Chapter 17 Ghost Rider
Wes, who was confronted coldly with a gun to his head, instinctively cast the "Disarming Charm".
Suddenly, a powerful surge of magic erupted from his wand. The man holding the shotgun was struck by an invisible force, sending him flying backward.
He slammed into the hard wall with a dull thud, then crumpled to the ground in an undignified heap.
The shotgun landed right at Wes's feet.
Wes promptly kicked the shotgun out the door.
"Don't move!"
He pointed his wand directly at the corner.
"What is that wooden stick in your hand? Is it a wand?"
An old, raspy voice slowly emerged from the corner, tinged with doubt and vigilance.
An old cowboy slowly struggled to his feet, and after rising, he didn't forget to brush the dust from his clothes.
"Are you a wizard?" The cowboy's melancholy eyes fixed on Wes.
His wispy, blossoming stubble looked particularly weathered in the dim light.
From the old cowboy's attire, it was clear that he was likely a seasoned and tough individual.
"Where is the 'San Venganza Contract'?"
"How do you know about the 'San Venganza Contract'?"
The old cowboy frowned, looking especially wary.
"That's none of your business, Old Cowboy."
Wes was firm, giving the other party no chance to ask questions.
"I can't let the 'San Venganza Contract' fall into the hands of people like you."
During their conversation, the old cowboy's right hand slowly and calmly moved to his waist, his movement almost imperceptible.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Wes saw through the old cowboy's subtle movement and was too lazy to waste more words on the stubborn man.
In an instant, the old cowboy was frozen in place, his body stiff as a stone statue.
Only his eyes could move, and the old cowboy's gaze perfectly conveyed a mix of fear and disbelief.
"Accio 'San Venganza Contract'."
Wes used the Summoning Charm.
To the old cowboy's astonished eyes, a small tin box flew directly into Wes's hands as if guided by an invisible hand.
After Wes took the tin box, he examined it for a moment.
Soon, he found what he was looking for. Wes carefully began to dismantle the handle of the tin box, revealing a yellowed parchment scroll.
"Well hidden."
Wes took out a quill pen and slowly brought it close to the shellacked paper for inspection.
When the quill approached the parchment, a soft light instantly emanated from it.
"It's it, it's it." Wes finally showed a satisfied smile on his face. He quickly secured the 'San Venganza Contract'.
Before leaving, Wes turned his head and said to the immobilized old cowboy: "The charm will lift automatically in half an hour. Old man, don't be so hot-headed."
After speaking, Wes got back into the car, closed the door, and drove away, leaving only a cloud of dust.
Half an hour later, the effectiveness of the charm finally wore off, and the old cowboy collapsed heavily to the ground.
He groaned in pain, struggling to stand up shakily.
"I didn't expect to be outsmarted by a young man one day."
Carter said, as he helplessly adjusted the cowboy hat on his head, then walked outside to bend down and pick up his shotgun.
A loud whistle sounded.
"Whinny! Whinny! Whinny! ~~"
The thundering sound of hooves approached rapidly from a distance. After a moment, a tall, strong steed stopped beside Carter.
Carter softly stroked its head, as if communicating with an old friend.
"Bullying is not the cowboy way."
Carter's heart burned with anger, and he made up his mind. With a swift movement, he agilely swung himself onto the horse's back, shouting loudly: "Depart!"
The horse understood his instructions, excitedly lifted its forelegs, accompanied by a triumphant neigh.
They galloped in Wes's direction.
The sky soon darkened, like a colossal black curtain slowly enshrouding the earth.
Wes slowly pulled his car to a stop.
The Texas night, like a mysterious and peaceful painting.
The vast wilderness appeared even wider and more expansive under the dim moonlight, and the grass and low shrubs were like silent shadows. In the sky, the stars blazed, densely decorating the dark blue expanse.
The outlines of the distant mountains were blurred, leaving only their massive, dark silhouettes. On the ground, one could occasionally glimpse the agile figure of a running hare, or hear the echoing cries of nocturnal birds in the silent night sky.
The night scenery of the deserted Texas suburbs held the raw and untamed essence of nature, but also possessed an intoxicating and serene beauty, prompting sighs at nature's magical and infinite charm.
"Beautiful scenery," Wes sighed softly.
With the 'San Venganza Contract' now in his possession, Wes intended to take a break here, eat something, and enjoy this rare beauty.
Zhan Di was truly a multifaceted helper. Not only could he skillfully handle housework, but he also acted as an experimental assistant.
Soon, a warm bonfire blazed, and a delicious dinner was ready.
Wes leisurely enjoyed Zhan Di's attentive and thoughtful service.
"Clip-clop… Clip-clop… Clip-clop…"
The crisp sound of horse hooves shattered the night's silence.
Wes instantly stood up, alert. He keenly sensed a strong hostility rapidly approaching.
A skeletal horse, wreathed in blazing flames, charged forward with thunderous force, its four hooves leaving a trail of burning embers on the ground.
On the horse sat a cowboy with a burning, skeletal head.
Upon seeing Wes, Carter pulled out his shotgun and aimed without hesitation, shouting: "I've caught up to you, wizard boy!"
"I didn't hit you hard enough, old man."
However, the current emergency didn't allow Wes to dwell on such thoughts.
After all, the cowboy in front of him had come to settle accounts.
"Apparate!"
Wes reacted quickly, casting magic to instantly teleport behind Carter.
"Expelliarmus!"
A powerful Disarming Charm shot out from Wes's wand, instantly sending the shotgun flying from Carter's hand.
Carter's reaction was also incredibly fast; he swiftly pulled a revolver from his waist.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Three consecutive shots rang out, the bullets whistling through the air.
"Obscurus!"
"Obscurus!"
"Obscurus!"
Three consecutive powerful spells were released instantly.
The three bullets hit a viscous liquid barrier in front of them, their speed instantly slowing. After flying a short distance with difficulty through the air, their kinetic energy was exhausted, and they fell powerlessly to the ground.
"Gravel Barrage!"
It had never been Wes's style not to fight back.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth was a principle Wes had always believed in.
In the suburbs of Texas, the most abundant thing was all kinds of gravel.
As Wes cast his magic, countless pieces of gravel instantly transformed into powerful projectiles, pelting the cowboy and his horse like a hailstorm. The powerful impact pierced and knocked down both the man and the horse.
But Wes dared not relax his vigilance.
The flames on Carter and the warhorse burned even more fiercely.
The wounds on their bodies healed rapidly at an astonishing speed visible to the naked eye, and after just a few seconds, they stood up again.
"Damn immortal."
Although everything was within Wes's expectations, he still found it incredibly difficult.
This kind of opponent with immortality was undoubtedly the most annoying.
Carter put his cowboy hat back on, his eyes full of provocation: "Your tricks don't work on me, wizard."