Shadow Wolf Habitat

Jiang Donghua frowned slightly, his gaze moving back and forth between Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting. In the end, he could not help asking.

"How did you two siblings end up provoking those three guys?"

Liu Yuting pursed her lips, confusion flashing through her eyes as she spoke softly.

"We don't know either. They suddenly came looking for us today."

Liu Mingyu shook his head as well, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Logically, we haven't been at the academy for long, and we haven't offended anyone. But they seemed to be deliberately picking a fight."

Jiang Donghua stroked his chin and gave Liu Yuting a thoughtful glance. Then the corner of his mouth lifted as he said half-jokingly.

"Could it be because Yuting is too pretty and attracts too much attention?"

At his words, a blush instantly spread across Liu Yuting's fair cheeks. Embarrassed and annoyed, she shot Jiang Donghua a glare.

"Brother Donghua, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Liu Mingyu could not help laughing too, but he quickly reined it in and shook his head.

"It shouldn't be that simple. Those three were clearly targeting us, and they mentioned Black Iron City. They seemed to know our background."

Jiang Donghua nodded, a trace of chill flashing through his eyes.

"Looks like someone has their eyes on you."

The three fell silent for a moment, unable to make sense of it.

Just then, Liu Mingyu glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention. He mysteriously leaned close to Jiang Donghua's ear and lowered his voice.

"Brother Donghua, interested in making a little money?"

Jiang Donghua had still been thinking about Chen Xiao and the other two. The moment he heard "little money," his eyes lit up. Like a starving wolf spotting meat, he whipped around and stared at Liu Mingyu.

"How much?"

Liu Mingyu grinned.

"A few hundred gold coins, with no upper limit."

"Jia Nan Academy has assessment missions!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Jiang Donghua's eyes, and a smile curled his lips.

"Assessment missions? Interesting. You siblings sure know how to pick your timing when asking me for help."

Liu Yuting took a yellowed piece of parchment from her clothes and carefully unfolded it.

"This is the magical beast distribution map issued by the academy. The areas marked with red circles all contain magical beasts around the Beginner Fighter level. Most of them should only be at Level 8-9 Qi Condensation."

Liu Mingyu added.

"Each person only needs to kill five to complete the mission, but..."

With a bitter smile, he pointed at several darker markings on the map.

"Magical beasts with the strength of an Intermediate Fighter occasionally appear in these places. If the two of us run into one, we'll probably have to pay a bloody price."

"Got it!"

Jiang Donghua slapped his thigh, Fire-attribute Battle Qi unconsciously swirling in his palm.

"You want me to be your bodyguard?"

"Not a bodyguard!"

Liu Yuting hurriedly waved her hands, the tips of her ears reddening slightly.

"It's... it's teaming up and working together. According to the Academy Rules, a three-person team can share mission rewards. And if there are two Dou Qi cultivators, they have to find a Dou Zhe to hold the line."

Liu Mingyu took three bronze badges out of his Storage Ring.

"Look, we even prepared the team tokens. After completing the mission, we'll split the profits equally among the three of us."

Jiang Donghua played with a badge, then suddenly grinned.

"Three-way split? Isn't that too formal? Do I, Jiang Donghua, look like the kind of person who takes advantage of others?"

He deliberately dragged out his words.

"Four-three-three. I get four, and you each get three, considering I'll be taking the risk..."

"Deal!"

Liu Mingyu agreed without hesitation, a sly glint flashing through his eyes.

"But there's one condition. If we find rare materials, I get first pick."

"Brother!"

Liu Yuting stamped her foot anxiously.

"How can you do that?"

"No problem!"

Jiang Donghua waved a hand, then suddenly lowered his voice.

"Besides, don't you have a Storage Ring? It wouldn't hurt to, ahem, pick up a few Medicinal Herbs along the way, would it?"

The three exchanged smiles, all understanding without another word.

"Hahaha!"

Jiang Donghua laughed heartily.

"Then what are we waiting for? You can't be careless when it comes to making money! Let's go now!"

Jia Nan Academy's D-Class Dormitory Area was silent.

Chen Xiao led Chu Feibai and Liu Shiqing to kick open Liu Mingyu's door with great force, only to find that Liu Mingyu was nowhere inside. The bed was so neatly made that it looked as though no one had ever slept there.

"Damn it!"

Chen Xiao punched the doorframe, sending wood chips flying.

"Where the hell did that bastard run off to?"

The dozen or so people in the dormitory could sense the aura of Dou Zhes emanating from those who had come looking for Liu Mingyu, so they frantically shook their heads.

Chu Feibai circled the room once, then suddenly kicked over a wooden stool.

"Did he know we were coming to cause him trouble today?"

Liu Shiqing slowly fanned himself, his eyes sweeping across the desk.

"Interesting."

The three looked at one another. Chen Xiao's face was so dark it seemed ready to drip water.

He gritted his teeth and said.

"We'll find him tomorrow! I refuse to believe he can keep hiding forever!"

Jiang Donghua and the other two passed through the last patch of brush, and the sight before them brought all three to a halt.

"What?"

Liu Yuting's little mouth fell open, and the ice crystal pendant in her hand nearly dropped to the ground.

The open clearing ahead was packed with people.

There were burly men wielding giant axes, girls holding daggers, and even several students wearing Jia Nan Academy uniforms.

Campfires rose one after another, lighting the entire woodland as brightly as day.

"Damn it!"

Jiang Donghua slapped his forehead.

"This isn't a hunting ground. It's practically a marketplace!"

Liu Mingyu unfolded the map with a bitter smile, repeatedly checking the markings with his finger.

"That's right. This is the Shadow Wolf Habitat marked by the academy."

At that moment, a burst of laughter came from nearby.

Five Qi Condensation-stage youths were dancing around a small puddle, where a shivering gray rabbit was soaking in the water.

"Look! I caught a magical beast!"

One yellow-haired boy shouted excitedly.

"Bullshit! That's obviously an ordinary rabbit!"

His companion immediately exposed him.

Jiang Donghua's eye twitched.

"With this crowd, forget an Intermediate Fighter-level magical beast. Even a Dou Shi-level one would probably get beaten to death by the mob."

Liu Yuting suddenly tugged on her brother's sleeve.

"Brother, look over there~"

Following her gaze, they saw that every spot with even the faintest trace of a magical beast had already been thoroughly turned upside down.

"Damn it!"

Liu Mingyu immediately pulled his sister down into a crouch.

Just then, a long wolf howl suddenly rang out from deep within the distant forest, carrying a hint of desolation.

Then, howls rose one after another from a farther valley, as though calling out in response to each other.

"Did you hear that?"

Jiang Donghua suddenly lowered his voice.

"The wolf pack is migrating toward the deeper gorge."

Liu Yuting looked worriedly at the map.

"But that area is already beyond the safety zone designated by the academy."

The three exchanged glances. Jiang Donghua suddenly flashed a grin, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"So, how about taking a big gamble?"

A trace of struggle flashed through Liu Mingyu's eyes. But when he saw his sister's expectant gaze and touched the equipment in his Storage Ring, he finally nodded heavily.

"Let's go!"

They quietly withdrew from the crowd and headed in the opposite direction from everyone else.

Under the moonlight, the three figures gradually vanished into the depths of the pitch-black forest, leaving behind the noisy crowd still arguing red-faced over a rabbit.