A voice arrived before the person.
The voice was rough, like a piece of constantly shifting gravel in the throat, making one's skin crawl.
"Are we supposed to be training today? Who even dares to interrupt us? Do you think the Temple Guards are merely decorative?"
Following the gruff voice came another, slightly more effeminate one.
Compared to the former, this voice made me even more uncomfortable. My mind inexplicably conjured images of ancient eunuchs; it was a genuine eunuch's voice.
I slowly got to my feet, brushing the dust off my clothes.
After waiting for so long, the main players had finally arrived!
The approaching footsteps grew louder, and finally, I saw the appearance of the two people who had been speaking.
The man with the rough voice was bald, his face a mass of flesh, and a scar ran from his jaw to his forehead, making him look exceptionally fierce.
The other man, with the eunuch-like voice, was much thinner, almost half the size of the man beside him. It was a mystery how he had managed to join the Temple Guards with such a physique; he clearly was the cunning type.
"Who are you two?"
"I'm Guli, the most powerful warrior of the Du'an tribe!"
Before I could even finish my question, the bald, scarred man with the rough voice impatiently declared his identity.
Upon hearing he was Guli, my gaze shifted to the other man with the eunuch voice.
If that's the case, then this man must be Hutou?
Were these two the ones who had been instigating the Temple Guards to usurp my authority?
I didn't rush to reveal my own identity. After all, I didn't believe these two individuals were unaware of who I was.
Since they wanted to play games, I would humor these two clowns.
"Oh? The most powerful warrior of the Du'an tribe?"
"But I heard that the most powerful warrior of the Du'an tribe was clearly Gui Du Si, not Guli."
"You...!"
My words instantly ignited Guli's anger. He was completely enraged, clenching his fists, his eyes wide with fury, as if he were about to devour me alive.
At the same time, I noticed a fleeting hint of sadness flash across his face when I mentioned Gui Du Si. It seemed Guli was a staunch supporter of Gui Du Si.
Given this man's loyalty to Gui Du Si, he would never be swayed by me; he was not someone I could win over.
In contrast, Hutou appeared much calmer. He narrowed his eyes, observing me silently, seemingly deep in thought.
"Oh, I forgot. Gui Du Si was killed by Ba Du. Now Ba Du is the most powerful warrior of the Du'an tribe, and he is your leader!"
Seeing Guli's displeasure, I feigned realization and plunged another knife into his heart.
Guli was now thoroughly provoked. His face turned dark, and his hand instinctively moved towards his lower back, as if he intended to fight me right there.
Hutou, seeing how easily Guli was provoked, subtly tugged at his clothes and then cupped his hands towards me.
"If I'm not mistaken, you are Ba Du. Our subordinates were blind and did not recognize you. Please, come inside with us."
Hearing Hutou's words, I felt a pang of regret. I had almost managed to provoke Guli into attacking me. If he had attacked, things would have been much easier. Offending one's leader was a grave offense, and I could have had him arrested on the spot as a warning!
It seemed Guli was merely a brainless brute, and the true decision-maker was Hutou, who stood silently beside him.
"Alright, I thought you wouldn't recognize me. The weather is quite nice. This brother and I were just chatting under the shade of the trees for a while."
I glanced back at the傻大个 (silly giant) who had stayed behind and smiled. Under Hutou's guidance, I walked inside.
Although the Temple Guards were responsible for the temple's security, their camp was not within the temple itself but in a separate settlement nearby.
Hutou was now leading me to that camp.
I followed Guli and Hutou. Even without seeing their faces, I could sense Guli's lingering anger; his aura was palpable.
Heh, still too young.
Their backs were not eyes, and I silently let out a contemptuous smile, contemplating the information I had gathered.
In fact, I had a better solution earlier, but it did not fit my current situation.
Therefore, I deliberately said those words to provoke them and gauge their capabilities.
It now seemed that Guli was not worth worrying about, and the truly troublesome one was Hutou. I even had reason to suspect that the High Priest's influence was behind Hutou.
After all, Hutou's demeanor was identical to that of the High Priest; both belonged to the cunning strategist type.
It could be said that Hutou and Guli made a perfect pair. Guli provided the brute force, and he also seemed to hold some sway over the other Temple Guards, capable of winning hearts.
Hutou, on the other hand, acted as the strategist, responsible for planning and devising schemes.
Even though I was confident in my ability to deal with the troublesome duo of Hutou and Guli, I still had to proceed with caution.
After all, a team that possessed both muscle and brains, no matter how weak they appeared, should not be underestimated.
Lost in thought, we had unknowingly circled half the temple and soon arrived at a small camp within the forest.
"My lord, we have arrived at the camp. All the Temple Guards have gathered upon hearing of your arrival."
Hutou stopped at the entrance of the camp, turned around, bowed his head to me respectfully. If one didn't know better, they would think he was my loyal subordinate.
I silently observed Hutou and nodded, my respect for him growing.
The principle that a biting dog doesn't bark held true, whether in the outside world or on this deserted island.
I took a deep breath and strode into the camp.
The real test was about to begin!