Sending You on Your Way

"Gu Erniu, stop hiding! I've already seen you! If you're a man, come out!"

Li Yan's taunting voice came from behind, instantly interrupting Gu Erniu's thoughts. He curled himself tightly behind a tree. They were all skilled hunters; naturally, he would not be tricked out by a few words.

He held his breath, trying not to make the slightest sound.

About a hundred meters behind him.

Several figures were advancing in crouches, cautious and alert. They were the four hunters led by Li Yan.

They all knew that Gu Erniu's left leg was injured and that he certainly could not escape today. Afraid he might make a desperate last stand, every one of them remained on guard.

Li Yan's left hand was wrapped in cloth, swollen, aching, and powerless. Gu Erniu had shot him with an arrow, temporarily leaving him unable to draw a bow, though he still held a short blade in his right hand.

Li Yan's face was filled with rage and viciousness, and the scar over his eye kept twitching.

What he had thought was a sure thing had unexpectedly gone wrong, and Gu Erniu had actually shot him with an arrow.

He could not wait to chop off Gu Erniu's head.

But he was not stupid.

He knew Gu Erniu hated him even more, so he hung back and had the other three hunters lead the way. If Gu Erniu truly counterattacked, he would not be the one injured.

Li Yan's gaze swept about repeatedly, trying to find an opening in Gu Erniu's defenses.

"Gu Erniu, if you ask me, you're a complete coward!"

"Li Lian must have been blind to marry you. But don't worry—after I kill you this time, I'll take Li Lian back to Li Family Fort and take very good care of her!"

He put particular emphasis on the words "very good."

"Oh, right. I heard you have a son named Gu Wan? Why don't I take him in too? I happen to be short a son. What do you think of the name Li Wan?"

Li Yan laughed wildly, constantly provoking Gu Erniu and challenging his limits.

Hearing Li Yan covet his wife and son, fury surged in Gu Erniu's eyes. He wanted nothing more than to shoot an arrow through Li Yan's head right then!

But he had to endure.

He knew he had, at most, one chance. If he failed to kill Li Yan, what awaited him would be death and the ruin of his family, while his enemy would continue to live freely.

Seeing that Gu Erniu remained unmoved, Li Yan's expression darkened as he continued mocking him:

"They say you, Gu Erniu, love your wife more than life itself. I think you're just a spineless cuckold! You don't even dare come out and fight for your life. Li Lian really chose the wrong man!"

As the distance steadily closed.

Li Yan's eyes suddenly lit up. He spotted faint traces of blood on the bushes. Gu Erniu's left leg was injured, and after running all the way here in such desperation, how could he have had time to deal with these traces?

Li Yan followed the bloodstains with his eyes, wild joy rising in his heart.

Without drawing attention, he signaled to the three hunters and pointed toward a large tree in the distance. The three understood at once and immediately spread out around it.

Gu Erniu heard the increasingly distinct movements behind him, heading straight for his position.

His heart jolted.

Only then did he notice that blood from his leg had already seeped through the cloth and stained the ground around him.

Damn it, I've been exposed!

He gritted his teeth, wishing he could devour Li Yan's flesh alive. That bastard was so cunning and cautious that Gu Erniu could not find even the slightest opportunity.

But he would never simply wait to die.

The rustling behind him became increasingly piercing. Li Yan no longer spoke to provoke him, lest he reveal his own position.

Gu Erniu's heart pounded like a drum, blood racing through his entire body. His eyes reddened as he slowly rose against the tree, nocked an arrow, and gradually drew the bowstring.

He was going to risk his life in one final fight!

Gu Erniu had already resolved to die. Li Yan and the others held either longbows or short blades, their faces fierce and vicious as they stared like wolves at the tree Gu Erniu leaned against.

Death loomed close, as if he stood before a sheer cliff, able to reach out and touch the impermanence of life.

Whoosh!!

A sharp whistling sound tore through the air, especially clear in the silent forest where only insects chirped.

Gu Erniu jerked instinctively, his arm twitching as he nearly sprang out to fight for his life.

But he held himself back with all his strength, because the arrow was not aimed at him.

Its target was Li Yan and the others!

The arrow flashed like lightning through the air. Gu Erniu took the chance to roll aside, and in that fleeting glance, his eyes widened in shock.

An arrow had pierced a hunter's throat, its tip emerging from the back of his neck, gleaming blood-red and radiating a chilling coldness.

"Ghk... ghk... ghk..."

The hunter named Shunzi stared in terror and disbelief. He desperately tried to cover his throat, his hands soaked in blood, but the loss of life could not be stopped.

With a thud, the corpse collapsed to the ground.

One arrow through the throat—ruthless and deadly!

Time turned back slightly.

Gu Sheng was steadily making his way forward with his abundant prey on his back, remaining alert to the sounds around him from time to time.

Suddenly.

He vaguely heard the whistle of an arrow cutting through the air, and his heart tightened. As a hunter, he was extremely sensitive to that sound.

He had originally planned to take a detour to avoid getting dragged into trouble, but a shout stopped him in his tracks.

"Gu Erniu, stop hiding! I've already seen you!"

Gu Erniu's name and Li Yan's familiar voice immediately told Gu Sheng who was fighting.

His expression changed.

Clearly.

Gu Erniu was the one being pursued.

"Brother Erniu is alone. He won't be a match for them. This is bad!"

A chill gradually gathered in Gu Sheng's eyes.

"I was going to deal with you once I had absolute certainty. Since you're looking to die, I'll send you on your way early!"

He had not turned back to ambush them before because he feared Li Yan and the others might set a trap for him.

But now.

Most of Li Yan's group's attention was focused on hunting down Gu Erniu. If Gu Sheng attacked from the shadows and joined forces with Gu Erniu, there was a strong chance they could kill them instead.

Since that was the case, then he would kill them!

Besides, Gu Erniu was one of the few people in this world who genuinely cared for him. Gu Sheng could not simply leave like this.

He had always acted cautiously, but some things mattered even more to him.

Without hesitation, Gu Sheng threw the deer carcass to the ground. The Silver Fox was not very heavy, so he kept it with him.

He moved through the forest in a low crouch.

Li Yan's cursing and taunts became clearer and clearer. Gu Sheng stopped a hundred meters away and soon saw the situation clearly.

From afar.

Gu Erniu appeared to be injured. Li Yan had cloth wrapped around his left arm, while the other three hunters were unharmed and slowly closing in on the tree where Gu Erniu hid in a net-like formation.

Gu Sheng's gaze gradually turned cold.

He looked at Li Yan as though he were already a corpse. However, although he hated Li Yan more, Gu Sheng did not choose Li Yan as his first target.

The reason was simple.

Li Yan's arm was injured and he could not draw a bow. For the moment, he posed no threat to Gu Sheng at a distance, so Gu Sheng would deal with the other three hunters first.

Seeing the three men draw ever closer to Gu Erniu.

Gu Sheng focused his gaze and drew his bow.

His hawk-like eyes were so sharp that he could seemingly see even the facial expression of the young hunter closest to Gu Erniu.

Shooting from concealment at less than a hundred meters, with his archery nearing perfection, there was no chance he would miss.

Gu Sheng had learned his lesson.

This arrow was aimed at the throat!

Whoosh!

The arrow shrieked through the air and pierced the hunter's throat like a shooting star, killing him instantly!

This sudden attack left both sides stunned with shock.

The other two hunters at the front saw their companion's miserable state. A chill shot from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads, leaving them utterly terrified!

They completely forgot about surrounding and killing Gu Erniu.

They spun around as if fleeing for their lives and stared in horror toward the direction the arrow had come from, only to see a nimble figure flash past and vanish.

Li Yan was likewise stunned by the sudden change. Every hair on his body stood on end, and his pupils contracted violently. Like the other two hunters, he looked in terror toward the direction the arrow had flown from.

The arrow had been so swift and tricky that he vaguely guessed the identity of the attacker.

Gu Erniu's heart also trembled.

He had no time to think. Though he did not know who had acted, he would certainly not let this perfect opportunity slip away.

While the people opposite him were panicking.

He endured the agony and rose to his feet, leaning half his body out from behind the tree. The arrow he had long prepared was aimed at Li Yan, killing intent practically solidifying in his eyes!

"Li Yan, give me your life!"

Gu Erniu roared inwardly as the arrow shot forth, streaking toward Li Yan!