366: Mutual calculations

Today, Xu Sanyan finally understood the meaning of 'running a horse to death while looking at a mountain'; Nanshan was clearly right in front of them, yet it took the group several hours to finally enter Nanshan.

Nanshan stretched for ten thousand miles, its end invisible, like a natural barrier that completely separated north and south.

The Dog Clan and other tribes were north of Nanshan, while the Jade Clan was south of Nanshan; both races knew there were other tribes on the other side of the mountain.

But because Nanshan isolated them, the two sides had no contact whatsoever, only occasionally meeting within Nanshan before the annual Long Night to hunt and store food.

"Be careful, your body hasn't recovered yet, just follow behind," Xun An Cai took a moment to instruct. "Those sheep are fierce; they'll bite you as soon as you enter their territory."

Xu Sanyan nodded, "Don't worry."

He always cherished his Life, even if Xun An Cai hadn't said anything, he wouldn't have pushed forward. Xu Sanyan's sole goal from beginning to end was to kill Xun Stone.

The group advanced cautiously, the Five-Headed Dogs lurking around them crouched low, seemingly sensing danger, ready to attack at any moment.

As they slowly delved deeper into Nanshan, Xun An Cai's steps became increasingly slow. She walked at the very front, holding a long blade, scouting the way.

Because her strength was the greatest, she took on the most dangerous responsibility. Being a Clan Chief was not that easy.

Suddenly, Xun An Cai crouched low, and the people behind her quickly hid.

Xu Sanyan's gaze pierced through a gap in an ancient tree, revealing a group of entirely black four-legged animals in the distance, lowering their heads to rub their horns against tree trunks. Roughly counted, there were about thirty of them.

Seeing those horns, Xu Sanyan took a deep breath to suppress the 'holy crap' in his heart. Are these sheep?

Aside from their five-foot-tall bodies, just the glinting cold light from their horns indicated that these creatures were not to be trifled with.

These black sheep were covered in black fur, their four hooves covered with thick calluses, their stout thighs comparable to wild oxen. When they occasionally opened their mouths, their dense teeth were even more chilling.

They didn't look like sheep at all.

Just their stature alone was awe-inspiring.

Xu Sanyan seriously doubted whether the Dog Clan was here to hunt or to deliver themselves.

Xun An Cai, however, was not flustered, and Xun Stone's expression remained unchanged, indicating that this was not his first time here.

Xun An Cai waved her hand lightly, and the group slowly retreated until they were over a hundred paces away before stopping.

At this distance, the sheep would not hear them speaking.

Xun An Cai looked around and said, "We'll use the old method. I'll be responsible for luring, and you all will be responsible for killing."

Just as everyone was about to nod in agreement, Xun Stone's gaze subtly swept over Xu Sanyan, and he softly said, "I'll do the luring. The Dog Clan has just stabilized, you absolutely cannot have anything happen to you."

Their method of hunting the sheep was somewhat special; the person responsible for luring was the most dangerous. Xun Stone's action could be said to be for the greater good.

Xun An Cai did not doubt him and, after a brief consideration, agreed.

Xu Sanyan was unsure how they hunted, but he vaguely felt a strange palpitation, as if danger was about to descend.

"An Cai, how do you plan to hunt?" Xu Sanyan moved closer to Xun An Cai and asked.

"Black sheep are irritable and easily angered. When they get angry, they don't care about anything else and will relentlessly chase you down to kill you. We'll set up traps in advance, lure them in, and then slowly kill them."

After Xun An Cai spoke, she turned to begin making arrangements.

Xu Sanyan's eyelids drooped; he roughly guessed Xun Stone's plan in his heart.

This kid definitely wasn't up to anything good. Ever since Xun An Cai became Clan Chief, he had held a deep grudge against her; he could feel that malice with his butt.

And this time, Xun Stone was probably planning to use the black sheep to kill him.

Hmph,

Xu Sanyan sneered inwardly, 'There's a road to Heaven, but you don't take it; there's no gate to Hell, but you barge in. You brought this upon yourself!'

At this moment, Xun An Cai had already led people to select the terrain. Setting traps in suitable terrain could achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Moreover, there were quite a few black sheep, so the traps also needed to be larger, which was time-consuming.

Xu Sanyan did not help, sitting leisurely on the Five-Headed Dog, watching them work.

The terrain of Nanshan was not considered rugged, but it was not flat either. The uneven mountain hollows were excellent natural places for setting traps, requiring only simple adjustments.

Furthermore, with the blades and swords Xu Sanyan provided, everyone found it much easier to work. Before long, a simple trap was set up.

Xu Sanyan walked around the trap and observed it. The terrain here was relatively flat with small undulations, but there was a huge, fault-like depression, its bottom covered with sharpened tree trunks. If one accidentally fell in, even if they didn't die, they would lose a layer of skin.

A vine hung down from above the depression; this was a special escape route prepared for Xun Stone. Once he lured the black sheep, he could use the vine to cross the deep pit.

The trap seemed simple, but it was the Dog Clan's accumulated experience over many years, using the simplest method to obtain the greatest benefit.

Xun An Cai arranged for everyone to hide around the pit. The black sheep's fur had good defensive properties, so wooden stakes might not kill them; follow-up blows would be needed.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Xun Stone turned and left, specifically paying attention to Xu Sanyan's hiding place before he departed.

Heh…

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Xu Sanyan's mouth. He was hidden behind a tree on the left side of the pit. This position was particularly close to the trap and relatively more dangerous, but it was the position he had specifically chosen.

Because the range of the Lu Family Refining Spirit Strength was limited; it would lose its effect if it was too far away.

The Dog Clan members held their blades and swords, their gazes fixed on the direction Xun Stone had left.

"Owoooooo!"

A loud beast roar echoed through Nanshan, its deep howl reverberating through the sky, startling large flocks of birds into frantic escape.

Xu Sanyan frowned, 'These black sheep… their roar is truly impressive!'

"Rumble rumble~~"

In an instant, the mountain forest sounded like ten thousand horses galloping, countless large trees crashing down. Dust rose in the distance, and the beast roars grew closer and closer.

A figure appeared in his line of sight; it was Xun Stone, fleeing madly, with dozens of black sheep in hot pursuit. It was unclear how Xun Stone had provoked them.

Xu Sanyan stared at him unblinkingly, just waiting for the right moment to trip him up.

Trees as thick as a man were snapped by the black sheep's sheer force. The black sheep shook their heads as if nothing had happened, then kicked their hooves and continued the chase.

Closer now…

Xu Sanyan's mind stirred, and two Divine Soul spikes condensed in front of him.

Just then, Xun Stone suddenly adjusted his direction, shifting slightly to the right. This direction was precisely where Xu Sanyan was hiding!

This slight change in direction did not affect the overall situation, because Xu Sanyan was very close to the deep pit; even if the black sheep charged towards his position, most of them would still fall into the deep pit.

Xun Stone had precisely counted on this point when he charged towards Xu Sanyan, intending to eliminate him without causing too much delay—a truly win-win situation.

But Xun Stone did not know that Xu Sanyan had also calculated this point, which was why he chose this position.

He was actually afraid that Xun Stone wouldn't come.