Chapter 67: Chaos

Qian Ye was covered in wounds, his flesh torn and bloodied, mired in gunpowder and mud. Qiqi, bearing him on her back, was equally disheveled but paid no heed to her state.

Wei Potian followed silently behind, several times wanting to offer to carry Qian Ye, but ultimately remained silent. His instinct told him that even if he asked, Qiqi would refuse.

As they traversed the mountains and valleys, they noticed people following and watching from the shadows. However, upon seeing that the Wei and Yin families were traveling together, those hunters seemed to realize their last chance had slipped away, and they quietly dispersed without showing themselves.

Qiqi had just stepped out of a dense forest when she suddenly halted, a sudden murderous aura rising around her.

Wei Potian, who was following closely, did not expect her to stop so abruptly and nearly collided with her. Looking up, his eyes widened in shock, but his face swiftly settled into a grim expression as he stepped forward to shield Qian Ye and Qiqi, his earth-yellow origin power flaring.

In the clearing ahead, Song Zining stood nonchalantly, still in his light robes and wide sleeves. Behind him were Ye Mulan and two Song family guards.

Just as the tension between the two sides was about to boil over, a clear and resonant gunshot echoed from the side, like the striking of metal. The sound was all too familiar to most present. Qian Ye’s expression changed slightly, and despite Qiqi’s attempts to stop him, he insisted on getting down.

Zhao Junhong slowly emerged from the woods, wiping his famous Silver Wing Fantasy rifle with a pristine white cloth. His steps, though seemingly slow, brought him to stand between the two opposing groups in just two strides.

Zhao Junhong stood facing the Song family, glancing at Song Zining without a word. The atmosphere was oddly tense and quiet.

Song Zining, still with a smile, suddenly said, “What a coincidence, meeting you all here. You continue; I’ll change my direction.” And with that, he turned and left, with Ye Mulan and the Song family guards following hesitantly.

Zhao Junhong watched until Song Zining was out of sight, then turned to Qiqi and Wei Potian, who were still on guard, and said, “No need to be so tense. I only came to speak with him.”

Qian Ye, struggling to stand, looked at Zhao Junhong.

Zhao Junhong slung his Silver Wing Fantasy behind his back and said, “You are the first person to put me in such a predicament. But since you’re so injured now, I’ll give you some time. When you recover, we can have a proper match!”

Qian Ye, somewhat surprised, smiled and asked, “A match? Do you want me to use a closer range weapon next time?”

Zhao Junhong coughed, his expression stiffening slightly, and said, “Sniping is not my specialty. But if you want, I can learn from the sniper masters of the Zhao family. After half a year, we can have a proper match.”

Qian Ye, taken aback by Zhao Junhong’s candid admission, refrained from further mockery and asked, “Then what do you want to compete in?”

Zhao Junhong said, “After the spring hunt, there will be a real combat arena. It’s not a virtual fight. Do you dare to participate?”

Qian Ye smiled, “Why not?”

At this point, Qiqi interjected, “Zhao Junhong, you’re a Level 7 while Qian Ye is only Level 5. Is it fair for you to say such things? Why don’t I find a war general to challenge you?”

Zhao Junhong gave Qiqi a cold glance and said, “Would I take such an unfair advantage? I’ll also limit myself to Level 5. Qiqi, if you disagree, come fight me. I’ll show you the Zhao family’s secret techniques!”

By now, Qian Ye was barely standing, leaning heavily on Qiqi. He smiled weakly and said, “If you limit yourself to Level 5, there’s no need to fight. I’m not interested in battles I’m guaranteed to win.”

Zhao Junhong’s face darkened, and he said coldly, “You certainly have the nerve. I hope you’re as good on the arena as you claim to be!” With that, he turned and left, vanishing in an instant.

Qian Ye shook his head, “I didn’t expect the second young master of the Zhao family to be like this.”

Qiqi said, “The Zhao family… ” She paused, unable to find the right words, then gritted her teeth and said, “Regardless, Zhao Junhong is better than the despicable Song Zining!”

Qian Ye, taken aback, saw Wei Potian nodding in agreement and decided it was best to stay silent.

Deep in the woods, Ye Mulan followed Song Zining, but she couldn’t let go of her dissatisfaction. Tugging at his sleeve, she asked, “Zining! Why did you leave just now?”

Song Zining replied calmly, “Junhong doesn’t want us there, so we should give him face.”

Ye Mulan, growing anxious, said, “Zining! That Qian Ye already hates our Song family. If we don’t kill him now, he’ll be a future threat!”

She wasn’t foolish and saw that Zhao Junhong didn’t look like he was there to kill anyone. Yet, she felt a sense of unease, largely due to the threat from Wei Potian. She didn’t understand why that crude peasant boy had so much protection, but her intuition told her that the more he thrived, the more trouble she would face.

Song Zining’s eyes flickered, his voice devoid of emotion, “Don’t worry. There are still a few days left before the spring hunt ends.”

Ye Mulan responded gently, “Mm.” She could only cling to Song Zining.

By evening, Qiqi finally carried Qian Ye back to the Yin family camp. The Yin family guards, experts in battlefield medicine, spent half the night treating his wounds.

The Wei family guards also gathered, setting up a temporary camp nearby using the Yin family’s supplies. Wei Potian repeatedly circled Qian Ye’s tent, wanting to talk to him.

But Qiqi, frustrated that she couldn’t get any information from Wei Potian, continuously intervened, denying them any chance for a private conversation, infuriating Wei Potian to the point of wanting to fight her again.

Qian Ye, ignoring the two, closed his eyes and rested. He wasn’t ready to reminisce with Wei Potian. In the Evernight Continent, he often felt a sense of loss, but now, after encountering old friends, he felt a deep unease, unsure of what past events would surface.

The spring hunt returned to its normal course, with the major families’ teams entering the most dangerous black zone, hunting dark race warriors and rapidly increasing their scores.

However, due to Qian Ye, the strongest guards of the Zhao, Song, and Kong families suffered heavy losses, allowing the smaller families to rise in rankings.

Yet, the peace didn’t last long, with tensions rising between the Song and Yin families.

Despite his severe injuries, Qiqi didn’t report Qian Ye’s withdrawal. Since the Yin family team was willing to carry him, others made no objections. A team with a severely injured member needed defenders, affecting their efficiency.

By evening, Qian Ye, after lying in the tent for two days, was able to move. He was maintaining a six-hundred-meter-range sniper rifle when a sharp whistling sound cut through the air, signaling an attack. Before he could react, a massive explosion tore through the tent, sending everything flying.

A light, sharp sound filled the air as a curtain of water formed in front of Qian Ye, blocking a barrage of fire. Ji Yuanjia’s short sword clashed countless times with a bronze spear, and when they finally separated, Ji Yuanjia’s hand was bleeding.

The spear was wielded by Song Zining!

“Song Zining! What are you doing?” Qiqi’s voice rang out, and she quickly arrived, along with the returning Yin family team.

Song Zining retreated, rejoining Ye Mulan and the Song guards, and said innocently, “As you see, just a raid.”

Qiqi, furious, knew that raids were allowed in the spring hunt, but she couldn’t stomach it.

Song Zining continued, “I didn’t expect you to leave Ji Yuanjia to guard, risking your hunting score.”

Ji Yuanjia, one of the Yin family’s top fighters, not hunting meant a significant loss.

Qiqi realized that Song Zining was targeting Qian Ye. If a weaker guard had been left, they couldn’t have stopped Song Zining. She glared at Song Zining and Ye Mulan, feeling the latter’s smile was malicious.

“Song Zining, you dare to target my people!”

Song Zining smiled silently.

Qiqi, calming down, said coldly, “Seventh cousin, the ancestors don’t always favor you.”

Song Zining turned to see Wei Potian and two guards approaching from the trees. Not saying another word, he left with a smile.

Qian Ye, knowing Song Zining, recognized that he was intentionally provoking Qiqi, but couldn’t fathom the reason.

Ji Yuanjia, noticing Qian Ye’s unusual behavior, asked, “Qian Ye, are you okay?”

Qian Ye shook his head, looking at Ji Yuanjia’s bloody hand.

Ji Yuanjia smiled, “Just a scratch.” He showed his arm, which indeed had a shallow wound, needing no bandage. He explained, “The Song family’s Fire Transmission Spear, a powerful technique, must be suppressed or it will strike.”

Two Yin guards helped Qian Ye clean up the tent, and Ji Yuanjia was about to return to his own tent when Qiqi approached.

She watched Qian Ye’s back, saying softly, “Yuanjia, did I make a mistake with Qian Ye?”

Ji Yuanjia, silent for a moment, replied, “Miss, wasn’t that your decision when you issued the task?”

Qiqi’s “lover” wasn’t new to Qian Ye. Others had left for various reasons, some injured. Qian Ye was just a pawn. This incident, causing Song Zining’s anger, was an unexpected twist.

Qiqi, with a lost expression, heard Ji Yuanjia say, “Miss, you never told Qian Ye why you used the 60th Division to save him, did you?”

Qiqi, when asking Ji Yuanjia for the military order, had cited a promise to Yu Yingnan, but she never told Qian Ye, as if the reason never existed.