Man-Fiend

"Yuan Ming, Wubao, step forward," Elder Huohuo commanded without preamble.

Wubao was the first to step out of the ranks, a look of pride on his face.

Yuan Ming, however, frowned and followed a step behind, the two displaying distinctly different attitudes.

The other Furred Beast Slaves sighed enviously at the sight.

"You've been chosen, so you'll depart immediately," Elder Huohuo said.

"Thank you," said Chen Wan, the woman in the red dress, cupping her fist in thanks.

The other three also bid farewell and then, taking Yuan Ming and Wubao with them, set off towards the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

"During this period, you must continue hunting. If you encounter any Registered Disciples, you must not resist their summons. Those who disobey... I trust you won't," Elder Huohuo added as a final remark before dismissing everyone.

The Registered Disciples walked ahead at a brisk pace. Yuan Ming and Wubao followed closely, more like escorts than guides.

However, once the group passed through the canyon and officially entered the territory of Fierce Beasts, they stopped.

Chen Wan took out a beast-skin map from her robes, spread it on a rock, and called Yuan Ming and Wubao over. "Which of you two has been here?" she asked.

Her slender, fair fingers pointed to a basin deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Wubao studied it for a moment, a look of confusion appearing in his eyes.

They, as Furred Beast Slaves, had always gone wherever they pleased, only marking the path back. Maps were useless to him.

Yuan Ming, on the other hand, frowned and studied it intently, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Can you understand it?" Chen Wan asked.

Wubao looked troubled and could only shake his head. Seeing Yuan Ming's demeanor, he couldn't help but curse inwardly, "What's with the act?"

"Junior Sister Chen Wan, I brought them here to fulfill a duty. Did you really expect them to be of any help?" Kun Tu grinned and said, shaking his head.

"We are currently at the canyon entrance, which is here. The furthest I've been is this Purple Bamboo Forest. It's at least a two-day journey from the place you're asking about," Yuan Ming's voice rang out as soon as he finished speaking.

Hearing this, Chen Wan, who had already lost hope,'s eyes lit up. She continued, "The distance from here to the Purple Bamboo Forest you mentioned, how long will it take to get there?"

"If we avoid most Fierce Beasts and minimize any delays from combat, it will take five days," Yuan Ming replied.

As he spoke, he raised his head and his gaze shifted, noticing that the Alchemy Hall disciple named Bada's lowered gaze was subtly fixed on Chen Wan's slender, shapely legs.

This guy looks shy, but he's not exactly honest.

Although Yuan Ming disdained him inwardly, he didn't pry or expose him.

"If we ride spirit beasts, it won't take five days," Kun Tu interjected.

With that, he raised his hand and patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist. A ray of green light shot out from the opening and landed not far away, revealing a massive green wolf with a body length of about twenty feet.

The wolf was powerfully muscled, its eyes glowing with a faint dark red hue. A cluster of white fur grew at the center of its forehead, and its protruding mouth revealed two sharp, long teeth, making it appear both ferocious and mighty.

"Junior Sister Chen Wan, my Green Wolf is a Rank 1 Upper-tier Fierce Beast. Not only is it extremely fast, but it's also very comfortable and stable to ride. Why don't you ride with me?" Kun Tu asked with a smile, extending an invitation.

Upon hearing this, before Chen Wan could reply, Yang Chan, who was from the Beast Taming Hall like Kun Tu, frowned immediately, clearly displeased with her senior brother's overture.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother, but it's not necessary. I have my own spirit beast," Chen Wan replied calmly, rejecting him plainly.

With that, she raised her hand and patted the spirit beast pouch at her waist. A green light immediately shot out, transforming into a green-skinned rhinoceros about twelve feet long.

Compared to Kun Tu's Green Wolf, this green-skinned rhinoceros was considerably smaller, but it wore a layer of metal armor on its head and neck, and a saddle-like leather seat was mounted on its back, looking very comfortable.

"So Junior Sister's spirit beast is so well-equipped. My apologies for my forwardness," Kun Tu said, seemingly unfazed, and even apologized first.

Following that, Yang Chan also patted her spirit beast pouch, summoning a fiery red python about seventy feet long. She leaped onto the python and reclined against it.

The fiery red python immediately raised its head, supporting her graceful form.

Bada also quickly summoned his spirit beast, a massive black-furred wild boar. Its size and appearance were inferior to the first three, but its two snow-white tusks, like long halberds, clearly indicated it was no ordinary Fierce Beast.

"Senior Brother Kun Tu, it would be inconvenient for us two women to carry them. How about you and Junior Brother Bada each take one?" Chen Wan said, glancing at Yuan Ming and Wubao.

Kun Tu frowned upon hearing this, and Bada also looked up, his eyes full of resistance.

"Junior Sister, they are merely lowly Furred Beast Slaves. How can they be worthy of riding my Senior Brother's spirit beast?" Yang Chan exclaimed indignantly, immediately retorting.

"We need them to guide us. Without being carried by spirit beasts, our speed will be much slower, making it not worth the effort," Chen Wan said unhurriedly.

"The adults are right, we are not worthy of mounts like spirit beasts," Wubao quickly said, his face full of apprehension.

At this moment, Bada also spoke, "Senior Sister Chen Wan, they are Furred Beast Slaves and have undergone the Furring Technique. They should be able to run almost as fast as spirit beasts, so there's no need to worry too much."

Hearing this, Chen Wan had no choice but to give in. She turned to Yuan Ming and asked, "Can you keep up?"

Yuan Ming did not want to delay here, so he nodded.

Although he envied the spirit beasts of these Registered Disciples, he was more concerned about how to complete the mission and obtain as much Blood Food as possible as a reward.

"Alright then, without further ado, let's set off immediately," Chen Wan said.

As the guide, Yuan Ming was the first to use the Furring Technique, transforming into a White Ape and galloping into the depths of the forest.

"I'll cover the rear to prevent any accidents," Kun Tu said, glancing at the others.

Chen Wan did not hesitate and immediately urged her green-skinned rhinoceros to catch up. Bada followed closely, and Yang Chan quickly followed suit.

Once the group had disappeared from sight, Kuntu, riding his Green Wolf, scanned Wubao with his gaze.

"Yuan Ming doesn't seem like a pushover. Can we bring him under our wing?" Kuntu asked.

Wubao's heart trembled slightly at the question. He quickly replied, "Master, this fellow is extremely stubborn and not someone who can be subservient to others. I tried to recruit him before, but not only did he refuse, he also killed many of our men."

"Forget it. Beast slaves are a dime a dozen if we want them. I'll help you get rid of him this time, but you'll have to increase your monthly tribute by ten percent," Kuntu said, his brow furrowing before he continued.

"Thank you, Master," Wubao immediately responded.

"I cultivate your Green Wolf Gang and Hyena Hall to do my bidding, not to cause me trouble. This kind of thing is a one-off. If it happens again, you and Jin Kun will be replaced," Kuntu said, then spurred his Green Wolf and galloped away.

Wubao nodded repeatedly, cold sweat already drenching his back. He quickly used the Furring Technique, transforming into a green-furred wolfman, and raced after them.

It was late autumn, and the night had fallen.

A blazing bonfire crackled in the forest, with Kuntu and three others seated around it, eating freshly roasted meat.

Their four spirit beasts lay coiled behind their masters, forming a protective circle around them.

Yuan Ming and Wubao, the two Furred Beast Slaves, were naturally not qualified to be with them and were assigned to guard duty further out.

The night breeze blew gently. Yuan Ming sat cross-legged on an old tree, his eyes closed, meditating and cultivating.

He was very familiar with this area. A Green Scaled Lizard had originally lived here, but he had killed it last month, and no other Fierce Beasts would settle here for some time.

Moreover, with the protection of those four spirit beasts, their vigilance was practically unnecessary.

Just then, Yuan Ming's ear twitched. He immediately opened his eyes and scanned the dark forest, then saw a black shadow darting through the bushes.

He immediately flipped off the tree and chased after the shadow.

However, before he could take a few steps, the black shadow ahead suddenly stopped and turned to face him.

Yuan Ming was startled and immediately halted, facing off against it.

The creature stood nearly eight feet tall, its build resembling a human's. It was covered in fur, even its face, looking like an upright, white-furred ape.

But its eyes were blood-red, reflecting a bloodthirsty gleam even in the darkness, sending a chill down Yuan Ming's spine.

At that moment, a commotion also erupted from behind Yuan Ming.

"Damn it, I'm caught in a pincer attack," Yuan Ming's heart tightened, and he felt his situation was dire.

"Over there." Just then, a woman's voice called out.

Immediately after, several figures rushed out from behind and arrived beside Yuan Ming. It was Chen Wan and the others.

Yuan Ming breathed a sigh of relief. When he looked back at the monster, he found the area in front of him empty; it had vanished.

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

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

"Where is that monster?" Upon hearing this, Kuntu was not afraid but delighted and asked quickly.

Chen Wan and Yang Chan's eyes also lit up, their gazes focusing on Yuan Ming with apparent surprise.

"It ran away. It was just ahead, but when you chased after it, the thing fled," Yuan Ming said, blinking.

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

Yuan Ming hadn't noticed which direction the monster went, so he casually pointed in one direction and said, "It seemed to go that way."

Without a word, Kuntu gave chase.

His spirit beast, the Green Wolf, also soared over their heads and pursued in that direction.

Yang Chan also immediately followed.

"Not using the Furring Technique and rashly pursuing a Man-Fiend, are you seeking death?" Chen Wan rebuked Yuan Ming, then quickly followed.

Bada, riding a black-furred wild boar, sneered at Yuan Ming and brought up the rear.

"Man-Fiend? What's that?"

Yuan Ming completely ignored Chen Wan's scolding, his curiosity piqued by the term "Man-Fiend" she had used.