The imperial guards, teased by him like this, had no temper whatsoever.
Even the most arrogant flames of rage could only retract their tails in the face of absolute power.
However.
Bai Zihe had no intention of letting them go.
Since they had harbored murderous intent towards him, how could he let them off?
"Swish!"
Bai Zihe took a step forward, appearing before the imperial guards.
He raised his hand.
His qi condensed into a fierce, coiling dragon, about to unleash its power.
"How dare you!"
Just then, a roaring shout came from afar.
Following it was a phantasmal figure, which arrived before Bai Zihe in the blink of an eye.
"Swish!"
The dark silhouette charged with anger, striking out with a punch.
Bai Zihe stood unfazed, raising his hand to meet the punch with one of his own!
The dark silhouette seemed to know Bai Zihe's strength and didn't try to clash head-on. Instead, as it got closer, it suddenly changed its punch to a claw, attempting to capture Bai Zihe.
Bai Zihe's hand slipped, and like an eel, he pulled himself out.
A flicker of surprise flashed in the dark silhouette's eyes.
Bai Zihe's change of tactic was indeed very fast!
"Swish!"
Missing its target, the dark silhouette and Bai Zihe crossed paths, with the silhouette landing behind him.
As for Yao Ke'er, upon recognizing the newcomer, she couldn't help but let out a gasp.
"It's... 'Ghost Shadow' Gao Qiu!"
Yao Ke'er said hoarsely, "Junior Brother, he is ranked eleventh among the imperial guards and is known for his speed!"
Bai Zihe remained noncommittal.
Based on the speed he had just displayed, he didn't pose a threat to him.
His strength level was likely around the mid to late stage of the Yuandan realm.
As soon as Yao Ke'er finished speaking.
Bai Zihe suddenly felt a chilling wind attack him from behind.
He's here!
Without hesitation, Bai Zihe sidestepped.
Gao Qiu, agile as a monkey, brushed past him, missing his sideways-turned shoulder by a hair's breadth!
"Speed, huh?"
Bai Zihe smiled.
Suddenly, his figure vanished from his original spot.
Gao Qiu, startled by Bai Zihe's swift evasion, felt a sharp killing intent lock onto him, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
He looked back.
He saw Bai Zihe grinning at him and delivering a palm strike.
This speed...
It was several times faster than his own!
"Swish!"
In a flash of lightning, Gao Qiu could only hastily defend himself.
"Pfft—"
The immense palm force was unleashed mercilessly, instantly sending Gao Qiu spitting blood and retreating over a dozen paces, leaving two deep gouges in the ground before he finally managed to stop.
A storm of emotions raged within Gao Qiu.
It wasn't because of Bai Zihe's strength.
Rather, from Bai Zihe's qi, he sensed an inexplicable aura.
That aura...
It was desolate, vast, ancient, like a supreme demon god looking down upon time, inspiring submission from the very depths of one's heart, making resistance impossible.
It was the Blood of Hell!
No wonder.
Bai Zihe possessed such strength at such a young age.
No wonder.
Even he couldn't compete with him in terms of speed.
Gao Qiu stared at Bai Zihe with shifting, apprehensive, and astonished eyes.
"Bai Zihe!"
"Why do you possess the Blood of Hell within you?"
The Blood of Hell!
As these words were spoken, Bai Zihe looked at him with surprise.
Not many people knew about the Blood of Hell, and currently, Gao Qiu was the only one who could sense it from his qi!
A thousand thoughts flashed through Bai Zihe's mind in an instant.
This imperial guard was likely not as simple as he appeared, and must have another identity to possess such secret knowledge.
"Swish!"
Without hesitation, and without answering, Bai Zihe charged towards the dark silhouette, moving at extreme speed, leaving a long trail of white afterimages in his wake.
He made to silence him.
Gao Qiu was instantly filled with panic.
With the Blood of Hell in Bai Zihe, he was no match for him.
His mind raced with a single thought: he had to flee!
"Swish!"
"Swish-swish!"
With a few swift movements, he covered dozens of feet and quickly dwindled to a black speck, vanishing from sight.
After Gao Qiu fled, Bai Zihe slowly stopped.
"Junior Brother, why did you let him go?"
Yao Ke'er asked, full of confusion.
She could naturally tell that Gao Qiu was no match for her Junior Brother and that his speed was far inferior. Letting him go was clearly intentional on Bai Zihe's part.
"This man actually knows the secret of the Blood of Hell, which clearly indicates an unusual identity. Moreover, he might know something I desire."
Bai Zihe stared in the direction Gao Qiu had disappeared, his gaze deep and profound. "If I had captured him and he was determined to die, then these secrets would remain unknown."
"By letting him go, he will surely report the news of the Blood of Hell within me truthfully, giving me more opportunities to unravel it."
Yao Ke'er became even more perplexed upon hearing this.
She voiced her concern worriedly, "Junior Brother, if you do this, the royal family will definitely send more experts to hunt you down in order to learn the secret of the Blood of Hell. Won't your situation become even more dangerous?"
"Or perhaps..."
"Junior Brother, you should leave here quickly, and leave the capital as well."
"Returning to Jiangdong or Suzhou-Hangzhou would be fine!"
Yao Ke'er thought that.
Suzhou-Hangzhou was, after all, Bai Zihe's base of operations, and he had the care of several Senior Sisters there. Even if the imperial guards pursued him, Bai Zihe wouldn't be alone.
"No!"
Bai Zihe shook his head and smiled, "This time, I'm going to storm the imperial city's forbidden grounds!"