"Heh, if I weren't faster than you, would I dare let you out? If you ran off, who could catch you!" I laughed.
Li Yuanba casually plucked a pine needle from the tree he carried and offered it, "How about you try, sir?"
He wanted to test me. After I demonstrated my skills and returned, I noticed a change in Li Yuanba's gaze. He was no longer as subservient as before. He seemed to realize that once released from hell, no one in the underworld could do anything to him. The ingrained arrogance and wildness were preparing to resurface. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to curb his spirit and establish my authority, preventing future disobedience.
However, being asked to carry a tree was quite a challenge for me. After some thought, I clasped my hands behind my back and smiled, "Having this lord run around carrying a tree is too crude and would tarnish my image. I'll just take a needle, a token gesture."
Li Yuanba chuckled, "That's fine, as long as you, Lord Wu, are faster than me, I will obey you."
I took out my lighter and ignited the pine needle in his hand. Li Yuanba, having never seen such a thing, was quite surprised, "This... how can this flint fire automatically ignite?"
"This is called true qi," I secretly adjusted the flame size knob on the lighter, synchronizing it with my breathing, making it flicker larger and smaller. "To tell you the truth, I'm not good at carrying trees, but I'm good at playing with fire. Watch closely."
With that, I activated the Gale Art. After more than ten seconds, I had already rushed to the forest. We had passed through this forest before to reach Erliu City, so I remembered the pine needles on the ground were quite thick. I squatted down, turned the lighter to its maximum setting, and threw it into the dry leaves. The lighter exploded from the heat, igniting a larger fire that instantly set the fallen leaves ablaze.
Before the flames could fully spread, I turned back. The entire process took less than forty seconds.
Li Yuanba looked at me in astonishment, "Lord Wu... have you reached the destination?"
"See for yourself," I said with a smile, then turned to look back.
First, there was thick smoke, and then, a fire slowly began to burn, igniting the tree trunks. Soon, the entire forest was engulfed in flames.
The sentries on the city wall shouted again, "Oh no! The remaining big trees have also become spirits and are spontaneously combusting!"
Li Yuanba immediately knelt, "Lord Wu, your skills are divine! This humble one is truly impressed!"
"It's just a trivial trick. Alright, get up, let's hurry and rescue the young King Yama!"
"Yes, then this humble one will go ahead!" Li Yuanba darted off.
His movement wasn't pure lightness skill; his feet touched the ground. It was similar to my Gale Art, except I landed very lightly, rarely kicking up dust. His footsteps were heavy, and his pace was rapid. Wherever he went, he kicked up a dust dragon, making his path easy to follow.
After he had run three or four li, I set off along his path. Don't let their speed fool you; mine was more than double his. Passing by him wasn't like a slow overtake on a highway; it was an instantaneous passing. It was akin to two high-speed trains heading towards each other and brushing past. I could even hear a "whoosh" as the air current from my passage caused Li Yuanba to veer off course, even his "yellow dragon" wobbled.
After running about five hundred li, I encountered a large river. I stopped, drank some water, and sat by the bank, lighting a cigarette while I waited for him.
When Li Yuanba arrived, panting, he looked at me calmly smoking, "Sir, how long have you been here?"
I pointed to the ground, "I've already smoked three cigarettes. If you hadn't come soon, I would have considered lying down for a nap."
In reality, the difference wasn't that significant. I had broken three cigarettes, thrown them into the river, lit the cigarette butts, and pretended to take a few puffs before discarding them on the ground to give the impression that I had arrived much earlier.
Li Yuanba said with shame, "Oh dear, sir, you are too fast. This humble one has already given his all and still cannot keep up with you!"
"It's alright, take your time. We don't lack this little bit of time. Rest for a while before continuing."
"No, no, I can do it!" Li Yuanba knelt by the water's edge and began to drink like a donkey. He drank what seemed like a large vat before stopping. He stood up, wiped his mouth, and said he was leaving first!