Chapter 19 Scammers
…
The night sky is a bit dark today as the cloud seemed a bit thicker than usual. One could tell that there would soon be rain falling from the skies.
However, for travelers, this is not their concern right now. All they can think of is to be able to reach their destination and take their well-deserved rest so that they could have the energy to continue the next day.
The dirt road is a bit dusty as it seems that the rain has not fallen for many days. But the roughness of the road could make one feel a bit of discomfort while traveling.
As of this time, five shadows could be seen traveling down the rough road and soon stopped by the roadside and began to pitch their tents.
Han Jin on the other hand just sits calmly on the carriage and calmly watches the area.
Soon, a mouthwatering aroma wafted out which made him feel a bit hungry. But he did not budge and decided to take out some dried meat that he is keeping inside his pouch.
"Hey… Bag man… come here and eat dinner…" shouted Ax who lifted the wooden bowl in his hand.
Han Jin heaved a heavy sigh and then decided to walk near the group.
He did not stand in ceremony and grabs a wooden bowl from the side.
Then, when he was about to take a soup from the small cauldron he discovered that there is none left.
"Aw… Sorry, we forgot that there are now 5 of us… We're just used to eating the same meal… Next time, I'll make more…" Arrow suddenly said on the side with a helpless look on her face.
However, Han Jin knew that those are just words without sincerity.
He did not bother with them and decided to go to the side of the carriage and take his canteen of water.
He then washed the cauldron and began to fill it with a little bit of water and then set it atop the fire.
Then he takes out some dried objects from the pouch and began putting them into the cauldron.
After putting in some seasonings, he waited for a while before it began boiling.
He then sprinkles meat jerky on the boiling soup.
Now the aroma of the soup wafted over which made the rest feel a bit hungry again.
Ax stood up and walked towards the cauldron.
"Step aside…" he said in a deep voice.
The rest showed mocking smiles on their faces while watching this scene.
However, Han Jin did not budge and just continue cooking.
Ax is now annoyed as he felt a bit disrespected by just a baggage carrier of the group.
He suddenly lifted his hand to grab Han Jin.
But before he could touch him, he felt a cold dagger pointing at his neck.
"Touch me and you will be bathing in your own blood…" Han Jin warned.
"Eyyy…. Eyyy… Don't take everything seriously young man…" Gan Rong suddenly said while chuckling.
"Ax, stand down… let the young man eat his food…" Gan Rong added.
Ax snorted in dissatisfaction and walked back to his seat.
Han Jin did not say anything and just filled his bowl with soup, then walked back to his carriage.
Ax immediately walked towards the cauldron and was about to scoop some soup but it was all gone.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm used to cooking for myself… I did not know that I have some companions… Next time, I will make more…" Han Jin's voice suddenly said while he showed a helpless smile on his face.
Everyone looks at each other and showed a grim expressions on their faces.
"It seems that our friend does not want to be played with…" Shield said with a smile on his face.
Shield is a huge man, with an amiable face. He is like a good uncle from the neighborhood.
No one said anything at this time, and the annoyed Ax just sits back to his place and began sharpening his weapon.
Meanwhile, Han Jin lies calmly in the carriage and looks at the dark sky. He did not sleep but instead, began carving something on a piece of wood.
…
The next day…
The group soon arrives at the borders of the forest they are aiming to go to.
Everyone takes out their equipment and began walking through the dark forest in front of them.
30 minutes later…
"This might be our lucky day…" Arrow muttered as she pointed up front.
"Horned red-eyed buck…" she added.
The expression of the others turned serious as the group advances.
Arrow did not hesitate to release the arrow from her bow as it flew directly at the bushes.
Roar!!!
The group suddenly heard a loud roar which also startled Han Jin.
The reason for this... is that... the noise did not come from the buck, but from another beast. It is the roar of a predator.
Han Jin was a bit confused as he did not expect that Arrow, as a marksman would actually miss her target.
He quickly ran towards a tree and climbs it without hesitation.
"Damn it! Why did you do that?" shouted Ax.
But a slight smirk could be seen at the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry guys! I did not see that thing lurking in there!" she pleaded as she also showed a slight smirk.
"Run!" shouted Gan Rong.
As soon as he did, a dark shadow leaped out of the bushes.
It was a horned panther with several sharp spikes on its back.
As the group turns around, they were all shocked to discover that no one is behind them.
Arrow began looking around the area as she runs to the front of the group.
"Guys! That bastard is gone!" she shouted with a hint of annoyance in her tone.
"Damn it! Did he just run away with our stuff?" Ax angrily curses.
Shield just shakes his head while running as fast as he could with his heavy body.
Soon, the group stops as they felt that nothing is actually chasing after them.
"What is happening?" asked Ax confusion.
"I… I think the beast stopped chasing after us…" Arrow said with a frown.
The group walked back carefully and soon arrives in an area with some traces of blood on the ground.
"Hey, there are traces of blood in here…" Arrow said while she checked the ground.
"I can see more here!" called Gan Rong as he squatted on the ground.
"What is happening?" asked Ax as he walked over.
"I… I think that giant cat got the baggage guy…" said Gan Rong with a deep frown.
"What? Then… is our mission over?" Ax said with a slight smile on his face.
"Well, we just have to find that guy's corpse and head back… Well, what's left of him that is… Hehe…" Arrow added to the side.
"Guys… I… I think what we did was wrong. This is not who we age…" Shield suddenly interjected.
"Shut up fatso… Do you think we can just say no to that guy? Plus, he pays good money…" Gan Rong said with a smirk.
Shield did not say anything and just shakes his head.
"Let's find his corpse…" Arrow said as she turns around to follow the trail of blood on the ground.
But then before she could walk forward, she suddenly saw a familiar face upfront.
Bang!!!
Arrow's reaction speed is faster than a normal person so she was quick to dodge to the side. Though she was able to dodge a fatal shot in her body, her left arm was not so lucky.
The powerful bullet from a rifle that could kill a demon beast hit her squarely on the shoulder which threw her to the side. Her body felt like being hit by a huge hammer and she could even hear her shoulder bones cracking from that powerful impact.
Everyone looks in the direction of the explosion.
"Oops… wrong gun…" Han Jin showed a slightly regretful expression as he lowered the rifle.
"You… how dare you attack us?!" shouted Ax as he suddenly charges forward.
"You can scheme against me, and I cannot?" Han Jin said as he draws his revolver and shot at the charging Ax.
As was quick to his feet and jumped to the side.
But he did not hear any shooting sound.
The other two also quickly hide in the bushes around them.
"Damn it! How did that guy reverse the situation!" shouted Ax as he grits his teeth in anger.
He also draws his revolver along with the other two who are hiding behind the bushes.
"Hey… I think there is a misunderstanding between us… We can still talk this through, right?" shouted Gan Rong as he nodded at Shield hiding opposite side of him.
Bang!!!
A gunshot echoed in the air then the two heard someone crying.
"Ax!" the two shouted.
"Damn you… you bastard!" Ax cursed out loud as he held to his leg.
Right now, there is a hold on his left leg, and his bone was shattered by that powerful bullet.
In fact, revolvers should not be able to do such damage which is why Ax was confident to run forward according to his training.
But who would have known that the guy could actually hit his leg in just one shot?
"Painful… right?" the voice of Han Jin echoed throughout the forest.
It was like he is talking beside their ears.
"Tell me… Who told you guys to kill me?" he asked with a calm tone.
When they heard his question, they knew that Han Jin has heard their words.
"Hehe… It's not like that… I think we should talk this out…" Gan Rong suddenly said as he lifted his hand as if surrendering.
While he slowly stands up from the bushes with an awkward smile on his face.