Chapter 7: Escape from the Ape's Mouth

Ding Huan stood up and walked toward the depths of the cave. No matter what, he couldn't ask Qin Yi now.

First, Qin Yi knew nothing about Ding Baishan; second, with his current strength, asking such questions was akin to seeking death.

He had only taken a few steps when Ding Huan suddenly stopped.

Since Dad went to the Yanjing Qin Family possibly for his matters, on what grounds did Dad make the Qin Family believe him, Ding Baishan, and agree to an alliance with Baiyu Group?

He had heard of the Yanjing Qin Family; they were not a small clan.

The reason the Qin Family was willing to ally with Baiyu Group was either for money, allowing Baiyu Group to inject funds into the Qin Family, or...

What was the whole world chasing after now, including himself and the Ocean Gene in a few months?

Wasn't everyone searching for various genes that could fuse with the human body? Could it be that his father's disappearance was also related to genes?

Or perhaps, had Baiyu Group developed a gene that could excellently integrate with the human body, and then his father took that gene to Yanjing to seek allies?

The more Ding Huan thought about it, the more likely it seemed, as he knew very well that Baiyu Group was supposed to collapse a few months later.

The reason for the collapse seemed to be due to the development of a gene called Selyu.

This gene had the capability to combat aging, allowing one to appear ten to twenty years younger and extending life by another ten to twenty years.

The specific timeline... it should be happening these few days.

Indeed, the Selyu gene could make the fused person appear much younger, and even their bodily organs notably rejuvenated.

However, the terrifying part was that those who fused with the Selyu gene would die a few months later. This accident led to the collective demise of Baiyu Group's top executives.

Baiyu Group's top executives' collective demise? No one would believe they just perished; obviously, they were murdered.

What was strange here was that Baiyu Group first introduced the aging-combating Selyu gene, which proved to be a failure a few months later.

After the collapse of Baiyu Group, Yongtang Gene Biotechnology Company subsequently launched an anti-aging Genetic Medicine Liquid, the Cocoon Origin Gene.

Baiyu Group launched the life-extending aging-combating Selyu gene leading to its collapse, but Yongtang became the second largest gene group worldwide because of Cocoon Origin Gene Potion.

If these were all coincidences, Ding Huan himself didn't believe it.

"Where is he going?" Seeing Ding Huan move toward the depths of the cave, Joey asked with confusion.

"Who cares where he's going; the farther he is, the more peace we get," Bai Chuanqiang retorted sharply.

Liu Aimei opened her mouth as if wanting to call Ding Huan back but ultimately did not speak.

Ding Huan purely did not want to stay with these people. As long as that foolish woman wasn't willing to send out the medicinal materials, this matter would never end.

Even if the Great Wilderness Golden Ape couldn't rush into the cave, these people without food would not be able to hold on.

He had food in his bag, and if he were alone, he could last about three to five days. If it included the four people outside, it would be gone in a day.

That Bai Chuanqiang was clearly not an easy person, and he would definitely resort to robbery if desperate enough.

What Ding Huan didn't expect was that this cave was actually very deep; he walked for a whole hundred meters and still hadn't reached the end.

Ding Huan didn't dare to continue walking forward. This place was gloomy, and from deeper within, strange noises occasionally sounded.

Finding a relatively concealed nook on one side of the cave, Ding Huan squeezed in. Hiding in this spot, he could hold out for two or three days.

Another day quickly passed, and situated a hundred meters deep within the cave, Ding Huan could still hear the sound of the giant ape pounding on the cave from the outside. He couldn't be bothered with these, ate some food, and continued to practice Luo Shijin.

On the third day, after Ding Huan had eaten, just as he was preparing to practice, a piercing scream echoed. The voice sounded like Bai Chuanqiang's.

Had the giant ape breached the cave? Unlikely, as, at most, the giant ape was no more than an external force Martial Artist. Given its immense size, how could it possibly breach the cave?

Some staggering footsteps came, and Ding Huan immediately became alert. He grabbed a knife from his bag, focusing on the direction of the cave entrance.

Despite the near absence of light, Ding Huan could still feel someone stumbling along the cave wall rushing towards him.

Was it Joey? Ding Huan remained silent as Joey passed by him, leaning on the cave wall to continue fleeing deeper inside.

A faint smell of blood wafted through, and Ding Huan could sense that Joey must be injured.

What on earth was going on? Ding Huan simply picked up his bag and turned around to head toward the cave entrance.

Since the Great Wilderness Golden Ape definitely couldn't enter the cave, and since Joey, someone he disliked, had come in, he would go out.

When Ding Huan returned to his original position, with the dim light, he soon saw Qin Yi sitting on the ground with a pale face and Liu Aimei crouched to the side sobbing quietly.

Strangely, he saw no sign of Bai Chuanqiang.

"What happened?" Ding Huan asked.

After asking that question, Ding Huan saw that the entrance of the cave and the area outside were covered in blood.

Seeing Ding Huan, Liu Aimei immediately cried out, "Bai Chuanqiang was torn apart by the giant ape..."

"How did the giant ape get in?" Ding Huan understood why the two women were so terrified and why Joey had fearlessly run into the cave.

Perhaps it would have been acceptable for the giant ape to eat a person, but to brutally tear someone apart was just too gory.

Qin Yi was still trembling, and although Liu Aimei's face was full of horror, she was able to respond to Ding Huan,

"We were too hungry, so Yi Yi planned to send out the herbs. Bai Chuanqiang said the giant ape must have left and voluntarily took the herbs to go out first.

But just as he reached the entrance of the cave, the giant ape charged from one side, grabbed Bai Chuanqiang, and then tore him apart in mid-air..."

At this point, Liu Aimei began to cry again. She would never forget that scene for the rest of her life, it was just too horrifying.

Ding Huan realized this scene suggested that Joey had been injured due to panic and had run into the cave walls.

"Did the herbs get sent out?" Ding Huan hurriedly asked.

"The herbs were in Bai Chuanqiang's hands, he was taken by the giant ape, and we don't know where the herbs ended up."

Liu Aimei's voice had improved a bit, but her complexion was still very pale.

Ding Huan understood then. The herbs had definitely been taken by the Great Wilderness Golden Ape.

Such herbs were incredibly precious to the Great Wilderness Golden Ape, and having regained them, it would surely hide them away first.

Thinking this, he immediately walked toward the entrance of the cave.

"What are you doing?" Seeing Ding Huan head toward the cave entrance, Liu Aimei asked in horror.

Ding Huan turned his head and said, "This is probably our only chance to escape. If that giant ape comes back, we definitely won't be able to get away."

"You said the giant ape left? How do you know?" Liu Aimei's emotions had stabilized a lot after talking with Ding Huan for a few sentences.

Ding Huan replied, "I guessed the giant ape must be finding a place to hide those herbs. Once it has hidden them, it will definitely come back for revenge."

This was not merely Ding Huan's guess; he had encountered many fierce beasts with strong vengeful natures, and it was said that the Great Wilderness Golden Ape was even more vindictive.

The vindictiveness of an average fierce beast couldn't compare to many others.

This Great Wilderness Golden Ape was still juvenile, with incomplete intelligence, and wouldn't think that the people here would escape as soon as it left.

"What if you guessed wrong?" Liu Aimei asked tremulously.

Ding Huan smiled, "If I guessed wrong, then I guessed wrong. In a dilemma, one must make a choice, right? Making a choice earlier gives us more leeway than making one later.

I suggest you come with me, staying here likely has no future."

After saying that, Ding Huan walked again.

"Wait for us," Liu Aimei said, seeing that Ding Huan was truly leaving, and hastily got up.

Her legs were still trembling. Thinking of possibly ending up like Bai Chuanqiang if she stayed, she couldn't stay another moment.

Ding Huan stopped, he still had a good impression of Liu Aimei.

"Yi Yi, let's hurry," Liu Aimei's nerves seemed sturdier than Qin Yi's; not only did she get up herself, but she also helped Qin Yi.

"I, I..." Qin Yi couldn't even put together a complete sentence, the sight of Bai Chuanqiang being torn apart also kept her from stabilizing her emotions.

"Hurry up, I can only wait ten seconds," Ding Huan said from the side.

The Great Wilderness Golden Ape might have hidden the herbs who knows where, he knew clearly that staying here another minute was a minute more of danger.

"I'll go call Joey then," Liu Aimei said again.

Ding Huan turned and walked away. Call Joey? What a joke. Waiting for Joey to come would only delay them further.

Seeing Ding Huan walk away without even bothering to speak, Liu Aimei didn't dare continue talking about calling Joey. She quickly dragged Qin Yi, grabbed her bag, and stumbled after Ding Huan toward the cave entrance.

Outside the cave was a mess, the ground strewn with shattered stones and deep pits mixed with the remains of Bai Chuanqiang's torn and bloody body, a chilling sight.

Ding Huan didn't hesitate and dashed down. The stone cave originally had a height of four to five meters from the ground, but due to the continuous pounding of the giant ape, a slope had formed, making it relatively easy to descend.

"The giant ape really left, let's hurry," Liu Aimei didn't see the giant ape and seeing Ding Huan dash down, she also dragged Qin Yi and stumbled down.

Qin Yi's legs went soft, and the two lost their balance and tumbled down. Fortunately, the giant ape had already blasted a slope earlier, so they weren't hurt.

Ding Huan didn't bother with the two behind him; he chose a different direction from before and hastened his steps. Better to take a detour than to return the same way.

Having interacted with Ding Huan, Liu Aimei had gained some understanding of him. Seeing Ding Huan rushing off, she also pulled Qin Yi to follow him.

After such a long time to recover, Qin Yi had managed to regain some composure; she didn't need Liu Aimei to pull her and could follow behind on her own.