Boom

I plummet to the ground due to the force of the explosion.

'Argh! That hurt. Guess those Baek clan bastards were prepared for me. They set a trap specifically tailored to counter my movement ability.'

While moving through the forest, I accidentally activated a formation laid down by a formation master of the Baek clan.

My movement technique has a massive weakness: it's hard to control, and once I initiate it, changing direction is practically impossible.

The technique works by propelling myself using the force exerted by Gang Qi. I can change the characteristics of the Gang Qi to dissipate in the air, but it's impossible to alter its trajectory after taking a step.

A sliver of Gang Qi landed on the formation, and I got caught up in the aftermath of its explosive power.

'Is the rest of the forest filled with formations like these?'

"This adds quite a bit of trouble."

'I'll have to move without using the movement technique for the rest of the way.'

"Welp! Here we go."

I begin moving cautiously at a reduced speed to avoid triggering more formations.

'That formation definitely had tracking magic embedded in it. They'll be here soon.'

Boom

I stumble for a moment while dodging another formation, and suddenly, an epiphany hits me.

'These tablets must have cost a fortune.'

'But then again, they should be arriving at my location now that I've triggered the explosion formation.'

Their arrival should take some time.

'How long until they get here?'

I stop and calculate the time it will take for them to arrive.

After a few seconds, I estimate they'll be here in about nine minutes.

"They're going to be here in nine minutes. I could steal all the tablets now and look for a way out later. But that's a risky strategy."

I glance at my sword, as if asking for advice on this dilemma.

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"You want to borrow some?"

"Are you sure?"

"Positive?"

"Okay, fine! I'll take some."

"I should find a good spot to grab these tablets."

A bashful smile appears on my face as I prepare to transform the formation-clad forest back to its natural state.

Rummage!

I pull out a few smoke talismans from my bag.

"I never used these against the Young Master of the Baek clan. Seems like the perfect chance to experiment."

I infuse some sword Qi into the talismans and place them around the forest where they'll pass through.

An immense sense of regret wells up in my heart as I lay the talismans.

'My talismans... These could have sold for 1,000 low-grade spirit stones at most. I could've bought a portion of Spirit Ox meat with that.'

Drip

'Huh? Am I drooling again?'

I've been chased by those Baek clan bastards for a week and haven't had the chance to stop by an inn to eat my beloved Ox meat.

I wipe the drool from my face with a cloth and sit on a nearby boulder.

'I should've done this the last two times they chased me. I almost forgot I was Yi Shan. The items they used during those earlier chases probably cost a fortune too.'

'Actually, on second thought, I should run.'

'Should I? It seems like the only logical choice right now.'

'But then again, I can't overlook this fortune handed to me on a silver platter by the Baek clan elder.'

As I inch backward from the boulder, I start to pick up speed when, suddenly—

Slip

My foot slips on the wet moss, and I fall on my back.

I try to get up quickly, only to find my clothes caught on my sword.

"Hey, these were my new robes. Did you really have to do that?"

Tear

I tear my clothes and start running.

Boom

An explosion occurs, and I flop back onto the boulder.

'Noooo! That tablet was worth half a portion of Ox meat.'

'I can't lose any more. I'll wipe this forest clean of these tablets.'

I sit up straight on the boulder and look around.

'How many formations did that old coot from the Baek clan leave here?'

I stop sitting on the boulder and get ready to stand up.

"Hup! Let's see how many formation tablets he laid down. I should be able to 'borrow' a few and leave before he arrives."

I lick my lips at the thought of the money I can make by selling all these formation tablets scattered around.

"Ah, I can already smell the juicy Spirit Ox meat from a mile away."

I draw my sword and overlay it with sword energy. The sword, now overflowing with power, is brimming with the potential to make a fortune.

Swoosh

I move alongside the sword with all my might and enact the Fifth Move of the Plum Blossom Bloom technique.

Fifth Move: Explosive Expansion.

The fifth move involves a myriad of sword attacks, perfect for handling many different battle scenarios.

I skillfully diffuse the formation tablets using the Fifth Move and cleanly place them into my bag.

'Man, if only I had cultivated seriously, I could've opened a bag of holding and looted this entire place clean.'

As I put the last tablet that will fit into my bag, I see someone moving toward the center through one of the Gang Spheres I laid while moving through the forest.

"Guess they finally made it to the midway point. I'll have to thank the old coot for the money he just made me."

The time it took me to 'borrow' 30% of the tablets and for the Baek clan to reach the midway point was four minutes.

"I should be able to get far enough in the next five minutes."

"Now, let's get moving, shall we?"

I activate the Third Move, Blurry Soil.

Now that the formations have been reduced, I should be able to breeze through most of the forest with ease.

Using Gang Qi at my feet, I propel myself at incredible speed, accelerating at a mind-boggling pace.

As I move faster through the forest, there is only one thought in my mind.

'I'm rich!'

Chapter 2: Plum Blossom Bloom (2)