Chapter 161: Intelligent (II)

Early in the morning, the sky was faintly bright.

"Uncle Lin, are you heading out again?"

Just as he stepped out of the small courtyard, Lin Zheyu saw Han Tianshun squatting outside, holding a bowl with a pout on his face.

"Little Shun, why are you up so early today?" asked Lin Zheyu with a smile.

"Mother found a private school for me. I'm supposed to start studying today. Uncle, could you talk to my mother? I don't want to go to school. I want to learn martial arts from you," Han Tianshun pleaded, pouting hopefully.

"That's something I can't help you with. You should study hard at the private school. Martial training also requires literacy. If you can't read, how will you understand a martial arts manual in the future? If you still want to practice martial arts, I'll teach you when you return from school," said Lin Zheyu with a gentle smile.

"Never mind then. I like studying. Goodbye, Uncle," Han Tianshun blurted before dashing back into his house, bowl in hand. Reading and writing were already torment enough; if he had to train after that, how could anyone survive?

"

Haha

." Lin Zheyu smiled faintly.

Ever since the news of Songyi City's fall arrived, Han Mo's parents, wife, and several sensible children had all been deeply worried each day. There was nothing Lin Zheyu could do about it. Though his strength was formidable, it was useless against a full-scale army.

At dawn, the city gates bustled with travelers, mostly passing merchant caravans and groups of refugees seeking shelter. Outside the city, scattered refugees could be seen along the roadside. After arriving at Bafang City, they settled outside its walls. Some relied on aid, and others were surviving through odd jobs.

Upon entering the forest, Lin Zheyu found a secluded spot and disguised himself as a fierce, domineering middle-aged man.

Rustling sounds came from the woods, and faint noises echoed through the forest. Few ferocious beasts lived near the outskirts. Most were ordinary animals, as the powerful ones had long been slain by the City Guards stationed in Bafang City.

Once he had completed his disguise, Lin Zheyu stopped concealing his strength. With a light tap of his toe, his body shot forward like an arrow. His speed was astonishing; each step burst with immense power, yet when his feet touched the trees, not a single sound could be heard.

Hunting required skill, ample knowledge, experience, patience, and strength. Lin Zheyu lacked hunting knowledge and experience, so he relied purely on his extraordinary skill, boldness, and a bit of luck.

He traveled for more than an hour without encountering a single worthy beast. Occasionally, some reckless creature would charge out, but he merely cast it a glance, shifted aside with graceful agility, and continued forward. Any beast below the first transformation of blood qi wasn't worth much.

Whoosh.

A gray blur flashed through the dense forest. Far away, a man and a wolf sensed the movement and looked over, but the figure was already gone.

"What incredible speed! That man's movement technique is truly exceptional!" exclaimed the man, watching Lin Zheyu's distant silhouette.

Rustle, rustle.

The wind stirred gently, and the trees swayed in shadow. Lin Zheyu stopped before a grove of towering trees more than 10 meters tall. After more than 2 hours of travel, he had reached the depths of the forest. This place was rarely visited by humans and was home to powerful beasts. A faint mist hung among the trees, carrying a sharp, acrid scent mixed with traces of poison.

Lin Zheyu took out an antidote pill and swallowed it, his expression alert as he scanned his surroundings.

"Let's hunt around this area today," murmured Lin Zheyu to himself.

Each time he went hunting, he would venture a bit deeper into the mountains but never too far at once. The deep forests were filled with danger, so he didn't dare to go too deep even with his current strength..

He took some bait from his pack and sprinkled it over a piece of bloody meat cut from the beast he had just slain. The mixture of medicinal bait and the stench of blood was the best lure for ferocious beasts. However, this bait only worked on specific kinds of beasts, and he wasn't sure whether it would attract any powerful ones. He was merely trying his luck as it was better than doing nothing. Besides, the bait cost little to make and was almost worthless.

Rustle, rustle.

Lin Zheyu didn't bother to hide his movements; his steps crunched softly over fallen leaves. Others hunted with skill and experience, but he relied on luck and sheer strength. To hunt beasts effectively, one needed to understand their habits; where powerful beasts might dwell and which paths they frequented. He knew little of such things and could only depend on chance.

His luck hadn't been great. After more than twenty days of hunting, he had only captured six beasts at the Blood Qi Realm. Among them were one fourth transformation beast, two third transformation beasts, two first transformation beasts, and one fifth transformation beast.

Except for the fifth transformation beast, which was so ferocious that Lin Zheyu, carried away by the thrill of battle, had accidentally killed, he had captured the rest alive and sold them off. Including the peak Organ Forging Realm beasts he had hunted, Lin Zheyu earned nearly 2000 taels of silver in just over twenty days. It was a decent profit.

Time passed, and the sun sank toward the west. Luck hadn't favored him lately; he hadn't encountered a single Blood Qi Realm beast for several days, and today was no different.

Night fell. Lin Zheyu chose not to return to Bafang City and planned to spend the night outside the city walls. A campfire burned in the forest, the crackle of dry wood echoing through the quiet night.

He skewered chunks of beast meat on a branch and roasted them over the fire. The meat sizzled as fat dripped onto the flames. He sprinkled chili powder, salt, and a bit of sugar, then poured white wine over the meat just as it was about to be done. A rich aroma filled the air.

"This beast meat isn't bad. It's fatty yet tender, with a distinct flavor," he said with satisfaction.

As Lin Zheyu tasted the roasted meat, he glanced toward the darkness where several pairs of glowing eyes flickered, but he remained unmoved. They were all ordinary beasts, not a single one possessing the strength of a Blood Qi Realm.

Whoosh.

Though it was midsummer, a breeze drifted through the deep mountains, carrying a faint chill reminiscent of late autumn nights.

Suddenly, a beast covered in black fur, fox-like in shape yet as plump as a pig, and about a meter long, darted out from the undergrowth. It moved with startling speed, eyes locked on the meat in Lin Zheyu's hand as it opened its jaws wide to bite down.

Bang!

Lin Zheyu struck out with his palm, unleashing the power of his blood qi. The beast was sent flying by the tremendous force, but it wasn't injured at all. After slamming into a tree, it rolled once, sprang up, and vanished swiftly into the forest.

"

Hm?

"

Lin Zheyu let out a surprised sound.

"I misjudged it; it was actually a beast of the second transformation of blood qi."

He stared toward the direction the beast had fled, slightly surprised. When the beast attacked, its aura hadn't leaked in the slightest. Had he not been vigilant enough, it might have succeeded in its ambush.

What a powerful ability to conceal its aura, and its defense was astonishing as well

.

After perfecting the third stage of the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, his perception far surpassed that of other cultivators at the same level. Even a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist might not match him. However, even with such powerful perception, he hadn't sensed the beast immediately but only noticed it when it was already near.

To withstand my full-force strike, even though I didn't use Mountain Shattering Palm, is no small feat. This beast's strength might not be limited to the second transformation,

Lin Zheyu mused inwardly, growing even more cautious.

After searching all day without finding a single Blood Qi Realm beast, he hadn't expected such a strange creature to appear at night.

"These beasts cannot be underestimated. To survive in the deep wilderness, they must possess some formidable natural talents," murmured Lin Zheyu.

Take the Red-Eyed Wolf, for example. Aside from its extraordinary speed and powerful defense, its greatest strength lay in its pack hunting. If not for his mastery of lightness techniques and the lethal Mountain Shattering Palm that could kill a lone Red-Eyed Wolf in a single blow, Lin Zheyu would have been forced to flee back then.

Again!

Lin Zheyu took a bite of his roasted meat, his eyes flickering slightly as he pretended not to notice. Suddenly, a black shadow shot out from the darkness. The corner of his lips curved upward as he had been ready for this. His right hand shot forward, not in a palm strike but shaped like a claw, seizing toward the beast's neck.

Chirp!

Its neck was caught in an iron-like grip, and the beast let out sharp, shrill cries. Its head and neck immobilized, the creature thrashed its limbs frantically, raking its sharp claws toward Lin Zheyu's arm.

Clang, clang, clang.

Its claws struck as if against metal, ringing out in crisp metallic tones. A black-silver gleam flickered across Lin Zheyu's arm. The black-silver gloves had once belonged to the black-and-red-robed man from the Nine Nether Sect; after some modifications, they had become one of Lin Zheyu's personal weapons.

"This beast looks quite plump. It'd probably taste delicious if roasted."

Lin Zheyu lifted the beast and examined it from head to toe. Sensing the ill intent in Lin Zheyu's gaze, the beast struggled even more violently. Unfortunately, despite its impressive ability to conceal its aura and its great speed, its strength was rather ordinary. This beast indeed possessed only the strength of the second transformation, leaving it powerless before Lin Zheyu, who was at the fourth transformation.

"Stop struggling. Stay still, and I won't eat you," said Lin Zheyu with a smile.

A living beast was far more valuable than a dead one; a live beast of the second transformation could easily fetch over 200 taels of silver. Lin Zheyu's right hand tightened around the creature's neck. His grip was so strong that the beast could barely breathe, its eyes gradually rolling back.

Lin Zheyu paid it no mind, as a beast this strong could hold its breath for ten or twenty minutes without dying. He reached into his pack with his left hand and pulled out a length of rope. The rope was specially made and extremely tough. It was strong enough to restrain even a Marrow Refining Realm beast.

Just as Lin Zheyu prepared to bind it, the beast that was pretending to be dead cracked one eye open and glanced stealthily around as if searching for a chance to flee.

This beast is quite intelligent!

Lin Zheyu caught the movement with the corner of his eye, surprised. This was the most intelligent beast he had ever encountered, even more so than the fifth transformation beast he had met before.