Chapter 46: The True Hunt Begins
System…can I kill Xiu Fan?
After accepting the conspiracy, I naturally learned that Xiu Fan possesses combat experience,
and that his level in martial arts is extremely high.
But…
what does that matter?
Even if his combat skills are astonishing,
so what?
If he did not possess this strength,I would have directly used the influence of the Li Family.
I would have sent someone to kill him immediately,
and the story would have ended right there.
In the end,enmity between him and me is inevitable.
Either I die…or he dies.
[Ding: Yes, but the system does not recommend doing so directly.]
Why?
[Ding: You are currently in the beginner stage. You need Xiu Fan as "leeks" to strengthen your abilities. If he is killed now, you will gain nothing. You will only receive a low-tier hunting chest. Due to the many uncertainties, the system does not recommend killing Xiu Fan at this time. However, the decision is yours.]
A moment of silence followed.
I was trying to grasp the entire situation.
I knew the system was working in my favor…
there was no doubt about that.
Killing Xiu Fan directly might seem like an easy option,
but I realized that the chain of consequences it would trigger
would not benefit me at all.
If Xiu Fan dies now,I would only obtain a low-tier hunting chest—and that is the last thing I want.
And that is not all.
His master would come to the Li Family seeking revenge,
and at present…the head of the Li Family is weaker than him.
At that point,I would have no choice but to face Yi Feng.
And I truly do not know
whether there exists another protagonist
stronger…
or more fortunate than Yi Feng in this world ruled by the Will of the Heavenly Fate.
I came to this world for a high-level hunting chest,and to build the necessary support
to eventually confront Yi Feng.
[Ding: Host, you have already agreed to the plan. Do as you wish. The system will not restrict your actions. As long as you complete the hunting process, the system will reward you with a hunting chest.]
I nodded slowly.
This system…is truly astonishing.
If everything I did were bound by it,I would have reconsidered everything
from the very beginning.
I stood up
and calmly began packing my belongings,preparing for the journey ahead.
After one day…
I personally arrived at a small town
located at the foot of the Demon Mountains.
It was a modest town,yet bustling with activity.
A gathering point for adventurers,and an unavoidable transit station,as it lay directly along the road
leading into the Demon Mountains.
And here…a new chapter of the hunt began.
Amid the crowd, between three elderly men dressed in black,
stood a woman cloaked in a black mantle.
It was her…
Jiang Chan.
The target I had come here for.
As the news spread,
the excitement among the people around me grew even stronger.
I heard someone whisper in excitement:
"How generous! Looks like we've run into a wealthy patron today!"
But it didn't take long
before other voices rose—more cautious.
One of them said in a skeptical tone:
"Don't celebrate too early. The reward is suspiciously generous… which means the task will be extremely dangerous. Do you really think you'll get all that so easily?"
I smiled inwardly.
Large rewards
always attract brave men… or reckless ones.
And with a reward of this magnitude,no one would hesitate to take the risk.
For many,as long as they returned alive… they would return rich.
I quietly joined the crowd,and then I saw him.
The third hero of this world—Han Yang.
I stepped closer, and we stood side by side,silently observing Jiang Chan and those around her.
Han Yang spoke with excitement, his eyes fixed on the scene:
"Did you see that? He's really rich. A thousand low-grade spirit stones, plus a Palace Realm monster elixir! This mission… is worth the trouble!"
His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
I wasn't surprised.
I knew
that this reward was extremely tempting to him—especially since he had come to the Demon Mountains
for the sake of training.
Joining the team
would not only mean hunting monsters,but also obtaining massive rewards
if he returned alive.
Yes…
For many people,it was worth the risk.
Han Yang broke into a wide smile, then said:
"You look strong. Why don't we give it a try? With our abilities, we'll definitely earn a lot of money. What do you think? Shall we form a team together?"
I smiled calmly,then found a patch of grass and sat down.
Don't worry…
Let's watch what happens first.
Jiang Chan has no connection to Han Yang.
At present, she is nothing more than a casual acquaintance among his contacts—there is nothing else between them.
But I know…
Inside these mountains,everything will change.
Jiang Chan…
is the second heroine within Xiu Fan's scheme.
It didn't take long
before the area around me was filled with noise.
Just as I expected—
when the reward is tempting,
those willing to rush headlong into danger will inevitably appear.
I watched as the line quickly grew longer,
everyone in the crowd striving to register their name
and test their luck.
Suddenly—
a loud roar tore through the clamor and drew everyone's attention.
It was a large, powerfully built man with bulging muscles.
He raised his voice and said sternly:
"Let me make this clear in advance!
This mission is extremely dangerous!
Anyone below the mid-stage of Condensation is strictly forbidden from participating!"
He paused for a moment, then continued in a decisive tone:
"Anyone who joins without sufficient strength… will die.
My master has no intention of burdening himself with the weak.
Those who have surpassed the mid-stage of Palace Condensation, step forward and register your names with me."
This was not surprising.
The Jiang Family
is considered one of the largest
and wealthiest families in this world.
Jiang Chan…
is the daughter of the Jiang Family Head.
And the Jiang Family owns the largest forging complex
on the entire Battle Continent.
Thinking logically…
Why would the daughter of such a family need to recruit adventurers?
And why would she even need to personally enter the Demon Mountains?
The answer is simple.
Her presence here was not for adventure,
nor solely for the medicinal ingredient.
It was for one person.
Han Yang.
Her friendship with him
is a priceless treasure to Han Yang.
In the future, she will support him,
lend him treasures and spirit stones,
and open paths he could never reach on his own.
In short…
her appearance here was a calculated move
made for Han Yang,
to build a relationship with him.
All of this
was the work of the hero's fortune aura.
But what no one knows…
is that Jiang Chan is also
Li Yitan's childhood sweetheart.
When she was a child,
she truly fell in love with him.
But because Li Yitan was fated
to become the villain in Xiu Fan's scheme,he always ignored her,
remaining bound to Yu Jin—obedient to her,
blind to everything else.
Even after Li Yitan's death…
Xiu Fan was only able to approach Jiang Chan
after a very long time.
And even then…
he never truly obtained her.
Not once.
I smiled inwardly, coldly.
These mountains…
will be the turning point.