Chapter 40: The Forest’s Lightning Killer
Chapter 40: The Forest’s Lightning Killer
Amidst the group’s burst of laughter, the slight distance that had existed between Qin Li and the others vanished completely!
Ahu looked at Qin Li and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: Back in the day, they said Qin Hanyue was the talented lady of Huangsha City. It’s true! Just look at her son! Whether it’s his character, his magnanimity, or his skill in handling people and situations, it’s all top-notch!
For a brief moment, Ahu almost had an illusion: Was the person before him really just a teenager? Clearly, he was a young hero with a commanding presence! It seemed his gut feeling back then—choosing to befriend this brother because of shared hardship—was absolutely the right choice! Ahu had lived alone with his mother since childhood, enduring mockery and scorn from neighbors and even family. In the end, he’d had no choice but to leave his hometown. Only after meeting his stepfather, a simple and kind-hearted farmer, did Ahu’s life slowly improve. But the pain of his childhood was enough to scar him for life! Though he didn’t know if Qin Li’s father had abandoned his mother like Ahu’s own scoundrel father had, Ahu deeply empathized with everything Qin Li had been through.
“Brother Qin’s luck is truly unmatched! How many times have we camped by this little river? Why didn’t we ever run into that Ironhide Crocodile?” During dinner, He Laosan was still marveling at Qin Li’s incredible luck.
Li Jian, usually silent, glanced at him and said expressionlessly, “If you’d been squatting by the river fishing too, maybe you would have. Though, instead of catching it, you might have ended up in it.”
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh. He Laosan chuckled and retorted, “Bullshit! That thing’s only this big. Could it even swallow me?”
For some reason, Leng Yao was more talkative than usual today too. She swept a glance at He Laosan and remarked coolly, “True, it probably couldn’t swallow you. But killing you? That would be child’s play!”
He Laosan wanted to argue back, but suddenly remembered: Over the years, not many hunters in the Hunter’s Guild had ever captured an Ironhide Crocodile. And every attempt involved casualties! Even a Yellow Rank Ninth Grade Martial Artist was no match for this creature!
Attack? They couldn’t pierce the Ironhide Crocodile’s incredibly tough scales. Defense? The Ironhide Crocodile was a Spirit Beast. That Ice Arrow it shot at Qin Li earlier — if it had hit an ordinary Yellow Rank Martial Artist, it would have probably been fatal right then and there.
Thinking this, He Laosan couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. He looked straight at Qin Li and asked, “Brother Qin… just what is your strength?”
He Laosan’s question was on everyone’s mind. All eyes turned to Qin Li. Qin Li smiled faintly. “I suppose… it might be Mysterious Rank? My situation is a bit special. I don’t really know myself…”
“Scoff!”
Bu Yunyan shot Qin Li a disdainful look. She had been stunned for a moment when she saw him fight the Ironhide Crocodile. But the more she thought about it afterward, the more something felt off. Even though she wasn’t Mysterious Rank strength yet, that didn’t mean she lacked discernment. Qin Li’s movements were incredibly peculiar. Even a Mysterious Rank expert shouldn’t find it that easy to slash through the Ironhide Crocodile’s scales, right? Besides, she had seen people who practiced the Sovereign of All Combat Technique before. They were very strong, but this felt quite different from how Qin Li fought!
However, Bu Yunyan didn’t voice these doubts aloud. She just felt that Qin Li himself was becoming more and more perplexing.
At this point, Ahu spoke up, “I reckon Brother Qin’s strength comes from practicing the Sovereign of All Battle Skill! Speaking of which, this technique is truly amazing. But the damage… Ah well. In a few months, I’m determined to take you to Phoenix Lake! We can’t just stand by and watch your soul get damaged, until finally…”
Ahu didn’t say what came after ‘finally,’ but everyone present felt the same heaviness in their hearts. Working frequently in the Hunter’s Guild, they were well-informed about such matters. Their gazes towards Qin Li carried a touch of sympathy.
Leng Yao said impassively, “Count me in when you go.”
“I’ll go too!” Bu Yunyan chimed in cheerfully.
“And me!” Li Jian and He Laosan exchanged a glance and spoke simultaneously.
He Laosan laughed, “I’ve wanted to go there for ages! What kind of hunter do you call me if I’ve never been to Phoenix Lake? Failure, that’s what!”
Warmth flooded Qin Li’s heart. He smiled, “Thank you all. We’ll talk about it when the time comes. Maybe… I’ll be fine practicing this?” Some things couldn’t be said outright yet, but Qin Li was deeply grateful for these forthright and loyal friends.
Ahu nodded seriously. “Anyway, we absolutely won’t stand by and let you suffer that kind of harm!”
Early the next morning, the group packed their things, ready to move on. Their backpacks now held an extra item – an Ironhide Crocodile worth thirty thousand taels of silver. This trip could already be considered a resounding success! Any previous venture into this forest lasted at least ten days to a fortnight, usually one or two months. Getting a single young low-level Spirit Beast was already considered very lucky!
Adventurous life sounds captivating as a story, but only when you’re living it do you feel the boredom and the ever-present threat of sudden danger!
Not every forest expedition yielded rewards.
Moreover, in these woods, it wasn’t just the ubiquitous ferocious Spirit Beasts you had to watch out for. You also had to be wary of your fellow travelers… Often, the most terrifying threat wasn’t the beasts.
As they searched the forest, Ahu and the others continuously imparted various hunter knowledge to Qin Li, all while carefully skirting the territories of powerful Spirit Beasts. Ahu was a highly experienced hunter. That he was the captain of their group wasn’t just because he was the strongest.
After three days, Qin Li had become quite familiar with the rules governing the hunter world and the purpose of their current expedition.
Ahu and the others hadn’t mentioned it before, so Qin Li hadn’t asked. Now he learned their primary target was the young of a Spirit Beast called the Green Plush Cat.
The Green Plush Cat looked similar to a house cat, except its fur was entirely green, and its eyes were a jewel-like blue. It was exceptionally beautiful, but hunters called them… ‘Forest’s Lightning Killers’!
Green Plush Cats were Spirit Beasts. Raised from a young age, they became remarkably loyal. Normally, they were beautiful, docile pets, just like ordinary house cats. But once their master was endangered, this pet could transform into an extremely dangerous… terrifying killer!
The Green Plush Cat’s claws were as sharp as knives, capable of tearing out a human throat with ease! Especially when attacking others, those blue eyes could trap its prey in an illusion!
Anyone would crave such a pet, especially noblewomen who had absolutely no resistance against something both adorable and deadly!
Therefore, Green Plush Cats always received frantic bidding wars at auction houses!
A fully grown female Green Plush Cat gave birth to only one cub. And that single cub could fetch fifty thousand taels of silver! It was something only the truly wealthy could contend for!
You could say, for a team like Ahu’s, getting just two of these a year meant they could spend the rest of their time living comfortably!
However, the chance was slim. Green Plush Cat cubs had little offensive capability, true. But the adults? Lightning-fast speed, hard, razor-sharp claws, and eyes that could trap you in an illusion… these made them fearsome killers of the forest!
Worse, these Spirit Beasts held deep grudges!
Consequently, once a place yielded a Green Plush Cat cub, you absolutely could not return there a second time! Ahu’s team had recently confirmed that there was, in fact, a Green Plush Cat litter located right in this very area!
Two adult cats, and one newborn cub.