Chapter 176: Chapter 175: When Did He Come Over? (Please Subscribe)
In the wild grass, a gray figure quickly shuttled across the ground with strange movements, walking in an S-shaped pattern despite the straight path.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a large snake!
Its body was nearly five meters long, with a diameter of almost one meter, covered with numerous large gray spots the size of basins on its tough skin.
The snake’s head, nearly two meters in size, resembled the front of a medium-sized truck; its eyes alone were as big as lanterns, emitting a sinister red light, and large venomous fangs could be faintly seen as it flicked its tongue.
This was a High-level Fierce Beast, the Gray-spotted Snake.
This creature was among the least desired encounters for Entry Force Martial Artists during their hunts in the wild. They would rather face a Violent Bear than this guy.
Although its defensive capability was relatively weak, making it possible to kill it with a 20mm machine gun.
However, it had incredible speed and unpredictable close-ground movements.
And it could also spray venom from its mouth!
That’s right.
It didn’t need to bite its prey to release the toxin; it could spray it directly from its fangs at a speed comparable to a pistol bullet!
If this venom touched the skin, the flesh would be corroded to the bone in no time, then penetrate the bloodstream, leading to certain death.
Thus, being sprayed by the venom would likely result in limb amputation.
That’s not the worst.
If it entered the eyes, nose, ears, or mouth, death from poisoning would occur in mere seconds.
At this moment, the distance between the Gray-spotted Snake and the figure ahead was less than a thousand meters. At its speed, it would reach its target in just over three seconds.
But just then, a loud bang echoed from the air.
An arrow, as if teleported, crossed a thousand meters and pierced through the head of the Gray-spotted Snake, pinning it to the ground!
The back half of the Gray-spotted Snake first contracted and then relaxed.
It was evidently dead.
"How insidious."
Chen Fan muttered to himself.
This creature was planning a sneak attack from behind.
Fortunately, despite its subtle movements, it couldn’t deceive his ears or his instincts.
He walked over, looking at the giant snake before him, and felt a shiver run through his body.
"Forget it, it’s worth a few million."
Chen Fan bit his lip and decided to take the creature back instead of leaving it here—what a waste that would be.
He took a rope and walked to the snake’s tail. Thankfully, it wasn’t as slippery as he had imagined.
"Another few million in the pocket."
Chen Fan smiled faintly. It was getting late; he thought he’d have lunch before heading out for more hunting.
Meanwhile, in another part of the wilderness.
Two elders stood with shock evident in their eyes.
These two were Feng Wen and Guo Liang, who had just left the business firm and were tracking Chen Fan.
They had left a bit late and hadn’t seen Chen Fan’s trail, so they started searching the wilderness. After all, there was only one direction from Anshan City into the depths of the wilderness, so he could be found.
But they were not prepared for what they found—not Chen Fan, but the corpses of Huang Hanquan, Jiang Xiong, and their men.
Seven in total, no more, no less.
"How is this possible?"
Feng Wen’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the row of bodies on the ground.
All seven bodies had a large hole in their chests. Some of the wounds were clean and unlikely to have been caused by an exploding bullet.
Other areas bore marks of being devoured by Fierce Beasts; two were even unrecognizable, though it was evident they had driven away those Mid to Low-level Fierce Beasts.
"It’s... bow and arrow."
Guo Liang, on the right, said grimly, "All seven of them were shot by arrows. Look, apart from the bloody hole in their chests, there are no other wounds, which means they were killed instantly."
"!"
Hearing his companion’s speculation, Feng Wen’s mouth hung open as he mumbled, "It can’t be? Weren’t they tracking that guy? How did they die here? And where are their weapons?"
"Most likely, whoever killed them took their weapons."
"Then who killed them?"
Feng Wen turned abruptly to his companion.
These were seven Entry Force Martial Artists! Jiang Xiong and Huang Hanquan were bona fide Martial Artists of the Transformation Realm.
They considered themselves slightly stronger than those two, but not much more.
True, they were better in close combat, and if they fought one-on-one, they could win easily.
But with seven people, each armed with a machine gun, how far could they go?
Yet, such firepower was completely wiped out?
Guo Liang gulped and said with difficulty, "If I’m not mistaken, it’s probably the guy with the mask, and the bow and arrow."
At these words,
Feng Wen’s mind went blank. He looked at Guo Liang, as if questioning whether he was joking.
One person, with a bow and arrow, could wipe out a fully armed Entry Force Martial Artists team?
Guo Liang licked his lips and said, "I know you find it hard to believe. I don’t want to believe it, either. But right now, it’s the only reasonable explanation.
Think about it, from Anshan City to here, there’s only one direction. How could Jiang Xiong and his team fail to find him? When that guy returned, Jiang Xiong and his team disappeared. Given this scene, the answer is obvious.
They found him, fought him—the bullet shells are proof. However, they underestimated his strength. In the end, they were all killed, and their weapons and belongings were taken."
Feng Wen looked at the bodies. Indeed, every garment had traces of being searched.
His mind buzzed.
So, Jiang Xiong and his men were really killed by this guy?
How could this be?
"Old Feng, we should go back. This task is more difficult than we imagined."
Guo Liang said, his face grave and his voice hoarse, "Jiang Xiong and his team were equipped with such firepower, yet they were easily killed. Even with us, the result won’t be much different. Also, at the business firm, someone said that guy dragged back a Violent Bear,
back then, I didn’t take it seriously. Now, I realize, he probably did kill a Violent Bear single-handedly."
"Gulp."
Feng Wen swallowed hard.
Ask yourself, could you kill a Violent Bear alone?
No?
"But,"
he couldn’t help but ask, "We promised Lu Yang to kill that guy. If we go back now, how do we explain ourselves?"
"Old Feng,"
guo Liang fixed his gaze on him, "Do you not understand the gravity of the situation? It’s already a blessing if that guy doesn’t come after us. Do you want to provoke him? Is our life or our pride more important?"
Scolded awake, Feng Wen quickly said, "Our life, of course!"
Returning and facing some criticism is better than risking their lives.
If they went further and encountered that person, their lives could be in danger.
Once dead, there’s nothing left.
"Good to hear you understand."
Guo Liang sighed in relief, "This task is beyond our ability. We need to bring these bodies back and have Lu Yang report to the higher-ups, to request those Awakener adults for help."
"What?"
Feng Wen’s mouth dropped open.
Deal with an Entry Force Martial Artist, needing a Meridian Refining Martial Artist’s help? Even awakening the Awakener adults?
"All in all, it’s no longer our concern."
Guo Liang shook his head.
"We’ll take these bodies back, report to Lu Yang, and let him handle it."
"Alright."
Feng Wen had no intention to argue. He looked into the distance and shivered suddenly.
"Old Guo, look there."
Cold sweat poured down as he stuttered, feeling he saw something extremely terrifying.
"Where?"
Guo Liang asked instinctively, looking north. What he saw scared him witless.
About three or four hundred meters away, a figure stood there, watching them.
The person wore a mask, holding a bow in the left hand, and an arrow in the right.
Wasn’t this the person they were looking for?
At that moment, Guo Liang’s heart skipped a beat. When did this person get so close?
They didn’t notice at all.
No, now wasn’t the time for that.
"Run!"
He yelled with all his might, then turned and ran!
Feng Wen heard the shout, and his frozen body returned to his control. He turned and sprinted away.
Terrifying, absolutely terrifying!
Old Guo was right; this person approached silently. They were no match for him.
The only solution was to deliver the message, and let a Meridian Refining Martial Artist, or even an Awakener adult, handle him!
Suddenly, there was a sonic boom behind him!
Feng Wen felt his speed double and even seemed to lift off the ground. The wind howled in his ears.
Looking down, he found himself really airborne!
But excruciating pain brought him back to reality.
"I... I was shot?"
He looked at his chest, finding a familiar bloody hole.
"No! No!"
He roared inwardly, filled with unwillingness, and soon fell to the ground, lifeless.
About a hundred meters ahead lay another body—Guo Liang’s.
In his eyes was the same regret.
Just a little more, just a little more!
If he hadn’t explained to Feng Wen but taken the bodies back, could he have escaped and delivered the message?
A breeze swept through the wilderness, rustling the wild grass as always.
The chase and their deaths had happened in the blink of an eye.
Chen Fan walked over slowly, silently looking at the two bodies, feeling like a villain.
He had already discovered these two, and the bodies they gathered, but was unsure if they were from the firm or just passersby. That’s why he approached silently.
Upon hearing their words, he understood.
They were indeed from the business firm.
No more hesitation then.