"Don’t be afraid, he’s just trying to scare us."

The one urging the Rabbit Heroine to run quickly was Beiyou, and now the one saying don’t be afraid was also Beiyou.

He stared intently at the Winter Hunting Zhenren and said seriously: "The biggest flaw of the Array of the Grand Moon and the Celestial Cover is that Winter Hunting Zhenren cannot affect those within. He can shoot anyone in the village with an arrow, but only if he removes the array first!"

"I’m not afraid either; I’ve been giving him the chance to strike all along, and I didn’t expect him to be so nice to wait until I finished searching the bodies before taking action." The Rabbit Heroine tried to push away Pharmacist’s Wish’s embrace, but Pharmacist’s Wish was as steadfast as a mother hen protecting her chicks. After two attempts, she gave up and shouted towards Winter Hunting Zhenren: "Do you want to have a showdown? Is your arrow faster, or is my Return Order faster?"

Saying this, the Rabbit Heroine looked at Pharmacist’s Wish, who nodded slightly. At the moment the Grand Moon Celestial Cover is lifted, she would immediately return to the Thief’s House, even though doing so would expose herself as a member of the Thief’s House, but at this point, she couldn’t worry about minor details.

At times like this, there can be no hesitation. She must trust that once she leaves, the Rabbit Heroine would also escape; any hesitation would betray the hard-earned opportunity the Rabbit Heroine obtained.

At this moment, Winter Hunting Zhenren had already pulled the bowstring to its fullest, and on the Withered Wood Longbow, a decaying arrow was automatically generated, curved, twisted, thin, and fragile, seemingly ready to crack at the slightest strike from the bowstring.

But at the moment the decaying arrow appeared, not just the aimed Pharmacist’s Wish and Rabbit Heroine, even Beiyou and the Blood Phase hiding behind the rocks felt alarms ringing within, filled with the premonition that they would be pierced through!

As if being aimed by this arrow meant inevitable fate; distance, obstacles, gravity—these negligible influencing factors simply couldn’t alter the judgment personally delivered by the Foundation Establishment Zhenren!

"Your analysis is quite accurate," Winter Hunting Zhenren said calmly. "To attack, I must remove the formation, but the moment the formation is lifted, you can escape through various means. Even Liang Country’s Prison-Suppressing Thunder King can’t shake the Return Order; I’m not known for slaughter, probably unable to prevent the Return Order from being activated."

"Therefore, I will shoot at the same time as lifting the formation, not giving you the opportunity to activate the Return Order. Rabbit Heroine, it’s unfortunate that I couldn’t capture you alive; now I can only kill you."

The Rabbit Heroine this time pushed away Pharmacist’s Wish with all her strength, facing the arrow tip of Winter Hunting Zhenren alone. Her body was so frail and small, but her spirit seemed bigger than Shu Dao Mountain: "Then come on, let’s give it a try."

Beiyou drew a sharp breath.

The Blood Phase tightened his legs, ready to run at any moment.

Pharmacist’s Wish was constantly in touch with the Thief’s House; since the Rabbit Heroine believed she could handle it, all she could do now was ensure her sister had no worries.

One second passed, five seconds, ten seconds, everyone watched the confrontation intently, waiting for the earth-shattering moment.

Thirty seconds passed.

Sixty seconds passed.

A hundred seconds passed.

The birds in Shu Dao Mountain were chirping, the sun was blazing in the sky, and silence enveloped the village. Staring at Winter Hunting Zhenren still holding the bowstring, an unbelievable thought arose in everyone’s mind.

"You..." Beiyou widened his eyes, "When exactly do you plan to lift the formation?"

"When she’s exhausted, reveals a flaw, unable to persist." Winter Hunting Zhenren said calmly: "Since there’s only one chance to shoot, naturally it must be at an unfailing moment."

"You!" Pharmacist’s Wish gritted his teeth, his shoulders trembling furiously.

"Shameless." Even Blood Phase couldn’t help but say: "You’re a Foundation Establishment, using such tactics against juniors?"

Everyone realized that the tactic of Winter Hunting Zhenren was, in essence, a matter of endurance!

Endurance of time, endurance of energy, until the Rabbit Heroine couldn’t endure! After all, the initiative was in Winter Hunting Zhenren’s hands; he could choose any moment to shoot, but the Rabbit Heroine had to stay fully concentrated; a single mistake would mean her demise!

But to see young people endure the elderly, now it’s an elderly man enduring a young lass, reversing celestial spirits.

Facing a Third-Turn Messenger, Winter Hunting Zhenren displayed such caution, it was simply a cross-level challenge with full effort!

"I have never heard of a hunter giving up traps, hounds, falcons, bleeding, and other means when hunting beasts." Winter Hunting Zhenren expressed no shame about employing any and all tactics: "The only failure in the mountains is returning empty-handed."

"That’s right."

The Rabbit Heroine actually nodded, agreeing with Winter Hunting Zhenren’s approach: "If it were my brother, my brother surely would do the same. The tactical advantage should certainly be fully exercised; even lions take all out efforts to hunt rabbits, underestimating the enemy is the greatest disgrace."

Winter Hunting Zhenren’s face showed a look of appreciation: "So young and already grasping the essence of honor and disgrace, young lady you truly have unlimited potential... That’s why I mustn’t let you remain."

"But if you think you can deal with me like this, you’re underestimating me." The Rabbit Heroine said lightly: "You won’t find any opportunity; the moment you lift the formation, I’ll instantly activate the Return Order."

The Rabbit Heroine wasn’t lying, because Yan Qing didn’t intend to manually activate the Return Order.

He had already set it in the evolution program so that as soon as the "Array of the Grand Moon and the Celestial Cover" effect disappeared, unless Yan Qing was operating other commands, the Rabbit Heroine would instantly activate the Return Order and teleport to Jiangnan City’s affiliated novice village, to play with the Mouse Monk for a few days. This was a program-triggered action, much faster than Yan Qing manually!

Winter Hunting Zhenren didn’t believe the Rabbit Heroine had such ability, but as time passed, his expression gradually changed.

The Rabbit Heroine didn’t make any move, sitting cross-legged in the clearing, seemingly asleep, but Winter Hunting Zhenren couldn’t find any suitable moment; he realized no matter when he shoots this arrow, he definitely can’t kill the prey!

He could guard here for days and nights, even wait for the Helan Family to send additional people, bringing new hounds into the formation then grind them to death. But he had a bad premonition that the longer the time dragged on, the more variables might arise.

Looks like he’ll have to resort to wild dogs.

"Looks like I indeed underestimated you." Winter Hunting Zhenren suddenly lowered his longbow, drawing everyone’s attention again: "I have not met a more outstanding young person than you; if one day you can establish the Foundation, you will certainly become a formidable force capable of changing the world, akin to the likes of Zhou Taizu, Emperor Divine Martial."

Beiyou and the others were moved; although an enemy, receiving such high praise from a Foundation Establishment Messenger showed the Rabbit Heroine was indeed a raw jewel, requiring only a little polishing to shine brilliantly.

"However, hunting a future emperor is also one of the hunter’s pleasures." Winter Hunting Zhenren said softly: "Since you’re impeccable, I can only try the long-lost fox hunt."

Fox hunt?

Others might not know, but Pharmacist’s Wish had real experience with fox hunting. It’s a very specific hunting activity, because foxes are fast, small, and heavily scented, they are perfect for pairing with hunting dogs to track and drive the fox out, followed by the hunter on horseback shooting it, emphasizing the coordination between hunter and hounds...

Hunter and hounds!?

At this moment, a bald figure suddenly leaped out from the fence near the village clearing, holding a Black Light Zen Staff, charging at the Rabbit Heroine like a raging elephant! With Winter Hunting Zhenren’s signal, the phantom of the token enveloped the bald figure, Foundation Establishment’s powers circulated within, transforming him into the most ferocious beast Shu Dao Mountain has ever seen!

Prajna!