Chapter 67: The Mission... Failed?!
Lin Han looked over at Gao Gen, putting on an air of aged authority. “Is this your friend? Why be so fixated on a Shadow Wolf? Give it to me. Go and talk him into it.”
“You think you can just take it? We risked our lives to kill this thing. Don’t be ungrateful. If you keep trying to stop us, you’ll end up just like the Shadow Wolf!”
Gao Gen was already annoyed. The two of them had worked so hard to take down the Shadow Wolf, only for this old man to try and snatch it away right in front of them!
This was no trivial matter!
Besides, such a brazen demand was out of the question.
“Young people these days, always so hot-blooded,” Lin Han said with a soft chuckle. Then he stepped forward and crushed the Shadow Wolf’s neck under his foot, snuffing out its last breath.
Lin Han glanced at his hidden quest log; the earlier part had turned gold, proof that the task was now complete.
“Well then, let me return this Shadow Wolf to you.”
“Courting death!” A red gleam flashed in Gao Gen’s eyes as, in a ghostlike movement, he appeared at Lin Han’s side and slashed out with his dagger!
Lin Han let go of Wang Qian’s arm at once and retreated to the rear.
“How ruthless you are,” Lin Han said coldly. “Weren’t you after the Shadow Wolf’s corpse as well? I’ve helped you finish it off, yet instead of thanking me, you come at me with weapons. Haven’t you young people learned to respect your elders?”
Lin Han’s tone was that of a teacher scolding wayward pupils.
Wang Qian muttered, “This old guy isn’t that strong, but since he cost us our hidden quest, he’d better compensate us somehow.”
“Agreed. There’s no way we’re letting him just walk off with our prize.”
“Let’s do it!”
With their goals aligned, the two charged at Lin Han together.
“How reckless,” Lin Han said as his figure flickered. He threw a punch, powerful energy gathering in his fist. Sensing trouble, Wang Qian immediately raised his shield.
Boom!
A fierce gust smashed into the shield, leaving a deep fist mark embedded in the surface. Wang Qian was sent flying by the impact, pain lancing through his body as though his bones had shattered.
Groaning, he struggled to his feet and stared wide-eyed at his shield, now branded with the impression of a fist.
This shield was a golden-grade piece of equipment, yet the old man had damaged it with a single blow!
What terrifying strength—to unleash such destructive power with one punch.
Meanwhile, Gao Gen circled Lin Han, looking for an opening to disable him. Killing would make him a wanted criminal, but crippling was another matter.
Just as Gao Gen was about to close in, Wang Qian shouted, “Gao Gen, stop!”
But Gao Gen was already committed; his dagger thrust forward.
The blade met Lin Han’s body but didn’t penetrate. Lin Han sighed. His shield could withstand their attacks for quite a while—after all, its value was in the millions. If two professionals in their thirties could break it so easily, that would be absurd.
Seeing Gao Gen’s astonishment, Lin Han kicked him over to Wang Qian’s side.
“Well, gentlemen, do you still want to continue? I’m not bloodthirsty, but should you persist, I won’t mind adding two lives to my hands.”
Faced with Lin Han’s threat, both men lost their nerve. They scrambled to their feet. “Sir, it’s our fault. We won’t fight anymore.”
Lin Han nodded, satisfied. “See? If you’d done this from the start, none of this would have happened. The Shadow Wolf is dead now. I have no interest in a corpse. If you want it, take it.”
“May I ask your name, sir?” Wang Qian asked respectfully.
“People call me the Nameless Taoist,” Lin Han replied softly. “You two seem sensible enough. If you ever need anything, come to Yaoguang City and seek me out. I’ll grant you a favor. How about it?”
“The Nameless Taoist… how do we contact you in Yaoguang City?”
“No need. The moment you step into Yaoguang City, you’ll be under my watch. If I have time, I’ll find you.”
“I have other matters to attend to. You two enjoy yourselves.”
With those words, Lin Han’s figure vanished.
...
“The Nameless Taoist? Have you heard of him?” Wang Qian asked Gao Gen.
Gao Gen shook his head. “Never. He must be some reclusive master. Did you see how he moved? That was beyond ordinary.”
“Unlucky,” Wang Qian grumbled. Still, gaining the promise of a powerful figure was not a bad outcome.
In this world, befriending a strong ally could only be a good thing.
“Let’s just swallow our loss. If we ever get to Yaoguang City, let’s make an effort to befriend him—it’ll benefit us in the long run,” Gao Gen said. Though still a bit disgruntled, he knew they hadn’t come away empty-handed.
When his dagger struck the old man’s body, he could sense the man’s immense vitality—far beyond his own comprehension.
“My shield needs repairs now—and that’ll cost money,” Wang Qian said ruefully. Who would have thought that old man packed such a punch? One blow had ruined his shield; it was almost a joke.
“Come on, let’s find Gao Chong and Du Wanting. Since you lost your hidden quest, theirs is probably gone too,” said Gao Gen.
Wang Qian caught his meaning. “Exactly. Those two will need our help to complete their hidden quest. Helping them out should earn us some rewards, right?”
“Right. And if they don’t like it, what can they do?”
...
Lin Han stood atop a tree, activating his God’s Eye to search for the ferocious beast in Du Wanting’s quest. He had to find and deal with it before those two arrived.
Otherwise, there’d only be more trouble.
“It’s not far. I’ve finally found you!”