"Hmph, what’s this place compared to mine? The place I’m from is ten tis more dangerous. Here, at least we can chat comfortably. Where I ca from, we didn’t have such luxuries," Ye San said with a light chuckle, stroking her hair with his large hand.
"Then where did you co from? Didn’t you leave from here? But this is supposed to be the forbidden land of the five major families. Why are you an exception?" Shangguan You asked, perplexed. The Ye Family was also one of the five major families. Could it be that Ye San had so secrets of his own?
"Heh, I’ll tell you later. Knowing now wouldn’t do you any good. Besides, in Hidden World Village, you won’t encounter anyone from the Ye Family, other than ."
"The Ye Family mbers aren’t in Hidden World Village? Don’t tell they’ve all gone off to do business? After all, the Ye Family’s business empire spans the globe, doesn’t it?" Shangguan You said playfully. It’s strange that no one from the Ye Family is around. Ye San’s words are so vague, honestly.
"The Ye Family mbers, though they seldom make public appearances, you’ll naturally et them when the ti cos. No need to be anxious." Ye San’s body floated effortlessly into the air, and he silently followed Zhuge Feng. Shangguan You rolled her eyes at Ye San’s vague response. He won’t say, so forget it. He might not tell , but I’ll find out soon enough anyway.
Inside the barrier, she felt an inexplicable discomfort. The oppressive atmosphere was deeply unsettling; she hated this feeling and couldn’t help but worry about Zhuge Feng.
"ROAR... ROAR..." Sharp growls echoed from the distance. The two exchanged a glance and quickened their pace to follow Zhuge Feng, who was also moving faster.
Zhuge Feng concealed himself among the treetops, observing the distant battlefield. Ye San and Shangguan You hid in another tree, also silently watching the scene unfold.
Deep within the dense forest, two blood-soaked n stood back to back, wielding long swords. They were surrounded, with packs of wolves before them and tigers behind. To their left, a massive serpent lay coiled, flicking its crimson tongue and occasionally lashing its tail. Leopards circled to their right. Overhead, several Vultures hovered, eyeing the n with predatory intent. The n were trapped, besieged on all sides by a horde of ferocious beasts with no hope of escape. The perils of the Hidden World Family’s back mountain were comparable to those of the deepest, most remote prival forests.
The ground was littered with severed limbs, splattered with the blood of n and beasts alike. The roars they had just heard belonged to the tigers. The two n in the center were drenched in blood, their bodies covered in wounds that stread fresh gore, their sword-wielding hands trembling slightly.
From a distance, Shangguan You gazed at the brutal battlefield, a wave of nausea washing over her. The man drenched in blood is none other than Zhuge Feng. I hadn’t expected such a drastic change in him in just a dozen or so days. His eyes, once gentle as a fawn’s, are now filled with a grim killing intent, and a palpable aura has begun to emanate from him.
This Zhuge Feng—his gaze, his deanor—almost perfectly overlapped with the image in the painting she had seen that day. This wasn’t the Zhuge Feng she wanted to see.
"Surviving here for so many days is quite impressive, but they’re still too weak. Now they’re trapped," Ye San remarked lightheartedly, observing the two bloodied n. Noticing Shangguan You shoot him a glare, he swallowed the rest of his words. Truthfully, Zhuge Feng and that other fellow *were* weak.
"ROAR... ROAR..."
"HOWL... HOWL..."
"HISS... HISS..."
The animals on all sides began to cry out, their eyes fixed on their prey. The massive serpent undulated, its tail sweeping towards the two n. Simultaneously, the wolf packs and tigers prepared to charge at the opportune mont, hoping for an easy al. The leopards were equally eager, and the Vultures circling overhead bared their sharp teeth, waiting for a chance to swoop down and claim a share.
CLANG! The two n, still back to back, simultaneously swung their long swords at the serpent’s tail. Blood sprayed as their blades bit deep, and the serpent HISSSED in pain, recoiling several steps.
These animals, all possessing a degree of cunning, realized they couldn’t press the attack now that the serpent was injured. The other beasts paused their advance but continued to stalk the two n, eyeing them intently and waiting for another opportunity to strike.
The great serpent retreated a few more paces, flicking its long tongue to lick its bleeding tail. Its lantern-sized eyes burned with malice, and its two long fangs glead nacingly in the moonlight.
With Vultures circling overhead and fierce beasts closing in from all sides, Zhuge Feng and the man with him were extrely tense, their bodies rigid. They didn’t dare relax for even an instant. Their senses were heightened, alert to every sight and sound, watching for the slightest movent in their surroundings.
First, "AWOO! AWOO!" The wolves’ long howls pierced the quiet night.
When the wolves fell silent, the tigers began to roar fiercely, "ROAR! ROAR!"
As the tigers’ roars ceased, the leopards joined in with deep, powerful calls, "GROWL! GROWL!"
Following the leopards, the great serpent began to hiss, "HISS! HISS!"
Not to be outdone, the Vultures opened their sharp beaks and shrieked loudly, "SCREECH! SCREECH!" As their cries subsided, answering calls echoed from deep within the dense forest.
These animals are actually calling their kin! I never imagined the beasts in Hidden World Village would be so intelligent, capable of devising such strategies.
Hearing the distant responses, the surrounding animals continued to patrol their respective territories with a strange sort of grace, still refraining from directly attacking the two n. They occasionally let out calls of their own, as if guiding their approaching comrades by revealing their position.
"This is Hidden World Village territory, and the animals here also have their own established domains. See? The entire back mountain is occupied by them, each claiming a section, never encroaching on another’s. And the spot where Zhuge Feng and his companion are trapped? That’s right in the middle of it all," Ye San comnted playfully near her ear.
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