Refusing the Toast Only to Drink the Forfeit

Having found no sign of anyone, Yan Baoru flashed down onto the forks of several more great trees to search, but still saw no one. She could not help cursing Niu Youdao's alertness under her breath. Cunning as an old fox, he vanished without a trace at the slightest hint of trouble.

She had been tailing Niu Youdao from behind. As Niu Youdao skimmed across the canopy, she tracked him through the forest beneath it.

By rights, any birds or the like should have been startled into flight first by Niu Youdao ahead of her. Who would have thought she would run straight into a nest of some unknown stupid birds hiding below and startle them up herself?

The moment she saw Niu Youdao notice something and drop into the forest, she swiftly wheeled back and hid behind a tree. Yet Niu Youdao had actually seized that instant while she was avoiding exposure—that instant he slipped out of her sight—to swiftly dodge away and disappear.

From his grasp of timing, Yan Baoru realized she had encountered an expert at counter-surveillance.

Little did she know that in this regard, Niu Youdao was no match for Yuan Gang. Yuan Gang was the true expert, and it was Yuan Gang who had taught Niu Youdao this sort of counter-tracking technique.

Yet there was one thing she could be sure of: Niu Youdao had not been out of her sight for long. If he made any further move, it would be difficult for him to avoid being spotted by her. So he had to be somewhere in this area.

She wanted Niu Youdao to misjudge the situation, to think wild beasts had startled the birds into flight, so that she could continue tailing him. Thus, she remained hidden and still.

Who knew that after