Human Fiend

"Yuan Ming, Wubao, step forward." Without another word, Elder Huohuo barked the order.

Wubao was the first to leave the ranks, his face brimming with pride.

Yuan Ming, however, frowned and stepped out a beat later. Their attitudes could not have been more different.

The other Furred Beast Slaves sighed one after another at the sight, filled with envy.

"The choice has been made. Set out at once," Elder Huohuo said.

"Many thanks." Chen Wan, the woman in red, clasped her fists in thanks.

The other three also took their leave, then led Yuan Ming and Wubao toward the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

"During this time, you are to continue hunting as well. Should you encounter a registered disciple, you must not refuse if summoned. Those who defy orders... I trust none of you will do so." Elder Huohuo added one final remark before dismissing everyone.

The few Registered Disciples walked ahead at a brisk pace. Yuan Ming and Wubao hurried after them, looking more like attendants than guides.

However, once they crossed the gorge and formally entered the region where fierce beasts roamed, those people stopped.

Chen Wan took out a beast-hide map from her robes, spread it over a stone, and called Yuan Ming and the other over. "You two, has either of you been here before?"

Her slender, fair finger pointed at a basin deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Wubao studied it carefully for a while, but confusion surfaced in his eyes.

These Furred Beast Slaves had always simply gone wherever they happened to go, at most remembering the route back. A map was useless in his hands; he could not make heads or tails of it.

Yuan Ming, on the other hand, frowned as he examined it closely, deep in thought.

"Can you read it?" Chen Wan asked.

Wubao looked troubled and could only shake his head. Seeing Yuan Ming's manner, though, he could not help cursing inwardly, What are you putting on an act for?

"Junior Sister Chen Wan, I only brought them along to make a show of completing the assignment. Did you really expect them to be of help?" Kuntu grinned and shook his head.

"We are currently at the entrance to the gorge, right here. The furthest I have ever gone is this patch of purple bamboo forest. The place you asked about is still at least two days' journey from there." As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Ming's voice rang out.

Hearing this, Chen Wan, who had already given up hope, had her eyes light up. She continued, "How long will it take to reach the purple bamboo forest you mentioned from here?"

"If we avoid most fierce beasts and do our best not to get delayed by fighting, we can get there in five days," Yuan Ming said.

As he spoke, he raised his head and shifted his gaze aside, only to see Bada, the Alchemy Hall disciple, lowering his eyes as though they were unintentionally lingering on Chen Wan's long jade-like legs.

The fellow looked shy enough, but he was not exactly an honest man.

Though Yuan Ming despised him inwardly, he did not meddle by exposing him.

"If we ride spirit beasts, it will not take five days," Kuntu said.

With that, he raised a hand and slapped the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist. A streak of green light immediately flew from its opening and landed nearby, revealing a massive green wolf nearly twenty feet long.

The wolf's muscles were full and powerful, while its eyes glimmered with a faint dark-red hue. A tuft of white fur grew at the center of its brow, and two sharp, long fangs protruded beyond its jutting muzzle, making it look both savage and imposing.

"Junior Sister Chen Wan, my Green Wolf is a high-grade first-tier fierce beast. Not only is it extremely fast, it is also smooth and steady to ride. Why not ride with me?" Kuntu invited her with a broad smile.

Before Chen Wan could answer, Yang Chan, who like Kuntu was from the Beast Taming Hall, immediately knitted her brows, clearly displeased by her senior brother Kuntu's overture.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother, but there is no need. I have my own spirit beast." Chen Wan calmly declined.

With that, she raised a hand and patted the Spirit Beast Bag at her waist. Green light immediately flew out and transformed into a green-skinned rhinoceros over twelve feet long.

Though this green-skinned rhinoceros was much smaller than Kuntu's Green Wolf, metal armor covered its head and neck, while a leather seat like a saddle had been fitted onto its back. It looked exceedingly comfortable.

"So Junior Sister has arranged her spirit beast so thoughtfully. It was this senior brother who was presumptuous." Kuntu appeared wholly unconcerned and instead apologized first.

Immediately afterward, Yang Chan also slapped her Spirit Beast Bag, summoning a crimson python some seventy feet long. With a leap, she landed atop the serpent and reclined against it.

The crimson python immediately raised its body, supporting her graceful figure.

Bada promptly summoned his own spirit beast as well: a huge wild boar covered in black hair. Its size and appearance were inferior to the first three, but its two snow-white tusks, like long halberds, made it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary fierce beast.

"Senior Brother Kuntu, we two women cannot conveniently carry them. How about you and Junior Brother Bada each take one?" Chen Wan said, glancing at Yuan Ming and Wubao.

Kuntu frowned at this, while Bada also lifted his head to look over, his eyes full of reluctance.

"Junior Sister, they are merely lowly Furred Beast Slaves. How are they worthy to ride my senior brother's spirit beast?" Yang Chan was especially enraged and immediately rebuked her.

"We need them to guide us. Without spirit beasts carrying them, our speed will be much slower. The loss outweighs the gain," Chen Wan said unhurriedly.

"My lady is right. We are unworthy of mounts such as spirit beasts." Wubao hurriedly spoke with a terrified expression.

At that moment, Bada also said, "Senior Sister Chen Wan, they are Furred Beast Slaves. After using the Furring Technique, they should be able to run about as fast as spirit beasts. There is no need to worry too much."

Hearing this, Chen Wan could only let the matter drop. Turning to Yuan Ming, she asked, "Can you keep up?"

Yuan Ming did not wish to waste time here, so he nodded.

Though he envied the Registered Disciples' spirit beasts somewhat, what concerned him more was how to complete the mission and obtain as much Blood Food as possible for a reward.

"Very well. Time waits for no one. Let us depart at once," Chen Wan said.

As the guide, Yuan Ming was the first to use the Furring Technique. Transforming into a white ape, he raced toward the depths of the mountain forest.

"I will bring up the rear in case anything happens," Kuntu said, glancing at the others.

Chen Wan did not hesitate. She immediately urged her green-skinned rhinoceros forward in pursuit, with Bada close behind and Yang Chan following at once.

Only after the group had run out of sight did Kuntu mount his Green Wolf and sweep his gaze toward Wubao.

"This Yuan Ming does not look like a fool. Can he be brought under our command?" Kuntu asked.

Wubao's heart trembled slightly at the words, and he quickly replied, "Master, this fellow is arrogant and unruly. He is not one to live under another's thumb. I tried recruiting him before, but not only did he refuse, he also killed quite a few of our people."

"Forget it. He is only a beast slave; there are plenty if I want them. This time, I will help you get rid of him. But afterward, the things you offer up each month must increase by ten percent," Kuntu said after frowning.

"Thank you, Master," Wubao immediately said.

"I cultivated your Green Wolf Gang and Hyena Hall so that you could work for me, not cause me trouble. Let this be the last time. If it happens again, you and Jin Kun can let someone else sit in your positions." After saying that, Kuntu drove the Green Wolf away at a gallop.

Wubao nodded repeatedly, cold sweat already pouring down his back. He hurriedly used the Furring Technique as well, transforming into a blue-furred wolfman and racing after him.

It was late autumn, at night.

A roaring bonfire burned in the mountain forest. Kuntu and the other three sat around it, eating freshly roasted meat.

The four spirit beasts lay coiled behind their respective masters, forming a special encirclement that protected them in the center.

Naturally, Yuan Ming and Wubao, the two Furred Beast Slaves, were not qualified to stay with them. They had been stationed farther out on the perimeter to keep watch.

The night wind whispered through the trees. Yuan Ming sat alone on an old tree, cross-legged with his eyes closed, meditating in cultivation.

He knew this region well. A green-scaled lizard had once lingered and made its home here, but he had killed it last month. No other fierce beast would settle here in the short term.

Furthermore, with those four spirit beasts guarding them, there was really no need for the two of them to stand watch.

Just then, Yuan Ming's ear twitched. He immediately opened his eyes and peered into the dark mountain forest, where he saw a black shadow dart swiftly through the bushes.

He immediately flipped down from the tree and chased after the shadow.

Yet before he had taken more than a few steps, he saw the black shadow ahead suddenly stop and sharply turn its head toward him.

Yuan Ming was startled and immediately stopped, facing it in a standoff.

The thing stood nearly eight feet tall and had a body no different from a human's, but it was covered in hair from head to toe, including its face. It looked like an old white-haired ape walking upright.

Yet its eyes were entirely scarlet, reflecting bloodthirsty light even in the night. The sight sent a chill down Yuan Ming's spine.

At that moment, a burst of noisy movement came from behind Yuan Ming as well.

Damn it, I'm being pincered. Yuan Ming's heart tightened, and he immediately sensed that the situation was unfavorable.

"It's over there!" A woman cried out just then.

Immediately afterward, several figures rushed out from behind and arrived at Yuan Ming's side. They were Chen Wan and the others.

Yuan Ming breathed a sigh of relief. But when he turned back toward the monster, he found the space ahead empty. It had already vanished without a trace.

"Why are you here?" Chen Wan immediately asked upon seeing Yuan Ming.

"I was keeping watch outside when I spotted a hairy humanoid monster, so I chased after it," Yuan Ming replied honestly.

"Where is that monster?" At those words, Kuntu was not afraid but delighted, and hurriedly asked.

Chen Wan and Yang Chan's eyes also lit up as they focused on Yuan Ming, looking somewhat pleasantly surprised.

"It ran away. It was right ahead a moment ago, but when you came chasing over, it fled," Yuan Ming said, blinking.

"Which way did it go?" Kuntu immediately asked.

Yuan Ming had not noticed which direction the monster had gone in at the end, so he casually pointed one way. "I think it went that way."

Without another word, Kuntu chased after it.

His Green Wolf also leaped over everyone's heads and pursued in that direction.

Yang Chan immediately followed as well.

"You dared chase a Human Fiend without even using the Furring Technique? Are you looking to die?" Chen Wan scolded Yuan Ming before quickly giving chase too.

Bada rode the Black-haired Boar, sneered at Yuan Ming, and followed at the very end.

"Human Fiend? What is that?"

Yuan Ming directly ignored Chen Wan's reprimand. It was only the Human Fiend she had mentioned that stirred his interest.