s already reached the Golden Core stage!” The man in yellow was stunned.

He had never imagined Yu Mu would break through an entire realm in less than a year.

He believed that by keeping his distance and avoiding the poisonous mist, he would be absolutely safe. Yet he hadn’t considered that Yu Mu, leveraging the height of the trees and his own ability to fly, could reach him in an instant.

By the time he reacted, a wooden staff was already descending upon him. He hastily recalled his cymbals to block, but with a clang, this time it was his own ears ringing and his vision darkening.

Yu Mu did not relent, raining blows upon him, forcing the man in yellow to the ground. The moment he landed, he realized Yu Mu’s terrifying power.

With an uncanny form and unbreakable defense, the man in yellow was immediately at a disadvantage. In a blink, he was struck a dozen times.

Seeing the situation turn dire, he tried to flee.

As he turned, a ghastly apparition lunged toward him. Terrified, he retreated, only to be caught by Yu Mu’s summoned hemp rope.

The rope writhed like a serpent, instantly binding him tightly. Before he could struggle, a staff struck his head, knocking him out cold.

The entire battle lasted less than ten minutes.

Though the man in yellow still surpassed Yu Mu in cultivation, the vast gap in magical tools and techniques meant Yu Mu didn’t need to transform, nor did he use many of his skills, yet he dealt with him effortlessly.

It was clear how much Yu Mu had improved in less than a year.

Yu Mu hoisted the unconscious man in yellow and departed. After running another dozen miles, he finally stopped. With a shrug, he threw the man to the ground, waking him immediately.

As soon as the man in yellow regained consciousness, Yu Mu asked directly, “Tell me—how did you discover me?”

Unexpectedly, the man in yellow replied stubbornly, “Little thief, kill me or torture me as you please, but you’ll never learn anything from me—not a chance!”

Yu Mu was furious. This man had pursued him and his companion for a day and a night, nearly killing them several times. Today’s encounter should have ended his life, yet Yu Mu’s unresolved question gnawed at him.

With a cold look, Yu Mu asked, “You truly won’t speak?”

The man in yellow sneered, “Hmph! You’re at death’s door and don’t even know it. If you have any sense, let me go now, come with me to the Fire Poison Path and beg forgiveness—maybe there’s still a way out. Otherwise…”

Yu Mu interrupted him, voice icy, “Then don’t blame me for being cruel. Have you ever heard of the Soul-Searching Technique?”

“Ah!” The man in yellow lost all composure, his face shifting dramatically, trembling as he spoke, “You know the Soul-Searching Technique? Impossible! Only those who practice the Dark Path know it—how could you possibly know it? You can’t fool me.”

“Hmph! It seems you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin.”

With that, Yu Mu transformed into his ghost form, staring directly at the man in yellow. In his mind’s eye, a fierce ghost appeared, jaws wide, beginning to devour his consciousness. Countless evil spirits and phantoms invaded his thoughts, threatening to occupy or consume his entire mind.