132

"No way, this is too fast!" Wang Bo felt as though his brain was struggling to keep up. Even though a few of the wolves had been shot, there were still nearly twenty left, not to mention a ferocious alpha. Yet a single person had dealt with them all in such a short amount of time.

Just as Wang Bo was still lost in doubt, a figure slowly approached the large tree where he was hiding.

"Hey up in the tree, come on down! Those beasts have been dealt with," the figure called out, looking up.

The voice was simple and honest, yet it carried an aura of absolute security. Wang Bo looked toward the voice, but because of the dim light, he could only make out that the figure was exceptionally robust. Comparing himself to that man, three Wang Bos put together wouldn't have matched the man's sheer substance. The burly man held weapons in both hands; Wang Bo found them somewhat familiar, though he couldn't recall where he had seen them before.

"What are you waiting for? If you aren't coming down, I'm leaving. My brother is still waiting for me," the figure said with naive bluntness. With that, he turned around, looking as though he genuinely intended to leave.

"Benefactor, don't go!" Seeing the figure about to leave, Wang Bo panicked. If this man walked away, what chance of survival would he have alone in these deep, dark mountains?

"Then hurry up and get down! My brother is still waiting for me," the figure turned his head back and shouted at Wang Bo.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Daring not to refuse, Wang Bo scrambled hastily and clumsily down the tree. They say haste makes waste, and errors born of panic—that adage proved entirely true. As Wang Bo slowly climbed down, he made a misstep, his foot missing the branch entirely. He tumbled headfirst right out of the tree. Fortunately, he was already halfway down when he fell, otherwise the consequences would have been catastrophic. Imagine escaping death by wolves, only to be saved and then fall to your death from a tree. Wang Bo surely would have been the most resentful ghost in existence.

Lying flat on his back on the ground, Wang Bo felt soreness all over his body. He shook his dizzy head, attempting several times to stand up, but to no avail.

"You really are a troublesome fellow," the honest voice came from right above him. Wang Bo steadied his gaze and looked up. It would have been better if he hadn't; that single glance frightened him out of his wits.

"Ah—!" With a miserable shriek, Wang Bo grandly fainted.

The dark shadow looked utterly perplexed. He scratched the back of his head with a weird expression, completely baffled.

At that moment, another figure came running from not far away. The newcomer was dressed in martial attire, carrying a bow and a quiver full of arrows. Evidently, the wolves shot dead earlier were the work of this person.

"Elder brother, what happened? I heard a scream," the newcomer asked, arriving beside the burly man.

"That..." The burly man pointed at the unconscious Wang Bo without speaking further.

"Uh..." The archer evidently realized what had happened. He shook his head helplessly and thought with resignation as he looked at the passed-out Wang Bo, "It seems my brother's appearance is still a bit too hard for outsiders to accept."

"Since there's no trouble, let's get moving," the archer said.

The burly man nodded in agreement, then pointed at Wang Bo and asked, "What about him?"

"Take him along. We can't just leave him out in these desolate wilds, can we?"

"Mn." The burly man nodded, set down his weapons, and made to lift Wang Bo onto his back, but he was dissuaded by the archer.

"Let me do it, otherwise I won't be able to carry your twin halberds, brother."

"Very well." The burly man nodded and took the bow and quiver from the archer's hands.

Having handed over his gear, the archer bent down and hoisted Wang Bo onto his back. As he did so, he caught sight of Pan Er, whose skeleton had been picked clean by the wolves, and a look of pity crossed his eyes. He could only shake his head helplessly.

The burly man clearly saw the skeleton as well, but time was pressing, and there was no leisure to collect the remains; they simply had to leave it behind.

"Brother, I'm ready. Let's go," the archer said after securing Wang Bo on his back.

"Mn." The burly man nodded and departed alongside the archer.

"Fainted, I fainted again. Why am I so used to blacking out lately?" Plunged into darkness once more, Wang Bo let his thoughts wander wildly.

He had long since grown accustomed to his tendency to black out at the drop of a hat. After all, wasn't this far from his first time?

"I just don't know where I'll be when I wake up this time, or if I'll ever wake up at all," Wang Bo muttered in pain within the darkness.

This was extremely frustrating. Wang Bo had first been hunted down by Pan Er, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. On top of being trapped for a day, just as he was finally rescued, he had suffered the misfortune of tumbling out of a tree. Anyone would find such a chain of events unbearable. Combined with being terrified by that burly man, fainting was only natural.

"I just hope that burly man doesn't hold a grudge against me," Wang Bo prayed silently. Suddenly, another wave of dizziness washed over him, and from experience, Wang Bo knew he was waking up.

Lying on a wooden bed, Wang Bo slowly opened his eyes. He instinctively moved his arms and legs, discovering that all four limbs were intact. Then he searched around for his bundle and found it tossed by the bedside, unopened.

"Thank goodness," Wang Bo breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're awake!" At that moment, a voice rang out. Wang Bo looked toward the sound and saw a robust, tiger-headed little boy.

"I'm going to tell Dad!" With that, the child scampered out.

Before long, a sturdy figure stepped into the room. The familiar face came back into view, but this time, Wang Bo did not react as abjectly as before.

"Many thanks to this stalwart hero for saving my life. I have no way to repay you." Realizing that the man before him was his savior, Wang Bo hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

"Think nothing of it, merely lifting a finger," the burly man replied honestly.

"Not at all, not at all. May I ask your esteemed name, brave sir?"

"My name is Dian Wei."

"So you are Warrior Dian." At first, Wang Bo didn't register it, but a moment later, the realization hit him, and he froze on the spot.

"You are Dian Wei?!" Wang Bo blurted out in shock.

"Indeed I am. Do you know me?" Dian Wei asked with curiosity.

"No—" Wang Bo shook his head blankly, clearly still caught in his astonishment. "Good grief, it's actually Dian Wei! I've hit the jackpot. No wonder someone could effortlessly slaughter nearly twenty wolves—it was Dian Wei!"

Leisurely, a few more days passed, and Wang Bo stayed at Dian Wei's home for quite some time. To be fair, it wasn't that Wang Bo's injuries were particularly severe; he simply wanted to get closer to Dian Wei. After all, Dian Wei was one of Wang Bo's favorite Three Kingdoms generals. Unlike Zhao Yun—who was his sworn brother, providing an existing foundation and friendship that kept things from feeling too unfamiliar, thereby stripping away a bit of that star-struck thrill—Dian Wei was a rising star appearing right before his eyes. Wang Bo fully channeled the fervor of a fan meeting his ultimate idol.

However, Wang Bo knew his boundaries; he understood what to do and what not to do, always leaving himself a graceful retreat. Moreover, he catered to Dian Wei's preferences and never forced anything unreasonable upon him. Consequently, far from displeasing Dian Wei, his enthusiasm made the two of them fast and devoted friends. Of course, this also included the archer who had helped save him alongside Dian Wei. The archer's name was Chen Shi, a fellow townsman and close friend of Dian Wei.

Through these few days of getting acquainted, Wang Bo gained a deep understanding of Dian Wei's character. Although Dian Wei looked fierce as a demon, he had a heart of gold—a classic example of someone cold on the outside and warm on the inside. Furthermore, he possessed grand aspirations, a chivalrous spirit, and a bold, loyal nature.

During his days interacting with Dian Wei and Liu Shi, Wang Bo felt incredibly fulfilled. Yet, fulfilling as it was, he ultimately had to leave. After all, he had his own aspirations and unfinished goals; he could not let a moment of peace extinguish his determination to seek vengeance.

That day, Wang Bo tactfully expressed his intention to leave to the two men. Though reluctant to see him go, neither of them tried to stop him. A true man's ambitions lie across the four seas; how could he let the temptation of momentary peace blunt his grand ambitions? That evening, the two men prepared some wine and dishes to send Wang Bo off. Wang Bo did not hold back, drinking heartily with them. Throughout the banquet, their spirits were soaring high. However, Wang Bo's capacity for alcohol left much to be desired; before Dian Wei and Liu Shi had even had their fill, Wang Bo had already slumped to the side and fallen sound asleep, leaving the other two roaring with laughter.

Early the next morning, Wang Bo shook his heavy head and slowly sat up. He found himself tucked into bed, covered securely with a quilt. A warmth welled up in his chest—without needing to guess, this was undoubtedly the work of his two brothers.

"You're up?" As soon as Wang Bo stepped outside, he spotted Dian Wei practicing with stone locks to build his arm strength. Dian Wei truly was Dian Wei; even while tossing the heavy stone locks around, he could effortlessly keep an eye on Wang Bo and hold a conversation. Watching the stone locks whirl around Dian Wei like a pair of fierce tigers, Wang Bo felt a surge of envy.

"Mn, though my head still feels a bit heavy," Wang Bo nodded in reply, then walked to the other side of the courtyard to practice his Five Animals Boxing.

Dian Wei was long accustomed to this and simply continued working out with his stone locks. For a short half-hour, the two went through their routines before finally wrapping up. After finishing his boxing routine, Wang Bo felt entirely refreshed, and the headache from his hangover had vanished.

"I really don't understand what's worth practicing about those limp, weak punches of yours," Dian Wei said to Wang Bo while wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Wang Bo had heard remarks of this sort more than once. He cast a sideways glance at Dian Wei and muttered inwardly, "If I had a physique like yours, who would bother practicing this?" Out loud, however, he said, "This was personally taught to me by my master, specifically for strengthening the body."

Seeing Wang Bo's slightly regretful look, Dian Wei chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. Every time he made that comment, Wang Bo would look at him with that exact expression. He knew well what kind of constitution Wang Bo possessed, but whenever he saw Wang Bo's routine, he still couldn't help but speak up.

"Right, Brother Dian, where is Brother Liu Shi? Why don't I see him?" Noticing only the two of them in the courtyard, Wang Bo asked. By this hour, Liu Shi would usually be exercising right alongside Dian Wei.

"Brother Liu Shi went to the market," Dian Wei answered simply and honestly.

"What did he go to the market for? Is Brother Liu Shi planning to buy something?"

"Weren't you about to leave soon? Brother Liu Shi was afraid you'd face hardships on the road, so he planned to buy a few things for you to take along."

Hearing this, Wang Bo felt a warm surge in his chest. They had only known each other for a few days, yet they treated him with such consideration. How could Wang Bo not be moved? "When Brother Liu Shi returns, I must properly thank him," Wang Bo resolved inwardly. But this wait stretched through the entire morning.

"It's been more than two hours now; why hasn't Brother Liu Shi returned yet?" Wang Bo walked out to the entrance of Dian Wei's house once more, looking out the open door, but there was still no sign of Liu Shi.

Dian Wei followed behind Wang Bo; although his face remained expressionless, Wang Bo knew he was deeply worried as well.

"Could something have happened?" Wang Bo thought with mounting concern, though he quickly brushed the thought aside. Although Brother Liu Shi's martial arts weren't exceptional, having spent a long time following Dian Wei, he had subconsciously picked up some self-preservation skills. Ordinary ruffians weren't his match, and even if he couldn't win, he could certainly run away.

"Brother Dian, should the two of us go look for Brother Liu Shi at the market?" Having waited and waited in vain, Wang Bo suggested to Dian Wei.

"Agreed," Dian Wei nodded, and together with Wang Bo, they stepped out the door.

Leaving the house, Wang Bo walked toward the market under Dian Wei's guidance.

Though it was already midday, the market was still bustling with a dense stream of people, lively as ever.

"Where on earth are we supposed to look for Brother Liu Shi?" Facing the crowded market, Wang Bo felt a headache coming on. Suddenly, he noticed something strange: a large crowd had gathered in the center of the market, pointing and whispering about something. In an instant, an ominous feeling welled up in his heart—much like the dread he had felt during the massacre at his small village. It made his chest tighten painfully.

Wang Bo glanced at Dian Wei, who nodded back. Together, they strode directly toward the center of the crowd. With every step closer to the hub, the ominous foreboding in Wang Bo's heart expanded infinitely.

Reaching the outer edge of the crowd, Wang Bo strained his ears to catch what people were discussing.

"Tragic, truly tragic. Beaten to death with clubs just like that. Who knows how he offended Li Yong?"

"Ain't that the truth? Sigh..."

*Buzz—* Wang Bo felt a sharp pain pierce his brain. Wasn't it said that Dian Wei killed a man in broad daylight just to avenge someone? Could that person be Liu Shi?

Dian Wei clearly realized something as well. With a sweep of his massive arm, he parted the crowd and shielded Wang Bo as they shoved their way through.

The sudden commotion drew disgruntled glares from the bystanders, but upon catching sight of Dian Wei's rugged, imposing frame and awe-inspiring presence, everyone promptly sealed their lips.

Wang Bo and Dian Wei pushed their way to the front of the crowd. Several burly men holding wooden clubs stood there with malicious grins, staring down the onlookers. They showed little reaction to the appearance of Dian Wei and Wang Bo. Behind the ruffians, a figure lay flat on the ground, his garments stained crimson with blood.

The moment he laid eyes on that figure, Wang Bo's eyes turned red. Behind him, without a single word, Dian Wei charged straight toward the thugs.

"Who goes there?" The burly men were initially startled by Dian Wei's sudden charge, but they quickly recovered and shouted the demand. Although Dian Wei was immensely built, they weren't frightened; after all, he was only one man and wasn't even carrying weapons.

"Die!" Dian Wei didn't bother answering. He raised a fist the size of a bowl and punched directly at the nearest ruffian. Who was Dian Wei? He was the Peerless Fierce Demon of ancient times, renowned across armies. His might was simply not something ordinary men could withstand. Moreover, this punch was delivered in a rage, and its terrifying power was self-evident. With a loud *thud*, the thug was sent flying through the air, his head lolling to the side as he died instantly.

"Murder!" Seeing Dian Wei burst into violence and strike someone down, the surrounding onlookers were utterly shocked. Someone let out a panicked scream, and the crowd rapidly scattered in all directions.

Seeing Dian Wei dispatch a man with a single punch, the remaining thugs felt their courage fail. They stared at Dian Wei in sheer terror. However, Dian Wei did not give them a moment to catch their breath; he immediately lunged toward the next target.

"Y-You... We are men of Master Li Yong! You can't afford to cross us!" Seeing Dian Wei charge at him, the man was nearly frightened out of his wits. The sheer strength Dian Wei had just displayed was terrifying enough to make the fellow's voice tremble. He tried to use Li Yong's name to scare off the fierce brute, but the tactic proved utterly useless.