In the forest clearing behind him, the Boar King, which had been targeting Han Yan all along, suddenly changed its movements.
It had still been chasing Han Yan, its bloodred eyes fixed on the woman as she slowly retreated.
Then its nostrils flared, and it took a long sniff of the air.
That single sniff was all it took.
Its enormous body and head swung around toward the direction Yi Yang had left.
The flames of its Crimson-Flamed Four Hooves flickered between the trees. It was the scent of its child.
Having caught its child's scent, the Boar King finally abandoned the fleeing Han Yan and turned its attention to Yi Yang.
Yi Yang, still some distance from the Boar King, was tearing off his outer robe, which was covered in sticky blood, and frantically rubbing it against the muddy ground. He also scooped up a handful of leaves and stuffed them inside his collar, trying to eliminate the scent.
But it was useless.
The glandular scent had already seeped into the scales of his soft armor. Removing his outer robe had not weakened it in the slightest.
The soft armor was there to save his life, and it was worth eight thousand taels besides. Throwing it away was out of the question.
It seemed he could only run and see whether he could escape the Boar King's pursuit.
The Boar King's hoofbeats shook the ground behind him. Every step made the great trees tremble, sending the thin frost on their bark crackling down.
Yi Yang tore off his outer robe and flung it aside, drove power through his feet, and pushed Treading Water to Cross the River to its limit. His figure left an afterimage through the dense forest.
Sure enough, the Boar King was not fooled. It did