Second Trial

"A few days ago, an Ice Ape in Cold Wind Pine Forest was tainted by the Abyss. Not only did its body and appearance mutate, but its temperament also became savage and frenzied. Driven by an extreme hunger, it has been constantly slaughtering and preying upon all kinds of living creatures. Hunt it down. That is the content of your second trial."

After Lyle announced the new mission, surprise immediately appeared on Ye Chen's face. He had never expected that his target this time would be connected to that black, viscous, utterly bizarre substance.

"A beast was tainted by... the Abyss?"

Ye Chen muttered in confusion:

"Doesn't the Abyss exist only beyond the border? How could something like this happen?"

"Cold Wind Pine Forest was already close to the border. Perhaps some underground cave tunnel that runs through the earth happened to be discovered by those things that can slip through any crack. But sooner or later, you'll have dealings with the Abyss, so there's no need to dwell on it. Just focus on dealing with your prey."

Lyle answered lightly, then added some more information.

"The journey is quite long, so go with Heiqi."

"Also, although the target this time is a beast that has never experienced a Nightmare, after being contaminated by the Abyss, it has gained another kind of power entirely different from Spirit Art. It is far more dangerous than the fugitive you killed just now."

"And I will not tell you the habits or weaknesses of this kind of Abyss creature. You will have to observe and think through everything yourself. This is also a test of your ability to make judgments on the spot when facing unknown creatures. Do not be careless. Do not relax. Always remember the Hunter's three rules."

With that, Lyle waved a hand, signaling that their conversation was over.

"Understood. I'll head out now."

Ye Chen scratched his head. Although he was still completely baffled by the Abyss's intrusion, he had no intention of pestering his teacher further. After briefly checking the weapons at his waist and the items in his backpack, he strode quickly out of the Old Church.

On the wide, open snowfield outside stood a pitch-black steed with deep eyes and a calm yet extraordinary air about it. It stamped its hooves amid the falling snow and breathed out clouds of steam, as if it had received instructions from its master, Lyle, in advance and was already prepared to receive Ye Chen.

This was Lyle's beloved horse, Heiqi.

Ever since Ye Chen could remember, this great black horse had always accompanied master and disciple. Ye Chen's riding skills had likewise been honed since childhood upon Heiqi's broad back.

Though Heiqi was a horse, to Ye Chen, it was still irreplaceable family, just like Lyle. And Heiqi had watched Ye Chen grow up, so it looked upon him as though he were its own child.

The youth gently stroked the old horse's thick neck, and the old horse affectionately rubbed its head against the youth. For a moment, man and horse appeared extraordinarily close.

"Alright, Cold Wind Pine Forest lies to the west. Heiqi, let's go."

Ye Chen expertly climbed onto the horse's back, took up the reins, and spoke to Heiqi.

Heiqi responded with a deep sound. Though it bore the mannerisms and bearing unique to an old horse, the strength in its legs seemed forever frozen at its peak.

It raised its powerful hooves, then shot down the mountain with Ye Chen like a gale.

The Old Church where Ye Chen had lived for years, along with the surrounding mountain range, was located in the southeastern region of the Eternal Winter Hidden Domain. Cold Wind Pine Forest lay in the southwestern region of the Eternal Winter Hidden Domain.

Although the two were situated at opposite ends of the small world, the distance between them was only several hundred kilometers. Combined with Heiqi's terrifying speed and endurance, Ye Chen arrived at a broad forest path amid howling winds in about three hours.

The snowy forest surrounding him was the site of his second trial—Cold Wind Pine Forest.

"We're here, but how am I supposed to find that Ice Ape in such a massive area?"

Ye Chen sat on horseback, resting a hand against his chin as he thought.

The places where he had previously trained his hunting skills were usually the mountains near the church. Although Ye Chen had learned about Cold Wind Pine Forest through books, he had never visited it himself, so he was unfamiliar with the local terrain.

The reason Lyle had not specified the exact location of this trial was probably because he wanted to see what actions Ye Chen would take to solve the problem when surrounded by the unknown.

However, not long after Ye Chen began considering his next move, a faint rustling suddenly came from the bushes beside the path.

Years of training had ingrained combat instincts into Ye Chen, and he immediately drew the revolver at his waist, already loaded with ammunition.

Yet to his surprise, what emerged from the bushes was not some ferocious beast, but five Frost White people wearing fur coats, carrying hunting rifles on their backs, and holding bows in their hands.

The instant he saw them, Ye Chen pulled up the mask hidden beneath his collar, concealing the lower half of his face.

The long-eared, pale-skinned people who emerged from the bushes had initially worn grave expressions. They held their longbows with arrows nocked, seemingly ready for a fight to the death.

But after realizing that the source of the sound was merely a traveler on horseback, they unconsciously lowered their bows and stared at Ye Chen with puzzled expressions.

They didn't look like bandits. They should be residents of a village near Cold Wind Pine Forest.

Ye Chen studied their expressions and, after assessing the situation, slowly returned his revolver to his coat.

The leading Frost White person stepped forward and observed the masked Ye Chen for quite a while before cautiously asking in Frost White Language:

"I've never seen you in these mountains before. Where are you from, and what are you doing here?"

Faced with the sudden interrogation, Ye Chen did not panic in the slightest. In a calm tone and fluent Frost White Language, he replied:

"I'm a resident of Frost White City. I'm very interested in the ecology of the local Ice Apes and wanted to see them for myself, so I came here to search for traces of them."

Ye Chen lied with calm, natural composure. This polished knack for deception was also a result of his years of training under Lyle, enough to prevent these mountain villagers from spotting the slightest flaw.

But after learning Ye Chen's identity, their expressions still darkened in unison.

What's with that reaction?

Just as Ye Chen was beginning to feel confused, the leading Frost White person immediately shook his head and let out a long sigh, explaining in a hoarse voice:

"Recently, an extremely dangerous giant ape appeared here and turned Cold Wind Pine Forest upside down. The forest is now practically filled with the corpses and remains of creatures it has eaten, and more than a dozen people from our village have been eaten too."

"We all gathered together to hunt that beast in order to stop its rampage."

"So if you, a city dweller who knows nothing about the situation, want to stay alive, you'd better leave this forest before nightfall!"

So that beast tainted by the Abyss has already caused such serious harm.

Ye Chen sighed inwardly, then nodded to the village hunting party that had come to slay the man-eating monster.

"I understand. Then count me in as well."

"Huh?"

The group stared blankly, only to see the youth seated on horseback raise the silver-glinting revolver in his hand and calmly declare:

"I'm a Hunter too. I came here to hunt the ape. Please let me join you and lend you a hand."