8: Chapter 8: Hijacking? Did I give permission?
The light in the depths of the Misty Forest grew increasingly dim.
This was already the hinterland of an E-rank danger zone. The ancient trees surrounding it blocked out the sky and sun, and it was so quiet it made one's heart race with anxiety.
Lin Yuan squatted beside a damp rock crevice, staring intently at a small purple plant emitting a faint starlight in the crevice.
star spirit grass.
This herb contained extremely gentle and pure spiritual energy and was the main ingredient for many high-level restorative potions on the market.
For his younger sister Xiaoya's fragile meridians, taking a decoction made from star spirit grass directly would be even more effective than expensive gene stabilizers!
"The black market purchase price is at least one hundred thousand."
Lin Yuan's heart rate accelerated slightly. As long as he secured this one, Xiaoya's medical expenses for the next month would be taken care of.
Hiss—!
Just as Lin Yuan reached out, the shadows in the depths of the rock crevice suddenly twisted.
A giant python, covered in blue patterns and as thick as a human thigh, shot out without warning!
A level-one intermediate beast—a Blue Flower Python!
It was extremely fast and possessed natural camouflage; ordinary martial artists might not even notice it if they walked right up to it.
At this moment, it opened its blood-red maw, its two Poison Fangs gleaming with a ghostly blue light, heading straight for Lin Yuan's throat.
Under "Gods Insight," the python's originally perfect camouflage had long since turned into a conspicuous, high-highlighted red data point.
"I've been waiting a long time for you."
Lin Yuan's expression remained calm; instead of retreating, he advanced.
The moment the fishy wind hit his face, his palm slashed out like a blade.
[Weakness Locked: Seven-inch (Heart valve junction).]
[Loading Ox-carving blade technique force application technique]
Pfft!
The seemingly ordinary hand-blade struck precisely at the Blue Flower Python's most vulnerable seven-inch spot.
With a crisp crack.
This giant python, capable of strangling tigers and leopards, didn't even have time to let out a cry. Its spine instantly shattered, and it went limp like mud, falling heavily to the ground, twitching a few times before it stopped moving.
Lin Yuan skillfully collected the star spirit grass and then casually dug out the snake gallbladder.
At this point, his huge hiking backpack was already stuffed full; it was all prey materials from tonight, and roughly estimated, the value had already exceeded two hundred thousand.
"It's about time to head back."
Lin Yuan patted his backpack and was just about to stand up.
"Clap, clap, clap."
"Impressive, truly impressive. Are students these days this formidable? You can even insta-kill a Blue Flower Python."
Lin Yuan paused, then slowly turned around.
Three men wearing camouflage gear and exuding a murderous aura emerged from behind the trees.
They fanned out, subtly cutting off all of Lin Yuan's escape routes.
The leader was bald, with a scar extending from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth, making him look exceptionally ferocious.
The aura on his body was thick; clearly, he had already stepped over the threshold of a formal martial artist (first-rank low-tier).
The two henchmen behind him, though slightly weaker, were both peak quasi-martial artists, and their eyes were ruthless—they were clearly desperadoes with blood on their hands.
"Vulture Hunter Group?" Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes.
In the wilderness, what is often more terrifying than beasts is one's own kind.
This group was known as the "Wilderness Vultures," specializing in roaming the edges of danger zones, robbing lone newcomers, or snatching other people's prey.
"Since you know our name, then you should understand the rules."
The scar-faced leader stared greedily at Lin Yuan's bulging backpack, especially the star spirit grass that Lin Yuan hadn't yet had time to put away; the greed in his eyes was almost overflowing.
He toyed with a dagger and said mockingly:
"Kid, you've got good luck. This is star spirit grass. We brothers are a bit tight on cash lately, so we'll just borrow it to spend."
"Leave the bag, strip naked, and you can roll. Otherwise, out here in the wilderness, if a student or two dies... heh, even their bones will be picked clean by wild dogs."
Furthermore, Lin Yuan knew very well that while this group said "you can roll," they would never actually leave a survivor.
Because once Lin Yuan went back to report it, they would be in trouble too.
Killing people and seizing their goods was their normal operating procedure.
Lin Yuan wasn't panicked; instead, he sighed softly.
"At school, encountering an idiot means, at most, a fight."
He raised his head, and in those deep eyes, a true killing intent arose for the first time:
"But in the wilderness... when you encounter an enemy, you can only kill them."
Hearing this, the three scar-faced men froze for a moment, then burst into a wave of wild laughter.
"Third brother, did you hear that? This little chicken says he wants to kill us? Hahaha!"
"Has this kid studied so much he's gone stupid?"
The second brother standing on the left was a lean man; a trace of impatience flashed in his eyes: "Boss, stop wasting time with him. The smell of blood from that python will attract other monsters. Let's just slaughter him, take the money, and leave!"
Before the words faded, the second brother's wrist jerked violently.
Swoosh!
A point of cold light, like a viper flicking its tongue, shot straight for Lin Yuan's glabella!
A flying knife!
This was the second brother's signature skill. Although it lacked profound internal energy, it excelled in its sinister nature and suddenness.
There were at least eight or ten newcomers who had died under this flying knife of his.
At this critical moment, in Lin Yuan's mind, the system began to run furiously.
[Ding! Detected intense killing intent!]
[Detected enemy using martial skill—《Soul-Chasing Flying Knife》 (Incomplete/Entry level)...]
[Parsing... Parsing complete!]
[Deducing upgrade...]
[Integrating causality concept...]
[Congratulations Host! Obtained God-level martial skill—《Little Li's Flying Dagger》 (First Layer: Never Misses)!]
Little Li's Flying Dagger is not ordinary iron. Once the blade is out, it must hit; this is causality!
In that instant, the world slowed down in Lin Yuan's eyes.
He tilted his head slightly, and the flying knife brushed past his temple.
Just as the blade swept past his ear, he lightning-fast extended two fingers.
Snap.
The ferocious smile on the second brother's face froze instantly.
The laughter of the boss and the third brother also stopped abruptly, as if they had been strangled.
They watched in horror as the flying knife that should have pierced Lin Yuan's skull was now firmly clamped between Lin Yuan's two fingers!
It didn't move an inch!
"Catching a flying knife with bare hands?!" The second brother exclaimed in shock, "How is this possible! Are you a Second-Rank Martial Artist?!"
"Is this your blade technique?"
"Too slow, too floaty, too weak."
"A blade isn't played like that."
"Let me teach you."
A terrifying aura that was impossible to describe instantly locked onto the second brother.
"Not good! Second brother, dodge!"
The boss reacted first and roared.
But, it was too late.
Little Li's Flying Dagger, never misses.
Pfft!
The second brother maintained the posture of opening his mouth to shout, but his eyes instantly went blank.
Right in the center of his glabella, only a deep red blood hole remained.
And that knife had long since pierced through his skull, deeply embedded in a large tree ten meters behind him, the tail of the blade still buzzing and trembling!
Thump.
"Se... Second brother?"
The third brother called out tremblingly, his legs starting to shake uncontrollably.
Insta-kill with one knife? And using the second brother's most proficient flying knife technique? What the hell kind of ghost story is this!
The scar-faced boss's face instantly turned deathly pale, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.
He was a formal martial artist, and his discernment was much better than the third brother's. Precisely because he understood, he was even more afraid.
That knife just now... he hadn't seen it clearly.
This meant that if that knife had been aimed at him, he would have died too!
"This mark is tricky!!"
The scar-faced man bit his tongue hard, using the intense pain to force himself to calm down.
Run?
Exposing one's back to such a flying knife expert was just asking to die!
"Third brother! Don't just stand there! This kid is playing the pig to eat the tiger!"
The scar-faced man roared, drew a mountain-splitting saber, and struck a desperate pose:
"Attack together! Otherwise, we'll all die here!!"