Chapter 24 No Escape

When the hunters approached the busy outdoor market, it was almost noon. Six hunters and two friends walked side by side.

Tian Xiang said, "Senior brother, should we have noodle today?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, "Hmm."

The hunter then walked ahead, and Deming noticed that Weici was walking very slowly, falling behind the hunters and him. He walked to Weici.

Deming asked, "What's the matter?"

Weici looked at Deming compassionately and sighed, "Brother Deming, do you still want to visit the area we talked about? I thought you hated these people."

Deming smiled at Weici, "We will."

Weici said sadly, "It seems you don't want to go anymore."

Deming, "Let's go eat first and think about what we are going to do next."

Deming and Weici hurriedly followed behind the five hunters. They sit at the table. An old man came to take their orders.

The old man asked, "What can I give you young people this morning?"

Zheng Yaozu, "Give us eight bowls of plain noodle and sixteen plain steamed buns."

Tian Xiang looked at Deming without blinking, and said, "No matter how I look at you, you do look like Hu Dingxiang." He stared at Deming. "My fault, I forgot to greet you properly. My name is Tian Xiang, a Guozhao Hunters."

Zheng Tingfeng greeted, "I am Zheng Tingfeng." He pointed at Zheng Yaozu and spoke. "This is my younger brother Zheng Yaozu."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "He is Deming." He looked at Weici. "She is Weici."

Weici asked, "Do you all know who I am?"

Zheng Yaozu smiled and said, "Of course we know who you are, but you can rest assured. We will not kill you just because you are a fairy."

Weici asked, "What is the special occasion with all the plain food?"

Xiang Tian smiled at Weici, "It's nothing special. Guozhao Hunters will not eat meat on the fifteenth day of the month."

Zheng Yaozu apologized, "I'm sorry, I forgot that you two are not Guozhao Hunters. You can order whatever you like."

Deming said, "I am okay with the plain food."

Tam Kun looked at Weici, "How about you?"

Weici answered, "If brother Deming is fine eating plain food, then I am also fine eating plain food."

Guozhao Zhiqiang glanced at the Zheng brothers and asked, "Are you two here to visit your family?"

Zheng Tingfeng said, "Yes, we met the Guzheng Sector on our way here. They are looking for two missing members. The missing persons are the young master of Guzheng Sector and his classmate."

Tam Liang, "How long have they been missing?"

Zheng Yaozu, "Four days."

Tam Kun, "What the hack is the Snow Sector rushing out of the city?"

Tam Liang, "Who cares."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I think Ah Bao and the others are doing well. We have a good relationship with the Guzheng Sector, we should help find the missing persons."

Weici said, "Brother Deming and I are going back to the inn."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Sounds Good."

Deming insisted, "I will go with you too." He grabbed Guozhao Zhigiang's right arm. "What if the boss comes back? What should I do?"

Weici, "I will protect you."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "It's safer for you to stay. You stay with Weici is best for you."

Weici, "That's right. Brother Deming, you will only get in the way if you go."

Guozhao Zhiqiang held onto Deming's hand and said, "Stop arguing, you stay."

After the six hunters sent the two friends back to the Inn. The six men climbed onto the horse.

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Don't be so sad, I'll be back in a few days."

Deming said sadly, "I guess you don't need me to be your shadow anymore. I understand that I am more of a burden to you than your soulmate."

Guozhao Zhiqiang jumped on his horse, and the horse pulled away. He remembered what Deming said to him last night. Deming said, "As long as you need me, I will be with you". He circled the horse to Deming's side, smiled and stretched out his hand. Deming smiled and grabbed Guozhao Zhiqiang's hand. Guozhao Zhiqiang pulled him on to horseback, and the two chased after the five hunters.

Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming met the five juniors at the city gate. The men charged their horses out of Waterfall City.

Near dawn, they reached their destination. The Guzheng Sector has set up camps around the mountains. There are more than twenty disciples from different Sectors came to help the Guzheng Sector.

Early the next morning, Guozhao Zhiqiang left with Huang Hualing to find the missing disciple. Deming stayed in the tent. He felt bored, so he went out to see the camp. He assured Guozhao Zhiqiang that he would stay in the camp. When he approached a tree. He saw Hu Dingxiang talking with another person. Deming could only recognize part of what was said. He turned quickly and ran.

Hu Dingxiang heard the sound of running footsteps. He saw a red head flashing among the branches. He shook his head. "You shouldn't be here, messing with my plans. It seems that the idea of ​​keeping you alive and then putting you in a dungeon is impossible now."

Servant Li asked worriedly, "Young master, what shall we do?"

Hu Dingxiang sighed and said, "Kill him. I don't need another me running around confusing everyone."

Servant Li, "What if Madam Hu asks about him?"

Hu Dingxiang said, "If she wanted to see him, she had seen him a few years ago, so why worry about what she would think."

Deming ran as fast as possible. Then he realized that the road was not familiar. When he turned around, he saw trees. He didn't know where he was. If he stays still and hides here Guozhao Zhiqiang will definitely find him. Then he heard two men talking. Deming saw a boy about fourteen years old carrying a man on his back. The man on his back is holding a spear. Like the Guzheng disciples, they wear black and red clothes. Deming wondered if these two disciples were the two missing persons everyone was looking for. Only then did he understand that if he were to go with these two hunters, the boss wouldn't dare to act.

Deming stood up and shouted, "Both brothers." He waved to the man and the boy. "Are you two disciples from the Guzheng Sector who are missing four days ago?

The Teen nodded, "Yes. We are." The young boy smiled.

Deming, "Everyone is looking for the two of you. There is a camp not far from here. I will show you."

The boy's face brightened, "Thank you."

Deming, "Let me carry him and you can rest."

Huang Wei, "Sorry, let me introduce myself first. I'm Huang Wei, the youngest son of leader Hu of Guzheng Sector, and we were separated a few days ago."

Deming said, "My name is Deming."

The boy complained: "I'm too thirsty, let's drink some water before returning to the camp." He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Forgot to introduce myself. I am Dong Enlai, a disciple of Guzheng Sector."

Huang Wei laughed, "You forgot to say that you are a good incompetent disciple."

Dong Enlai protested, "I may learn slowly, but I am not incompetent."

The two men and the boy walked for about two hours, and then they found the river. Deming put down Huang Wei and helped him sit down on one of the rocks. Dong Enlai pierced Huang Wei's spear beside the rock and walked towards the river.

Deming turned to Huang Wei, "I'll get you some water."

Huang Wei, "Thank you."

Deming walked slowly to Dong Enlai, who had already squatted down, and began to wash his face. Suddenly, two men in black flew out from nowhere, heading towards Deming. Huang Wei grabbed the spear and shot it at one of the men in black. Another man in black grabbed Deming's right shoulder and pulled him back, while the man in black kicked Dong Enlai into the water. Dong Enlai hit his left temple on a rock, and instantly fell face down into the water.

Huang Wei pounced on the man in black with all his strength. Huang Wei waved his spear, causing the man in black to step back and lose his balance. Huang Wei stabbed the spear to the ground and kicked the man in black with his uninjured foot. Huang Wei immediately issued a golden guzheng string to the man in black. The strings of the guzheng were tightened from the ankles of the man in black to the neck. The man in black fell on the bank of the river.

Just when another man in black knocked down Deming on the ground, Huang Wei flew over and blocked the man in black's sword. The two started fighting. Deming then quickly ran to the river, pulled Dong Enlai out of the water, but Huang Wei was kicked towards Deming by the man in black. The man in black took the opportunity to attack Huang Wei.

The man in black quickly grabbed Huang Wei's spear and kicked at Huang Wei again. A powerful kick made Huang Wei fall in front of a small tree a few meters away. Huang Wei's back hit the small tree fiercely. Huang Wei grumbled painfully, and he tried leaning on the tree, but the man in black shot Huang Wei's spear directly into Huang Wei's abdomen. The fast spear went straight through Huang Wei's abdomen. The man in black flew over and knelt on one knee in front of Huang Wei, he pushed the spear deeper and deeper, until the spear nailed the dying Huang Wei to the tree.

Huang Wei cried out in pain, "Deming, run quickly."

Deming ran for about twenty yards, and the man in black had already caught up with him, hitting him hard in the abdomen, sending him back to the dying Huang Wei

Deming vomited blood and turned around. Deming knew by listening to the footsteps that this must be the boss. The boss stood in front of him. Deming slowly got up and walked towards Huang Wei. The boss pointed his sword at Deming.

Huang Wei stretched out his hand to Deming. He said weakly, "Run." Blood poured out from his mouth.

The boss stabbed Deming in the abdomen. When the boss approached Deming, Deming groaned in pain. Deming tightly grasped the boss's right arm. When Deming's nails pierced his skin, the boss felt his right arm burned. The boss grabbed Deming's front collar and pulled Deming closer. He drew the sword deeper into Deming's abdomen. The boss whispered in Deming's right ear, "I have already told you. If you want to escape, I will kill you." The boss's sword pierced through Deming's abdomen and out of his back.

The boss pulled his sword out from Deming's abdomen slowly as Deming' body fallen on the ground.

Deming clutched the silver bell fastened to his belt, and whispered softly, "Zhiqiang, I'm sorry, I failed to fulfill my promise." He took a few breaths, and then his iris turned black.

The boss pointed his sword at Huang Wei, and he said, "Thank you for giving me this opportunity to get rid of my number one enemy... I will let you die on your own." The boss sheathed his sword and walked to the man in black lying on the riverbank.