Chapter 436 - 306: Sudden Change, Exposure

Chapter 436: Chapter 306: Sudden Change, Exposure

It wasn’t just her—everyone and every tiger had noticed.

Tang Wen hesitated. "But our destination is undoubtedly the Huang Family’s main base. If not, then it’s at least a major stronghold. The Huang Family has operated in Ganshan City for generations and has deep roots. Even if they don’t have any more Fourth Grade masters, they’re bound to have plenty of old monsters still alive."

"You sense danger?" Hu Yun took a step forward, her gaze burning with intensity.

It was clear she didn’t want to give up.

Tang Wen sighed. "That’s right. The moment I thought about Tracking them, I felt a prickling on my back."

He grabbed Hu Yun’s hand. "A Curiosity capable of nurturing Fifth Grade beings must be at a Fourth Grade level itself, or at least close to it."

"But it’s a risk worth taking. I’ll take the White Tiger and check it out. With just the two of us, escaping will be simple if things go wrong."

Tang Wen refused. "The seven Fifth Grade warriors haven’t returned. They’ve undoubtedly set an inescapable trap for you. You are not to go!"

"You don’t get to order me around." Hu Yun was used to being in charge.

"Who has higher status? An Elder or you?" His standing in their ’family’ was on the line, so Tang Wen frowned and looked toward the Three-headed White Tiger.

The first White Tiger head stared at the ground, seemingly fascinated by a line of ants.

The second head looked to the sky, contemplating the thunderclouds.

The two of them weren’t familiar with Tang Wen.

Tang Wen looked at Hu Niannian and shot him a look.

Hu Niannian averted his gaze. "Uh, well, you see, what I mean is... right?"

Tang Wen’s face darkened as Hu Yun beamed, her eyes crinkling with amusement.

The White Tiger Tribe had many Elders.

And the Elders had to obey the Saintess.

Tang Wen, an Honored Guest Elder, certainly didn’t outrank Hu Yun, the only candidate for Saintess.

Hu Yun chuckled, stroking the tiger’s head like a cat. "Besides, I’m the leader of the tribe’s Hunting Team, so Elder Tang Wen has to listen to me. Tell Hu Lan I’m going to do the Tracking myself and that she should send reinforcements as quickly as possible."

With that, she turned to leave.

Feeling a headache coming on, Tang Wen pulled her back. "Tell me, what’s your plan?"

"I’ll take the three of them, use Invisibility to get close, confirm the position and distance, and then retreat. Don’t worry, I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to barge into a territory swarming with Fifth Grade masters."

Tang Wen sighed. "And you call that a plan? You say you’re not an idiot!"

"What’s wrong with it?"

"It’s completely wrong! As for those three..." Tang Wen glanced down and saw the three mangled Fifth Grade captives. They had already used their heads and necks to drag themselves several dozen paces away.

"Those three can obviously sense the Curiosity that created them. So, what do you think? Can the one controlling that Curiosity sense *them*?"

Hu Yun froze. In her haste to begin Tracking, she hadn’t considered that.

Tang Wen summoned his Tracking Mouse. "If you’re determined to go, there is a way. Take this mouse. Tie these three men to it, and you follow from a safe distance using Invisibility. That’s much safer."

"That’s the man I chose, all right. We’ll do it your way."

Hu Yun departed.

Tang Wen didn’t remain idle, either.

He was here to participate in the trial, after all.

So far, he had only killed people and not a single Exotic Beast.

It was time to make some progress.

"Stone Dragon, Crocodile Turtle, where can I find some Sixth Grade Exotic Beasts? Your Fifth Grade enemies would also work."

"You’re going to kill them?"

"Heh! I just need to borrow their heads."

「Three days into the trial.」

The young masters and heirs from the various families had all made some progress.

At the very least, they had bagged one or two Sixth Grade Exotic Beasts.

The lucky ones had even killed three.

The unlucky ones had already been forced to withdraw from the trial.

The Fourth and Sixth Young Masters of the Black Water Gang were the first two to be eliminated.

Not that the two of them came back empty-handed.

They each had a Sixth Grade escort, after all, and returned with the heads of two Sixth Grade Exotic Beasts apiece.

And they both left the trial on the third day.

It was clearly a coordinated move.

Shui Qianjun looked at the two men, who appeared as though they’d bathed in blood. Even knowing it was an act, he didn’t reprimand them.

Instead, he nodded and kindly told them to leave the underground caverns and get some rest.

Huang San was in high spirits. Once the two were out of earshot, he sidled up and chuckled, "Looks like your two nephews had some bad luck!"

’Bad luck?’

Shui Qianjun shook his head. This was a matter of the Direct Lineage succession struggle within the Black Water Gang; there was no need to discuss it with Huang San.

He understood the message from the Fourth and Sixth Young Masters.

Before Tang Wen became the Seventh Young Master, the eldest son and the sixth son both had a chance at the top position.

But Tang Wen was a Demon-level talent, and what’s more, he had become the spokesperson for the White Tiger Tribe.

Then, the eldest son was deposed, and his own daughter, Shui Yun, rapidly consolidated power.

Although she hadn’t been officially declared the "Young Gang Leader" or "heir," everyone in the gang, except for him, her own father, already saw Shui Yun as the next Gang Leader.

As for Tang Wen, expectations were even higher.

At a minimum, he was the son-in-law of the White Tiger Tribe, a powerful figure who, with his current status, could mobilize ten to twenty elite Fifth Grade masters at a moment’s notice!

One had to understand that among the five major powers of the Outer City...

...aside from the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall, the other four combined didn’t even have twenty masters at the Peak of Fifth Grade!

In the Inner City, neither of the other two major families, aside from the Huang Family, could boast such numbers.

Shui Qianjun could tell that his fourth and sixth sons had been resentful at first, believing Tang Wen had simply gotten ridiculously lucky.

But as Tang Wen’s position solidified, with Fifth-Grade White Tiger escorts at his beck and call and the ability to command ten Fifth Grade experts with a single sentence...

...all the second-generation young masters in the city had to steer clear of him.

...the two of them could only accept their fate.

Any thought of becoming the Gang Leader was now completely out of the question.

The best they could do now was to focus on their Martial Arts Training, manage their own small factions, and bide their time, slowly accumulating seniority to eventually become Vice Gang Leaders.

By ending the trial on the third day and presenting the heads of two Sixth Grade Exotic Beasts each, they were making a clear statement.

They would no longer vie for the Gang Leader position, but they would continue to work diligently for the Black Water Gang.

For Shui Qianjun, this was naturally a good outcome.

Of course, he also knew they had come out so quickly because they were afraid of encountering Tang Wen inside the trial grounds.

Based on his understanding of Tang Wen, Shui Qianjun was certain that Tang wouldn’t have hesitated to kill them both if the opportunity arose.

At this thought, his brow furrowed once more.

’I wonder how the fight between Tang Wen and the Huang Family is going.’

...

「In a cave permeated by a red mist.」

The faint sounds of an angry conversation echoed from within.

"They haven’t returned!"

"It would be one thing if they just couldn’t find him!"

"But not a single one of them came back?"

"How is that possible?"

"There are some troublesome Thunder Department Exotic Beasts over by the Thunder Jade Mine. Could they have run into them?"

"Impossible. I ordered them to retreat immediately upon encounter."

"Then what is it? Did you underestimate Tang Wen and his people?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"..."

"Then tell us, what do we do now?"

A long silence followed.

The Blood Pool rippled gently.

Huang the Ninth stepped into it.

In the center of the Blood Pool, a massive, ancient tree lowered a twig, which pierced precisely into a major artery.

Soaking in the pool, Huang the Ninth began to glow with a blood-red light, shining brilliantly.

He was like a heavy-duty motorcycle that had been driven for a hundred thousand kilometers, then completely rebuilt and reforged—even its wheel hubs seemed to gleam.

He walked slowly out of the Blood Pool and looked up at the thick branches, each of which had a person hanging from it. "At this point, there is only one option."

No one responded.

No one even opened their eyes.

Huang the Ninth cursed under his breath and snorted. "Tang Wen has already discovered the existence of the Blood Slaves. After this trial ends, the White Tiger Tribe will enter the underground. They’ll definitely dispatch people to investigate. The White Tiger is a wind-elemental powerhouse at the Peak of Fifth Grade. If they find this place, the Huang Family can just wait for its own annihilation!"

At the mention of annihilation, a pair of red eyes snapped open.

"Enough, Xiao Jiu! You messed up your own assignment. If you want to drag us down with you, just say it. No need for all these threats!"

Huang the Ninth smiled. "Tang Wen isn’t just my enemy."

"How many people do you need?"

"The more the better."

"Then we might as well have the entire Huang Family mobilize!"

"Don’t be angry. This time, I won’t be using the Blood Slaves. I’m asking you esteemed elders to make a trip with me. If you all act, Tang Wen won’t be able to escape even if he sprouted wings!"

"Easy for you to say. You’ve been searching for three days and haven’t even found him. Who are we supposed to go kill?"

"That’s right, Xiao Jiu. Your handling of this affair has been truly disappointing."

Dozens of pairs of crimson eyes lit up in the darkness.

It was a chilling sight.

But Huang the Ninth seemed to have been prepared for this. He gave a slight smile. "Honored elders, please calm yourselves. A moment ago in the Blood Pool, I sensed three Blood Slaves whose auras have weakened to an absolute minimum. They have left the Thunder Jade Mine and are currently speeding toward us!"

The cave fell instantly silent.

"No matter who’s coming with them, we can’t let a single person escape! Otherwise, none of us will make it out of this alive." Huang the Ninth’s eyes filled with a cold, mocking light.

More pairs of red pupils opened in the gloom.

Glimmering with evil and madness!