Counterattack: Who Was the Real Hunter?

"But... there are so many of them! And they'll only get stronger!" Xia He panicked. "Those three just now were already strong enough. The ones coming later will definitely be even stronger! You alone..."

"No matter how many come, I'll kill them all." Lin Ming cut her off. His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable certainty. "Besides, I'm betting they can't send anyone above Tier Four."

"Why?"

"Because there's no need, and it wouldn't occur to them." Lin Ming analyzed with terrifying calmness in his eyes.

"In the eyes of the Chen Household and those big shots in South River, I, Lin Ming, am just a Tier Two brat who got lucky, killed Chen Dabiao, showed a little talent, and happened to escape into the Wilderness. The greatest threat I pose—

—is to the Chen Household's pride, and my possible 'potential.' To deal with a 'Tier Two brat,' would they dispatch Tier Four or even Fifth Tier core family fighters? It wouldn't be worth it. It would be overkill. What they're more likely to do is post a bounty and let these greedy hyenas tear into me."

"As for the people hunting you," Lin Ming looked at Xia He.

"Water of Life may be precious, but the news may not have spread completely. The people in the research institute who want to silence you would prefer to do it secretly. They won't make a big show of sending high-tier fighters into the Wilderness—that would attract unnecessary attention. They'll also use bounties, or black gloves like the Gray Wolf Mercenary Group."

"So, the people chasing us now are most likely hyenas drawn here by the scent of the bounty and Water of Life. Their strength will top out at Third Tier. And they'll compete with and distrust one another. They won't join forces."

Lin Ming tightened his grip on the Silver Frost Spear. Dark golden blood energy faintly flowed along its shaft.

"What I need to do is kill until they're afraid. Kill until they don't dare come again. Kill until... the real 'big shots' take notice of this place."

Xia He's emotions surged as she listened. She was shocked by Lin Ming's audacity and madness, yet she vaguely felt that what he said... made sense.

Use killing to stop killing. Kill his way to fame. Kill his way into becoming an "existence" that those hiding behind the scenes had no choice but to take seriously! It was undoubtedly the most direct and brutal way to break their current passive situation!

But... how many people would he have to kill? And how long could he keep this up?

"Are... are you sure?" Xia He looked at Lin Ming, her voice dry.

"No," Lin Ming answered honestly. "But this is the best choice for now. Hiding and living in fear—I don't like it."

He glanced at Xia He. "Hide well. If I die, figure it out yourself. If I win, come with me to East Forest Base City."

After saying that, he ignored Xia He. Carrying the Silver Frost Spear, he walked to a relatively open rise in the hilly terrain where the view was better.

He casually tossed Night Owl's special communicator at his feet, then sat cross-legged with the Silver Frost Spear laid across his knees. He closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, like an old monk in meditation—and like a fierce beast patiently waiting for prey to step into its trap.

Xia He stared at his lonely, upright back, gritted her teeth, and finally obediently ran into the rock crevice to hide. She used broken stones and dry grass to cover the entrance as best she could, leaving only a narrow gap to observe the outside.

Her heart pounded wildly. She was terrified, yet she also felt an indescribable excitement. She had the feeling that she might be witnessing the birth of... a legend, or its fall.

Time slowly passed amid the oppressive silence.

The wind swept over the hills, carrying rustling sounds. Occasionally, the roars of Mutated Beasts drifted from afar, but seemingly intimidated by the heavy stench of blood in the area and the murderous aura emanating from Lin Ming, they did not approach.

More than half an hour passed.

Tap, tap, tap...

Chaotic footsteps came from below the hills. There were quite a few people—at least seven or eight.

"Look! Over there!"

"It's the corpses of the Shadow Squad! Night Owl is dead too!"

"That kid... is sitting there? Is he waiting for us?"

"Damn, he's arrogant! Brothers, get your weapons! A hundred million is right in front of us!"

Seven or eight men in varying attire, each with fierce eyes and formidable auras, charged up the slope.

They were well equipped, clearly experienced bounty hunters or mercenaries.

Their strength generally ranged from Tier Two Level Five to Third Tier Level Five. When they saw Lin Ming sitting alone at the top of the slope, with the corpses of the Shadow Squad at his feet, they were initially shocked. Then greed clouded their minds.

A bounty of one hundred million! It was enough to make them risk everything!

"Kid, you're pretty arrogant, huh? Do you know how much you're worth?"

A burly man with a face full of scars and twin axes in his hands sneered viciously as he rushed forward first. His axes whistled through the air as they cleaved toward Lin Ming's head from both sides!

Lin Ming did not even stand.

He merely opened his eyes.

A dark golden gleam flashed through them.

The Silver Frost Spear across his knees moved.

There was no earth-shattering display, only a silver afterimage fast enough to reach the limit. Like a venomous snake striking, it moved after yet arrived first, accurately tapping the twin-axe man between the brows.

A soft sound rang out.

The twin-axe man's charging body abruptly froze, the vicious grin on his face solidifying. A red mark between his brows rapidly widened as the greed and ferocity in his eyes were swiftly replaced by confusion and deathly stillness. He crashed to the ground.

Instant kill.

"What?!"

"Old Blade!"

"Get him together! Kill him!"

The remaining seven were shocked and enraged. Roaring wildly, they charged at him together! Blades flashed, swords danced, fists howled, and kicks swept through the air, instantly engulfing Lin Ming's figure.

Yet the very next moment—

Silver spear shadows bloomed among the crowd like flowers of death.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The sounds of sharp weapons piercing flesh came as densely as rain battering banana leaves, accompanied by brief, miserable screams and muffled cracks of shattering bones.

Lin Ming weaved through the crowd, pushing Dragon Roaming Step to its limit and leaving afterimages in his wake. Every thrust, sweep, and strike of the Silver Frost Spear brought forth a spray of blood and ended a life.

The tyrannical might of Heaven-Splitting Three Forms was fully displayed in the melee. A single sweeping spear strike could force back several people, while a point of the spear tip could take a life. The Immovable Mountain Seal activated occasionally, effortlessly deflecting and sending incoming attacks flying.

Efficient, cold-blooded, precise.

Like the Grim Reaper swinging his scythe, harvesting worthless souls.

In less than a minute—

The cries of battle came to an abrupt halt.

Eight more corpses lay across the hillside in various poses. Blood dyed the sand and stones at the summit red.

Lin Ming stood with his spear in hand. Beads of blood slowly slid down the silver-white shaft. He was breathing slightly hard, but his gaze remained calm, even carrying... a trace of lingering satisfaction.

He bent down, searched the corpses for valuable items and communicators, and tossed them into a pile. Then he sat cross-legged once more and regulated his breathing, as though what had just happened had merely been a warm-up.

Inside the rock crevice, Xia He watched with her heart in her throat, not daring to breathe loudly. She tightly covered her mouth, afraid of making even the slightest sound. Too strong! And too ruthless! Before him, those people had been nothing more than chickens and dogs!