Midnight Hunt

Whoosh!

A sharp whistle sounded from afar, growing closer and rapidly approaching Zhang Biao.

Although Zhang Biao had drunk a lot and was a bit tipsy, he was a seasoned Bronze Skin Realm martial artist. Years of combat experience had honed his senses to danger to a high degree.

Clang!

The moment he sensed danger, Zhang Biao drew the broad saber from his waist and swung it backward, attempting to block the arrow while leaning forward to dodge.

Suddenly, with a loud "Clang!"

The wide saber blade blocked the fast-approaching arrow, but the immense force of the projectile numbed his hand, nearly making him drop the saber.

Such power!

Zhang Biao was greatly alarmed, realizing he had been targeted by a heavy bow archer.

While Bronze Skin Realm martial artists had toughened their skin and membranes like cowhide, making them resistant to cold and heat and impervious to ordinary scratches, they were most vulnerable to armor-piercing arrows from heavy bows. Moreover, the attacker was hidden, and a single misstep could mean his death.

With this thought, Zhang Biao didn't dare to be careless. He immediately urged his horse forward with the reins, trying to escape the dangerous area as quickly as possible.

Whoosh!

Another sharp whistle sounded.

The arrows from the heavy bow were too fast. By the time the sound reached him, the arrow would practically be upon him, making defense extremely difficult. Thus, Zhang Biao bent low over his horse, galloping wildly while haphazardly swinging his saber for defense.

However, this arrow wasn't aimed at him.

It was heading straight for the horse's head.

Thwack!

The horse's head was pierced horizontally by the arrow, letting out a tragic neigh. In the next moment, the horse lost its balance and fell forward. Zhang Biao, due to the powerful inertia, was thrown to the ground. Fortunately, he was agile and immediately rolled with the momentum, coming to a stop by a tree trunk as thick as a bucket. He crouched straight behind the tree, not daring to move.

Shoot the horse before shooting the man!

The opponent was an expert.

The fear of death sobered Zhang Biao up considerably. He kept glancing around with his peripheral vision, but only saw flickering shadows and trees swaying in the wind. Apart from the chirping of birds, there was no other sound.

The more it was like this, the more panicked Zhang Biao became.

Gulp.

Zhang Biao swallowed hard and spoke first, "I am Zhang Biao, an official under Incense Master Wei Dian of the White Feather Hall, Tiger Wolf Gate. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

Xie An, standing in the thorns behind him, felt speechless.

I'm already planning to deal with you, and you expect me to announce my name?

If I have this much free time, I'd rather think about how to kill you.

Xie An tiptoed towards the poplar tree, stopping at about thirty meters away behind some cover.

This distance was just right. It ensured that his arrows would have considerable accuracy.

If he got any closer, it would give Zhang Biao an opportunity for close-quarters combat.

Although Xie An felt that with his current strength and speed, he could defeat Zhang Biao, he hadn't practiced any fighting techniques and close-quarters combat was risky.

Being old, he disliked risks. A sure win was most important.

Therefore, Xie An made no sound, giving Zhang Biao no chance to pinpoint his location by listening.

At this moment, Zhang Biao spoke again.

"If I have offended you in any way, please tell me. I will compensate you doubly."

Xie An still did not reply.

He knew Zhang Biao was constantly asking questions to gauge his location by hearing his response.

Although thirty meters was relatively safe, Xie An was unwilling to take even the slightest risk.

Hearing no reply, Zhang Biao continued to coax him, "Why must you do this? If we remain in a stalemate until dawn, someone will come, and your plan to kill me will be foiled. Why don't you name your price, and we can resolve this peacefully?"

Xie An still did not reply.

Stalemate until dawn?

You're thinking too much...

Xie An silently circled around the side of the poplar tree. He raised his heavy bow with his left hand and skillfully drew an arrow from the quiver on his back with his right hand, nocking it onto the bowstring. He pulled the bowstring back to a full moon with his right index finger...

Whoosh!

An arrow shot out with a roar.

Almost simultaneously, Xie An immediately shifted his position, continuing to draw and fire.

Clang!

Zhang Biao blocked the first arrow with his saber, his hand going numb again. He was startled and immediately moved around the tree in the opposite direction from where the arrow came.

He didn't leave the tree immediately but intended to circle around Xie An using the tree as cover.

This showed his extensive experience in the martial world; he was a seasoned fighter.

But then, a second arrow streaked towards him.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

Each arrow was stronger than the last, each arrow faster than the last.

To assassinate this deacon of White Feather Hall, Xie An had prepared forty arrows. He had also smeared snake venom on the arrowheads. If he could just break through Zhang Biao's skin, Zhang Biao would be finished.

Unfortunately, Zhang Biao's swordsmanship was truly formidable. Although he couldn't accurately judge the direction of each incoming arrow, he wielded his greatsword in front of him like an electric fan, causing Xie An considerable trouble for a time.

Soon, Xie An realized that brute force wouldn't work. Moreover, Zhang Biao's frenzied sword-waving consumed a great deal of stamina. It would be better to wait until he was exhausted and then shoot the moment he stopped.

So, Xie An stopped shooting, merely drawing his bowstring to the full moon, hidden in the darkness, arrow nocked and ready.

At this moment, Xie An was like an old hunter, staring intently at his prey.

The moment the prey tired and stopped waving his sword, it would be the prey's death day.

When it came to patience, Xie An didn't believe he was inferior to anyone.

Drawing the bowstring to the full moon consumed strength, but Xie An had long cultivated the Health Cultivation Technique, giving him a deep and steady breath. What he lacked least was endurance.

Perhaps Zhang Biao also realized this. After waving his electric fan for a few minutes, he finally grew tired, his speed clearly slowing significantly. Panting, he said, "Sir, there's no need for this. I apologize to you, I was wrong. I beg you to make a sound and let me go, alright?"

He didn't even know how he had offended the other party, yet he was actively admitting fault and begging for mercy. This showed how terrified he was, on the verge of collapse.

Xie An knew that the prey was nearing its end. He still didn't speak, merely remaining hidden in the darkness, staring intently at his prey.

In such an environment, silence and the unknown could bring Zhang Biao the greatest fear.

"Sir, let me speak plainly. I have five hundred taels at home, I'll offer it all to you, alright?" Zhang Biao's electric fan was spinning slower and slower, and his heart grew more and more terrified.

From the confrontation until now, he didn't even know who the other party was, nor had he seen anyone. But the more it was like this, the greater the fear the other party instilled in Zhang Biao.

The unknown was the most terrifying.

"Sir, let me speak plainly, I have two thousand taels at home. I'll give it all to you, alright?"

"I also have a young wife. She's as beautiful as a spirit, and she used to be from the Pleasure House. Her skills are first-class, making one feel as if they're floating among the immortals. I'll offer her to you too."

"I also have..."

As the electric fan spun slower and slower, Zhang Biao knew the hunter was about to strike and began to offer various temptations. Unfortunately, the other party simply didn't make any sound at all. It completely broke Zhang Biao's composure.

He felt that the experiences of the past ten years combined were not as terrifying as the person before him.

He didn't want money, and he didn't want a wife...

Damn it!

Finally, Zhang Biao could no longer wield his sword. Not knowing which direction the other party was hidden in, he suddenly leaped up from under the poplar tree, shouting wildly as he ran into the distance.

Just then—

Whoosh!

An arrow broke through the air. The exhausted Zhang Biao could no longer defend himself. He suddenly felt a chill on the back of his head, and then his whole body fell straight to the ground.

As he lay dying, he still wanted to turn his head unwillingly. He finally saw a person walk out from the darkness. Before he could get a clear look at the person's face, he could no longer hold on. His vision went black... and he was gone.