# Chapter 237: Ten Thousand Mile Pursuit
The Winter Solstice had just passed, marking the coldest time of the year. Snow was falling across the entire Yunwu Commandery, covering the mountains and ridges in a vast expanse of white.
Zhang Ruochen had been pursuing Hua Minggong for four days and four nights, chasing him all the way from Qinghe Fort to Lin'an County in the northern part of Yunwu Commandery, a long-distance journey of nearly sixteen thousand li.
Along the way, they had fought three times. Each time, Zhang Ruochen had the upper hand, hunting Hua Minggong like a stray dog.
However, Hua Minggong's speed was slightly faster than Zhang Ruochen's, so each time he managed to escape from Zhang Ruochen's grasp.
After chasing him to the vicinity of Lin'an County, they fought another great battle on an icy river. The fight was earth-shattering, and even the ice in the river melted from the true qi.
Hua Minggong escaped once again, disappearing without a trace.
The reason Zhang Ruochen could catch up to Hua Minggong time and again was that he possessed a martial soul.
As long as Hua Minggong was still within a hundred li, Zhang Ruochen could release his martial soul and find him.
Naturally, Hua Minggong did not know that Zhang Ruochen had cultivated a martial soul. So, whenever he fled, he tried his best to leave no traces, hoping Zhang Ruochen would not be able to track him again.
But every time, no matter how carefully he traveled, within a day at most, Zhang Ruochen would find him again. Another great battle would be unavoidable.
Hua Minggong was already injured, but he never had a chance to heal. At first, he had hoped to use his ultimate techniques to kill Zhang Ruochen. But after each battle, Zhang Ruochen would only suffer minor injuries, while his own wounds grew increasingly severe. Even his speed became slower and slower.
"He escaped again! Lin'an County is already the northernmost county of Yunwu Commandery. If he goes further north, he'll enter the territory of Sifang Commandery. Is he planning to go to the Poison Spider Merchant Association in Sifang Commandery to find help?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart sank. Staring in the direction Hua Minggong had fled, he gave chase once more.
Although Hua Minggong was a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist, he was old. Unlike a young man like Zhang Ruochen, whose spirit was full and blood qi vigorous, he would feel exhausted even after ten days and nights without rest.
He was old!
After fleeing for over ten thousand li, with severe injuries, Hua Minggong felt his speed growing slower and slower.
If he fought Zhang Ruochen again, he had no confidence he could escape.
"How infuriating! If my Red Spider Giant Ship were by my side, would I be fleeing so miserably?" Hua Minggong's hair was disheveled, his body covered in blood, with at least ten sword wounds on him.
The Poison Spider Merchant Association originally had two Red Spider Giant Ships in Yunwu Commandery, but when transferring goods, both ships had been sent to Sifang Commandery with large cargoes.
Without his Red Spider Giant Ship and lacking a ninth-rank True Martial Treasure-level combat weapon, how could Hua Minggong withstand the sharp and aggressive Zhang Ruochen?
Fleeing all the way, even this renowned Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts myth felt a hint of despair.
Fortunately, he had finally reached Lin'an County. Further north, he would enter Sifang Commandery.
The royal clan of Sifang Commandery had a good relationship with the Poison Spider Merchant Association, so the association's headquarters was built there.
This secret was known only to the high-ranking members of the Poison Spider Merchant Association.
Once he entered Sifang Commandery, he would be in the association's territory. Then, the one who should flee would be Zhang Ruochen.
"Once my injuries heal, I'll tear that bastard into a thousand pieces."
Hua Minggong rushed into Lin'an County town.
He remembered there was a secret stronghold of the Poison Spider in Lin'an County town, so he planned to go there first to send a message, hoping that the experts from the Poison Spider Merchant Association in Sifang Commandery could come to his rescue immediately.
This stronghold was not large, with only a few dozen association members.
When these members saw Hua Minggong, they treated him like commoners would an emperor. They all came out to greet him and respectfully invited him into the stronghold.
Hua Minggong asked, "Who is in charge here?"
An old man who had reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Minor Extreme Stage stepped forward and stood respectfully before Hua Minggong. "Reporting to the Guild Master, this old man, Li Chuan, is the person in charge of this stronghold."
Hua Minggong did not waste words and immediately gave orders. "Take my token and go to the Dashi City stronghold in Sifang Commandery. Request Mu Qing to immediately mobilize the Red Spider Giant Ship and come to our rescue. Tell him that if he comes to help, he will receive at least the benefit of a ninth-rank True Martial Treasure."
Dashi City was the nearest large stronghold to Lin'an County, less than five hundred li away. If he rode a savage bird, he could get there in just one hour.
Mu Qing was also a high-ranking member of the Poison Spider Merchant Association, with a cultivation at the Heavenly Extreme Realm, responsible for all matters on the southern border of Sifang Commandery.
Hua Minggong's relationship with Mu Qing was not very good, but he believed that with the condition of a ninth-rank True Martial Treasure, Mu Qing would definitely come to his rescue as quickly as possible.
In the Black Market, there were no true friends, only true interests.
Without interests, even martial artists from the same faction might not risk offending a powerful enemy to help.
The old man named Li Chuan was shocked when he heard Hua Minggong's words. Who could have chased the Guild Master so miserably? Could it be that the Yunwu Commandery King himself had taken action?
Li Chuan did not dare to ask further. After taking the token, he immediately mounted a savage bird, rushed out of Lin'an County town, and headed toward the border.
Hua Minggong could have fled to Dashi City himself, but he was afraid that before he could reach Dashi City, Zhang Ruochen would have already caught up to him.
"That Zhang Ruochen must have some special technique. He can find me every time. In sparsely populated mountains and forests, it's easier for him to find me. But when I hide in a crowded city, he takes longer to locate me. I hope Mu Qing arrives before Zhang Ruochen finds me."
Hua Minggong gritted his teeth, feeling extremely aggrieved. He, a martial arts myth-like figure, was being chased for ten thousand li by a young man. If word got out, wouldn't he lose all face?
Of course, Hua Minggong was not thinking about how to save face now, but how to save his life.
As long as he could hold out until Mu Qing arrived, then it would be Zhang Ruochen's time to die.
"If it really comes down to it, I'll have to use that forbidden technique." Hua Minggong clenched his fists, as if making a major decision.
...
Not long after, Zhang Ruochen also entered Lin'an County town.
Lin'an County was only a small border county of Yunwu Commandery, and with years of war, it appeared very desolate.
A year ago, Lin'an County town had been captured by Sifang Commandery. Almost all the residents had been taken away and sold as slaves in Sifang Commandery.
The wealth in the town had also been looted, turning it into a dead city.
Although later, after Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen became engaged, Yunwu Commandery received support from Qianshui Commandery and pressured Sifang Commandery.
Forced by circumstances, the Sifang Commandery King returned more than twenty cities, including Lin'an County town, to Yunwu Commandery and paid a large compensation. However, these cities became even more desolate than before.
Walking into Lin'an County town, Zhang Ruochen could only see a few scattered figures on the streets, their faces gaunt and sallow, as if they hadn't eaten a full meal in days.
In winter, even in the royal capital of Yunwu Commandery, many people died from cold and hunger. Let alone in such a border town.
Those starving and freezing commoners all stared at Zhang Ruochen with pitiful eyes, then quickly looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.
They had all been captured as slaves by Sifang Commandery and had long been bullied into submission. How could they dare to provoke a well-dressed noble young master like Zhang Ruochen?
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fixed on one of the alleys. He saw a little girl in thin, tattered clothes kneeling in the snow, crying loudly, using her thin arms to shake a woman lying in the snow.
"Mother, wake up... wake up... Mother..." The little girl cried as she pushed the woman's body.
Zhang Ruochen walked over and looked at the woman. Her face was completely covered in frost, her body stiff. She had clearly frozen to death the night before.
Last night, that woman had held the little girl in her arms, using her own body heat to protect her child. Otherwise, the little girl would likely have frozen to death as well.
"Big brother, please, please help me wake up my mother..." The little girl looked only three or four years old, staring at Zhang Ruochen with big, round eyes full of tears, speaking pitifully.
Zhang Ruochen had been chasing urgently, wanting to kill Hua Minggong as soon as possible. But seeing the little girl's clear eyes, he suddenly calmed down.
Zhang Ruochen was jolted awake. "Why has my killing intent been so heavy these past few days? Could it be that absorbing so much sacrificial power has affected my own martial arts heart?"
Sacrificial power inherently contained the prayer power of countless people, including the spirits and wills of thousands. For gods, they could easily consume those people's spirits and wills.
But Zhang Ruochen was only a human martial artist, so he would naturally be affected by the sacrificial power, deviating from his true heart.
Should Hua Minggong be killed?
Of course he should.
But Zhang Ruochen's inner killing intent was too heavy, even affecting his normal thinking. If he didn't wake up in time and let the killing intent continue to swell, he would soon fall into demonic possession and become a mindless murderous demon.
"Fortunately, my spiritual power is strong, so I've temporarily suppressed the sacrificial power. After dealing with Hua Minggong, I must go into seclusion for a while."
Zhang Ruochen crouched down, took off his outer robe, and wrapped it around the little girl. He said solemnly, "Your mother has passed away. She won't wake up again. You must live well, become strong, so you won't freeze to death in the future."
Zhang Ruochen had to admit that he really wasn't good at lying to people, not even knowing how to deceive or comfort a child.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, the little girl cried even louder. "No, no, Mother will wake up, she will definitely wake up... Go away, go away, you're a liar..."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly. He was about to leave when he stopped again. He took out ten blood pills and placed them in the little girl's hand. "If you're hungry, eat one."
There were too many people in the world who needed help, and Zhang Ruochen's ability was limited. He could only do this much.
Having delayed here for a moment, Zhang Ruochen had to leave and continue searching for Hua Minggong.
Hua Minggong was still in Lin'an County town. Zhang Ruochen had already detected his location and believed he would find him soon.
He was surprised that Hua Minggong hadn't fled, wondering what he was planning.
To avoid any unexpected complications, he had to eliminate him quickly and remove the threat once and for all.
It was still about killing, but Zhang Ruochen's mindset had undergone a subtle change, becoming much calmer.