Chapter 129: Chapter 128: Oh no, he’s trying to escape! (Subscribe please)
Somewhere in the wilderness, footprints were chaotic, varying in depth. Judging by the size, they couldn’t have been left by humans.
Scattered around were weapons, fragments of bloodstained clothing, and shoes.
A few figures stood there, stunned, looking at the scene before them. An ominous premonition arose in their hearts.
"What is that?"
Zhao Er saw something and quickly took a few steps forward, bending down to pick up half of a black sneaker.
"It’s Third Brother’s shoe!"
He sat on the ground, his face drained of color.
In an instant, the eyes of those behind him revealed shock.
Could it be that Zhao San and the others didn’t return on time because they encountered misfortune?
Zhao Da walked over and snatched the half shoe from Zhao Er’s hand, his body trembled.
He then turned his gaze around and soon found the other half.
The others behind did not dare to make any noise, not even daring to breathe.
"Big Brother, could it be, could it be that Third Brother, Third Brother..." Zhao Er trembled, unable to finish his sentence.
After a while, Zhao Da’s voice sounded, "It’s Third Brother’s shoe."
"!!!"
At this moment, everyone present felt as if they had been struck by lightning.
Actually, their hearts already had a premonition.
Because of the scattered weapons all over the place, the shoes were numerous. It looked like there had been at least over 20 people.
Such a large-scale hunting team was only from their Zhao Family Castle around here!
Moreover, Third Brother’s shoe was here, but the person was missing, what had happened was clear.
"Third Brother! Third Brother!!!"
Zhao Er banged his head on the ground, letting out a heart-wrenching cry.
"Third Brother ah!!!"
He wailed hysterically, devastated with grief.
This scene made the others’ eyes redden too.
"Second Brother, take care of yourself."
"Yes, Second Brother, who could have thought that Third Brother and the others hunted so many times without danger, just this once, just this once..."
"Get out of the way!"
Zhao Er pushed away those who came to support him, saying, "Third Brother, it’s Second Brother’s fault, it’s Second Brother’s fault! If Second Brother had come along with you to hunt, how could this have happened? Third Brother ah!"
The others didn’t know how to console him.
Life is unpredictable, who knows when misfortune will quietly come?
Zhao Da’s face was terrifyingly gloomy, his gaze swept around, suddenly saying, "Maybe it’s not the work of Fierce Beasts."
This statement surprised the others.
Even Zhao Er, who was convulsing repeatedly, stopped crying and looked at Zhao Da in shock.
"Big Brother, what did you just say? It wasn’t Fierce Beasts?"
"Impossible, right?"
The others opened their mouths wide.
"Third Brother was a Martial Artist in the Body Tempering Third Layer and he was with so many people. If it wasn’t Fierce Beasts, which nearby stronghold has this power?"
"Yes, like Li Family Stronghold, Chen Family Stronghold, Gu Family Stronghold, they can’t have this ability nor the guts. If anyone can do it, it’s only the Song Family Castle."
"Song Family Castle, impossible, right?"
"It’s just a possibility."
Zhao Da’s voice was cold, "Haven’t you noticed that the number of weapons on the ground doesn’t match?"
The others counted.
Indeed, a few were missing, they seemed to be bows and arrows.
"Could they have been lost elsewhere?"
Someone asked.
It might have been a scene where the group fought while retreating, people constantly dying under the Fierce Beasts’ claws.
"Search around nearby."
Zhao Da said, walking north.
Third Brother was dead, he felt the same grief, but with his status, he couldn’t show it on his face.
Moreover, finding out the cause of Third Brother’s death was the most important thing.
If it was by Fierce Beasts, he would kill every Fierce Beast he saw. If it was by humans, he would skin them and break their bones to avenge him!
Soon, they reunited.
"Brother Zhao Da, I searched the east side, found nothing."
"I searched the west side, found nothing too."
"The south side is where we came from; I went back and checked carefully, nothing found."
"Big Brother?"
Zhao Er looked over.
Zhao Da shook his head, "Nothing on the north side either."
The atmosphere instantly became silent.
They exchanged glances, astonished.
Fierce Beasts are not dumb enough to swallow weapons as food.
So, where did the missing bows and arrows go?
Could it really be done by humans?
Then the question arises, who has such power, and why would they do it?
"Brother Zhao Da, could it be that after Third Brother and the others had an accident, someone passed by and took the weapons from their hands?"
Zhao Da looked at him, "If someone passed by afterward, why would they only take the bows and arrows, not everything?"
That person was speechless.
"Big Brother, could it be the people from Song Family Castle?"
Zhao Er opened his mouth.
If it was Song Family Castle, that would be terrible. Although the two brothers were strong, they had little chance against Song Family Castle.
But who else around has such power?
Zhao Da shook his head.
He didn’t know either. This matter was confusing; he could only make conjectures based on the small clues he found.
The others felt complicated inside, some even felt joy.
Zhao San and the others were undoubtedly dead in Fierce Beasts’ bellies.
These people were the strongest in the stronghold, mostly Martial Artists, dead in one night.
In other words, their chance had come.
Most of the young and strong men in the stronghold were ordinary people, Zhao Da could only rely on them.
It’s pressure, but also an opportunity.
It wasn’t clear how much time had passed, Zhao Da’s voice sounded, "Let’s go back."
They exchanged glances.
"Brother Zhao Da,"
someone spoke up: "Third Brother and the others had an accident, the prey will be much less in the future. I think the food distributed to the people in the stronghold should be halved."
"Halving is enough, I think. They’re just a bunch of old, weak women and children, worthless alive. Might as well drive them out."
"Exactly, just wasting food."
They spoke while carefully watching Zhao Da’s reaction.
Zhao Da was silent, showing no emotion on his face; it was hard to guess his thoughts.
Zhao Er was lost in sorrow.
If only things were different...
Thus, they walked back along the way they came.
After about half an hour, the silhouette of Zhao Family Castle appeared in front of them.
Zhao Er, moved by the scene, teared up again.
This place was built by the three brothers, Zhao Family Castle achieved today’s glory thanks to their collective effort.
But today, Third Brother was gone.
Getting closer to the stronghold.
meters.
meters.
meters.
At this moment, Zhao Da’s steps halted, his pupils contracted, "Something’s wrong."
The stronghold gate was open, just as it was when they left.
The lookout tower had someone too.
But here’s the strange thing, they were so close yet no one came out to greet them.
Moreover, the person on the lookout tower hadn’t moved since he noticed him.
This was very odd.
"Huh?"
The others were puzzled.
What’s wrong?
At that moment, the sound of firecrackers burst nearby, followed by something whizzing towards them rapidly.
"Dodge!"
Zhao Da shouted, instinctively dodging to the side.
"Crunch!"
The sound of fabric tearing.
An arrow grazed his arm, leaving a one-centimeter deep wound.
The others were not so lucky.
Two of them were struck directly through the chest, their bodies flying high, eyes wide, not understanding what happened.
Among them was Zhao Er, lost in grief.
The other three were wounded badly, bleeding heavily.
"Second Brother!"
Zhao Da watched in horror, enraged.
His gaze turned to the stronghold wall, where a shadow stood.
Before he could discern it clearly.
The air cracked again, three arrows shot forth.
"This time they’re aimed at me?"
Zhao Da’s heart shook.
He then realized these three arrows had locked all his escape routes!
Next moment, he gritted his teeth, accelerating.
Almost brushing the arrows aside, he dodged.
"Hmm?"
Chen Fan’s eyes showed surprise.
He intended to act closer for a shorter reaction time, but the target seemed aware.
Luckily, the angle allowed firing six arrows at once. With luck, he could catch them all.
Yet, Zhao Da dodged narrowly.
Chen Fan’s second three arrows should hit, even if not fatal, he expected them to be deadly.
However, Zhao Da dodged again.
It appeared he used a secret move, consuming Qi and blood to boost speed.
"Bad, he’s trying to escape!"
Chen Fan’s expression changed, leaping off the wall, activating Level 8 Fist’s Far and Wide Traits.
Strength, Agility Attribute, doubled instantly!
Wind whistled by, within a second, he covered over 100 meters.
"Run! Run!"
Zhao Da fled desperately, even tossing his spear.
Though he knew archery, he was unprepared, with his bow on his back. The attacker wouldn’t give a chance to draw and aim; first strike is crucial.
Plus, the opponent’s archery exceeded his!
If he survived, he’d uncover the attacker’s motive and avenge his brother, no matter what!