Chapter 420: Chapter 350: Rune [3]
The gun was a crude contraption, modified from a steel pipe.
But crude as it was, its lethality was hardly diminished.
A vital shot would still be fatal to an ordinary person.
Seemingly noticing Hu Qi’s gaze,
Lu Shan, who was at his side, began to explain.
"That man is Liu Guang, our gathering place’s second-in-command. Although he’s not an Evolver, he is highly regarded by the Lord."
Hu Qi simply nodded without saying anything.
He casually handed the wolf carcass to Lu Shan and walked behind her, keeping a low profile.
Soon, it was Hu Qi and Lu Shan’s turn in line.
The sight of the Long-eared Wolf carcass on Lu Shan’s back
immediately drew a number of greedy gazes from those nearby.
When Liu Guang, the man in charge, saw this, his eyes lit up.
He strode up to Lu Shan and reached out to stroke the Long-eared Wolf’s soft fur.
Strangely, it was still raining, and the two of them had been soaked on their way back.
And yet, the wolf’s unprotected fur was exceptionally dry, as if it naturally repelled water.
"Not bad, not bad at all. An adult Long-eared Wolf with its pelt almost perfectly intact!"
Liu Guang nodded.
His gaze fell upon the Long-eared Wolf’s neck, and he paused for a moment.
"What fine work. A single, fatal blow."
His tone carried a hint of surprise.
There, a laceration tore almost completely through its neck.
Although the Long-eared Wolf was one of the most common Wild Beasts, its strength and speed far surpassed that of an ordinary gray wolf.
To be able to accomplish this,
even if a trap had been set in advance, the attacker’s strength must have been considerable.
Not to mention, it looked like a direct ambush.
The implications of that were something else entirely.
"We only succeeded in this hunt thanks to this friend’s help,"
Lu Shan explained, her eyes flickering.
The Long-eared Wolf looked that way
because Hu Qi had told her to slice it with her knife beforehand.
The purpose was to create the illusion that it had been killed by an external force.
Hu Qi hadn’t forgotten what had happened earlier.
The body of the woman he had killed with the Black Banner was still at the scene.
That manner of death was too peculiar—there were no injuries at all.
If someone perceptive were to notice and connect the dots, it would be trouble.
The person Xi Zhongsi had possessed held a very high status in this world.
He was even connected to some Apostle Level being.
Until his own power increased, it was best to be cautious.
Hearing this,
Liu Guang glanced at Hu Qi, who was standing behind her.
He saw a young man in his twenties, about 1.8 meters tall, with an ordinary face.
His complexion was dark, his skin rough, and his clothes tattered.
However, he wasn’t gaunt; on the contrary, his entire body exuded a sense of lean strength.
"So that’s how it is!"
The guard’s expression was one of sudden understanding.
Then, Lu Shan briefly explained that Hu Qi wanted to join the Rotten Leaf Gathering Place.
As for Hu Qi’s background, she said he was from the Black Stone Gathering Place.
The Black Stone Gathering Place wasn’t far from the Rotten Leaf Gathering Place; the two were adjacent, about thirty kilometers apart.
However, it had been wiped out by a powerful Wild Beast a week ago.
"You’re a lucky kid, surviving alone in the wilderness for so many days."
Liu Guang didn’t seem surprised.
He knew this so clearly because their Lord had led a team to the Black Stone Territory a few days prior and brought back some supplies.
No gathering place would turn away an outside survivor like Hu Qi—able-bodied and in the prime of his youth.
After all, a population meant a workforce.
That was the principle, at least.
But when Liu Guang’s gaze fell upon the Long-eared Wolf,
a knowing smile slowly spread across his lips.
"Joining is no problem, but you’ll have to give up half of this Long-eared Wolf. Consider it an entrance fee."
Upon hearing this,
Lu Shan’s brow furrowed slightly.
"I don’t recall there being such a rule."
"Heh, it’s a new one, just came out. What, you got a problem with it?"
Liu Guang sneered.
As soon as he spoke,
the guards behind him all turned their gazes toward them.
Their eyes were filled with malice, and some even vaguely aimed their guns in their direction.
In this gathering place, those holding the guns were the law.
Seeing this, Lu Shan fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"I have no objection."
Although she wished she could use the Dagger on her leg to slit the man’s throat,
she knew she couldn’t do it.
Soon, the nearly 330-pound Long-eared Wolf was butchered on the spot.
The men were skilled; before long, the Long-eared Wolf’s pelt was stripped off cleanly.
The pelt was the most valuable part of the wolf.
Then, Liu Guang cut off a right hind leg and threw it to Lu Shan.
At this, Lu Shan’s expression grew even darker, and she pressed her lips together tightly.
The Long-eared Wolf weighed a full 330 pounds. According to what he’d said,
after handing over half, she should have received half of the remainder—at least a quarter of the total, which would be over seventy-five pounds.
But now, all he had thrown her was a single hind leg. At most, it weighed forty-five pounds.
In the end, however, she said nothing.
...
Back at the gate, watching the two of them leave,
’It’s a pity. The woman’s got a great body, but that birthmark on her face is a real turn-off. Otherwise, she’d be fun to play with.’
Liu Guang thought, shaking his head.
The thought was just a fleeting one.
He remembered her. Every time she went out, she almost always managed to bring back some food. Her skills were impressive, and her personality was exceptionally ruthless.
