Chapter 48: Did You Really Think They’d Help?
Let’s rewind to a few minutes earlier, the moment when both sides locked eyes.
“Is that… the Chen Family Village people?” A burly archer blurted in surprise.
“Looks like it. The guy leading them—isn’t that Chen Guodong?” another archer squinted.
“Let me see… Yep, that’s the coward himself.”
“Hah! Seriously? Him?”
The square-faced leader roared with laughter. “That spineless fool! Last time we stole his kill, he looked ready to argue. I slapped him once, and he shut right up—didn’t even squeak!”
“Hahahaha!”
The group erupted in laughter, some doubling over with tears in their eyes.
But a few faces in the crowd darkened.
These were the Gu Family Village hunters, now trapped in a tightening semicircle.
It was pure bad luck.
After crossing paths with Chen Fan’s group earlier, they’d changed routes and stumbled upon a lone wildebeest. After an exhausting chase, they’d finally brought it down.
They’d been elated—this kill would feed their village for days. But on their return, they’d collided with the empty-handed Li Family Village hunters.
Same old story.
The Li group blocked their path as always: Leave the kill or suffer.
The Gu hunters seethed silently. They’d begged for mercy, hoping to keep even a sliver of their hard-won prize.
Then came the flicker of hope—figures approaching.
Chen Family Village!
Though the villages weren’t close, surely they’d help fellow victims of Li Family Village’s bullying?
The Gu group watched eagerly as Chen Guodong’s party drew nearer—then gaped in shock.
Five kills. The Chen team carried five carcasses.
Gu Jianghai’s stomach dropped.
“Wait—those bastards!”
The square-faced leader’s grin vanished. He stared in disbelief.
“One… five! Five kills!”
“Five?! How? When we met Zhao Family Fort last week, even the Wei brothers only had three!”
“Look closer—nine people, no Wei brothers in sight.”
“Then how?!”
Envy twisted the Li hunters’ faces. How could Chen Family Village outdo them? Sheer luck—must’ve tripped into trapped prey.
“Boss,” a middle-aged Li hunter grinned, “we’ve hunted all day for nothing, and here’s a delivery!”
“A fat one too. Refusing heaven’s gift brings curses!”
“Let’s move—they’re slowed by the load.”
The Li group chuckled, eyeing the distant Chens. The Gu clan’s wildebeest suddenly seemed meager.
The Gu hunters dared to hope—if the Lis chased the Chens, maybe they’d escape with their kill. A shameful thought, but…
Except for one young Gu man, whose eyes burned with hatred.
“Patience,” the square-faced leader sneered. “They’re not getting far.”
He wheeled on Gu Jianghai. “Old Gu! Yes or no? I’m not wasting daylight here.”
Both villages’ kills—he wanted it all.
The Li hunters smirked. Swallowed prey stays swallowed.
“Brother Li,” Gu Jianghai forced a smile, “spare us some dignity. Our village hasn’t eaten in days. Starvation’s at our door.”
“Please, brothers—leave us just a little!”
Their pleas rang hollow as they glanced toward the approaching Chens. With equal numbers, maybe the Lis would back down…
Li Xiong’s patience snapped. “You think this is a damned market?!”
A hook-nosed man whispered in his ear. Li Xiong’s expression shifted, then hardened.
“Fine,” he growled. “You’ll get a third.”
Gu Jianghai blinked. “Brother Li, just half—”
“Half?” Li Xiong barked. “You’re lucky we’re leaving you anything! Push me, and you’ll carry air home!”
“Gu Jianghai,” the hook-nosed man mocked, “still hoping the Chens will save you? Look—they’re leaving.”
The Gu hunters whirled. True enough—Chen Guodong’s group marched briskly away, burdens and all.
Gu Jianghai crumpled to his knees, laughing bitterly. Of course. Why risk their windfall for mere acquaintances?
“Hah! They actually hoped for help!”
“Think those cowards would stand up to us?!”
Li Family Village’s jeers cut deeper than blades.
“A third,” Gu Jianghai rasped, voice thick with shame.
Gu Ze and the others stared at the dirt, faces burning.
“Should’ve agreed sooner!” Li Xiong smirked, watching the Chens shrink into the distance. Do they really think they can escape me?
Fools.
