<h4>Chapter 21: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware Of the Oriole Behind</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>As Studios <strong>Editor: </strong>As Studios


    In the primeval forest.


    3.40 PM and 37 seconds.


    By now John had reached the interior of the forest.


    He was standing in front of arge tree, his eyes fixed on a high slope in the distance.


    He took out the box of Arthur cigarettes that he had just bought and lit one up.


    He inhaled in a deep mouth of smoke.


    The smoke entered his throat and the strong stimtion made John cough unconsciously.


    John, who hadn’t smoked for years, needed some time to get used to smoking.


    But he managed to finish the whole cigarette.


    He nced at the watch on his wrist. It was 1.45 PM now.


    He tossed the cigarette aside and turned to leave.


    John strolled alone in the green forest, which was very quiet.


    Every breath of air seemed so fresh.


    John could clearly feel that the air in the forest was much fresher than in the city.


    He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly and said, “The beauty of nature is still so alluring.”


    He had already fallen in love with this calm and natural environment.


    It was a pity that there weren’t many beautiful environments like this left.


    Three years ago, wasn’t the life John and his girlfriend Alice was living also a peaceful and warm one like this?


    Had it not been for the arrogance of the young master of Alexander Corporation, Neil, which caused John to leave his peaceful life behind, John would probably be immersed in the happiness of his family of three now.


    Having thought of this.


    John’s hatred for the Alexander Corporation grew even stronger, and determined to keep walking this path grew too.


    …


    To be precise, John wasn’t walking alone in the forest. Behind him was the ck-clothed Aix.


    John continued walking, ignoring Aix, who was following closely behind.


    Aix was still na?ve enough to think John had never noticed him.


    He was still following John unhurriedly.


    At this moment, Aix could have captured John and brought him back.


    However, there were still many other tourists in the forest.


    Moreover, Ax was indeed not in a hurry. He was certain that John was already in his hands.


    Seeing that John was walking deep into the forest.


    Aix was pleasantly surprised as he watched John walking deeper and deeper inside.


    He said coldly in a low voice, “You really don’t want to take the path to heaven, but insist on going to hell.


    “Young man, the depths of the forest will be your nightmare.”


    Continuing forward, John saw the slope that he had foreseen. He walked straight towards it.


    He stood on the slope and checked the time on his watch.


    It was now at 3.50 PM.


    Aix, who was hiding nearby, looked in John’s direction.


    Now that there was no one around, it was the best time to strike.


    But at this moment, John was facing his direction, so it was still not easy to attack.


    Aix was still quietly hiding behind a huge tree without moving.


    This was the patience of a top predator.


    A true top-grade predator wouldn’t casually attack unless it was confident of a one-hit kill.


    3.51 PM.


    The rabbit that was foraging for food was suddenly frightened by the withered grass and trees lit up by John’s cigarette butt.


    Then, the frightened rabbit ran off into the distance.


    Nearby, a fox that was looking for prey suddenly saw the rabbit that was running away. With a fierce look in its eyes, it directly exerted strength in its four limbs and chased in the direction that the rabbit was running towards.


    All of this happened exactly as it was recorded in the foreseeable future.


    …


    John turned to expose his back to Aix.


    At this moment, Ax felt that the time was right and was about to capture John.


    However, he was shocked by the sudden appearance of the rabbit and fox beside him. He slipped and fell down the slope.


    Aix’s body was rolled down the slope continuously.


    He folded his arms over his head, protecting the safety of his head as he allowed his body to roll downward.


    After rolling for quite a while, hended safely.


    However, at this moment, Aix realized that his body was gradually sinking.


    He found himself in a swamp.


    His body was frantically struggling, but the more he struggled, the faster the swamp devoured him.


    Aix, who had a look of despair on his face, looked unusually ferocious.


    He wanted to struggle, but he realized that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free.


    And at this moment, John had alreadye in front of him, grinning and looking at Aix sinking into the swamp.


    John said to him, “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Do you think I didn’t notice that you’ve been following me? Your tracking skills are even worse than a three-year-old.”


    Seeing John appear, Aix’s expression suddenly became even more desperate.


    He thought about what had happened and his expression changed.


    ‘Could it be that all of this was really nned by him? Then is he still a human? Even God can’t easily do such a difficult thing, right?’


    John, on the other hand, looked impassively at the sinking Aix.


    At this moment, Aix only had his head left outside the swamp.


    His eyes revealed obvious despair and fear.


    John said to the dying Ax, “If there’s a next life, I hope you won’t do those things that will anger the heavens and the people again.”


    As John’s wordsnded.


    Thest part of Aix’s body was finally devoured by the swamp.


    The swamp swallowed Akes’ body, but there was not a single ripple. Its surface was still calm as if nothing had happened.


    This was the charm of nature.


    Suddenly, John sighed and said, “The power of nature is irresistible. I wonder if the ability to foresee can actually resist the power of nature.


    “Or can I use it to deduce thews of nature? If I can do that, then am I not…”


    Suddenly, lightning shed and thunder rumbled in the sky as it started drizzling.


    Rain droplets fell on John’s body.


    Reaching for it, John felt the coolness of the rain, and his emotions also calmed down too.


    He looked at the sudden drizzle in the sky. It was like the sky was venting its emotions.


    Then, John left expressionlessly. The light rain also extinguished the fire caused by John’s cigarette butt.


    The rain wasn’t heavy, but it concealed all the evidence of the crime and the marks John had left here.