Outside Jiangbei City, beside a stream.
It was midnight, and the surroundings were deathly quiet, save for the gurgling of the stream.
Two figures appeared by the stream.
"What are you bringing me out here for in the middle of the night?" Li Shengtian asked Jin Gong, standing beside him, his face etched with confusion.
Jin Gong glanced around and said,
"To pick someone up."
"Pick who up, and in a desolate place like this?" Jin Gong wondered aloud.
Jin Gong flashed a sinister grin.
"Because some people are not human."
"What did you say!" Li Shengtian instinctively took a few steps back.
Jin Gong explained,
"No need to be nervous, you'll know soon enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, a tree on the opposite side of the stream suddenly rustled.
Three figures descended.
In the moonlight, their appearances became clear. They all wore strange headscarves, their faces marked with dense patterns.
Moreover, on their shoulders, disgusting-looking insects twitched incessantly, sending a chill down Li Shengtian's spine.
"Are you three the only ones who have come?" Jin Gong asked the trio politely.
The one in the middle stepped forward, nodded at Jin Gong, and said in a hoarse voice,
"The Chieftain said one person would suffice. However, considering Mr. Jin's past assistance to our Gu tribe, we have been dispatched as a group of three."
"And the price..."
"You needn't worry about that. The Chieftain considers you an old friend and maintains the previously agreed-upon price. No additional charges will be levied."
Upon hearing this, Jin Gong asked no further questions. He nodded and said,
"Very well. I will send you the target's information shortly. Upon successful completion, I will offer substantial rewards."
The three nodded in unison, then clasped their hands together and vanished into the night, as if they had never been there.
Li Shengtian was still in a daze. It was Jin Gong who patted his shoulder, bringing him back to his senses. He swallowed hard and asked,
"Who... who were they?"
Jin Gong gazed at the sky, exhaled, and replied,
"People of the Gu tribe."
"The Gu tribe?" Li Shengtian was perplexed.
What kind of people were they? Were there such tribes in Long Country?
Jin Gong cast him a look as if he had never seen the world before, and explained,
"They are, in your understanding, people who can cast Gu. These individuals raise all sorts of peculiar insects. These insects are incredibly sinister. One type of Gu worm, upon contact with an ordinary person, will burrow directly into their flesh. Those who raise these Gu worms can then control them."
Li Shengtian's eyes lit up.
"That's incredible!"
"What is this compared to?" Jin Gong said with a look of disdain.
"This is merely one type of Gu worm. There are many more perverted kinds. You'll find out later. This time, I will avenge my son!"
Jin Gong's words ignited a fire within Li Shengtian.
No matter how powerful Qin Xuan was, could he contend with these sinister Gu tribesmen?
Just by the way the three Gu tribesmen had disappeared, Li Shengtian was certain they were infinitely more formidable than those so-called martial artists from the Black Tiger Gang!
If one was this strong, three of them would surely tear Qin Xuan, that scoundrel, to shreds!
"Let's go. Isn't that punk from the Black Tiger Gang your subordinate? Go find him and arrange the plan."
In the city, in a private room of a small teahouse.
Jin Gong, Li Shengtian, Hei Biao, and a few of his trusted subordinates were all present in the room.
Hei Biao frowned after listening to Li Shengtian.
A subordinate, a martial artist at the Houtian stage, spoke from behind him,
"Mr. Li, this sounds a bit unreliable. The Gu tribe? Do such people really exist in this world? This is all movie fiction. If you truly want revenge, our Black Tiger Gang can hire some martial arts experts from Long Country at a high price."
After the martial artist finished speaking, Li Shengtian slowly turned to look at Jin Gong.
Jin Gong scoffed,
"Ignorant."