Chapter 37

*Swish!*

Li Chen leaped forward, putting to use the skills he had honed on Eagle Cliff, moving swiftly like a nimble monkey as he darted downward.

*Whirr!*

Lei Peng circled around, suddenly diving and landing on an ancient tree below, his golden eyes darting around as if searching for something to eat.

"Lei Peng!"

Suddenly, Li Chen roared, stopping the agitated Lei Peng in his tracks, and then darted into the dense forest cave.

*Whirr!*

Lei Peng, who had never been scolded like this before, let out a mournful cry and flew up, circling above Li Chen's head as if demanding an explanation.

At this moment, Li Chen had no mood to pay attention to him. Everywhere he looked, he saw the blood-soaked bodies of Iron Arm Monkeys, their white bones and bloodshot eyes, their mouths wide open as if screaming in their final agony.

The wind mourned, silently telling the story of the desolation here.

The more he saw, the heavier his heart grew. When he was at the waterfall, there were nearly a thousand monkeys, their chirping and chattering filling the valley with lively energy.

But in just half a year, the place had turned into a wasteland, not a single Iron Arm Monkey in sight.

After half an hour, Li Chen arrived at the stone forest, clenching his fists involuntarily.

The entire stone forest seemed to be stained with blood, littered with severed limbs, all left by the Iron Arm Monkeys. The intact bodies had been stripped of their fur.

As he moved deeper, near the cave entrance, he saw dozens of strong bodies lying in pools of blood. The most noticeable was a walking stick, or rather, the severed arm holding the stick.

The gray, lifeless fur indicated that its owner was the old monkey who had hosted a feast for Li Chen that day.

"How could this happen?"

Murmuring to himself, Li Chen's eyes were vacant as he moved with heavy steps to the corner of the cave, looking at the dismembered body of the old monkey.

The old head, the wide-open eyes, gazing into the void, seemed to be silently telling and questioning.

In a daze, Li Chen was transported back to that day, seeing the old monkey with his toothless grin, urging him to enjoy the spirit fruits.

"Who could have done this?"

With a fierce roar, Li Chen looked up, a non-human aura suddenly emanating from his body.

Seemingly affected by his emotions, the birthmark on his temple suddenly glowed with a blood-red light, making him look incredibly fierce.

The valley echoed with his roars, but no one answered.

Judging by the coagulated blood of the monkey group, the attack must have happened just before dawn, when life was most vulnerable. It had been nearly two hours since he arrived.

Even with Lei Peng, the flying beast, it was probably too late to catch up.

With Li Chen's experience in the Ancient Cang Mountains, the attackers were numerous, and even if he caught up, it would only lead to his death.

But such a large-scale operation couldn't remain hidden for long. As long as he investigated carefully in the future, he would surely find clues to the culprit.

*Whirr!*

Li Chen, lost in thought, was startled by Lei Peng's sharp cry. He opened his eyes, heavy with sorrow, took a deep breath, and called Lei Peng over to start gathering all the bodies and burying them.

It took several hours, and by the time the sun was setting, he had completed the massive task. In the center of the monkey valley, a pile of rocks several meters high appeared.

"Old Monkey, my grandfather often said that in this world, the strong prey on the weak, and the powerful rule, an eternal truth. But he also told me that a drop of water should be repaid with a spring of water. That day, we became acquainted through a misunderstanding, and I, Li Chen, was treated by you. Today, I swear here that I will kill the main culprit, bring his head as an offering, to repay your kindness of giving me wine that day!"

Looking at the walking stick standing before the pile of rocks, Li Chen bowed respectfully, then turned and left without looking back.

*Whirr!*

A slightly somber cry, adding a mournful note to the wind, lamenting the decline of the Iron Arm Monkey clan.

...

Luo Huang City, originally known as Gu Yang City, was one of the countless towns on the edge of the Ancient Cang Mountains. It was renamed sixteen years ago after a battle where a phoenix's shadow appeared in the sky.

In the city, the Li, Zhao, and Liu families controlled nearly 90% of the resources, competing with each other. However, the three-way balance meant no one could overpower the others.

But over the years, the Li family had gradually become the strongest in Luo Huang City, and the Zhao and Liu families had to join forces to barely suppress them.

"First-stage late-level beast fur, perfect for making armor!"

"Top-grade Blood Replenishing Pill, an essential life-saving elixir for exploring the Ancient Cang Mountains!"

"Elite soldiers, only 5,000 gold pieces each!"

On the bustling street, vendors on both sides continuously called out, trying to sell their goods to passersby.

A slender but tall young man with long hair, dressed in ordinary adventurer's clothing, walked slowly with a leather bag on his back, not even glancing at the so-called top-tier treasures.

"These people really say anything!"

Under the cover of his hair, the young man's lips curled slightly, skillfully avoiding the tugs of several vendors. He was Li Chen, who had escaped from the Ancient Cang Mountains after more than half a year.

Not far from there, he turned into a shop, exchanged a few ordinary first-stage spirit herbs for some gold and silver, and then strode toward a grand gateway at the end of the street.

"Stop, who are you?"

At the grand gateway, two guards brandished their long spears, blocking the way with stern faces.

"Uncle Niu, don't you recognize me?"

He brushed his left hair aside, revealing the ugly scar, then let it fall, smiling.

"Xiao Chen?"

The burly middle-aged guard's eyes lit up, overjoyed. "Didn't you go to Xuan Yun Sect with the third miss? Why are you back? You've grown so much!"

"So, you're that useless drug slave!"

The other young guard, who looked about seventeen or eighteen, looked at Li Chen with disdain.

"Li Feng, watch your words!"

The middle-aged man glared at him disapprovingly.

Li Feng said no more, just pursed his lips.

"Uncle Niu, I'm here to redeem my indenture contract and remove my slave status!"

It had been nearly two years since he left the Li family. Li Chen was no longer the scrawny boy he once was, and he paid no heed to Li Feng's contempt.

Such a person was like an ant challenging an elephant; why should he bother with such a character?

"Remove slave status? Where did you get the money?"

Uncle Niu was clearly taken aback.

"Hehe, not just mine, but yours and Aunt Liu's family too, we will all be freed from our slave status!"

Looking at the few people in the Li family who had always treated him well, Li Chen felt a surge of gratitude.

Over the years, having been discriminated against, Li Chen's heart had long been closed off, but he could never forget those who had helped him in his time of need.

"Xiao Chen, did you do something wrong? Leave quickly, the farther the better!"

To his surprise, Uncle Niu's face changed, and he tried to push him away.

"Tsk tsk, I think so too. You became a drug slave for stealing elixirs back then. Did you steal something from Xuan Yun Sect?"

Li Feng looked at Li Chen with ill intent, his long spear raised as if ready to attack.

"Uncle Niu, don't worry. I have cultivated inner breath and joined Xuan Yun Sect. The money is from the spirit herbs I found in the Ancient Cang Mountains!"

Li Chen knew Uncle Niu was concerned about him and explained.

His words made Li Feng's face change.

"Really?"

Uncle Niu's eyes lit up, knowing that Li Chen had never lied to him since childhood. He felt a mix of emotions and relief. "Uncle Li can finally rest in peace. Xiao Chen, now that you have cultivated inner breath and are a disciple of Xuan Yun Sect, your slave status can be automatically removed if you join the family guard. Keep the money for your future wife!"