Chapter 296: Mountain Bandits

At these words, Jiang Ping, who had just agreed with full enthusiasm, suddenly looked uneasy.

A mission that could make Li Qiang, an expert who took eighteenth place in the Yangmenwai Sect's external competition, come to them for help was likely a nine-deaths-to-one-life situation.

The laughter in the courtyard vanished instantly.

Jiang Ping and the others had thought Li Qiang was short on money to grease the wheels and had come to borrow funds; they never expected he was borrowing a life.

Zhang Yong said solemnly, "May I ask what Master Li Qiang's assessment task is?"

Li Qiang sighed, "To capture a young Phantom Leopard cub."

At these words, Zhang Yong and the others' faces changed in unison.

The Phantom Leopard is an extremely powerful strange beast; its adult strength rivals a Gangaqi martial artist, and after living three to five years, its strength rivals a Gangaqi Great Success.

A Phantom Leopard over ten years old is an opponent even a Marrow-Washing martial artist might not defeat.

Although this strange beast does not live in groups, capturing a Phantom Leopard cub means facing at least two adult Phantom Leopards simultaneously.

Moreover, with this strange beast, strength is secondary; the main issue is its speed, coming like lightning and leaving like the wind, making it very difficult to deal with.

Li Qiang said, "I earnestly request all junior brothers to assist me. Entering the Yunling Mountain Range on this journey, I only want the Phantom Leopard cub; I will take not a single coin of the remaining gains. When it is your turn in the future, I will still come out to help."

Zhang Yong was instantly tempted.

He had already reached Gangaqi Minor Success and originally planned to enter the Yunling Mountain Range to seek treasures; having an expert like Li Qiang, who had reached Gangaqi Great Success, accompany him was far better than him breaking into the Yunling Mountain Range alone.

Capturing a Phantom Leopard was dangerous, but Li Qiang was going to complete a task, not seeking death, so he should not act recklessly.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Li Qiang, I have agreed to this matter," Zhang Yong said.

Li Qiang showed a look of gratitude and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Junior Brother Zhang."

However, just having Zhang Yong was not enough; his target was Zhang Yong and Xu Yang, who had already reached Gangaqi Minor Success.

Xu Yang showed no intention of making any statement at all.

From the day Li Qiang first appeared, he knew Li Qiang must have a request, so he had never gotten close to Li Qiang.

People who only pay attention to you when they need you, unless there is an entanglement of interests, he would not provoke even a little.

Let alone the threat from Xiao Hua, even without it, he would not help.

"What about the other three junior brothers?" Li Qiang looked at Xu Yang and the other two who had not expressed their stance.

"I naturally am willing to help; I only fear my meager skills cannot assist Senior Brother," Jiang Ping said.

His words just now had already put him in a bind, so he had to bite the bullet and agree.

However, he then thought, setting aside the matter of capturing the Phantom Leopard cub, it was still a matter of a Gangaqi Great Success expert leading him to roam the Yunling Mountain Range, and the other party wanted nothing in return; this could be considered a good thing.

Li Qiang smiled, "You can help; Junior Brother Jiang is too modest. As the saying goes, many hands make light work."

Speaking thus, his gaze burned as he looked at Xu Yang, saying, "Does Junior Brother Xu not wish to lend Senior Brother a hand?"

Xu Yang cupped his hands and said, "I currently have a Zong Sect task and cannot leave; please understand, Senior Brother."

Li Qiang seemed not to hear Xu Yang's refusal, smiling, "It is no matter; we will not depart immediately for the Yunling Mountain Range; there is still some time.

Junior Brother can also resign from the task; the contribution points for breach of contract can be borne by me. If this matter lacks Junior Brother Xu, it will be difficult to accomplish; I earnestly request Junior Brother Xu to lend a hand, and Senior Brother will surely repay this favor in the future."

Words that sound better than singing!

Xu Yang sneered inwardly; Li Qiang did not seek out so many Gangaqi Great Success experts from his own generation but came to find people like them who had only just reached Gangaqi Minor Success for help; if it was not a character flaw, it was absolutely impossible for him to come to them.

So many people were doing assessment tasks; he could have just found someone to partner with directly; the reason he did not find anyone was likely that no one trusted him.

"I am sorry; the Yunling Mountain Range is dangerous, and I am unwilling to take risks," Xu Yang said.

Since he had spoken so euphemistically and Li Qiang still persisted, he could only be more direct.

Did he really think Xu Yang was a fool like Jiang Ping, unable to refuse once put in a bind?

If you are given face but don't want it, then let's tear the face apart.

Li Qiang froze instantly on the spot, as if he had not expected Xu Yang to directly state his fear of danger.

For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Sun Tao opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing, because he also planned to refuse; it was not that he saw through things as clearly as Xu Yang, but he worried that leaving the Ziyang Sect would get him killed by Xiao Hua.

If there were no threat from Xiao Hua, he would have agreed.

"Since that is the case, I will not force Junior Brother Xu; I only hope you will not regret today's decision in the future."

Li Qiang sneered, "Although you are a Ten Heroes genius, it is still impossible for you to win a top-three spot in the Yangmenwai Sect's external competition; you are only tenth of the Ten Heroes, with a full nine people ranked ahead of you; waiting for your turn will take three years, not to mention the disciples of the next generation."

Since Xu Yang had given him no face, he was too lazy to pretend to be a senior brother in front of Xu Yang anymore.

His meaning was that if Xu Yang did not help him now, when it was Xu Yang's turn to do a task in the future, he would not help Xu Yang either.

Of course, these words were also meant for Zhang Yong and the others to hear; he was also afraid Xu Yang's words would scare off Zhang Yong and Jiang Ping.

"Then there is no need for Senior Brother to worry; I am afraid if I go to the Yunling Mountain Range, I won't even have the chance to participate in next year's external competition."

Li Qiang snorted coldly, saying, "It seems Junior Brother Sun is also unwilling to help."

Immediately after, he turned to Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong, saying, "Junior Brothers, I will forever remember your kindness in lending a hand; from now on, you are my, Li Qiang's, brothers who share life and death."

Such words coming from a Gangaqi Great Success expert, and one who took eighteenth place in the Ziyang Sect's external competition, carried significant weight.

But Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong could not help but twitch at the corners of their mouths, because back at the Qunlong Society, that dog Cao Rong had said exactly the same thing.

"I take my leave; once everything is properly prepared, I will come to notify the two junior brothers again."

Having torn the face apart, Li Qiang did not stay long here and quickly rose to leave.

Sun Tao felt somewhat ashamed but could not explain the matter of Xiao Hua, so he bit the bullet and saw Li Qiang out of the courtyard with Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong.

When the three returned, Xu Yang had already gone back to his room to cultivate.

Sun Tao sighed, "Senior Brother Li Qiang was a bit excessive; Junior Brother Xu and I actually had our own difficulties..."

Zhang Yong said, "What difficulties cannot be stated openly? Senior Brother Li Qiang is a man of heroic spirit; although he is asking for our help, it is also beneficial to us.

We have no background; to achieve anything in the martial arts, we will have to go to the Yunling Mountain Range sooner or later."

He did not fail to see the danger of this matter, but entering the Yunling Mountain Range was inevitable; having a Gangaqi Great Success expert with experience roaming the Yunling Mountain Range lead him was far better than diving in blindly knowing nothing.

Sun Tao shook his head: "I cannot say. If I could, I would explain. Follow Senior Brother Li Qiang carefully; even a master of Great Perfection in the Yang Energy is not one hundred percent safe in the Yunling Mountain Range."