Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: Chapter 355: The Master’s Gamble, Determination is Most Important_1 (2/2)

But due to the abundance of tall trees in the mountains, the sunlight struggled to penetrate completely.

“`

Only a few rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps to shine on the low-lying vegetation in the mountain.

The ferns were tenacious, capable of photosynthesis with just a bit of light.

This was also the main reason why ferns in the deep mountains grew so well.

In addition to ferns, some parasitic plants and vines also thrived.

Just like humans, what exists is justified by its existence.

Some people don’t seem to work very hard, yet their annual income is extremely impressive. Others appear to be working very hard, but they can’t save even a small amount of money by the end of the year.

They simply grasp different societal rules.

Qin Niu really had the patience to endure—he remained hidden there, motionless.

Time was flying by.

It was summer at that point, and the mountains were swarming with mosquitoes and insects.

Qin Niu was hiding just beneath the soil surface, where insects were even more abundant.

Luckily, he was an Insect Master himself, with nearly thirty thousand Termite ants for protection; no insect could harm him.

Being undercover for such a long time without eating or drinking was a real test of one’s endurance.

Just last night, Qin Niu sent hundreds of Termite ants to sting the old man’s ‘corpse’. If the latter was feigning death, he would definitely know that Qin Niu was nearby.

When it came to a war of attrition, Qin Niu was certain he could win out.

After all, the old man had lost an arm and was grievously injured; staying in this place for too long would be more than his body could withstand.

The effects of the Healing Elixir were good, but it couldn’t stave off hunger.

Nor could it replenish the essential nutrients the body needed.

Wang Wanyan had not returned the previous night.

Before heading out, Qin Niu had explained the basic situation to his wife, Wang Wanyan, but if he took too long to return, she might come looking for him in the mountains.

Fortunately, he was located in the true depths of the mountains, so it was unlikely that his wife would find her way there.

However, the longer the time dragged on, the more possible it became that his two wives and Xiao Qing, deeply concerned, might search for him everywhere in the mountains.

Just as Qin Niu was debating whether to take the risk and quietly leave the area, the old man’s body imperceptibly cracked open an eye.

Although it was a very slight movement, the Termite ants Qin Niu had placed nearby captured it clearly.

“Damn, he really was playing dead,” Qin Niu muttered. He had been suspecting whether the old man was truly dead.

Now, with the surveillance of the Termite ants, it was confirmed the old man was indeed alive.

Unnoticed, the sun started to tilt westward.

There were no seasons in the mountain wilderness.

Within the deep mountains, the passage of time was hard to perceive.

Now that Qin Niu knew the old man wasn’t dead, he naturally had to outlast him.

As he braced himself for a tough fight and settled in to wear the old man down, the ‘corpse’ suddenly turned over and sat up.

The old man’s body had initially been sprawled on the ground.

In a semi-prone position.

The wound on his back was clearly visible.

“Come out, come out to me!” the old man shouted as he sat up, holding his precious sword and hacking around like a madman.

His frenzied slashing didn’t find Qin Niu, but it did reveal his current true strength.

The sword in his hand was a good one, capable of unleashing Sword Qi.

It was only slightly weaker than Elder Jiu Yin’s sword, but it was already considered a very rare high-quality weapon.

Qin Niu noticed that the places the old man cut were essentially where the Dark Poison Ants had stung people, then quickly scurried away to hide.

Luckily, he had been cautious.

After letting the Termite ants sting the old man, he had them quickly flee, but he did not call them back to his side.

If he had recalled those Poisonous Ants then and there, his hiding place would have been exposed long ago.

In a struggle against a top-level Insect Master like the old man, every step was perilous; one misstep could lead to complete and utter ruin.