The White-robed Woman remained expressionless, offering no response to Lu Zisong's flattering words.
Seeing Lu Zisong's awkwardness, Chen Fang, Bi Hu, Luo Nan, Meng Lie, and Li Kui couldn't help but smile.
Their smiles, however, contained a hint of mockery.
Lu Zisong looked embarrassed, feeling humiliated.
He was always so forward when trying to flirt, but he hadn't expected to fail today.
He couldn't help but think to himself, This woman is so cold!
Cold as she was.
But at this moment, not only did Lu Zisong have an interest in the White-robed Woman, but Chen Fang, Luo Nan, Li Kui, and Meng Lie also felt admiration for her.
Because during the journey, the other three also occasionally glanced at the White-robed Woman.
"Crack!"
Su Wuchen seemed to suddenly notice something, turning his head sharply, a hint of seriousness on his face.
Seeing the change in Su Wuchen's expression, Qin Long asked, "Young friend Wuchen, what's wrong?"
Su Wuchen said, "I feel like someone is following us!"
"What!"
Everyone's faces changed.
The White-robed Woman also looked at Su Wuchen, wanting to confirm if someone was really following them.
Qin Long continued, "Are you sure someone is really following us?"
"Yeah."
Su Wuchen nodded slightly, affirming it.
"That's absolute nonsense!"
Lu Zisong suddenly broke the slightly tense atmosphere.
Then, he looked at Su Wuchen and said, "Kid, the five bodyguards we have are all at the sixth layer of the Mortal Martial Realm. None of us have noticed anyone following us, so how can you? Don't be so paranoid. It's fine if you want to scare yourself, but don't try to scare us too. I'm not falling for it!"
Hearing this, the other five—Chen Fang, Bi Hu, Luo Nan, Meng Lie, and Li Kui—also looked at Su Wuchen as if they were watching a joke.
Lu Zisong glanced at Su Wuchen again and sneered, "Alright, stop scaring yourself. Let's go!"
After speaking, he took the lead and walked forward.
The others followed.
Su Wuchen glanced again at a hidden spot in the woods before catching up with the group.
But…
After the eight of them had gone some distance, a dozen figures of men quietly emerged from the spot Su Wuchen had just been observing.
Among these figures, the two at the front had the highest cultivation levels.
These two were a young man and a middle-aged man in a white robe.
Both men were at the eighth level of the Mortal Martial Realm!
The dozen or so men behind the two had all reached the sixth level of the Mortal Martial Realm!
At this moment, the white-robed man looked at the young man and said, "Young Master, I didn't expect that among the bodyguards Yang Ruoxue hired, the youngest and weakest one actually discovered my presence. What a keen sense! We almost got exposed!"
The young man frowned, "That kid is indeed a bit strange, but he's only at the fifth level of the Mortal Martial Realm. With that level of cultivation, it'll be easy for me to kill him later!"
"You're right, Young Master!"
The white-robed man nodded in flattery. "Young Master, when do we make our move on Yang Ruoxue?"
The young man shook his head slightly. "Not yet. We'll wait until Yang Ruoxue leads them to find the Crimson Blood Thorn Flower, then we'll be the ones who benefit. After we take them all down, I will definitely make that bitch Yang Ruoxue pleasure me under my… hahaha…"
Su Wuchen and the other seven continued deeper into the mountain range.
During this time.
They encountered another beast with a cultivation of the fourth stage of the third rank, which Bi Hu dealt with.
After walking another half a kilometer, they encountered another beast with a cultivation of the third stage of the third rank, which Luo Nan dealt with.
After walking another two and a half kilometers, they encountered two beasts with a cultivation of the third stage of the third rank, which Li Kui dealt with on his own.
After walking another half a kilometer, they encountered a beast with a cultivation of the fourth stage of the third rank, which Meng Lie dealt with.
Half an hour later, they encountered five beasts with a cultivation of the fourth stage of the third rank.
Chen Fang, Luo Nan, Li Kui, Meng Lie, and Lu Zisong all rushed forward together to deal with them.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Su Wuchen hadn't made a single move.
In truth, it wasn't that he didn't want to.
It was because Chen Fang, Luo Nan, Li Kui, and Lu Zisong were all eager to impress the White-robed Woman. Whenever a demonic beast appeared, they'd subtly compete to be the one to strike, all in the hopes of winning a bit of her favor.
Consequently, Su Wuchen hadn't gotten a chance to act at all.
Just then!
They vaguely spotted more demonic beasts up ahead.
And these two beasts were quite powerful.
"Those are... two Golden Horned Black Wolves, both at the third rank, fifth heaven!"
Lu Zisong was taken aback, then he glanced at the White-robed Woman and said, "Miss Yang, don't be afraid. I'll take care of those two annoying beasts for you!"
"Wait..."
Qin Long hurriedly spoke to stop him, "Golden Horned Black Wolves are pack animals. The fact that two of them are here means there are others nearby. We can't kill these two, or we'll stir up the rest, and then we'll be in trouble. Besides, both of these Golden Horned Black Wolves are quite strong, so we should go around them!"
The physique of demonic beasts was naturally stronger than humans. Two Golden Horned Black Wolves at the third rank and fifth level were equivalent to two human martial artists at the sixth level of the Mortal Martial Realm. That's why Qin Long said what he did.
But Lu Zisong looked disdainful. "Don't worry, Mr. Qin. Two Golden Horned Black Wolves are nothing to me!"
Saying this, he looked at the White-robed Woman again. "Don't be afraid, Miss Yang. I, Lu Zisong, will clear the path for you! I'll ensure your journey is smooth, all the way to the end, and back to the beginning!"
With that, he drew his blade and charged towards the two Golden Horned Black Wolves not far away.
Luo Nan was not to be outdone and said, "Lu Zisong, what are you showing off for in front of Miss Yang! You don't even have me in your eyes! Wait for me! Those two demonic beasts are my prey! Don't you dare try to steal them from me!"
After speaking, Lu Zisong charged forward as well.
Seeing this, Chen Fang, Li Kui, and Meng Lie also rushed forward, each trying to be the first.
"Wait… you can't attack! You…"
Qin Long opened his mouth to try and stop the five, but it was already too late.
The five of them were already holding their knives and swords, their killing intent surging as they charged towards the two Golden Horned Black Wolves, both at the Third Rank, Fifth Heaven.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
After a combined effort, the five, who loved to show off, finally managed to kill the two Golden Horned Black Wolves.
Lu Zisong walked over first, looking at the White-robed Woman with a smug grin. "Miss Yang, wasn't I brave? How cool was my stance when I just killed that Silvermoon Snow Wolf?"
At that moment, Luo Nan looked at Lu Zisong and said, "You're talking nonsense. The one who delivered the fatal blow to that Silvermoon Snow Wolf was clearly me!"
Lu Zisong refused to back down. "You're the one talking nonsense! I clearly killed it with my sword! When did it become you?"
"Hmph, I can't be bothered to argue with you. Miss Yang has eyes; she can naturally tell who delivered the killing blow!"
After a cold snort, Luo Nan turned to the White-robed Woman and smiled, "Right, Miss Yang?"
Lu Zisong looked displeased and stepped forward to vie for favor. "Miss Yang, don't worry. I promised you just now, as long as I, Lu Zisong, am here, I will ensure your safe return. Trust me! I'm the one here who most wants to protect you!"
With that, his gaze shifted to Su Wuchen, and he sneered, "Unlike some stinky brat, who took the payment and hasn't even lifted a finger since entering the mountains! It's so embarrassing!"
Hearing this, the others finally reacted.
Su Wuchen hadn't actually done anything the whole way here!
At this moment, Meng Lie also glanced at Su Wuchen, then sneered sarcastically, "He's only at the fifth level of the Mortal Martial Realm. With that kind of strength, it's better if he doesn't act, lest he embarrass himself!"
Chen Fang also spoke up, "Sigh, who's protecting who? I think this kid is using my protection to come into the mountains and do his own thing, right?"
"That's right, I think so too!" Li Kui spoke for the first time.
Also speaking for the first time, Bi Hu looked at the White-robed Woman and Qin Long and said, "Miss Yang, Mr. Qin, this kid took the spirit stones but isn't doing anything. He's obviously here to freeload. I think you'd better take back the spirit stones you gave him and kick him out of the group! So you don't suffer any losses, and I don't want to travel with this kind of trash!"
"Me too!"
Chen Fang, Luo Nan, Meng Lie, and Li Kui, all agreed.
Seeing this, the White-robed Woman and Qin Long both looked at Su Wuchen.
Su Wuchen also looked at the two of them and then said, "If you two feel the same way, I can return the spirit stones and terminate our employment..."
"Awoo!"
Just as Qin Long was about to speak, several demonic beasts suddenly burst out from the surrounding woods, surrounding the eight people.
Upon seeing this, the eight people realized they were surrounded by over twenty Golden Horned Black Wolves!
Among these twenty-something Golden Horned Black Wolves, the weakest had a cultivation of the fourth layer of the Third Order, while the strongest, six of them, were at the sixth layer of the Third Order, equivalent to six human martial artists at the seventh layer of the Mortal Martial Realm.
Seeing this scene, the five, including Lu Zisong, who had been vying for attention just moments before, were instantly terrified, their faces filled with fear.
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