Banding Together

"Furred Beast Slaves were gathering vicious beasts' essence blood all across the Hundred Thousand Mountains. As for exactly how many there were, I didn't know either. I only knew a few people from nearby areas; I'd never had contact with those farther away." Hagon could tell that Yuan Ming had helped him earlier because he wanted to learn something from him, and he did not mind.

Yuan Ming nodded slowly and asked several more questions about the Furred Beast Slaves, receiving fairly satisfactory answers.

"Brother Hagon, I have another question. I cultivated the Fur Transformation Technique several months ago. When I used it a few days back, a sudden urge for bloodshed and slaughter surged up from my heart and nearly seized control of my will. Do you know what happened?" Yuan Ming asked about the matter that concerned him most.

"That's perfectly normal. It's the backlash from using the Fur Transformation Technique," Hagon said calmly.

"Backlash?" Yuan Ming's expression tightened as he immediately pressed for more.

"The Fur Transformation Technique is a secret art exclusive to Jade Luo Cave. It can merge specially made beast pelts with people who have only just set foot upon the path of cultivation, granting them power strong enough to contend with demon beasts. It truly is a formidable spell. But after all, that power was not cultivated by us ourselves, and it carries severe side effects." Hagon sighed.

"The side effect is the backlash you just mentioned?" Yuan Ming hurriedly asked.

"The beast pelts in our hands were all made through secret methods from the hides and fur of vicious beasts collected by Jade Luo Cave throughout the Hundred Thousand Mountains. These pelts contain the primal demon power and Killing Intent of those beasts, and they gradually erode our bodies. Once it reaches a certain point, backlash occurs. In the end, the body completely fuses with the pelt, turning one into a monster that knows only slaughter." Hagon's voice carried a trace of bitterness.

"Is there any way to avoid the backlash of the Fur Transformation Technique?" Yuan Ming asked.

"No. So long as you use the Fur Transformation Technique, the vicious Baleful Intent within the beast pelt will constantly erode your body. The more often you use it, the greater the risk of backlash. In the end, you will utterly fall into becoming a bloodthirsty monster. This is a road of no return. No one can escape it." A flicker of pain passed through Hagon's eyes.

"Then how long can Furred Beast Slaves like us generally last?" Yuan Ming's expression grew grave as he asked.

"If you only kill five beast slaves a month and use the Fur Transformation Technique as little as possible, lasting four or five years, or even longer, will not be a problem. But if you use the Fur Transformation Technique frequently, plenty of people go completely mad within a year or two," Hagon said.

"Jade Luo Cave simply lets this continue?" Yuan Ming's heart sank with a thud. After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"Why would Jade Luo Cave care whether Furred Beast Slaves like us live or die? Oh, right. If you can gather a thousand portions of essence blood before going completely mad, you might be accepted as a registered disciple. Then you can free yourself from using the Fur Transformation Technique." After saying this, Hagon's lips curled in a self-mocking smile.

"You accepted this task too?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Heh heh. So long as someone performs rather outstandingly during the first few months, the elders managing us will privately offer them this task, urging them to gather as much essence blood as possible in a short time." Hagon chuckled and cast Yuan Ming a sidelong glance.

"Going by what you said earlier, I'm afraid one would go mad before gathering enough beast blood," Yuan Ming said with a bitter smile.

"Not necessarily. There are also people gifted beyond ordinary measure. If they have not lost their minds, it means their temperament is steadfast and strong. Jade Luo Cave presumably would not reject such people," Hagon replied noncommittally.

Yuan Ming nodded silently. Just as he was about to ask something else, his brows suddenly rose. He looked toward the dense mountain forest behind him and simultaneously activated the Fur Transformation Technique, taking the form of a white ape.

Hagon abruptly spun around, his body already changing into the form of an azure wolf.

Five figures shot out from the dense forest. They were all Furred Beast Slaves, forming a fan-shaped encirclement around Yuan Ming and Hagon with extremely agile movements.

Almost the instant Yuan Ming and Hagon completed their Fur Transformation Techniques, the encirclement had taken shape.

Yuan Ming frowned. He had found it difficult to locate even one furred beast slave before, yet now, shortly after entering the forest, he had encountered six.

Only, these five newcomers clearly meant trouble.

"So it's you." Hagon spoke leisurely, clearly recognizing the newcomers.

"Brother Hagon, we meet again. We just saw the corpse of a Bloodline Crocodile over there. You killed it, didn't you? It seems your strength has improved again. Admirable, truly admirable." A Red Tiger Beast Slave stepped forward. After sweeping Yuan Ming with a glance, he smiled at Hagon.

This man was enormous, even larger than Hagon's transformed azure wolf. His entire body was knotted with muscles and brimming with power. He was clearly the leader of this group.

"Zan Bai, you've become more and more hypocritical since joining the Green Wolf Gang. Speak. What do you want?" Hagon snorted.

"Hagon, last time you stole my prey. This time, you'll pay tenfold!" Another Gray Wolf Beast Slave glared fixedly at Hagon and said through gritted teeth.

"Wu Li, we discovered that spotted leopard at the same time, didn't we? You lacked the ability to kill it. Were others not allowed to make a move?" Hagon looked at the Gray Wolf Beast Slave and chuckled.

"Utter nonsense! You clearly stole my prey!" the Gray Wolf Beast Slave, Wu Li, shouted angrily.

Zan Bai swept Wu Li with a cold gaze, seemingly reproaching him for speaking out of turn.

Wu Li's heart trembled. He took two steps back and did not dare speak again.

"Hagon, an honest man does not speak in riddles. You have provoked our people time and again. If I do not punish you severely, what will others think of me? For the sake of us joining Jade Luo Cave at the same time, hand over your blood storage pouch, and I can let you leave." Zan Bai spoke evenly.

"Really?" Hagon seemed somewhat tempted.

"Of course. You should know that we of the Blackwood Tribe are the most faithful to our promises." Zan Bai patted his chest with one hand and said proudly.

"Fine. Surrounded by you today, I admit defeat. Catch." Hagon took out a blood storage pouch from his chest and tossed it toward Zan Bai.

Yuan Ming was slightly surprised. A trace of blood stained the bottom of this blood storage pouch, and it was not the one Hagon had used earlier. Could it have been taken after killing another furred beast slave?

Hagon seemed to notice Yuan Ming's gaze and looked over. With his left hand behind his back, he pointed toward the left front.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming revealed a contemplative expression.

Zan Bai also looked somewhat surprised. He caught the blood storage pouch on instinct, then suddenly felt that something was wrong. A hole had been torn in its bottom, and a little black ball was tucked inside.

He focused his eyes on it, and his expression abruptly turned to alarm and rage.

With a bang, the black ball exploded. A vast cloud of black smoke appeared out of thin air, instantly swallowing an area over a dozen zhang around the lakeshore.

"Go!" Hagon's body turned into a streak of azure light as he shot toward the left front.

Although Yuan Ming could not see Hagon, he immediately ran in that direction as well, easily escaping the encirclement of the Red Tiger Beast Slave and the others.

"Ha ha, Zan Bai, until we meet again!" Hagon laughed loudly and led Yuan Ming into the forest.

The instant Yuan Ming entered the woods, he swiftly pulled two stones from the bundle on his back and threw one to either side.

The two stones shot out at once, striking the forest to the left and right and causing the leaves there to shake violently.

Figures stirred within the black smoke as Zan Bai and the others sprang out. But Hagon and Yuan Ming were already gone from the lakeshore. Only three swaying thickets remained, making it impossible to tell which direction the two had taken.

Zan Bai's eyes brimmed with fury as he clenched his fists.

Yuan Ming followed Hagon and fled for seven or eight li. Only after seeing no one pursuing them did they stop.

"Hagon, who were those people?" Yuan Ming panted several times before asking.

"Those people are from the Green Wolf Gang. Like us, they are all Furred Beast Slaves. Their leader is called Wubao. He has gathered over a dozen people into a gang that specializes in robbing others," Hagon said, leaning against an old tree.

"They do not dare hunt vicious beasts themselves, yet they set their sights on others. How are they any different from bandits?" Yuan Ming said disdainfully.

"In truth, quite a few people form gangs like theirs. Most choose to hunt beasts together; only a minority engage in robbery. Yuan Ming, with your skill and courage, you might as well find a group to join. It would make things easier." Hagon sighed.

"And you? Are you part of some group too?" Yuan Ming raised his brows and asked.

Hagon shook his head. "I joined one before, then left."

"Why?" Yuan Ming asked in confusion.

"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Once a group forms, there will inevitably be a leader and ranks. When hunting beasts, there are indeed greater advantages, and casualties can be avoided to a greater extent. But when it comes time to share the spoils, things are not so harmonious. The leader and his close followers naturally receive more. As for everyone else... heh." Hagon did not finish, but Yuan Ming already understood.

"Then it seems fighting alone is better." Yuan Ming smiled.

"No matter what, surviving here is no easy matter. Let me remind you: do not trust others too easily, and do not help others too easily either. When people are truly driven into the mountains' end and rivers' limit, there is nothing they cannot do." Hagon's expression was somewhat complicated.

"I have my own principles in how I act." Yuan Ming nodded and smiled.

Hearing this, Hagon did not say anything more.

After the two rested for a while, Yuan Ming suddenly asked, "Hagon, what was that thing you threw earlier that released so much smoke?"

"That thing is called a Smoke Bomb. It was made by those Registered Disciples of Jade Luo Cave, and it is very useful when fleeing for your life," Hagon replied.

"A Smoke Bomb? Something made by Jade Luo Cave's Registered Disciples—how did you get it?" Yuan Ming asked doubtfully.

"What, you haven't been to Toad Valley yet?" Hagon asked, somewhat surprised.

"No." Yuan Ming shook his head.

"Fine, then. I happen to have nothing to do today, so I'll take you there to broaden your horizons. It's a place for bartering. You can trade things taken from vicious beasts, or use Blood Food directly, in exchange for things you need." Hagon smiled, rose from the ground, and brushed the dirt from his backside.

"Isn't that just a market street? There's actually a place like that here?" Yuan Ming's curiosity was greatly piqued.

"It was set up by some Jade Luo Cave disciples. Sometimes they need things that people like us risk our lives to obtain from vicious beasts too. Come on, it isn't far from here. We can get there in half an hour." Hagon grinned.