Chapter 98: Hunting

But Zheng Lan, after all, was no uneducated woman; she had received a proper higher education, and she knew how to make life worth living.

In order to add a little enjoyment for herself, and also to stir up the morale of certain people in the party, she later suggested, and even announced, that everyone could hold a hunting and barbecue gathering that afternoon. After all, it was not as though they could reach Poison Dragon Pool in a day or two. Traveling and playing at the same time would keep everyone from finding the journey so monotonous.

Zheng Lan’s proposal was met at once with cheers and support from the vast majority, especially from the young gentlemen. They had come mainly for amusement, not even to catch a glimpse of immortal herbs. As for the Black Dragon, in their hearts they only wished it would stay as far away as possible. What they feared most was that if they did run into it, they would be so terrified that they would wet themselves and utterly lose face.

But of course, it is impossible to please everyone. Zheng Lan’s idea was not liked by all. A few people, such as the Miracle Doctor Li, were not particularly fond of being active. Still, since the majority approved and were in favor, these more steady-minded people did not voice any objection for the moment.

So the more energetic ones went hunting, while Li the Miracle Doctor and some others stayed where they were to rest, or to help prepare dinner and the evening campsite. Judging from the map, this place was still far from Poison Dragon Pool. Even if everyone stayed awake and hurried through the night, there was no way they would reach it that day. Better to find a spot with favorable terrain, rest there for one night, and recover their strength.

Besides, many of those present had experience with camping, including the young gentlemen, and Zheng Lan herself was by no means some delicate young miss.

Zheng Lan even took the lead in going hunting.

It was as if everyone had to do something: some to hunt, some to gather wild fruit or vegetables; some to cook and prepare the barbecue here, while others handled the tents for the night.

Liu Yingde was the sort of man who hated hunting to the core, and Zhang Pu could tell at a glance. So he asked Liu Yingde to stay here with Li the Miracle Doctor, while Guangcai, who looked like a frail scholar, remained to help with the tents and dinner preparations. Caihua was trained in martial arts and could have gone hunting too, but since Guangcai was not suited for it, and there were already enough people going, she stayed behind as well to help them.

As for the two men from the Witch-Ghost Sect under Liu Yingde, Zhang Pu also had them stay here to assist Liu Yingde. It was not that Zhang Pu thought Liu Yingde was the sort of old master who, like an aristocratic elder, would refuse even to lift a finger at a time like this. Rather, Zhang Pu had another purpose in mind.

Seeing that the members of the covert group had all chosen to go hunting, Zhang Pu intended to secretly follow them and see whether these people were plotting anything shameful behind the scenes.

He was already faintly on the threshold of the Foundation Establishment stage, and with a few small spells from the cultivation world to assist him, Zhang Pu was confident he could even stand against some martial arts masters on Earth. So he did not worry about the people from that covert group at all.

Once the hunters set out, Zhang Pu picked out a few to follow.

As for hunting itself, even if this was a land of poor mountains and harsh waters, and there seemed to be no wild beasts worth mentioning, Zhang Pu understood in his heart that with his present skill, he could not possibly return empty-handed no matter what. But priority came first: follow the people.

Which one should he follow?

As it happened, Zhang Pu saw that the people in the covert group were not all staying together. After some thought, he decided to follow the ninja without making a fuss, because he had no grievance with the others, and only that ninja might have the most interesting story.

That was right. Once he had followed him to some secluded place, he would seize him in one stroke and, after a round of harsh questioning, force him to confess not only whether Gao Lixia was openly paying him protection money while secretly plotting to have him killed, but also many more secrets about the ninja himself.

The Qingwu region was not even one of China’s major cities, yet a ninja had appeared here. What on earth was that about?

Zhang Pu only felt his curiosity had already been stirred to the limit.

In these deep mountains and old forests, while pretending to be out hunting and furtively tailing someone, with a crowd of people scattering like birds and beasts to search for game, who would suspect anyone of following anyone else?

But for those with hidden designs, their senses could be extremely sharp. As the saying goes, suspicion breeds ghosts.

Besides, the ninja already knew Zhang Pu.

When the ninja had once tried to intercept and kill Zhang Pu, Zhang Pu had not been hiding his face as he was now. And only a few months had passed; Zhang Pu had not changed in appearance at all.

The ninja even thought Zhang Pu had not recognized him at all, because at the time he had been fully armed, with only a pair of eyes showing. How many people in the world could be so formidable as to recognize someone from nothing but their eyes? Zhang Pu surely could not, could he?

The ninja believed Zhang Pu absolutely could not, because he had once fought Zhang Pu personally. Back then, Zhang Pu had needed to exhaust every last ounce of effort to defeat him.

The ninja only thought Zhang Pu had been lucky. He figured that if he went back and trained diligently for a while, he ought to be able to beat Zhang Pu.

Later, however, because of some matter, the ninja had not gone to look for Zhang Pu for the time being. By the time he finished and went to find him, he discovered Zhang Pu had already moved away from that place.

He had never imagined that today he would actually run into Zhang Pu here, like two rivals meeting on a narrow road.

"Could it be that Heaven is deliberately giving me a chance?" A smile appeared in the ninja’s eyes.

At that moment, he saw Zhang Pu right nearby. He still did not know that Zhang Pu was intentionally tailing him. He still believed Zhang Pu could not possibly recognize him, and that only he could recognize Zhang Pu. To him, the advantage still lay with him. Ha ha ha.

This time, I will definitely take him down, the ninja silently resolved in his heart.

The task I took last time can finally be wrapped up here, he thought.

The ninja no longer wanted to hunt. He wanted to hunt a man.

He still did not know that Zhang Pu was actually following him. He wanted to lure Zhang Pu to a remote place before making his move, because there were still some of the hunting party visible around them. If he dealt with Zhang Pu somewhere off to the side and then returned to the camp, no one would be the wiser. Even if the body were found, no one would suspect him.

For a moment, Zhang Pu glanced away, only to suddenly notice that the ninja seemed to be looking at him. It happened in the blink of an eye, but Zhang Pu caught it all the same.

This fellow recognizes me, Zhang Pu thought.

He himself would also have to lure him to some place where no one was around. But it seemed the man was already on guard.

In truth, the ninja still believed Zhang Pu could not possibly recognize him.

He began thinking of a way to lead Zhang Pu toward some secluded spot, and just then Zhang Pu looked over, so he smiled at Zhang Pu.

Then he went on as if busily attending to his own affairs.

After a little while longer, the ninja suddenly let out a whistle.