"Someone is impersonating a security member?" The security men looked at each other in disbelief.
Damn it! They really figured me out!
This Chen Qing truly deserves to be the leader of the Dongfang family's security team.
Chen He silently cursed, then his muscles tensed, ready to make a run for it.
"Who dares?" A deafening roar!
"Clap!"
A loud slap resounded!
Chen Qing was slapped so hard that he staggered.
Dongfang Wutian was furious, his sturdy attire billowing without wind, and a terrifying momentum poured out from him like a tidal wave.
Under this momentum, the men present couldn't help but feel their blood boil uncontrollably, their breaths erratic.
As for Chen Qing, who bore the brunt of it all, he felt like his liver and gallbladder were about to burst. He fell to his knees with a thud, his face burning with pain, but he dared not make a sound.
Dongfang Wutian looked down at Chen Qing and said slowly, "Who dares under my very nose? You, despicable creature, do not obstruct this young master's plans. You couldn't bear the weight of your own life a hundred times over!"
Chen Qing trembled and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Young Master, Chen Qing was wrong."
"Oh my, Chen brother, if you're not grateful for lending you a hand, that's fine, but why falsely accuse someone from Wu's team?" A burly, bearded man at the head of the line where Chen He was standing said, pained and indignant.
Chen Qing remained silent, still kneeling on the ground with his head bowed, his thoughts unknown.
Dongfang Wutian impatiently waved his fan, not waiting for Chen Qing's response before shouting loudly again, "Wu Qi Gang, you select people to scout ahead with the hunter."
"Yes, Young Master, Wu Qi Gang will certainly do his utmost!" The burly, bearded man, Wu Qi Gang, stepped forward, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He quickly selected eight people and then led the way into the forest path alongside the hunter, Ji Qingfeng.
As he passed by Chen Qing, his face was filled with both frustration and regret.
Several twists and turns were truly unpredictable, leaving Chen He stunned!
Fortunately, the recent turbulent experiences had accustomed him to such dramatic scenes.
A group of ten people led the way, their feet stepping on the soft, thick leaves, while Chen He's eyes darted around.
As he surveyed the forest, he pondered in silence.
It could be confirmed that Chen Qing knew Little Li was dead.
Now, whether he, Chen He, was a disabled beggar or not, was no longer important.
The crucial point was that he was wearing Little Li's clothes, disguised as a security member.
This alone could prove that he was the murderer, and it was also the reason he was truly discovered.
Because Little Li's outfit was slightly smaller in size.
Considering Chen Qing's regard for Little Li, he would surely find a way to avenge him.
Breaking away from the group and disappearing into the forest would undoubtedly be the best choice now, but the large group behind was not far away. Escaping unnoticed was simply impossible.
Luckily, Chen Qing didn't dare to openly attack.
Soon, they crossed two mountains, and the forest path disappeared here.
As requested by the hunter, the group lined up like a long dragon, following the hunter one by one.
The mountain stream was deep and moist, the mountain terrain rugged and lofty, and the air fresh and chilly.
Before them, the trees and grass gradually became adorned with more greenery.
The further they went, the greener the vegetation became, as if the magic of autumn had lost its effect here.
Giant trees towered everywhere, vines tangled like snakes, and the grass was lush.
It looked like a pristine forest where few people had ever ventured.
As they passed through, the "local residents" quickly hid and avoided them, startled by the intrusion.
Hunter Ji Qingfeng led the way, familiar with the terrain and leading the group effortlessly.
It can be speculated that Dongfang Wutian is not simply hunting for the sake of hunting.
If it were just for the pleasure of hunting, why mobilize so many people to hunt extremely dangerous beasts?
As for the true purpose behind it, it remains unknown.
The mountain path was difficult, and after traveling about six miles, some of the security members began to pant.
What surprised Chen He was that Dongfang Wutian's personal maidservant still walked steadily, breathing smoothly.
The charming maidservant was undoubtedly a martial artist.
It makes sense, as Dongfang Wutian attached great importance to this expedition; he wouldn't bring along any deadweight.
After another four miles, the terrain in the old forest became gentler, and it seemed like they had entered a basin.
Ji Qingfeng, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped and turned around, respectfully addressing Dongfang Wutian twenty yards away: "Young Master, we have now entered the inner perimeter of the Misty Ridge."
"The inner perimeter of the Misty Ridge is a paradise for large predators. Even if one were to enter alone, they would face certain death. Traveling in a group is still unsafe.
As for the deeper parts of the inner perimeter, they give birth to cunning mountain spirits and wild monsters, which are even more terrifying than the beasts...!"
"Get to the point!"
Dongfang Wutian impatiently waved his hand to interrupt. As a local of Lang City, how could he not be aware of the dangers deep within the Misty Ridge?
It was precisely because he understood this that he brought over twenty people to this place.
Ji Qingfeng raised his hand to cover his mouth, chuckling, "It seems that some of our brothers are tired. Should we take a break?"
Dongfang Wutian scanned the group and asked, "How far are we from the destination?"
"In reply, young master, we still have two miles to go."
Dongfang Wutian looked up at the sky, which was obscured by dense branches and leaves. "What time is it now?"
Ji Qingfeng glanced at the barely discernible shadow of wild grass beside him. "It's probably nearing the end of the ninth hour."
Dongfang Wutian nodded. "We don't have much time left. Wang Er Tie, distribute the dry rations to everyone. Let's eat while we walk."
Wang Er Tie, the leader of another group of guards, acknowledged with a grunt and proceeded to distribute the food to the others. Each person received two baked dumplings.
Taking the two dumplings, hungry Chen He resisted the temptation and quietly saved one for later.
Always keep something in reserve; who knows what might happen next?
The texture of the dumplings was a bit rough, not as soft and smooth as buns. However, the flavor was undeniably delicious.
Taking a bite immediately sparked the taste buds, causing saliva to flow rapidly, ensuring no choking sensation. The wild grass in the forest was dense, and though there was no clear path, the terrain had become flatter, allowing the group to pick up their pace.
Passing through an area of tangled vines and towering ancient trees, Chen He suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease. It was as if a fierce beast lurked in the shadows, eyeing the back of his head, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
He looked up and surveyed the sky with one eye, where besides the mottled light filtering through the cracks in the branches and leaves, there were also extremely thick, oily green vines.
Seemingly nothing out of the ordinary, but Chen He still silently gripped the steel knife in his hand, keeping his eyes on six paths and ears open to all directions.
He trusted the intuition brought by the battles of March, and since this was already a dangerous mountain forest rarely visited by humans, it was naturally better to be more cautious.
"Bam!"
Yue suddenly bumped into the Chen he back.
"Chen He, why did you suddenly slow down?"
Indeed, Chen He's footsteps suddenly slowed down involuntarily, each step taken with extreme caution. While observing his surroundings, part of his attention was still on the leader of the expedition up ahead.
Among the group, Dongfang Wutian was undoubtedly the strongest in terms of combat power, but it was the hunter who undoubtedly had the richest experience in the forest. When he saw the hunter's footsteps slow down, he involuntarily slowed down himself.
"Yue, there's danger!" Chen He barely had time to respond when the man walking ahead of him suddenly fell to the ground without making a sound.
His face turned purple, and foam spilled from his mouth.
"Hiss..."
At that moment, a snake's distinctive hiss suddenly sounded.
"Ah! Chen Tou, help! Young Master, save me!"
Immediately, from behind, there came terrifying, inexplicable screams. The screams from behind were extremely frightening, piercing the soul! But Chen He dared not look back, nor did he dare to check on the man who had fallen ahead. He was momentarily torn between the two.
In his field of vision, the hunter Ji Qingfeng turned to remove the bow from his back.
An arrow.
Drawn.