Outside the entrance to Soul Hunting Forest, the morning mist had yet to lift.
Su Yun had already changed into a set of individual tactical combat gear delivered by the Earth Command Center.
Though he was still young, this top-tier product of Earth's industry gave him an aura of chilling, murderous resolve.
His camouflage-patterned, high-molecular anti-stab clothing hugged his torso, helping him blend into his surroundings and avoid detection.
His tactical belt was loaded with all kinds of grenades and flashbangs.
Most eye-catching was the black semiautomatic pistol tucked into the quick-draw holster on the outside of his right thigh. It seemed to carry a faint smell of gunpowder.
He wore black Tactical Boots, with his signature Sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose.
The entire outfit ensured he could move freely while also keeping him armed to the teeth.
Beside him, Tang San was staring fixedly at Su Yun's thigh...
At the strange metal tube on its outside, and the precision metal attachments on his belt.
Tang San's pupils contracted sharply.
As a once-in-a-century genius of the Tang Sect's outer branch, he had an almost instinctive sense for mechanical Hidden Weapons.
"What a precise design..."
A storm surged through Tang San's heart.
"That black metal tube... I can't see its inner workings, but its smooth lines and seamless assembly..."
"It's probably every bit as good as the Godly Zhuge Crossbow! And that faint smell of sulfur... Is it gunpowder?"
"Could this be a high-lethality mechanical Hidden Weapon propelled by gunpowder?"
Tang San had thought that Douluo Continent was far behind the Tang Sect in mechanical craftsmanship and forging.
But seeing Su Yun's equipment, his entire worldview wavered.
"Looks like I've been too narrow-minded. Big Brother Su actually has such advanced Hidden Weapon technology... This craftsmanship would be top-notch even in the Tang Sect. I never imagined the Hidden Weapon industry on Douluo Continent was so advanced!"
Tang San took a deep breath. A trace of respect flashed through his eyes as he asked quietly,
"Big Brother Su... Is that thing on your leg a powerful Hidden Weapon?"
"A Hidden Weapon?"
Su Yun glanced down at his Glock. It wasn't exactly powerful; it was just handy for him to use.
His real heavy hitters were hidden in the ring on his hand.
"More or less. But we call it Truth. It's specially made for settling arguments."
"Truth..."
Tang San turned the word over in his mind. A look of astonished understanding flashed through his eyes.
The great Dao was simplicity itself!
To name a Hidden Weapon Truth—what confidence and swagger that showed!
It meant that, in the eyes of the sect behind Big Brother Su, the moment this kind of Hidden Weapon fired, its shot became an undeniable law of the world!
Tang San secretly memorized the name, growing even more reverent toward the mysterious power behind Su Yun.
"We're here, godfather! We're here!"
A burst of hurried footsteps and panting came from the distance.
Four figures came sprinting down the road.
Red Hair was at the front, drenched in sweat. The tight little suit he'd worn to look cool was soaked through, and the wind had blown his hair into a bird's nest.
The four rushed up to Su Yun. They hadn't even had time to drop to their knees before they braced themselves on their knees and started retching.
"Huff... huff... Good morning, godfather!"
Red Hair panted as he stubbornly straightened his tie.
Su Yun raised an eyebrow, looking displeased.
"You're ten minutes late. You don't live that far from here, do you?"
Red Hair wiped away his sweat, flashed a row of bright white teeth, and gave him a thumbs-up, looking proud.
"Reporting to godfather! The four of us were just discussing it at the station. The carriage to Soul Hunting Forest costs five Silver Soul Coins per person! That's twenty for all four of us! What a rip-off!"
"So we resolutely decided to save that money! We ran here all night instead! We even got to train our stamina and show godfather how much endurance we have!"
Su Yun: "..."
Tang San: "..."
They'd run dozens of kilometers just to save a few Soul Coins?
Was that really how these hot-blooded young men thought?
"Fine. Your spirit is admirable. Next time, remember to bring your brains too."
Su Yun waved a hand helplessly and tossed them a few bottles of water from his pocket. "Have a drink and get ready."
While Red Hair and the others tilted their heads back to chug their water, Su Yun stayed busy.
Ever since he'd set out, the Earth Command Center had been sending him a steady stream of warnings.
The miniature drone high above was continuously transmitting real-time information.
[Warning: Target locked.] [Following target detected. Maintaining surveillance.] [Current position: Six o'clock, behind the dead tree. Thermal imaging shows a human-shaped heat source crouching in wait. Target has been locked for over twenty minutes.]
Su Yun had been keeping his composure because he was waiting for his meat shields to arrive.
Now that his bodyguards were here, there was no need for him to catch the rat himself.
He rested one hand on his holster. Behind his Sunglasses, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the figure locked inside a red box on the lenses.
This frame looked pretty cool, right?
"Finished your water?"
Su Yun suddenly spoke, his voice unusually cold.
"If you're done, get to work. Red Hair, six o'clock. Go drag out the rat hiding behind that tree."
"Huh?"
Red Hair paused with his water bottle in hand. "Someone's there?"
Su Yun looked toward the dead tree and said coldly,
"You've been following us the whole way. How much longer are you going to hide? Do I have to send my men to drag you out?"
There was no sound from behind the tree.
The Red Hair's Group might not look reliable, but they were still Soul Grandmasters. The moment they heard someone was tailing them, they went straight into battle mode.
Flames flickered in their hands as they closed in, cursing. "Which blind bastard dares spy on our godfather? Get out here!"
Just as they were about to attack, the person behind the tree could no longer stay hidden.
"Wait! It's me!"
A rather bedraggled figure stepped out from behind the tree.
It was Yu Xiaogang.
The Grandmaster was a far cry from his usual image. Several dead leaves clung to his clothes, and his cloth shoes were caked with mud.
With those two dark circles under his eyes and his furtive behavior, he looked just like a creepy middle-aged man stalking a schoolboy.
Seeing him, Red Hair looked disgusted.
"Holy crap, old man. You're that age and still playing stalker? That's seriously creepy."
Tang San's reaction was completely different.
The instant he saw Yu Xiaogang, Tang San's pupils contracted sharply.
His left hand instinctively reached for his sleeve, where a Sleeve Arrow loaded with poisoned darts was concealed.
It was him.
The man who had seen through the secret of his Twin Martial Souls.
An imperceptible chill flashed through Tang San's eyes.
The third rule of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record's general principles: Once you've determined that your opponent is an enemy, and he deserves to die, show no mercy. Otherwise, you'll only bring yourself more trouble.
This man had been following him, and he knew his biggest secret.
This man already deserved to die.
Before you continue