Chapter Fifty-Five: The Struggle of a Cornered Beast

Qin Feiyang halted, pondering for a moment before asking without turning back, "Give me a reason—why should I grant you a martial technique?"

"I need a martial technique. Is that reason enough?"

Ling Yunfei looked at him nervously.

"You need it, so I must oblige?"

"You should understand, we have no ties—neither kinship nor friendship."

"Don't accuse me of being heartless; that's simply the truth."

"Back then, I struggled for five years seeking a cleansing pill, but who ever gave me a single one?"

"However, when you truly understand why you crave a martial technique so desperately, come find me. Perhaps then I'll consider it."

Qin Feiyang spoke indifferently, then strode forward and slipped into the forest.

Ling Yunfei’s eyes clouded with disappointment. He sighed deeply and hurried to catch up, asking, "Why did you seek a cleansing pill?"

"Those are fleeting memories; I don't wish to discuss them," Qin Feiyang replied, all the while listening keenly and observing his surroundings.

Ling Yunfei was taken aback. He hadn't expected such an answer.

"Watch out!"

Suddenly, Qin Feiyang shouted sharply, pushed Ling Yunfei aside, and without hesitation drew his Blue Snow blade, slashing into the nearby underbrush—a spray of blood followed!

With a dull thud, a snake with a crane-like crest was split in two, falling into the grass.

Ling Yunfei broke out in a cold sweat at the sight. Had he been bitten, he would have suffered terribly, if not died.

Qin Feiyang swiftly cut off the snake's crest, stowed it in an empty spatial pouch, sheathed his blade, and moved on.

Ling Yunfei hurried after him, no longer daring to let his mind wander.

Along the way, they encountered many fierce beasts, but Qin Feiyang dispatched them all with ease.

As for the spoils, they split them equally.

Unnoticed, dusk had settled.

Ling Yunfei glanced at the night sky and frowned. "Jiang Haotian, Black Bear Mountain is extremely dangerous at night. Why don't we find a place to rest for the night and continue deeper tomorrow at dawn?"

The deep mountains by night always carried a mysterious sense of peril.

But for Qin Feiyang, night was the prime time for hunting.

Still, he didn't object to Ling Yunfei's suggestion. They found a secluded mountain cave, rested briefly, and then Qin Feiyang ventured alone into the depths.

A short while later, a piercing wolf howl echoed through the dark mountains, carrying a terrifying aura that alarmed every fierce beast within hundreds of miles.

"Dead-eye Wolf, your speed is astonishing," Qin Feiyang remarked atop a low hill, looking down at the wolf king with disbelief in his eyes.

He had left Ling Yunfei at the cave, wanting to let the wolf king stretch its legs. But unexpectedly, the wolf king had grown even stronger; without considering martial techniques, Qin Feiyang was no longer its equal.

The wolf king rolled its eyes and boasted, "Brother Wolf has extraordinary talent; what’s so surprising?"

Qin Feiyang was momentarily speechless.

Suddenly, the wolf king sniffed the air with force, its large eyes glinting with suspicion. "Little Qin, Brother Wolf smells blood!"

"Blood?" Qin Feiyang frowned.

"Follow me," the wolf king leapt and bounded down the mountain.

Qin Feiyang followed at once.

They ran for hundreds of breaths, but the wolf king didn't stop, nor did they see signs of battle.

"Dead-eye Wolf, is your dog nose malfunctioning?" Qin Feiyang asked.

"Your nose is the dog’s nose! Watch your words, or Brother Wolf will make your backside blossom!" The wolf king bared its teeth menacingly.

"Fine, you win. I’m afraid of you, happy?"

Qin Feiyang pursed his lips.

"Roar!"

Just then, a beast’s roar echoed from afar.

"Hear that? That roar is full of vigor—not an ordinary creature," the wolf king declared smugly.

"You can smell blood from such a distance; your dog nose is truly remarkable," Qin Feiyang chuckled.

"Scoundrel!"

The wolf king’s mood shifted instantly, lunging at Qin Feiyang’s backside with its jaws, forcing him to flee in panic.

"Little Qin, don’t run! How could Brother Wolf bear to bite you? I’m just joking, relax," the wolf king called while chasing, grinning wickedly.

"I’d sooner believe a sow could climb a tree than trust your nonsense," Qin Feiyang retorted.

"Hold firm, everyone!"

"We’ll finish it soon!"

"The rest of you, surround it and don’t let it escape!"

Soon, a chorus of shouts reached Qin Feiyang’s ears, along with sounds of battle and beastly roars.

"Is it them?" Qin Feiyang frowned, slowing his pace. He glanced at the wolf king, still baring its teeth, and said helplessly, "Let’s call a truce, shall we?"

"Of course. Business first!" The wolf king grinned.

"At least you know your priorities," Qin Feiyang smiled, crouching low and creeping forward cautiously.

But as he turned, the wolf king’s eyes sparkled mischievously. Suddenly, it bit down hard on Qin Feiyang’s backside.

"Aw!"

Qin Feiyang couldn’t help but cry out in pain, his face contorted.

"Scoundrel—you did that on purpose!"

He roared in fury.

"Will you ever call Brother Wolf’s nose a dog nose again?"

The wolf king refused to let go.

"Fine, fine! I swear, never again..."

Qin Feiyang surrendered.

Faced with such a shameless, incorrigible wolf, he was utterly at a loss.

"That’s more like it," the wolf king finally released him, chuckling. "If you say it again, I won’t bite your backside next time—I’ll bite your little brother!"

With a sudden flash of teeth, Qin Feiyang was so startled he forgot his wound, hurriedly covering his groin and retreating.

"Don’t worry, Brother Wolf is only kidding. I wouldn’t really bite your little brother," the wolf king laughed triumphantly.

"I warn you, even a rabbit bites when provoked—don’t push me!" Qin Feiyang glared at it.

"Who’s there?"

"Come out!"

Two cold voices rang out.

Man and wolf quickly flattened themselves in the grass, Qin Feiyang rubbing his sore backside, sweating from the pain.

"Damn Dead-eye Wolf, it actually bit me..."

He was furious.

The wolf king crept over, grinning. "Are you plotting revenge against Brother Wolf?"

"I am!" Qin Feiyang shot him a fierce glare.

"No need to wait; Brother Wolf’s backside is right here, bite whenever you like."

The wolf king even stuck its rear out, leaving Qin Feiyang’s mind in chaos—what an extraordinary creature he’d encountered!

He had to admit defeat.

"I clearly heard wailing just now—why can’t I find anyone?"

"Let’s check ahead. If it’s Jiang Haotian, we’ll kill him!"

Two burly young men cautiously approached the man and wolf.

"One each—let’s see who finishes first," Qin Feiyang whispered, his eyes gleaming coldly.

He’d hoped to avoid needless killing, but it seemed these men were anything but innocent.

If they wanted him dead, they’d pay the price!

The wolf king’s eyes gleamed viciously as well.

Five meters.

Three meters.

One meter.

Without a hint, man and wolf sprang forward in perfect synchrony, like two reapers in the night.

Qin Feiyang’s hands shot out, seizing the neck of the man to his right and snapping it instantly.

Meanwhile, the wolf king bit through the throat of the one on the left—blood gushed forth.

Neither even managed a scream before life fled.

"Go!" Qin Feiyang waved, advancing stealthily.

The sounds of fighting and beastly roars grew ever more deafening.

"Little Qin, the beast’s roars carry urgency and weakness now—I wager that creature is cornered," the wolf king said anxiously.

"Can you judge its strength?"

"You think Brother Wolf is a god?" the wolf king rolled its eyes.

After a dozen breaths, man and wolf crouched behind thick shrubs and peered ahead.

Fifty meters away, dozens of young men and women, each wielding their skills, were locked in fierce combat with a massive black bear.

Trees, rocks, and earth nearby had been battered to ruin.

On the battle’s edge, dozens more youths encircled the beast, all armed and watching it with excitement.

Some held bows, arrows nocked and ready.

"Judging by their attire, they belong to the three great families. Their strength and weapons are impressive. For the black bear to have lasted this long, its own power must be extraordinary," Qin Feiyang murmured.

The bear stood three or four meters tall, its body covered in gashes, but its eyes burned with ferocity, and its giant paws crashed down with such force that the ground cracked.

Those fighting it were also bloodied and battered.

Under a large tree at the edge, a dozen more lay barely alive, clearly wounded by the bear.

But Qin Feiyang saw neither Mu Fei nor Jiang Wei.

"It’s spent—everyone, give it your all. Archers, don’t idle; shoot to kill whenever you get the chance!"

"Right! It’s a beast on par with a Nine-Star Martial Master. Kill it, and we’ll have bear meat and paws to eat, and the hide will fetch a handsome price!"

Two youths in black shouted.

"A Nine-Star Martial Master–level beast!" Qin Feiyang’s eyes lit up.

If he could slay this beast, he’d not only secure first place; the top ten would be within reach!

Whoosh!

A dozen arrows streaked through the night, all striking the black bear.

"Roar!"

The bear bellowed in pain, sweeping its paws around—two young men failed to dodge and were sent flying into nearby trees, coughing blood.

"Keep shooting!"

"Shoot its legs!"

They scrambled up, shouting furiously.

Arrow after arrow flew, each one striking the bear’s legs, blood pooling on the ground.

"Little Qin, if we don’t act soon, once the bear dies, we’ll never snatch it from so many people, even with six arms," the wolf king urged.

"Don’t worry—it won’t die so quickly," Qin Feiyang replied, scanning the scene. Suddenly his eyes flashed with inspiration and he grinned. "I’ve got an idea."

The wolf king pressed, "What is it?"