Talk leads to no understanding when it is not mutual, and the rule of the cultivator world is survival of the fittest; in the end, it all comes down to strength.
Wan Hao would not have attacked Luo Hou, a powerful cultivator, unless he was pushed to his limit.
Of course, he was not afraid.
Although he could not defeat Luo Hou, he would not be instantly killed. Moreover, in this forest, any significant commotion could attract the attention of demonic beasts, so in the past, teams usually maintained restraint.
But this time, Luo Hou’s provocation and his intention to take Lin Xiao Tian were something Wan Hao absolutely could not allow. Having no parents and growing up alone, his brothers were his family, and how could he give them up?
"Luo Hou, since you insist, we will fight to the death. My life is cheap, and if I can take a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator like you down with me, then I will have died with honor," Wan Hao roared.
Luo Hou understood his meaning.
A direct confrontation in the forest could easily attract demonic beasts, but Luo Hou dared to do so because he had his own means of protection.
He calmly took out a small jade bottle.
"Wan Hao, do not think you can scare me. With this in hand, the surrounding demonic beasts will not dare to approach, and powerful beasts will not appear in this depth. It seems I will be collecting your cheap life today."
The small jade bottle contained brown powder that released a pungent odor.
This powder was refined from a poisonous skunk. Demonic beasts generally had acute senses of smell, and this odor would easily alert them, naturally keeping them away.
Of course, some powerful or high-blooded demonic beasts might detect the human scent.
However, as Luo Hou said, this was not the deep forest, and such beasts were unlikely to be present.
"Poisonous skunk powder, such a precious item, and you use it against us. Luo Hou, you have indeed put much thought into this!" Wan Hao stared intently at the powder in his hand.
He had only seen this item before during large-scale hunts in the mountains, mostly used by nobles, and the targets were at least Foundation Establishment stage demonic beasts. He was surprised Luo Hou would use such a thing for them.
"Wan Hao, I will give you one more chance. Leave Xu Hao and your spoils, and the rest can go," Luo Hou reiterated his demand.
Upon hearing Luo Hou's words, several members of the team wavered.
"Brother Hao, why don't we just let Xu Hao stay? He would only be a hostage, and they wouldn't actually harm him, would they?"
"Yes! Brother Hao, Luo Hou and his group even brought out the poisonous skunk powder. If we really fight to the death, it will be disadvantageous for us!"
Facing his teammates' advice, Wan Hao couldn't help but glance at Lin Xiao Tian.
"All of you, shut up! You are my brothers, and Xu Hao is my brother. I will not let my brother become a hostage."
"Brother Hao!"
"Those who are afraid of death can leave, I will not stop you."
Seeing Wan Hao's firm resolve, his teammates were in a difficult position.
Just then, Lin Xiao Tian stepped forward.
"Xu Hao, what do you mean? You want to be a hostage?"
Seeing Lin Xiao Tian's hand gestures, Zhu Kai looked surprised and quickly interrupted him.
"Are you joking?" Zhu Kai was uncharacteristically angry.
He and Wan Hao shared the same thought: they would protect Lin Xiao Tian to the death.
"Captain, look, Xu Hao himself said he's willing to be a hostage. In my opinion..." a teammate began to persuade again, but before he could finish, a slap landed.
*Slap!*
The person who slapped him was none other than Zhu Kai.
"You're talking nonsense! Xu Hao is willing to sacrifice himself for us, can't you see that?"
"You lovesick good-for-nothing, how dare you hit me?"
Zhu Kai was usually honest and rarely clashed with his teammates. Being slapped by someone like this in the team made the other person extremely annoyed.
"Lovesick? Who are you calling lovesick?"
"Heh, whoever it is, they know it themselves!"
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Having his sensitive point struck, Zhu Kai could no longer hold back. This was his bottom line. Usually, everyone saw through it but didn't say it, knowing it would hurt Zhu Kai. But at this moment of life and death, principles were cast aside.
"Fight me if you dare, who's afraid of whom?"
As the two sides were about to fight, Lin Xiao Tian quickly stepped between them.
"You useless cripple, get out of the way!"
The person arguing with Zhu Kai pushed towards Lin Xiao Tian.
But in the next second, he was forcefully repelled.
"How dare you..."
The man was about to accuse Lin Xiao Tian of repelling him, when he suddenly saw a pair of cold eyes.
Those eyes seemed to come from an icy abyss, sending a chill down his spine.
He, who was about to erupt, dared not utter a word.
His gaze met Lin Xiao Tian's, and only then did he suddenly realize that the person standing before him was a ninth-level Qi Refining expert. He had simply never had a conflict with him before.
Seeing Lin Xiao Tian being insulted, Zhu Kai was about to step forward to defend him, but Lin Xiao Tian stopped him.
Lin Xiao Tian gestured again, signaling everyone to leave.
"Xiao Tian... don't be foolish!" Wan Hao quickly stopped him.
With teammates around, Lin Xiao Tian at least had a chance to escape. After all, their team was not weak, and the reason Luo Hou hadn't attacked was his apprehension of that. If too many people left, Lin Xiao Tian would have no chance to escape at all.
"Captain, if you insist on protecting him, then I, Lin Bu, have nothing more to say. I wish to leave. Captain, thank you for your past care!"
Lin Bu was the third strongest member of the team, at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and also the vice-captain.
Wan Hao sighed and said nothing more.
Lin Bu cupped his hands towards Wan Hao, turned, and left.
With Lin Bu taking the lead, others began to leave one after another.
In a short moment, besides Lin Xiao Tian, Wan Hao, and Zhu Kai, no one else remained.
Luo Hou's laughter echoed from the opposite side.
"Wan Hao, still holding on? I don't have to kill you. Leave Xu Hao, and you can go!"
Now that the crowd had thinned, Luo Hou spoke more directly.
Wan Hao immediately understood Luo Hou's intention. "Xu Hao is new here and doesn't understand the ways of the world. It is my responsibility as captain. If I have offended you in any way, I hope you will give me a chance to make amends out of consideration for me."
Wan Hao once again lowered himself with humility.
"How much is your face worth? You have no right to bargain. I was merely informing you. If you don't listen, then don't blame me for being impolite."
Seeing Luo Hou's firm stance, Wan Hao made no further concessions.
"Xu Hao, Zhu Kai, do not confront them head-on. Run towards the depths of the forest, and try to create as much commotion as possible. We cannot defeat them, but we can make them suffer," Wan Hao transmitted mentally to Lin Xiao Tian and Zhu Kai.
Zhu Kai nodded, and Lin Xiao Tian could only sigh.
He had originally planned to silently eliminate these minor characters while Wan Hao and the others left, but he hadn't expected Wan Hao to be so loyal.
"Why the sigh! Don't be sad. We've slept in the same bed before. How can I watch you go to your death?" Zhu Kai could still joke.
Lin Xiao Tian could only shrug. He really wanted to say that he sighed because he regretted not being able to kill the opponents in one go.
"It's a pity I couldn't fulfill my parents' last wish and marry Zhu Yu."
Lin Xiao Tian was stunned. This was the first time Zhu Kai had mentioned this to him.