Chapter 54: Desperate situation

But with the time it would take to ride a horse, Li Qi would have long since disappeared!

Besides, they couldn't get into the water on horseback.

Li Qi thanked Sixth Uncle several times in his heart.

Wave-Breaking Force, when facing people who can't swim, truly has a huge advantage.

It was precisely by relying on this that the Paibo Gang was able to maintain their safety; after all, the Strongmen Gang and Water Horse Gang were very strong in combat, but as long as they were in the water, the Paibo Gang was invincible.

He went downstream all the way.

Behind him, the sound of horse hooves never stopped, sometimes even rushing ahead of Li Qi, trying to intercept him.

The soldiers did not give up, vowing to cut off Li Qi's head!

But this was in the pitch-dark mountain path, and Li Qi, going downstream, was like traveling on a highway, while they, on horseback, could not do the same.

If they were riding Dragon Steeds like Old Ma's, capable of leaping ten zhang and even surrounded by clouds of Qi, soaring lightly, Li Qi would definitely not have escaped.

But the horses of these people were all ordinary spirit horses.

Leaping three zhang was already their limit, let alone ten zhang.

So, although they galloped through the mountains at a decent speed, it was difficult for them to keep up with the winding river.

If the river were straight, Li Qi certainly wouldn't be able to outswim them.

But... this is the mountains, there are waterfalls.

When Li Qi encountered a waterfall, even if it was ten zhang high, he dared to jump down directly; anyway, there was a pool below, which wouldn't be too shallow.

Diving athletes dare to jump from a ten-meter platform; my Physique is more than twenty times stronger than theirs, and I have the thick skin of Ox Strength Technique, so I'm not afraid of impact; as long as I don't fall directly onto a rock, I'll be fine!

What if the bottom of the waterfall was really all rocks, and the water was too shallow for a person to stand...

Then I'd accept it!

When escaping for one's life, is there ever a foolproof plan?

Li Qi had always been like this; before something happened, he would rack his brains to consider all possibilities, arrange all retreats and plans, appearing as if he were indecisive.

But once he truly started doing something, he would be absolutely resolute, never hesitating no matter what.

When it's time to fight for your life, fight!

It's not the first time he's fought for his life, what's there to be afraid of?

He dared to jump a ten-zhang waterfall, but the pursuers dared not.

They were on horseback!

What if they jumped down and their horses broke their legs? What if they fell to their death?

So, even if they were seething with anger, they had to take a detour, find a gentle slope to descend, and then follow the river to continue the chase.

They wanted to see how far this scoundrel could swim in the river!

However, they forgot one thing.

This is Baiyue.

Here are the Shiwan Mountains.

The intricate mountains and water veins formed a complex network of waterways, with countless rivers and streams, much like the root systems of various undergrowth plants, spreading and winding.

As long as they detoured, letting Li Qi out of sight for less than a minute, Li Qi would immediately detour and change his course.

Isn't it just hide and seek?

Come on!

Let's see if you guys, this bunch of horse-riding soldiers who clearly came from the plains, are more experienced, or if Li Qi, this old Boat Towmen, is more experienced!

Li Qi refused to believe that this group of people could still track him down in such a situation.

After jumping at least four waterfalls and swimming for approximately twenty li, Li Qi still had strength left, but the sound of horse hooves behind him had become much fainter.

He had swum twenty li in the water, but these people had detoured at least a hundred li.

This is what mountain roads are like.

The straight-line distance is short, but when you actually run it, with all the twists and turns, if you can't fly, then be prepared to circle a mountain even if the destination is close at hand.

This is the scene in the deep mountains of the Shiwan Mountains.

Two villages, echoing each other, a shout from one side could be heard on the other.

But to walk from one village to the other would take a whole day.

The mountain roads were just that rugged.

This characteristic greatly helped Li Qi.

Approximately three-quarters of an hour later, Li Qi finally emerged from the river.

He was covered in bruises, his limbs were sore and weak, and he was completely exhausted.

The first feeling was cold.

At first, because he was very tired, his whole body was warm and he didn't feel cold.

But Li Qi overlooked one point: in this world, there is Qi.

The water veins circulate, gathering cold Qi, and the cold Qi in the water gradually forced its way into his Bloodline, freezing him until his whole body shivered, as if ice had formed in the cracks of his bones, and even his testicles had retracted into his body.

If he stayed another quarter of an hour, he might freeze to death and never have a son.

The second feeling was exhaustion.

Truly exhausted.

His muscles no longer obeyed him, constantly twitching and trembling, and his legs could no longer stand straight.

The three uses of Ox Strength Technique had long been expended; without the support of Ox Strength Technique, it would have been absolutely impossible to swim at full strength for three-quarters of an hour.

Only those who have tried it know how tiring it is.

A triathlon only involves swimming seven li, but Li Qi had just swum at least sixty li.

Moreover, his speed was much faster than in a triathlon, and he had dived multiple times, leaping from dozens of meters high.

This kind of physical labor had completely depleted all the Qi within Li Qi.

Cold and tired, Li Qi now had no strength even to roll over, besides lying on the riverbank, gasping for breath.

He was completely a dead fish.

“I... should have escaped, right?” Li Qi thought, his consciousness a little blurry.

He was too tired; this time, his Origin Qi was probably damaged.

However, it wasn't over yet.

“Little thief... you scoundrel, I’ve caught you, haven’t I...?” a voice as weak as his own came.

Li Qi immediately forced himself to rally his spirits and glanced to the side.

Then, he saw a soldier, with a broken leg, hobbling towards him, leaning on a long saber.

He had no horse; Li Qi didn't know what had happened to his horse.

His face was distorted like a demon, and the injury to his broken leg was severe, with bone fragments even piercing through the skin.

Li Qi took one look and knew that this person must have forced himself to catch up by riding his horse off a cliff, first killing the horse, and then breaking his own leg.

Falling into the water from a considerable height at a waterfall was already tough enough; if there were rocks below, not dying was truly a testament to his strong Physique, especially since he was wearing armor.

That was not light.

However, Li Qi sighed.

Although the opponent was at the end of his rope, how much better off was he?

Although this person had a broken leg, he could at least support himself and walk, and he could still hold a saber in his hand.

Li Qi also had a saber, the one left by the officer.

It was certainly much better than the soldier's.

But he could no longer hold a saber, nor could he even roll over.

However... surrendering was absolutely not something Li Qi would do!

His hands and feet trembled, and he couldn't even stand, yet he still mustered a breath, forcing himself to half-sit up, drew his long saber, and with hands as limp as noodles, pointed it at the soldier in front of him.

Even though he couldn't stand and could only sit with the saber, dragging it diagonally on the ground to keep it from falling, Li Qi still glared with wide, angry eyes, staring directly at the soldier!

Come on! If you want my life, then come!

Let's see if I can exchange your life before I die!

Li Qi's expression was distorted, risking his life, wanting to perish together with the other party!

Or, force the other party to give up the attack, continue the standoff, and buy himself time.