C11 Entering a Trap

In the depths of the Haunted Forest, there lay a place of great magic, so perilous that even the spirit beasts dared not tread. It was known as the Deathabyss.

Amidst this treacherous landscape stood an expansive platform where many a fugitive had come to congregate.

Their purpose was singular: to find the young man depicted on a piece of parchment.

At the heart of the crowd was a man, his expression dark with frustration. Despite the constant updates from his search parties, they had yet to locate the elusive figure.

The urgency within him grew; this was a vendetta for the murder of his son, and vengeance was not something he could simply forgo.

Lei Ba's mood darkened with each disappointing report. The urge to join the search himself was becoming almost unbearable.

Just then, two unassuming figures burst through the throng, their faces alight with a joy and excitement that set them apart from the rest. Clearly, they had found something of significance.

Lei Ba, though stirred by the prospect of news, maintained his silent vigil, awaiting their approach.

"City Lord, we have news," they announced, reaching Lei Ba's side, their faces beaming with the thrill of their discovery.

This signaled that they had indeed located the person of interest.

"Out with it, where is he?" Lei Ba demanded. He had scoured the Haunted Forest for days to no avail, desperate to find where that accursed Ye Han had hidden himself.

In response to the fruitless search, he had issued a wanted order, calling upon his men to delve into the forest's depths in pursuit.

After days of relentless searching with no word, the arrival of news was a catalyst for both excitement and a release of pent-up frustration.

The man who had unwittingly harmed his beloved son was going to pay with his life.

"City Lord, about the reward mentioned in the wanted order?" The two men hesitated, uncertain if they should reveal their information without the promise of their due.

Lei Ba's gaze met theirs, recognizing the greed in their eyes. To think these lowly opportunists were trying to bargain with him. Though displeased, he gave a subtle nod to his underlings, signaling his acknowledgment.

A bag was abruptly tossed before them, thudding against the ground.

Neither of the two seemed particularly displeased; instead, they eagerly picked up the items. Upon opening the bag and verifying its contents, their faces lit up with even greater joy.

"Ye Han, that little rascal, is just over here..."

They promptly disclosed Ye Han's whereabouts, which, to their surprise, was not far from their current location.

Lei Ba's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't anticipated the other party being so close by; it was truly unexpected. He eyed the two men before him with a hint of suspicion, wondering whether they were truly loyal to him.

Without overthinking it, Lei Ba, driven by a sense of urgency, led his faithful followers toward Ye Han's location. He was concerned that Ye Han might flee upon hearing the news. Now that they had finally tracked him down, how could they let him slip away?

Once Lei Ba had departed, the expressions of the two men clutching the bag turned grim. Though they had received their reward, the item felt like a hot potato in their hands. Had it not been for the blood oath they had sworn, they would never have engaged in such a deed. But now, they had no choice but to see it through.

"What do we do now? We've followed Ye Han's instructions, but what if we've angered Lei Ba?"

"What other choice do we have? It's either death or cooperation. We must act accordingly. Let's get out of the Haunted Forest as soon as we can and hope that Lei Ba doesn't follow."

With faces etched with concern, the two men made their way out, intent on leaving this place of trouble behind as quickly as possible. For people like them, survival was not guaranteed.

Before leaving, they had managed to swindle a significant bonus from Lei Ba, which, fortunately, would allow them to enhance their abilities sooner rather than later. This thought brought them some solace.

Ye Han and Jiang Xiaoxiao, having resolved to strike first, were of course well-prepared, unwilling to engage in an unprepared battle. They had set traps in the area, and although they couldn't kill Lei Ba, they could at least inflict heavy casualties on his forces, thereby alleviating some of their own pressure.

Lei Ba, the City Lord of Medicine City, commanded numerous followers. While not all were formidable, they could still pose a nuisance. Rather than squander time on these underlings, it was more prudent to eliminate them and move on.

Watching the prey walk right into the trap, Ye Han couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

Jiang Xiaoxiao, however, was visibly tense, her gaze fixed on the spot.

She was worried that if their plan were to be revealed, both she and Ye Han would face significant trouble.

Noticing Jiang Xiaoxiao's anxiety, Ye Han gave her arm a reassuring pat.

"Don't worry. Just follow the plan when I head out," he said gently.

"Okay!"

Still, Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't shake off her unease. The plan seemed foolproof, yet it felt rushed to her, and she couldn't help but anticipate complications ahead.

Ye Han, on the other hand, didn't dwell on such concerns. Having resolved to act, he was committed to seeing it through.

He concealed himself near the trap, waiting in silence for the prey to be ensnared.

Lei Ba, leading his men, finally arrived at the location, but they found nothing. No signs, no sounds, and confusion began to set in. Slowly, a sense of wrongness crept over them.

"City Lord, I've searched the area. There's no one here, right?"

His subordinate's words trailed off as a nagging suspicion took hold. The certainty in the report seemed too hasty, too assured.

Had they been deceived?

Lei Ba sensed the unease too. He was about to signal his men to withdraw when a chorus of screams erupted.

Spirit beasts surged from all directions, attacking his people without discrimination.

Though his men were cultivators, they were outmatched in strength. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of spirit beasts, they couldn't leverage their full power, and several fell victim beneath the beasts' onslaught.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lei Ba drew his weapon and fought against the sudden wave of spirit beasts.

The beasts, driven as if by a singular purpose, became frenzied attackers upon entering the area.

Concealed behind a tree, Ye Han watched the brutal scene unfold with a contented smile. Everything was proceeding as planned, although he knew such tactics were unsustainable in the long run.

Ye Han had lured these fearsome spirit beasts with special concoctions. Once they infiltrated the area, they became irrational, their craving for flesh and blood turning them vicious.