On the very same day Bai Yunfei arrived in Whitepeak City...
Within the Frost Soul Sect, inside a spacious grand hall, only three men sat. Clearly, the master of this place had dismissed all servants to discuss important matters.
Seated at the head position was a middle-aged man with a slightly pale complexion. His mere presence, sitting there expressionlessly, radiated an aura of chill. The temperature throughout the hall seemed to drop several degrees because of him – this was Yu Fei, Sect Master of the Frost Soul Sect.
On the left sat a man around forty years old, his countenance steady and composed. He was one of the Sect Elders, Liu Cheng. Sitting on the right, currently narrating something to the pair in a measured tone, was none other than the Patriarch of the Zhang Family, Zhang Zhenshan!
"...After that, Bai Yunfei turned and fled without a moment's hesitation..."
Zhang Zhenshan seemed to have been speaking for quite some time. He let out a light sigh, took a sip of tea from the cup beside him, then swept his gaze over the two men who appeared deeply absorbed in his tale, awaiting their reaction.
Yu Fei remained silent for a moment before speaking. "A mere Soul Apprentice tier Soul Master managed to escape your pursuit? And even injured you? This... according to your account, those Soul Tools he possesses are indeed peculiar. Speaking of which, that Frost Spike..."
Hearing this, Zhang Zhenshan flipped his right hand. The Frost Spike materialized in his palm. His voice grew grave. "It was precisely because of this Frost Spike that I abandoned the chase and rushed back to the Sect without rest to report to you, Sect Master."
"Oh? What did you discover?" Yu Fei raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Indeed, Sect Master. Observe." Zhang Zhenshan gave a slight nod, glanced towards a thick pillar across the hall that would take two men to encircle, then flicked his right hand gently. A streak of icy blue shot through the air, connecting with the pillar in the blink of an eye. A soft thunk sounded. Under Yu Fei and Liu Cheng's astonished gazes, the Frost Spike pierced clear through the stone pillar and embedded itself with a whistle into the wall behind it!
Both men were stunned for a good ten seconds. Yu Fei reacted first. His previously cold demeanor vanished, replaced by intense excitement. He shot to his feet and, in the space of an eye-blink, appeared before the damaged wall. He pulled the Frost Spike, nearly buried completely in the stone, free and examined it closely. His eyes brimmed with disbelief.
"How is this possible... This is indeed the one bestowed upon Cold Howl of Blackwood Village two months ago. But... how can it possess such power?"
Zhang Zhenshan watched Yu Fei's incredulous expression, understanding it perfectly. He had worn the same look himself upon discovering the Frost Spike's metamorphosis. "Sect Master, I have tested it thoroughly. Its offensive power has increased by at least half compared to before. And that's not all. The most astonishing thing is that when thrown, its speed and destructive force are at least double the normal!"
Yu Fei's expression grew even more incredulous upon hearing Zhang Zhenshan's words. He stared blankly at the Frost Spike in his hand for a long time, as if unwilling to believe it. He tested it himself several more times within the hall. Only after piercing several more pillars did he finally sit back down in his chair, looking somewhat dazed.
"Sect Master, there's also the daggers Bai Yunfei used as throwing knives... they were unusual too..." Zhang Zhenshan continued, pulling out two daggers and handing them to the silent Yu Fei. He then sat back, waiting for the Sect Master's response.
Liu Cheng finally snapped out of his shock, his expression solemn as he contemplated. "Do you think... could it be the Artifact Refining Sect..."
"Impossible." Zhang Zhenshan seemed to have considered this. He shook his head. "While the Artifact Refining Sect can reforge Soul Tools to enhance their power, I've never heard of them altering a tool to such an extent. Besides, if Bai Yunfei had powerful backing, he wouldn't have been hounded by me as he was."
At that moment, Yu Fei, who had been deep in thought, abruptly lifted his head. His command was issued with immense gravity: "FIND HIM!! Mobilize every resource at our disposal to locate him!!"
"By any means necessary, we must obtain the method that altered the Frost Spike!!"
...
Within Whitepeak City, Bai Yunfei parted ways with the merchant caravan after entering the gates. He began making purchases alone. To avoid attracting attention, he kept the slightly frayed straw hat he'd acquired pulled low. He even kept his head down while buying items, preventing the shopkeepers from getting a clear look at his face.
By the time he finished shopping, dusk was falling. He had a simple meal at a small eatery, then checked into a rather ordinary inn nearby.
"No sign of anyone suspicious so far. I've observed the innkeeper and his helpers; they don't seem like the type from last time..." Bai Yunfei thought to himself, lying on the bed. "I've prepared everything I need. For safety's sake, I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning, heading for Greenwillow City on the border of Qingyun Province. From there, I'll enter Beiyan Province. Things should be much safer then!"
"Greenwillow City... I wonder if it has anything to do with the Greenwillow Sect?" The thought inevitably brought Autumn Greenwillow and Chu Yuhe of the Greenwillow Sect to mind, followed swiftly by the image of a graceful figure in light blue robes. He found himself momentarily lost in thought.
After a long while, Bai Yunfei blinked, sat up, and shook his head with a self-deprecating snort, muttering, "What am I thinking about? Utter nonsense... I'm on the run for my life! The priority is to improve my strength quickly and get out of Qingyun Province safely."
Early the next morning, Bai Yunfei awoke from his cultivation. He exhaled softly, got out of bed, and stretched. A dissatisfied sigh escaped him. "Ugh! Without using Enhancement Art to accelerate cultivation, raising Soul Force is agonizingly slow! Unfortunately, I dare not risk falling into that unconscious state to boost it now..."
He left the inn, bought several steamed buns from a street vendor for breakfast, and then headed towards the city's south gate.
He had walked several kilometers along the main highway, outwardly calm, but inwardly, Bai Yunfei's expression was growing increasingly grim.
"I'm being followed... Damn it! How? Why is it that no matter how careful I am, they always find me?" He cursed inwardly. He had sensed something amiss shortly after leaving the city. Though the tracker was cautious, Bai Yunfei's vigilance as a Mid-stage Soul Apprentice had quickly picked up on him.
"Just following me, without sending a large force to intercept... Could I be wrong? Are they not sent by the Zhang family? Or are their numbers insufficient, knowing they can't hold me, so they're just shadowing me until reinforcements arrive? Whatever the case, I need to be careful. Lose him, fast!"
Approaching a fork in the road, Bai Yunfei abruptly accelerated. He darted into the smaller path on the right, moving faster and faster, vanishing around a bend up ahead within a few breaths.
On the main road, a thin man dressed as an ordinary passerby paused briefly as Bai Yunfei disappeared down the side path. He frowned, a flicker of surprise crossing his mind: "He spotted me? Worthy of someone who escaped Elder Zhang... So, do I pursue now?"
He considered for a moment, then shook his head slightly and turned back the way he came. "The reason for tailing him was because I couldn't apprehend him alone; I was to wait for the Elder to arrive. Now that he's aware, pursuing him further would be suicide. I've noted his direction. I'll wait for Elder Liu to return from the Sect and let him take up the chase personally."
Bai Yunfei crouched behind a small hillock after rounding the bend, concealed and waiting. After a long while with no sign of pursuit, he finally shook his head and continued walking along the path.
"Maybe I was just being overly cautious... Perhaps it was just an ordinary thief..."
Utterly unaware, Bai Yunfei had walked right past the gates of the Frost Soul Sect... and then left peacefully, unharmed...
...
The next day, when Zhang Zhenshan and Liu Cheng arrived together at Liu Cheng's residence within Whitepeak City, they received a report from their subordinates: The Bai Yunfei they were seeking had arrived in the city the evening before last and departed yesterday morning!
Upon receiving this news, both Zhang and Liu were momentarily stunned. After a moment of silence, Zhang Zhenshan let out a cold snort, fury twisting his features. "The insolence of that Bai Yunfei! To dare stroll right under the nose of our Frost Soul Sect!! I'll set out immediately. This time, I won't let him escape! He will pay for my Yang'er's life with his blood!!"
"Brother Zhenshan, wait!" Liu Cheng grasped Zhang Zhenshan's shoulder firmly. "Have you forgotten the Sect Master's orders? This matter is no longer solely yours! It concerns the future development of the entire Sect!"
Seeing the near-distorted expression on Zhang Zhenshan's face, Liu Cheng sighed and continued, his tone placating. "Your current state... it isn't suited for tracking him. If you kill him in a rage, and the Sect Master holds you accountable... even I wouldn't be able to plead for leniency..."
"This matter... let me handle it." Liu Cheng met Zhang Zhenshan's gaze steadily, watching the fiery rage slowly bank under the weight of reality. "Rest assured, once we have obtained the secret we seek... that person is yours to deal with as you please!"
Zhang Zhenshan's face contorted through a range of emotions – fury, grief, frustration. Finally, he released a heavy breath, the tension draining slightly from his shoulders. "Very well. I'll heed your counsel. I won't act... until we have the secret. But... what method do you propose? The man is sharp-minded. Trying to capture and interrogate him directly... that might be unwise..."
"Hmm. Resorting to capture and torture is ill-advised unless absolutely necessary. That leaves... guile. We must make him divulge the secret voluntarily." Liu Cheng fell silent, stroking his chin as he sifted through the known information about Bai Yunfei.
"He purchased a map of the Empire within the city, but also detailed maps of Qingyun, Beiyan, and Pingchuan provinces. Therefore, his immediate destination is most likely... Beiyan Province."
"Given that... the place he is most likely heading towards now is..." Liu Cheng's eyes sharpened with certainty. "Greenwillow City!"