Savage Beasts

Su Yan was puzzled. If it was meat, hunting might be necessary, but mountain folk had no shortage of it, even here in the Mountain Market.

Still, since Song Qi had said so, there had to be something special about it.

"The butcher shops there cater specifically to martial artists and wealthy households in the city. All they sell is savage beast meat. A single jin costs one tael of silver, and if it's something particularly tasty, like a Purpleflower Civet Boar, the price is even higher."

"One tael of silver for a single jin? What family could afford to burn through money like that?"

For ordinary mountain folk, one tael of silver might cover an entire month's household expenses.

At one tael per jin, even eating just one jin a day would cost thirty taels of silver a month.

"What did you expect?"

Song Qi merely smiled. It was hardly a secret that martial artists burned through money.

Curiosity shone in Su Yan's eyes. He was even more interested in the savage beasts Song Qi had just mentioned.

"What exactly are savage beasts?"

"Savage beasts are unusual beasts that have attained a rank and transcended ordinary wild animals. They're what some of you mountain trekkers call rare beasts or treasure beasts."

Song Qi asked, "Remember that Blackclaw Tiger that came rampaging down the mountain a few months ago? That was a late first-rank savage beast, equivalent to someone in the Blood Shifting Realm."

"I remember a hunter couldn't pierce it with his steel fork. Even a powerful crossbow could barely penetrate its hide."

"Wishful thinking." Song Qi gave a contemptuous smile. "Even an early first-rank savage beast is equivalent to a Skin Refining Realm martial artist. Its skin is like three to five layers of cowhide, and it can unleash over a thousand jin of force at a stroke. How could an ordinary person fight that?"

"Only martial artists can kill savage beasts."

Song Qi shifted his tone slightly. "Of course, some weaker savage beasts are on the verge of attaining a rank, or have only just crossed that threshold. That's why you occasionally hear of someone hunting down a rare beast. Martial artists still call them savage beasts, though."

"If you want to build a solid foundation, you need good medicinal tonics as well as nourishment from meat. Otherwise, the faster you advance, the faster your body will collapse."

Song Qi's words were stern, but they were genuine guidance.

Something suddenly stirred in Su Yan's eyes. The hundred-odd peaks of Cloudridge Mountain's Outer Mountain had all been claimed by wealthy households or factions like the Little Mountain Society. Some of the dozens of peaks in the Inner Mountain might have been occupied as well.

People traveled through all those places, yet there were few signs of savage beasts. Somehow, these butcher shops could keep supplying their meat.

He raised his gaze and asked, "Could these savage beasts be in the Great Wilderness Mountains deep within Cloudridge?"

"Exactly. Places where human tracks are scarce are where savage beasts run rampant. The Cloudridge Wilderness Mountains are one such place, though they've been deliberately preserved."

Song Qi stopped there, realizing he had said too much.

He merely glanced up at Su Yan. "You've only just begun skin refining. Don't even think about entering those wild mountains. You might not even be able to travel safely through the Inner Mountain."

Even ordinary bears, tigers, and leopards could possess the terrifying strength of the Skin Refining Realm. They simply lacked some of its extraordinary qualities.

Besides, scattered savage beasts also wandered through the Inner Mountain, though their numbers were small.

The Inner Mountain was not necessarily safe either.

"With my meager abilities, how would I dare enter the wild mountains? I was just curious."

"Even if you're curious, don't go. If you can enter the Golden Ape Martial Hall's Inner Gate, you'll naturally get your chance. Someone will lead a party in."

With that, Song Qi took a sip of tea, reclined to eat his pastries, and began shooing him away. "If you've got mountain trekking to do, get to it. That silver of yours won't support many days of cultivation."

Su Yan gathered his things and politely took his leave, about to step outside.

Suddenly, Song Qi's voice came from behind him. "Be careful when you're mountain trekking. Don't travel at night. That Pang Tianfeng the authorities are hunting is no easy customer. Don't lose your life."

Su Yan's gaze sharpened as he recalled the portrait of that sinister-looking man. "Pang Tianfeng?"

He nodded, then left the Hundred Herbs Hall.

With a clank, the teacup was set heavily on the tea table.

Song Qi tugged at his beard. "Back when the shopkeeper picked me up, I worked myself half to death and still needed half a month just to get started with skin refining. This boy really is something. Even without the blood tendon flower, teaching him a little and forming a good connection would be well worth it. The Pan Family Restaurant's pastries really are good."

After leaving the Hundred Herbs Hall, Su Yan did not visit the Heavenwind Armory's branch again.

He had only two taels of silver on him. Forget replacing his bow with a powerful refined-iron one; even buying another new hardwood bow was probably beyond his means.

Instead, he left the Mountain Market and strode toward Yunqian Village.

According to Elder Song, once a beast attains a rank, it starts matching martial artists in the four body-tempering realms. That means my Darkwater Centipede is equivalent to a Skin Refining Realm martial artist.

No, I can't calculate it quite that way. Even savage beasts have their own strengths and weaknesses. Judging strength solely by realm would be too arbitrary. In terms of physique, the Darkwater Centipede might fall slightly short, but if it uses poison, even someone in the Sinew and Bone Realm might not withstand it.

Su Yan took stock of his situation. Cloudridge Mountain was a treasure trove. He had never expected the Great Wilderness Mountains to hold even more ranked savage beasts.

His Fierce Insect Cauldron had already accumulated a hundred jin of beast blood essence. All he lacked was a near-rank insect—or, alternatively, a first-rank insect beast.

I'll reach minor attainment in skin refining first, then enter the Inner Mountain with the Darkwater Centipede. With two Skin Refining-level fighters working together, there shouldn't be much danger.

Su Yan hurried back to the village. He had barely entered it when he heard a commotion.

"What are you doing?!"

Xie Yuzhu's furious shout rang out. Su Yan's expression changed, and he rushed toward the sound.

Outside his home, a crowd of Yunqian Village's residents had already gathered, young and old alike, craning their necks to see what was happening inside.

The voices came from amid the crowd, right in his own courtyard.

"Xie, you half-wit! What, are you going to repay Su Dahe and his son's debt for them?"

The insult rang out, followed by a pained groan. Then the village's elderly Village Head shouted, "No violence! Zhao Erlaizi, watch yourself, or I'll report you to the authorities and have you arrested!"

"Heh, you old bastard. Paying back a debt is as natural as heaven and earth. What, do people in Yunqian Village not have to repay money they owe?"

A scornful laugh rang out. The villagers were momentarily at a loss for words, their gazes wavering.

It was none of their business. Su Yan's family owed money, and even if they wanted to help, they had no grounds to stand on. Better not get beaten like Xie Yuzhu.

Su Yan pushed through the crowd, his face cold. He saw four or five young men who looked like thugs standing outside his courtyard, holding short blades and clubs. Xie Yuzhu had been kicked to the ground and lay groaning, clutching his chest.

Guo Yun and several other mountain trekking companions stepped forward to help him up, but they did not dare argue with these knife-wielding scoundrels.

These were all thugs under Niu Han. There were only four or five of them here now, but they were young, strong, and seasoned fighters.

If anyone provoked them, next time Niu Han might come with ten or twenty men, dragging their families into the trouble.

"Young Yan's here!"

Someone spotted Su Yan and gave a hushed cry. Word spread through the crowd, and they opened a path.

Zhao Erlaizi, their leader, cast a sidelong glance over and smiled, looking as though he had a hunter in his sights.

"Well, you little brat. You hid for days, but you've finally shown yourself."

The men beside him closed in, brandishing their weapons at their sides in a menacing display.

"Nine paid out, sixteen paid back. Your dead father borrowed ten taels of silver from our boss. By the rules, you now owe us seventeen taels and eight mace. A son pays his father's debts. Hand over the money. I hear you've found quite a few medicinal herbs and treasure plants."