Although his frame was slightly smaller than normal after employing the Bone Shrinking Technique, which naturally had some impact on his lightness skill, in terms of sheer velocity alone, he was still as swift as lightning, not losing an inch to the giant wolf pursuing him.

This was the greatest benefit of his comprehension of the Flower of Wind; even a millennium-mutated spiritual beast posed no threat to him in terms of speed.

Meanwhile, Suo Ge and the Red Wolf King, relentlessly closing in from behind, felt a genuine sense of alarm.

Though Suo Ge was currently mounted on the Red Wolf King’s back, their inner true qi was exchanging in a mysterious and strange manner. Under this state, the Red Wolf King’s speed had not diminished; rather, it had sharpened even further.

Yet, even at this velocity, they still could not catch up to the mysterious assassin ahead, and the distance between them seemed to be stretching marginally, bit by bit.

By now, they could no longer see the figure, having to rely solely on the traces left behind to maintain the chase.

However, Suo Ge finally understood that while this assassin possessed a method to approach undetected, he could not employ this phantom-like obfuscation technique when fleeing at top speed.

Suo Ge secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If the man could conceal his presence even while fleeing this rapidly, then they would truly be left with no means of retaliation.

A thought flashed, and he couldn't help but seethe inwardly. Yi Shi Bao had failed to even momentarily detain this man, let alone hold him back—that was what truly infuriated him.

When they began the pursuit, Suo Ge and the Red Wolf King had focused all their attention forward. They were entirely unaware that Yi Shi Bao was already dead beyond reprieve.

This was not due to arrogance, but neither man nor wolf could have possibly imagined that Yi Shi Bao would perish instantly from a single strike.

He Yi Ming did not turn back. He had changed his clothes, shoes, and weapons, but he had not altered his appearance. This was because he possessed absolute confidence in his strength; before the final life-or-death battle arrived, he certainly would not grant his opponents a face-to-face confrontation.

After half an incense stick's worth of time, He Yi Ming finally felt a slight obstruction in his true qi.

This was the result of meticulously controlling his presence, drawing in every trace of his aura. However, when dealing with the Wolf Totem Clan, concealing one's body scent was essential if he wished to prevent them from tracking his origins by smell.

His ears twitched slightly as he listened to the persistent footsteps coming from behind, and a cold sneer touched the corner of He Yi Ming’s lips.

Rounding a large tree, He Yi Ming did not continue running but pressed himself tightly against the trunk.

Simultaneously, the tree suddenly split open. As if sprouting a massive maw, it swallowed his entire figure within.

He Yi Ming let out a long breath. He felt as if he were in a completely sealed space, relaxing with a sense of security.

He glanced curiously around. He suddenly noticed that the surroundings were transparent. He thought to himself, This is true illusionary technique. Compared to this, Sima Yin's mystical art of deception is utter garbage.

His vision flickered, and he clearly saw the man and the wolf pass by the front of the tree, speeding rapidly down the path ahead.

He Yi Ming snorted coldly. Before he had gone to assassinate Yi Shi Bao, he had run several li ahead at this current speed. If Suo Ge had not spotted the flaw, by the time he realized the traces had vanished, it would have been far too late.

Seeing Suo Ge speed away instantly, He Yi Ming waited a moment, ready to move, when his ears suddenly twitched, and a look of delighted surprise crossed his face.

Several more figures were running up from behind. They followed the exact same route toward Suo Ge.

For these Wolf Totem Emissaries, finding this path by reading the surrounding tracks was no difficulty at all.

In just a brief moment, five individuals passed this location.

These five were all Totem Emissaries; their expressions were solemn, tinged with grief and indignation. Evidently, they had learned of Yi Shi Bao’s death, which accounted for their demeanor.

He Yi Ming discerned some information from the wind’s sound: the pursuers from further back were these five Emissaries, while She Ru and the other four Emissaries seemed to have received no news.

They were likely staying put, awaiting updates.

After all, although She Ru's martial prowess was formidable, in terms of speed, he was no match for the Red Wolf King. If even Suo Ge and the Red Wolf King could not keep up, She Ru's arrival would be pointless.

The five Totem Emissaries were not traveling as a tightly knit group; although their lightness skills were excellent, there were still variations in strength.

They had all placed great faith in Suo Ge, the vanguard pursuer, believing he absolutely would not lose the target, so they were eager to catch up and offer aid.

Over time, the separation was inevitable, leading to a front and rear echelon.

The last Totem Emissary to pass was a large man with a thick, bushy beard. After Suo Ge and the initial groups had passed along the same road without incident, he visibly relaxed his guard, dedicating most of his attention to maintaining his speed.

However, as he passed a certain large tree, the unexpected occurred.

The massive trunk suddenly split open, like a monstrous beast unveiling a gaping, bloody maw. A shadowy black figure flashed across their immediate space, stabbing towards him with lightning speed.

The Totem Emissary’s eyes instantly contracted to a single point. Although the silhouette filled him with terror, even in this situation, his gaze remained riveted on the tree.

The tree, after splitting its trunk, began to writhe and, in an instant, transformed into a person...

This bizarre, inconceivable, and utterly incomprehensible sight unfolding before him caused even this Innate Realm Totem Emissary—even while facing He Yi Ming’s killing blow—to freeze involuntarily for a moment.

An overwhelming sense of absolute fear instantly flooded his entire being. This was the first time he had felt such a sensation since successfully communicating with the energies of heaven and earth to become a Totem Emissary. And it was this pervasive feeling that caused a momentary pause in all his actions.

In that instant, the Totem Emissary finally remembered this was a somewhat familiar face.

This person had once stood with He Yi Ming and Shui Xuan Jin, confronting the two Great Emissaries. And after they left Mount Heng, Suo Ge had mentioned that this person was the "Ghost" the Red Wolf King spoke of.

At this moment, the Emissary finally understood why the Red Wolf King looked the way he did upon returning—it was all because of this "Ghost."

Moments later, he saw a figure approach him. Just as he was about to lash out, the figure flicked a finger, sending a magical force surging into his body, instantly stiffening him.

Before he could recover from this wave of shock, the tip of a black sword sliced across his throat.

His throat made a few gurgling sounds, and the light in his eyes slowly faded. The word "Ghost," which had been on the tip of his tongue, could not be uttered no matter how hard he strained.

※※※※

He Yi Ming’s figure moved like lightning, appearing beside the man. He flicked out a finger, lightly touching the body in a flash.

A bizarre true qi immediately entered the man’s body.

All these movements were executed flawlessly, so smoothly that even He Yi Ming found it slightly unbelievable. He never expected the other party to be stunned motionless under such circumstances...

A flash of black light cut through the air. Under the dark night sky, only a faint sound of displacement could be heard.

Then, He Yi Ming turned, grabbed Bai Lingba, and unleashed a surge of true qi beneath his feet. The magical function of the Wind Shoes was instantly reactivated, allowing him to float half a meter above the ground, moving silently without leaving any trace toward another direction, vanishing in an extremely short time.

Although this was not his maximum speed, when Suo Ge and the others returned the way they came, they found nothing but the corpse on the ground.

Having traveled some distance away, He Yi Ming suppressed his true qi, and his body slowly descended. From beginning to end, even in this safe location, he never relaxed his control over the pores of his entire body. Even if Suo Ge had tracked them here, the Red Wolf King would not be able to identify him by scent.

While this method slowed the rate at which his consumed true qi could recover, he preferred it over revealing his identity prematurely.

Setting down Bai Lingba, He Yi Ming looked at him with a trace of peculiar color in his eyes: "Brother Bai, thank you."

"I did nothing to help you," Bai Lingba replied plainly. "I was merely fulfilling my duty to protect you."

A knowing smile graced He Yi Ming’s face. "I understand." He turned, and the smile vanished completely. Gazing toward the nearby camp, his eyes turned cold and devoid of emotion once more.

The radiant, talented youth was gone, replaced by someone possessing the chilling, sinister aura of Sima Yin or She Ru—a powerhouse walking the night, willing to use any means to achieve his ends.

※※※※

"Awooo..."

A long, furious howl echoed across the distance. Suo Ge and the others had returned to the camp.

However, by now, two more corpses lay in the tent. These were not the bodies of ordinary clan members, but the remains of Totem Emissaries.

Even within the Totem Clan, every Innate Realm expert was invaluable.

The sudden loss of two Innate Realm experts to the Wolf Totem Clan would be an irreparable blow to the entire tribe.

Suo Ge’s heart was filled not only with rage but also with a deep, gnawing fear.

Once they returned to the tribe and the news of losing two Totem Emissaries broke, how would the Saints of the clan view him?

The thought of the Saints’ fury caused his heart to sink heavily.

She Ru’s expression was equally grim. Although he did not belong to the Wolf Totem Clan, he felt a sense of sorrow for their shared misfortune.

Moreover, the fact that the assassin had managed to consecutively kill two Totem Emissaries meant their strength was terrifyingly high. Even She Ru himself, aided by the strange serpent, could not confidently say he could have succeeded in such an assassination under these circumstances.

After all, with the Red Wolf King present, any secret technique that allowed passage through the earth would be rendered utterly useless.

The remaining eight Totem Emissaries exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting profound terror.

If this person could instantly kill one Totem Emissary, did that not mean he could easily take their lives if they were caught alone?

Before this night, they had never considered that their lives could become as fragile as withered grass.

After his roar, Suo Ge fell into deep thought. Ha Lin and the other eight Emissaries waited silently. Although the deaths of their two comrades had somewhat shaken their faith in their Great Emissary, in this situation, they had no other recourse but to continue relying on Suo Ge.

After a long pause, Suo Ge finally shifted his gaze from the Red Wolf King and raised his head again.

When he looked up, the feeling of dejection had vanished without a trace, replaced by fierce brutality.

"Send the order out: let all clan members depart first. Tell them to return to the tribe at maximum speed and not to stop along the way."

Ha Lin was shocked. "Great Emissary Suo Ge, none of them have reached the Innate Realm. Without our protection, they stand no chance of evading that Great Shen assassin's pursuit."

Suo Ge gave her a cold look. "Even under our protection, are you certain they would be spared?"

Ha Lin’s gaze swept over the bodies of the two ordinary clan members on the ground. After her expression shifted several times, she finally clamped her mouth shut, ceasing to speak.

Even Innate Realm Totem Emissaries had met their end; what hope was there for protecting the common folk?

Suo Ge’s cold voice was firm; he had clearly made his decision: "Tell them to disperse and flee in different directions. Once they are more than ten li away, even the Red Wolf King won't be able to sweep them all up in one net."

After a moment of contemplation, everyone slowly nodded.

If they kept the ordinary clan members close, they would all perish eventually. But if they fled scattered, even a man with three heads and six arms could not find every single person.

Fleeing dispersed seemed perilous, yet it was the only path to survival now.

After the night's upheaval, they no longer dared to believe they could save all their people.

"And us? Should we disperse as well?" Ha Lin asked gravely.

A fierce glint flashed in Suo Ge’s eyes. "Yes, we too shall scatter." He paused, emphasizing each word: "This person killed Yi Shi Bao and Ta Li Pu; he is an irreconcilable enemy of our clan. He absolutely cannot be allowed to live."

Ha Lin and the others’ expressions flickered uncertainly. Had He Yi Ming not killed the two Totem Emissaries, they would certainly have shared Suo Ge’s confidence. But after the inexplicable loss of two Emissaries, their mindset had subtly shifted.

"Great Emissary, are you planning to lure him out?" Ha Lin asked, frowning.

Suo Ge nodded silently, his eyes sparking with cunning.

When Ha Lin met his gaze, she couldn't help but shudder, yet she persisted, "Great Emissary Suo Ge, you've tried before; this person’s lightness skill is superb, we simply cannot catch him. Furthermore, his strength is overwhelming; even we Totem Emissaries would struggle to resist his sneak attacks. Using us as bait is too great a price to pay."

The other few Totem Emissaries, though silent, unconsciously drew closer to Ha Lin.

After losing two comrades, none of them were foolish enough to volunteer to be bait for a certain death.

A cold light flickered in Suo Ge’s eyes. Although they had been comrades for many years, their hearts felt a chilling dread.

The deaths of two companions had severely shaken Suo Ge’s confidence, causing a slight shift in his perspective.

"You do not need to separate," She Ru suddenly interjected. "We will divide into three groups. You eight will go first; Suo Ge and the Red Wolf King will take the middle; I will follow at the rear with Stone King."

Everyone was stunned for a moment and exchanged glances. Even Suo Ge slowly nodded.

A Great Emissary accompanied by a millennium-mutated spiritual beast—that amounted to the combined strength of two experts at the First Heaven stage. Even if they were ambushed, it would be impossible for them to be instantly slain.

And the eight Totem Emissaries moving together constituted a powerful force. Even if Suo Ge and She Ru attacked simultaneously, they could not kill them all quickly.

If they encountered the mysterious assassin, even a brief entanglement would allow Suo Ge and the Red Wolf King to rush to the scene swiftly.

With everyone joining forces, unless the target was a being as powerful as a Saint, he would certainly perish.

"What if..." Ha Lin hesitated, "What if that person doesn't come?"

A look of resignation finally appeared on She Ru’s face. "If that person doesn't come, then he must be destined for a long life."

Suo Ge’s jaw clicked audibly, a crisp crack. His eyes became faintly bloodshot. "He will come. He absolutely will..."

Everyone shivered internally, gazing at him as a profound chill surged up from the depths of their hearts.

Moments later, after receiving the message, the numerous members of the Totem Clan began to flee, dispersed.

Suo Ge and the others had not specified a direction, and since these people had lived in the old forest for years, they knew that scattering offered the best chance of survival in such a situation.

Although they understood that some might run into the mysterious assassin and lose their lives, everyone firmly believed that by fleeing separately, the majority would escape safely.

However, they did not know that upon a distant giant tree, a pair of eyes, sharp as a falcon’s, silently watched their movements. In those eyes were disdainful mockery and a chilling lack of mercy. A pleasant curve formed on his lips, and the figure suddenly tumbled down from the tree.

"Brother Bai, it's time to reclaim your body. Don't let a single one escape..."

Ps: Woke up at six today and arrived at Huamao Foreign Language Primary School for a visit by seven-something. Their teaching methods are indeed unique, but unfortunately, the distance is too great, and I’m reluctant to have him board. Sigh...

I only made it home around one in the afternoon, so there will only be two chapters totaling ten thousand words today. Please forgive me.

Tomorrow, White Crane will unleash five chapters, and they will be satisfying reads. So, please look forward to tomorrow’s reward donors (by number of people) and monthly tickets. Please offer your support ^_^