Demon Beast Meat: A Great Tonic

"What are you looking at? Run!"

Everyone came to their senses. Now was not the time to agonize over why their Boss/Young Master was so strong.

They hurriedly backed away, then took off running for their lives.

But there was more than one Mine Cave Beast. They would not just stand by and watch everyone escape.

Rustle, rustle.

As he ran, Zhang Ming could feel the number of Mine Cave Beasts behind him steadily increasing.

He swung around.

Black Tiger Descends Mountain.

Roar! With one slash, he shattered a Demon Beast's skull. Its massive body continued forward on inertia and crashed headlong into the path ahead.

Zhang Ming had intended to use the Demon Beast's corpse to block the numerous beasts behind them.

But—

"These beasts can actually climb walls?"

Zhang Ming was incredibly strong and ran at astonishing speed, yet the beasts behind him pursued without mercy.

In the span of a few breaths, they closed in again.

Whoosh, whoosh—

He swiftly dodged several long-tongue attacks. The tongues pierced into the cliff walls, sending dust billowing into the air.

"Damn it."

With a curse, Zhang Ming shouted to the Armored Soldiers ahead.

"Throw me your weapons."

As he spoke, Zhang Ming hurled the Ring-Pommel Great Saber in his hand with all his strength.

Empowered by his terrifying force of ten thousand jin, the saber shot forth at incredible speed.

With a squelch, it plunged straight into a Demon Beast's body.

"Young Master, sir, catch!"

Several Great Sabers were thrown over by the people ahead.

Zhang Ming caught them one by one. Then, using the momentum to steady himself—

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Several Great Sabers flew out, wounding and killing those beasts at terrifying speed.

The lucky beasts merely had their bodies severed; the unlucky ones were struck in the head and died on the spot.

And so—

They raced onward. After throwing several Great Sabers, then several shields, and killing a number of Mine Cave Beasts—

The massive beast corpses clogged the tunnel, finally bringing the charging beast pack pursuing Zhang Ming's group to a halt.

And that gave Zhang Ming and the others a chance to escape.

A short while later.

As they gradually neared the mine cave's exit, Zhang Ming discovered in surprise that the Mine Cave Beast pack had not followed them.

"They can't leave the mine cave?"

"No, perhaps they simply don't want to?"

For no reason, Zhang Ming thought of a common scenario in storybooks.

"Are they guarding some Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure?"

Shaking his head, Zhang Ming thought of something else.

"Not necessarily. Perhaps they hate light. Most of the mine cave is dark year-round, so it would be normal for the beast pack to loathe the light."

Whichever it was, the situation at least allowed Zhang Ming to breathe a sigh of relief.

"All right, stop running. That beast pack didn't come after us."

After he called out to stop them, everyone finally halted, panting heavily.

"Young Master, Young Master, are you all right? You aren't hurt, are you?"

Zhang Ming waved a hand, telling Lin De not to worry.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Not only am I fine, but we gained quite a lot this time."

Lin De lowered his gaze to the enormous Demon Beast corpse his Young Master was dragging in one hand.

"Young Master is amazing. Truly amazing."

Those were not Lin De's flattering words, but a heartfelt response from the depths of his soul.

Zhang Ming ignored Lin De's praise and instead gave an order.

"Once we get out, seal the mine cave entrance for the time being. Send people to guard it day and night, build proper defensive works, and stay alert for any movement from the beasts inside."

"Yes, Young Master. Rest assured."

"Mm."

His gaze shifted to the ten Armored Soldiers ahead, all clad in armor and panting hard.

"Old Fang, everyone, we owe you for this. Once we get out, each of you will receive ten taels of silver."

"Thank you, sir. You honor us too highly. We were the ones who held you back."

"Haha, don't say that. If you work under me, then so long as it is within my power, I will naturally make sure you come safely and leave safely."

"Sir!!"

The ten Armored Soldiers were overwhelmed, tears welling in their eyes.

In all their decades of life, this was the first time anyone had valued them so highly!

"All right, you're all men, so don't get sentimental. But there is one thing I must make clear beforehand."

"Please speak, sir. We will climb mountains of blades and plunge into seas of fire without hesitation."

"Sigh, it's not that serious. I only hope that what happened today rots in your stomachs. You are not to tell anyone—not your family or friends, not even the Government Office. Let it rot in your stomachs!"

Hearing this, everyone answered solemnly, "We swear to Heaven."

"Good."

Zhang Ming nodded with a satisfied smile. "Let's go. We'll leave first."

Several hours later.

Study.

"Young Master, Mine Cave No. 13 has been sealed. People have been arranged to guard it in shifts, and the corresponding defensive works will be completed within the next few days." Lin De stood to one side, bent at the waist as he gave his respectful report.

"Mm. Leave this matter to you, and I can rest easy."

Zhang Ming smiled, then raised a hand to beckon Lin De over.

"Little De, come. Don't stand there. Sit here."

Lin De was somewhat uneasy, but under his Young Master's repeatedly urging gaze, he still sat down.

"Hurry and taste it. This is Demon Beast Meat. I had the kitchen stew it for several hours until it turned tender, and added a whole lot of spices before they managed to suppress that bloody stench."

"They say Demon Beast Meat is a great tonic, greatly beneficial to Warriors like you and me."

"Young Master, this..."

Looking at the huge bowl of fragrant, steaming meat soup on the table, Lin De hesitated.

"What is it?" Zhang Ming's displeased voice came over.

"Do you need me to serve it for you? Go get yourself a bowl and chopsticks. Serve yourself some and have a taste."

"No, no, no, Young Master. I'll do it myself, myself."

As he spoke, Lin De fetched a bowl and chopsticks, then ladled a small bowlful from the meat soup.

Blowing on the oil slick floating atop the soup, Lin De gently took several sips along the rim of the bowl.

Boom.

In an instant, a vast surge of energy exploded within him, coursing through the meridians of his body and spreading throughout him. The Vital Energy that had originally been calm within him now stirred restlessly.

Within a few breaths, Lin De's face flushed red, his essence, energy, and spirit reaching a peak.

"This... this... this is Demon Beast Meat!"

"Just a few sips of soup have such an enormous effect!"

Staring at the small bowl in his hands, at the glistening, fragrant meat soup and several pieces of tender white meat, Lin De was beside himself with excitement.

"Finishing all of this would equal several days of cultivation for me! Young Master, Young Master, this is Demon Beast Meat! What an incredible tonic, an incredible tonic!!!"

Only after seeing that Lin De's "test" proved it was not poisonous did Zhang Ming lift a bowl of meat soup and experience its effects for himself.

"Not bad. If you think it's good, then eat more. There are plenty of Demon Beasts in the mine cave, enough for us to eat for quite some time."

"Young Master, I cannot, I truly cannot. How could servants like us enjoy such a treasure?"

"Hey, Little Dezi, what kind of talk is that?"

"Have you forgotten that when we were children, you promised to protect me and expand the Zhang Family's territory for me?"

Zhang Ming smiled faintly and took a few sips of the merely passable meat soup.

He felt the effects of the Demon Beast meat soup—surging for Lin De, yet only passable for himself.

"But as you are now, merely an ordinary Warrior, you cannot accomplish those things."

"Can... can't I?"

Lin De recalled the scene from several hours earlier, when their group had fled ahead while his Young Master stayed behind to cover them. He felt somewhat ashamed.

"Yes. I can no longer do it."

"Hey, don't worry. Here."

Zhang Ming tossed over a small booklet, the smile on his face gradually fading.

"Change the Cultivation Method you are practicing now. Cultivate this instead."

"What is this?"

Lin De opened the booklet curiously. The first thing he saw were several large words: [Mighty Bull Cultivation Method]. Behind the name were several smaller words: Warrior Chapter.