"There is really no trap here," one of the cultivators muttered.
Xiao Jun had been gritting his teeth. Just a single moment of weakness had caused him to be humiliated like this. There was no way he would call back those soldiers if something happened. He was angry at the three cultivators who were so weak.
To avoid his anger, the three cultivators ended up walking in the front as if trying to open up their path.
They continued for another fifteen minutes. It was peaceful as there were no spiritual beasts nor traps.
Since there was no other struggle they needed to face, the three cultivators started to lower their guards, thinking that the only thing they had to fight was Li Xue.
"Where is Li Xue?"
"Is she going to be in the center of the forest?"
"That's possible. She must be hiding there. Even if she is not, we can search around the center. I doubt Li Xue will be hiding in a corner, considering the soldiers would have found her and informed us."
"Fair enough."
"Let's head out. There are no more traps, so we will just have to avoid her sneak attack."
"Yeah. Let's—"
Before the last one completed his words, a rope suddenly stuck to his feet. It happened in an instant as the rope tightened and tied both of his feet.
It looked like he was just going to be restricted there, but it changed when he was suddenly being pulled up.
"Aaaaaahhhh!" The guy screamed in panic. He didn't know what was going on, but he reached the top of the tree, hanging upside down.
"What? There is another trap?"
"What is going on?"
The people panicked. Even Xiao Jun tensed up, realizing that the traps appeared again. He couldn't comprehend the situation.
On the one hand, he wanted to think that this forest was filled with traps. On the other hand, there was an empty area they crossed earlier.
He didn't understand why someone would create that peaceful area if they wanted to fill this forest with traps. In other words, there was a high chance that this trap was similar to the first one. It only covered a small area.
The cultivators found a boulder hanging on another tree. It must be the one pulling him.
"Calm down. We need to untie your feet…" One of them shouted, trying to help.
However, the guy who got caught was panicking crazily. He had dropped his weapon due to the shock, and recalling what happened to the two that got caught by the traps, it was clear that he would die soon.
"I don't want to die. Save me!" He kept screaming the same thing while struggling in the air. If he were calm, he would have been able to use his ability to somehow cut the rope.
"Look at the perimeter, see if there are any other traps. We'll stop all those traps from harming him!" Xiao Jun commanded.
The other two cultivators were surprised by the order, but it was clear that Xiao Jun wanted to save him. It also meant that if they ever got caught, Xiao Jun would protect them as well.
With that assurance, they quickly calmed down and moved around, searching for other traps. They forgot what would happen if they got caught in one.
At this time, Hao Yu had been enjoying his time. Because the group was near the center, that scream finally reached his ears.
He smiled. "As expected, they would fall for that. The cultivators are strong. They have cultivated so hard to reach that level. However, it's precisely the reason why they will be weak mentally."
Hao Yu recalled the difference between common people and cultivators.
"A fierce general trains both strength and mental, doing it for the sake of the dynasty. So, they don't fear death. But the cultivators do it for themselves. Now that they are in danger, they will break. This is just a little manipulation of the heart… And I know a cultivator of their level would fall for that."
Hao Yu smirked. He had actually positioned his traps carefully.
The first part of the traps had been spread in all directions. But those traps were just bait for the cultivators.
He put some traps there to make them panic. After that, he knew that the cultivator would bring people or advance by themselves.
Either way, the peace they would enjoy for the next few minutes would make them think that those were the only traps in this forest.
Once they lowered their guards, they would be greeted by another trap.
"It's perfect." Hao Yu muttered. "Now that they have gone this far, they won't be coming back."
Even Li Xue could hear that scream. She gradually opened her eyes, realizing her role.
"They almost arrive. He wants me to lure them in, right?" Li Xue muttered. She still remembered that there was a trap hiding underneath the bush in the sound's direction.
So, she approached the bush carefully, not wanting to cross it. All she knew was that this was the only place that had no traps, so she wouldn't be moving away from here.
As soon as she reached the edge of the safe area, she could see the little dot that indicated the appearance of the group.
And surprisingly, the group also noticed her. One of the 8-Star experts noticed a sudden flicker of light, caused by a certain movement. It didn't happen before since the wind had a hard time reaching inside due to the dense vegetation.
So, there was a chance that Li Xue was the one who caused it.
"I saw a sign of Li Xue." He said while pointing his finger.
"We'll be going after him." Xiao Jun didn't hesitate. If he let her leave, there was a chance that she would escape this forest, tricking them to another trap. So, it would be best to make her remain in their vision.
"Help me!" The other cultivator was still desperately asking for help.
However, Xiao Jun only said, "There is no other trap that would kill you. If there's one, you would have died already. Calm yourself and untie your feet before chasing after us!"
After saying those words, the cultivator suddenly shuddered, realizing that he could actually do that. He was just too panicked earlier.
At the same time, Xiao Jun began leading the rest of the group toward Li Xue.
The cultivator left behind took a deep breath to calm his heart and started reaching for the ropes. "That's right. I can untie myself…"
Unfortunately for him, Xiao Jun shouldn't have left him alone. After all, there was one more hunter in the forest.
The sound of a bush suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Huh?" He couldn't help but follow the sound's direction, thinking it was impossible since there was no living being in this forest.
But he was too late. He could only see an arrow flying straight into his head, killing him.
Without Xiao Jun realizing it, one of his group already died, and his body was currently hanging on top of a tree.