Chapter 8: Truly Being Targeted

The three of them never stopped moving, and half a day had passed as they walked.

As the sky began to darken, Ding Huan finally halted by a waterfall in the distance.

In Ding Huan's opinion, the Great Wilderness Golden Ape probably wouldn't be able to chase them here. The Great Wilderness Golden Ape was terrifying, but it was just a juvenile.

"I really can't walk anymore." Seeing Ding Huan stop, Liu Aimei, who followed behind, gasped and then collapsed on the ground.

Qin Yi couldn't even speak; she, too, sat on the ground like Liu Aimei.

At this moment, Qin Yi no longer possessed the aloof demeanor Ding Huan had first seen; her hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn and shredded, and her face was covered in bloodstains.

While catching her breath, Liu Aimei said, "We are quite lucky, not having encountered any other fierce beasts."

Ding Huan knew it wasn't purely luck; while leading the way, he had consciously avoided places where fierce beasts might appear.

"Let's rest here today; there's a cave behind the waterfall. Have some food later, and we can leave tomorrow."

After speaking, Ding Huan pulled out some beef jerky and biscuits from his backpack and handed them to the two women.

"Thank you, thank you..." Liu Aimei, ravenous, quickly accepted and expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you." After a half day of fleeing, Qin Yi had calmed down.

After eating, they regained a bit of strength. Liu Aimei asked, "I still don't know your name. If it wasn't for you this time, Yi Yi and I would probably be dead."

"My name is Ding Huan, but why didn't you make a phone call for help when you were trapped?" Ding Huan asked, puzzled.

Logically speaking, Qianluo Mountain stretched for miles and wasn't particularly perilous, so calling for help shouldn't have been too difficult.

Liu Aimei shook her head, "Yi Yi's phone ran out of battery, and my family doesn't have much power, so the rescue calls were made by Joey.

I don't know why, since Joey made the calls, no one has come to rescue us yet."

"Joey probably never made that rescue call," Qin Yi whispered from the side.

"How could that be?" Liu Aimei blurted out unconsciously.

She couldn't believe it; facing a life and death situation, how could one not make a rescue call?

But Ding Huan understood what Qin Yi meant. Qin Yi, a woman pursued by many, understood the mindsets of her pursuers.

Normally, Joey couldn't be with Qin Yi often. Seizing this rare opportunity, he naturally wanted to spend more time with her.

So he either didn't make the call or delayed making the call.

Perhaps, in Joey's view, hiding in the cave was perfectly safe. As for calling for help, he could do that anytime.

Only, he hadn't expected Bai Chuanqiang to be torn apart by the giant ape, and in his panic, he fled deeper into the cave.

If the giant ape returned, Joey was more likely unlucky than not. Of course, he could also use the phone to call for help.

Qin Yi didn't respond to Liu Aimei's words, instead turning to Ding Huan, "Do you also have the surname Ding? Are you related to the Baiyu Group…"

Before she finished, Ding Huan interjected indifferently, "I have no relation to the Baiyu Group."

The Baiyu Group was on the verge of collapsing and Ding Huan didn't want to get involved.

"Oh…" Qin Yi trailed off, not saying anything further.

"Brother Ding, did you enter Qianluo Mountain seeking some medicinal herbs?" Liu Aimei asked.

She wasn't really asking about the medicinal herbs Ding Huan was searching for, but rather trying to understand more about him.

In her mind, if Ding Huan, alone, came to Qianluo Mountain to look for medicinal herbs, he must not be wealthy.

If she could help Ding Huan, she thought, once they left Qianluo Mountain, she might find a way to assist him.

"I've already found them; they were just some simple herbs. Let's rest early today and leave Qianluo Mountain tomorrow morning," Ding Huan answered casually.

He was not interested in talking more with the two women. Once out, his first priority was to complete the gene spiritual root.

As for why Ding Baishan had disappeared after going to the Qin Family, asking Qin Yi was pointless; he might as well investigate the Qin Family himself in the future.

This was the first night out of the cave, and Ding Huan was still somewhat worried.

He knew the Great Wilderness Golden Ape was vengeful. If it didn't find them in the cave, it might chase after them.

Luckily, the three of them were fortunate as the night passed without the giant ape pursuing them.

As dawn barely broke the next day, the trio hurriedly continued on their way.

For Qin Yi and Liu Aimei, spending another day in Qianluo Mountain meant facing an additional day of danger.

For Ding Huan, another day in Qianluo Mountain meant wasting another day of cultivation time.

Liu Aimei and Qin Yi had only spent a little over a day with Ding Huan, but they already keenly felt the difference.

Before, when the four of them were together, the first two days were fine, but afterwards, it often became a cycle of one meal full, the next meal hungry.

Even when it came to food, they managed only simple things like small fish or wild vegetables.

Now, even though they were rushing during the day with Ding Huan, come mealtimes, Ding Huan could always accurately find a variety of delicacies: different kinds of mountain fish, wild fruits, and some wild game.

These were nothing, however. What most astonished Liu Aimei and Qin Yi was that Ding Huan always found a safe place to stay when darkness fell.

It was either in a cave or sheltered by huge rocks.

"Ding Huan, how come you're so familiar with Qianluo Mountain? Do you come here often?" On the third day, Liu Aimei couldn't help but ask.

Ding Huan chuckled, "Yes, I frequently hike in the mountains, so I'm quite familiar with this area. You would be too, after spending enough time in the mountains."

Ding Huan was bluffing—this was his first time in Qianluo Mountain, even in his previous life, he had only wandered around the outskirts of the mountain.

This wasn't something that one could understand simply by spending time in the mountains. Ding Huan's knowledge came entirely from intuition and experience.

He could find food sources and the correct paths by observing the way trees grew, the moisture in flowing water and air, and even by the habits of various insects in the grass.

Hearing Ding Huan's words, Liu Aimei and Qin Yi didn't think too much about it; they had no experience themselves and felt that what Ding Huan said must be right.

They weren't deep in Qianluo Mountain, and with Ding Huan not interested in staying, he rushed them. Within two days, he had already gathered the medicinal herbs needed for the Wood Element Gene Spiritual Root and decided to return and give them a try.

By noon on the third day, they finally walked out of Qianluo Mountain and saw the mountain path in the distance.

"We've made it out," Liu Aimei exclaimed excitedly.

"Folks, let's part ways here." Ding Huan had no inclination to continue with the two women.

"Ding Huan, thank you for this time. If it wasn't for you, we probably wouldn't have made it out. How about we go back to Heluo City together and meet up?" Liu Aimei calmed her emotions and sincerely said.

Ding Huan waved his hand dismissively, "Without me, you would have made it out anyway, sooner or later. I have other matters to attend to and won't be joining you."

"Let's exchange contact info then?" Seeing Ding Huan was determined to leave, Liu Aimei quickly said.

Ding Huan smiled, "We probably won't meet again. Farewell."

It wasn't because Ding Huan didn't want to give his contact info; he simply didn't remember his own phone number.

Seeing that Ding Huan even avoided mentioning his association with Yujiang University, he chose not to chat further.

Watching Ding Huan's fading figure, Liu Aimei sighed and said, "That Ding Huan really has some skills, much better than Joey and..."

She intended to mention Bai Chuanqiang, but remembering his tragic end, she ultimately didn't speak his name.

Qin Yi, her voice husky, looked at the departing Ding Huan, "Let's hurry and find help. Joey is still in that cave."

Ding Huan had left for only about fifteen minutes when he heard the roaring noise of two helicopters flying overhead.

Probably Joey had called for help, presumably they were here to rescue. Ding Huan ignored this as he needed to hurry back to Heluo City.

···

A little after two in the afternoon, Ding Huan entered Heluo City.

Eager to produce the Spirit Root Gene Potion, he intended to get a cab to Yujiang University. Even if Yujiang University was about to close, the gene laboratory would definitely still be there.

But before reaching the gates of Yujiang University, Ding Huan calmed down.

The reason he had left Yujiang University overnight was because someone was out to kill him—if they were still watching, wouldn't returning there be like walking into a trap?

Regardless, he had to return to Yujiang University if he wanted to create the Spirit Root Gene; it could only be done there.

With that in mind, Ding Huan casually bought some food, wrapped himself up well, and approached the rear wall of Yujiang University, planning to climb over to enter the school.

There was hardly anyone at Yujiang University now; the security guard could do little but sleep, and Ding Huan figured he could easily get into the school.

Indeed, just as Ding Huan had anticipated, he entered Yujiang University without much effort.

Ding Huan stood outside his own residence, knowing someone had been inside—the marks outside had been tampered with.

Clearly, someone was out to kill him, and their determination was strong; otherwise, they wouldn't have followed him to Yujiang University.

Without even setting his bag down, Ding Huan carried it straight to the gene laboratory; he had to try creating the Spirit Root Gene first.

Those people would never imagine not only had he entered Yujiang University, but he was even in Yujiang University's gene laboratory.

Without having found the Reincarnation Blood, he decided to first use his own blood as a substitute to test; if that didn't work, he would find another solution.

(Today's update ends here, friends. Good night! Please support with a recommendation ticket!)