"Looks like you're up for another round!"

This voice was incredibly familiar to both Zhong Zhengxiang and Ji Dantong, though their reactions couldn't have been more different!

Upon hearing the voice, Zhong Zhengxiang's face instantly turned deathly pale, while Ji Dantong's eyes lit up with joy, retracting the trump card she was ready to play.

Zhong Zhengxiang felt like crying; this place was just too eerie!

Why does whoever you mention just show up?!

Even though he really wanted to run away, logic warned him that doing so would get him killed faster, and it felt as if he was carrying a boulder on his back, unable to move his feet at all.

"How did you know I was here?!"

Hobbling, Ji Dantong ran over to Xiao Tian, a joyful smile on her face as she asked.

"Just passing by!"

Xiao Tian replied grumpily, "Next time you can continue to leave without a word. If I don't happen to pass by then, you're on your own!"

Ji Dantong's smile vanished instantly, and with a bitter face, she withdrew behind Xiao Tian, secretly scolding herself for not being cautious enough.

Seeing that Xiao Tian didn't target him immediately, Zhong Zhengxiang felt even more uneasy and couldn't take any comfort in it. He didn't believe Xiao Tian would let him off so easily.

As expected, Xiao Tian soon spoke, "Hand over the money!"

"Hand over the money?!"

Zhong Zhengxiang looked incredulous, then hurriedly took out everything of value he was carrying and placed it respectfully in front of Xiao Tian.

"Hold on a minute!"

After fishing around for a bit, Xiao Tian displayed an apologetic smile: "Sorry, I didn't bring it this time; should I go back to get it now?"

"Don't worry! It works just like last time; once you use it, you'll want more!"

Hearing this, Zhong Zhengxiang was almost moved to tears: "No, no, no, consider this money upfront payment, isn't that okay? Next time, you can give it to me, and it'll be the same!"

Xiao Tian pulled a stern face and said unhappily, "I never take advantage of my clients. Since you put it that way and I happen not to have brought it, let's do as you suggested next time!"

"However..."

Xiao Tian paused, which instantly made Zhong Zhengxiang feel like he might bleed out from anxiety. Is it possible to escape this calamity after all?

Yet Xiao Tian gritted his teeth, displaying a pained expression, and said, "Next time, I'll give you ten times the amount and personally supervise you using it; does that sound fair?!"

"Fair, fair! Couldn't be fairer!"

Zhong Zhengxiang nodded repeatedly, daring not to disagree in the slightest, although he thought to himself, damn, selling a bag of lime more expensive than diamonds—if that's fair, is there anything unfair in this world?!

However, he dared not say this out loud, especially when thinking about Xiao Tian personally supervising him, which chilled him to the core, almost making him wet his pants!

Xiao Tian walked up to the submissive Zhong Zhengxiang, patted him on the shoulder, then earnestly said, "You clients, ever since you finish the first round, you can't wait to chase me every day asking for more."

"Honestly, I'm not very happy about this; after all, I'm always selling at a loss." As he spoke, Xiao Tian shook his head with a sigh, "The cost is just too high now!"

"Yes! Yes!"

Zhong Zhengxiang could only force a smile, nodding like welcoming a superior's inspection, but inwardly he couldn't help but start cursing.

Just how is this guy able to spout such nonsense with such a straight face?!

Watching Xiao Tian's departing figure, Zhong Zhengxiang let out a quiet sigh of relief, but Ji Dantong was flabbergasted, "You're leaving just like that?!"

"Do you want to stay here?"

Xiao Tian turned, looking at Ji Dantong in bewilderment.

"But I, I... forget it!"

At a loss for words, Ji Dantong finally blurted, quickly leaving the place, so angry that she didn't even feel the pain in her ankle.

Once both had walked away far enough, Zhong Zhengxiang dared to lift his head, his mind a muddled mess, finding all of this quite unreal.

The Hunter actually let him off so easily?!

With his mind blank, Zhong Zhengxiang didn't sense the danger slowly closing in on him...

...

"I don't need you to help me walk!" Ji Dantong shook off the helping hand Xiao Tian extended, speaking with residual anger.

"Why are you so angry?" Xiao Tian asked, knowing the answer, confirming that there was indeed someone trying to target her.

"You tell me why I'm angry!" Ji Dantong snapped, "You clearly could have helped me just now, but you, money-hungry as you are, wouldn't even lift a finger to teach them a lesson and let them get away just like that!"

"But as I recall, our agreement was that you would just tag along with me, and I wouldn't need to provide any help, right?" Xiao Tian replied in surprise, "Why the sudden change now?"

Ji Dantong was rendered speechless, eventually saying, "Even so, I thought we were friends by now, but you still treat me like a stranger!"

Seeing the anger in Ji Dantong's expression, Xiao Tian finally stopped teasing her, "Look behind you."

"No!"

Ji Dantong marched on, determined to do the opposite of anything Xiao Tian said.

"Then don't look!"

"Humph! Now I just have to look!"

Yet as she turned back, Ji Dantong let out a sharp scream, covering her eyes in disbelief.

There was Zhong Zhengxiang, shirtless, tugging at his belt, his actions bizarre. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"What's the meaning of this?!"

Truly aggrieved, Ji Dantong's eyes flashed with indignation as she questioned sternly.

Xiao Tian explained, "I did something to him already; you just didn't notice it at the time!"

Ji Dantong hesitated, recalling her distraction over Xiao Tian's perceived greed, and hadn't paid attention, so she asked, "What did you do?"

"I used a poison when I patted his shoulder, one quite complex with ingredients that..."

"Just tell me the result!" Ji Dantong waved her hand to stop Xiao Tian's detailed explanation.

"The result? He'll freeze to death out here in the snow!" Xiao Tian said, "If you don't believe me, just look back again!"

"Drop dead!"

Ji Dantong slapped her hand toward him, unsurprisingly brushed aside by Xiao Tian, easing much of her pent-up frustration.

——

Afterward, the group continued on without further incident, arriving three days later at the foot of Kunlun Mountain.

Along the way, they indeed encountered a few who faithfully stuck to Ji Dantong, only to retreat at the sight of Xiao Tian, fleeing with heads hung low in embarrassment.

Watching the tourists come and go, everyone felt like it was a new day, as if they'd been reborn!

It was like a gentle breeze blowing against their cheeks, soothing and pleasant, irresistibly intoxicating.