Just playing, you took it seriously?

Although Huang Qian's backpack wasn't large, she had packed quite a lot, even bringing a sleeping bag.

"You sleep first, I'll stand guard!" Lin Chen looked at Huang Qian.

Huang Qian nodded slightly. After climbing the mountain for almost an entire afternoon, she wasn't like Lin Chen and was extremely tired. Just as she was about to sleep, several dark figures suddenly appeared in the woods.

"What is that..."

Lin Chen's gaze shifted to the woods, a sharp glint flashing in the depths of his eyes. These dark figures were actually humanoid in appearance, not strange beasts at all.

Huang Qian, who had been about to sleep, stood up as she saw the figures approaching and looked at Lin Chen beside her.

"Don't worry, I'm here!" Lin Chen smiled calmly.

"That's great, we finally see people!" Just then, a voice came from not far away, and then several young men and women appeared within Lin Chen and Huang Qian's sight.

Judging by their appearance, they seemed to be fellow hiking enthusiasts like Huang Qian.

"Two handsome guys and beautiful ladies, we're also here for hiking and accidentally got lost. We were wondering if we could rest here for the night and leave with you tomorrow." The leading young man looked at Lin Chen.

"Of course!" Lin Chen smiled calmly.

The young man quickly gestured for his three companions to put down their backpacks, and then looked at Lin Chen and Huang Qian, saying, "Handsome guy, beautiful lady, where are you from? Why are only the two of you hiking together?"

"We're from Qingzhou. We had a few companions, but they've already left," Lin Chen replied calmly.

The young man and his three companions chatted with Lin Chen intermittently. Lin Chen didn't hide anything, and they seemed to be getting along well.

"Lin Chen, are they really hiking enthusiasts?"

Huang Qian looked at Lin Chen beside her, her brow furrowed, and whispered, "I just feel like something's off about them."

Huh?

A strange expression flashed across Lin Chen's face. He hadn't expected Huang Qian to notice that these people were acting strangely. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's off about them?"

Huang Qian glanced at the four young people, thought for a moment, and then said, "They seem too clean!"

When hiking in this weather, one would inevitably sweat, and even get dirty with mud. However, the four young people showed no signs of this, as if they had just washed up.

Lin Chen couldn't help but nod inwardly. This was indeed a significant clue. Although Huang Qian wasn't a Cultivator, she was meticulous and, having been attacked by 异兽, she was observing more carefully.

"I originally wanted to chat with you all for a while longer. After all, it's rare to meet people to talk to in these desolate mountains and forests," Lin Chen said, looking at the four young people with a slight sigh. "However, my companion has already seen through you. If I were to continue playing dumb, it would seem rather deliberate."

"Handsome guy, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand," the young man looked at Lin Chen with confusion.

"Keep pretending!"

Lin Chen looked at the young man and chuckled, "I saw through you non-humans at a glance. I was just playing along, and you actually took it seriously?"

As soon as he said this, the expressions of the four young people changed drastically. The leading young man said coldly, "How dare you play tricks on us! Attack together and capture him to present to my master!"

My master?

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback. He had initially thought these four were just stray ghosts and planned to kill them to harvest some Origin. He hadn't expected them to have a master behind them.

It's good that they have a master! That means more Origin!

"Don't resist. I'm here, so you'll be fine!" Lin Chen quickly whispered in Huang Qian's ear.

Huang Qian was slightly stunned but nodded. At the same time, the four ghosts attacked, instantly subduing the ordinary Lin Chen and Huang Qian.

The leading young man looked at the subdued Lin Chen and sneered, "You said you saw through me at a glance. I thought you were so powerful, but you're just an ordinary person?"

"Take them away and present them to my master!" the young man said with a cold smile, then had two of the ghosts carry Lin Chen and Huang Qian, heading deeper into Fire Forest Mountain.

The four ghosts were not strong, but they moved as if on flat ground in the mountains. Soon, led by the ghosts, Lin Chen and Huang Qian arrived at the foot of a cliff. Below the cliff, a ferocious tiger, over a zhang long, was lying down.

In the moonlight, beside the tiger's den, one could vaguely see torn clothing and even broken bones and remains.

Huang Qian looked at the bloody backpack on the ground, her face turning pale. She whispered, "It's Xiao Lian's backpack!"

"Are there the backpacks of the other two people?" Lin Chen asked.

"Yes!"

After examining the remains on the ground, Huang Qian quickly confirmed that Brother Hui's and the other person's backpacks were also there. It was clear that all three had become food for the ferocious tiger.

At this moment, Huang Qian felt very fortunate that she had chosen to stick with Lin Chen. Otherwise, if she had followed Brother Hui and the other two, she would probably already be the tiger's prey.

The young man looked at the ferocious tiger lying in its den and said cautiously, "Master, we've found two fresh ingredients!"

Just then, the ferocious tiger suddenly opened its eyes, and a terrifying aura erupted from its body. Its gaze fixed on Lin Chen and Huang Qian.

"Not bad!" The ferocious tiger nodded slightly, seemingly very satisfied with the spoils brought by the four young men.

"You can talk?" Huang Qian's face was full of disbelief.

Although she knew the ferocious tiger before her was a monstrous beast, Huang Qian had never imagined that it could speak. Had it become a spirit?

"Ignorant humans!" The ferocious tiger glanced at Huang Qian with disdain in its eyes.

It wasn't a secret in the cultivation world that Rank 3 or higher monsters could speak human language. However, for ordinary people, the ability to speak human language was undoubtedly equivalent to mythical spirits and monsters.

"Master, should we enjoy them now?" the young man asked the ferocious tiger.

"Wait a moment..."

Just then, Lin Chen suddenly spoke, looking at the ferocious tiger before him with a curious expression, "I heard that more than one strange beast has come to Fire Forest Mountain this time. I'd like to ask, where do you all gather?"

"Who are you? How do you know about us?" Fierce Tiger's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of wariness in the depths of his eyes.

The youth before him knew about 异兽, and even that they were gathered at Fire Forest Mountain. He was likely no ordinary person, yet he couldn't sense any Cultivator aura from Lin Chen.

In such a situation, Lin Chen's strength and methods were likely superior to his!

"I think you'd better answer my question!"

Lin Chen smiled faintly and moved. The four Ghosts beside him turned into fireballs, and at the same time, his figure had already appeared before Fierce Tiger.

The four Ghosts instantly turned to ash. Lin Chen looked at Fierce Tiger before him and spoke again, "Now, can you answer my question?"

"Die!"

Fierce Tiger roared in anger. He swung his massive tiger claws, directly attacking Lin Chen. However, facing Fierce Tiger's assault, Lin Chen showed no intention of resisting.

Seeing Lin Chen seemingly freeze in place, Huang Qian's face changed drastically. She exclaimed, "Lin Chen!"

"Crack~"

The massive tiger claw descended. With a crack, the claw broke off. White bone pierced through the tiger's hide, and bright red blood flowed.