The Danger Approaches

At that moment,Vili was leaning against the trunk of a large tree,chewing on a piece of white bread he had received from Lani,while keeping an eye on Vitente and the others who were searching through the bushes.

Vitente hadn't told Vili what they were looking for,so Vili tactfully refrained from asking.After all,it was related to the mercenary team's mission,and prying into others'secrets wasn't a good habit.But this also meant he had time to satisfy his hunger.

In fact,Vili's assumption was mistaken.

Initially,Vitente had considered whether to let Vili help search for the Sweet Star Grass,but he quickly dismissed the idea.

Sweet Star Grass was a rare herb,and few people outside certain specialized groups knew about it.The herbalist who had hired them had even spent a week with a pharmacist to teach the four of them how to identify it.Even so,Vitente and his team couldn't be certain they could distinguish the Sweet Star Grass from the ordinary plants around them.

Vili was just a young villager;he wouldn't know what Sweet Star Grass was.Teaching him how to identify it would take time,and it was more efficient for them to search on their own.

Vili swallowed the last piece of white bread in his hand,took a sip of water from his canteen,and let out a soft burp.

If he could have white bread every day at home,that would be such a happy thing.

Vili was already racking his brain,thinking of ways to make money quickly.He didn't aim for great wealth;he just wanted to improve his family's meals.

"This stuff is really hard to find!"Lani straightened her body,hands on her hips.Her back ached from bending over for so long,searching through the grass for Sweet Star Grass.

"If I had known it would be this troublesome,I'd rather have taken on a more dangerous hunting mission,"Vélin agreed,massaging her lower back.

Caril continued to work silently,seemingly unaware of the fatigue.

As for the team leader,Vitente,though he also found the task exhausting,the thought of the hundred gold lumens as a reward kept him motivated to keep searching.

"It's almost dark.Let's keep going for a bit longer.If we still can't find it,we'll find a place to camp for the night,"Vitente said.

Watching the others work hard,Vili felt rather bored.He casually plucked a blade of grass and began toying with it in his hand.

"Hm?"

Suddenly,Vili felt a sense of unease wash over him.He furrowed his brows and looked around.The dim surroundings seemed quiet and still.

Vili's frown deepened as the unsettling feeling grew stronger,making him increasingly uncomfortable.

Something was wrong.

After obtaining the[Beginner Hunter]title,Vili not only gained knowledge and skills in hunting but also developed the instincts of a hunter.When faced with potential danger,he would receive a premonition in his heart.

"Everyone,stop for a moment,"Vili stood up,his voice serious as he addressed Vitente and the others.

"What's the matter?"Vitente looked at Vili curiously.

At this moment,Vili seemed somewhat unusual.He,who had always been calm and composed,now appeared slightly tense.

"The feeling here makes me uneasy.There might be something dangerous approaching.We should move to another place,"Vili said solemnly.

Vélin and Lani exchanged glances,then both looked around.Everything seemed unchanged;there was no sign of any lurking danger.

"Are you sure?I don't see anything..."Lani muttered doubtfully.

"I hope I'm wrong,but I still suggest we leave this place,"Vili insisted,trusting his instincts.

"Let's do as Vili says,"Vitente,the leader of the mercenary team,made his decision instantly,even as Lani and Vélin were still questioning.

 Though he had only been with Vili for less than a day,Vitente had clearly seen the young man's alertness.Thanks to Vili,they had already avoided several dangerous spots,so this time,he chose to follow Vili's advice once again.

Even if Vili was wrong,it didn't matter;they would just waste a little time.But if Vili was right,it could mean avoiding a disaster.Eliminating all potential dangers was a lesson from Vitente's decades of mercenary experience and a crucial reason he had survived this long.

"Mount up and get ready to leave,"Vitente commanded.

Since the team leader had made the final decision,everyone simply obeyed.Vélin,Lani,Caril,and Vili quickly mounted their horses.Caril rode at the front,leading the way through the dim forest.

The dull sound of hooves echoed through the woods.

"Hope there's no danger,"Vili exhaled deeply.

Suddenly,Caril,who was riding at the front,pulled on the reins and stopped."What's the matter,Caril?"Vitente felt a sense of foreboding.He rode forward two steps and froze upon seeing what lay ahead.

"Th-this..."In front of them,a pair of eyes glowing green were staring straight at them.

Fierce,brutal,cold,and bloodthirsty.

A pack of wolves!Over twenty black wolves,to be precise.

"My God!"Lani and Vélin also saw the horrifying sight and felt their bodies go numb.

Vili's instincts had been right.

Because they were in a forest with interwoven trees and dense undergrowth,the wolves had been concealed.Coupled with the fact that it was twilight—when human eyes are less sensitive to light—the group had failed to notice the pack approaching stealthily.Now that they had been spotted,it was already a face-off.

Vili,sitting on his horse,felt his heart tremble.

Although he had the abilities of a beginner hunter,he had never actually put them to the test.As a human,seeing so many black wolves in the wild for the first time,he was genuinely terrified.

"Don't panic.Let's back up slowly,"Vitente,a seasoned mercenary,quickly regained his composure."Move slowly and don't provoke them."

Under Vitente's command,the group began to retreat inch by inch on horseback.The black wolves,in response,moved forward step by step,maintaining an appropriate distance from Vitente,Vili,and the others.

"Not good!"As they continued to back up,Vili glanced behind them,and his anxiety spiked.Not only were there wolves in front of them,but their rear had also been surrounded by over twenty black wolves,without their noticing.

Vitente,Caril,Vélin,and Lani soon realized the chilling situation.Everyone's heart lurched.

They were truly trapped.