Chapter Thirty-Eight: Prudent Apprehension

Using the hiking pole by surprise and swinging the short blade wildly was purely a stroke of luck, a blessing from my ancestors. If there had been the slightest miscalculation, or even the smallest unexpected mishap, the one lying on the ground now would certainly have been me.

As this thought crossed my mind, I felt a sense of bewilderment, but I quickly realized that I didn't know if this man had been chasing Huang Jianfen alone or if he had companions. If others were following, we were in the gravest danger.

Regardless, no matter how frightened or worried I was, we had to wait until we were somewhat safe. Even though I had never experienced such a thing, after the initial surge of frantic terror, I kept reminding myself to stay calm. I didn't know if this man was an accomplice of Brother Wen, nor did I know if Peng Qian and the others had met with disaster, so we had to protect ourselves. It was already dangerous enough to have Lan Fang with us, and now with Huang Jianfen added to the mix, I had no idea what was to come.

Having turned off the flashlight, I stood in this foul-smelling place, my thoughts suddenly in turmoil. I tried desperately to clear my mind, but I didn't know where to start.

"Ah Jing, will we be alright?" Qu Xiang, who had stepped into the river, asked, her voice still trembling with tension. Lan Fang was holding Huang Jianfen, preventing her from falling into the water. Clearly, the events that had just transpired were too much of a shock for her. Even if she didn't want to believe it, her intelligence and the sight of Huang Jianfen’s miserable state made it impossible for her to ignore the horror of the situation. Given the ferocity of my counterattack, this man was definitely finished.

Seeing Qu Xiang in the river and hearing her voice, I took a deep breath of the damp air to steady my nerves. In the darkness, I tried to ignore the motionless figure on the ground and first picked up the two spikes that had fallen. Now that I had witnessed their power, I realized the handles could be used for striking, while the pointed ends were lethal for stabbing and piercing. Having seen weapons like these a few times, it was clear from my struggle with this man that their lethality in close-quarters combat was immense. If I had to choose, these spikes were more practical and effective than the short blade on my hiking pole. Furthermore, the thick wooden handles seemed much better suited for striking and defense.

Standing there, breathing in the stench, I forced myself to ignore the body, specifically looking away from everything below the chest, and stripped the wooden bow from the attacker's back. I flipped him over and took the quiver from his waist as well. To my surprise, there were eighteen arrows inside.

Holding them, I felt a complex mix of emotions. As someone who could be considered a novice at fighting—even if my life experiences had given me some exposure to lethal techniques that I never actually used—I had been like a fool, waiting to be slaughtered when the real fight began. Now, having a bow and arrows was far more practical and safe than any other weapon. I didn't know what material the arrows were made of, or the origin of the bow, but I discovered that the bow had incredible elasticity and the arrowheads were razor-sharp, which naturally gave me more confidence.

"Ah Jing, we... we must leave here immediately..." I pulled the man aside and waded into the water to help Lan Fang back up. Perhaps because the overwhelming stench had settled or because we had adjusted to the dark, Lan Fang, who had been quiet until now, was the first to offer a suggestion. I was slightly taken aback; considering her status as our boss and her lack of prior input, this changed my perception of her.

"Indeed. Judging by his attire, he is different from Brother Wen and his group. He is likely not alone," I said. I had noticed strange tattoos on his face and neck, and the human arm he had been carrying on his back—which I had verified was real—was haunting. Seeing Qu Xiang struggling to support the unconscious Huang Jianfen only added to my anxiety. Though this man probably never imagined that a novice like me would take him down, the thought of Brother Wen’s group and the fate of Peng Qian left me deeply uneasy.

Still, I felt a secret sense of relief, and amidst my confusion, a newfound resolve began to harden. No matter what happened next, I would not be soft-hearted again. To be indecisive was to be cruel to oneself.

"Ah Jing, what should we do with him?" Qu Xiang asked, her voice filled with urgency as she looked at the man I had pushed toward the tall grass. "If we leave him here and his companions come, they will know we did this! We will be in trouble!"

Qu Xiang seemed to have become sharper. The shock of Huang Jianfen’s condition and the encounter with this man had left its mark. Although I didn't have the flashlight on, she knew of his brutality and ferocity; if we fell into their hands, our fate would be horrific.

"If Ah Fen wakes up, she will know what happened. For now, we must find a place to hide and wait until dawn to see what is happening around us," I said, feeling a headache coming on. I had been so focused on survival that I hadn't considered the aftermath. The situation was too cruel, and events were moving too fast.

Hearing Qu Xiang’s concern, I looked at Lan Fang to see if she had any ideas.

"It is strange," Lan Fang said, making an effort to keep her thoughts clear despite the danger. "Why did Ah Fen escape here alone? Did something major happen? And where are Peng Qian and the others?"

"Wait here for a moment," I said, my mind clearing. "We do need to find shelter, but we have to handle this first." I walked over to the man in the darkness and dragged him toward the riverbank.