Although Zhu Zhuqing was puzzled, since this was Qi Ling's decision, he must have his own plans, and all she needed to do was trust him.
So Qi Ling and Li Shuheng walked together into the forest, gradually moving away from the campfire and Zhu Zhuqing.
As the two ventured deeper into the forest, Li Shuheng spoke to Qi Ling, saying, "Little brother Qi Ling, you know, I have a habit: if I set my sights on something, I absolutely have to get it, no matter what means I use or what price I have to pay."
"Oh? I wonder what Brother Li has taken a fancy to? Is there anything I can help you with?" Qi Ling asked.
Hearing Qi Ling's question, Qi Ling Li Shuheng stopped and turned to face her. The righteous expression on his face had vanished, replaced by an evil and eerie smile.
"The one I've got my eye on is that hot chick!" Li Shuheng leered. "Seriously, I've never seen such a top-quality woman with such a great figure and such a beautiful face before! I'm going to get my hands on her no matter what!"
"Unfortunately, my methods, which had always worked in the past, didn't work at all! Even the classic hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scene couldn't win her heart, which is really giving me a headache."
"But then I realized that this problem is actually easy to solve!" Li Shuheng stared at Qi Ling and said, "As long as I get rid of you, that girl will naturally not escape my grasp! So, little brother Qi Ling, for my happiness, please die!"
Qi Ling wasn't surprised at all by Li Shuheng's change of heart; in fact, it was exactly what he had expected. So he said, "Well, since you're planning to get rid of me, didn't you find any help? Are you really that confident?"
"Hehehe, of course I found some helpers, and more than one!" Li Shuheng said, whistling towards the sky. Immediately afterward, the Three North Wind Brothers, who had previously been his enemies, appeared together and surrounded Qi Ling.
"Hahaha, kid, you didn't expect this, did you? We're all in cahoots!" the bald man laughed smugly. "We were just putting on a show to lower your guard and lure you here, but we didn't expect you..."
"No, I knew from the beginning," Qi Ling said. "After all, with your acting skills being so bad, it would be hard for me not to know."
The group was momentarily speechless. Li Shuheng frowned and said, "You knew our purpose from the beginning? Then why did you..."
"It's simple. You want to use me, and I also want to use you to achieve my own goals," Qi Ling said with a smile. "Remember what I said before, that most Soul Beast are like humans, hiding at night and emerging during the day?"
Li Shuheng frowned and said, "Yes, so what?"
"That's right, the majority," Qi Ling continued. "That means a small portion of Soul Beast are the opposite, being nocturnal!"
"Many of these Soul Beast are suitable for Zhu Zhuqing Soul Beast, but they are not easy to find unless they are foraging for food."
Upon hearing this, Li Shuheng understood Qi Ling's meaning. His pupils widened, and he said in disbelief, "You, you mean to say..."
"That's right, I've sprinkled a kind of fragrance on you, which can greatly attract Soul Beast," Qi Ling said with a smile. "I'm going to use you as bait to lure out those Soul Beast!"
"Damn it, you actually dared to use us!" Li Shuheng roared. "Trying to use us as bait? I think I'd better send you to hell first!"
As he spoke, Li Shuheng swung the Qinggang Sword in his hand, and a purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring lit up. Then, a cyan sword aura shot towards Qi Ling.
This is Li Shuheng's most prized Soul Skill, Qinggang Sword Qi, which transforms a tangible sword into an intangible sword qi, making it not only unstoppable but also greatly increasing in power.
However, when the Qinggang Sword Qi struck Qi Ling, the scene of blood and flesh flying everywhere that Li Shuheng had imagined did not occur. The Qinggang Sword Qi encountered no resistance and passed directly through Qi Ling's body. Then, Qi Ling's body turned into a wisp of shadow and dissipated into the air.
True Dragon Secret Technique: Cicada Shell!
After escaping using a secret technique, Li Shuheng and the others could no longer find Qi Ling. However, more and more strange noises gradually rose from the forest around them, as if many Soul Beast were beginning to gather.
As the atmosphere around them shifted and the rustling of leaves grew louder, the group couldn't help but feel afraid. They realized that Qi Ling wasn't exaggerating; he was genuinely using them as bait.
"Boss, what do we do? I don't want to be these wild beasts' dinner!" Scarface said in terror.
The bald man spat viciously and said to Li Shuheng, " Li Shuheng, what do you suggest we do? We only did these things because we listened to you!"
Li Shuheng snorted coldly and said, "Don't try to pin it all on me. Aren't you all eyeing that girl too? The best thing to do now is to run away, or are you just waiting to die here?"
After discussing it, the group realized that Li Shuheng's suggestion was the only solution; otherwise, any further delay would only lead to their deaths.
However, the group clearly underestimated the medicine Qi Ling had given them. Just as they were about to set off, several dark figures suddenly darted towards them and launched a swift attack.
Li Shuheng and the others hurriedly tried to block the attack, but as soon as they managed to stop it, another wave of Soul Beast pounced on them, attacking them recklessly as if they only wanted to kill them.
Although the group was strong enough to withstand the attacks of these Soul Beast, none of them dared to say they would survive the seemingly endless tide of beasts.
"Damn it, if this continues, we'll all die here!" Li Shuheng said, his eyes turning cold. He instantly turned his sword and thrust it at the last of the Three North Wind Brothers.
The youngest of the Three North Wind Brothers was focused on fending off the attacks of the Soul Beast when the most deadly attack came from his own side! He looked at Li Shuheng in disbelief, only to be met with Li Shuheng's fatal sword strike.
Seeing Li Shuheng's actions, the bald man exclaimed in shock and anger, " Li Shuheng, you bastard! What are you doing?"
"If we don't do this, we'll all die here!" Li Shuheng flicked his sword, shaking off the blood. "With him as food, these Soul Beast won't bother attacking us, and we can escape! This is the only way!"
Although the burly man was furious, he knew that, as Li Shuheng had said, this was the only way for everyone to survive. So he could only suppress his anger for the time being and rush outside with Li Shuheng.
If Qi Ling's medicine weren't available, Li Shuheng's method might actually be feasible, since food is the only thing these Soul Beast are after.
But with Qi Ling here, how could they allow these heinous people, who would abandon even their own companions at will, to leave alive?