Chapter 89: Wasteland Hunt
Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Wasteland Hunt
In the forest.
A horse galloped like the wind!
"He’s back!"
"It’s the man on the horse."
"Stop him."
"Get your weapons ready!"
It was the Scavengers.
They raised their clubs, trying to block Tang Wen.
But seeing the tall horse charging at them, they didn’t dare stand in the middle of the path, afraid of being trampled.
Courting death.
From his saddle, Tang Wen casually flicked a few pebbles.
SHHFFT! SHHFFT!
The pebbles tore through the leader’s body and, without losing momentum, pierced the person behind him.
They were like armor-piercing rounds from a sniper rifle.
"AHHHH!"
Blood gushed as the Scavengers rolled on the ground, their screams echoing through the forest.
They weren’t even wearing a single piece of Leather Armor.
Each pebble pierced several bodies.
NEIGH! The warhorse charged another hundred meters forward.
Tang Wen pulled the reins, turning the horse around.
He wasn’t running anymore!
As the dignified Commander of Flame Camp and a Second-class Martial Artist, he’d like to see just how many wolves dared to pursue him.
In truth, his senses told him the danger behind him wasn’t great. It was nowhere near a lethal level.
"AWOOOO!"
The warhorse’s hooves shifted, growing restless.
Tang Wen had already stuffed cloth in its ears, so it couldn’t hear the Silver Wolf’s howl. Otherwise, it would have likely collapsed to the ground by now.
Tang Wen dismounted, tied the roe deer to the horse’s back, and patted its flank. The warhorse took a few steps toward the camp.
Then it stopped and looked back, as if waiting for its master, Tang Wen.
"Good horse! You’re much better than Blood Crow. Later, I’ll give you an extra treat of chicken..."
He hadn’t even finished saying "egg."
Suddenly, the warhorse seemed to sense something.
It reared its front hooves, let out a shrill whinny, and galloped away in a frenzy.
The corner of Tang Wen’s mouth twitched as he watched.
A few dozen seconds later, a silvery-white figure appeared in Tang Wen’s line of sight.
It was several meters long, with a perfect, streamlined body, not a single stray hair on its coat.
Its enormous lupine eyes seemed to flicker with green fire.
Nature seemed to have a particular fondness for the Silver Wolf clan.
Not only were they stunningly beautiful, but they also didn’t need to struggle with Cultivation. An adult Silver Wolf was already a Middle-level Exotic Beast.
This was equivalent to a human Martial Artist.
After living for a few years, they would become High-level Exotic Beasts.
And if their bloodline was pure enough, they could even reach the Awakened Level!
The wails of the Scavengers on the ground grew faint, and their blood stained the earth a deep, dark red.
The scent of blood filled the air. The Silver Wolf let out a low growl, its ferocity on full display. Its sharp fangs looked like two rows of daggers, glinting with a terrifyingly cold light.
Tang Wen slowly slid his right foot back half a step.
The wolf’s eyes narrowed. He slid his left foot back a full step.
It looked just like he was about to bolt.
The Silver Wolf was a High-level Mutated Beast; of course it understood.
"GRRR..."
It let out a low roar, and the sonic wave washed over him. Tang Wen’s face contorted in discomfort.
The unlucky bastards on the ground all lost control of their bowels and passed out with the whites of their eyes showing.
As if he were moonwalking, Tang Wen’s feet went SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, retreating several steps.
A suspicious look appeared in the Silver Wolf’s eyes. ’Is this human afraid?’
Tang Wen: ’Why hasn’t this Silver Wolf pounced yet? You’re a wild beast, what’s there to hold back for?’
’There’s fresh meat right here, you could just lower your head and eat.’
Tang Wen continued to back away. After a few dozen steps, he’d created some distance.
He then turned his back completely, exposing it to the wolf.
"GRRROOWL!" The Silver Wolf let out an angry snarl.
It wanted nothing more than to lunge forward and tear this human to shreds.
But after roaring, it didn’t move from its spot.
Tang Wen sighed internally. ’A pack of Exotic Beasts that knows restraint. No wonder they’ve managed to survive so long around the camp!’
He had feigned weakness just now only to see if the Silver Wolf would attack unprovoked.
If it had, that would mean the outskirts of the forest were no longer safe.
Anyone in the camp below the rank of Commander would have a hard time escaping the Silver Wolf’s hunt.
The fragile balance between humans and wolves would be shattered. A battle would be inevitable.
But the Silver Wolf held back, and Tang Wen couldn’t tell if this was a blessing or a curse.
’Exotic Beasts not only have powerful bodies and outstanding Talent, but they also have intelligence. How is anyone supposed to reason with that!’
Watching the Silver Wolf disappear into the forest, Tang Wen also turned and left.
A moment later, he found his warhorse grazing in the forest, mounted it, and rode back to the camp.
"CAW! CAW! CAW!"
The Blood Crow circling above the courtyard tried to land on Tang Wen’s shoulder, but he waved it away.
"You little rascal, you fly off on your own at the first sign of danger?"
"Caw, caw," the Blood Crow squawked, as if trying to defend itself.
"Lord Tang Wen, the Blood Crow was squawking at us the whole time, like it wanted to lead us somewhere," said Peach Blossoms, looking up from dressing the roe deer.
"Oh?"
As Tang Wen looked at her, a light blush appeared on Peach Blossoms’ cheeks. "It kept squawking, as if telling us to go north."
"Well, look at that. You know how to call for backup. Not bad, not bad. Next time, don’t fly home—fly to the Royal Palace, to the General’s Mansion to get help..."
Tang Wen laughed and cut off a piece of roe deer meat as a reward for the Blood Crow.
The Blood Crow flew down and nuzzled his palm.
After eating his fill and taking a brief rest, Tang Wen left the city that very night, heading for the Southern Wilderness.
The moonlight was bright. By the time he reached the mountain spring, the moon was high in the sky.
Around the pool of water fed by the spring, the tracks of various beasts were jumbled together.
He casually broke off a thorny branch, walked to the edge of the pool, and plunged it to the bottom.
The water level barely came halfway up the branch.
Tang Wen sighed softly. "It’s only been a few days, and the water level has dropped by half."
He stroked the Blood Crow’s small head and reminded it again, "Find prey! Do you understand? Find prey!"
"CAW! CAW!"
The Blood Crow flew into the sky.
Tang Wen climbed to the high ground where the spring originated, took out his Thousand-Mile Telescope, and surveyed the area.
The wilderness under the moonlight was cold and desolate, with nothing but a few thickets of bushes.
There wasn’t even the shadow of a beast to be seen.
The Blood Crow flew back, circling over Tang Wen’s head.
"Over there?"
Tang Wen pointed in the direction it had come from.
"CAW!" the Blood Crow called out excitedly.
CLIP-CLOP went the horse’s hooves as Tang Wen rode forward, holding up his Thousand-Mile Telescope.
After crossing a low hill, two enormous antlers, like gray tree branches, appeared in his field of view.
Two bull moose were locked in a fight.
’Isn’t it the wrong season for moose to be in rut?’
The doubtful thought flashed through his mind.
As he got closer, Tang Wen looked with satisfaction at the two massive moose.
The two of them would provide at least sixteen hundred pounds of meat.
HSS! HSS!
Eight hooves kicked frantically at the ground, sending sand and gravel flying.
Tang Wen rode closer. The two moose desperately tried to retreat, but their antlers were locked together, making their struggles futile.
"It seems you two and I were fated to meet."
Tang Wen walked up to the two idiots, took out a thumb-thick hemp rope, and skillfully tied it around their necks.
SWOOSH!
A palm-blade strike landed on the antlers. CRACK! The hard antlers shattered into pieces.
WHOOSH! One moose lowered its head and charged.
Tang Wen kicked out lightly, striking the white fur on its chest. The moose let out a pained cry, its front legs leaving the ground as it flipped over.
The other moose charged, brandishing its sharp, broken antlers. Tang Wen casually swung his horsewhip.
With a loud WHIP, a deep, bloody gash appeared on the moose’s head, and its body staggered from the blow.
Having taken a beating, the two moose turned to flee.
"Heh, now you’re finally working together."
Tang Wen braced one foot on the ground and pulled with his right hand. The rope instantly went taut.
The two moose’s eight hooves dug pits into the ground.
But they were just skidding in place.
SCRAPE, SCRAPE, SCRAPE. They clawed at the ground for a while.
The moose stopped, panting heavily. Tang Wen tugged on the rope, but they stiffened their necks and refused to move.
Not following was their last act of defiance.
’Go on, try and drag us if you’re so tough!’
CRACK!
The whip sang through the air.
The two moose wanted to escape, but they couldn’t.
「A few minutes later.」
He rode his horse, leading two trembling and exceptionally well-behaved moose toward the distant hills.