"Are you ready yet?" The moment Han Li emerged from his room, Li Feiyu began pressing him urgently.
Han Li gave Li Feiyu a cold look, then walked to a smaller room nearby. Through the tightly shut door, he said in a flat voice:
"Qu Hun, come out. You will be needed tonight."
Before Han Li's words had faded, the wooden door burst apart as though it were made of paper, shattering into a storm of splinters. Through the dancing debris, an enormous figure slowly emerged.
Li Feiyu's eyes went a little blank as he stared at this giant whose bearing was like that of a demon, yet who wore a broad bamboo hat that concealed his face entirely.
The giant walked silently to Han Li's side.
"Let's go." Han Li smiled slightly, now his turn to press the dazed Li Feiyu.
"Oh!" Li Feiyu finally snapped back to himself.
He gave Han Li a long, curious look, then glanced at the giant, then pressed his lips shut and said nothing, leading the way out of the valley.
Han Li watched Li Feiyu's retreating figure and smiled faintly. He quickened his pace to catch up. The giant Qu Hun followed close behind, never once falling a step.
Han Li was quite pleased by Li Feiyu's discretion. It was precisely because each respected the other's privacy that they had forged such a close friendship.
The three moved quickly, and in the blink of an eye they had reached the mouth of the valley. Just as Li Feiyu was about to step into the forest, Han Li suddenly reached out with his right hand and seized his shoulder, halting him.
"What is it?" Li Feiyu asked, a hint of impatience in his voice. He was, after all, burning with anxiety.
"Someone is coming. More than one," Han Li said quietly.
Li Feiyu was surprised. He strained to listen, but after a long moment heard nothing at all.
He gave Han Li a puzzled look, but Han Li remained perfectly composed and offered no explanation.
"You —" Li Feiyu had barely opened his mouth when Han Li suddenly raised a finger to his own lips, signaling for silence.
Li Feiyu frowned. Though somewhat reluctant, he was accustomed to trusting Han Li's judgment and held his tongue.
Not much time passed before Li Feiyu's own expression grew solemn. He turned to Han Li with a look of astonishment, for he had finally heard numerous footsteps sounding simultaneously from outside the valley. It truly was a group of people.
"Enforcer Sun! There's a great bell by the edge of this forest, and a narrow path — this must be the Spirit Hands Valley that the Vice Commander spoke of!" a rough voice called from the other side of the trees.
"Hm. By the map and this bell, this is the place, no mistake. Listen carefully — the Commander has given a strict order: we are to capture the valley's physician alive. No one is to harm him, or you will be punished under gang law. Understood?" Another voice, sharp and grating as a rooster's crow, issued the command.
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
……
A string of acknowledgments followed one after another. Judging by the voices, there were at least a dozen or more men, and each spoke with robust vigor — they clearly possessed considerable martial skill.
"Except for one Blue-Robed Enforcement Officer, the rest are all Wild Wolf Gang elites. A Blue-Robed Enforcer is roughly equivalent to our sect's Protectors, and the elites are on par with our inner disciples," Li Feiyu whispered, leaning close to Han Li.
Li Feiyu knew that his friend had never paid much attention to the affairs of the sect's enemies, so rather than pressing him on how he had detected their footsteps so early, he went straight to explaining their identities, hoping Han Li would have a clear picture and not let his guard down.
Han Li understood Li Feiyu's intention immediately. He gave a soft chuckle but said nothing; from his expression, however, he seemed quite unconcerned.
Li Feiyu grew anxious.
"In my current state, I can handle that Blue-Robed Enforcer alone, but with the rest of them added in, I wouldn't stand a chance. I know you have plenty of tricks — whatever your plan is, speak up quickly! Otherwise it will be too late." Li Feiyu's words came fast and low, for those men had already entered the small forest and were closing in on where Han Li and the others stood.
"Perhaps we should hide for now, avoid the brunt of their force?"
It was a reasonable suggestion, but unfortunately Han Li had no intention of taking it.
"Qu Hun — capture the one in blue alive. Kill everyone else in the woods." Han Li turned his head and gave the giant a cold command.
"What?!" Li Feiyu's jaw dropped at these words.
But before he could react, the giant behind Han Li had already dissolved into a howling gale, sweeping into the forest. Almost instantly, screams and cries of alarm from the Wild Wolf Gang members erupted from the dark trees.
"Ouch!"
"Ah!"
"Who is it?!"
"Something's wrong — it's an ambush!"
"This... what kind of monster is this?! Aaaargh!"
"Run! Ah!"
……
The shrieks and anguished cries from within the forest surged for a moment, then gradually grew fewer, and before long all fell silent.
Li Feiyu stared at the forest, his face a mask of utter disbelief.