Contracted Beasts - the one thing that completes a martial artist.
When a disciple reaches the 9th Level of the Martial Warrior, he goes through a summoning ceremony, from which he receives a Contracted Beast.
These contracted beasts are said to be from the other worlds and their real history is only known to the very few.
But one thing is clear: Anyone with a Contracted Beast is way above any disciples in the Martial Warrior Realm.
Getting contracted is the gateway to becoming a Martial Artist.
Thus, Fang Chen had no doubt that the person in front of them was a genuine Martial Artist and was at least in the Martial Master Realm - the realm above the Martial Warrior.
And the presence of the Contracted Beast alone guaranteed one thing - there was no way to escape.
Fang Chen gulped.
The information about the blue wolf flashed in his mind.
He remembered the day when this contracted beast was added to the game.
Dark Wolf.
That was the name they had decided upon and this was the first level contracted beast.
Just like every other contracted beast out there, the Dark Wolf can also be upgraded to the next level.
And the next level was the Night Wolf. At this level, the wolves have a green aura around themselves, and they become double their size with the added strength and stamina.
Clearly, the Contracted Beast in front of them was at Level 2, Night Wolf.
Fang Chen tried to think of any possible weaknesses but he couldn't recall anything that could help him get out of this situation alive.
Right now, words could turn out more useful than swords.
"Who are you?" Fang Chen slowly asked, "And what do you want? If you can let us go, we are ready to give you everything we have."
He had decided to surrender, or what he would like to call it, a tactical retreat.
Fighting the Night Wolf and the Martial Artist would be a foolish mistake.
The purple robbed man suddenly chuckled, "what valuable you can have? You're just ants."
"...Then why are you after us?" Fang Chen frowned, "Aren't you after the Academy Tokens?"
"Academy Tokens?" The assassins smirked, "Why would I ever want that?"
Fang Chen didn't like the assassin's condescending tone, but he didn't show any reaction either.
The Avalon Academy had a lot of secrets, and he was very much aware of them. But they would only be useful for him if he ever got alive."
Fang Chen looked back at Mo Yan and then turned around at the purple robbed man, he asked, "Just tell us what you want. We don't have any enemies, and even if there are, I am sure none of them could have afforded you. So why is it that you people are hellbent on killing us?"
"Heh," The purple robbed man smiled, "You talk too much."
Just as he said, the wolf suddenly showed its teeth and growled.
-grrrr
Fang Chen gulped.
'Is there no other way?'
He sighed.
The wolf crouched for a moment and suddenly jumped at Fang Chen.
It jumped and came right at Fang Chen to crush him in its jaws.
Fang Chen jumped up and stepped on the wolf's forehead, he attacked the purple robbed man.
In his mind, if he still had a bit of his insane luck left, he might be able to injure the purple robbed man and distract the Night Wolf.
But to his surprise, there was no one on the wolf.
Fang Chen landed a few steps away from the wolf.
He instantly turned and the first place where he looked was at Mo Yan.
And as soon as he did, his worst thought became true.
The purple robbed assassin was standing right beside Mo Yan.
Fang Chen tried to say anything, but suddenly his instincts were very red and he was ducking.
The Wolf passed over his body, landed in front of him.
If Fang Chen hadn't duck, the Night Wolf would have chewed him in half.
"That was close!" Fang Chen gulped and jumped away from the wolf once again.
He glanced at the forest and had a big urge to run into it. But then, Mo Yan.
As soon as he thought of his new friend, he glanced to his side.
The purple robbed assassin was still standing besides Mo Yan.
The assassin's actions were confusing Fang Chen. He didn't understand what this person wanted and why was he after the two of them?
By this time, the Night Wolf had turned around and pounced on Fang Chen.
This time too, Fang Chen felt the instinct but as soon as he tried to jump, his leg betrayed him.
He only escaped the jaws of the wolf by mere inches because his body was now leaning to the side.
However, the wolf was turned around midair and clawed at Fang Chen's chest.
"AAAH!"
Fang Chen let out a painful cry as he felt the attack.
The wound was pretty deep and blood began to spurt out of his chest.
But the helplessness only frustrated Fang Chen.
Because of the paralysis poison laced arrows, one of his leg and a hand was now paralysed.
He could neither dodge nor could he properly defend himself.
And against a powerful beast such a Night Wolf, Fang Chen couldn't help but feel a tinge of despair.
Even against the Red Crown Python, the assassins or even against the avalanche he hadn't felt this feeling.
'This is really the end?'
Fang Chen pursed his lips as the Night Wolf stared at him with playful eyes.
The beast was now toying with him.
This was a battle he lost before it even began.
He once again turned towards the Purple robbed assassin.
"Since you're planning to kill me," Fang Chen said, "Why don't you at least tell me what this is all about?"
The assassin stared at him for a long time before saying, "Kill you? If I wanted you dead, we wouldn't even be having this conversation."
"What do you need then?" Fang Chen asked, pressing his hand on the chest wound. The pain was increasing in intensity with every passing moment.
If he was a normal human, he would have been long dead by now. It was only because of the recovery last night that he had the strength to talk right now.
"You can't give what I need," The assassin replied, and then lowering his gaze at Mo Yan he added, "This kid, he's more interesting. If I didn't need to kill him, I would have invited him to the organisation."
'...Kill him?'
Fang Chen only heard these two words.
"Why…"
The purple robbed assassin didn't reply and raised his foot over Mo Yan's head.
Fang Chen's face fell when he saw what the assassin was trying to do.
But just then -
"Well, this is not fun anymore."
A voice rang throughout valley.
Fang Chen was taken aback and looked around.
The assassin's reaction was no different. He instantly took out his sword and went into a defensive stance.
"Who is it? Come out and show yourself."
The voice chuckled, "For an assassin, you're too naive."
"..."
"And, I must say, I was fully entertained until you came in with that black puppy of yours."
"..."
"Can honestly, what kind of assassin wastes so much time? I wanted to see the skill of the First Pavilion, but clearly you people are quite lacking."
"..."
"Also, for an assassin, you love to talk. I have never seen such a talkative assassin in my life. Which idiot promoted you to the Deacon Rank?"
"..."
"An assassin who toys with his target is no assassin."
The purple robbed assassin gritted his teeth, "For someone who hides, you really speak too much. Why don't you come out and show yourself. You will surely know why I am a Deacon Rank."
The voice chuckled, "I am a passerby. I don't meddle with children's games."
"You have meddled enough," The purple robbed assassin said, "And for you to continue hiding, I can't help but doubt your confidence."
"Heh," The voice chuckled, "It's funny to see how offended you are with my opinions. I don't know how you will react with the one I kept to myself."
"..."
"Anyway, I don't really care. Do as you like, I am but an observer."
Fang Chen gritted his teeth, "Senior, please help this young one. I will be eternally grateful."
"Oh?" The voice replied. Fang Chen felt the person behind the voice was smiling as he continued, "Kid, your gratefulness is worth dog shit. You need something much more. And don't you mention your talent or anything of that matter. You're the most useless 5th Grade Martial Warrior I have ever seen. How did someone like you even reach this level?"
Fang Chen gulped, then thinking for a moment, he said, "Senior, I may not be a good martial artist in your eyes, but I am well versed in some of the worldly matters because of another senior who once visited my village and I have listened to his teachings. Please ask me one question that's bugging you and if I can answer it, please help me this one time."
"Oh?" The voice smiled, "This game is also interesting. Alright, this old man has a question, and if I am satisfied with your answer, I will consider helping you.
The question is pretty simple. Tell me how far are you willing to go to save your friend?