Chapter 50: Hahaha, Can’t Run Anymore, Huh?
Seeing Chen Guodong and the others ahead fleeing like startled rabbits, the Li Family Village members laughed even more wildly.
"Hahaha! Looks like they’ve spotted us!"
"So what? Do they actually think they can escape our clutches?" The lead archer sneered in a mocking tone.
"Hahaha, Old Yang, you’ve got to let them struggle a little! Like drowning rats—they know thrashing only sinks them faster, but they can’t help it."
"Exactly!"
The group chased while laughing, their confidence unshakable.
The distance between them had narrowed to nearly 300 meters.
"Run, run! Let’s see how far those legs carry them." Li Xiong licked his lips with twisted delight as he listened to his men’s jeers. Many had fled like this before him, yet none had escaped. The Chen Family Village group would be no different—unless they abandoned all their prey.
"Boss! Someone’s tailing us!"
A shout erupted from the rear.
"What?!"
The entire group slowed and turned. Disbelief washed over their faces.
"It’s Gu Jianghai and his crew?!"
"Damn it! They dare follow us? Asking for a grave, are they?"
Rage flared instantly. Even the dimmest among them knew being followed spelled trouble, especially after stealing most of Gu’s猎物.
"Brother Xiong, this smells bad," warned the hook-nosed man gravely. Earlier, he’d advised Li Xiong to leave Gu Jianghai some prey to avoid retaliation. In his view, Chen Guodong’s earlier refusal to help Gu would’ve bred resentment—Gu’s group should’ve been glad to see Li’s men robbed, not aiding their enemies. Yet here they were.
"Ignore them," Li Xiong growled. "Focus on Chen Guodong ahead. They’re the prize. We’ll deal with Gu’s rats later."
He turned to the two front archers. "Old Li, Old Ji. When we’re in range, pick off two or three. Teach the rest their place."
"Easy, boss."
"200 meters," the second archer flashed two fingers. "Once we hit 200, those Chen Village fools’ll be target practice. Not one’s escaping."
"Good! Keep pushing!"
Li Xiong threw a venomous glare backward before charging ahead. That single look froze Gu Jianghai’s group mid-step, icy dread clawing their spines.
"Jianghai… they’ve seen us."
"Li Xiong’s warning us. If we keep following…" someone quavered.
Gu Jianghai gritted his teeth. "They’d have noticed sooner or later. You think retreating now will save us? It’s too late for second thoughts."
His men steeled themselves, resolve hardening.
"Dad," Gu Ze frowned, voice edged with frustration. "Why are the Chen Village idiots still running? Don’t they know it’s hopeless?"
He doubted such cowards would fight when caught. Would they just grovel and surrender their猎物? If so, they’d all be doomed.
"Maybe…" Gu Jianghai’s chest tightened. "It’s instinct. They’re testing if they can outrun Li’s pack. Once reality hits, they’ll stop and fight."
His men exchanged uneasy glances, doubt flickering in their eyes.
Let’s hope so.
Otherwise, their next encounter with Li Xiong would end in more than lost猎物.
"300 meters."
Chen Fan glanced back before resuming his sprint. The two lead archers already had arrows nocked, poised to loose.
Huff… Huff…
Chen Guodong and the others gasped, lungs burning as if scorched. Yet they pushed on—Chen Fan hadn’t signaled to stop. Their sole hope lay in his archery. Without him, Li Xiong’s gang would crush them.
The gap closed another thirty meters.
"Almost in range," Old Li muttered, raising his bow with a nocked arrow.
"Patience," his companion chuckled. "200 meters is the sweet spot. Any farther, the arrows lose bite."
Old Li nodded, lowering his bow slightly.
The others grinned wider, visions of triumph dancing in their minds.
Meanwhile, Gu Jianghai’s group watched in mounting panic.
"They’re entering arrow range! What’s wrong with those Chen Village morons? You can’t outrun arrows!"
"They need to stop! Hide behind shields or fight back!"
"Right! Don’t they have an archer? Why isn’t he shooting?"
"You mean that kid Gu Ze’s age? Pfft. That bow’s just for show. No way he can use it."
Gu Jianghai’s lips thinned. True, the youth seemed too green. Not every youngster could draw a heavy bow like his son. Had he pinned false hopes on the boy?
Despair shadowed his face as he imagined Chen Village’s members falling to arrows.
Then—
The fleeing Chen Village group skidded to a halt and turned.
Huh?
Both pursuers and followers froze, stunned.
"Hahaha! They’ve given up!"
Li’s men roared with laughter, surging forward blindly. None noticed the youth at the Chen group’s rear draw his bow taut—wood creaking ominously.
TWANG!
A thunderous snap split the air. A meter-long arrow tore through the wilderness like black lightning.
"Look out—!"
The hook-nosed man’s warning died in his throat.
Li’s men still wore grins when the shrieking arrow reached them.
Old Li’s eyes bulged. A distant speck ballooned into view—
THUNK!
The arrow punched through his chest. The force hurled him backward as if struck by a truck, limbs flailing, body airborne.
