Chapter 44

"Yuan Ming, Wu Bao, step forward." Hu Huo Elder said without further ado.

Wu Bao stepped out of the formation first, his face full of pride.

Yuan Ming, however, frowned and stepped out a bit later, showing a clear difference in attitude between the two.

The other fur-covered beast slaves sighed in envy at the sight.

"You have been chosen, so you will set out immediately," Hu Huo Elder said.

"Thank you," Chen Wan, the woman in the red dress, said with a bow.

The other three also bid their farewells and set off towards the direction of the Ten Thousand Mountains, taking Yuan Ming and Wu Bao with them.

"During this time, you must continue hunting. If you encounter a named disciple, you must not resist their summons. Those who disobey... I trust you will not disobey," Hu Huo Elder added before dismissing everyone.

...

The named disciples walked ahead, moving quite quickly. Yuan Ming and Wu Bao hurried to follow, more like attendants than guides.

However, once they crossed the canyon and officially entered the area where fierce beasts roamed, the group stopped.

Chen Wan took out a beast skin map from her pocket, spread it on a rock, and called Yuan Ming and Wu Bao over, asking, "Have either of you been to this place?"

Her slender, white fingers pointed to a basin deep within the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Wu Bao examined it carefully for a moment, but his eyes showed confusion.

These fur-covered beast slaves always went wherever they were led, at most remembering the way back. Maps were something he couldn't understand even if shown to him.

Yuan Ming, however, frowned and examined the map closely, deep in thought.

"Can you understand it?" Chen Wan asked.

Wu Bao looked troubled and could only shake his head. Seeing Yuan Ming's expression, he couldn't help but curse inwardly, "What a show-off."

"Chen Wan, I brought them along just to fulfill my duty. Do you really expect them to be of any help?" Kuntu grinned and shook his head.

"We are currently at the entrance of the canyon, right here. The farthest I've been is to this purple bamboo forest, which is at least a two-day journey from the place you're asking about," Yuan Ming said as soon as Kuntu finished speaking.

Hearing this, Chen Wan, who had already given up hope, brightened her eyes and continued, "How long will it take to reach the purple bamboo forest?"

"Avoiding most of the fierce beasts and trying not to engage in battles that would delay us, it will take five days," Yuan Ming replied.

As he spoke, he looked up and saw that Bada, the disciple of the Furnace Hall, was glancing at Chen Wan's long, slender legs.

This guy looks shy, but he's not exactly honest.

Although Yuan Ming felt disdain, he didn't bother to expose him.

"Riding spirit beasts, it won't take five days," Kuntu said.

With that, he patted the spirit beast bag at his waist, and a beam of green light flew out, landing nearby and revealing a green giant wolf about two zhang long.

The wolf had well-developed muscles, with a faint dark red hue in its eyes. A tuft of white fur grew in the center of its forehead, and two long, sharp fangs protruded from its snout, making it look both fierce and majestic.

"Chen Wan, my green wolf is a high-level first-tier fierce beast. Not only is it extremely fast, but it also runs very smoothly and comfortably. Why don't you ride with me?" Kuntu said with a smile.

Hearing this, before Chen Wan could respond, Changchan, who was also from the Beast Taming Hall, frowned, clearly displeased with her senior brother Kuntu's advances.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but I have my own spirit beast," Chen Wan said calmly, refusing politely.

With that, she patted her spirit beast bag, and a beam of green light flew out, transforming into a green-skinned rhinoceros about two zhang long.

Compared to Kuntu's green wolf, this green-skinned rhinoceros was smaller, but it had a layer of metal armor on its head and neck, and a leather saddle on its back, making it look very comfortable.

"Little Sister, your spirit beast is so well-equipped. I was too presumptuous," Kuntu said, seemingly unconcerned, but apologized first.

Next, Changchan patted her spirit beast bag and summoned a seven-zhang-long fiery red python. She leaped onto the python and half-reclined on it.

The fiery red python immediately raised its body to support her graceful figure.

Bada also summoned his spirit beast, a large wild boar with black fur. Although it was smaller and less impressive than the others, its two long, white tusks made it clear that it was no ordinary fierce beast.

"Senior Brother Kuntu, since we have two women, it's inconvenient to carry them. Why don't you and Junior Brother Bada each take one of them?" Chen Wan said, looking at Yuan Ming and Wu Bao.

Kuntu frowned, and Bada looked up with a reluctant expression.

"Little Sister, they are just lowly fur-covered beast slaves. How can they ride my senior brother's spirit beast?" Changchan said angrily.

"We need them to guide us. Without the spirit beasts, it would be much slower and counterproductive," Chen Wan said calmly.

"These spirit beasts are not for us to ride," Wu Bao said hurriedly, his face full of fear.

At this, Bada added, "Senior Sister Chen Wan, they are fur-covered beast slaves who have undergone the fur transformation technique. They should be able to run almost as fast as spirit beasts. There's no need to worry too much."

Hearing this, Chen Wan had no choice but to agree and turned to Yuan Ming, asking, "Can you keep up?"

Yuan Ming, not wanting to delay, nodded.

Although he envied the named disciples' spirit beasts, he was more concerned with completing the mission to earn as much blood food as possible.

"Alright, let's set out immediately," Chen Wan said.

Yuan Ming, as the guide, first performed the fur transformation technique, turning into a white ape and bounding into the depths of the forest.

"I'll stay at the back to guard against any unexpected situations," Kuntu said, looking at the others.

Without hesitation, Chen Wan urged her green-skinned rhinoceros to catch up, followed by Bada and Changchan.

Once they were out of sight, Kuntu rode his green wolf and looked at Wu Bao.

"Does this Yuan Ming seem like a fool? Can he be recruited?" Kuntu asked.

Wu Bao's heart trembled, and he quickly replied, "Master, this guy is very stubborn and won't submit to anyone. I've tried to recruit him before, but he not only refused but also killed many of our people."

"Never mind. He's just a beast slave. If I want one, there are plenty. I'll help you get rid of him, but you'll have to increase your monthly tribute by ten percent," Kuntu said, frowning.

"Thank you, Master," Wu Bao said immediately.

"I trained you and the Hyena Hall to serve me, not to cause trouble. This won't happen again. If it does, you and Jin Kun will be replaced," Kuntu said, then rode his green wolf and galloped away.

Wu Bao nodded repeatedly, his back drenched in cold sweat, and quickly performed the fur transformation technique, turning into a green-furred wolf man and sprinting to catch up.

...

It was a deep autumn night.

In the forest, a bonfire burned brightly. Kuntu and the others sat around the fire, eating freshly roasted meat.

The four spirit beasts lay behind their masters, forming a protective circle around them.

Yuan Ming and Wu Bao, the fur-covered beast slaves, naturally had no right to join them and were assigned to guard the outer perimeter.

A cool night breeze blew, and Yuan Ming sat cross-legged on an old tree, meditating with his eyes closed.

He was familiar with this area. A green-scaled lizard had once lived here, but he had killed it last month, so no other fierce beasts would settle here in the short term.

With the four spirit beasts guarding, there was no real need for them to keep watch.

Suddenly, Yuan Ming's ears perked up, and he opened his eyes, looking into the dark forest. He immediately saw a black shadow dart through the bushes.

He leaped down and chased after the shadow.

However, before he had taken a few steps, the shadow suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.

Yuan Ming was startled and immediately stopped, facing the shadow.

The creature was nearly eight feet tall, with a human-like shape and a body covered in fur, even on its face, resembling a standing white-haired old ape.

But its eyes were a blood-red, reflecting a bloodthirsty glow in the darkness, making Yuan Ming's spine chill.

At that moment, a commotion came from behind him.

"Trouble, we're being ambushed," Yuan Ming thought, feeling a sense of unease.

"There," a woman's voice called out.

Several figures rushed out from behind, reaching Yuan Ming. It was Chen Wan and the others.

Yuan Ming breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look for the creature, but it had vanished.

"What are you doing here?" Chen Wan asked as soon as she saw Yuan Ming.

"I was on guard duty and saw a long-haired, human-like creature, so I chased after it," Yuan Ming replied honestly.

"Where is the creature?" Kuntu asked eagerly.

Chen Wan and Changchan's eyes also lit up, looking at Yuan Ming with surprise.

"It ran away. It was just in front of me, but it fled when you came," Yuan Ming said, blinking.

"Which direction did it go?" Kuntu asked immediately.

Yuan Ming hadn't noticed which direction the creature had gone, so he pointed randomly and said, "It seemed to go that way."

Without a word, Kuntu chased after it.

His spirit beast, the green wolf, also leaped over the group and followed.

Changchan immediately followed.

"Chasing a mountain spirit without using the fur transformation technique, are you courting death?" Chen Wan scolded Yuan Ming and then chased after them.

Bada, riding the black-furred wild boar, sneered at Yuan Ming and followed last.

"Mountain spirit? What is that?"

Yuan Ming ignored Chen Wan's scolding and became interested in the mountain spirit she mentioned.