"That brat is truly arrogant!" one of Han Xiaoyu's team members hissed viciously.
"What should we do now? Are we really just going to let that brat boss us around?" another member asked.
"Follow him! Since he's the top of the Heavenly Rankings, he must have something valuable," a third member said.
Their intentions were clear, as though they had already made their decision.
"Jiang Cheng, Gao Xu, what are you planning to do?" Han Xiaoyu finally asked, realizing too late.
"What are we planning to do?" The man called Jiang Cheng stretched his limbs. "I was just asking earlier, and that brat tried to kill me—didn't you see that?"
"But..."
Before Han Xiaoyu could finish her sentence, Gao Xu interjected, "We joined your company just to survive. Since that brat is top of the Heavenly Rankings, he must have plenty of treasures. Once we get those, we might make it to the top ranks ourselves. And relying on one person is less sensible than sharing the spoils. Even if we can't kill that BOSS, at least we'll have a chance to survive."
"Well said. Humanity is in dire straits. If we can pry open that brat's mouth, we'll surely find something useful, and we could become saviors ourselves," Jiang Cheng added, his gaze persuasive.
Hearing their shameless words, Liang Jinyu's lips curled into a smile.
She couldn't fathom why these people were so intent on courting death. She had purposely mentioned the top rank to make them realize that as long as they obeyed, Xu Que would lead them out of here. But the outcome... had been quite the surprise.
"You can't be serious! Our Dayu Company..." Han Xiaoyu began.
"Xiaoyu, don't blame us. We've wanted to join the God-Obscured Sect for a long time, but they're not friendly to people like us. So, we had no choice but to settle for joining your company. And besides, don't you want the sword that brat is carrying?" Jiang Cheng interrupted.
Upon hearing Jiang Cheng's words, Han Xiaoyu was stunned. Now, she finally understood what Liang Jinyu had meant earlier.
"Right, Liang Jinyu!"
Thinking of that woman, Han Xiaoyu immediately turned her hopeful gaze toward her.
But Liang Jinyu seemed to ignore her, which left Han Xiaoyu feeling confused.
"Jinyu, can't you try to persuade them?" Han Xiaoyu asked decisively.
"I only want to get out. What they choose to do is none of my concern," Liang Jinyu replied with a feigned helplessness as she shrugged.
Upon hearing Liang Jinyu's words, Han Xiaoyu froze. Her worldview was completely shattered.
All along, she had thought that Liang Jinyu was very close to Xu Que, but the truth was...
Gao Xu chuckled as he looked at Liang Jinyu and the others. "Haha, beautiful lady, how about we team up? Once we kill that brat, we'll divide the spoils seventy-thirty."
To Gao Xu and the others, Liang Jinyu's words seemed like tacit approval. They believed that with a little incentive, she would surely agree to join forces.
"I've already said it. I only want to get out, and the time is almost up. If you don't catch up now, your plans might just fall apart," Liang Jinyu stated coldly.
Jiang Cheng, Gao Xu, and the others exchanged a quick look, then nodded and turned to leave.
Han Xiaoyu's team had eight members in total, but now seven of them were gone. This left her feeling utterly despondent.
"Why didn't you stop them? And instead you encouraged them!" Han Xiaoyu glared at Liang Jinyu, furious.
Liang Jinyu didn't answer. She simply smiled, closed her eyes, and began to meditate.
"You're a wicked woman! A heartless, venomous woman!"
Han Xiaoyu's insults didn't faze Liang Jinyu. After all, those seven would never return!
Thinking back to Xu Que's parting words and his gaze, anyone with a little sense would have understood.
It was a pity... that those people had no brains!
What Liang Jinyu was thinking, Han Xiaoyu didn't know. At this moment, her heart was a mess, torn between fear for Xu Que's fate and worry that her seven teammates wouldn't come back.
...
Meanwhile, Xu Que was pushing through the snow-covered underbrush, searching for traces of the snow bears.
"It seems they're around here…"
Ever since the formation was activated, he had sensed an abundance of snow bear energy in the vicinity, and the numbers were overwhelming.
As his senses expanded, thirty-two snow bears from the southwest valley immediately appeared in his mind.
"Finally found them!"
Though the meat of these snow bears wouldn't help him much, it was better than nothing. And he had other plans for coming here.
Xu Que scanned the area before sweeping away his tracks and hiding above a large tree.
Before long, seven figures emerged from the direction Xu Que had come from.
Seeing these seven, Xu Que silently mourned for them.
He had warned them, yet they still chose to walk down the path to their doom. Now, he could only let them face the consequences!
The black spear floated silently beside Xu Que, and soon the black sword, like a swift fish, shot toward one of the seven.
"This brat's heading for..."
"Shwoosh!"
Before the man could finish, his head was pierced by the black sword!
The blood splattered out, shocking Gao Xu and the others.
"Hide!" Jiang Cheng immediately shouted.
What Jiang Cheng didn't realize was that Xu Que was hoping for their fear and panic!
Hiding beneath the snowbank, Gao Xu called out loudly, "Did you see that brat?"
"See him? That brat's too cunning. He must have guessed our intentions," Jiang Cheng answered.
At that moment, Jiang Cheng regretted not acting when Xu Que was unguarded. Now everything was exposed!
"Bro, I'm here to help you!" Gao Xu called out, looking up.
He hoped to trick Xu Que into revealing his position with his words, but to his frustration, no one paid him any attention.
Xu Que smiled faintly, sensing the snow bears in the valley approaching quickly. He climbed higher in the tree.
"What's going on? Wasn't that attack from that brat?" Jiang Cheng asked, confused.
"You ask me? How would I know? I didn't see what killed Pan Zi," Gao Xu answered angrily.
"Could it be those white ghosts that brat mentioned?" a man hiding behind a tree asked.
As soon as they heard that, a bad premonition crept into the hearts of the six.
Before they could confirm their suspicions, a deep growl came from the underbrush below.
"What's that sound?" Gao Xu asked, hiding in the snowbank.
"It sounds like a pack of beasts running!" Jiang Cheng murmured.
Before they could peek out to investigate, four or five massive snow bears crashed through the underbrush.
"Run! It's the snow bears!" Jiang Cheng shouted immediately.
At the mention of snow bears, everyone instinctively fled in different directions.
"Roar!"
One of the snow bears roared in fury, and the thirty or more snow bears immediately split up, chasing after Jiang Cheng and the others.
Seeing them scatter, Xu Que landed lightly on the ground.
Just as the snow bear that had roared spotted him, Xu Que was already charging toward it.
"Swish!"
With a quick draw of his sword, Xu Que cleaved the snow bear in half before it could make a sound.
Xu Que picked up a light orb, glancing toward the direction where the snow bears were chasing the others, and then decisively made for the temporary rest area.
The speed of these C-rank Esper users was nothing compared to the snow bears, but they were difficult to catch.
Jiang Cheng and one of his companions had chosen the temporary rest area, and they barely managed to dodge the snow bears' pursuit.
Just as they were about to break through the underbrush, Jiang Cheng shoved his companion harshly.
"Jiang Cheng, you bastard... Ah!"
The man's curse and scream echoed, and Liang Jinyu, still meditating, immediately opened her eyes.
But when she saw the horrifying scene behind Jiang Cheng, Han Xiaoyu was left dumbfounded with shock!