Chapter 150 - 107: Generous Reward! Perfect Timing!_2

The clerk dared not hesitate and quickly said:

"Seven days ago, Poison Bee Guest Lian Xubai, who had vanished for half a year, reappeared in the White Stone Town area. Lian Xubai possesses Blood Refining Realm - Small Success cultivation and raises a large swarm of poisonous bees. However, several masters have already accepted the mission to capture him; he’s doomed with no escape. If the master takes the task now, there’s still a chance."

Gu Sheng stared at the clerk for a moment and replied indifferently:

"What’s the bounty?"

"Two hundred silver taels, plus a martial arts manual for body refinement—Golden Body Skill!"

Gu Sheng was inwardly shaken.

Golden Body Skill!

This skill had appeared once at a black market auction, where it was claimed by a burly man with a bull-faced mask. Who would have thought it would now appear as a reward for a Bounty Hunter mission?

Thinking it over, it wasn’t so strange.

That burly man was, in all likelihood, killed by Liu Yuanhu. It wouldn’t be surprising for Golden Body Skill to have ended up in his possession. A trace of heat surged in Gu Sheng’s heart, though he suppressed his excitement.

But there was one thing still unclear—

"What did Lian Xubai do to merit such a substantial bounty?"

The clerk was quick to explain everything he knew.

"The Poison Bee Guest earned such a reward because of orders from the higher-ups. He’s a ruthless and vicious man, and it seems he once used his bees to devour—alive—a concubine belonging to one of the masters..."

The reasoning was convincing enough.

But Gu Sheng only sneered coldly in his heart.

"How many people have already accepted the mission?"

"There’s Fast Blade Zhou Song, the three Winds of Chaos masters, and besides them, also Yan Song, Zhao He, and several others who are participating in the hunt."

The clerk rattled off several names in one breath, many of whom were renowned as peers to the Butcher, strong contenders in the Blood Refining Realm - Small Success. As for the others, even the weakest were experts at the higher achievements of Blood Refining Realm.

The corners of Gu Sheng’s mouth curved into a subtle, intriguing smirk, and the sight made the clerk shiver, forcing him to lower his head quickly.

"Alright, I’ll take it."

Gu Sheng’s low laugh sounded, making the clerk feel a chill run down his spine.

"One moment, master, I’ll register the task for you right away."

"Wishing you a triumphant success!"

The clerk busied himself and then respectfully handed over the Bounty Hunter waist token. Gu Sheng took the token, turned, and walked away, his gaze fleetingly scanning towards another corner of the courtyard.

Gu Sheng was well aware the mission had ulterior motives. For so many renowned Bounty Hunters to flock together, the aim was likely to incite internal rivalry among them.

Under normal circumstances—

Gu Sheng would typically avoid such schemes if he could, but now he had to admit that the lure of Golden Body Skill was far too compelling. If obtained, it would patch up his deficiencies in body refinement martial arts, allowing his future cultivation path to be smooth sailing.

"Hmm... In fact, this task carries no real danger for me. The mission itself is unlikely to be a trap—the only potential obstacles are the other Bounty Hunters. But with my current strength, they are just subpar contenders."

"At worst... I’ll reveal a fraction of my true abilities and then abandon this identity as the Butcher afterward."

This is the benefit of having alternate identities. With Shapeshifting, Gu Sheng could create a new identity at any moment. He was no reckless brute; only after carefully weighing gains and losses did he choose to accept this mission.

As for the scheming behind the task, he couldn’t care less. As long as he secured what he wanted, it mattered little. If opportunities arose in the future, he’d just settle the score leisurely.

"Zhang Guangqun, hmm..."

Gu Sheng’s eyes darkened as he slung his massive axe over his back and left the courtyard.

He knew Zhang Guangqun oversaw the Bounty Hunters and had met him before. Just now, he had vaguely sensed eyes fixed on him.

Gu Sheng simply kept the matter in mind.

For now, he needed to complete the mission quickly to ensure others didn’t seize the reward first. Golden Body Skill was too important for him.

...

Deep within the Bounty Hunters’ courtyard, Zhang Guangqun stood respectfully by Liu Yuanhu’s side, his gaze somewhat startled.

"Master, do you think he noticed us just now?"

Gu Sheng’s glance naturally hadn’t escaped Zhang Guangqun’s attention. But the issue was, how could someone at Blood Refining Realm - Small Success possess perceptive abilities strong enough to detect the presence of himself—at Blood Refining Realm - Perfect—and Liu Yuanhu, a top expert at Bone Refining Realm?

Liu Yuanhu’s eyes held a trace of amusement.

"That Butcher is indeed capable. If we integrate the Bounty Hunters in the future, perhaps he could become one of our own."

Zhang Guangqun hesitated before speaking again.

"According to intelligence reports, The Butcher’s strength is supposed to be at Blood Refining Realm - Small Success. His personality is unruly and violent, unlikely someone who would submit willingly."

"Unruly? It’s merely the ignorance of someone who hasn’t glimpsed a grander world."

Liu Yuanhu chuckled softly and slowly stood up.

"Guangqun, your plan this time isn’t bad. Using a mere Poison Bee Guest makes for a perfect test on their caliber. The Bounty Hunters... don’t need excessive numbers; this county only requires elites!"

"Even if The Butcher knows the plan, he’ll have no choice but to proceed. Men are driven by profit; they’ll chase the bounty and the secret manual before competing against the other hunters."

Upon hearing Liu Yuanhu’s praise, Zhang Guangqun hurriedly bowed.

"Master, this is all thanks to your guidance. My humble tricks are hardly worth your notice."

Liu Yuanhu laughed and waved dismissively.

"I fully trust you with the Bounty Hunters. Work hard. One day, I’ll help you break through to Bone Refining Realm. If all goes as planned, by next year, I will finally shed the label of acting county magistrate and truly take the mantle officially!"

Liu Yuanhu laughed heartily.

Zhang Guangqun was visibly moved, eagerness lighting up his eyes.

Bone Refining Realm had been his lifelong aspiration, yet achieving it within Canghe County on his own seemed almost impossible. With Liu Yuanhu’s assistance, however, hopes soared exponentially.