Xie Ziyuan couldn't help but feel a sudden sense of loss. Even if his impression of that person plummeted because he found out she was a woman, why did he still come to his place to help her recruit new residents?
His power hadn't recovered fully, and there were a lot of dangers both on the way and once they arrived at the destination. Not to mention the journey back with so many people at once.
They were bound to attract a lot of attention from the lurking dangers…
He must have been crazy! Xie Ziyuan sat on the ground, mulling over his life choices. That ghostly woman must have bewitched him!
Still, since he had arrived here, he had no choice but to proceed. As long as that woman didn't make any ridiculous move on him, he would still tolerate it.
When the two skunk beastmen exited the cave, he noticed them. He didn't know whether they were simply lucky or their perception was that great. They headed in his direction.
"What kind of fierce beast will we cook tonight…?" One skunk beastman rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"Shush!" His other companion quickly shushed him. "Shut up or the beast might run away once it hears us."
With that, the two approached Xie Ziyuan's hiding place with light steps, as if they were hunters trying to catch their prey.
Xie Ziyuan narrowed his eyes. His senses scanned their power rank and he fell into deep thought, considering whether he should confront the two directly.
He hadn't thought about breaking inside their cave directly, but using some tricks to deal with them one by one. That way, he was sure of victory.
They were not far from the cave. He was just worried the battle might attract the other traffickers inside too. By then, it would be a difficult battle.
Xie Ziyuan held his breath. They were getting closer. One skunk beastman already stretched his hand, ready to part the bushes; one step away from finding his figure.
Then…
In the quiet night, a sound of breaking branches attracted the two skunk beastmen. Their hands froze. They snapped their eyes in the source of the voice.
Their eyes visibly widened.
"It's the little bastards!" They instantly recognized the pair of eyes gleaming in the dark. The familiar smell was unmistakable. They had marked each of the siblings' smell.
They were the pair of siblings they had been looking for. The top premium products, the pair of cat beastmen!
Lin Yu'an was trembling, but his eyes were resolute. Beside him, his sister tapped his shoulder. On her cue, they ran in separate directions.
"Chase them both!" The skunk beastmen exchanged glances and made a decision in an instant. Alas, they didn't have time to inform the other three inside to help with the chase. The two would have gone too far away by then.
Xie Ziyuan bit his lip and sighed. What a pair of disobedient children. He had told them to stay put in that vine cocoon, but…
He stood up. His sharp and magnetic eyes fixated on the skunk following Lin Yu'an. He took large steps, trailing behind them both like an oriole. The skunk beastman was the mantis and Lin Yu'an the cicada.
Compared to her sister, Lin Yu'an speed was notably slower, and as such, he decided to deal with the skunk beastman following him first.
The little black cat boy was quite perceptive albeit his weakness. He seemed aware that Xie Ziyuan was nearby. When they reached a considerable distance from the cave, he stopped, panting and trembling.
"Why? Can't run anymore little cat boy?" The skunk beastman looked at his state and sneered.
He continued in a condescending tone filled with anger and annoyance. "Just wait and see how I will punish you!"
The skunk beastman roared before he lunged at Lin Yu'an. A few seconds later, instead of pining the little cat boy down to the ground just as he had pictured in his mind, he found himself the one getting pinned down instead.
Xie Ziyuan's sinister yet deep eyes studied the man's struggling face. The skunk beastman wanted to say something, but the foreign man was currently choking him.
Although he was in his silver wolf appearance, Xie Ziyuan's strong grip as a snake beastman still remained. He pulled the longsword from his inner space and severed the skunk beastman's head.
Lin Yu'an froze to his spot, but he was quick to react or the spurting blood would have gotten to him.
"Let's go find your sister. You can track her, right?" Xie Ziyuan put the sword away and approached him.
The first target had died so easily because he was caught off guard. Xie Ziyuan used it to analyze his current power. Beastmen were more clever than fierce beasts who only used their instinct.
At least, his grip was still powerful enough, just like a snake coiling on their prey.
"Master Xie, please follow me!" Lin Yu'an was still a little bit shaken, yet he was quick to act. A glint of appreciation flashed through Xie Ziyuan's eyes. This kid wasn't bad.
Su Yining who had just witnessed the fight heaved a sigh of relief. Her Yuanyuan was really amazing!
Xie Ziyuan quickly shifted to his silver wolf form, following the nimble cat which was moving like lightning in the darkness. Soon, they found Lin Yuyao's position.
The girl stumbled on a fallen tree branch the skunk beastman had aimed at her feet. She fell to the ground. The man approached her slowly as he grinned at her.
"It's a pity I have to end our game so soon, little girl." He licked his lips.
Lin Yuyao's face was filled with disgust. However, her expression changed when the skunk beastman turned in a particular direction.
As a pair of siblings, they could still sense each other's presence at a certain range. Her younger brother was close.
"Well, well, we have a guest here." The skunk beastman wasn't as reckless as the previous one. "Trying to play a hero for the beauty, little pup?"
The skunk beastman took something from his collar. Lin Yuyao's face changed drastically. She watched as he blew the wooden whistle.
He was calling his other companions.