Chapter 36: Hai Bodong
In the southeastern part of Rock Desert City, a bustling street was lined with shops selling maps. The crowd moved about in a lively and noisy atmosphere.
At the far end of the left side of the street stood a map shop named "Ancient Maps." Unlike the other busy stores, this one was quiet yet not deserted only two or three people came and went. These individuals seemed to share a mutual understanding, silently selecting maps, placing down gold coins, and leaving without uttering a single word.
When Lu Bu arrived, the shop was empty, save for an elderly man with white hair, meticulously drawing maps. He was completely focused on his work, seemingly oblivious to Lu Bu's presence.
Lu Bu carefully observed the elderly man one of the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong. He had a head of white hair and an aged, wrinkled face marked by a deep scar running from his forehead down to his chin, giving him a fierce and intimidating aura.
Ordinarily, someone with such an appearance should have drawn the attention of city authorities or other experts what if this old man was a long lost criminal? Yet, as far as Lu Bu could sense, there was no one monitoring him. Perhaps the enforcers in Rock Desert City were just blind.
An idea struck Lu Bu among the medicinal materials he had taken from Gu Te, some were key ingredients for a semi complete Revitalizing Purple Pill. In fact, the most valuable components were already in his possession. Collecting the rest wouldn't be too difficult.
Scanning the shop, Lu Bu walked directly toward an ancient wooden shelf filled with stacks of yellowed maps.
"You're here to buy maps?" Hai Bodong finally lifted his head, his cloudy eyes scanning Lu Bu with a hint of surprise. This kid's looks aren't inferior to how I was in my youth.
"That shelf only holds useless maps. Try somewhere else."
Lu Bu's eye twitched. Wasn't he indifferent to Xiao Yan in the original story? Why is he so attentive to me?
With a flick of his wrist, Lu Bu picked up a tattered yellowed map from the shelf and smiled. "No need, I've already found what I'm looking for."
Hai Bodong's pupils contracted sharply. A wisp of cold air emanated from his hand as his quill trembled. "You… You recognize this map?"
His voice quivered, his Adam's apple bobbing as his wide eyes locked onto Lu Bu.
"I know a little," Lu Bu replied with a faint smile.
"Could you tell this old man more?" Hai Bodong slowly put down his quill and asked in a neutral tone.
"Everything in this world is about equivalent exchange," Lu Bu said, twirling the map in his fingers before storing it in his spatial ring. "What do you have to trade for this information?"
Hai Bodong's face darkened. This kid was blatantly disregarding him!
"You're right…" Hai Bodong's hands dropped to his sides, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. White battle energy surged from his hands, and a chilling, murderous aura erupted from his body.
"Everything must be exchanged at equal value… so for that information, I'll take your life!"
Bang!
As soon as Hai Bodong finished speaking, the shop's doors slammed shut, sealing the entire room.
Lu Bu: "…"
Just so we're clear, he started this. I'm not the one attacking an old man.
A violent gust of wind swept through the shop. In an instant, Hai Bodong vanished.
Before the sound of the wind had even faded, a withered hand, wrapped in a sinister white frost, shot toward Lu Bu's throat at lightning speed.
Even before making contact, the chilling air had already sent goosebumps across Lu Bu's skin.
Hai Bodong remained calm despite his sealed strength, dealing with a mere Tier 1 alchemist should be effortless…
…Should be.
A trace of doubt flickered in his eyes as his fingers touched Lu Bu's body, only to grasp… nothing.
A remnant image?!
Realization struck, and Hai Bodong's expression turned to one of shock.
Impossible! He's moving fast enough to leave afterimages?!
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a gust of wind exploded beside his ear. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of purple flames a burning heat surging toward him.
"What…?!" Hai Bodong's pupils shrank to needlepoints.
Boom!
A seemingly ordinary fist, packed with immense force, slammed into Hai Bodong's face.
A white mist exploded as he was sent rolling across the floor, crashing into the shop's back wall with a thud. His aged face was now swollen red, a clearly visible fist mark imprinted on it.
Lu Bu shook his hand in mild surprise. "Damn, this old man's face is tough."
With a sudden whoosh, Hai Bodong shot up from the ground, his expression cold and composed exuding the aura of a seasoned master.
That is… if one ignored the glaringly swollen fist mark on his face.
"Kid, that's some monstrous physical strength!" Hai Bodong wiped the corner of his mouth, his voice low and solemn. That punch had caught him off guard completely.
Even with his power sealed, he was still at the peak of the Dou Ling level. Yet this kid… was abnormal.
"You flatter me," Lu Bu grinned.
"I'll admit, you're impressive… but far from enough!" Hai Bodong declared.
His white hair fluttered despite the still air. A chilling white mist spread from his hands, forming an ice blue spear composed of condensed frost. A fierce and oppressive aura instantly filled the room.
Seeing this, Lu Bu chuckled. Looks like this old man won't talk unless I beat him into submission.
With a thought, purple flames flared up around his hands. The eerie, flickering fire radiated intense heat, instantly counteracting Hai Bodong's cold aura.
As soon as the purple flames appeared, Hai Bodong's eyes flickered. Who the hell is this kid? He's full of surprises.
But so what?
That map was his most treasured possession no one was allowed to take it from him!
"Kid, I don't care who you are. In front of me, you're just a Dou Shi!" Hai Bodong growled.
With a sudden stomp, the stone floor beneath him cracked into a web of fractures.
Hai Bodong's figure vanished into thin air, moving at an incomprehensible speed.
A faint wind whisper was the only sign before his icy spear lunged toward Lu Bu's back, as fast as a striking viper.
Hai Bodong wasn't aiming to kill he deliberately avoided Lu Bu's heart, intending only to wound.
But…
Swoosh!
His spear passed through Lu Bu's chest yet he felt no resistance, as if he had pierced thin air.
A familiar sensation…
Hai Bodong's face twitched. If he wasn't mistaken, then right about now…
Bang!
A flaming purple fist slammed into his face once more.
With an explosive force, Lu Bu shouted as he extended his arm, fully unleashing his strength.
Boom!
Another white mist spread as Hai Bodong spun through the air, crashing into the same wall once again, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Whoosh!
Hai Bodong shot up once more, maintaining the demeanor of an esteemed master.
But in the next second…
His expression twitched as he touched his left cheek, which had now swollen into a massive lump. Blood and bodily fluids slowly seeped out, making his face look utterly miserable.
"Kid… I admit, I underestimated you," Hai Bodong muttered, struggling to speak without straining his bruised face.
Lu Bu smiled. Looks like we can finally talk properly.
"I'll admit defeat," Hai Bodong sighed. "Take the map. I won't fight for it anymore."
"Oh?" Lu Bu chuckled, twirling the half map between his fingers. "Elder, this is only half a map, isn't it?"
Hai Bodong's face stiffened. The swelling made it difficult to emote, but the tension was evident.
"Hand over the other half, and I'll spare your life," Lu Bu said, his right hand now radiating colorless Spiritual Fire.
The formless heat was terrifyingly oppressive.
As soon as Hai Bodong saw the Spiritual Fire, his intent to fight vanished completely.
Though his bruised face showed no clear expression, the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.
Lu Bu smirked. Perfect. He took the bait.
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