"Are you ready?" As soon as Han Li emerged from the room, Li Feiyu impatiently asked.
Han Li shot him a cold look and didn't bother to respond. Instead, he walked toward a smaller house and, through the closed door, called out in a chilling tone, "Qu Hun, come out. We'll need you tonight."
Before Han Li had even finished speaking, there was a loud "bang" as the wooden door was shattered, splintering into pieces, and from the chaos of flying wood chips, a massive figure slowly emerged.
Li Feiyu stood frozen, staring at the giant man in a cloak, whose face was hidden in shadows but whose presence exuded an ominous aura. The sight left him stunned.
The giant man, Qu Hun, moved silently and took his place behind Han Li.
"Let's go," Han Li said with a smile, now urging Li Feiyu to move.
"Right!" Li Feiyu snapped out of his stupor and nodded, giving the giant one last curious glance before quickly turning and leading the way out of the valley.
Han Li gave a small smile at Li Feiyu's perceptiveness. Their friendship had flourished precisely because they respected each other's privacy, allowing them to remain close without crossing boundaries.
The three of them moved quickly, and soon they were near the valley's entrance. Just as Li Feiyu was about to step into the woods, Han Li suddenly reached out and grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.
"What's wrong?" Li Feiyu asked, a little annoyed. He was growing impatient with the delay.
"There are people coming. More than one," Han Li said calmly, his voice devoid of worry.
Li Feiyu was surprised and immediately focused, trying to listen for any sounds. However, after a long while, he heard nothing. He looked at Han Li in confusion, but Han Li remained calm, offering no further explanation.
"You…" Li Feiyu was about to speak when Han Li raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
Li Feiyu frowned, still reluctant, but ultimately chose to comply. He stopped talking and listened carefully. After a while, his face shifted to a more serious expression. He finally heard the sound of multiple footsteps approaching from the other side of the valley.
"Sun Zhi, this is the place! There's a large bell here and a small path. Looks like this is the Spirit Hand Valley that the deputy lord mentioned," a deep voice called from the edge of the forest.
"Mm. According to the map, and with the bell here, it's definitely the right place. Remember, the lord issued a direct order: we are only to capture the god doctor alive. No one is to harm him. If you do, you'll be punished according to the rules," a sharp voice, like a rooster crowing, ordered.
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
…
The chorus of responses echoed from the woods, and judging by the voices, there seemed to be at least a dozen people, all strong, with solid martial skills.
"Aside from the blue-clad enforcer, the rest are elite members of the Wild Wolf Gang. The blue-clad enforcer is like a guardian, and the elites are equivalent to our inner disciples," Li Feiyu whispered, his voice low and tense.
Li Feiyu understood that Han Li often didn't care about details regarding their enemies, so he quickly explained who they were, hoping to keep Han Li informed and alert.
Han Li didn't say much, but a faint smile appeared on his face. He wasn't overly concerned, though Li Feiyu seemed increasingly anxious.
"With my current strength, I could handle that blue-clad enforcer by myself, but with all the others, I wouldn't stand a chance. I know you've got tricks up your sleeve. Hurry and think of something! Otherwise, it'll be too late," Li Feiyu said quickly, clearly agitated.
The enemies were already nearing the small forest, getting closer to their position.
"How about we hide and avoid their advance for now?" Li Feiyu suggested, though Han Li didn't seem to like the idea.
"Qu Hun, kill everyone in the forest except the blue-clad enforcer. Bring him alive," Han Li suddenly commanded coldly, turning to the giant man behind him.
"What?" Li Feiyu's eyes widened in disbelief.
Before he could react, Qu Hun moved like a gust of wind, charging into the forest. Soon, screams and yells echoed through the trees as the members of the Wild Wolf Gang were ambushed.
"Ah!"
"Who's there?!"
"Help!"
"This… What is this monster?!"
"Run! Aaah!"
…
The forest was filled with the sounds of chaos—screams of fear and pain rang out, but soon, the sounds began to fade, and within moments, everything went silent.
Li Feiyu stood there, his mouth agape, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed. His face was filled with disbelief as he stared at the now eerily silent woods.
For a moment, neither Han Li nor Qu Hun spoke. The situation had been handled swiftly and decisively, leaving Li Feiyu struggling to process the horrifying power of Han Li's ally.
Han Li glanced at him and smirked slightly. "Ready to move?"
Li Feiyu shook his head, trying to gather himself. The image of Qu Hun tearing through their enemies in mere moments was still burned into his mind.
"Let's go. The next phase is still ahead of us." Han Li's voice was calm, almost casual, as he started walking toward the next step of their plan.
Li Feiyu followed, though his pace was slower, as he tried to shake off the lingering shock.