The assassin felt something was off about the peculiar group before him.
He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at him.
Shaking off the jumbled thoughts, the assassin prepared to move on.
The spiritual beasts were of such low quality that he had no interest in plundering them.
His immediate priority was to return and share the good news with his sister.
Just as Shan Shou was about to take flight, he abruptly stopped.
Wait...
Something's not right!
He whipped his head around, his gaze locked onto the coffin!
No wonder I felt something was amiss!
This coffin is actually made from a fourth-tier material!
While fourth-tier materials aren't top-tier in the Imperial City, they are still quite useful to him.
Most importantly, the small fox clinging to the coffin!
It's actually the legendary Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox!!!
Even in the Imperial City, a single Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox could cause an earthquake!
It would surely lead to a bloody and brutal struggle!
Even the royal family would be unable to remain indifferent!
The assassin's excitement surged!
No man gets rich without ill-gotten gains, and no horse gets fat without nighttime feed.
This was his lucky day!
However, being a cautious assassin, he wasn't blinded by the surprise.
It didn't take a genius to realize that it was abnormal for a few Qi Refining cultivators and some trash spirit beasts to be escorting a Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox!
The assassin quickly retreated a few steps, extending his divine sense.
He wouldn't make a move until he was absolutely sure of his safety.
Er Ha, who was perched on the coffin, lifted a paw, and the group immediately halted.
"Brother Ha, what's wrong?" the little fox asked, tilting its head in confusion. "Didn't you say we needed to hurry back?"
Earlier, after Er Ha had taken his younger brothers and sisters out for a romp, he suddenly suggested they return.
Because he had been away for so long, their master must be anxious.
They should at least report back and assure them of their safety, right?
Although Er Ha was playful, he believed he still possessed the basic integrity of a pet.
"Do you see that two-legged creature not far ahead?" Er Ha asked, staring intently at the assassin with his dog eyes. "Encountering a stranger in the dead of night, it's highly likely to be a bad person! We need to be careful."
"Oh..." the little fox replied.
In truth, it didn't care at all if they encountered bad people.
Compared to any so-called bad people, seeing their master soon was far more terrifying...
On the way back, it had imagined a scene countless times.
It and Brother Ha returning to report.
Their wicked master smiling sinisterly and pulling out a frying pan from behind his back...
Heaven forbid, it was too horrifying!
Just thinking about it made its whole body tremble...
Er Ha carefully observed the assassin for five seconds, arriving at a precise conclusion.
All clear.
This is a friendly.
The alert can be lifted.
However, since they've encountered a friendly, it would be polite to at least say hello, right?
After all, Brother Ha is a paragon of politeness.
Furthermore, a friendly rushing through the night must have an urgent matter.
As the warm-hearted Brother Ha, he certainly had to lend a hand!
Just as Er Ha was about to give the order, his dog eyes suddenly brightened!
Upon closer inspection, he discovered a grave problem.
Or rather.
A surprise!
Wait!
This friendly... looks injured?
And severely so!
Requiring immediate treatment!
Er Ha immediately became excited, and with a whoosh, he stood up from the coffin!
After parting ways with Ye Fan, he and his younger siblings had frolicked outside for over a month.
They had seen plenty of scenery and had a great time.
But there was one thing that disappointed Er Ha: he hadn't encountered any friendly needing treatment.
This made him feel helpless, possessing the means to heal and save but unable to employ them.
Ten-odd days ago, he finally encountered an injured friendly, but the person only had a minor injury.
After taking a pill, they recovered on the spot...
If the little fox hadn't stopped him, Er Ha would have nearly beaten that friendly half to death before "rescuing" them...
And now, what did he see?
A friendly.
A friendly who was gravely injured!
This was surely providence!
"This is not a bad person, but a friendly," Er Ha excitedly told the little fox. "And he's gravely injured. If he doesn't receive treatment, he'll die!"
The little fox looked at Er Ha, then at the assassin not far away, and nodded silently.
Although it didn't notice the person appearing injured, if Brother Ha said he was injured, then he must be injured.
Brother Ha was the best; he would never lie to it.
The reason this person appeared fine was likely the human phenomenon called "the last surge of strength."
If that was the case, then the injury was indeed extremely severe.
They had to treat him quickly, without delay!
The group of five had been able to understand these spiritual beasts for a long time. They didn't know why, but they just could.
So, after hearing Er Ha's words, the five exchanged glances.
Brothers, we have work to do!
"Brother Ha, shall we start working then?" the five asked Er Ha after turning their heads to him.
As subordinates, they had this much awareness.
Understanding their boss's intentions was one thing, but acting without asking was another!
What would their boss think then?
"Oh, you're acting without even asking me?"
This was unauthorized action, and would they eventually usurp his position as boss too?
Therefore, the step of seeking permission was absolutely essential.
Otherwise, he would be in trouble!
"Go, go, go!" Er Ha excitedly wagged his tail.
The group of five gently placed the coffin on the ground, rolled up their sleeves, and walked towards the assassin.
The assassin became even more vigilant!
What did these five useless Qi Refining cultivators want by approaching?
Could it be that there were terrifying traps nearby?
Or were they actually powerful cultivators in disguise, with their Qi Refining realm merely a facade?
The assassin subtly shifted his right leg back half a step, prepared to flee immediately if the situation turned unfavorable.
It was always better to be cautious.
After all, only the careful and vigilant could live long.
"You bunch of idiots, did you forget again?" the eldest brother of the group of five reprimanded them displeasuredly.
The other four brothers heard this and suddenly realized!
They hadn't worked in so long that they almost forgot!
We need to provide smiling service.
We need to use warm smiles to ease the patient's tension and make them feel completely secure!
Thus, all five of them grinned at the assassin.
It was worth mentioning that after leaving the Purple Cloud Sect, the group of five had followed Er Ha on their journeys. Their cultivation hadn't improved, but their skin had gotten a bit darker.
Coupled with the fact that most of the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds tonight, and they were standing with their backs to the moon, they appeared almost entirely hidden in the darkness.
Only their five rows of small white teeth, even in the shadows, still emitted a dazzling white luster.
At first glance, it instilled a sense of deep reassurance.
However, the assassin didn't think so.
Because he was horrified to discover that after these five people smiled, he was completely unable to move!
What the hell!
It was that situation again!
Unable to make a sound!
His body was completely immobile!
His true qi seemed to have vanished entirely!
Seeing that the patient still appeared a bit tense, the eldest brother of the group of five smiled even more gently.
"Don't worry, we're professionals."
"That's right."
The other four brothers quickly chimed in:
"We will absolutely cure you. Soon, you won't feel any pain anymore."