Chapter Forty-Two: The Scapegoat

Man and wolf hid in a dense forest, gasping for breath.

That was close!

He hadn’t expected the old man in black to be such a terrifying battle king.

This was a real problem.

Once he had caught his breath, the Wolf King looked at Qin Feiyang, his gaze questioning.

Qin Feiyang exhaled deeply, then fell silent.

Luring the tiger out of the mountain wouldn’t work; their opponent was a battle king, impossible to defeat head-on.

What should they do to get the herbs safely?

After thinking for a long time, Qin Feiyang couldn’t come up with a perfect solution. He took the Wolf King and circled around to the other side, hiding atop a mountain, keeping a close watch on the old man in black.

Hundreds of breaths passed.

The Wolf King turned to him, confusion in his eyes.

“We have no choice but to wait,” Qin Feiyang whispered. “I don’t believe that old fellow will stay in the herb field forever.”

The Wolf King nodded. There was plenty of time—if they had to wait it out, they would eventually find an opportunity.

Another half hour went by.

A faint rumbling sound suddenly broke the silence.

Qin Feiyang looked at the Wolf King, puzzled.

The Wolf King opened his mouth in embarrassment.

Qin Feiyang suddenly understood and laughed, “Go ahead, just don’t make too much noise.”

Ten days of seclusion in the castle without a drop of water, then a hurried journey to Black Bear City. Both he and the Wolf King were feeling hungry.

The Wolf King growled softly, as if reminding Qin Feiyang to stay alert, then slipped away quietly.

But not fifty breaths later, the Wolf King returned to Qin Feiyang’s side.

“So soon?” Qin Feiyang was surprised.

The Wolf King shook his head, stretched out a forepaw, and pointed down the mountain, letting out a low whine.

Seeing this, Qin Feiyang was baffled. “Just take me there.”

But the Wolf King didn’t descend, instead turning to stare intently at the forest below.

Qin Feiyang followed his gaze, but saw nothing unusual.

Just as he was about to ask, two figures emerged from the forest, entering his line of sight.

“They came here too?” Qin Feiyang was astonished.

It was the same two young men he’d met in the valley.

“Are they hoping to profit from this as well?” Qin Feiyang’s eyes flashed coldly.

Trying to play the mantis stalking the cicada, not knowing the oriole is behind—seeking death!

“Keep it quiet, don’t alert that old monster,” one whispered.

“I know, you don’t need to remind me,” the other replied. “But where is Qin Feiyang hiding?”

“There are wild hills everywhere, plenty of places to hide. Who knows where he is? Let’s check up top.”

They whispered as they climbed toward the mountain peak where Qin Feiyang and the Wolf King lay in wait.

“How do they know my name?” Qin Feiyang frowned.

The Wolf King turned to him, as if asking what to do.

After a moment’s thought, a cold smile crept onto Qin Feiyang’s lips. He took out the Bliss Flower, planted it in the soil, disguised the traces, then slid down the other side of the mountain with the Wolf King.

“Follow me,” Qin Feiyang said.

Once they entered the dense forest below, Qin Feiyang and the Wolf King raced toward the waterfall.

A dozen breaths later—

Qin Feiyang crouched behind shrubs by the waterfall, watching the mountain peak.

The Wolf King looked at him, puzzled.

“If opportunity won’t come, we’ll create it,” Qin Feiyang whispered. “I’ll use the Bliss Flower as bait, make those two fight, and draw the old man away.”

His only worry was that the two young men, wary of the old man’s strength, might hold back, waiting to settle things elsewhere. If so, his plan would fail.

Of course, failure didn’t mean losing the Bliss Flower; he could always rob them later.

Just then, the two young men reached the summit, moving cautiously.

The intoxicating scent of the flower filled the air.

“So fragrant!”

“It’s the Bliss Flower!”

They both saw the flower at the same moment, overjoyed.

One rushed forward.

“Jiang Wei, don’t be hasty!” the other hissed urgently.

“Don’t be hasty?” Jiang Wei paused, sneering, “Mu Fei, do you still want to compete with me?”

“Stupid pig,” Mu Fei thought scornfully. “If we fight here and alert the old man, not only will we lose the flower, we might lose our lives.”

Jiang Wei shuddered with fear. “So what do you suggest?”

Mu Fei replied, “Let’s pick it first. Once we leave, we can settle things.”

Jiang Wei considered and nodded. “Fine, but who keeps the flower? I won’t let you hold it.”

Mu Fei raised his brows. “If you promise not to cause trouble here, you can keep it.”

“Deal. I promise not to make trouble,” Jiang Wei agreed readily.

But he was secretly laughing—once the flower was in his pocket, it would never come out.

Mu Fei said, “Hurry and pick it.”

Jiang Wei crawled toward the Bliss Flower, his smile growing broader with each step.

But just then—

Mu Fei’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

Suddenly, he sprang like a waking viper, ruthlessly kicking Jiang Wei in the rear.

Jiang Wei yelped in pain, missing the flower, and rolled down toward the stream like a ball.

“You dare compete with me? Overestimating yourself!” Mu Fei sneered, grabbing the Bliss Flower.

“Dare to cause trouble here? Come and die!” the old man in black rose abruptly, icy gaze fixed on the mountain peak.

“Go to hell, old bastard,” Mu Fei cursed, then fled desperately into the forest below.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wei landed with a thud in the stream.

The herb field lay on the opposite bank.

“Mu Fei, I’ll kill you!” he roared, clutching his burning rear, scrambling ashore, and leaping to the mountain top.

Seeing Mu Fei already in the forest below, he chased after him.

His rage had blinded him to the old man.

The old man stood at the edge of the terrace, his face dark as water, fists clenched, knuckles cracking.

Having been ignored by both Mu Fei and Jiang Wei, his fury rose.

Yet he didn’t immediately pursue them.

By the waterfall, Qin Feiyang’s brows furrowed.

It seemed drawing the old man away was even harder than he thought.

“Mu Fei, unless you leave the Bliss Flower behind today, I won’t rest!” Jiang Wei’s angry shout echoed from afar.

“Bliss Flower!” The old man’s body shook. He leapt up, soaring like an eagle, crossing the herb field and stream, landing atop the mountain, scanning the forest below.

“Heh, if you want to leave, leave the Bliss Flower behind!” he sneered coldly, battle energy surging, transforming into a stream of light as he plunged into the forest, vanishing.

“Brother Wolf, this is our chance—go!” Qin Feiyang laughed.

Man and wolf, like hungry tigers, rushed into the herb field.

Without hesitation, they plundered the herbs frantically.

Though the plan had twists and turns, they’d finally tricked the old man away.

…

“Hmph, dreaming of the Bliss Flower!” Mu Fei sneered in the forest.

“That old bastard is after us!” Suddenly his face changed, glancing ahead.

Fifty meters away, a turbulent river flowed. Across it lay a jumble of rocks, wild grass, and thickets.

Mu Fei gathered his strength, jumped across the river, and hid among the rocks.

Soon, Jiang Wei ran over in panic.

Behind them, the old man in black approached rapidly, murderous intent blazing.

“Damn, I forgot about him!”

“Mu Fei, you just wait—I’ll get even with you sooner or later!” Jiang Wei cursed, ran to the riverbank, and jumped in, vanishing instantly.

The old man reached the river, stared at the rushing water, his face so dark it might drip.

“Consider yourselves lucky,” he said coldly after a long pause, then turned back toward the herb field.

Compared to the Bliss Flower, the herb field was more important; he couldn’t risk anything happening to it.

However, when he returned, he was stunned.

Where were the herbs? All gone?

“Not good!” he exclaimed. “That was a diversion!”

“Those two brats—I’ll kill them!”

He roared in fury and chased after Mu Fei and Jiang Wei again.

But he didn’t notice that, as soon as he left, man and wolf appeared out of nowhere.

Wolf King and Qin Feiyang!

Wolf King glanced toward the mountain, eyes full of mocking disdain.

“Brother Wolf, let’s go. Mu Fei and Jiang Wei are scapegoats now, but if they get caught, they’ll surely betray us. Before anyone notices, let’s hurry to Black Bear City and sell these herbs.”

Wolf King grinned broadly, eyes full of sly humor.

With a swift change of direction, man and wolf dashed toward Black Bear City.