Chapter 72

Ma Xiaoleng didn't follow up, and Ding Ning immediately became alert.

After more than ten minutes, he still hadn't come back. This kid's problem was no longer just a bad stomach.

Thinking of the bald man, Ding Ning felt that something had happened to Ma Xiaoleng.

After all, this person was a hunter who often roamed the mountains. If someone could take him out instantly without making a sound, that person must be no ordinary individual.

Ding Ning took out two coins and cautiously turned back to call out, "Brother Ma, are you done yet?"

"Uh... uh..."

Two responses came from behind, sounding like someone who was having trouble finishing their business.

Hearing this, Ding Ning let out a long breath. He had been too nervous; the other person really had a bad stomach.

Just as he relaxed, Ding Ning suddenly felt his hair stand on end!

This voice wasn't Ma Xiaoleng's!

It was a muffled sound made with the throat to avoid being recognized, a deception!

Moreover, by making a sound, he had exposed his own position. They couldn't see each other's exact locations before.

In an instant, Ding Ning thought of many things and quickly pulled his body back behind the tree!

"Boom!"

A homemade gun fired at the spot where Ding Ning had been, tearing up the bark and embedding countless steel balls into the trunk. If Ding Ning hadn't dodged quickly, he would have been riddled with bullets.

This was Ma Xiaoleng's gun!

Clearly, something had happened to Ma Xiaoleng. His gun was now in someone else's hands. After taking out Ma Xiaoleng, this person didn't immediately make a sound but waited until Ding Ning asked out of impatience, accurately finding his position before firing.

But he didn't expect that this carefully planned shot would still miss.

Ding Ning dodged the shot and pressed himself against the tree. From that angle, the other person definitely couldn't hit him.

Since his position was exposed, Ding Ning laughed, "You chased me all the way from Haibin to here, and you only found a chance to attack now. You're pretty professional, aren't you?"

The attacker, knowing he had lost the chance for a surprise attack, boldly stepped out.

"Brat, you're lucky. You've always been with a lot of people, but now you're alone. Come out obediently, and your bald grandpa will spare your life."

"I can come out, but before that, I want to know how much Chen Mengyao paid you to chase me this far."

"The money is definitely a lot, but if you can come up with 200,000, I'll let you go today."

"Really?"

Ding Ning asked, listening to the other person's footsteps. The other person had already come to the other side of the tree, separated by only the tree.

"You're dealing with a man of honor. I keep my word. Come out with the money, and I'll leave. It's all about money; I don't want to kill. After all, it's a big trouble."

"Alright, I'll come out, but you can't shoot."

"Hurry up, don't dawdle."

Ding Ning quietly took off his coat and used a branch on the ground to slowly reveal a bit of it at the edge of the tree.

"Boom!"

A gunshot rang out, and Ding Ning's coat was blown away.

Ding Ning immediately crouched down, emerged from a lower position, and flicked his wrist, sending five coins flying out.

"Ah!"

A scream of pain, five blood holes appeared on the bald man's chest and abdomen!

With one strike, Ding Ning severely injured his opponent. He turned around and revealed himself from the other side of the tree, raised his hand, and shot out another five coins!

The sound of coins piercing flesh came, and the bald man's shoulder, neck, and even his left eye were penetrated by the coins, blood spurting out.

The bald man's scream echoed through the sky. He weakly tried to reach for the gun at his waist. Ding Ning saw a modified handgun there. With the opponent at his last strength, Ding Ning wouldn't give him a chance to draw the gun.

He leaped over and punched the bald man's temple.

The bald man's body fell like a mountain, and Ding Ning's punch was so powerful that he had already fainted.

But even though he had defeated his opponent, Ding Ning's sense of danger grew even stronger.

It felt like being targeted by a venomous snake, ready to strike at any moment. Without hesitation, Ding Ning crouched low.

"Thud!"

A muffled sound, a faint wisp of smoke rose from the ground behind him.

A thin line of blood appeared on Ding Ning's neck. The bullet had grazed him by a hair's breadth. If it had been a bit closer, Ding Ning would have met his end.

Long-range sniper!

And with a silencer!

There was no doubt that this wasn't a gun a hunter could have. Someone was still trying to assassinate him.

Moreover, the timing was perfect, right after he had defeated the bald man when he was most relaxed. If it weren't for the heightened senses of a cultivator, he would already be a corpse.

This was undoubtedly a professional hitman.

Ding Ning rolled to the ground, landing behind a mound, and then used the cover of the grass to look in the direction the bullet had come from.

About 400-500 meters away was a hill. Ding Ning saw a faint glint, probably the reflection from a sniper scope.

He angrily flipped the bird and crouched into the grass.

On the hill, a foreigner looked at Ding Ning in surprise, unable to believe it.

Seeing the target disappear, the foreigner reluctantly picked up a satellite phone and dialed a number.

"I request more time. The target is very cunning. Yes, not easy to deal with. Please inform the client that the price he offered is not high, and the target is not an ordinary person."

After ending the call, the foreigner adjusted his sniper rifle. He had aimed for a headshot, but Ding Ning had dodged. He thought it was a coincidence. If he had aimed a bit lower at the body, he would have hit.

"Next time, God won't be on your side."

The foreigner decisively left the hill, retreating to find another opportunity for a fatal strike. This was a basic quality of a hitman.

After several quick jumps and hiding, Ding Ning's sense of danger finally disappeared.

He was sure the sniper had left his position and was now relatively safe.

Ding Ning wasn't surprised that Chen Mengyao had sent the bald man to deal with him, but the hidden hitman was definitely not someone Chen Mengyao could find. Who was after him?

Ding Ning waited for a while before slowly emerging from his hiding place. The bald man was already dead, with multiple wounds still bleeding.

Ding Ning didn't care that this person was dead. He slowly walked in the direction of Ma Xiaoleng.

After a while, Ding Ning saw Ma Xiaoleng lying on the ground, but he wasn't dead. The bald man had only knocked him out.

Ding Ning pinched Ma Xiaoleng's philtrum, and he slowly woke up.

"Ah! Brother Ding, someone ambushed me!"

"Don't worry, it's fine now." Ding Ning comforted him.

"It's no good. We can't stay here. Brother Ding, I don't want the money. There's a mountain valley with a spring and a birch forest about 40 miles to the north. Find it yourself; I can't stay with you."

Saying this, Ma Xiaoleng didn't even take his gun, pulling up his pants and running back.

Ding Ning wanted to remind him that his butt wasn't clean, but he decided against it.

It was better for him to go. With that terrifying hitman around, Ma Xiaoleng wouldn't be safe with him.

Ding Ning threw the bald man's body into a deep ditch and didn't take the gun, continuing north.

The hitman would definitely appear again, but since he had already been exposed once, Ding Ning didn't believe he could assassinate him again. On this journey, he would play with him.

*****

In Haibin City, at the Old Jade Shop in Fenglu Garden, Liu Bocheng sat in front of a computer.

He had just received a report that the hitman's first attempt had failed, but the mission wasn't over. They would continue to pursue Ding Ning.

"Damn it!"

Liu Bocheng punched the table, making the ashtray jump.

"I told you this person might have some special abilities, but you treated him like an ordinary person. Are professional hitmen so careless?"

The person on the other end of the phone heard Liu Bocheng's shouting and said in English, "Sir, I don't quite understand your anger. You didn't provide us with specific information about his abilities, and the price you offered wasn't high enough to attract top-tier professionals. The one who took the job was just a low-level hitman. Besides, the mission isn't over yet, right?"

"Fine, I'll wait. I hope you bring me good news. Also, I want to capture An Xiaoyue. How is that going?"

"Someone has taken the job. We should have news today."

Liu Bocheng put down the phone, but he had a bad feeling. This operation against Ding Ning might fail.

"Without taking out Ding Ning, even if I get An Xiaoyue, there will still be trouble. I need to prepare more money. If this fails, I'll hire top-ranked international hitmen!"

Liu Bocheng looked forward to the beautiful and alluring An Xiaoyue being brought to him. She had refused his marriage proposal, so he had no choice but to use these means.