Chapter 67: Untitled

“Yufeng!” Dong Dapeng roared, eyes bloodshot, and charged at Xu Feng bare-handed.

“Your loyalty is admirable, but Betrayers who hunt their own kind deserve no mercy,” Xu Feng declared with icy finality. His sword flashed, cleanly slicing across Dong Dapeng’s throat. Blood sprayed everywhere. Both men fell into the Near-Death State almost simultaneously.

“I was thinking you might have some trump card. Didn’t expect you two were actually this weak. Long Yu’er alone could probably wipe you both out,” Xu Feng muttered, shaking his head.

By now, Long Yu’er was long gone from the room. She seemed to possess a Stealth-like skill. As long as no one was looking directly at her, she could vanish without a sound. She seemed like a born assassin, dwelling in the shadows.

After killing Dong Dapeng and Wang Yufeng, Xu Feng collected the items they dropped and sat back down by the campfire. He calmly sipped his soup as if nothing had happened.

“Dong Dapeng and Wang Yufeng were penniless, only dropping junk. That ‘Boss’ guy they followed had pretty solid gear,” Xu Feng mused aloud while sipping soup and rifling through the loot in his Storage Ring.

Dong Dapeng and Wang Yufeng had only dropped some food and water. The nameless squad leader ‘Boss,’ however, dropped an excellent item:

[Name: Perceptive Warrior’s Bracer]

[Type: Wrist Armor]

[Grade: Bronze]

[Attributes: Physical Damage +5, Agility +3, Attack Speed +5%]

[Requirement: Two Stars]

Xu Feng currently wore only a Black Iron Grade longsword and a Gold Grade Storage Ring, nothing else for protection. This bracer filled that gap perfectly.

Without hesitation, Xu Feng equipped the bracer, feeling his strength increase.

“Truly, crime pays. No wonder these people risk so much to hunt other humans. The rewards are indeed rich,” Xu Feng thought grimly, observing the bronze bracer with its intricate patterns on his wrist.

“However, no gain, no matter how large, justifies turning weapons upon comrades. How else would we differ from the Alien Invaders? If I ever encounter Betrayers again, I will show no mercy.”

Night cloaked the town in silence, broken only by occasional, quickly silenced monster roars.

Xu Feng finished his meal and rested briefly before gazing out the window.

“Time’s about up. I should go find that Three-Star Elite Monster. It must drop gear of decent Silver Quality.” The thought lit a spark of anticipation within him.

The night, usually alive with creature movements, was strangely quiet. The previous day’s carnage had taught the intelligent monsters that the humans invading their town were dangerous prey. Without an advantage, they wouldn’t recklessly court death.

Tonight, most lay hidden, licking their wounds.

Only a few nocturnal hunters ventured out, seeking humans foolish enough to wander alone.

Xu Feng had nearly scoured the entire town but hadn’t found the abandoned well he sought.

“The rumor just pointed to this area, not the well’s exact spot. Maybe it’s not in the town but nearby? Perhaps the location got misreported over time?” Doubt pricked him; he started losing confidence in success.

Up ahead, a large, gloomy-looking, deserted courtyard loomed.

He was nearing the town’s edge now. He’d explored most of it.

A trace of weariness showed on Xu Feng’s face. Dawn wasn’t far off; the hunting teams would soon surge back into the town.

With every raid, the town’s monsters dwindled. At most, one more day remained before the cleansing mission ended. Xu Feng had little reason to linger after that.

“After searching this courtyard, I’ll give up. It’s just a Three-Star Elite Monster. I’ll have the power to face things like it head-on soon enough.” Resignation mingled with pragmatism; he couldn’t waste all his effort on a single target.

Xu Feng vaulted over the courtyard wall. The moment he landed, a shadowy shape lashed out at him.

A huge willow tree stood within the courtyard. The tree monster had a gaping, bloody red hole in its trunk, lined with three rows of sharp Fangs. A foul stench washed over Xu Feng. Sensing the intruder violating its territory, this beast or plant lashed out with a dozen willow branches, strong as steel. One branch alone split a boulder into fragments.

Xu Feng met the whip-like branches with his sword. Metal clashed against plant flesh.

Snap!

A crisp sound. A seven or eight-meter-long willow branch fell heavily to the ground, cratering the earth and sending up sprays of dust.

A thick, dark green sap oozed from the break, sizzling where it hit the ground, exuding a pungent smoke.

The loss of the branch seemed to agitate the monster violently. The entire willow tree shuddered. The remaining branches thrashed chaotically in the air.

Spotting his chance, Xu Feng darted forward, closing with the main trunk, his sword flashing.

Swift Wind Thrust!

Before the willow monster could react, a clean hole pierced its thick trunk, visible from one side to the other.

Bang!

The hole exploded inward with a boom. Crunch! The willow tree split near its base. As the upper portion crashed down into the dust, a crack yawned open down the middle, revealing a glimmering black crystal within.

Xu Feng pried out the Insect Crystal. Casting his Gathering Art on the trunk, a final treasure appeared. Resting on the remains was a translucent jade-like piece of wood, over a foot long.

“Mutated Willow Heart?”

Xu Feng picked it up. It was a Silver Quality Forging material. Pleasure warmed him.

Stowing the heart in his ring, Xu Feng looked beyond the fallen monster. Not far past it, ringed by mossy green stones, lay the mouth of a well.

“Haha! Double victory!” Xu Feng’s face broke into a grin of triumph. After searching day and night, he’d finally found the Abandoned Well.

Xu Feng strode quickly to the well’s edge.

From above, it looked ordinary. The stone rim was cracked, covered in slippery moss. A rotten rope hung limply over the side. Peering down, moonlight barely illuminated the bottom, some seven or eight meters deep. A dark hulk lay there, unmoving, like a large rock.

Xu Feng pulled out his crossbow and fired at the shadow.

Ting! The short arrow glanced harmlessly off.