Noxina was smiling as she and Baru rowed the boat, feeling triumphant at having made Gu Ning, the rank-first lord, suffer a silent loss. Gu Ning must still be tangled up with that sea monster. When he finally defeats it and finds I'm gone, he'll be furious! she thought.
But her hopes were dashed. Hearing a commotion, she turned to see a blue whale pulling a boat rapidly approaching—Gu Ning, who'd caught up in minutes, their rowing speed no match for his mount.
Seeing Noxina's startled, terrified expression, Gu Ning冷笑 (chuckled coldly). Tried to trick me and run? If she'd just asked for help honestly, I might've saved her for the loot. But she had to play dirty.
"Noxina, didn't expect me to catch up so fast, did you?" Gu Ning mocked as he closed in, speaking the natural language of the Lord Continent all newcomers mastered upon arrival.
Noxina panicked—his speed meant he'd defeated the Crimson Lotus Jellyfish effortlessly, far beyond her power to resist. "Gu Ning, spare me! I'll pay you. Killing me gives no rewards anyway."
Gu Ning realized she'd never killed a lord before, unaware of the loot drop. "How much?" he asked loudly, whispering to Windsor, "Attack them when you get a chance."
"Understood, my lord." Windsor's ears reddened at his breath tickling her ear.
Misreading his intent, Noxina brightened. "500 white stones! Deal?"
Gu Ning scoffed—no top-ten lord with a hero could be that poor. "You think I'm a beggar?"
Before Windsor could strike, another Tier-1 wooden boat appeared, two rowers eyeing them curiously. Gu Ning frowned; Noxina smiled.
Wang Mu, approaching, used Spiritual Sight and froze—two top-ten lords, including the legendary Gu Ning!
Before he could greet them, Noxina shouted, "Wang Mu, watch out! Gu Ning's blackmailing me for money!"
Wang Mu panicked—caught in a crossfire! "大佬们 (Big shots), don't involve me! I'm just a nobody—let me go!" He tried to row away.
"Wang Mu, do you think Gu Ning will spare you after you saw this?" Noxina hissed.
Wang Mu turned to Gu Ning, trembling.
Gu Ning ignored him, signaling Windsor. Noxina's smile froze as two light ropes suddenly bound her and Baru—caught off guard.
"Noxina, the moment you tricked me, you signed your death warrant," Gu Ning said, firing two water arrows through their chests. He handled the kill himself to acclimate to同族 blood, usually leaving Demon Realm lords to Windsor. It worked—no nausea now.
Wang Mu went limp as Gu Ning turned to him. "大佬! Don't kill me! I'll give you everything!" He emptied his inventory. Gu Ning was about to speak when a blue fox erupted from the water, lunging at Windsor.
Gu Ning shoved her down, taking a bite to the arm—flesh torn, blood pouring. Windsor snarled, casting Entanglement, but the fox dodged.
Gu Ning checked its stats:
Frost Ice Fox (Purple)
Level: 8
Strength: 55
Agility: 58
Defense: 56
Skills: Freeze, Ice Shield, Claw Strike, Bite
"Holy shit—those stats!" Gu Ning worried for Windsor. Wang Mu despaired—caught between a lord and a nightmare beast, he was doomed.