"Quack, quack…"

Ghost-like sounds filled the air all of a sudden, leaving Ou Yangming and Ni Yinghong in shock.

Ni Yinghong exerted some force to push Ou Yangming away at once. Although Ou Yangming was unwilling to part with her soft body, he was not a flirt after all, so he was content that a beautiful lady had thrown herself into his arms.

As for initiating a move…

Throughout Ou Yangming's years of life, he never had an absurd encounter where a beautiful lady fell for a beggar. Hence, even though he was eager to try, his body remained stiff.

As for life mentors!

Old Craftsman taught him how to smith, Chen Yifan showed him the martial-art squat, Elder Universe guided him on how to control his mental power.

Ou Yangming pondered hard, but he could not think of anyone who told him how to pick up girls.

Seeing as Ou Yangming was at a loss, Ni Yinghong smiled sweetly, but he suddenly asked with worry, "Lil' Ming, how's that person?"

Ou Yangming instantly felt a warmth in his heart because Ni Yinghong called him Lil' Ming but addressed He Liangce as 'that person'.

'Hehe, hehe! Hehe…'

"Lil' Ming!" Ni Yinghong did not know to cry or to laugh.

Ou Yangming regained his senses and answered, "Elder Sister Ying, don't worry, nothing will happen to that fella."

"But those are Long-armed Devil Apes, and they travel in a group." Ni Yinghong voiced her worry.

She noticed Ou Yangming's nervousness because she was smart, and she had an idea about the three great ancestors' purposeful arrangement. In fact, Ni Yinghong previously addressed Ou Yangming differently on purpose.

Nonetheless, they were travel companions after all, and He Liangce stayed behind to cover for them. If something happened to him, how could Ni Yinghong feel at ease? Not to mention she and Ou Yangming would have to explain to the great ancestors if only two of them returned.

"Elder Sister Ying, that fella's quite annoying, but he's really capable." Ou Yangming could not help but laugh. When he told her about He Liangce, he also recalled the fearsome aura he sensed in the carriage that day.

That fellow had the cultivation base of Yang Grade, and he was certainly not an ordinary Yang Grade powerhouse. Ou Yangming felt like he was facing a Supreme Great Ancestor when he faced the aura back then.

In any case, Ou Yangming did not believe that a powerhouse like He Liangce would be killed by some apes that looked scarier than normal apes.

"Elder Sister Ying, as powerful as the Long-armed Devil Apes are, they can't hurt him." Ou Yangming assured with a grave expression on his face.

Ni Yinghong's eyes glowed, and she no longer questioned as she decided to trust the man in front of her.

Ou Yangming suddenly asked, "What species do the apes belong to? Why have I never heard of them in the military camp?"

Ni Yinghong was dumbfounded as well, and she replied to him in confusion, "I wasn't aware before this too."

They exchanged glances and somehow had a bad feeling about it.

Ou Yangming lived in the Immense Forest Military Camp for a long time, where the generals and soldiers in the camp hunted in the forest countless times; Ni Yinghong was knowledgeable due to her scholarly clan, as well as pointers from Elder Universe.

Even then, none of them had heard of Long-armed Devil Apes, whereas He Liangce recognized the creature at once.

Ou Yangming pondered for a while before he reminded Ni Yinghong, "Elder Sister Ying, this forest might be more dangerous than we think it is, so you must be careful."

Ni Yinghong nodded and held the magic longsword in her hands as if the weapon was able to provide her with extra power.

Ou Yangming turned to look at the path where they came from.

He stood up abruptly and held his military saber, which showed a flash of cold light. It was evident that he was combat-ready.

Ni Yinghong stood up as well and went over to him to ask softly, "Have the apes caught up to us?"

"No, that person came back." Ou Yangming's eyes were bright and clear for a brief moment before he finally relaxed. He added after a pause, "There aren't any apes pursuing him."

If He Liangce drew more apes over to them, Ou Yangming would not mind killing him right away.

However, since He Liangce got rid of the apes and gathered with them, Ou Yangming displayed a different attitude.

A thought crossed his mind, then he released a mighty aura at once.

He Liangce, who was running, suddenly stopped and swayed his body to arrive beside Ou Yangming and Ni Yinghong.

Even though He Liangce's upper garment was undamaged, his sharp-eyed companions quickly noticed the traces of blood on his feet. Moreover, his fringe also became messy.

It only proved that it was not as easy as it seemed for He Liangce to get rid of the devil apes.

"Elder Brother He, it's great that you're able to break free from the devil apes safely!" Ni Yinghong was delighted.

On the other hand, Ou Yangming pouted his lips, but he understood that it would be too hard for Ni Yinghong to address He Liangce as 'that person' to his face.

He Liangce shook his head with a bitter smile. "Those apes have notable strengths—I was just lucky. This forest is far more dangerous than it used to be, so you must be careful when you follow behind me."

Ou Yangming felt a chill in his heart, and he asked coldly, "Brother He, how do you know?"

"Fine, you'll find out sooner or later anyway." He Liangce was taken aback at first, but he decided to disclose the truth after a moment of hesitation. He said sternly, "Some unique and powerful blood-devouring species will appear in this forest, and there'll be an increase in numbers of half-spirit beasts being born here, so this place has become more dangerous than before."

"Are those Long-armed Devil Apes the unique and powerful blood-devouring species?" Ou Yangming's eyelids twitched.

"The apes are one of them, and they're the weaker ones." He Liangce sighed. "If one of the powerful races had come instead, I couldn't have gotten free so easily."

"Where… Did they come from?" Ou Yangming gasped and asked with a deep voice.

"I don't know. Perhaps they came from the deepest part of the dense forest." He Liangce spread out his hands.

Ou Yangming turned to cast a questioning look at Ni Yinghong, who was also in a daze.

It was clear that Ni Yinghong had not heard of such a thing before today.

"Brother Ou, I know you're doubtful, but this is the truth," He Liangce said in a serious tone, then he reached out his hand to point at the dense forest and added, "It's probably time for the devil to awaken."

He did not speak loudly, but there seemed to be strange magic attached to the statement such that Ou Yangming and Ni Yinghong felt chills down their spines.

"Brother He, what devil?" Ou Yangming uttered.

He Liangce shook his head and sighed. "If we go back, you can ask the three great ancestors. I'm not the right person to tell you."

"Okay. Let's quickly find the strange bamboo and go back," Ou Yangming expressed.

"Mm, I'll lead the way while you follow behind me." He Liangce nodded.

"There's no need to—tell me the direction and I'll lead the way." Ou Yangming reached out his hand to stop He Liangce.

"You?"

He Liangce and Ni Yinghong asked as they were both surprised.

"Hehe, you couldn't even spot a venomous snake and the ape that hid in the dark. I'm quite worried to have you as the scouter," Ou Yangming explained while he smiled with squinted eyes.

Ni Yinghong twitched her mouth. For some reason, she had the urge to laugh during the unusually solemn situation.

He Liangce was startled for a while, and his face reddened. "Okay. Since you're skilled in this, please lead the way."

Ou Yangming asked for the rough direction before he went ahead.

Though he had a Vision +5 attribute, he could not figure out how He Liangce identified the direction.

The profound knowledge from an influential clan was truly enviable but could not be guarded against.

Ou Yangming was already far ahead in a flash. With the help of the Vision +5 attribute and the integration of Heaven and man, nothing in his path could hide from him.

On the other side, once he left, Ni Yinghong asked softly, "Elder Brother He, what exactly are you hiding from Lil' Ming?"

"Younger Sister, I can't say it." He Liangce shook his head and continued after a thought, "At the very least, I can't be the one who tells him."

"Why?"

He Liangce looked at her with a slightly odd look in his eyes. "If you're around, he might not believe me if I tell him."

Ni Yinghong blushed a little, but she immediately said seriously, "Elder Brother He, since you can already tell, you should know my choice."

"Younger Sister, one has to compromise in this world…" He Liangce's eyes turned dull.

"Elder Brother, please conduct yourself with dignity," Ni Yinghong remarked with a long face.

He Liangce smiled bitterly. "Even if I'm willing to give up, your three great ancestors might not allow me to do so in the future."

Ni Yinghong sneered. Just as she was going to say it was impossible, she recalled the great ancestors' weird attitudes this time, so she forced herself to swallow her words.

"Younger Sister, let's worry about it when it happens, so please don't think about this now. We must complete our task first." He Liangce cupped his hands at her.

Ni Yinghong was taken aback, but she later nodded and continued her journey with the magic longsword in her hand.

Having Ou Yangming as the pathfinder was indeed much better than when the unreliable He Liangce took up the role.

Be it a ferocious beast that lurked in the darkest spot or a poisonous insect with a chameleon's skill, they could not hide from Ou Yangming's comprehensive observation.

He Liangce and Ni Yinghong were rather worried when they started following behind him.

That said, after half an hour, they were truly at ease when they saw a rare poisonous insect's dead body, which had been discreetly slashed into two.

Nonetheless, although the three of them had a smooth journey so far, a peculiar atmosphere kept shrouding over their hearts.

It was an oppressive feeling as though the forest was vaguely repelling them, making them feel like they should leave as soon as possible.

At the spur of a moment, Ou Yangming the pathfinder stopped.

His two other companions were instantly alert and were on guard against a possible attack.