Rebirth Immortal-Chapter 28: The Journey to the Eastern Lands

The room was silent as Ye Chen stared at the dead assassin. The poison had worked too fast. Whoever was behind this had planned everything carefully.

Su Lan knelt beside the corpse and checked the man's robes. She found a small metal plate engraved with strange patterns.

"This is a tracking seal," she muttered.

"Someone was watching him.

Zhao Ming's face darkened. "That means they know he failed. More assassins will come."

Lin Xia sighed. "So what do we do now?"

Ye Chen stood up, his eyes sharp. "We go to the Eastern Lands

Zhao Ming frowned. "That's dangerous.

The great sects rule that region. If we go there without knowing who our enemy is, we might walk into another trap."

Ye Chen smirked. "Then let's set a trap of our own."

By morning, they left the town and rode toward the Eastern Lands. The journey would take several days. The further they traveled, the more the landscape changed.

The barren wasteland slowly gave way to green valleys and flowing rivers.

On the third day, they reached the border between the Northern Wastelands and the Eastern Lands. A large river separated the two territories. A single wooden bridge stretched across the water, guarded by a group of cultivators.

Zhao Ming frowned. "They look like mercenaries.

Su Lan nodded. "They're not from any major sect. But someone is paying them to guard this bridge."

Lin Xia looked uneasy. "Do you think they're waiting for us?"

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

Ye Chen smirked. "There's only one way to find out."

They approached the bridge calmly. One of the mercenaries, a bald man with a long scar across his face, stepped forward. His eyes swept over them before settling on Ye Chen.

"No one crosses this bridge without permission," he said.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "Whose permission?"

The mercenary grinned. "Ours."

Zhao Ming scoffed. "And if we don't feel like asking?"

The mercenary's grin widened. "Then you die."

Ye Chen sighed. "I was hoping you'd say that"

Before the mercenary could react, Ye Chen moved. He appeared in front of the man in an instant and struck his chest with a palm strike. The impact sent the mercenary flying, crashing into the river below.

The other mercenaries shouted and drew their weapons.

Lin Xia stepped forward, summoning a wall of ice that blocked their path. Zhao Ming unsheathed his sword and charged. With quick, precise movements, he cut down two men before they could even react.

Su Lan disappeared into the shadows, her daggers flashing as she took out another mercenary.

Ye Chen faced the last remaining opponent, a tall man with a giant axe. The man roared and swung at him.

Ye Chen sidestepped, then grabbed the man's wrist and twisted. The axe fell from his grip, and before he could react, Ye Chen struck his throat with a quick punch.

The man gasped for air before collapsing.

The battle was over in seconds.

Lin Xia stared at the bodies. "That was too easy."

Su Lan nodded. "They were just a test."

Ye Chen agreed. Whoever had sent these mercenaries wanted to slow them down, not kill them. Which meant worse threats were waiting ahead.

"We keep moving," he said. "The real enemy is waiting for us in the Eastern

Lands."

After crossing the bridge, they continued toward the nearest city. The roads were busier here, filled with travelers, merchants, and cultivators from different sects.

As they entered the city gates, a man in elegant robes stepped in front of them. His presence alone made people step back.

He was young, with long black hair tied neatly behind him. His eyes held a dangerous glint, and a jade emblem hung from his waist.

Zhao Ming tensed. "That's an emblem from the Eastern Alliance."

Lin Xia's eyes widened. "One of the top factions in the Eastern Lands?"

The man smiled. "Welcome to the Eastern Lands. I've been waiting for you."

Ye Chen frowned. "Who are you?"

The man folded his hands behind his back.

"My name is Bai Zhen. And I have an offer for you."

Su Lan's hand moved toward her dagger.

"We don't need offers."

Bai Zhen chuckled. "You might want to hear this one."

Ye Chen studied the man. There was no hostility in his stance, but there was something dangerous about him.

"Speak," Ye Chen said.

Bai Zhen smiled. "I know you're looking for the one who ordered your death. I can tell you who it is."

Silence fell over the group.

Lin Xia narrowed her eyes. "And what do you want in return?"

Bai Zhen's smile widened. "Nothing much.

Just a little... favor."

Ye Chen crossed his arms. "I don't do favors for free."

Bai Zhen's eyes gleamed. "Then consider it a partnership."

Zhao Ming scoffed. "Sounds like a trap."

Bai Zhen laughed. "Everything in the Eastern Lands is a trap. The question is... do you want to find your real enemy or

not?"

Ye Chen's eyes darkened. He didn't trust this man. But if Bai Zhen had information, he couldn't ignore it.

After a moment, he nodded. "Fine. Tell me what you know."

Bai Zhen smirked. "Excellent. Follow me."