Chapter 41: Hunting

Green Plush Cats gave birth once a year, usually in the summer. By winter, the Green Plush Cat kittens were already able to live independently. Every spring was their mating season, and during that time, the areas of the forest where they roamed were the most dangerous. Male Green Plush Cats would attack any living creature that invaded their territory to protect their land and mates!

Therefore, experienced old hunters rarely entered the forest in spring. Ahu walked carefully while explaining to Qin Li, then said, “This season is the best time for hunting. The male cats go out to hunt, and the female cats have just given birth, so they are still weak. Because they are Spirit Beasts, they usually avoid fighting to the death. However, it is very difficult to shake off their pursuit. I remember a few years ago, a team of hunters obtained Green Plush Cat kittens but failed to lose the female cat. As a result, only one of the six team members escaped the forest alive, but he became half disabled! So, when surviving in the jungle, we must be extremely cautious!”

Qin Li nodded, thinking that danger was everywhere. However, he was not as inexperienced as Ahu and the others thought. When Qin Li was young, he lived on the mountain with the Old Taoist Priest. His experience in jungle survival was no less than theirs. But it was still important to stay humble. At the very least, Qin Li’s low-key and eager-to-learn attitude made everyone in the team like him.

“Shh!”

A small patch of dense bushes appeared ahead. Ahu made a shushing sound and signaled everyone to spread out and be careful. Slowly, he drew a two-foot-long short knife from his chest. The blade was shiny and gleaming, exuding a sense of menace under the dappled sunlight in the jungle.

Following Ahu’s signal, Qin Li stayed behind him, holding that broken sword in his hand. No one had expected this situation. Apart from a few daggers, there were no extra weapons. Qin Li didn’t mind too much. With skill comes courage; even holding a broken sword, he was full of confidence.

“Meow!”

A piercing cat cry suddenly rang out. A flash of green light streaked through the air, and then they heard Li Jian grunt. Looking at his shoulder, it was instantly stained red with blood!

Such a fast attack speed!

Qin Li was startled and immediately put away his casual attitude. He finally realized that the jungle in this world was vastly different from where he had lived before! This little creature seemed even more terrifying than lions and tigers!

“Li Jian, are you okay?” Ahu asked urgently.

“I’m fine. I dodged quickly; it’s just a surface wound. Everyone, stay alert!” Li Jian replied calmly.

Then, the green light flashed again, this time pouncing toward Ahu. This creature was very clever. It had attacked Li Jian earlier because he was closest to the bushes. Now it turned to Ahu because the female Green Plush Cat sensed great danger from him!

“Die!”

Ahu let out a low roar from his throat. A red light suddenly flashed on his short knife. The Green Plush Cat let out a sharp cry, and a tuft of green fur fell from the air.

“Don’t look into its eyes!” Ahu warned, then swung his short knife and shouted, “Come over here!”

Everyone quickly gathered around Ahu, standing back-to-back in a circle. At that moment, the forest became extremely quiet, with only the rustling of leaves as the wind blew through the treetops.

The Green Plush Cat had vanished without a trace!

“This thing is really cunning!” He Laosan, holding a long sword, cursed under his breath.

“Little brother Qin, I’m next to you~!” At this moment, Bu Yunyan couldn’t resist teasing Qin Li in a flirtatious tone.

“Quiet, be careful, it could attack at any…” Before Ahu could finish, a green light flashed from the tree opposite Bu Yunyan and suddenly attacked her!

“Damn it!” Ahu cursed. The creature was too cunning. Finding Ahu difficult to deal with, it shifted its focus to Bu Yunyan. Before Ahu could react, Qin Li clearly saw the Green Plush Cat’s sapphire-blue eyes emitting a strange, shimmering glow.

Just then, they heard Bu Yunyan exclaim, “Oh no, I’ve been hit!”

Qin Li reacted extremely quickly. The moment the Green Plush Cat pounced toward Bu Yunyan, he moved. As Bu Yunyan cried out, Qin Li’s broken sword was already shielding her eyes. A faint purple energy shot from the broken sword. The Green Plush Cat let out another sharp, piercing cry, twisted its body in mid-air, and dodged Qin Li’s strike. It then fixed its beautiful sapphire-blue eyes on Qin Li. If the Green Plush Cat could talk, it would surely curse, because it found that this damned young man had closed his eyes.

With his eyes closed, Qin Li suddenly felt a sense of clarity!

In the long process of evolution, humans had made many remarkable inventions, but their own physical qualities had gradually declined. Over-reliance on eyesight had caused their ears to lose their original sensitivity.

With his Ren and Du Meridians fully unblocked, Qin Li’s hearing and sense of smell had improved many times over! Combined with this body’s excellent foundation and the constant nourishment of the Innate Purple Qi Art, Qin Li’s martial power might not yet match that of a peak Mysterious Rank Martial Artist, but in terms of basic physical attributes, he was no less than a Heavenly Rank expert!

Sensing the Green Plush Cat staring at him, Qin Li curled his lips into a cold smile and swung his broken sword horizontally…

In the eyes of the others, it seemed the Green Plush Cat had failed to attack Bu Yunyan, then turned to Qin Li. After dodging Qin Li’s strike, it then… foolishly crashed right into his sword!

Except for Ahu, who noticed something different, everyone else thought the same.

Just as the Green Plush Cat was about to hit Qin Li’s blade, Qin Li’s wrist moved slightly, turning the blade edge away and presenting the flat side instead.

Thump!

Oww!

The Green Plush Cat let out a cry of unbearable pain, fell from the air with a thud, and immediately lost consciousness.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. By the time everyone registered what had happened, the fight was over. Over there, Bu Yunyan sat on the ground ungracefully, shaking her head, tightly closing her eyes, and muttering, “Damn it, why isn’t it getting better? Oh my god, what messy things am I seeing? It’s so dizzying. Quick, someone just knock me out…”

No one paid her any attention, because everyone’s eyes were fixed on the unconscious Green Plush Cat on the ground! Then, they looked at Qin Li again, their eyes filled with admiration!

“Hey, this is the first time in years we’ve caught a big cat! Tsk tsk, its fur is so much better than those domesticated ones!” He Laosan crouched down, gently stroking the Green Plush Cat’s smooth, glossy long fur, and sighed, “It’s a pity that adult Green Plush Cats can’t be tamed. Killing it is a waste, but releasing it…”

“Tie it up and keep it. Someone will like it!” Li Jian said indifferently while tearing his clothes and applying wound medicine.

“Let’s get the kitten out first.”

Ahu said this and started crawling into the bushes. Just then, voices came from the distant forest. It sounded like there were quite a few people. Ahu paused, then quickened his movements, diving into the bushes. He pulled out a Green Plush Cat kitten, barely larger than a palm, by its neck, and said in a low voice, “Let’s go quickly!”