Night fell.
The convoy slowly came to a halt, and everyone set up camp in a flat, open area.
The Silver Fox Hunter Group comprised about sixty members, with Captain Wang being the strongest, an Origin Cultivator in the Aperture Opening Realm, and over twenty others in the Qi-Blood Realm.
In the wilderness spanning thousands of kilometers around Bote City, they were renowned and ranked among the top in the Bote City Hunters Guild.
Such an established hunter group had clear divisions of labor.
Some were responsible for setting up camp.
Some were tasked with lighting fires and cooking.
Some were on guard duty, patrolling.
And of course, some were just waiting for dinner.
Yes, that's right, Du Xiu was currently just waiting for dinner.
Logically, he should go thank Master Leng.
And perhaps find an opportunity to curry favor with him.
But Du Xiu was unsure of Master Leng's identity.
He believed that such a windfall would never land on him.
He couldn't trust that the other party would be so kind-hearted.
Du Xiu wanted to escape, but the Silver Fox Hunter Group's seamless vigilance crushed that thought before it could even sprout.
Moreover, with so many Origin Cultivators, capturing him would be as easy as catching an ant.
"Aren't you going to see Master Leng and thank him for saving your life?"
Nini turned the spit, the roasting meat sizzling and dripping oil onto the fire below.
The flickering campfire illuminated her flawless face.
"I'll go after dinner! In my current state, I might be disrespectful!" Du Xiu replied casually.
In truth, he hadn't figured out what to say yet.
From his observations, the camp indeed revolved around Master Leng.
Over a dozen Origin Cultivators, no less formidable than Zhou Yuan, surrounded Master Leng protectively.
Most of the heavy weaponry was also positioned around him.
If he handled it poorly, his life could end in an instant.
Besides Master Leng, Nini, who was beside him, also seemed to have an impressive background.
The convoy had only two RVs, one for Master Leng and the other for her. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
He didn't know what her background was.
Of course, during his unconsciousness, he rested in her RV, simply because there were only two RVs.
It must have been inconvenient for her.
"It's done, have a taste."
Nini placed the roast meat on the table beside her, signaling Du Xiu to eat.
Du Xiu glanced at the table, the charred snow rabbit meat, and said, "No need, thanks for the offer, I'm not really hungry right now."
As he finished speaking, his stomach growled.
Nini's eyes twinkled with amusement, "Go ahead, eat. Don't be stubborn, it won't kill you."
Du Xiu looked around; all the other hunters had finished eating, so there was no chance to scrounge a meal.
Resigned, he picked up the roast meat and took a bite, then raised an eyebrow.
"How is it?" Nini asked expectantly.
"Not bad. Although it looks quite ordinary, it tastes alright."
"Then have some more."
Hearing this, Du Xiu fell silent.
Nini chuckled coldly.
Ungrateful dog of a man.
Neither of them spoke further.
Du Xiu, in an unfamiliar environment, maintained a policy of speaking less to avoid mistakes, not wanting to reveal too much about himself.
While Nini, curious about Du Xiu, refrained from speaking further due to a mix of maidenly pride and annoyance.
Half an hour later.
Passing through layers of guards, Du Xiu appeared in Master Leng's tent.
Master Leng's dwelling was different from a simple tent; it was more accurately described as a yurt.
Oval-shaped, supported by a framework, with a rain cover on the outside and insulation inside.
The interior was spacious, with a stove equipped with a chimney in the center.
Master Leng was reading at a table, with no one else inside the tent.
"Master Leng, Lian Ruofei is here to thank you."
Nini led Du Xiu inside and said.
"Hmm?"
Master Leng placed the book face down on the table, giving Du Xiu a peculiar look.
The moment Du Xiu stepped into the yurt, his face was instantly filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Master Leng, for saving me from the clutches of the wasteland bandits."
"Yes! Yesterday, I was in the Snow Forest hunting Snow Wolves for a meal when I unexpectedly encountered a bandit who ambushed me from behind. I had no choice but to flee for my life, eventually collapsing in the snow. Fortunately, you intervened heroically, or I would have fallen to the bandit's hands."
Speaking of the bandit, Du Xiu's face was full of indignation and innocence.
Speaking of collapsing, his face showed fear.
Speaking of heroic intervention, his face was full of gratitude.
In just a few sentences, Du Xiu's expressions shifted multiple times.
Master Leng and Nini both looked at Du Xiu's emotionally charged performance with strange expressions.
On the screen... this kid wasn't like this!
That meticulous, ruthless young man.
Where had he gone?
"Are you sure he was a bandit?"
Master Leng asked.
"Definitely a bandit. I had never seen him before, never knew him, yet he attacked me in the Snow Forest, surely after my possessions."
"He's dead."
"Ah? Is that so?" Du Xiu looked incredulous, then broke into a smile of avenged satisfaction, "Haha, he must have met his end at the hands of a Feral Beast in the Snow Forest."
"You really don't know him?"
"I, Lian Ruofei, swear to the heavens, I don't know him. If there's even a single lie, may I be struck by lightning! Also, he came from the depths of the forest, likely chasing someone. It seemed he had succeeded, and attacking me was just a casual act." Du Xiu added, as if recalling something.
Nini squinted her crescent eyes, "You really are innocent! By the way, that bandit was poisoned to death!"
"Poisoned? I didn't know that. I was chased by him until I collapsed. As for being poisoned, he must have been poisoned while chasing someone else, and it just happened to take effect while he was after me."
Nini's eyes gleamed with increasing amusement, "Oh, so you didn't poison him?"
"How could I use such vile means? Though I, Lian Ruofei, am just an unknown in the wilderness, I walk a righteous path. If you think saving my life gives you the right to insult me, then you're mistaken. I, Lian Ruofei, will not let anyone tarnish my name. I'll leave on my own."
Du Xiu's face changed to one of humiliation, turning to leave as he spoke, "Though we differ in paths, I will certainly prepare gifts and personally thank Master Leng at the Hunters Guild for saving my life once I return to my family. I shall take my leave now."
In just a few words, the humiliation of being slandered and the noble spirit of gratitude, combined with his limping yet upright posture, vividly portrayed the integrity and righteousness of an Empire youth.
As he was about to step out the door.
Master Leng suddenly uttered two words: "Du Xiu."
Du Xiu paused upon hearing this.
Then he turned with a puzzled look and asked, "Was that bandit named Du Xiu? I'll remember, and inform my elders to properly repay the Du family."
After speaking, a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes.