Chapter 81: The Withdrawing Bounty Hunters

Feng Yan was anxious beyond measure, wishing he had two more legs; he ran forward with all his strength, and in his heart he always felt that something bad was going to happen.

When Feng Yan started running like a fly, Chen Hao hadn't reacted yet; when he came to his senses, Feng Yan had already run far away, Chen Hao sighed and did not chase after him.

The king took the box again from the soldier's hand; this time, the careful observer examined the patterns on the treasure chest, while praising the craftsmanship of the chest before him, and in his mind imagined the expressions of his own children and the multitude of ministers on the hall when he would once again obtain this treasure in his hand.

"Hmm, that must be quite good." The king imagined the ministers' expressions, stroked his beard, and revealed a smug smile, just like the richest of merchants.

The soldiers had expressionless faces, holding their weapons, waiting for the king's order; when the king then held that golden treasure chest, the chest was exposed to sunlight, reflecting a golden ray of light!

The soldiers' eyes were flashed for a moment; the corner of everyone's eyes secretly glanced at the treasure chest above.

They thought: "This treasure chest could feed a family for ten years!"

"Withdraw troops, prepare to receive the adventurers back to the palace!" The king issued the order, and the soldiers retreated in disarray, while Yang Xin and Wang Tingwan were still standing up there.

Yang Xin slowly leaned against the vines beside the mountain peak and the foothold, descending slowly; when he confirmed each step was solid, he then reached out and pulled Wang Tingwan down.

Thus, they too had slowly climbed halfway.

Yang Xin looked downward; the distance below was not great, he could already see the ground, he took a deep breath, and then fell headfirst straight toward the ground!

"No!" Wang Tingwan shouted; at that moment she deeply felt her own helplessness, then closed her eyes, not daring to look downward, afraid to see Yang Xin's forehead corpse flung to the ground, bright red blood staining the surrounding land.

Yang Xin fell downward, he opened his eyes, the wind howled past his ears, he saw Wang Tingwan turn her head to one side, he knew this was something he dared not look down at.

Yang Xin peacefully closed his eyes, revealing a smile, while thinking in his heart: "Originally, it wasn't only he who could make you cry; I can too?"

In Yang Xin's mind flashed all the memories of Feng Yan, himself, and Wang Tingwan; he felt regret, regretting his earlier concealment from Feng Yan, yet he did not feel he was wrong—who doesn't have the right to pursue happiness?

Yang Xin thought thus, while feeling the ground drawing ever closer; Yang Xin had also prepared himself for the end of the game.

But Yang Xin suddenly opened his eyes, discovering that he was only a fingertip's distance from the ground!

After Yang Xin steadied his stance, looking at that black iron rod, he understood what it was; he gripped the rod and then threw it straight toward Wang Tingwan's direction!

Wang Tingwan gasped in shock, her face paling as she cried out; then the iron rod directly brought her down.

"All right." Yang Xin covered his mouth, preventing himself from laughing.

Wang Tingwan opened her eyes again, discovering she was already on the ground; her legs trembled from fright, she staggered to her feet, the earlier fear still lingered in her heart, she remained shaken.

"Then we can return to the Prince's palace and begin our plan." Yang Xin revealed a smug smile, then helped Wang Tingwan up and looked toward the direction of the traveling palace.

In the forest, the bounty hunters stood by awaiting orders, waiting for the prince's command.

At this moment, the prince was very much at ease in the palace, listening to soothing music, savoring the freshly brewed wine, holding a woman in his arms; those women all eagerly anticipated receiving the prince's favor, or rather, his wealth.

The prince slightly shook the wine cup in his hand; the wine inside, as it swayed, caught the light and emitted several different colors; the prince held a palace maid in his embrace, his arm subtly tightening, the maid's face flushed red, just about to let out a soft hum, when a soldier shouted toward the palace, running over and kneeling on the ground.

"Report! The adventurers Feng Yan and Chen Hao have returned!" The soldiers knelt on the ground, presenting the battle report with both hands.

The prince's pleasant time was interrupted; his face instantly filled with anger, yet upon hearing it was again about Feng Yan, he took up the battle report presented by the soldier with both hands and examined it carefully.

Not looking would have been fine, but after reading it the prince grew worried; he thought of something terribly frightening—last time it was the prince taking off his shoes to wash his feet? This time, would it be demanding his life? The more he thought, the more fearful he became, cold sweat continually pouring from his back.

"Impossible! I, the prince, will not allow this to happen!" The prince roared loudly, then hurled the battle report fiercely to the ground.

The women beside seeing the angry prince all dared not step forward; the battle report lay on the ground, and the soldier also buried his head deep in his hands, not daring to lift his head, while also awaiting the prince's command.

The prince gradually regained his composure, then strove to calm his emotions, and issued the order: "Pass it down! All bounty hunters are to withdraw completely, not a single one left behind!"

"Yes!" The soldier replied with a single word, then stood up and hurried out of the prince's palace.

"Could it be that this is unavoidable?" The prince felt somewhat doubtful, asking himself from the bottom of his heart, as if muttering to himself.

In the Golden Paulownia Forest, Zhang Xiaobo and Jin Meng spent nearly a week of peaceful period; although some bounty hunters came to monitor the dwarves' every move, it was puzzling that they did not launch an all-out attack as before, and this place also made Zhang Xiaobo feel confused.

Zhang Xiaobo couldn't understand why those fellows didn't launch an attack like I have; they could watch the bounty hunters' actions every day, but that was merely hunting in the deep mountains.

The dwarves were terrified, each day anxiously hearing the whistling of arrows, the piercing cries of animals whose bodies were split by the air, and the bounty hunters' campfires gathered together—all made them feel afraid.

But at that very moment, those who made the dwarves feel fearful—the bounty hunters—had all withdrawn!

Upon hearing this news, the dwarves were overjoyed; they felt the danger had completely vanished, and now they, their mothers, should enjoy the present life.

"They're truly full of vigor, the dwarves." Zhang Xiaobo sincerely exclaimed, watching the dwarves do exercises together.

"How? Are there still times to worry?" Jin Meng asked Zhang Xiaobo.

"Let's go back; the bounty hunters have left, the dwarves should be pleased." Zhang Xiaobo sighed, the stone in his heart also fell to the ground; he realized he could relax a bit, and relax.

"The adventurers are indeed sent by the gods to save us!"

The dwarves' eyes were filled with high spirits, while Zhang Xiaobo looked at the dwarves, and worry began to rise in his heart again.

But Zhang Xiaobo understood, they had already become part of the story.