The journey ahead was incredibly calm, as if these Snow Demons had been intimidated by Zhao Ya’s methods and dared not launch another ambush.
The team continued forward. Although the fog remained thick, people’s anxious hearts gradually relaxed.
Despite the unclear path ahead, they walked steadily with the guidance of the rope, allowing some carefree individuals to start chatting and laughing.
Zhao Ya did not stop them, as it was also a way to relieve stress.
At the end of the line, Jia Jing nervously observed the surroundings.
As a minor leader of Red Dragon Mountain, his cautious nature had unwillingly brought him here, swept up by circumstances.
No help for it, as the Mountain Master of Red Dragon Mountain once relied on the treacherous terrain to defy the Azure Dragon Temple, only to be taught a harsh lesson by Shen Yunshen.
Now considered a criminal with a mission, he had to grit his teeth and follow the team into this fog.
To be safe, he managed to position himself at the tail end of the line.
Even so, he felt uneasy and had no mood to chat but instead focused entirely on observing the surroundings.
Unlike his caution, the Martial Artist behind him was indifferent, loudly chatting and even occasionally trying to engage him in conversation.
But Jia Jing was in no mood for small talk, so he brushed him off.
Unfazed, the Martial Artist turned to the people behind and began boasting.
"Damn, with so many tricks pulled, I want to see what the Black Ship looks like later."
Jia Jing frowned slightly, regretting ending up next to this guy.
There was no room to switch places now, so he had to be patient and whispered to the man.
"Shh, keep your voice down. You know what’s in the fog. If something is lying in ambush, won’t your shouting expose us?"
"Tch, coward. I’m telling you, I’m not afraid of sneak attacks. Let them come if they’re brave enough, and see if Hu Dalong can’t crush them!" the man said disdainfully.
Even though they were so close, they couldn’t see each other’s faces clearly.
Jia Jing could only vaguely see the man’s silhouette, seemingly a head taller than himself.
Had it been before, faced with such a character, Jia Jing would have remained quiet.
But things were different now; they were all on the same rope. If this guy attracted trouble, the ones before him wouldn’t escape either.
So Jia Jing patiently said, "My friend, I know you’re brave, but we’re all on the same rope. If you cause trouble with your yelling, others will also be implicated."
"Don’t like it? Then change your position!" the man sneered.
Jia Jing was getting three parts angry, about to speak.
Just then, he felt a tremendous pull on the rope’s end, almost yanking him to the ground.
His anger surged, thinking for sure the guy behind was causing trouble.
But when he turned, ready to teach the guy a lesson, he heard a strange sound.
A dying wheeze came from a throat, accompanied by the sound of skin and tendons being viciously torn.
Though the sounds were subtle, most would miss them, but Jia Jing’s keen Ear Power caught the anomaly.
Something’s wrong!
The thought flashed in his mind, and he felt every hair on his body stand up.
If the person behind him was hit, wasn’t he next?
He instantly shouted with a strong survival instinct.
"Help!"
Almost simultaneously, a figure lunged out from the fog, stirring a strong gust of wind dispersing the surrounding mist.
The figure charged at the Martial Artist, brandishing a knife.
Puff!
The blood contrasted sharply against the mist, causing Jia Jing to swallow his words.
The Martial Artist fell with a thud, struggling yet unable to rise.
The blade had severed his tendons.
Jia Jing recognized the figure, turning respectful.
It was none other than Zhao Ya.
For Jia Jing, Zhao Ya, a young genius already crowned the top Beyond the World, was someone to be revered.
Zhao Ya crouched, observing the struggling Martial Artist.
The skillfully executed strike severed the tendons without lethal harm.
He wanted to see what was going on!
The scene was indeed astonishing.
The large Martial Artist’s face was distorted, his eyes shining with an inhuman gleam, glaring at Zhao Ya with an urge to devour.
Yet Zhao Ya was unfazed, probing the wounds with a knife.
At this moment, He Nandou, Shangguan Jianmei, Yin Jiaxiong, and others arrived.
Seeing the scene, they were also shocked.