Shadow Hunt, Defeat One by One

"Boss, I have a feeling that little brat is nearby!"

Another surviving bandit said through gritted teeth.

Jiang Yi suppressed the fury in his heart and scanned the dark, gloomy woods around him. His initial contempt had long since vanished, replaced by a sense of dread and viciousness, as if he were being watched by a venomous snake.

"He can't have gone far!"

Jiang Yi's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth:

"We'll wait for him right here! Don't any of you damn well split up!"

The three of them immediately stood back-to-back in a circle, vigilantly watching for any movement in their surroundings.

Ye Feng had already returned to the tree hollow, watching the three birds with startled feathers below with cold eyes.

With these three gathered together, there was indeed no opportunity to strike for the moment.

Especially the leader, Jiang Yi, whose soul power fluctuations were significantly stronger than the others. If he were to face any one of them alone, he would definitely be serving himself up on a platter, certain to die.

Then... he would wait them out.

Time was, once again, on his side.

The night grew deeper, and the chill in the forest became increasingly heavy.

The three men waiting for their prey gradually shifted from their initial rage to becoming restless and uneasy.

Cold and hungry, with their nerves stretched to the breaking point, every minute and every second was an ordeal.

Finally, one of them could no longer hold back.

"Boss, waiting like this isn't a solution. We didn't bring any food or water."

Jiang Yi knew this logic all too well. After pondering for a moment, he made a decision that he would regret for the rest of his life.

"Fourth Brother, you stay here and keep watch."

He pointed to the other man:

"Second Brother, come with me to find some food and water nearby. We'll be quick!"

"Alright!"

From within the tree hollow, Ye Feng took in every detail.

The opportunity had arrived!

Once Jiang Yi and Second Brother had moved far enough away to ensure they couldn't hear any commotion, Ye Feng drew his bowstring once more.

This time, his target was the bandit left behind to guard, codenamed Fourth Brother.

"Swish!"

The arrow tore through the air!

Perhaps because he was on guard, the moment the arrow was fired, Fourth Brother instinctively shifted his body to the side.

"Puchi!"

The arrow failed to hit a vital spot, instead pinning itself deep into his left shoulder!

"Ugh!"

Fourth Brother let out a pained grunt, his face twisting in agony.

Clutching his shoulder, his eyes turned scarlet as he roared into the surrounding darkness:

"You little brat! If you've got the guts, come out and face me!"

Ye Feng did not fire a second arrow.

The sneak attack had already failed; there was no point in hiding any longer.

Taking a deep breath, he crawled out of the tree hollow.

"Hmph, so what if you managed to ambush me?"

Seeing Ye Feng appear, Fourth Brother was stunned for a moment, then a ferocious, wild laugh spread across his face:

"I am a level 29 Soul Grand Master! I'm not like those two pieces of trash, Third and Fifth!"

Enduring the sharp pain in his shoulder, his soul power surged, and the phantom of a hideous Lone Wolf appeared behind him.

One white and one yellow soul ring rose from beneath his feet!

"Then let's test that!"

Ye Feng was utterly fearless. With a thought, his first soul ring suddenly lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Radiant Body!"

A layer of brilliant golden light instantly covered his entire body, and a powerful sense of strength flooded his limbs and bones.

"Die!"

Fourth Brother roared, his right hand transforming into a sharp wolf claw. Carrying a gust of wind that tore through the air, he slashed fiercely toward Ye Feng's face!

Ye Feng did not dodge or evade, instead throwing a punch of his own!

Fists and claws collided!

"Bang!"

A massive force surged through, and the absolute suppression of soul power sent Ye Feng sliding backward uncontrollably for more than half a meter!

Such immense strength!

Ye Feng felt a chill in his heart; even with such severe injuries, this guy's power was still terrifying!

Must not engage head-on!

With that thought, Ye Feng refused to linger. Soul power condensed on his hands, instantly forming two half-foot-long golden blades of light.

"Light-Gathering Blade!"

He flung the two blades of light fiercely toward the man's face, then turned and bolted, his speed reaching its absolute limit!

If I don't leave now, I really won't be able to!

The man was forced back a step by the blades, extending his wolf-like claws to shatter them with two metallic "clangs." By the time he looked up, Ye Feng had already darted over a dozen meters away.

"Little brat, where do you think you're running!"

He let out a ferocious roar, his face twisted, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Boss! Come quickly! This little brat has shown himself!"

Ye Feng didn't care about anything else; he plunged headlong into the deeper, darker periphery of the forest.

Soon, Jiang Yi and Second Brother arrived, guided by the sound. Seeing Fourth Brother clutching his shoulder as blood streamed down, their fury reached its peak.

"Chase! If I don't grind him to dust today, I, Jiang Yi, swear I am no man!"

The three looked toward the dark direction where Ye Feng had vanished, hesitating for a moment.

The periphery of the Star Dou Great Forest at night was equally fraught with danger!

"Boss, what are you afraid of!"

Second Brother roared with bloodshot eyes:

"If that little brat dares to go in, why shouldn't we!"

"Fine! Chase!"

Jiang Yi gritted his teeth and led the other two into the boundless darkness.

Ye Feng had barely gone twenty meters into the forest when he quickly locked onto an exceptionally thick ancient tree, climbing up with his hands and feet in a flurry of movement.

The ground at night was the most dangerous place to be.

He didn't dare stay below for even a second longer.

After scrambling onto a sturdy branch, he immediately pulled medicinal powder for repelling insects and snakes from his robes, carefully coating his body with it. Then, he suppressed all his aura and lay flat against the branch, watching the area below.

Soon, three sets of hurried footsteps approached from the distance.

Jiang Yi and his men reached the base of the tree.

"Damn it, lost him again!"

Second Brother cursed, panting for breath.

Jiang Yi's expression was so gloomy it could drip water. He glanced at Fourth Brother, who was sweating profusely from pain beside him, and said in a low voice:

"Fourth Brother, rest here. Your injuries are too severe. Second Brother and I will split up to search!"

"Alright..."

Fourth Brother gritted his teeth and slumped down at the base of the tree.

Up in the tree, Ye Feng smiled silently in the darkness.

There is a path to heaven, yet you refuse to take it; there is no door to hell, yet you break your way in.

He waited quietly, watching until the figures of Jiang Yi and Second Brother disappeared into the other side of the jungle.

Then, he raised his bow once more.

"Whoosh!"

Another arrow!

This time, the completely unguarded Fourth Brother could not dodge.

The arrow struck his chest with brutal force!

"Urgh!"

He let out a panicked and furious scream, having no idea where the arrow had come from, and looked around in terror.

The moment he looked around, Ye Feng fired a second arrow!

"Pfft!"

This arrow struck him square in the right leg!

"Ah—!"

A scream, shrill to the point of agony, echoed throughout the silent woodland.

Ye Feng's heart tightened; he sensed that something was amiss.

This scream, coupled with the heavy scent of blood, would soon attract real trouble!

No longer lingering, he leaped silently from one tree to another, preparing to retreat from this place of trouble within a few bounds.

Sure enough, less than half a minute after he left, the anxious shouts of Jiang Yi and Second Brother drifted over from the distance.