Chapter 49: A Path to Self-Destruction
Watching the retreating figures of the Li Family Village, a member of the Gu Family Village team gritted his teeth, eyes bloodshot. “Those beasts aren’t even human!”
“After all our effort to secure this prey… now only scraps remain.”
The man beside him stared at the meager remains—a wildebeest’s head—on the ground, his voice trembling. The edible meat was pitifully scant.
Gu Ze clenched his fists, fury blazing in his chest. More than once, he’d imagined shooting Li Xiong dead with an arrow. But he knew the consequences: not only their deaths here, but retaliation against their families back in the village.
Gu Jianghai forced a smile, scanning the group. “Look on the bright side. At least we aren’t returning empty-handed. We’ll hunt again tomorrow.”
“Easy for you to say,” someone retorted. “This took us days! And what if we cross paths with those Li Family beasts again?”
The mood sank. Morale hit rock bottom. Some wiped away tears—men seldom cry, but despair had stripped their pride.
A flat-nosed, thick-lipped man sneered at the distant Li Family figures. “The Chen Family Village left us to rot. Now they’ll get their turn.”
The group stirred, bitterness finding an outlet.
“Right! Those shortsighted fools used us as bait. Now with all their prey, they’ll be slower—easy targets!”
“They’ll end up worse than us!”
Gu Ze stayed silent, resentment simmering, yet acknowledging the Chen Family owed them nothing.
Gu Jianghai suddenly stood. “We should follow. We might still help.”
“What?” The five stared at him as if he’d gone mad.
“Have you lost your mind?” the flat-nosed man snapped. “The Chen Family ignored us when we needed help! Why aid them now?”
“Dad, why should we?” Gu Ze protested.
“Helping them helps us,” Jianghai insisted. “We’re outnumbered against the Li Family, but the Chen Family has nearly as many hunters. If they fight over the prey, we can tip the scales—reclaim our share. If not, our presence might deter the Li Family. Either way, we gain allies instead of perpetual victims.”
The group hesitated, then reluctantly followed.
“There! Up ahead!”
The Li Family Village hunters finally spotted their quarry—five hundred meters away, shrinking fast.
“Damn rabbits,” a bowman cursed, stumbling over the uneven terrain.
His companion scoffed. “Speed won’t save them unless they drop the prey.”
“And why would they?” The group laughed, greed gleaming.
“Big Bro, how much do we take?”
“All of it!” Li Xiong grinned.
“But starving them risks future hunts,” another cautioned. “Leave half—sustainable, right?”
Li Xiong nodded. “Half it is. Gu Jianghai’s right: leave room for… future negotiations.”
Mocking cheers erupted.
“What if they refuse again?” someone muttered.
Li Xiong’s smile vanished. “Refuse? Shoot a warning into that brat with the hundred-pound bow. Teach him his place.”
The archers smirked. “With pleasure.”
“Xiao Fan! They’re closing in!” Gao Yang panted, drenched in sweat. The others trembled, legs wobbling under their loads.
“Keep running,” Chen Fan ordered calmly. “Speed up. Let them think we’re scared.”
At the rear, bow in hand, he glanced back and smiled coldly.
Good. You chose hell.
