Chapter 134: The Tailgating

Yin Tianfang stood calmly, waiting for Qiu Fei’s decision. If Qiu Fei intended to join those people, Yin Tianfang would turn and leave without hesitation. As for the safety of the other disciples from the Xuan Dao Sect, he would leave it to fate. If he encountered them, he would intervene to save them; if not, he would not go out of his way to look for them.

Although Qiu Fei had not spent much time with Yin Tianfang, their interactions along the way had given him some understanding of the man. Glancing at the youth surnamed Jin and the others, then back at Yin Tianfang, he finally let out a resigned sigh.

“Take care of yourselves,” he said, leaving those words behind as he dashed toward Yin Tianfang. He was no indecisive man. Though there were more than a dozen of his fellow disciples here, others from their sect had also entered the Divine Herb Mountains besides them.

He could not abandon the lives of those other brothers just for the sake of this small group. Furthermore, these people refused to travel with Yin Tianfang, and even if he were to join them, once they encountered the people of the Qingyun Sect, he would be powerless to protect their lives.

“Senior Brother Yin, let’s go,” Qiu Fei said with a tinge of melancholy as he approached Yin Tianfang. Casting a glance back at those behind, a trace of reluctance showed on his face.

The Divine Herb Mountains were fraught with danger, and now that they were being hunted by the Qingyun Sect, the chances of survival for these people were extremely slim. Perhaps all would end their days here. Though fully aware of this, he was powerless to change it.

Yin Tianfang said nothing, merely patting Qiu Fei on the shoulder before setting off with the Celestial Winged Demon Tiger toward the distance.

“Senior Brother Jin, why didn’t you join Senior Brother Qiu and the others just now? If you had, we would—”

“Hmph, do you think they are good people?” the youth surnamed Jin interrupted coldly. “Don’t forget why the Qingyun Sect attacked the Xuan Dao Sect in the first place.”

“If it were not for Yin Tianfang, we would still be quietly cultivating within our sect, not living in fear like this. Yin Tianfang was once a disciple of the Qingyun Sect. He betrayed and destroyed his master and ancestors—he is no good man. I never expected Qiu Fei to be with him,” the Jin youth said harshly.

“Our previous shelter was extremely concealed. The fact that the Qingyun Sect found us makes me suspect there is a traitor among us.”

“Senior Brother, that can’t be true, right?” Hearing the Jin youth’s words, the others were momentarily startled. If there was indeed a traitor among them, it meant someone had leaked information, allowing the Qingyun Sect to track them down.

“We don’t know who the traitor is. That’s why I have to be cautious. And as for Yin Tianfang, he’s a betrayer himself—being with him will only hasten our deaths. From now on, we must unite and be wary, even of other fellow disciples we encounter. We cannot trust them completely,” the Jin youth said solemnly. “Otherwise, I fear we’ll all perish here.”

Hearing this, the group exchanged uneasy glances, a chill settling in their hearts.

Meanwhile, some distance away, Yin Tianfang and the Celestial Winged Demon Tiger halted after traveling several miles. Yin Tianfang sat cross-legged, prompting Qiu Fei to ask curiously, “Senior Brother, why are we stopping?”

“The jade disc you carry can detect the locations of others within a certain range. Can they sense where you are?” Yin Tianfang asked.

“Of course,” Qiu Fei replied honestly, though he did not understand why Yin Tianfang was asking.

Yin Tianfang nodded thoughtfully, then asked again after a moment, “Do you know how to shield the jade disc so that even if you carry the compass and approach them, they cannot detect your presence?”

“Yes, I do.” Qiu Fei explained that the jade disc could sense the whereabouts of others who possessed the same item. If it fell into enemy hands, it would put all disciples at great risk. Luckily, the jade disc had a shielding function. Once activated, even if one carrying the jade disc came within a hundred miles, others holding the disc would remain unaware.

“Then activate the shielding now,” Yin Tianfang instructed. Qiu Fei was puzzled but seeing no intention from Yin Tianfang to explain further, he complied, forming hand seals and pressing his hands onto the jade disc.

“All set,” Qiu Fei said after a moment. Yin Tianfang nodded and remained seated. Half an hour later, a flicker of movement crossed Yin Tianfang’s expression. He rose and leapt onto the Celestial Winged Demon Tiger’s back.

“Mount up!” Yin Tianfang commanded. Qiu Fei quickly followed suit, and the tiger sped off.

“Senior Brother Yin, what’s going on?” Qiu Fei asked, confused. Their current path led back toward where they had come from. Soon, they would encounter the youth surnamed Jin and the others again.

“Don’t ask. You’ll find out soon enough,” Yin Tianfang replied calmly. He had sensed something amiss when they last met the Jin youth and his group.

The youth surnamed Jin and his companions were at most at the peak Foundation Establishment stage. Surviving an onslaught from so many Qingyun Sect cultivators was no small feat.

During battles, the Qingyun Sect would have logically focused on the Jin youth first. Indeed, he had borne the brunt of the pressure each time. Yet despite recurring dangers, he had never been gravely injured, as if luck had blessed him beyond reason, and his battle awareness was extraordinary.

Yet to Yin Tianfang, there was a profound suspicion. Though the Jin youth faced the greatest number of attackers and pressure, his injuries were the least severe. Several fellow disciples had already fallen, yet no sorrow showed on his face.

All these details seemed suspicious.

However, Yin Tianfang would not reveal this to Qiu Fei yet. Only by witnessing it firsthand would Qiu Fei believe him.

They traveled swiftly, and before long, Yin Tianfang instructed the Celestial Winged Demon Tiger to slow down. Moments later, the figures of the youth surnamed Jin and his group came into view. Yin Tianfang raised his hand, releasing a powerful divine sense that concealed their presence.

Trailing the Jin youth’s group at a distance, Yin Tianfang observed that after surviving their ordeal, they did not head out of the Divine Herb Mountains but pressed onward toward its central region.

The Jin youth stayed at the rear, vigilantly watching the surroundings, seemingly acting as rear guard to protect the others.

Qiu Fei looked at Yin Tianfang in confusion. Yin Tianfang remained silent, his gaze steady and focused ahead.

Suddenly, the Jin youth glanced forward. Passing a large tree, he silently brushed his hand along its trunk before quickly catching up with the others.