Chapter 072: "What Are You Doing?"

Tsk!

After hearing this, Tang Mubai shook his head and said nothing more.

In truth, he was absolutely confident he could deal with the twin-tailed reticulated python within three minutes.

If he were alone, it would take him less than half a minute.

He only extended it to three minutes out of concern for Lin Huafeng and the others, to avoid any collateral damage.

Yet, while dealing with the python would be easy, hurting Lin Huafeng’s good intentions was another matter altogether.

The man had lent him money, warned Du YuanKui on his behalf, specifically gone to the Martial Association to find a suitable assignment for him, and after leaving the Domain, had even taken the lead, blazing the trail ahead.

In truth, all Tang Mubai needed to do on this trip was obediently follow along, collect the Iron Peach Blossoms at their destination, and not worry about anything else.

All the worrying had been taken care of by Lin Huafeng!

Tang Mubai’s only task was to broaden his horizons and become familiar with the outside world.

This used to be the responsibility of his master or his father.

Lin Huafeng only took such pains because he regarded Tang Mubai as his own nephew or son.

If Tang Mubai failed to appreciate this, if he only cared about showing off, killing a peak elite-level twin-tailed reticulated python as casually as slaughtering a chicken, it would inevitably leave Lin Huafeng feeling he had meddled unnecessarily.

This wasn’t Tang Mubai overthinking things—there was a high chance Lin Huafeng would indeed feel that way.

“Oh, so you’re that strong, Tang Mubai? You didn’t need my help at all.”

If so, all his running around these days, even dragging his own men into it, would seem pointless.

Was he just being sentimental? Had too much free time?

That’s not how one should act!

Tang Mubai certainly had the ability to slay the python, but his approach needed to be tempered.

There was no need to show off in front of Lin Huafeng!

That was why Tang Mubai followed Lin Huafeng’s plan, using bait to lure the python away.

Taking a detour was just a backup option.

...

Pei Feng and Gao Ren, both members of the “Madmen” Mercenary Group, were indeed adept at such tasks.

Tang Mubai stood atop the truck, and within five minutes, he heard the sound of bait running through the woods to the right.

Judging by the noise, there were quite a few of them.

Focusing his gaze through the dense branches and leaves, he could make out a group of fiery red figures darting swiftly through the forest.

Although they weren’t running directly toward the python’s head, the massive creature, which had been lying straight across the road digesting its meal, suddenly began to move after spotting the red figures.

It moved with surprising speed and almost no sound.

In a flash, the python, as thick as a water tank, vanished from the open ground before the convoy and slipped into the forest.

A minute later, a chorus of terrified animal cries erupted from the woods.

From the sounds, combined with the fiery red figures, Tang Mubai quickly deduced what bait Pei Feng and Gao Ren had found.

Fire deer!

These beasts, with their tender meat and abundant numbers, are favorites among most predators.

If the python hadn’t noticed them, it would have been one thing, but now that it had, there was no way it would let them go; it instantly slithered over and quickly hunted them down.

This meant Lin Huafeng’s bait plan was a success!

As the ones who carried it out, Pei Feng and Gao Ren naturally became the butt of the group’s jokes and laughter over the walkie-talkies.

“All right, that’s enough out of you lot.”

Pei Feng emerged from the woods, walkie-talkie in hand, scolding in a disgruntled tone, “Keep teasing, and next time something like this comes up, you can do it yourselves… What are you doing?”

Suddenly, he cried out in alarm.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Madman, did you step in beast dung?”

“No, it’s Gao Ren! He’s been snatched by a long-armed monkey!”

“What?”

The walkie-talkie exploded with exclamations.

The next moment, every member of the “Madmen” Mercenary Group who had been sitting in the truck bed dashed out, sprinting toward the right-hand forest.

But halfway there, everyone stopped in their tracks, staring in shock as a pale-faced Gao Ren emerged from the woods, dragging a gray-furred monkey with an arm a meter longer than its body and an arrow sticking out of its head.

“What… What just happened?” Lin Huafeng, as the leader, was baffled. “What’s going on? Who killed the long-armed monkey?”

“Yeah, that arrow was so fast! I only saw Gao Ren being snatched away by the monkey, I didn’t even see the arrow fly—who shot it?”

“Three-Eye, was it you? Your archery’s gotten amazing.”

“No, it wasn’t me. I was sitting on the left side of the truck; I didn’t even know there was a long-armed monkey, let alone shoot it.”

“Huh, if it wasn’t you, then who was it?”

...

A flurry of discussion broke out.

“It was Captain Tang who shot it!”

Finally regaining his senses, Pei Feng spoke in a deep voice.

Swish!

Everyone, including Lin Huafeng, turned in unison to look at him, then all at once shifted their gaze to Tang Mubai, still standing atop the truck.

“Madman, who did you say shot it?” asked the young man called Three-Eye, suspicious and surprised.

“Was it really Xiaobai?” Lin Huafeng asked directly.

“It was him!” Pei Feng’s expression was complicated as he explained, “Just now, as the two of us were walking, and I suddenly shouted, it was because Captain Tang unexpectedly shot an arrow at us. He startled me half to death. I thought… I thought he was just joking with us, but when I heard your shouts, I realized it was Gao Ren who had been snatched by the monkey, and Captain Tang’s timely arrow was to save him!”

“That’s right…” Gao Ren, still pale, took several deep breaths and continued, “Captain Tang’s arrow came at just the right moment. Without him, that monkey would have already bashed my head in!”

He let out a long sigh, steadied himself, then, still holding the gray-furred monkey, strode toward Tang Mubai.

Before he even got close, he called out in a loud voice, “Thank you for saving me, Captain Tang. I was blind before and didn’t take you seriously. Now, I hope you’ll give me the chance to sincerely apologize!”

With those words, he bowed deeply to Tang Mubai, his posture respectful and his attitude earnest, leaving Lin Huafeng and the others wide-eyed in astonishment.

Even Tang Mubai was a little surprised.

This burly man named Gao Ren was rather interesting.

“There’s no need for such formality, Brother Gao.”

Leaping down from the truck, Tang Mubai helped Gao Ren up with a smile. “We’re partners; helping each other is only right. No need for apologies.”

“But… but it’s not the same,” Gao Ren tried to explain, but couldn’t find the words.

Seeing his struggle, Lin Huafeng strode over, laughing heartily. “Haha, Gao Ren, no need to be so formal. Xiaobai is right—we’re partners, we ought to help each other. Today I save you, tomorrow you save me; that’s perfectly normal.”

“But Xiaobai, you’ve really impressed me. That reaction just now—have you already mastered ‘Nine Arrows Over the Mountain’ to perfection?” Lin Huafeng teased, half-joking, half-testing.

“That’s right!” Tang Mubai nodded seriously. “I told you before, didn’t I? I’m a genius, Uncle Lin—have you forgotten?”

Lin Huafeng was speechless.