"Brother Zhou!" Zhou Ming, who had walked into the Chang Family's camp, was called out by Chang Shan Yin, who was coming towards him.
"Hahaha, Brother Zhou! Still doing well, I see!"
The radiant Chang Shan Yin showed no trace of the weariness he had felt drinking alone a few days prior. He still held Ni Xuetong in his arms, her face beautiful, her eyes hazy, and her smile like a blooming flower.
"Brother Chang, I was just about to look for you." Zhou Ming went to meet him, unable to resist glancing at Ni Xuetong a couple more times.
This woman's state didn't seem right… "Oh? Brother Zhou, have you encountered something troubling? Don't worry, you've helped me so much, allowing me to have Xuetong. Now, whatever you need, just say it. If it's within my power, I will do my utmost!"
Chang Shan Yin waved his hand, incredibly bold.
Hey, hey, hey, you can't just say things like that!
Zhou Ming didn't want to take the blame for this, so he quickly waved his hand: "Brother Chang, I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you that I've inconvenienced the Chang Family for so many days, and it's time for me to leave."
"Hmm? Why is Brother Zhou suddenly leaving?" Chang Shan Yin frowned: "Has someone in my Chang Family offended you?"
"No, no, no, absolutely not." Zhou Ming waved his hand, "It's just that I've already bought the suitable Gu, and the Market here is about to end. All my objectives have been achieved, so it's natural for me to move on to the next stop."
Chang Shan Yin thought for a moment and said: "Brother Zhou, could you perhaps stay a few more days? I plan to marry Xuetong in five days. You are a witness to our love, and I hope you can attend my wedding banquet!"
I really don't want to be a witness... Zhou Ming felt a pang of discomfort, but he vaguely agreed a couple of times and left in a hurry.
The status of women in Northern Plains was generally low. Marriages were completely out of their control. Women were dependent on men, and the strong would seize the women of the weak, just as they would seize their property.
This was the custom of Northern Plains. For someone like Ni Xuetong, what did it matter if she had someone she loved? What did it matter if Chang Shan Yin forcibly took her? If Chang Shan Yin wanted to marry her, he would marry her. No one would ask for Ni Xuetong's opinion.
Except for Chang Biao.
The distraught Chang Biao stared intently at Chang Shan Yin from a distance, his heart filled with a hatred that could drive a person mad. When his gaze turned to Ni Xuetong, it transformed into boundless love and tenderness.
Finally, he closed his eyes, suppressed all his emotions deep within his heart, turned around, and left, his hunched back carrying a resolute determination.
Chang Biao did not notice that after he turned to leave, Chang Shan Yin's gaze instead fell upon him. Then, he pinched Ni Xuetong's chin, turned her face, and pointed a finger at Chang Biao's retreating figure.
"Look, he looks like a dog."
Ni Xuetong bit her lower lip, saying nothing. A hint of sadness showed through her hazy, tear-filled eyes.
The smile on Chang Shan Yin's face disappeared, and a cold indifference gradually appeared in his eyes: "I don't care what your relationship was before, but now you are my woman, and I will not allow you to have any other man in your heart!"
"I've said the same thing once already, and your performance these past few days has satisfied me, but I hope you will still keep all my words in mind and never forget them!"
"Because I will truly eliminate anyone who is an eyesore."
Ni Xuetong closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the sadness in them was gone, replaced by a ripple of spring water, filled with a desire so thick it almost overflowed.
"Let's… go inside."
Chang Shan Yin burst out laughing, picked up Ni Xuetong by the waist, and turned to walk towards his Mushroom House Gu… "No, I still have to leave!"
Back in his dwelling, Zhou Ming felt an inexplicable sense of unease in his heart, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't pinpoint the source of the danger.
But he had always trusted his intuition, and this time was no different. So, after only a moment's thought, Zhou Ming made the decision to leave.
'Perhaps the Chang Family giving me two Rank Four Gu was meant to happen here?'
Or perhaps the Chang Family's gift of Gu was simply a means of winning him over, but Zhou Ming didn't need to gamble on such things, nor did he feel any guilt whatsoever.
Does running away require guilt?
The next day, Zhou Ming went to the Market one last time. After sweeping through it, he found no valuable Gu, then left, not heading to the Chang Family, but following the map, continuing towards Crescent Lake.
However, the weaving net of fate had already unfolded. Those caught within fate were like small insects trapped in a net; the more they struggled, the tighter they became entangled. How could they possibly escape?
This time, Zhou Ming was still riding a camel wolf, but it had been upgraded from the original Hundred Wolf King to a Thousand Wolf King, surrounded by a large pack of camel wolves.
These were all bought by Zhou Ming from Chang Shan Yin a few days ago. Although Chang Shan Yin insisted on giving them to Zhou Ming, Zhou Ming's attitude was firm, so Chang Shan Yin could only reluctantly accept the primeval stones.
Afterward, Zhou Ming hunted with Chang Shan Yin and their wolf packs every day, learning Chang Shan Yin's Enslavement Path methods while also practicing on his own small wolf pack.
As a result, although this wolf pack was not large, Zhou Ming had trained it to be as responsive as an extension of his arm, making it very smooth to command.
The wolf pack had traveled about a hundred li when Zhou Ming's ears suddenly twitched. He immediately ordered the wolf pack to stop moving.
The Rank Three Listening Wind Grass Gu sent the sounds from several li around with the wind into Zhou Ming's ears, allowing him to hear a conversation and identify a familiar voice.
"Tonight at midnight is when the Family patrols are most lax. At that time, I will remove the warning Gu and defensive Gu, and open the gate to let you in…"
"How can we trust that you have this ability…"
"Heh heh, I am a Rank Three Family Elder after all…"
"What if this is your trap…"
"Ha Tu Gu, you… are afraid… everyone says…"
"At that time… Xuetong…"
"I want to see Chang Shan Yin with my own eyes…"
The sounds carried by the wind were intermittent, but enough for Zhou Ming to hear most of it and analyze all the information from it.
Because one of the speakers was none other than Chang Biao.
And on the other side of the conversation with Chang Biao, Zhou Ming heard a familiar name, Ha Tu Gu.
'When did Chang Biao get in touch with Ha Tu Gu!'
'Given Chang Biao's personality, shouldn't he have endured and secretly plotted against Chang Shan Yin? Why has he suddenly become so aggressive!'
As these two simple thoughts flashed through Zhou Ming's mind, he suddenly realized another problem.
If he could hear their conversation, would they not hear the sounds of his wolf pack traveling?
The sound of a wolf pack running was much louder than a conversation!
Just as Zhou Ming realized this problem, he felt two gazes on him.
Although there was still a grassy hill separating them, Zhou Ming could feel those sharp eyes piercing through the barrier of the grassy hill, fixed firmly on him.
Such piercing gazes and powerful Aura were possessed by only one person in this group.
Ha Tu Gu, currently a Rank Four Peak Gu Master, specializing in the Bone Path.
"Damn it, they say walls have ears, but how can someone still hear us even when we've come all the way out here? This is utterly damn strange!"
Ha Tu Gu cursed loudly, waving his hand. His bandits spurred their mounts and surrounded Zhou Ming from his direction.
'It is strange indeed.' Zhou Ming sneered inwardly.
Zhou Ming happened to leave today, Chang Biao happened to contact Ha Tu Gu, and happened to meet Ha Tu Gu secretly today.
In such a vast and boundless grassland, the other party chose this particular spot for their secret meeting, and Zhou Ming also happened to choose this spot for his departure. It was as if the other party was specifically waiting here.
A coincidence? Well, that's quite a coincidence indeed!
Zhou Ming looked up at the sky, then lowered his head, his gaze falling forward. Bandits rushed out from behind the hill, somewhat surprised to see Zhou Ming's wolf pack, but they didn't retreat. Instead, they nervously surrounded Zhou Ming.
Ha Tu Gu and Chang Biao then appeared from behind the grassy hill.
Upon seeing Zhou Ming's appearance, Chang Biao's expression instantly became very intricate. He whispered Zhou Ming's identity into Ha Tu Gu's ear, which also caused Ha Tu Gu's expression to change.
"Hmph, it seems Chang Shan Yin suspected you all along. After testing that you were in contact with us, he brought out such a master to deal with us!"
"You useless fellow, not only can you not help us take down the Chang Family, but Chang Shan Yin even snatched Ni Xuetong from you. Living is just a waste of food!"
Ha Tu Gu was furious and kicked Chang Biao. Chang Biao, unable to dodge, was kicked off his wolf by Ha Tu Gu, falling to the ground, momentarily stunned.
Ha Tu Gu spurred his horse forward. The bandits quickly made way for Ha Tu Gu to approach Zhou Ming, who was surrounded in the center.
"Brother, are you leaving the Chang Family now?" Ha Tu Gu asked with a chuckle.
"Indeed, I have finished what I needed to do here, so naturally, I must move on to the next place."
Zhou Ming spoke calmly on the surface, but inwardly, his heart was tumultuous and his nerves were taut.
"Things are done? That's good. In that case, Brother, you should go ahead. I'll make way."
Ha Tu Gu waved his hand, and the Gu Masters surrounding Zhou Ming quickly cleared a path.
"Please." Ha Tu Gu smiled and made a gesture to see Zhou Ming off.
"Naturally, I must go." Zhou Ming said in a deep voice, urging the camel wolf beneath him, which carried him along the path cleared by the Gu Masters, ignoring the hostile gazes of the bandits.
One hundred meters… two hundred meters… three hundred meters… The wolf pack slowly passed through, stretching into a long strip.
In the middle of the strip were Zhou Ming and the camel wolf he rode, with wolf packs guarding and protecting him both in front and behind.
Behind Zhou Ming, Ha Tu Gu drew a bone bow, nocked a bone arrow, and aimed at Zhou Ming's back.
Whoosh! The bone arrow flew, crossing hundreds of meters in an instant, moving so fast it seemed to transcend space, appearing behind Zhou Ming in a flash, about to pierce his heart.
A giant Iron Shell Flower Gu appeared in the Void Realm, its petals opening, instantly taking Zhou Ming inside. Then the Iron Shell Flower Gu closed, and the bone arrow struck the Iron Shell Flower Gu petals, but only pierced half an arrowhead deep before losing momentum and getting stuck in the Iron Shell Flower Gu petals.
This was the Iron Shell Flower Gu that Zhou Ming had just acquired, and its defensive effect was indeed excellent.
"Kill him!"
Ha Tu Gu waved his hand, and his bandits all howled as they launched an attack on Zhou Ming.