A Good-for-Nothing

263. Farewell, Pal!

Translator: Dragon Rider

Chen Kai’s face contorted with anger at He Zheng’s words. He thought he had misheard. “What? You want us to flee?!”

Chen Kai was so angry that he actually smiled. In a gruff voice, he huffed, “I’ve never flee to avoid a scrap in my whole fucking life.”

“Hurry, Lao Ka, Transfigure, so that we may sit on your back.” He Zheng couldn’t be bothered to argue with Chen Kai. Carnotte, who was also a little reluctant to run, said, “We can defeat them. Why should we flee?”

Even his own teammates had this kind of expressions on their faces, not to mention the Rose team. Xiao Qi and Xiao Han knew He Zheng, so they just appeared a little awkward. However, Joe’s countenance changed instantly, and so did the way he looked at He Zheng and the others.

He Zheng, having already gathered up his things, explained, “Of course we can defeat them, but it’ll be a very tiring and dangerous fight.”

“Let’s run to the west. We landed on this island in the east, but Nakayi Hakute and his teammates landed in the north, so let’s go to the west to look for that stupid King of the Forest or something,” said He Zheng, as though to himself.

But no one moved.

Their attitudes clearly angered He Zheng. He hurled his backpack to the ground and flared, “Use your brains, will you? The Lion-Tiger Alliance is in front of us, and Nakayi Hakute is behind us. There’s no telling whether any of them has set a trap for us and is waiting for us to step into it. Yes, we might win if we fight them, but have you heard of the saying ‘The mantis stalking the cicada might fall prey to the siskin following in its wake’?”

Chen Qianlin, appearing to have been swayed, said approvingly, “I agree with He Zheng. This is only the second day, and we haven’t even found the so-called King of the Forest yet.”

He Zheng glanced at Chen Qianlin, his lips pressed tightly together. He was still angry. If it were not these people but Li Zong that was standing in front of them, he would have some time ago lost his temper.

However, none of them was not Li Zong, so He Zheng had to keep his temper.

Some found He Zheng’s explanation reasonable, but the others didn’t. The strongest objection was from the captain of the Rose team, Joe.

“Zheng, I’m afraid I disagree with you. It’s shameful to flee. We are fighters! And fighters are supposed to fight to the last breaths of their bodies! If you want us to flee, you might as well kill us!”

As they refused to see reason, He Zheng gave up trying to convince them, waved his hand and said, “Fine. Go and fight them. Farewell!”

Joe, “…”

This was not what he should say according to the script!

He Zheng patted Carnotte’s shoulder and then squeezed it hard, looking earnest. “Lao Ka, we’re counting on you.”

After all, they were on the same team. Although they did not agree with He Zheng either, they still respected his decision. Unlike Joe, they completely trusted He Zheng.

The Lion-Tiger Alliance was getting closer and closer. He Zheng’s eyes raked those around him once again before he asked, “Is there anybody else willing to leave with us?”

“Sorry, Zheng, he’s our captain.” Xiao Qi shook his head and smiled at them, “Have a safe trip, guys.”

“Take care.” A hint of disappointment flashed across He Zheng’s eyes, but he managed to maintain a poker face.

Lao Ka turned into a huge wolf. Fortunately, there were only five of them, and there was just enough room for all of them to sit on the back of the wolf. However, their body weight weighed Lao Ka down and for an instant he seemed to have difficulty standing up.

He Zheng turned his head aside and glanced at Joe one last time. Sure enough, Joe, without even waiting for them to leave first, led his team in the direction they had just come. Nakayi Hakute’s team had gone in that direction.

He Zheng determinedly turned his head back and said, “Lao Ka, run west until we’re out of those people’s earshot.”

Carnotte was faster than wind when running at full tilt. It was windless in the forest, but they couldn’t even open their mouths on Carnotte’s back, because every time they opened their mouths, the slipstream started jamming into their throats. Their hair had been shaped into heads of brooms. They felt as though they were riding on a rocket. If it weren’t for the possibility of attracting the Lion-Tiger Alliance’s attention, Tao Wujiu would have yelled with thrill.

The white paper man was following in their wake, flying along. A cold look flashed across He Zheng’s eyes as he noticed it.

“Stay sharp, everybody. That bastard Nakayi Hakute has made his move.”

Qiu Luo, Chen Qianlin, and Chen Kai were all instantly on the alert and then swiveled their heads back in unison, baffled as to when Nakayi Hakute had caught up with them.

The white paper man was gaining on them, threatening to wrap itself around them. It was only a few meters away from them. “Faster, Lao Ka!”

“Don’t! I’ll throw up if you run faster!” wailed Tao Wujiu sitting at the front.

He Zheng was sitting with his back to Tao Wujiu. The paper man was flying very fast and was about to catch up with Carnotte who was streaking like the wind. He Zheng was not capable of controlling a sword with internal energy, but Chen Qianlin and Tao Wujiu could do it.

Without He Zheng reminding them, Chen Qianlin and Qiu Luo immediately made their move.

“Go!”

With a determined cry, two swords flew out, whizzing towards the target, and with that the paper man’s mouth opened into an eerie gap. Unfortunately, they were too far away and none of them saw it.

However, Qiu Luo was a sword spirit and he was the first to sense that something was wrong.

“Qianlin, withdraw your sword! Hurry!”

On hearing his words, Chen Qianlin subconsciously recalled Sharpness.

Qiu Luo paled visibly in an instant. His sword, Autumn-frost, was faster than Chen Qianlin’s sword, Sharpness, and had already hit the little paper man’s body. The paper man directly wrapped its “arms” around Autumn-frost, black gas coming out of its body and devouring the sword bit by bit.

“Shit! That’s demonic Qi!” He Zheng immediately perceived that something was wrong.

The blade of the sword was damaged and Qiu Luo was injured, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. However, no matter how hard he tried to withdraw Autumn-frost, the sword was still being pulled closer towards the paper man by a greater force.

“Qiu Luo!” Chen Qianlin’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Qiu Luo’s countenance.

“Damn it.” He Zheng inwardly cursed, his hands poised to perform the movements needed to cast a spell. “I’ll burn them to death with a Lightning Spell.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Chen Kai’s voice came from above them. Nobody knew when, but he had already risen to his feet. The wolf back beneath his feet was heaving because Carnotte was rushing, but Chen Kai was standing steadily, and his breathing was very even too.

Chen Kai produced a longbow and, with a piercing look in his eyes, notched three arrows to his bowstring at once, bent the bow, took aim and loosed off the arrows, all his movements fluid. The next second, the arrows shot out, flying squarely towards the paper man. With a puff, the paper man was nailed to a tree trunk, swaying in a vain attempt to free itself.

Autumn-frost was extricated from the black gas and returned to Qiu Luo.

They all felt a slight sense of relief.

Chen Kai fired another three arrows in succession. He did it so quick that his right hand blurred, but his aim was very good. All the other paper men were disposed of by him.

The others sighed with relief. He Zheng glanced at Chen Kai who had put away his bow and arrows and didn’t say anything.

Their pulse had been throbbing in their throats, and so had Tao Wujiu’s. In fact, Tao Wujiu was in an even sorrier state. He was on the verge of vomiting due to motion sickness caused by Carnotte’s fast running.

“We’ve gone far enough, Lao Ka! You may stop now!” He Zheng shouted at the wolf he was riding.

Carnotte wouldn’t hear him if he spoke in a normal voice.

Carnotte’s gradually slowed down and He Zheng and the others jumped off the wolf’s back. Those paper men were still struggling in the distance. He Zheng squinted at them and found that a moment ago his eyes had not deceived him – there was indeed faint black gas over those paper men.

Why? Was Nakayi Hakute by any chance in cahoots with the Demon King as well?

“Lao He, what should we do with those paper men?” Tao Wujiu asked him.

“We could easily expose our position if we use thunderbolts to burn them … Do any of you have a lighter?”

None of them smoked, but Tao Wujiu said, “I have some white phosphorus on me. I’ll handle it.”

He Zheng and the others couldn’t figure out why Tao Wujiu had brought this kind of stuff with him, no matter how hard they tried.

Carnotte looked at He Zheng, appearing somewhat apologetic. “He Zheng, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you,” he said.

“Huh?” He Zheng couldn’t quite understand him.

Lao Ka said, “A few moments ago, when you told us to run, I thought you were afraid of fighting and I kind of looked down upon you.”

Then he added, “Now it turns out you told us to leave because you found those paper men and wanted us to deal with Nakayi Hakute first. I apologize.”

He Zheng muttered inwardly, ‘I did feel there’s no need to fight.’ But he decided that it was better to let such a beautiful misunderstanding continue to exist. He Zheng smiled a mock nonchalant smile and even patted Carnotte’s shoulder in an encouraging manner. “It doesn’t matter. We’re a team. We should communicate more.”

Lao Ka looked quite touched, but he was also fairly curious. “How did you find out that those paper men were shadowing us? None of us noticed them.”

Chen Qianlin, standing on the side, was keeping a close eye on Qiu Luo but was too embarrassed to walk up to him. On hearing Carnotte’s question, he casually answered, “He Zheng has the Yin Yang Eyes.”

“The Yin Yang Eyes!” exclaimed Carnotte. The expression in his eyes changed again when he looked at He Zheng, clearly astonished and incredulous.

“Xiao Chen, I prefer to keep a low profile.” He Zheng gave a little cough, affecting an embarrassment he did not feel. In fact, he found those words very enjoyable. If he had a tail, it would be pointing to the sky at this moment.

“They’re not mine. My master gave them to me. They’re not something worth talking about.”

Carnotte was now admiring He Zheng. He looked at He Zheng’s white-complexioned face, his slender figure, thinking about his cheerful personality, feeling that everything about He Zheng was pleasant.

Carnotte’s gaze gave He Zheng the willies. He was instantly on the alert and said, “Lao Ka, look. What’s this thing on my finger?”

When speaking, he shook his right hand in front of Carnotte.

“Huh?” Carnotte was confused. “A hand.”

“What’s on my finger?”

“What is it you want me to see?” Castro scrutinized his hand for a long moment. There was nothing else apart from a ring.

“Is there demonic Qi on it by any chance?” Carnotte leaned closer to look at it.

“A ring! A wedding ring! I have to warn you this – I’m married, so drop that idea.”

Carnotte was stunned for a moment before he caught on and almost laughed himself stupid. “Ha ha … He Zheng, where are you thinking?”

He Zheng pouted, “Then why were you staring at me like that? Are you half-straight?”

He Zheng added, “If you are half-straight, you may switch your gaze to Chen Kai. He’s the only one available.”

Tao Wujiu, who was about to leave, heard these words and found them annoying. “Wait. Aren’t I a man as well?”

“That’s great. Lao Ka has two choices now.”

Chen Kai impassively gave He Zheng a dirty look.

Chen Qianlin realized that he was seen through, appearing terribly embarrassed, not even daring to cast another glance at Qiu Luo. He Zheng was amazed. How come Chen Qianlin who was always thick-skinned was acting like a shy little girl in front of Qiu Luo?