How many seconds had passed?
The form created by the merged insect swarm changed into something like a sharp spear. A terrible feeling emanated from the purplish energy wrapped around the spearhead.
Even Qin Zhaoming, who was far away, felt goosebumps.
The moment he felt that ominous creation aimed at the shield...
Piiiii—
With a ringing sound, everything ended. No one could react to the lightning-like speed.
Even Qin Zhaoming, who was watching from a distance, was the same.
His blurred vision gradually focused, and he couldn't help but be surprised at the catastrophe unfolding before his eyes.
"Kuhak!"
The man, who was miserably coughing up blood, staggered.
The shield he had been so proud of had long been shattered to pieces. The completely broken fragments just fell helplessly to the ground.
Even his right arm, which had been holding the magical artifact, had disappeared somewhere.
It was truly a miserable sight.
'...Insane.'
The astonished Qin Zhaoming trembled at the absurdly crazy power.
The magical artifact that had boasted tremendous durability was pierced. Moreover, even his arm had turned to dust, and no intermediate process could be felt.
This was because the speed of the spearhead was too fast. He couldn't perceive anything, as if it had teleported.
"Damn it!"
The Qi Refinement mid-stage tracker was equally shocked by the insect swarm's single strike.
The hatred that had filled his eyes had already vanished as if washed away.
"Why is such a thing at the entrance of Mount Zeyang!"
With only fear remaining, he screamed like a child and fled.
He flew into the sky riding a flying sword. He fled desperately, with the enraged swarm of poisonous insects in pursuit.
Bang! Bang!
Fireballs scattered from his fingertips exploded. He struggled to escape from the tenacious poisonous insects.
'...Let's follow.'
Qin Zhaoming, who had been watching while concealed, made his decision.
The flying sword the man rode was quite fast, but thanks to the interference from the insect swarm, it was possible to chase after him.
At this moment, the positions of hunter and prey had reversed.
Since his risky plan had succeeded, it was time for the opponent to pay the price.
He carefully followed, taking care not to attract the attention of the insect swarm.
After chasing the fleeing opponent who was making all sorts of commotion for some time...
Mount Zeyang regained its tranquility.
This was because the poisonous insects, having vented their anger, had already returned to the Dew Tree.
※※※
Thud!
The muscular man, who had been teetering while riding the flying sword, fell and rolled on the ground.
"Huff! Huff!"
His complexion turned pale as if his spirit qi had been depleted.
Despite being covered in dirt from being slammed into the ground, he couldn't get up, appearing completely drained.
Having barely escaped from the poisonous insects, he had collapsed in exhaustion, in a terrible state.
"Urgh."
Furthermore, various parts of his skin were tinged with purple. It seemed he had been affected by poison too.
With an expression like he might faint at any moment, he only breathed heavily.
"Cough...! This damn! Why am I in such a state... That cursed little brat. Just wait. I'll find you somehow and kill you."
His face, which was a mess due to blood and mud, contorted.
Gritting his teeth, he fumbled around his waist with his one remaining left arm. His expression brightened as he found a reddish pill.
Just before he was about to eat the pill with his trembling hand...
Slash!
A machete imbued with golden energy grazed his wrist and passed by.
"Huh?"
The muscular man's face went blank. He just stared at his own wrist, which had been spinning in the air before falling with a thud.
With a stupid expression, he couldn't move for a long time with his mouth agape.
"Kuk."
Perhaps because of the pain that came belatedly? Turning pale, he gritted his teeth.
With an expression like he wanted to scream, he bulged his eyes, but in the end, he only grunted and endured.
Because someone was now standing beside him.
"Y-you, how?"
The man discovered Qin Zhaoming looking down at him with cold eyes and realized what had happened.
That terrifying swarm of insects had been that young boy's trap!
Qin Zhaoming had clearly noticed their stalking from the beginning!
He felt so wronged. He never imagined he would end up like this while trying to ambush a mere Qi Refinement level 2 kid.
"S-save me...! No, please save me!"
The bear-like burly man immediately knelt, casting aside his pride. He didn't hesitate to beg a child.
He was curious about how his stalking had been detected, but that wasn't important right now.
Survival.
That was the most important thing. There was hope that his severed arms could be treated someday.
"Save you?"
Meanwhile, Qin Zhaoming, who had been looking down at the pleading man, extended his hand.
Thump!
He struck his dantian and injected the Supreme Great Power into the man.
'Seal!'
Two Supreme Great Power spheres were consumed, and the man's spirit qi began to be sealed.
Only after sensing the spirit qi flowing in the meridians solidifying did he feel somewhat relieved.
Splash!
As he became unable to use spirit qi, blood gushed from his severed wrist and other parts.
"Urgh."
A dying sound was heard. The muscular man looked like he would die at any moment.
'Oh no!'
The urgent Qin Zhaoming injected spirit qi into him.
He couldn't let him die after capturing him with such difficulty. After improving his condition using spirit qi...
Whoosh.
He searched the man's body. He was worried about demon beasts that might come after smelling the blood. Fortunately, there were Concealment Talismans, so he immediately used two.
"Ugh. Save me...!"
To the man who had recovered some color thanks to the injected spirit qi, he said:
"I'll consider it if you answer my questions sincerely. Why did you follow me?"
"Huff! Huff! Why I followed you...?"
The man, who had been breathing heavily, paused. He rolled his eyes around, then laughed while coughing up blood.
"Heh! If you're curious, give me the antidote pill in my severed arm there. I'm going to die at this rate."
"Just answer the question."
"Hmph. Why should I, when I'm going to die anyway? Go to hell!"
Qin Zhaoming, who had been frowning, carefully examined the man's eyes. The subtle trembling indicated he was clearly afraid.
"Fine."
"W-what?"
Who was the desperate one now?
It was the opponent who was on the verge of death. There was absolutely no reason to be dragged along like a fool.
"It's probably some trivial reason anyway. I don't care. Just die."
The moment he sharply reduced the spirit qi injection that was maintaining his life...
The panicked man shouted:
"W-wait! Think carefully! If you kill me, my elder brother will seek revenge!"
"Elder brother?"
"Yes! My elder brother is a master at the late stage of Qi Refinement! He's strong enough to cut down someone like you in one strike!"
"Your elder brother is at the late stage of Qi Refinement?"
"Huhu! Don't you believe it? No, you just don't want to believe it! My elder brother already knows I was following you! If I don't return, my elder brother will make it so you can neither live nor die!"
"...Is that all for your last words?"
At Qin Zhaoming's quiet question, the man's face turned white.
Truly becoming desperate, his words became faster and faster.
"If you just let me live, I'll pretend today never happened! I'll swear on the Dao of Heaven, so don't worry about me breaking it. Please make a wise judgment. I'll make up excuses for my dead brothers..."
Qin Zhaoming's eyes narrowed.
He carefully examined the expression of the man who kept alternating between threats and pleas, but he couldn't tell which parts were true.
Sling!
After silently watching, he drew his machete.
The moment a subtle golden aura formed on the crude blade...
"Hmm? W-wait! What are you—Aaagh!!"
The machete pierced through his thick thigh at once.
Despite its shabby appearance, it was incredibly sharp, which was because he had enhanced its sharpness with the Supreme Great Power.
"Stop talking nonsense and answer the question. Why did you stalk me?"
"Kuhup! Damn it! How dare a weak early-stage practitioner! If I were in good condition, do you think someone like you could even be my opponent?"
"Hoho. It seems you want to become a one-legged cripple. Let me grant your wish."
The moment he swung his machete back, bones and flesh were cut off like tofu.
"Aaaaargh! W-wait! I'll talk! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
He silently watched the man who had suddenly become polite in an instant, and the man's mouth began to move incessantly.