Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As soon as he spoke, an arrow penetrated the chest of a man who was standing far away from the leader.
“Urgh—”
People looked at the man as his trembling hands touched his body. The force shook his heart and broke it into pieces. Blood flowed from the lying corpse to the soil.
The dead man’s eyes were so round, it was as if they were staring at a monster that had killed him. The scene sent chills down the other’s spines. Are there really ghosts around here?
“You’re all grown up men, and you’re afraid of ghosts?” shouted the leader to remind them of their common sense. He held up his blade, walked towards where the arrow came from, and cut down all the bushes in his way.
Strangely, he could find no traces of living people. Where did the enemy shoot from?
Before the leader could maintain his composed nature, there was another cry. “Urgh!” Another arrow shot through a soldier’s bosom; the victim was on the opposite side of where the previous one died.
The leader rushed to the spot. The soldier had already stopped breathing. He had been shot in the heart like the his companion had been.
After examining the corpses, the leader could no longer repress his fury. He had been used to flattery ever since he served the Meng’s––he had never been humiliated in such a way by a mysterious person.
“Stop fooling around! We won’t be scared!” He then spoke to his soldiers. “Are you dumb? You know how to run when arrows are directed at you, don’t you? And you’re still standing in the same position?”
The men remembered to form a more organized array. They feared the leader more than the “ghost.”
Perceiving their movements, Jiang Pengji moved to another place.
“Sigh! I want a greater challenge than these dumb men.” She wore a cool smile.
She gained the upper hand: They were exposed, but she was not. No matter how they distributed themselves, they could not avoid her unless they noticed the arrows before they were released.
One of the clues was the air of death. It did exist, but it was difficult to identify––that was why some people focused on training their instincts and sensitivity to air, such as a gaze from the others and the malicious air of death.
The leader was capable of detecting the air of most attackers, but Jiang Pengji was an exception. Killing without being noticed was basic for genetically enhanced soldiers. As an experienced sniper who had completed her missions perfectly each time, she could hide her air completely to avoid being found. After all, that was the only way to survive in a world where citizens’ senses were all sharp like hers.
The audience resumed their humorous atmosphere after the initial shock of bloodshed.
Wanyue: “(laughcry). It looks like an S-level player slaughtering newcomers in computer games.”
Aize Huahuo: “What a scene!”
Zhongfei Zuoye Xingchen: “I like it. I like seeing enemies fall after one attack.”
Jiang Pengji smiled at the team. Their new position would only accelerate their death.
Host: “Have you ever killed two birds with one stone?”
As soon as she said it, she released an arrow and changed positions without looking at the crowd.
Whoosh! The people noticed the weapon’s approaching, but it was too late.
“Another two.” Without looking back, she knew the casualty. The number of remaining soldiers was so small that they could not help but shiver. They had never seen a trace of the attacker, yet their companions were falling one after another.
The leader was intact, as he was protected in the middle of the crowd. However, the two new victims were standing close to him and both fell onto his body.
“A bandit wouldn’t be able to do this!” He pushed away the corpses. While he was reluctant to give up, he understood that leaving the woods was the only way to survive.
“Is this the revenge of those in Hejian?” suggested a subordinate.
The leader said sarcastically, “They don’t have the courage.”
Who could it be, then? Were there really ghosts?
The people began to withdraw. Jiang Pengji glanced at them, then at her arrows, and smiled mysteriously.
They had taken a ride to the nether world, and there was no return.
Shooting while moving was generally a piece of cake to her; the only challenge was to conceal herself during an attack.
To the soldiers, the surroundings appeared more horrifying than ever. Uncertainty and death casted their shadows over their hearts.
Clunk. A member in the back had his temples penetrated and his head nailed to a tree trunk.
“Stay calm! Withdraw!” Noticing the sound, the leader knew another man had lost his life.
Similar scenes repeated themselves. Jiang Pengji was like a local hunter: she kept a safe distance at the best position no matter how the panicked people ran. They were rats and she was the cat, crushing their sanity until she felt like taking their lives with one shot.
The leader was on the brink of madness, and any attempt to hide his fear was in vain. He could tell neither where the arrows came from, nor who the next target was going to be. Their exposure in the thick forest placed them at a disadvantage.