Chapter 160: Chapter 137: First Guardian Beast Battle!

"Stay safe! I’m gathering the team right now, and we’ll head over immediately! You..."

Deng Lei spoke in a rapid-fire burst, clearly rattled by the words "standard-issue pistol" and "grenade." A torrent of commands and concerns spilled from his lips.

Yang Qi waited patiently for him to finish before continuing in a steady voice, "Captain Deng, relax. The man has been subdued. He’s lost the ability to resist."

"I brought Hu Zi, Leopard, and Xiaojiu. The three little guys were amazing. Xiaojiu clawed out his eyes, while Hu Zi and Leopard pinned down his arms and legs. The gun and grenade both fell into the tall grass."

"My current location is somewhere in the inner region of Cangshan, near..."

He quickly relayed the location, describing his approximate position based on his phone’s GPS and the surrounding terrain.

Deng Lei was clearly stunned on the other end of the line.

He was silent for several seconds, apparently processing the phrases "already been subdued," "eyes clawed out," and "limbs pinned down."

When he spoke again, his tone was grave and incredulous, though slightly calmer. "Advisor Yang, are you sure? We’re talking about a desperate fugitive with a gun and a grenade! Your two dogs and a cat..."

"I’m sure, Captain Deng. He’s lying on the ground not far from me. He’s not going anywhere."

Yang Qi confirmed, "Still, just to be safe, you should get here as soon as you can."

"...Right! We’re leaving now. We’ll get there as fast as humanly possible!"

Deng Lei didn’t ask any more questions, saying decisively, "Advisor Yang, you still need to be extremely careful! Keep your distance and stay vigilant! We’ll be there soon!"

With that, he hastily hung up.

Yang Qi put his phone away, climbed down from the tree, and turned his gaze back to "Brother Han" on the ground, who was still groaning in pain and breathing in ragged gasps.

He first gave an order to Xiaojiu. "Xiaojiu, go back and get Bai Wan. Be careful on your way."

"Meow~"

Xiaojiu acknowledged with a meow, and with a flicker of its body, it darted into the woods to find Bai Wan.

Yang Qi then issued a command to Hu Zi and Leopard, who still had their jaws clamped firmly around "Brother Han’s" wrists and ankles.

"Hu Zi, Leopard, let him go. Just back up and stand guard."

"Grrr..."

Hu Zi and Leopard let out low growls, reluctantly releasing their grip. They immediately retreated two steps, taking up positions that cornered "Brother Han" between them. Their sharp eyes remained fixed on his every move as threatening rumbles emanated from their throats.

"Brother Han" suddenly felt the pressure on his limbs release. The excruciating pain remained, but the restraints were gone.

He struggled to sit up, his hands clutching his face as blood seeped continuously from between his fingers. He let out a suppressed, pained groan.

Though he was now blind, his hearing and instincts remained.

"Young man... Young man..."

"Brother Han" forced back the excruciating pain, calling out hoarsely in the direction of Yang Qi’s voice. His tone was filled with desperation.

"I was wrong just now, I was an idiot! I was blinded by greed! I apologize, I’ll make it up to you!"

He took a few ragged breaths, and then his voice became deceptively tempting. "I’ll give you money! Just get me out of here—don’t turn me over to the police—and I’ll give you a million... no! Five million! Ten million! I’ll give you ten million in cash!"

"I’ve got enough money stashed away to last you several lifetimes! Just help me this one time!"

As he spoke, he strained his ears, listening for any sound in his surroundings, trying to pinpoint Yang Qi’s location and gauge his reaction.

Yang Qi stood a few paces away, his face impassive as he watched the man’s pathetic performance. He felt completely unmoved, even slightly amused.

’Trying to buy me off with money, even now?’

Yang Qi let out a sneer. "Still struggling? Save your breath. I am curious, though. Who exactly are you?"

"Getting your hands on military-grade hardware like a standard-issue pistol and a grenade within the country... that’s not something your average street thug can pull off."

"Judging by how you handled that gun and your vicious streak... are you a mercenary back from Southeast Asia? Or some violent fugitive on the wanted list?"

"What’s your business here in Donghua?"

"Brother Han’s" body stiffened slightly. He ignored Yang Qi’s questions and just continued his pathetic whining and pleading. "Young man, you have to believe me! I was forced to do this, someone set me up!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Just let me go, and I’ll tell you everything. The money’s all yours! I... I have an elderly mother to take care of..."

He recited these unoriginal, clichéd lines while struggling, his hands groping the ground as if trying to find the grenade. He tried to stand, but his leg injury and blood loss made him stagger.

Yang Qi watched with cold detachment. He didn’t order Hu Zi or Leopard to intervene, merely had them maintain the encirclement and watch the man intently.

The man was blind and his limbs were injured. There was no way he could escape from these unfamiliar, deep mountains.

Before long, the sound of hurried running echoed from the woods.

Xiaojiu was the first to dart back into view, followed closely by the agile figure of Bai Wan.

It had clearly gotten the message from Xiaojiu, as its eyes locked vigilantly onto "Brother Han," who was the source of the dangerous, bloody scent in the clearing.

"Woof woof~"

Bai Wan ran to Yang Qi’s side and let out a pair of low barks.

Yang Qi patted Bai Wan’s head, then motioned for it to join the circle.

And so, the three well-trained, powerfully built dogs—Hu Zi, Leopard, and Bai Wan—formed a triangle around "Brother Han." Their low, menacing barks rose and fell in waves, echoing through the forest.

"Brother Han," who had still been fumbling about in search of some sliver of a chance, suddenly heard a new, different bark—and it was extremely close.

His body jolted, and he froze completely.

The oppressive presence and rank smell of multiple large, dangerous dogs hung in the air, making him realize in an instant that his last, desperate gamble had failed.

Despair washed over him like an icy tide, drowning him instantly.

All his acting, all his fantasies, shattered in that moment.

"AHHH—!!"

A piercing shriek, filled with resentment, venom, and utter despair, erupted from the depths of his throat, shattering the twilight stillness of the forest.