The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 275: Chapter 272: Prying

"Bro, you have to help me! My whole future depends on you."

Lu Yu immediately latched onto Bai Yuan’s leg.

Bai Yuan tried to dodge, but Lu Yu gave him no chance, clamping his arms firmly around his leg.

Resigned, Bai Yuan could only say, "You could at least tell me what happened first."

"I took a mission to exterminate some demons in a village ten li away, but I never expected those demons to team up with the Barbarian People and set a trap! If I hadn’t fought with my life on the line, you might have never seen this sworn brother of yours again."

"A few too many adjectives there."

"..."

Lu Yu blinked. ’I thought my acting was pretty good,’ he thought to himself, but it seemed Bai Yuan wasn’t buying it at all.

"Bro, you can’t just watch your brother get beaten, can you?"

Seeing Bai Yuan’s indifferent expression, Lu Yu’s heart sank. ’This isn’t good.’

As a live-in son-in-law of the Fang Family, he had never accomplished anything significant since marrying in. If he lost face in front of that important figure from the Fang Family this time, establishing himself in the family would only become harder in the future.

"Bro, if I get a Cultivation Technique in the future, I’ll definitely share it with you."

Lu Yu gritted his teeth.

Bai Yuan wouldn’t be interested in any of the assets he currently had, so he could only make promises about the future.

Hearing this, Bai Yuan finally showed a hint of a smile.

’Now *that’s* more like it. Brothers are brothers, and I can give a discount at most, but trying to get it for free is just going too far.’

Of course, Bai Yuan was still willing to help.

Although Lu Yu was at a low point right now, he might just astound everyone in the future.

He had a good feeling about Lu Yu’s potential.

After all, a thick-skinned, live-in son-in-law with decent potential? That had to be the script for at least the second male lead. He couldn’t be that bad off.

"Alright."

Seeing Bai Yuan agree, Lu Yu’s face lit up with joy.

Bai Yuan’s strength was obvious to all, and with his Firearms Team, success was practically guaranteed.

"Aren’t you going to lead the way?"

Bai Yuan glanced at Lu Yu.

"Right away, Bro!"

Lu Yu’s dejected demeanor vanished in an instant. He shot up and led Bai Yuan back the way he came.

...

Half an hour later, Lu Yu led Bai Yuan to a dilapidated mountain village.

The village wasn’t large, but it was teeming with demons.

Bai Yuan’s keen senses picked up the figures of Barbarian People in the mountain forest not far from the village.

These demons and Barbarian People were quite strong; it was no wonder Lu Yu had suffered a defeat.

Out of caution, he had the Firearms Team wait a few li away for his signal, while he and Lu Yu went ahead to scout out the situation.

’After all, if it were him setting the trap, he would definitely pull the same trick again: call in more experts from the Demon Sect to this village and ambush another group of Xuan Yang’s Martial Artists.’

Lu Yu asked, "Bro, should we go kill those bastards now?"

His eyes were filled with excitement, eager to avenge his earlier humiliation.

"Wait!"

Bai Yuan said suddenly.

Lu Yu followed Bai Yuan’s gaze.

A bush not far from the village rustled slightly. The movement was so small it would have been nearly impossible to spot in the vast mountain forest.

But Bai Yuan had spotted it.

Lu Yu was startled and could only suppress his impatience.

A head popped out from the bushes, and Lu Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He recognized the man; he seemed to be a Chief Steward from the Jiangnan Commerce Association.

He hadn’t expected the Jiangnan Commerce Association to have coincidentally stumbled upon the same target as him.

However, compared to him, the force deployed by the Jiangnan Commerce Association was much larger and stronger.

It wasn’t that the Jiangnan Commerce Association was stronger than the Fang Family, but rather that the Chief Steward’s status was higher than Lu Yu’s.

Seeing this, Lu Yu couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

If he had that many men, he would have wiped out the demons in that village long ago.

In the end, the status of a live-in son-in-law was truly pathetic.

Lu Yu said, "Bro, how about we wait for the Jiangnan Commerce Association to do most of the work, then we swoop in and take some of the credit?"

Bai Yuan didn’t speak, his expression growing even more serious.

This made Lu Yu feel a sense of doubt.

He could only turn his head back to continue observing the situation in the village.

More and more people emerged from the bushes, and then a volley of arrows rained down on the village. After the arrow storm, the Martial Artists dropped their bows, drew their weapons, and charged into the village.

The demons’ bloodlust was ignited, and the two sides clashed in a chaotic melee.

The Barbarian People who had been lying in ambush nearby heard the commotion in the village and charged down as well.

For a time, the three factions were locked in a fierce, chaotic battle within the village.

But just as the Jiangnan Commerce Association was starting to gain the upper hand, a powerfully built old man wearing an animal skin coat walked slowly into the village.

His face was calm, as if he didn’t even see the slaughter happening in the village.

When Bai Yuan saw that old man appear, a chill ran down his spine.

’Kuaidong!’

Who would have thought that Kuaidong had already appeared less than ten li from Huaiyuan City.

An expert from the Jiangnan Commerce Association who didn’t recognize Kuaidong was about to slash at him with his saber.

But Kuaidong grabbed him by the neck as easily as one might pinch a baby chick, leaving the man with no possibility of resistance.

Kuaidong’s immense power was on full display.

Bai Yuan watched intently.

This was the first time he had seen Kuaidong truly in action.

With Kuaidong’s appearance, the outcome was sealed. Anyone who came before him was finished in a single punch, and that included the Chief Steward of the Jiangnan Commerce Association.

The battle ended quickly, lasting only for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

It should have taken much longer, but everything changed because Kuaidong had appeared.

Lu Yu stared, transfixed, at the scene in the village and sucked in a sharp breath.

If Bai Yuan hadn’t stopped him, he might have already rushed into the battlefield. If he had, there would just be one more corpse in the village now.

Although he had never seen Kuaidong before, having spent so many years in Ling Province, he guessed the identity of the old man in animal skins in a single glance.

Bai Yuan didn’t even dare to make a sound. He exchanged a look with Lu Yu, and they began to sneak away.

Fortunately, they were a good two li away from the village; Kuaidong shouldn’t have been able to discover their presence.

Only when they were back on the Official Road and saw the Firearms Team waiting there did Bai Yuan finally let out a long sigh of relief.

The pressure Kuaidong exuded was simply too immense.

Even from such a great distance, he was still terrified.

Lu Yu met Bai Yuan’s gaze. The feeling of having just escaped death almost made him want to kneel to Bai Yuan all over again.

"We have to get this information to the people in the city."

Bai Yuan said decisively.

Hearing this, Lu Yu’s eyes lit up.

Compared to exterminating the demons in a village, the news of Kuaidong’s arrival in Huaiyuan Prefecture was undoubtedly more important. This was a significant merit to be won.

"Bro, you have to let me take the credit for this."

"Do as you wish."

Bai Yuan waved his hand dismissively.

It didn’t matter to him who reported the news. What mattered was letting Yang Jiuyan and the other experts know of Kuaidong’s whereabouts.

The principle of mutual dependence—’if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold’—could not be clearer. If Huaiyuan City were to fall, he wouldn’t fare well either.

...

"Kuaidong is within ten li of Huaiyuan Prefecture."

Yang Jiuyan was also greatly shocked when he heard this news.

He had to deal with an existence like Kuaidong with extreme caution, or he could risk death.

He immediately rose and went to the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office to discuss countermeasures with the other four.

For a Grandmaster like Kuaidong, a distance of ten li was practically nothing. He could arrive at the city walls at any moment.

After Yang Jiuyan left, Yang Fangyu found Bai Yuan. "That kid Lu Yu is really something else. He managed to survive an encounter with Kuaidong and even brought back intel."

With so few people in Huaiyuan City, secrets were impossible to keep.

The Fang Family was the first to learn the news about Kuaidong. Word from the Fang Clan Members was that the intelligence was brought back by a live-in son-in-law with the surname Lu.

The moment Yang Fangyu heard this, he knew without even thinking that the live-in son-in-law had to be Lu Yu.

Bai Yuan replied, "Isn’t he just."

Yang Fangyu noticed Bai Yuan’s odd expression and immediately pressed, "Do you know something I don’t?"

"Nope."

Yang Fangyu was now certain that Bai Yuan had been involved.

"By the way, Ah Yuan, what do you think our chances are if Kuaidong attacks Huaiyuan City?"

He and Bai Yuan had both experienced that battle in the mountains of Ling Province.

Therefore, he was well aware of Kuaidong’s power. Even Du Qinghui had almost been killed by that old man in animal skins. His strength was terrifying.

Even if the Yang Family Patriarch himself were here, he wouldn’t necessarily be a match for Kuaidong.

After all, Kuaidong hailed from the Northern Barbarian Race and was a natural warrior. In single combat, he was more than a match for the Three Religions Martial Masters of Xuan Yang.

Bai Yuan’s answer was firm and absolute: "A one-in-ten chance of survival."

!!

Yang Fangyu was horrified.

He had expected Bai Yuan to say something like thirty or forty percent, but he never imagined it would be less than ten.

After all, while there were no experts on the level of Du Qinghui in the city, his second uncle Yang Jiuyan and the other few were all long-renowned Grandmasters. If they joined forces, they should at least be able to put up a fight against Kuaidong.

Bai Yuan didn’t explain.

’The reason he said this was because Old Dong had once told him with a completely serious expression that Kuaidong could kill three Dong Wanjuns.’

’In Bai Yuan’s estimation, the five Grandmasters in the city couldn’t beat three Old Dongs.’

’By that logic, Kuaidong could definitely kill all five of them.’

’He had always trusted Old Dong’s judgment.’

’Not to mention, Old Dong was one of the few people who had taken a direct punch from Kuaidong and lived.’

’If he weren’t worried about his terrible luck causing him to run into Kuaidong, he would have fled Huaiyuan City in the middle of the night already.’

’After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to stay in Huaiyuan City for the time being.’

’He would wait for the five Grandmasters to engage Kuaidong, and then he would make his escape. That would be the safer option.’

’If the Sect Leader of the Celestial Profound Sect couldn’t arrive before Kuaidong broke into the city, then he definitely couldn’t stay in Huaiyuan City.’

While he was lost in thought, Lu Yu walked up to Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu with a cheeky grin.

Yang Fangyu saw the man of the hour and teased with a smile, "The Dragon King Son-in-Law?"

He had heard those four words from Bai Yuan.

Lu Yu wasn’t offended; on the contrary, he accepted the title with pleasure.

He was already a live-in son-in-law. Adding ’Dragon King’ in front of it just made it sound badass.

He had rendered a great service this time, and that important figure from the Fang Family was full of praise for him. Once he returned to the Fang Family, his status at home was bound to rise.

At the very least, he probably wouldn’t have to abide by the ’rules of husbandly virtue’ so strictly anymore.

Lu Yu asked, "Bro, what are you planning to do next?"

He had come here, of course, to cling tightly to Bai Yuan’s coattails.

Compared to the people in the Fang Family, he understood Kuaidong’s power all too well, while they seemed to be unconcerned. That’s why he felt Bai Yuan was more reliable.

By following Bai Yuan, his chances of dying would be much, much lower.

Both Yang Fangyu’s and Lu Yu’s gazes turned to Bai Yuan in unison.