Chapter 505 - 505: Encountering Assassination

Zhao Yuan was a little surprised, not understanding why Ying Ji was asking, but he answered anyway. "Probably in a day or two. I was supposed to return to Rongcheng City with my teachers after the Chinese Medical Exchange Forum ended, but I got held up for a few days by Kawashima Haruhiro and his group."

Ying Ji said, "Don't be in such a hurry to head back. Fatty Hao and I are flying to Huashang tomorrow afternoon. Once we get there, we'll meet up with that pretty boy Cheng Haoyu, and then we'll take a boat to Putuo Mountain."

"What are we going to Putuo Mountain for?" Zhao Yuan asked, confused.

Now it was Ying Ji's turn to be surprised. "What? Didn't Fatty Hao mention this to you?"

Zhao Yuan thought for a moment. "Fatty Hao mentioned before that something good was coming up and he'd call me for it, but he never said what it was."

"That damn fatty, trying to be all mysterious. He's so unreliable." After grumbling for a bit, Ying Ji asked, "Have you ever heard of the Raccoon Power?"

"Raccoon Power?" Zhao Yuan quickly searched his memories before asking hesitantly, "Are you talking about the Raccoon Power from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*? The Exotic Beast that looks like a pig, has sharp tusks, is a master digger, and has limbs that look a bit like chicken feet?"

"That's the one," Ying Ji said. "A little while ago, Cheng Haoyu told our group chat that someone had spotted traces of a Raccoon Power on Putuo Mountain. He sent people to investigate and confirmed that there really is one hiding there. You should know, an Exotic Beast like the Raccoon Power is a complete treasure trove. Its tusks, claws, and hide can be used for Artifact Creation. And its flesh, when cooked by a Cultivator of the Tripod Cuisine School like Fatty Hao, is a priceless delicacy that can cause a massive boost in one's Cultivation…"

Zhao Yuan immediately understood. "You're planning to hunt the Raccoon Power on Putuo Mountain?"

"Exactly!" Ying Ji confirmed, then added, "So, what do you think? We remembered to include you in such a great opportunity. We're pretty good to you, aren't we?"

It was truly a significant gesture.

Exotic Beasts like the Raccoon Power were extremely rare. Bringing one more person along meant everyone else would get a smaller share of the spoils. Although Ying Ji and Hao Li had invited him because they recognized his abilities, they could have easily chosen someone else.

So this was a favor he had to accept.

Zhao Yuan immediately agreed. "Alright, I'll cancel my trip for tomorrow. I'll wait for you in Huashang, and I'll treat you all to dinner when you arrive."

Ying Ji laughed. "Once we're in Huashang, you won't have to treat. That's Cheng Haoyu's turf; we'll definitely make that local tycoon pay."

Zhao Yuan said, "Alright then. I'll pick you guys up from the airport. Send me your flight information in a bit."

The two chatted for a few more moments before hanging up.

'A Raccoon Power? To think such an Ancient Exotic Beast isn't extinct and still exists.' Zhao Yuan marveled at the thought, filled with anticipation.

Just as he was about to put down his phone, he suddenly noticed the smell of blood in the room.

The smell was faint, so faint an ordinary person would never have detected it. But Zhao Yuan was different; his sense of smell had been significantly enhanced. The scent of blood might elude others, but it couldn't hide from him.

With a mere thought, Zhao Yuan activated his Truth Recognition Technique, enhancing his sense of smell even further. He instantly pinpointed the source of the scent.

He spun around. The Storage Ring Space flashed open, and he pulled out the Fearless Pearl, hurling it toward the source of the smell with lightning speed.

CLANG!

The sound of impact rang out, and a figure materialized against the left wall of the room.

"It's you?" Zhao Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Standing in the corner was none other than the mysterious Lingzi.

Lingzi held a wakizashi, which she had just used to block the Fearless Pearl.

But her face showed no joy, only deep astonishment. "You could actually see through my Invisibility Technique?"

Zhao Yuan asked warily, "You're a Ninja? What are you doing in my room?"

Lingzi gave a seductive smile. "A Ninja? I'm not one of those lowly creatures. I just happened to learn a few Ninja Techniques. As for why I'm in your room? Heh, what else would a woman be doing in a man's room in the middle of the night? I'm here to offer myself to you, of course."

Zhao Yuan didn't believe a word she said.

An idea struck him. He discreetly activated his phone's recording function and asked, "What about the smell of blood on you? Did you kill someone?"

Lingzi sounded surprised. "I didn't expect your nose to be so sharp."

"Who did you kill? Kawashima Haruhiro?" Zhao Yuan demanded.

Lingzi admitted it freely. "That's right. I just killed Kawashima Haruhiro and ate his heart and liver." Her tone suddenly turned frigid. "And now, it's your turn!"

As she spoke, drawing Zhao Yuan's attention, a human head slipped through the half-open window and flew silently behind him.

The moment Lingzi finished speaking, the head lunged at Zhao Yuan, its mouth gaping open to reveal rows of sharp fangs as it aimed for his neck.

Zhao Yuan didn't have eyes in the back of his head, but he had taken out his Body Pearl the moment he spotted Lingzi.

The Body Pearl enhanced his sense of touch, while the Truth Recognition Technique sharpened his hearing and smell. He was therefore aware of the head the instant it lunged.

Zhao Yuan spun around, whipped the Wind and Thunder Whip out of his Storage Ring Space, and executed a Whip Skill from his Mountain-Breaking Fist.

RUMBLE!

The immense power and incredible speed made the Wind and Thunder Whip let out a thunderous crack as it tore through the air, truly living up to its name!

SMACK!

The Wind and Thunder Whip struck the head square in the face.

Although the head had seen the counterattack coming and tried to defend itself, weaving its hair into a makeshift Hair Shield, it was no match for the Wind and Thunder Whip!

BOOM!

Sparks of electricity flashed from the Wind and Thunder Whip, incinerating the Hair Shield. The whip then struck the head, not only electrocuting it and making it shriek in pain but also sending it flying into the wall with tremendous force.

At the same time, Lingzi shrieked, "Bone Woman, kill him!"

A skeleton materialized from the floor.

It had also been using an Invisibility Technique; Lingzi had most likely learned the skill from it.

The moment the Bone Woman appeared, it swiped at Zhao Yuan with both hands.

Its finger bones were incredibly sharp, glinting with a cold light and coated in a deadly corpse toxin. A single scratch would inflict a grievous wound.

But Zhao Yuan didn't dodge or retreat.

With no time to retract his whip, he swung his left fist, punching straight at the Bone Woman.

The Punching Skill of the Mountain-Breaking Fist!

His fist shot out like a meteor, striking the Bone Woman in the chest before its claws could reach him.

BOOM!

The immense force instantly pulverized the Bone Woman's sternum and snapped the adjacent ribs. The punch sent the creature flying backward, causing it to fall apart in midair and collapse into a pile of scattered bones.

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Yuan had dealt with both sneak attacks.

But he wasn't finished. He kicked off the floor and shot toward Lingzi like an arrow loosed from its bow.