Chapter 103: The Appearance of the Evil Soul Master

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In the dense forest, towering trees cast a deep shadow, leaving the area dimly lit. The forest floor was damp, covered with layers of fallen leaves, many of which had rotted, releasing a faint stench.

Camping here? That smell alone could drive anyone away.

Thankfully, Xie Lin had scouted ahead and found a clearing.

Following her lead, the group avoided the soul beasts lurking along the way. Under Shi Yue's guidance, they arrived at the open space Xie Lin had discovered.

The clearing was perfect. It lacked trees, creating a space where sunlight could pierce through. While the dense surrounding foliage blocked some of the light, the midday sun provided just enough brightness to make the area comfortable.

"All right, let's rest here for a while," Shi Yue announced.

He casually found a spot on the ground and sat down, motioning for the others to do the same. As he settled, Shi Yue pulled out a water pouch and some rations, starting his meal.

"Captain Shi, let's go hunting! Eating this cold, stale food is unbearable!" Lawrence complained.

Seeing Shi Yue gnawing on the hardened rations, Lawrence hesitated before taking a reluctant bite of his own. His expression soured immediately, and he turned toward Shi Yue with a look of misery.

Nearby, Lin Ye frowned slightly at Lawrence's words.

A nobleman, huh? Refined palates and disdain for cold, dry rations were typical of their kind, especially when venturing into the wild. This sort of complaint wasn't uncommon in taverns—patrons often shared tales of pampered aristocrats.

But Lin Ye knew better. Lawrence wasn't a real noble. He was an evil soul master.

Refusing rations and suggesting they make a fire? Lin Ye's eyes narrowed.

A fire… That smoke could easily serve as a signal to his hidden allies.

"Viscount Lawrence," Shi Yue interjected, placing his rations aside, "weren't you the one urging us to hurry and hunt soul beasts for Lady Yvri's sake? Shouldn't we rest quickly and move on instead of wasting time hunting for your meal?"

"Haha, Captain Shi, it won't take that long. Honestly, I just can't stomach these cold, hard rations. How about this—when the mission is over, I'll increase your reward by 20%. Deal?"

Shi Yue hesitated.

"Twenty percent more?" He repeated, seemingly torn.

After a brief pause, he sighed heavily. His expression turned serious as he said, "Fine. But remember, this was your idea. Don't forget that bonus when we're done!"

"Of course, of course! You have my word," Lawrence replied, laughing.

But behind that jovial facade, his heart was filled with mockery. Greedy hunters... Too bad for you, you won't live to see that bonus.

---

At Lawrence's insistence, Shi Yue sent Xie Lin and He Feng to hunt some game in the forest.

After half an hour, the two returned with a few hares and fish in hand.

With the prey secured, Shi Yue ordered the group to gather wood to start a fire and prepare skewers.

"This forest is too damp. The firewood's wet, and all it produces is thick smoke," Shi Yue muttered, shaking his head as the campfire sent plumes of dark smoke spiraling skyward.

"Haha, no worries! I've heard smoked rabbit and fish taste amazing," Lawrence quipped, his face lighting up like a blooming flower.

His excitement seemed genuine at first glance, but Lin Ye saw through it.

This man is signaling the nearby evil soul masters, Lin Ye thought grimly, scanning the surrounding forest.

The heavy smoke was unmistakable, a beacon to any waiting allies. Now, it was just a matter of time.

---

The prey was roasting on the makeshift skewers, filling the air with a faint aroma despite the thick smoke.

But before ten minutes had passed, the forest stirred.

The sound of branches rustling, leaves crunching, and twigs snapping broke the quiet. The rhythmic noises were deliberate and too orderly to be caused by a wandering soul beast.

The mercenaries of the Savage Bear Soul Hunting Group sprang to their feet immediately, forming a defensive line.

"Viscount Lawrence, something's approaching. Stay behind us!" Shi Yue warned, his voice firm yet calm as his gaze fixed on the source of the disturbance.

But Lawrence simply smirked.

The facade was no longer needed. With his allies closing in, Lawrence dropped all pretense.

His lips curled into a mocking grin as he stood, his knights forming a protective circle around him.

"Ha! Hahaha!" Lawrence's laughter echoed as he stepped toward the disturbance.

"Viscount! It's dangerous!" Shi Yue called out, his expression filled with feigned concern.

"Oh, Captain Shi, no need to worry. I'm quite aware of the situation," Lawrence replied, a sinister smile on his face.

"You, however, seem rather clueless. The Spirit Hall warned about evil soul masters in this forest, yet you ignored the danger and accepted my request. Coming here with me… was your first mistake."

As Lawrence spoke, dark shadows emerged from the forest. In mere moments, figures cloaked in black and red appeared by his side.

"A Soul King, two Soul Elders, one Soul Grandmaster, and two Great Soul Masters?" A raspy voice spoke from among the newcomers. The figure, clad in blood-red robes, studied the mercenaries with satisfaction. "Not bad, Thousand Faces. The quality of this batch is commendable."

"Your praise is an honor, Lord Blood Bat," Lawrence—or rather, Thousand Faces—replied obsequiously.

"Excellent. It's been far too long since we had fresh prey," Blood Bat rasped, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Let's hope this marks the start of something fortunate…"

"You're evil soul masters," Lin Ye said flatly, breaking the tension.

"Heh. Obviously. What gave it away?" Blood Bat sneered. "Enough talking. Let's take them!"

With a wave of his hand, the cloaked figures surged forward.

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