"If it weren't for your treasure map, we might not have found this place."
After Fang Chao's driver dropped him and Du Fei at the foot of Hua Yan Mountain, he parked the car as Fang Chao instructed and waited for them.
Then, the two ascended the steps.
Perhaps for ordinary people, Hua Yan Mountain's paths would be rugged and the steps steep.
But for Du Fei and Fang Chao, who were cultivators, it was as easy as walking on flat ground.
Thus, to the astonishment of many other hikers, Du Fei and Fang Chao moved upwards at an astonishing speed.
Half an hour later, Fang Chao and Du Fei stopped at a spot near the summit.
Where they stood, a sheer cliff face, about twenty to thirty meters high, lay before them.
From a distance, the steep cliff seemed to open into a flat expanse.
However, due to the extreme steepness, it was impossible for ordinary people to ascend, so few people ever ventured here.
"Huh, it looks like someone is coming."
Just as Du Fei and Fang Chao were about to climb the steep cliff, they both looked back simultaneously.
Shortly thereafter, a group of people appeared in the distance and were approaching them.
Fang Chao and Du Fei exchanged glances, puzzled as to why these people were here.
The ground beneath their feet looked untouched, and it wasn't the prime hiking season.
Why would people suddenly appear behind them?
However, with people approaching, they had to halt their attempt to climb the cliff.
"Rong Rong, be careful of your footing."
Zeng Shaozong reminded Rong Rong as they walked.
The path was indeed difficult, and the surrounding bushes and branches were dense, so a moment's inattention could result in a scratch on the face.
Fortunately, they had brought Bian Haiyang and several bodyguards, who cleared the path ahead with their equipment. Otherwise, Zeng Shaozong and Rong Rong alone would have likely turned back long ago.
"I think, given how secluded this place is, it must be where the treasure is hidden."
Seeing how remote and winding the path was, Rong Rong became excited.
Except for Zeng Shaozong's agreement, everyone else, including Bian Haiyang, remained silent.
Rustle!
Rustle!
Just then, a series of rustling sounds came from the bushes to their right.
As the ground suddenly began to shake, Bian Haiyang and the other bodyguards immediately shielded Zeng Shaozong and Rong Rong behind them.
"Young Master Zeng, please step back a bit. I fear some fierce beast might be charging out."
Although the animal in the bushes hadn't appeared yet, the commotion indicated it was quite large.
Rustle!
Roar!
Then, with a loud roar, a massive black bear appeared before them.
Seeing the crowd, the black bear showed no fear. Instead, it exerted force on its hind legs and stood up on its hindquarters.
When the black bear was on all fours, the onlookers could only tell it was large.
Whoosh!
But when it stood upright, the crowd gasped.
This black bear stood at least two meters tall, and it would likely take two or three people to embrace it.
"Oh no, this is a fierce black bear."
Bian Haiyang exclaimed.
The black bear, also known as a sun bear, is a type of black bear, but it is larger and more ferocious than ordinary black bears.
"What are you afraid of? With so many of us, can't we handle an animal?"
Initially, Rong Rong was too stunned by the sudden appearance of the black bear to speak. But after regaining her composure, she asked.
Bian Haiyang shot her an exasperated look. "Miss Rong, in the mountains, these black bears can sometimes be fiercer than tigers. And we are deep in the mountains; we won't find any weapons to deal with it quickly."
"Weapons? Don't you have knives? And there are over a dozen of you. You don't need to fear it. It's just a clumsy bear, albeit a big one."
Rong Rong was dismissive of Bian Haiyang's words.
In her opinion, although the black bear looked imposing, Bian Haiyang was a master hired by Zeng Shaozong's family, and he had over a dozen bodyguards with weapons. Dealing with a large bear should be child's play for them.
"Roar!"
Before Bian Haiyang could reply, the black bear's eyes turned red, and it charged.
As it charged, the ground began to tremble.
"Take Young Master Zeng to a safe place."
Bian Haiyang shouted, and then charged towards the black bear himself.
He intended to lure the bear away, as a rampage through the crowd would be a disaster.
Two of the bodyguards escorted Zeng Shaozong and Rong Rong to a safer distance.
"Ah!"
Just as they had taken a few steps, a scream suddenly rang out.
Turning back, they saw a bodyguard being thrown against a tree trunk by the black bear, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The black bear was like a tiger in a flock of sheep.
Although Bian Haiyang desperately tried to lure it away, the black bear completely ignored him and began swinging its massive paws through the crowd.
In the minds of some, bear paws were a delicacy.
But now, these massive paws seemed like harbingers of death.
Each swing injured someone.
The knives in the hands of Bian Haiyang and the bodyguards had no effect on the black bear.
In just one minute, five or six bodyguards had fallen.
Of the remaining bodyguards, almost all were injured, and Bian Haiyang's arm hung limply.
"Hurry and take Young Master Zeng away from here!"
Seeing that the situation had completely spiraled out of control, Bian Haiyang could only shout at the bodyguards near Zeng Shaozong.
As a bodyguard, even at this moment, he had not forgotten his mission: to protect Zeng Shaozong's safety.
"Young Master Zeng, stop looking. We need to leave quickly."
The bodyguard by Zeng Shaozong's side, seeing his companions injured or fallen, felt immense sorrow and, for a moment, wanted to charge at the black bear.
But Bian Haiyang's words reminded him that his most important task was to get Zeng Shaozong to safety.
"Shaozong, let's run quickly. I never expected this... this black bear to be so powerful. If we don't leave, it might target us next."
Rong Rong's face was already ashen with fear. Her earlier composure had vanished. If she hadn't been clinging to Zeng Shaozong's arm, she might have screamed hysterically.
Zeng Shaozong looked in Bian Haiyang's direction, his teeth gritting.