Chapter 5: This Is Just a Warning
Chapter 5: This Is Just a Warning
The mountains were high and the forests dense. The road was rugged.
Mu Feng plunged into the thick bamboo forest, running faster and faster. The mountain path was rough. In some places, there was no path at all. With the dim moonlight, it made the journey especially tough. One careless step and he might step on sharp stones, or even slip and fall into a deep ravine. Relying on his familiarity with the terrain, he soon left Mu Qingyuan and his group far behind. However, the hunting dogs with their keen sense of smell chased after him all the way. He could not shake them off.
Woof, woof, woof woof woof…
The hunting dogs behind him got closer and closer. They leaped and passed through the trees. They were nimble and light, with strong and powerful limbs. Their speed increased faster and faster, like leopards.
No good, going on like this was not a solution!
Listening to the closer and closer barking behind him, and looking at the dense mountain bamboos, Mu Feng’s face turned cold. He suddenly stopped and got busy. He cut down a mountain bamboo and sharpened one end. He firmly tied one end to a big tree. The sharpened end pointed toward the direction the hunting dogs were coming from. He used some dead branches to build a simple scarecrow. Then he draped his long robe over it…
Since he could not shake them off, he simply used materials at hand to set up a trap.
He had just hidden in the bushes nearby when the relentlessly pursuing hunting dog fiercely pounced. It dashed forward urgently, leaped high, and left a blurry afterimage.
Thud…
The fierce hunting dog bit through the scarecrow’s neck. But at the same time, its belly hurt. It was pierced by the sharp mountain bamboo. Blood gushed out like a fountain.
The faster the speed, the harder it crashed onto it!
Woof…
A miserable cry traveled far away.
The injured hunting dog struggled hard. It opened its big mouth, trying to bite through the hard mountain bamboo. Unfortunately, its sharp teeth had just touched the bamboo, and before it could bite through; suddenly, everything went dark. A heavy rock smashed down on its head, hitting its weak skull. Once, twice… Soon, it weakly closed its eyes.
“Hu…”
Mu Feng let out a fierce shout. He condensed the hunting dog’s blood into a Blood Pearl. He swallowed it right away to replenish the stamina he used from running so fast.
The pursuers were getting closer. After killing the hunting dog, time was tight. But his movements were quick yet orderly, calm and steady. As soon as the thumb-sized Blood Pearl entered his mouth, he immediately felt refreshed. His legs were full of strength again. At the same time, he gained a strange sensation. He gently sniffed the air. The faint smell of blood in the wind, the scent of mountain soil, and the smell of Mu Qingyuan and his group… all came to him.
Blood Refining Art’s innate inheritance!
Mu Feng’s eyes lit up. He quickly understood what happened.
The profound Blood Refining Art could not only refine an enemy’s blood or even corpse into a Blood Pearl, but it could also potentially inherit the other’s blood power, inherit their innate abilities. After killing this fierce hunting dog, not only did he have one less strong enemy, but he also gained a useful innate skill. Two birds with one stone!
Just by consuming one hunting dog’s blood, he got so many surprises. What would happen if he condensed the vital blood of an enemy into a Blood Pearl and swallowed it?
Mu Feng’s heart stirred. The Ancestral Sorcerer blood bead inside him transmitted a violent, craving, bloodthirsty feeling. It grew stronger and stronger.
“Quick, chase him! That guy is held up by the hunting dogs, hurry!”
“Mu Feng, you’re dead, you’re dead!”
…
From ahead, rustling footsteps were heard. Mu Qingyuan, gritting his teeth, was overjoyed. He urged the guards to speed up. He wished he could capture Mu Feng alive immediately, humiliate him fiercely, and then execute him by a thousand cuts!
Dead for sure?
Mu Feng smirked coldly. His body swayed and disappeared into the darkness.
“Hahaha, Mu Feng, you’re dead!”
Mu Qingyuan laughed heartily. He was the first to rush out from the bamboo forest. He saw the hunting dog with its belly pierced, hanging on the mountain bamboo. He suddenly froze, and his laughter stopped abruptly.
He thought that at this moment, Mu Feng would surely be rolling on the ground under the dog’s bite. Who would have thought that the one killed was his always proud beloved dog!
This was a top herding dog introduced from the Northern Frontier of the empire, said to be able to fight tigers and leopards, almost about to form a demon core!
Mu Qingyuan’s face twisted. He was indescribably angry and pained.
Forming a demon core meant this expensively bought hunting dog would officially become a powerful demon beast. Then, all its abilities would greatly improve. It could pounce on a Mortal Realm expert in one encounter. Taking it out would be so impressive! But now, it was gone. Everything was gone!
“Mu Feng, I’ll skin you and pull out your tendons!”
Mu Qingyuan roared. He was just about to order a search when suddenly, a sharp, whistling sound came through the air. He looked up and saw a spear made from mountain bamboo arriving before him in the blink of an eye. Its speed was so fast he had no time to react.
Thunk…
The sharp spear grazed past his scalp and stabbed hard into a big tree behind him. The sharpened spearhead sank deep. The spear tail was still shaking powerfully, swishing loudly. One could imagine how terrifying its force was!
“This, is just a warning. Next time, it won’t aim for the scalp!”
From deep within the bamboo forest, a cold voice came. Then, it returned to silence.
The bamboo forest with its swaying shadows seemed like a path leading to hell. It made people dare not move forward, not even one small step!
Mu Feng?
Mu Qingyuan touched his forehead. Seeing the blood on his hand, his face turned pale. He was both shocked and furious.
He was furious that Mu Feng actually dared to attack him, how rebellious! He was shocked that Mu Feng had such skill! If the attack had been aimed just half an inch lower, he would probably be dead now. The strike was fast and vicious, catching him completely off guard.
Imagining the sharp spear piercing through his brow, Mu Qingyuan shuddered. His scalp went numb! He realized once again that this seemingly weak scholar Mu Feng was far harder to deal with than imagined. He was tough and prickly. Humiliating him casually might accidentally hurt oneself instead!
“Second Young Master, something’s not right!” A skinny, triangular-faced guard came up to curry favor. He looked confident, as if he had a sure plan.
“Nonsense, of course I know something’s wrong!” Mu Qingyuan, already angry, rolled his eyes. He said irritably, “Skinny Monkey, tell me carefully, what exactly is not right? How should we deal with it?”
Seeing Mu Qingyuan’s impatience, the triangular-faced guard nicknamed Skinny Monkey patiently explained, “How could a weak scholar suddenly become so powerful? Second Young Master, I’m sure there must be something strange going on. These past few days, that Mu Feng has been acting unusual. In my opinion, it’s best to have someone follow him around the clock to understand what’s really happening.”
“Good, good idea. Skinny Monkey, this task is yours.” Mu Qingyuan nodded.
“No problem, Young Master, rest assured.”
Skinny Monkey gave a sly smile and continued, “Tracking is necessary. But there are many ways to deal with a mere scholar. Second Young Master, the Lantern Festival is coming soon. According to the manor’s rules, it’s time for common families to pay their Tribute Payment. Just have a word with the internal affairs steward. Make Mu Feng pay over ten extra silver taels this year. That would be enough to make him suffer, maybe even kill him. Let’s see if he still dares to defy you then!”
“Good!”
Mu Qingyuan’s eyes lit up, but then he looked troubled. “But if the Punishment Elder or the Family Patriarch find out, it might not be good, right?”
“Hehe, the Punishment Elder and Family Patriarch are rarely seen. As long as the internal affairs steward doesn’t talk, who would know?” Skinny Monkey gave an evil smile and added, “As for the internal affairs steward, with your status, Young Master, isn’t it just a matter of a word?”
“Good, Skinny Monkey, you always have methods. So sneaky, so despicable, hahaha!”
Mu Qingyuan laughed heartily. Imagining Mu Feng and his mother crying together, worrying over a little tribute money, made him feel pleased.
A single coin can stump a hero!
A mere ten-plus silver taels weren’t enough for him to have one meal at the Happy Red Pavilion. But for the poor Mu Feng and his mother, it was definitely a heavy, huge sum!
Seeing him finally laugh joyfully, Skinny Monkey struck while the iron was hot. “Second Young Master, my old problem is acting up again. My meridians ache from time to time. Look, about the Clear Wind Method you promised last time…”
“Take it. Although it’s only a copy, don’t forget—burn it after memorizing it!”
In his excitement, Mu Qingyuan was especially generous. He took out a small booklet from his robe and threw it to Skinny Monkey. He patted his shoulder, then turned and left. The many guards immediately followed closely. Only Skinny Monkey, the triangular-faced one, stood still. He opened the booklet and looked. His heart bloomed with joy.
Tendons, bones, membranes—these are the three key areas a martial artist in the Mortal Realm must train. Training methods for tempering bones are not hard to find. Thunder Sound Bone Tempering is the most basic and also one of the most effective methods. Training methods for tendons and bone membranes are not so easy to obtain. Especially the advanced training methods, even ordinary family disciples cannot access them.
Clear Wind Method was the Mu Manor’s secret, specialized method for training tendons and bone membranes. Getting this booklet, even the always cunning and despicable Skinny Monkey couldn’t suppress his excitement. He saw hope of breaking through to the Middle Mortal Realm, even to the Elite Realm!