The Nail That Sticks Out! Angering the Fierce Wolf Group

After the seven entered, they paid no attention to the old Soul Master. Instead, they walked straight up to Bibi Dong and greeted her with measured courtesy.

"Miss Zhu, please do us a favor. We have a mission to carry out, but our main force has already departed. We had no choice but to tag along with your party."

The leader of the seven was fairly good-looking. If one had to describe him, he looked cultured and refined, but there was a hint of cunning about him.

In other words... a scoundrel in gentleman's clothing!

Their leader adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. "Miss Zhu, we of the Fierce Wolf Group certainly won't trouble anyone. We're merely heading the same way. We can lend a hand, and we'll leave once we catch up with our main force."

The man continued speaking, but as Bibi Dong watched him, she glanced at Ning Chengyi out of the corner of her eye, unable to make up her mind.

"Miss Zhu, we promise to pull our weight. Besides, not everyone in the Fierce Wolf Group is a bad person."

The leader continued, and people in the large party began whispering among themselves. Hearing the remarks around her, Bibi Dong reluctantly nodded.

At that moment, she was not the lofty Supreme Pontiff, but merely a village girl.

Especially after discovering Ning Chengyi was there, she dared not speak. She looked toward the old Soul Master beside her, then nodded her agreement.

"Thank you, Miss Zhu. Brothers, head up front. We'll lead the way."

"Yes."

The man in gold-rimmed glasses adjusted his glasses, a trace of amusement in his sidelong glance, as the others moved to the front.

"Brother, how many people are in this Fierce Wolf Group? How strong are they? What's the strongest member's rank?"

Ning Chengyi deliberately slowed a few steps, falling toward the rear. Once he was sure the Fierce Wolf Group members could not hear him, he quietly questioned the man beside him.

Meanwhile, Bibi Dong kept glancing toward the men, occasionally stealing a look at Ning Chengyi at the back of the party, her heart growing ever more conflicted.

I only meant to tease the little fellow, but I ended up poisoned. Now there's no trace of the twin spider brightflower, either. When will I regain my strength?

Bibi Dong's heart filled with bitterness. If she could not recover her strength and met him in her current wretched state, would he disdain her?

After all, the way she had been before leaving had already made him dislike her.

At that thought, the words he had spoken that day surfaced in her mind again.

"The Zhu Qianxun from before made me want to cherish her more. You're so unfamiliar now that I can't feel the slightest affection for you."

Hmph! Once I regain my strength, I'll teach you a proper lesson, you little rascal. How dare you fail to recognize me!

Remembering Ning Chengyi's words, Bibi Dong could not help showing a little anger. The old Soul Master beside her looked startled and instinctively moved two steps away, though his attention remained fixed on her.

"The Fierce Wolf Group has around a hundred members. They're ruthless bastards who'll bleed you dry. With a Soul Ancestor as their leader, they throw their weight around and bully everyone."

"They don't dare do that outside town, though. But they often hunt around the forest's outskirts, and everyone's long since come to hate them. We're simply not strong enough, so we can only swallow our anger!"

"The most lawless of them is their young leader—that scoundrel in gentleman's clothing. He may look harmless, but he's the most scheming of the lot."

Once asked, the man poured out all his grievances to Ning Chengyi.

"Most of them are Soul Grandmasters or Soul Masters. As for him..." He pointed at the man in gold-rimmed glasses. "He's a rank twenty-three Soul Grandmaster, but he has a powerful father."

"Why don't you pool your money and hire someone from outside to help?"

Ning Chengyi asked another question, but the man looked at him as though he were an idiot. "Young man, you're still too young."

Hearing that, Ning Chengyi shut his mouth as he realized the crux of the problem.

Even if these people pooled everything they earned in a year, it might still be less than what those men plundered.

Trying to outspend them on hired help would be no different from courting death.

They continued without another word.

With the Fierce Wolf Group members clearing the way, their journey was almost entirely unobstructed. Before long, they reached the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

After entering, the men carved a large mark near the entrance.

The old Soul Master asked about it, but the man in gold-rimmed glasses smiled and said it was to record that they had actually entered the forest to carry out their mission.

"Aren't you the Fierce Wolf Group's young master? Why do you still need to do missions?"

Seeing that everyone else remained silent, Ning Chengyi spoke up. He had noticed the smile on the bespectacled man's face after he carved the mark—a hint of a scheme coming to fruition.

"Young man, you look unfamiliar. You're not a permanent resident of our town, are you?"

The bespectacled man countered with a question rather than answering him.

"Uncle, they've followed us this far. Why not let them head in on their own? We're escorting someone to gather herbs, and we're heading to different places."

"They have people inside to meet them. We don't."

Though Ning Chengyi did not state it outright, the old Soul Master clearly understood his meaning. He did not expose it, however, and instead looked around the party.

Everyone averted their eyes wherever his gaze fell. They were plainly afraid of the bespectacled man's influence. Seeing this, the old Soul Master could only sigh.

He was about to reject Ning Chengyi's suggestion when Bibi Dong spoke up.

"I think this young man is right. Why don't we part ways here? They can find their people, and we can find our herbs. If anyone needs to do some soul hunting, we can take care of that too."

"Uncle, what do you think?"

Ning Chengyi's eyes immediately lit up at her words. He studied Bibi Dong, for her voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Back at the Old Zhu Family's home, he had thought he was imagining it.

Now, however, he felt it again.

"Mm. Then we'll do as the young lady says."

After all, she was the reason for this escort mission. Now that their employer had spoken, the others all agreed and voiced their support.

"Miss Zhu, the seven of us..."

"Still not leaving? Waiting for someone to beg you to stay?" Seeing that the bespectacled man still wanted to linger, Ning Chengyi frowned and spoke bluntly.

"Hmph! Let's go!" The bespectacled man glanced at Bibi Dong. Seeing her resolute gaze, he knew anything he said would be useless. He shot Ning Chengyi a vicious glare, then led his men away.

"Young man, once this trip is over, leave town as soon as you can. Don't come back."

"That's right, young man. It was unwise of you to stick your neck out like that."

Ning Chengyi merely smiled and nodded, his gaze remaining on Bibi Dong.

With him staring at her like that, Bibi Dong grew embarrassed. "No need to thank me. I just thought they were up to no good."

With that, she headed deeper into the forest without looking back. Ning Chengyi watched her curiously. "Strange. She really does seem more and more familiar."

"Young master, are we just going to let this go?" one of the bespectacled man's followers asked once they were far away.

"That bastard ruined our plan, but it doesn't matter. Go meet up with the main force, then follow the marks here. We'll follow them first."

"Yes." The man accepted the order and hurried away, moving so fast he might have been fleeing for his life.

"Young master, what do we do next?"

"Wait for the main force to gather, then create a Soul Beast Tide. We'll kill those lowly Soul Masters and seize that little girl from the Zhu Family. I'm going to marry her!"

"Congratulations, young master! Congratulations on claiming a beauty!"

"Hahaha, of course, of course. Once I've had my fill of her, you brothers can line up for your turns."

"We thank you, young master!"

Listening to his subordinates, the man in gold-rimmed glasses was already imagining that day. Laughter escaped his lips as he quickened his steps and stealthily followed the party.