Zhou Chao looked at the sky, suppressed the irritation in his heart, pulled his horse around, and shouted loudly: "Everyone, let's stop here." "It's dark now, we can't continue, let's rest for a bit. The road ahead isn't far. If we follow this path, we'll either reach Xiong City by tomorrow night or the morning after." "Although it's in the northwest, there's good food, drink, and life." "By then, we can rest peacefully for a few days." Everyone felt a great relief upon hearing this. First, because after so many tiring days, they could finally reach an inn in the city, sleep warm and comfortably, have hot soup and baths, and relax their nerves which had been tight all the way here. Second, Xiong City stands firm in the northwest, with many martial experts and ample armament. Even if there were ten Great Wilderness Strongholds, they would be shattered to pieces. Since encountering the Great Wilderness Stronghold three days ago, everyone felt as if someone was chasing them these days, like fierce wolves lurking in the dark, mouths open, silently stalking. They didn't know when they would leap and tear at their throats, keeping their nerves taut. Immediately, agile martial artists with excellent horsemanship drove the wagons into a circle, deliberately ignoring Wang Anfeng, perhaps because the 'conjecture' from that day still lingered in their hearts or due to Zhou Chao's secret conversations these days. Everyone, relaxed in spirit, chatted and laughed, tended horses, lit fires, or took daggers from their waists to cut lamb into small pieces to throw into the pot, but none were willing to speak to Wang Anfeng, nor did their gazes linger on him, as if he wasn't even there. Zhou Chao saw this scene, and his unsettled heart calmed slightly, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. As long as this atmosphere persisted, once they reached Xiong City tomorrow, he could drive that person away and then deal with him secretly, without affecting his position and status in the caravan. All these happenings were nothing but natural occurrences. He reached into his bosom, took out a flat white iron flask, opened the spout, and the light green strong liquor inside rippled like lake water. He took a swig, his thoughts returning to his connection with the stronghold. He was this close, about to enter the city. At the latest, he could delay only until the morning the day after tomorrow. Without further contact, he would be at a complete loss to gauge the moves and position of the stronghold, like a lone wolf strayed from the pack in the vast wilderness. He couldn't manage to kill so many people or handle so much cargo alone. Acting independently was a major taboo of the Great Wilderness Stronghold, subjected to clan rules by the old fortress leader. Could it be that he really had to escort them honestly for trading?! Zhou Chao couldn't help but curse silently. Thinking of this, the liquor in his hand lost its taste. He stood up, spotted an autumn insect on the ground, and stomped it to death, grinding it harshly until he felt slightly relieved. He thought he shouldn't touch his knife now. If he did, he might impulsively slit something. Just then, a member of the caravan suddenly raised his head and laughed: A companion next to him was blowing on a fire and replied casually: "Did you mishear? In such a remote place, what could make a sound?" The first person shook his head, pointed at his fan-like ears, and said: "I couldn't have heard it wrong. It sounds like a bird cry to me." The companion impatiently said, "Who cares what bird it is? If you don't hurry up and help with the work, you'll end up with just bird crap in your mouth by the end of the day." The speaker chuckled and crouched to help gather firewood. The speaker had no intent, but the listener had. Zhou Chao was slightly stunned, then held his breath, listened carefully, forcefully suppressing his irritation to allow his exceptional senses to play out. Indeed, in the deathly quiet night, there were faint bird cries mixed in the wind. The bird call was that of a pheasant. Zhou Chao's eyes brightened slightly. He calmed his mind and continued to listen. Sure enough, it was a three-short-and-three-long pheasant call, with intervals of over ten breaths before it echoed again, seemingly not far from here. Zhou Chao suppressed the urge to shout out in a low voice. After tidying his clothes, he thought for a moment, picked up the knife hidden in its sheath, and said to the person next to him, "Everyone clean up now, I'll go scout around. We're nearing the city, it pays not to be careless." The others naturally had no doubts and complimented him a bit. Zhou Chao smiled and nodded, stood up, and walked out. After covering several hundred meters, he hesitated no more, following the bird call ahead. In just a moment, he reached a desolate area. At this moment, he was quite far from the caravan behind, and the bird calls had disappeared. He frowned, holding his knife in his right hand, his thumb pressing on the hilt, allowing an inch of the blade to flick out. Cautiously moving forward, he called out with a strange cry but received no response. The surroundings were pitch black, soundless. Zhou Chao frowned, saying: "Strange... Where is everyone? Could it really just be a partridge?" At this moment, he suddenly heard a light sound and felt a mix of joy and anger, "Why did you only come now? Don't you know how long I've been waiting?!" As he spoke, he turned his head to look, but the following words abruptly stopped. Behind him wasn't the stronghold subordinate he expected, but the pharmacist from the caravan, quietly watching him. Zhou Chao's eyes slightly narrowed, revealing a fierce look, and he said, "What are you doing sitting here?" "Did you follow me here?!" Wang Anfeng's expression remained calm, answering irrelevantly, "All your wounds are superficial injuries. Considering the physique of a martial artist, you're already healed, right?" "To fight fiercely and lose but only sustain superficial injuries, your martial arts aren't bad." "Luck is even better." Zhou Chao fell silent, looking around, the surroundings were shrouded in darkness, the caravan's firelight in this distance could only be seen as a faint star-like point. His shoulders relaxed, the fierceness in his eyes disappeared, and he sighed, "You truly are a great pharmacist, with keen eyesight. Following me here, are you trying to find out something, right? I understand, when you left that day, you must have discovered something, and now you return for these foolish lambs, but unfortunately, they don't appreciate your kindness." "Let me guess again, you haven't spoken until now because you're worried without me, these merchants won't make it safely to Xiong City? So you reveal yourself only now?" "Very good, very good, you're a good person, just a bit foolish." His smile was calm, eyes serene, filled with confidence, saying, "Smart people know how to measure the strength of themselves and their opponents, but unfortunately, you don't understand this simple truth. Yes, I am indeed from the Great Wilderness Stronghold, but so what? Only you know about this, if you die, no one will know." "Everyone will think you attracted the horse thieves." He placed his hand on the knife handle, the blade that had popped out was pressed back in, power flowed through his sinews and body, resonating and stirring the surrounding qi mechanism, sketching the void, creating all kinds of exotic phenomena, transforming into exotic beasts, hidden within the darkness. Updates are released by NoveI[F]ire.net Releasing his suppressed power, Zhou Chao grew even more unhurried, seeing Wang Anfeng wielding a knife in his left hand, he smiled further, saying, "If there's a next life, let your eyes be sharper." "This strike of mine is called Hu Feng's Slash." His wrist trembled, essence, energy, and spirit merged into one, the treasured blade slashed out from its scabbard, like thunder. The phenomenon behind him entwined, stirring the area within several yards. A silent tiger roared hideously, bones clashed. Then he saw the pharmacist opposite swing a black knife with his left hand that even a Ninth Rank Martial Artist could wield lightly, a trace of disdain and ridicule appeared at the corner of his mouth, his strength increased, intending to splinter the other's black knife with his treasured blade. The two knives collided. The smile on Zhou Chao's face instantly froze. A horrifying, overbearing, and unstoppable force instantly shattered his qi mechanism, his last memory was seeing the indifferent arc of a face, and hearing an equally cold voice. "This blade is called Diamond." PS: Here is the second update of the day... Four thousand two hundred words.