Chapter 47: Headstrong, Unrequited Affection, and Biting Off More Than One Can Chew (Part I)

As the saying goes, grudges must be avenged and grievances repaid. However, this was, after all, a cross-border operation. What they were facing was not merely the enemies of the Vanguard Group, but also the threats of foreign regimes and armies, alongside numerous hidden experts who might emerge at any moment.

Various modern weapons, and even high-powered heavy weaponry, stood ready to unleash devastation the moment their whereabouts were exposed.

Under such circumstances, even an expert who had achieved sainthood in the flesh would be brought to bitter ruin.

While everyone else stood frozen in a daze, Yi Beidou had already stood up, opened the door, and prepared to stride away.

"Um... Mr. Yi, this is a cross-border operation after all, and the implications are far too severe. Don't you think we should discuss this thoroughly? I have already reported this matter to my superiors, and they are taking it extremely seriously. Five super-soldiers infiltrating our borders is a blatant provocation against Donghua, and we will inevitably take corresponding measures. If you wait and coordinate your actions with us, we can ensure nothing goes wrong. What do your think?"

Duanmu Qing, the head of the Yunhai Province Special Security Bureau, hurriedly chased after him upon seeing this, trying to persuade him with kind words.

He simply did not dare to let Yi Beidou leave just like that.

For a physical-sainthood expert like Yi Beidou to head down to the Nanyang region concerned, on the one hand, Yi Beidou's personal safety, and on the other, delicate regional relations. Acting rashly would unleash uncontrollable ripples and complications.

His current idea was simply to stall Yi Beidou first and figure out a plan later.

"As the saying goes, opportunity knocks but once, and it is lost forever. If we wait until everything is thoroughly prepared, the targets will likely have vanished into the vast sea of humanity long ago," Yi Beidou replied, without the slightest intention of stopping.

His Heavenly Demon Perception was not omnipotent. Take today, for instance; his senses had been shielded by the feng shui talismans worn by those five super-soldiers, leaving him with only a hazy, indistinct intuition until he stepped into the banquet hall and unmasked them face-to-face.

It was the same now. Having just killed the five super-soldiers, his momentum and Qi were at their peak, entangled with the karma of his enemies, which allowed him to maintain a vague perception.

If he waited for a period of time, this karmic entanglement would weaken, or the enemy would make countermoves, and even his current Heavenly Demon Perception would likely fail to lock onto the precise locations of their key operatives.

Furthermore, since the enemy had already hunted him down to his doorstep, he lacked the patience of a gentleman taking ten years to exact his revenge.

He always settled karmic debts in full and exacted grievances immediately. Only by doing so could he remain true to his untrammeled heart.

"Then please wait a moment, Mr. Yi. I will immediately arrange personnel to assist you in crossing the border."

Seeing that Yi Beidou was utterly unshakeable, Duanmu Qing changed his strategy.

As long as he could buy a little time, matters thereafter would naturally be handled by others, and he would have fulfilled his duty.

"There is no need to go to such trouble. I require no assistance. I shall travel there on foot, which will also avoid entangling you in this karma and making things difficult for you. Should anything happen, you may simply state that this was entirely an act of personal retaliation on my part, thereby washing your hands of the affair."

Yi Beidou waved his hand dismissively and spoke.

An expert who had achieved physical sainthood possessed the ability to travel eight hundred li a day. And that was merely during ordinary daily travel; with Yi Beidou's physical constitution, traveling at full speed would far exceed that figure.

Even on foot, factoring in the time spent resting along the way, he would reach his destination by late tomorrow night at the latest.

By then, the night would be dark and the wind howling—the perfect time to make a move.

Hearing Yi Beidou's words, Duanmu Qing broke out in a cold sweat.

Travel there *on foot*, my foot!

Even though Chuncheng was already quite close to the national border, it was still a distance of at least six or seven hundred kilometers, okay?!

With things having reached this point, Duanmu Qing opened his mouth, completely at a loss for words, and could only watch helplessly as Yi Beidou departed.

"Why didn't the two of you try to persuade him?!"

Duanmu Qing looked with absolute helplessness at Meng Qianyuan and Zhou Baiwei, who had remained silent from the very beginning.

Especially Zhou Baiwei—this young girl was, after all, an active-duty officer of the Special Security Bureau. What on earth was she doing?

"Leader, save your breath. You'd better report this to your superiors quickly and see how to handle it. Once this man makes a decision, no one can change it."

Zhou Baiwei shook her head with a sigh.

With that, she chased after Yi Beidou's receding figure, calling out as she ran, "Sir! Let me drive you out of the city! Otherwise, at your speed, you're likely to frighten the little children along the roadside!"

Duanmu Qing's face twitched violently as he turned his gaze back to Meng Qianyuan.

"What a pity... to not be able to travel alongside Mr. Yi. I still need to work harder..."

This fellow's eyes were filled with deep regret as he muttered to himself, desperately wishing he could follow along.

Duanmu Qing was left completely speechless. What kind of monsters were these people?

Special Security Bureau Headquarters.

Zhao Ping was holding an emergency meeting with the high-ranking officials of the Bureau regarding the Yunhai Province incident when an assistant suddenly pushed open the door and whispered urgently into his ear. Beads of sweat instantly formed on Zhao Ping's forehead. Disregarding everyone in the conference room, he strode out immediately.

He left behind a room of bewildered people staring at each other in confusion, utterly clueless as to what had happened.

Clearly, Zhao Ping had received the news that Yi Beidou was about to head down to the Nanyang region.

Such a matter was beyond his ability to handle; he could only seek help from his former superior.

Beijing. A place of red bricks and yellow tiles, deep within the imperial sanctuary.

Beneath a massive banyan tree in a courtyard stood a stone tea table. Three people sat around it, drinking wine under the moonlight.

One of them looked at first glance like an old peasant, but upon closer inspection, one would realize that his appearance was extraordinarily refined and ethereal, reminiscent of a living Buddha.

It was none other than Wei Cheng, the former head of the Special Security Bureau who had once met with Yi Beidou.

Beside him sat an elderly man with the hair of a crane and the complexion of a child. He was dressed in a traditional Tang suit and wore a gentle smile, resembling an elderly grandfather out for morning exercises in a public park.

The third person appeared remarkably young, looking to be only a little over thirty years old. He wore a crew cut, a pair of dark sunglasses, and an expression of unsmiling sternness. Clad in a Zhongshan suit with sharp, crisp lines, his waist was held straight, and his entire spine resembled a long sword concealed within flesh and blood.

These two were likewise beings who had achieved physical sainthood, permanently stationed within the inner sanctum to deter all manner of evildoers and scoundrels.

"We intend to hold the Wuying Martial Arts Assembly, gathering the talents of Donghua to test martial arts, discuss the Dao, and share our strengths. By harnessing the mighty momentum of the world, we hope to nurture a new generation of young experts who have attained physical sainthood, thereby reforming the current state of Donghua martial arts and coping with the changing global situation."

"However, many forces across the world now view us as enemies. They will certainly not allow this assembly to proceed smoothly, and wicked dao practitioners will inevitably attempt to snuff out the talents of Donghua. A great battle is likely to ensue when the time comes. If possible, I would like to ask the two of you to lend a hand."

Wei Cheng emptied his cup of wine in a single gulp and said.

"Foreign forces are growing restless, and those from hidden sects harbor ill intentions. Mr. Zhao and I are probably unable to leave the inner sanctuary. Half a month ago, someone attempted to sneak in here. That person was entirely unknown to me; he slipped in through the northern courtyard, protected by the arts of the Illusory Dao Realm and possessing a spiritual prowess capable of shaking ghosts and gods. Not a single guard noticed his presence as he passed. Had my intuition not stirred and a single word from me shattered his stealth—causing him to retreat out of fear of modern weaponry—we likely would have fallen victim to his scheme."

"I suspect that person was a 'Corpse-Dissolution Immortal' from the hidden sects, attempting to infiltrate the inner sanctuary to assassinate key figures and achieve some unspeakable objective."

The old man in the Tang suit maintained his cheerful smile, yet he revealed a heaven-shaking secret.