Hunting Beasts

"An entire nest of Exotic Beasts in the mine?"

Chen Han smiled faintly. "What a load of crap."

Chen Han had already figured out most of what was going on. Someone really was trying to lure him out from the shadows.

This seemingly lucrative assignment had been a trap set for him. If he'd gone, he'd probably have ended up as dog food, bones and all.

Chen Han was both relieved and worried. He was relieved that he hadn't been tempted by the profit and fallen into the trap, but worried that someone really was watching him.

And that person had considerable influence and power. They could even sway the city's wealthy and powerful Lineages.

The disparity in strength was enormous. If they caught him slipping, he'd be as good as dead. A minor Transformation Force Martial Artist like him had no chance of surviving.

Despite being in such a predicament, Chen Han wasn't the least bit flustered.

"You want to find me, catch me slipping? Then I simply won't show myself. No matter how many hooks you bait, I won't bite."

"Go on, amuse yourselves..."

Thinking this, Chen Han left.

He didn't leave the city, however. Instead, he headed toward Chen Mansion.

His only weakness at the moment was Shen Yue's family. If those people reached out to them, it would be a disaster.

Outside Chen Mansion, Chen Han stood before four members of the Lineage guarding the gate. He said nothing, yet his presence was oppressive.

The four guards weren't intimidated in the slightest. The Chen Family stood alongside the Black Mountain Gang and the city's powerful Lineages as one of the three great forces. Who would dare provoke them lightly?

"What do you want?"

One of the guards immediately asked in a low voice.

Chen Han remembered him. When he'd brought Shen Yue's family to Chen Mansion, this man had given him a hard time. Later, Chen Han had broken one of his legs. After it was set, the guard had gone out of his way to avoid him.

Whenever he saw Chen Han from a distance, he'd take another route. It always put Chen Han in a good mood.

"I've come to see the Chen Family steward. Sorry for the trouble, but please inform him."

The guards exchanged glances. The last person to come asking for the steward had been Chen Han, and they still remembered that visit vividly.

They couldn't help feeling a little uneasy this time around.

"Please wait here, sir. I'll go inform him right away."

Chen Han said nothing, seemingly granting permission with his silence. His manner was simple and imposing.

The other guards noticed, and a trace of respect crept into their expressions.

Before long, the gate opened. The Old Steward came out, walking with a slight limp, supported by a young woman. Chen Han recognized her: Chen Huaiyu, the Lineage beauty who got along well with Shen Yue.

"And you are...?"

Chen Han spoke in a different voice. "Old sir, would you mind stepping aside for a moment?"

The Old Steward narrowed his eyes and looked the man up and down. A black gauze hat concealed his face, but his build was well-proportioned. He was clearly a martial artist.

"Whatever you have to say, you can say it here. These are all my own people. There's no need for concern."

"Chen Han asked me to pass on a message."

At Chen Han's words, the guards were startled. The clan head had been at his wit's end over Chen Han's disappearance. At last, there was news of him.

The Old Steward's expression grew serious, and he stepped closer to the messenger.

Chen Han understood. Leaning close to his ear, he whispered, "Old Steward, I can't reveal myself to you just yet.

"I came to let you know I'm safe, and to ask you to look after Shen Yue and her family. I'm worried someone might target them to draw me out."

The Old Steward froze for a moment. He stared at the indistinct face behind the black gauze and fell silent.

A few breaths later, his expression returned to normal. "Understood. You may go."

There was no point in saying more. The Old Steward had probably guessed much of Chen Han's predicament, so he didn't press him.

"Farewell."

With that, Chen Han left without another word.

That day, back in the same cave, Chen Han swallowed the last small piece of the Exotic Beast's heart. After enduring a bout of agony, he began to cultivate.

Time passed, the seasons changed, and before long, heavy snowflakes drifted down from the sky.

That day, the Chen Family organized a beast-hunting expedition because they were running short on Exotic Beast meat.

In the front courtyard of Chen Mansion, a crowd of Chen Family martial artists grumbled, their faces full of resentment. "That damned Red Spider scared off all the Exotic Beasts nearby these past few days."

"Exactly. Red Spider really lives up to its reputation as a scourge. It's not just us—even the other Exotic Beasts give them a wide berth."

"Red Spider reproduces at a terrifying rate. And they always come in swarms. For martial artists like us, running is the only option. There's no way we can hunt them."

"Right. A Red Spider is half a person's height and carries deadly poison. One-on-one, we'd have a chance. But against a swarm, we wouldn't stand a chance."

"Silence!"

At that moment, Chen Shanhe, an elder of the Lineage, barked out a command.

His voice rang out loud and clear. As a first-step Martialist and the head of the Lineage, he carried natural authority. One word was enough to quiet every member of the Lineage present.

"What are you all fussing about? It's just a mission to hunt Exotic Beasts. What's there to make such a racket over? I've spoiled you lot rotten!"

In truth, the Chen Family sent people out to hunt Exotic Beasts every year, and there were plenty of benefits to doing so.

First, it honed the younger generation, teaching them the meaning of blood and grit, and what martial arts were truly about. They couldn't spend all day throwing fancy punches at wooden dummies, companions, and sisters.

Martial arts were, and always would be, a means of killing.

Second, it eased the financial burden on the Lineage to some extent. There was no need to say more about that.

This time, however, the Chen Family really was running short on Exotic Beast meat. In fact, they weren't the only ones. Many of the city's martial arts schools faced the same problem.

The Red Spiders were growing in number. The nearby Exotic Beasts had either been eaten or driven away. The few remaining ones were hiding.

That was why the city's supply of Exotic Beast meat could no longer meet demand.

But an even bigger problem was looming. The situation at the front lines was bleak, and some predicted that the entire front could collapse in less than six months.

They were stockpiling Exotic Beast meat not only to ensure the younger generation could continue practicing martial arts, but also to prepare for a future flight to another city.

The scale of this hunt was unprecedented in the Chen Family's history. Nearly sixty percent of the Lineage had been mobilized.

"Huaiyu, what do Exotic Beasts look like? I bet they're really fierce."

Shen Yue stood shoulder to shoulder with Chen Huaiyu. After practicing martial arts for some time, Shen Yue had changed considerably. Her face was thinner, her figure more balanced, and her complexion was often rosy and full of vitality.

She had excellent talent and a strong constitution. In her second month of training, she had successfully broken through to Bright Force. Now, she was a genuine Bright Force Martial Artist.

She was only joining the hunt to broaden her horizons and help with the support work. She didn't need to face the Exotic Beasts on the front lines.

Shen Yue suddenly grew curious and asked Chen Huaiyu.

"Exotic Beasts? This young lady happens to know a thing or two about them. Some eat meat, while others are herbivores. Most of them specialize in eating humans and their own kind. They're absolutely savage.

"But some are different. They only eat ordinary animals, fruits, or vegetables. They might even get frightened and run away when they see people.

"Take the Red-Tailed Wolf raised by the Xuanyuan Family. It's never been interested in people. It only likes eating cattle.

"Of course, most man-eating Exotic Beasts are stronger than the herbivores, though that's not an absolute rule. There are exceptions now and then."