Heaven’s Shadow

"Why?" Han Nanzu asked doubtfully, taken aback.

However, Lu Chen did not answer him immediately. Instead, he lifted his head and shouted toward Yi Xin and He Gang, who were climbing the stone wall nearby, "You two, come down first."

He Gang and Yi Xin turned their heads to look in his direction. They were somewhat surprised but quickly descended the stone wall anyway.

Walking toward Lu Chen, Yi Xin asked hurriedly, "Brother Lu, we were in the midst of picking Dusk Mist Flower. Why did you call us down?"

Lu Chen replied, "Put that aside first. We have to leave now."

"Ah?" Hearing his words, He Gang and Yi Xin were astonished, confusion showing obviously on their faces.

Han Nanzu, who was standing by the side, looked firmly at Lu Chen with a frown and asked, "Brother Lu, what's wrong?"

Lu Chen answered, "I sense something amiss with our surroundings. There might be a pack of Black Jackals coming."

He Gang sneered immediately, thinking nothing of Lu Chen's words, "It's just a pack of inferior demonic beasts, what's there to fear?"

Lu Chen's eyebrows knitted together tightly and he stared at He Gang with deep eyes. Under his fixed look, He Gang suddenly recalled his dismal performance earlier, barely coping with the few Black Jackals. Immediately, he was unable to maintain his nonchalant expression anymore, and embarrassment and anger surged onto his face. "What are you looking at! Back then, when we met the pack of Black Jackals, I was just unprepared. Who would fear those beasts? I will show you how I can easily send them fleeing with their tails tucked between their legs!"

"Enough!" A hushed but authoritative voice sounded. Han Nanzu stopped He Gang from speaking any further, but there was a look of displeasure on his face. "Brother Lu, these Dusk Mist Flowers are important to us. Furthermore, you should have seen us dealing with the Black Jackals earlier on. They're of no problems at all."

Lu Chen sighed. "In this jungle, there are varying sizes to the packs of Black Jackals. They could range from just a few up to several hundred. If that happens to be a larger pack and they mob up against you, it could be quite dangerous."

Han Nanzu was silent for a moment, and indecision was apparent on his face. At this moment, Yi Xin turned to look at the wet stone wall and spoke, "Senior Uncle, we have only picked a few Dusk Mist Flowers. There are still a lot of them on top."

Han Nanzu turned around and saw that, indeed, most of the Dusk Mist Flowers had yet to be picked. Swaying ever so slightly in the moist wind, they looked exceptionally alluring. He hesitated for a moment, and thoughts about the uses of Dusk Mist Flowers flashed through his mind. After which, he decisively announced, "Let's continue picking but hurry up. Once we're done picking the Dusk Mist Flowers, we will leave instantly."

"Alright!" He Gang and Yi Xin replied in harmony.

Yi Xin turned around immediately to head toward the stone wall. On the other hand, He Gang glared at Lu Chen in disdain before proceeding as well.

Looking at He Gang's back, Lu Chen shook his head lightly. Then, he turned to Han Nanzu and stated, "Since that's the case, I will be leaving first then. I have fulfilled my end of the promise and brought the three of you to the 2-mark Dusk Mist Flower, so I won't be staying here any longer."

Lu Chen clasped his hands toward Han Nanzu before leaving.

Han Nanzu stared at Lu Chen's back as he left. He opened his mouth hesitantly, only to close it without saying a word. He took a deep breath before turning to the stone wall to assist He Gang and Yi Xin.

※※※

Lu Chen left the lake with widened strides. He walked to the cliff's edge where they stood earlier and surveyed the environment below. A chilling atmosphere had set onto the dense forests of Black Armored Mountain. Further in the distance, amidst the forest, Lu Chen could vaguely discern figures moving under the shadows. Nonetheless, it was hard to determine the numbers that were hidden under the guise of the forest, and they were traveling at rapid speed in his direction.

Lu Chen's expression changed. His gaze shifted toward the mountainous stream below him, then he snorted gently, "Hmph". After which, he turned around immediately and left with large strides.

Suddenly, after walking with great haste for around a hundred zhang, Lu Chen heard furious bellows of curses from the forest behind him. However, as the sounds came from afar, it was difficult to discern clearly. Conversely, the mournful howls of wild hounds that were mixed into the sounds were exceptionally clear.

(1 zhang = 3.33m|100 zhang = 333m)

Sou sou. At the same time, a rustling could be heard from the forest behind him. It seemed that a fraction of the black figures had come after him as well.

Lu Chen's expression darkened and he cursed under his breath, "Those noses of the dogs sure are sensitive!"

After standing at the same spot for a few moments and examining the surrounding woods, Lu Chen abruptly leaped onto a towering tree.

With movements as nimble as a monkey, Lu Chen climbed up swiftly. Upon reaching a branch which was several zhang above ground, he leaped outward suddenly, jumping onto another tree.

He repeated the action consecutively several dozens of times. Akin to a fish in water, he seemed to be a dexterous monkey, leaping from branches to branches swiftly and with ease. After traveling in this manner for a dozen zhang, Lu Chen finally climbed onto a branch with the densest congregation of flora. At least ten zhang above the ground, he silently concealed his presence.

Not long after, a wave of sharp howls echoed. A large group of the black figures appeared in the area, and impressively, it was actually a large pack consisting of several dozen Black Jackals!

The ferocious wild hounds barked furiously and appeared to possess a desire to tear apart all living beings before them. However, all of a sudden, after arriving at the tree where Lu Chen climbed up initially, the wild hounds lost track of their prey. Circling around the spot, they seemed to be at a loss.

The barking of the hound pack had a piercing quality, and their savage intentions were bone-chilling. However, despite their desperate attempts to locate traces of Lu Chen's scent, having widened the area of search to a radius of several dozen zhang, they failed to discover any leads.

Well-hidden on the tree, Lu Chen held his breath. He looked downward, through the minuscule gaps between leaves, and saw several Black Jackals searching laboriously beneath him. However, after a meticulous search, having turned round and round, they were still unable to locate Lu Chen's scent. They seemed extremely annoyed and infuriated.

Remaining perfectly motionless, Lu Chen stared indifferently at the wild dogs beneath him. The Black Jackals were born with an aggressive and vindictive nature. If the beasts were to realize that he was on the tree, even though they were incapable of scaling the tree, they would surround and fence in the prey to ensure its death, in order to vent their anger!

In his memories from a very long time ago, when he was still young, Lu Chen had wandered about this Black Armored Mountain. Back then, he personally witnessed a large pack of Black Jackals, that in order to trap a bear, camp beneath a tree and laid in wait for seven consecutive days. In the end, the bear could not sustain any longer and was torn into pieces that were divided among the Black Jackals.

Lu Chen shook his head lightly, wringing away the unpleasant memories in his mind. Then, he leaned back against the tree and waited for the sky to turn dark. Beneath him, the Black Jackals seemed unwilling to give up. They continued to prowl the forest looking for him.

In the further distance, the noises of furious curses and screams, sword movements and slaughter gradually grew clearer.

Lu Chen glanced at the mountainous stream. Moments later, he shut his eyes with an impassive expression on his face.

As time passed unknowingly, the commotion gradually died down, and only the mournful howling of the Black Jackals could be heard. A gentle gust of wind blew, and branches and leaves in the forest rustled.

It felt cold.

Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes, and a sight of darkness welcomed him.

At this moment, the sun had set.

...