An Unexpected Surprise!

Sitting by the bushes was none other than Thunder-Striding Hand.

He never imagined that a White-Browed Ape was hiding right behind him.

He hadn't heard a single sound!

The people fighting in the clearing also stopped abruptly, their heads turning stiffly.

Thunder-Striding Hand was so terrified his face drained of all color, and he scrambled to roll forward.

But his movements were ultimately not as fast as the White-Browed Ape!

The White-Browed Ape's palm was just about to clamp onto Thunder-Striding Hand's throat.

If this strike landed, Thunder-Striding Hand's neck bones would be crushed to powder instantly.

He would be dead beyond a doubt!

At this critical moment, a sharp shout rang out:

"Beast, I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

Luo Houping's fist was even faster than the White-Browed Ape's arm.

"Bang!"

The force within his body traveled through his fist and directly into the White-Browed Ape's arm.

"Awoo!"

The White-Browed Ape let out a cry of pain.

Its right palm had been blasted into a bloody mess, nearly shattered!

The White-Browed Ape dared not linger, its figure instantly vanishing into the dark night.

"Everyone, get inside the house! I'll be back shortly!" Luo Houping let out a long whistle and immediately gave chase.

The group rushed into the wooden cabin, not even having time to extinguish the campfire.

Only after barricading the door completely did they heave a sigh of relief.

Thunder-Striding Hand's face was deathly pale as he gasped for air:

"That was close, too close! I was almost crushed to death by that beast!"

Wang Youfang was also still shaken:

"I heard the White-Browed Ape is incredibly vengeful. It must be because Boss Luo nearly twisted its head off that day, so it's held a grudge ever since!"

Thunder-Striding Hand cursed angrily:

"It's just a beast, yet it insists on picking up human vices!"

Li Chuan interrupted them, saying calmly:

"Barricade the door well and check everywhere for holes to prevent any other wild beasts from being nearby."

The earlier martial arts contest had cemented Li Chuan's status.

The others acknowledged his words and quickly began to act.

Thunder-Striding Hand checked the area reluctantly, muttering to himself:

"Boss Luo is something else, too. He didn't even give me a heads-up; he nearly scared me to death."

"Wait..." Thunder-Striding Hand rubbed his eyes, "Was there a hole here before?"

Li Chuan walked over and saw a medium-sized hole in the side of the wooden cabin.

He furrowed his brows and recalled carefully.

"I checked the perimeter earlier; if there had been a hole like this, it would have been discovered long ago."

Thinking of this, a sudden chill gripped his heart, and it began to pound wildly.

With a hole in the wooden cabin, the structural integrity of this area was significantly compromised.

No one would joke with their own life.

This meant... there were other demonic beasts nearby!

They had to retreat!

"Bang!"

A gray-white ape arm reached out from the hole, swiping toward Li Chuan.

If this strike had connected, Li Chuan would have been dragged outside.

Facing a Dark Force demonic beast alone, he would surely be dead without a chance of survival.

In that life-or-death moment, Li Chuan threw his body backward, twisting his hands to support himself on the ground, his torso nearly parallel to the floor.

After dodging the White-Browed Ape's lethal strike, He rolled along the ground, narrowly escaping death.

The White-Browed Ape missed its strike and smashed the wooden cabin to pieces in its fury.

The hole from earlier provided it with the necessary leverage.

Without much effort, a two-meter-tall, muscular White-Browed Ape stood before the group.

Its arms were completely unscathed.

It was a different White-Browed Ape!

Thunder-Striding Hand instinctively wanted to flee, but he did not possess the agility of Li Chuan.

Unable to dodge in time, he was seized by the White-Browed Ape.

"Snap!"

It sounded like a watermelon shattering.

Thunder-Striding Hand's skull was crushed!

The White-Browed Ape did not stop, attacking with both hands.

Its left arm shot out, aiming straight for Wang Youfang, who stood in its path!

Behind Wang Youfang were nine horse-drawn carriages.

If he died, the White-Browed Ape would charge through, spooking the horses into a stampede.

In this confined space, the group would no longer be able to maintain their defensive formation and would be left at the mercy of the beast!

Luo Houping had gone off some distance; how many would still be alive by the time he returned?

But surviving against a White-Browed Ape with Dark Force strength was no easy feat!

Its vitality and strength were overwhelming.

Wang Youfang tried to dodge, but he was still not faster than the White-Browed Ape.

The others' eyes were wide with terror, as if they could already see their own impending fates!

At the critical moment, a hand pulled Wang Youfang aside!

It allowed him to narrowly evade the lethal claw.

"Don't run around! Use the wooden shields to block the hole; maintaining the formation is the only way to survive!" Li Chuan, who had saved Wang Youfang, shouted urgently.

"Whoosh!"

Finally, someone reacted, and an arrow struck precisely into the White-Browed Ape's eye.

Taking advantage of its pain, several long blades slashed into its arms.

The White-Browed Ape roared and tried to charge.

But two massive wooden shields combined to block its impact.

Working together, the group actually managed to drive the White-Browed Ape back outside.

At this moment, Luo Houping returned from the outside.

Seeing this scene, his fury burned:

"You beast, die!"

The strike of a Dark Force expert, fueled by hatred, landed squarely on the White-Browed Ape's head.

"Bang!"

The mountain-like White-Browed Ape collapsed to the ground with a crash, falling silent.

The group dared not relax and hurriedly used the wooden shields to plug the hole.

The horses were restless, but since they hadn't been injured, they did not lose control.

It was a sleepless night.

When the sun rose and cast its light, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief and went out to clean up the aftermath.

"Thunder-Striding Hand, now that you're dead, what will your wife and children do?" Those who were close to him had tears in their eyes.

Li Chuan looked at the headless corpse before him, his mood heavy.

Just a moment ago, this man had sparred with him; even though he had been rude at first, he had apologized later.

He was a decent man.

Yet, a person like that had died right in front of him.

One could even say that if he hadn't practiced Thunder Shadow Leg and possessed such agility, he likely wouldn't have escaped death either.

Life is sometimes resilient, and sometimes as fragile as a sheet of paper.

Without reaching the Dark Force realm, one doesn't even have the qualification to preserve their own life.

The others sighed, more or less.

No one could remain calm after seeing a living teammate die right before their eyes.

Wang Youfang stepped forward, knelt before Li Chuan, and knocked his head against the ground three times with heavy thuds:

"A-Chuan, if you hadn't pulled me back, I would have been dead long ago.

This life of mine was given by you; if there is ever anything you need me for in the future, just say the word!"

Li Chuan silently helped him up.

Luo Houping wore a look of self-reproach on his face:

"Thunder-Striding Hand's death has everything to do with me. If I hadn't chased after them, if I had only... sigh."

Li Chuan comforted him:

"Uncle Luo, you don't need to blame yourself so much. Who could have expected there to be two White-Browed Apes?"

The others chimed in with agreement.

Just as Luo Houping had said before.

Accidents were hard to avoid.

Luo Houping shook his head and said nothing.

Before setting off, the group wrapped Thunder-Striding Hand's body in cloth and placed it on the carriage.

Luo Houping also climbed down to walk alongside them, silent and wordless.

The journey back started off somewhat oppressive, but it gradually eased up as they went.

For martial artists of humble origins like them, without the support of a family, all the resources required for training had to be earned by their own hands.

They viewed life and death with great indifference.

Moreover, everyone was well aware that the danger they had faced was matched by the reward for this trip.

For transporting such valuable medicinal herbs, every Bright Force martial artist would receive at least six or seven taels of silver!

Those who contributed as much as Li Chuan would certainly receive more.

Under the influence of the money, the gloom in everyone's hearts dissipated quite a bit.

In front of the Luo Family Pharmacy.

Luo Houping said in a deep voice:

"I feel very guilty about Zhang Lei's death. I intend to give my share of the reward to Zhang Lei's wife and children."

The group was moved by his words.

Truth be told, everyone had signed a contract before coming, agreeing to be responsible for their own lives.

Even if Luo Houping gave them nothing, it would have been perfectly reasonable.

At this moment, the Luo family flag snapped and fluttered in the strong wind.

It was as if everyone could hear the echo of "benevolence and righteousness" within it.

"The medicinal herbs we brought back this time are also of great value. Thanks to everyone working together to withstand the assault of the White-Browed Apes, the herbs did not suffer the slightest loss.

That we were able to make money on this trip is thanks to all of you. My Luo family is not a group that forgets righteousness for the sake of profit."

Everyone held their breath and pricked up their ears.

The most important part—the rewarding of merit—was about to begin!