Chapter 15 - Setting a Trap

"Ah... this is bad!"

As soon as Zhao Heng threw the burning piece of Blood Spirit Wood, the group of youths hiding at the top of the slope realized that things were going awry.

"Run!"

Everyone scattered, fleeing in all directions, but the speed of the beasts was even faster.

They surrounded the top of the slope from all sides, quickly trapping the group.

The pungent smell of the Blood Spirit Wood, combined with the tempting scent of the human cultivators' fresh flesh, stirred the beasts into a frenzy!

"Roar...!"

A massive gray wolf leaped into the air, its sharp claws slicing through the thigh of a disciple, and blood gushed out.

The intense smell of blood sent the beasts into a frenzy, and they rushed to attack the disciples.

"Ah...!"

Screams rang out from all around.

The eagle-nosed youth and the man quickly snapped out of their initial shock and panic. They calmed themselves and shouted.

"Don't panic! Everyone, attack together! Kill these beasts!"

The two of them, relying on their strength as ninth-layer body tempering cultivators, were the first to strike. They quickly killed several of the beasts, which helped stabilize the morale of the group.

The rest of the group used all their might to fight the beasts atop the slope.

During the battle, the two men couldn't help but glance at Zhao Heng, who, after throwing the Blood Spirit Wood, had turned and fled deeper into the forest.

The two men were furious, but they had no choice but to suppress their anger and lead the others in fighting the beasts.

The battle lasted for nearly half an hour.

The eagle-nosed youth and the black, chubby man, as ninth-layer body tempering cultivators, led the group in a desperate battle, eventually killing most of the beasts. The remaining beasts scattered and fled.

However, they had paid a heavy price. Out of the original 18 members, only seven remained.

In addition to the eagle-nosed youth and the black, chubby man, there were five other eighth-layer body tempering cultivators, all wounded and exhausted.

"Finally, we've driven off those beasts. That damn brat is too cunning. He got so many of us killed. If I catch him, I'll skin him alive!" the black, chubby man panted heavily, cursing in anger.

The eagle-nosed youth also had a dark expression on his face. He hadn't expected that they had already fallen into Zhao Heng's trap and suffered such a heavy loss. If Elder Liu found out about this, he wouldn't escape punishment.

"Enough talk. Cut off the ears of these beasts and let's track him down. We need to find that brat and kill him!"

The eagle-nosed youth understood that, at this point, only by killing Zhao Heng could they redeem themselves.

The others understood this as well. They didn't waste any time resting and immediately followed the direction Zhao Heng had fled.

Perhaps Zhao Heng thought they were doomed, but during his escape, he wasn't cautious and left behind clear traces.

When they picked up his trail, the group's spirits lifted, and they quickened their pace in pursuit.

A quarter of an hour later.

"Hmm... his footprints have disappeared."

The group had chased him deep into the dense forest but found that Zhao Heng's trail had ended.

"How is that possible? Could he have flown?" the black, chubby man muttered.

Immediately, the seven of them froze and instinctively looked up at the thick canopy overhead.

Just as they did, a large amount of white ash suddenly rained down from above!

"Watch out!"

The eagle-nosed youth and the black, chubby man reacted swiftly, dodging the white ash in time.

But three of the other five were hit directly, and intense pain shot through their eyes!

"Whoosh...!"

At that moment, a shadow dashed down from the treetops, landing beside the three men, moving like lightning, striking with deadly speed.

With swift and lethal moves, the masked figure made three killing strikes—an upward swipe, a throat slash, and a heart strike—all in one smooth, fluid motion.

The three eighth-layer body tempering cultivators, already wounded and blinded by the lime dust, had no chance to defend themselves against the surprise attack. They were struck in their vital spots and died instantly.

As the dust settled, the eagle-nosed youth, the black, chubby man, and their two companions, who had retreated to a distance, all focused their eyes on the scene.

Apart from the three corpses, there was another figure standing there—a young man in gray clothes, carrying a shield on his back, with his face covered by a cloth and his eyes shielded by two transparent crystals. He looked unusual.

"Zhao Heng, it's you!" the five of them exclaimed in unison.

"Hmm…?" The young man froze for a moment upon hearing their exclamations.

"You recognized me so quickly?"

The black, chubby man angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about? You didn't even change your outfit or the 'turtle shell' on your back. You think I wouldn't recognize you just because you're wearing a mask?"

The eagle-nosed youth narrowed his eyes, his tone cold. "Zhao Heng, I really underestimated you. Not only did you dare use the beasts against us, but you even set an ambush here. It seems like you have great confidence in your abilities."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng sighed helplessly.

"Gentlemen, I didn't want things to turn out this way. Elder Liu pressured me relentlessly and was determined to kill me. I only did this to protect myself. I hope you two senior brothers will show mercy."

The eagle-nosed youth snorted coldly. "It's too late to say anything now. You've killed so many of our people. Elder Liu won't spare you."

Zhao Heng's gaze flickered slightly.

"So, you all still refuse to let me go?"

"Heh... What do you think?"

The black, chubby man sneered, and together with the eagle-nosed youth and the two other companions, they closed in on Zhao Heng.

Seeing this, Zhao Heng's expression darkened slightly, but a strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Hmm, it's almost time."

"Hmm...? What are you talking about?"

The group was momentarily stunned.

The next moment, Zhao Heng suddenly sprang into action, moving like a leopard, charging straight for the two eighth-layer body tempering cultivators.

Although Zhao Heng's attack was sudden, the two men were not like the previous three. They had already prepared for such an ambush.

Both reacted in an instant—either striking back or raising their arms to block.

However, just as the two men gathered their internal energy to counter Zhao Heng's attack, they suddenly felt a dizzying sensation in their minds. Their limbs became weak and powerless, and they realized that they had lost a significant portion of their strength.

This sudden change was so unexpected that the two men didn't have time to respond. Zhao Heng had already appeared in front of them like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.

"Crack! Crack!"

Two chilling sounds of bones snapping echoed as Zhao Heng twisted the necks of the two men with ease, killing them almost without resistance.

"What!"

Seeing this, the eagle-nosed youth and the black, chubby man were both shocked. Just as they were about to move, they suddenly felt an odd sensation in their bodies. Their muscles felt weak and soft.

"You... you poisoned us!"

Zhao Heng casually dropped the two dead bodies and turned to look at the eagle-nosed youth and the black, chubby man. He smiled smugly. "Looks like you two senior brothers are indeed quite intelligent."

"When did you poison us?" the eagle-nosed youth asked, his voice cold.

"Heh... When I spread the lime dust earlier, I also added a little colorless, odorless Softening Powder. How's the effect?"

"That's impossible! You were in the same area, why didn't you get poisoned?" the black, chubby man barked in disbelief.

Zhao Heng chuckled.

"Because I was wearing the mask."

His mask had already been soaked in water, which protected him from inhaling the lime dust. As for the transparent crystals on his eyes, they were specially made goggles to prevent the lime from getting into his eyes, allowing him to execute his surprise attack.

"If you two still have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm happy to answer."

The black, chubby man was about to retort, but the eagle-nosed youth's eyes suddenly flashed with murderous intent.

"Stop wasting time. He's trying to buy time and let the poison take deeper effect. We need to end this quickly and kill him!"

The black, chubby man shuddered as realization hit. He finally understood Zhao Heng's sinister plot.

"Despicable bastard, die!"

With a roar, the black, chubby man surged forward, his internal energy boiling and suppressing the effects of the poison. He charged toward Zhao Heng, unleashing a barrage of lethal strikes.

Despite having just fought the beasts and now being affected by the Softening Powder, the black, chubby man was still a ninth-layer body tempering cultivator. In his rage, his attack was so powerful that even an average eighth-layer body tempering cultivator would struggle to defend against it.

He was confident that Zhao Heng would not be able to withstand his onslaught.

However, in the face of the black, chubby man's strikes, Zhao Heng merely narrowed his eyes. His body tensed and then shot forward like an arrow, meeting the attack head-on with fists and palms.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Fists and feet collided, each strike creating a dull thud. The two fought fiercely, neither giving way. The battle was intense, with both sides seemingly evenly matched.

However, Zhao Heng's attacks were increasingly vicious and cunning. His strength seemed to grow as the fight continued, and he gradually began to gain the upper hand.

"You... You're also a ninth-layer body tempering cultivator?" the black, chubby man gasped in disbelief.

The black, chubby man's face twisted in shock, struggling to comprehend what was happening.

Zhao Heng, in response, gave a low laugh, his movements swift and precise. "It seems you've underestimated me. You're not the only one with a few tricks up your sleeve."

The two continued their fierce clash, the sounds of their strikes echoing in the dense forest. Each blow was met with the same intensity, but Zhao Heng's relentless speed and agility allowed him to steadily gain the upper hand.

"Your body is still too slow," Zhao Heng taunted as he dodged a powerful blow from the black, chubby man, stepping in closer with each movement. He seized the opening and landed a decisive strike to the man's abdomen, sending him stumbling back.

The black, chubby man gasped for breath, his face turning pale from the poison and the impact of Zhao Heng's strike. He attempted to retaliate, but his movements were sluggish and uncoordinated.

Zhao Heng smirked, eyes gleaming with confidence. "You've been poisoned, and your body's too weak to keep up with me. It's over."

Before the man could recover, Zhao Heng darted forward like a striking snake. With a quick twist, he grabbed the black, chubby man's arm and snapped it with a loud crack. The man howled in pain, but Zhao Heng was merciless. He moved swiftly, delivering a series of precise strikes to vital pressure points, immobilizing him completely.

The eagle-nosed youth had been watching the battle closely, his face growing darker with every passing second. His eyes narrowed, calculating his next move. He knew he couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.

"Zhao Heng!" the eagle-nosed youth shouted, his voice sharp and filled with malice. "You won't get away with this!"

With a swift movement, the eagle-nosed youth lunged at Zhao Heng, but Zhao Heng was already prepared. He spun around, using the momentum from his previous attack to deliver a powerful roundhouse kick that sent the eagle-nosed youth flying backward.

The eagle-nosed youth gritted his teeth, struggling to regain his footing, his hands shaking with rage and frustration. The poison was clearly taking its toll on him as well, but his pride wouldn't allow him to retreat. With a growl, he forced himself back into position.

"You're going to pay for what you did!" he snarled, but his voice lacked the same confidence as before.

Zhao Heng's expression remained calm, almost amused. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his breathing steady despite the intense fight. "It's too late for you, senior brother. You should have known better than to challenge me."

Without warning, Zhao Heng charged forward, his body moving with incredible speed. The eagle-nosed youth barely had time to react as Zhao Heng closed the distance between them.

The battle between the two was like a storm, their movements fast and brutal, but Zhao Heng's precision and deadly efficiency quickly wore down the eagle-nosed youth. With every strike, Zhao Heng seemed to anticipate the eagle-nosed youth's next move, dodging and countering effortlessly.

In the end, with one final, decisive blow, Zhao Heng struck the eagle-nosed youth across the chest, sending him crashing to the ground. The youth coughed up blood, his face twisted in pain, and his body went limp, unable to continue the fight.

Zhao Heng stood over him, chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. His eyes were cold, devoid of any sympathy.

"You... you won," the eagle-nosed youth gasped, blood dribbling from his mouth.

Zhao Heng crouched down, his voice low and deadly. "This is the price you pay for underestimating me. Now, it's over."

With that, he finished off the eagle-nosed youth, ensuring no one would be left standing in his way.

The silence that followed the fierce battle was deafening. Zhao Heng stood amidst the fallen bodies, his expression grim. The once-boisterous and bloodthirsty group of martial artists had been reduced to a few lifeless corpses scattered across the ground.

He wiped the blood from his hands, his breathing slow and controlled as he surveyed the carnage. His eyes flicked over the remaining bodies—those of the black, chubby man and the eagle-nosed youth—and a faint smirk curled at the corner of his lips.

The poison he'd secretly introduced had worked perfectly, weakening his opponents, and his strategy had paid off. His swift strikes had dismantled them piece by piece, their bodies too frail to keep up with his relentless assault.

"Such a waste," Zhao Heng muttered under his breath, glancing at the dead bodies of the remaining disciples. "But necessary, I suppose."

With his mission complete, Zhao Heng turned his back to the scene of destruction and began walking toward the deeper forest, his steps measured and steady.

The poison in his enemies' bodies was designed to weaken them gradually, and the final blow had ensured that even if they had any residual strength, it was now gone. His mind was already focused on his next steps, planning the path ahead. After all, there were still other dangers waiting for him in the wilderness, and he couldn't afford to drop his guard just yet.

With the battle over, the forest grew eerily quiet again, the only sound the faint rustling of the trees in the wind. Zhao Heng's mind was now racing with thoughts of what had just occurred. He had played his hand expertly, using the forest and the poison to his advantage, but now that the immediate threat was neutralized, he needed to focus on surviving the rest of his journey.

It wasn't long before he reached a clearing, where he stopped and took a moment to catch his breath. His body was bruised, and the wounds from the earlier fight would need attention soon. However, he still had time before he could afford to rest.

His focus shifted to the deeper part of the forest. Somewhere beyond the trees lay his goal, a place where danger lurked, but also where he could find the next step in his path. Zhao Heng knew that his survival depended on his ability to remain one step ahead of everyone who wanted him dead.

As he continued walking deeper into the woods, his thoughts turned toward the future—toward those who might still be waiting for him. There were still enemies out there, lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment. But for now, Zhao Heng would keep his cool and move forward, knowing that every step he took brought him closer to his ultimate goal.

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