Congwen Hu observed Ah Long's hesitation and understood, "Don't worry; she has her plan. If she needs support, she'll signal us for sure."
With unconfirmed speculations lingering in his mind, Congwen Hu refrained from voicing them. All he knew was that Dong Li'er, this young girl, was anything but ordinary.
Once they confirmed that the others couldn't see them anymore, Dong Li'er gracefully leaped onto a tree. Less than ten steps away from the shadows, she perched on a branch and, upon closer inspection, identified the creature causing the commotion as a Seal Boar.
This creature, large in size with a thin head, was covered in thorny fur. Its body was robust, and a pair of tusks could easily snap a tree as thick as a man's arm.
Dong Li'er felt a headache; the odds were against her in terms of strength. Her choice of close-range weapons might not be effective against this formidable foe, and she needed to come up with a plan.
Examining the surroundings in the dim light, Dong Li'er devised a strategy. She nodded to herself, satisfied with the plan.
Unable to confront the creature directly, Dong Li'er opted for a more strategic approach.
Thinking about the Seal Boar's taste brought back memories. The last time she had tasted it was when she, along with her grandfather, helped the village by eliminating threats. The villagers, in gratitude, presented them with a small one they had hunted. Dong Li'er couldn't help but salivate at the thought.
With the plan in mind, Dong Li'er raised her sleeve arrow, aimed at the Seal Boar's eye, and held her breath.
"Swoosh!"
"Howl~ Howl~ Howl~"
Caught off guard, the Seal Boar howled in pain as the arrow hit its eye. It started thrashing around, causing chaos in its vicinity. In moments, the area it traversed became a scene of wreckage.
Observing the creature's distressed state, Dong Li'er swiftly moved from tree to tree, carefully studying its behavior to find the opportune moment for the next shot.
Meanwhile, Ah Long and the others, alarmed by the commotion, were on edge. The already dark environment, coupled with the haunting cries, created an unsettling atmosphere.
Concerned for Dong Li'er's safety, Ah Long couldn't resist any longer. Ignoring the objections from Congwen Hu and others, he ventured alone towards the direction of the distressed sounds.
However, before Ah Long could get close, the cries gradually subsided. The Seal Boar, shaking its head, had lost one of the arrows in the chaotic movement. Though its vision was impaired, it had sustained scratches.
Dong Li'er continued observing the creature's movements. It intermittently tilted its head, relying on other senses to locate its target. Dong Li'er realized the Seal Boar was more cunning than expected.
Raising her sleeve arrow again, Dong Li'er prepared to shoot the creature's other eye. However, a voice interrupted her concentration.
"Li'er, where are you? Li'er!"
"It's Ah Long."
Setting aside her bow, Dong Li'er called out, "Ah Long!"
The Seal Boar, alerted by the noise, focused on Ah Long. It charged towards him, lightning-fast.
"Ah Long!"
Dong Li'er's heart raced. Without hesitation, she leaped towards Ah Long, grabbing him and rolling to the side. Fortunately, the branch she had chosen was close, allowing her to evade the charging creature.
"Are you okay?"
Dong Li'er pulled Ah Long up, concerned. Ah Long shook his head, "I was worried about you."
Dong Li'er sighed, realizing she had no time for conversations. She led Ah Long to a safer place on a tree, surrounded by bushes and vines.
Curious about Dong Li'er's skills, Ah Long couldn't contain his shock. Dong Li'er, now in a defensive position with Ah Long beside her, contemplated their next move.
"Ah Long, I'll distract the Seal Boar. When I signal, use your precision and throw the darts. Aim for its remaining eye."
Impressed by Dong Li'er's capabilities, Ah Long nodded in agreement. The duo prepared for their coordinated plan.
"Watch my gestures carefully."
With that, Dong Li'er descended from the tree, drawing the attention of the wounded Seal Boar. As it charged, Dong Li'er skillfully maneuvered through the foliage, signaling Ah Long to ready his darts.
Originally swaying through the thicket under Dong Li'er's guidance, the Seal Boar was already entangled, hindering its movements. Now, struggling to advance, it didn't last long. A loud 'clang' echoed as the Seal Boar collapsed to the ground, motionless.
Ah Long and Dong Li'er breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the Seal Boar completely motionless, thinking they had resolved the situation.
"Ah Long, come here quickly," Dong Li'er called out in their direction.
However, she soon realized something was amiss. Ah Long couldn't possibly descend from such a tall tree on his own. Dong Li'er bent down and gracefully brought Ah Long down from the tree.
"Li'er, are you okay?" Ah Long expressed concern after they landed on the ground.
Rather than responding directly, Dong Li'er playfully retorted, "Have you ever tasted Seal Boar meat?"
Caught off guard by the question, Ah Long shook his head.
"Well, you're in for a treat!" Dong Li'er said cheerfully, removing the darts from the Seal Boar's body and handing them to Ah Long after cleaning them with leaves.
As Ah Long accepted the darts, he felt the warmth lingering in his hands. Suddenly, the rustling of the leaves interrupted them.
"Crackle, crackle, crackle."
Dong Li'er and Ah Long immediately became alert, crouching in the bushes to observe the surroundings silently.
"Clearly, the sound came from this direction. How can it suddenly disappear? Could something have happened to them?" Yu Hao, armed with his bullhorn bow, spoke while clearing the weeds in front of him.
"We should be close. Let's search more carefully," replied Cong Wenhu, surveying the chaotic bushes around.
Dong Li'er and Ah Long listened quietly to the unclear conversation of the approaching group. When they saw He Fei on Lu Xiaojiu's back and the weapons they were carrying, Dong Li'er confirmed that these were their teammates.
"We're here!" Dong Li'er immediately ran towards them, pulling Ah Long with her.
"Li'er! You're all right! That's fantastic!" Yu Hao, excited to see Dong Li'er and Ah Long unharmed, welcomed them by circling around them several times, checking for any injuries.
Although Cong Wenhu and Lu Xiaojiu didn't speak, their eyes were fixated on Dong Li'er and Ah Long. After a while, their worried expressions eased, replaced by relief and joy.
"We've been saying I'm amazing! Hehe," Dong Li'er patted her chest and proudly declared, raising her thumb at Ah Long.
"By the way, we can have a feast tonight, or rather, for the next few days!" Cong Wenhu asked, "So, what was that dark shadow just now?"
"Seal Boar!" Dong Li'er pointed to the nearby bushes.
"Seal Boar?! Li'er, you're truly formidable! It's said that Seal Boars are robust and fierce, extremely agile. Even experienced hunters might find it challenging to capture one easily. The most crucial point is that Seal Boar meat is lean and nutritious, known for its delicious taste and rich broth. Unfortunately..."
Originally enthusiastic, Yu Hao's mood gradually deflated as he observed the current state of the group.
"It's okay; fortunately, we have a feast awaiting us," Dong Li'er reassured, trying to uplift everyone's spirits.
"Then let's divide and carry some, continue searching for a water source. He Fei has been unconscious for so long; we don't know how much longer she can hold on," Lu Xiaojiu, carrying He Fei on his back, spoke. The burden was taking a toll on him, and he wanted to find water soon.
"Are you carrying two hind legs?" Dong Li'er looked at Cong Wenhu provocatively.
Glancing at the bloody hind legs on the ground, Cong Wenhu clenched his fists, frowned deeply, and reluctantly picked up both hind legs, assuming a heroic yet unwilling appearance.
Seeing this, Dong Li'er held back her laughter and turned to the other two.
"Ah Hao and Ah Long, see how much you can carry. Leave the rest to me."
Considering their slender builds, Dong Li'er understood that Ah Hao and Ah Long had reached their limit when they saw them contemplating how much meat they could carry.
After securing the remaining scattered pieces with a sturdy vine around her waist, Dong Li'er had Ah Long hang a piece around his neck. In this way, even if some meat was left behind, it wouldn't be much, and perhaps other fortunate adventurers could find it.
"Let's go. Ah Long, lead the way."
With Dong Li'er's command, the group moved towards the direction of the flowing water, leaving the area behind.
Unnoticed, shortly after they departed, a figure moved silently among the trees, heading towards the edge of the forest.
...
"Oh? So, it's true?" The man with a Golden Python hairpin tilted on his head stood by the window, casually playing with the exquisite golden flower tea in front of him. He seemed quite interested as he inquired.
The man in black responded solemnly, "I personally witnessed it. Should I...?"
The man waved his hand, turning to another figure in black standing nearby.
"Ji Feng, what's your take?"
Upon closer inspection, the person referred to as Ji Feng, dressed predominantly in black, had materials and accessories of higher quality than the other figures in black. This man was none other than the leader of the group in black.
"If someone has fallen into the trap, we just need to wait and catch the turtle in the jar," Ji Feng calmly remarked.
Hearing this, the man raised his hand, gesturing for the black-clad figure who reported the situation to leave. The room was now occupied only by the man and Ji Feng.
"Investigate the identity of this girl, the forces involved behind her, I want to know who is in such a hurry to seek death," the man instructed Ji Feng, pouring tea for both of them and gesturing for Ji Feng to sit.
"Yes."
Ji Feng knelt across from the man, not touching the cup of tea. He maintained a dignified posture.
Observing Ji Feng's behavior, the man found it somewhat amusing. He couldn't help but wonder when their relationship had changed from close brothers who spoke about everything to the current state. He couldn't recall; it felt like it had happened in a past life.
The man picked up a finely crafted white jade teacup, blew on the slightly hot tea, took a sip, and then continued speaking.
"... How is he?"
Even without a specific name, Ji Feng knew the man was asking about "him." After a brief thought, he responded, "He performed well this time, showing a bit of the demeanor he had in the past."
Mentioning the past brought a subtle smile to Ji Feng's face. He then picked up the cup of lukewarm tea and drank it in one gulp.
Continuing, he asked, "After all this time, can't you let it go?"
Upon hearing Ji Feng's question, the man glanced at him with a cold smile, a gaze that made people shudder.
Seeing this, Ji Feng immediately stood up and knelt in front of the man. "I have overstepped, please punish me, Lord."
Ignoring him, the man remained silent for a moment before saying, "You may leave."
With those words, the man got up and entered the inner room.
"Is it that I can't let go?... How could I possibly let go..."
The man gazed at the maple tree outside the window, his eyes expressing a complex mixture of emotions as he whispered softly.
The night breeze began to rise, bringing a chilling sensation that penetrated the lungs. As Dong Li'er's group traversed the woods, they couldn't help but shiver.
"There's a fire ahead."
Ah Long turned and whispered to the others.
"Looks like it's the second group... Yes, it's them!" Dong Li'er, after parting the grass, confirmed.
As Lu Xiaojiu carrying He Fei on his back could easily attract attention, he decided to lay her on the ground and asked, "Should we go over? I didn't expect them to find a water source so quickly."
"Let's go. We can still manage, but He Fei can't wait any longer," said Cong Wenhu, glancing at He Fei on the ground. It seemed she had lost more energy than gained during the journey.
Understanding the reasoning, the group didn't hesitate and proceeded toward the campfire by the stream.
"Stop! This place is our territory. Find somewhere else," said a younger-looking girl who opened the conversation. Although the others behind her remained silent, their vigilant eyes spoke volumes.
"You probably haven't tasted Seal Boar meat, have you? It's delicious and savory, just the aroma alone is enough to make you drool," Dong Li'er disregarded the warning, changing the topic and displaying an exaggerated expression of delight, as if she had already tasted the meat.