Chapter 209: Backstab and Surprise Attack

Xia Nan's original plan was to make a big circle after escaping, bypassing the location where he had encountered the beast horde and the Owl Bear.

Then return along the original path to leave the forest and wait for his teammates in Green Wheat Village.

But what he didn't expect was that before he had gone far, he keenly perceived some unusual movements coming from nearby.

After a little reconnaissance, the human footprints left on the ground, the broken branches and grass stems, and some blood also entered his field of vision.

Following the trail all the way, amidst the increasingly thick scent of blood and the gradually clear human conversation.

His two teammates came into his view.

Xia Nan observed very carefully; the first thing he saw the moment Kashi and Weiruisi saw him was vigilance and guard.

This was easy to understand.

In the Mist Forest, which was full of various dangerous monsters, it was reasonable to maintain a defensive posture when footsteps gradually approached from the dense forest beside him.

But the reaction of the two after discovering that the visitor was him was very interesting.

First, they were stunned, the hostility in their eyes seemed to recede slightly, but the weapons in their hands were not put down, subconsciously still maintaining the physical movements before the battle.

Then, the expressions on their faces suddenly became stiff from the original stunned state, then they instinctively squeezed out a smile, and then seemed to realize that it was too abrupt, and then restrained all expressions, showing a look that looked relatively normal, serious and tense, with a hint of relaxation after discovering a teammate.

Xia Nan didn't have the ability to read minds, so naturally, he didn't know the mental journey of these two after such rich expression changes.

In his heart, however, an inexplicable sense of deja vu emerged.

The expression changes of these two gave him the feeling that it was like talking bad things behind someone's back, being caught, and pretending to be calm, pretending that nothing had happened.

That moment of embarrassment and stiffness, the natural revelation of emotions, was something an ordinary person could never act out.

"Xia Nan?" Weiruisi was exceptionally pleasantly surprised, "Thank goodness, it's good that you're okay."

This Drow Half-Elf, with thick bandages wrapped around her upper abdomen, could faintly see the blood seeping out from below.

Seeing Xia Nan appear, she supported herself on the tree trunk beside her with one hand, covered the bandage on her wound with the other, grimaced, and pretended to be in pain as she stood up from the ground.

That performance of being "seriously injured" but still concerned about her teammate, if it weren't for the other party's expression changes before, and the loud female voice full of vulgar profanity he heard in the forest before he appeared.

Xia Nan might have really been fooled by the other party.

"This damn Mist Forest, the damn beast horde, and that damn Owl Bear!"

Weiruisi took the initiative to walk up, complaining in a way that was quite consistent with her persona.

"Did you suffer any injuries? It's a pity that my healing potion has been drunk, and I can't treat you."

"Oh, and our poor little Bo He." The sorrow on her face showed no flaws, as if it were a true revelation of feelings, "A few days ago, she told me that she wanted to save some money and change into an enchanted robe."

"I didn't expect..."

Fortunately, Weiruisi should also know what kind of personality she had shown in front of Xia Nan in the past.

Although the tone was filled with deep regret and sadness, she didn't deliberately act to the point of sobbing and being unable to speak.

She still had self-awareness.

Knowing that saying more would lead to more mistakes, Xia Nan didn't react much to this, just nodded silently.

At the same time, Kashi on the side also walked up and patted him on the shoulder.

——Xia Nan paid attention to the stone spear in the other party's hand with his peripheral vision, secretly maintaining a defensive posture ready to counter at any time, suppressing the instinctive movement of dodging, and tensing his body.

"It's good that you're back, the situation was urgent at the time, and I couldn't take care of anything else, you should be able to understand." Kashi's expression looked sincere, and there was an apology in his eyes when looking at Xia Nan.

"For a monster of the Owl Bear's level, a second of hesitation might mean that the team loses more than just Bo He."

Xia Nan didn't know how much of this was sincere.

But from his own perspective, what he saw.

Was that Kashi and Weiruisi, facing a powerful enemy that had already engaged in battle with the squad and even caused the team to lose members.

Without the slightest reminder, not even saying a word.

After throwing the fire oil bombs, they each fled, leaving him on the field.

Now, it was only because of his perception attribute, which was far beyond ordinary people, and the observation ability provided by 【Heart-Drawing Vision】 that he was able to meet up with them.

And the two looked like they had been together for a while.

It was hard not to suspect whether his two teammates had premeditated this.

To a certain extent, with the universal values of adventurers in this world, if his personality were slightly more extreme, all these would be enough to make him take action and solve these two companions of his.

And in fact, Xia Nan was indeed preparing in his heart.

1 vs 2, he was at a disadvantage in numbers.

But Kashi was right beside him, within his attack range, taking advantage of his unpreparedness, using 【Spinning Slash】 might be able to directly achieve the effect of serious injury or even death.

Hmm... must consider the possibility that the other party possesses protective magic equipment, and at the same time need to prepare 【Tooth Hunt】, so that he can respond whether retreating or advancing.

However, compared to Kashi, he still hoped to solve Weiruisi first in the instant before the battle started.

In the Mist Forest where the light was dim and it was gradually getting dark, compared to Kashi, who tended to fight at close range, the Rogue who possessed poisoned short daggers and controlled the power of shadows was undoubtedly more dangerous.

Xia Nan had a certain physical defense capability, and 【Fate Coin】 could even trigger the physical damage immunity effect of 【Copper Tendons and Iron Bones】 100%.

But he didn't want to waste this precious item in such a place.

If feasible, he had to find an opportunity to get close to Weiruisi.

He had to be close enough that even if he swung his sword, the other party wouldn't be able to react, and if so...

While thinking, Kashi in front continued:

"You came just in time, we suspect that this siege by the beast horde was planned by that Beastman in the dark."

Seeming to hear a key word, the killing intent in Xia Nan's heart subsided, and his brows lifted slightly.

"How so?"

"Because shortly after Weiruisi escaped from the field, she was immediately ambushed by the Beastman—it didn't look like a sudden encounter, it should have been lurking nearby for a long time."

Kashi said, making way, revealing the Drow Half-Elf with blood-seeping bandages wrapped around her waist and abdomen behind him.

"Fortunately, I reacted quickly, otherwise I would have died there." Weiruisi nodded forcefully, saying viciously, "But it was also poisoned by me."

"It can't run far, we set off now, there's a great chance to catch up!"

Before Xia Nan could reply, Kashi added:

"There is only one chance, this cunning Beastman has already discovered us and has attacked us one after another."

"After the Owl Bear, it should have realized that it is not our opponent, if it lets it run this time, it is not certain whether it will stay in the Mist Forest in the future."

"Your investigation mission, I'm afraid it can only end here."

Hearing this, Xia Nan felt quite subtle.

His gaze lingered slightly on Weiruisi's abdominal wound and Kashi's sweaty face covered in grass clippings.

Finally, he swept quietly across the fragile necks of the two.

Nodding slightly.

"Then let's go."

For the vast majority of adventurer squads in this world.

After a fierce battle that caused the team to lose members, it is normal for the atmosphere in the team to change.

Even if the one who died was a newcomer who hadn't joined the squad for long, it was inevitable to have some negative emotions of sympathy for the death of a fellow, let alone the kind of old people who had stayed in the team for many years. Bo He's exit also caused the atmosphere within the Sea Thorn Squad to change.

It's just that the direction of the change... was a bit strange.

It was like breaking some kind of subtle balance that originally existed.

The Sea Thorn Squad, which only had three people left, still maintained the most basic formation.

Kashi walked in the forefront to open the way, and Xia Nan still dragged at the end of the team, but compared to before, the distance between the two was significantly pulled apart.

If Xia Nan wanted to take the opportunity to make a move, he might only need to walk forward two steps, and he would be discovered by Weiruisi, who wandered on the side of the team and occasionally cast hidden glances at him.

And during the march, Xia Nan also noticed that perhaps the two looked a bit sorry in appearance.

But the actual actions were not affected much, clearly still possessing decent combat power.

"Everyone be careful, it might be nearby."

The reminder from Weiruisi came to his ears.

"Its size is relatively small among Beastmen, my poison should take effect soon, be careful of going berserk."

Xia Nan was naturally vigilant in the dark.

Of course, the objects of vigilance also included the other two in the team.

"Shasha!"

Suddenly, the bushes beside them shook violently and made a sound.

Xia Nan gripped the decapitation longsword with both hands, held the sword body horizontally in front of his chest, and made a defensive posture in an instant.

At the same time, he divided his mind to be vigilant about other directions around him, to prevent the enemy from making a feint, or teammates backstabbing.

And at the same time, a monster with jet-black mane all over its body, like a humanoid black bear, also rushed out from the bushes suddenly.

"It's a Beastman!"

Weiruisi's scream, which was hard to restrain with excitement, rang out in the forest.

The Beastman transformed into a shadow and roared as it pounced toward Kashi at the forefront of the team.

"Squelch!"

Responding to it was a dense stabbing of the blue-grey stone spear like rain.

Xia Nan stood at the end of the team, unable to see the expression on the other party's face at the moment, whether it was excitement or nervousness, but undoubtedly, this middle-aged man from a fisherman background had long been prepared for battle.

Even before the Beastman with a sturdy figure had time to pounce to the near place, the phantom composed of spear stabs had already blocked in front of the other party.

Perhaps it was affected by the poison, or perhaps it was some other reason.

The explosive power and speed displayed by the Beastman at this moment were far below Xia Nan's expectations.

Clearly it was a surprise attack from dark to light, but it didn't grasp any advantage because of this.

The jet-black mane was easily stirred to pieces in the sharp spear shadows, and the thick skin and flesh did not have the defensive power that should have been imagined.

In the blink of an eye, deep wounds were covered all over its chest, and fresh blood sprayed from them.

Ang—

The miserable howl made the branches and leaves of the trees on both sides vibrate slightly.

The Beastman used all four limbs, as if it were really a black bear, bleeding under its body, and fled toward the depths of the forest.

Up to here, it was only a few seconds since it appeared.

Xia Nan hadn't even had time to make a move.

"It's it! Don't let this animal run away!"

Weiruisi found it hard to hide her excitement, and her body, which had been wandering in the surrounding shadows, also appeared in the forest clearing amidst a twist.

Kashi went without saying.

He personally stabbed the stone spear and left wounds full of blood and flesh on the other party, naturally knowing clearly how heavy the other party's injuries were and how weak the state itself was under the erosion of the poison.

Carrying huge benefits that could allow the two to retire directly after the mission, the target that had been tracked for a long time was right in front of them.

How could he let the other party slip through his fingers.

He roared, and the excitement in the roar nearly condensed into substance.

He had already rushed straight in the direction where the Beastman fled.

Weiruisi followed closely, as if she would suffer a little more loss if she were a step slower, her whole body transformed into a shadow, and her speed soared to the fastest.

Xia Nan still followed at the very back.

For some reason, he always felt something was strange.

But he couldn't put his finger on exactly what was strange.

Perhaps it was the deepening twilight and the dim light leaking from above; perhaps it was the dark, ghostly figure of the Beast-kin that had disappeared into the depths of the grey mist; or perhaps it was just a branch he had stepped on and snapped underfoot...

He attributed it to a vague intuition under high perception.

Things having reached this point, it was of course impossible for him to just retreat and leave.

But he would absolutely not rush in recklessly either.

While becoming increasingly vigilant in his heart, he followed behind the two and continued to pursue forward.

A few minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

Xia Nan didn't even accelerate, just trailing far behind his teammates.

Then he saw Kashi and Weiruisi stop in their tracks simultaneously.

He followed up and looked ahead.

What appeared in his line of sight was a rare clearing within the Mist Forest.

It wasn't very large, about the size of half a basketball court.

But in an environment where every corner of the field of vision was filled with trees, it eerily gave one a sense of openness and tranquility.

In the very center of the clearing stood an oak tree that was clearly thicker than its neighbors, about the girth of five people hugging it.

The shadow cast by the dense canopy onto the ground, set against the increasingly dim sky, looked vaguely like the corpse of a fallen giant.

And in the deepest part of the tree's shade, it was dotted with scarlet blood and labored "he-he" wheezing sounds.

The target of the Sea-Spine Squad, that pitch-black bear-like Beast-kin, was slumped against the trunk.

Its cold, sharp eyes, refracting yellow-green light like ghost fire, were gradually losing focus; the rise and fall of its chest was slowing down, and its vitality was rapidly fading.

And most eye-catching of all was the emerald-green radiance exuding a rich aura of life, hanging around its neck like some kind of necklace pendant, strung on a slender twig.

A sense of déjà vu inexplicably welled up in Xia Nan's heart.

But before he could think too much about it,

from his teammates beside him,

a flash of cold light suddenly streaked across the corner of his eye.

In his ears, there was the sharp, whistling sound of a blade tearing through the air.

(End of Chapter)