The freshmen they had originally looked down upon had, once the fighting began, revealed themselves to be incredibly formidable—far stronger than their own captain, to say nothing of the rest of them.
"Look out! Over there!" Ye Qing shouted sharply.
Everyone snapped to attention. No longer dazed, they began frantically hacking and blocking the deer herd.
A short while later, as Ye Qing struck down the last Three-Tailed Snow Deer, silence descended upon the scene.
Ye Qing looked down at the carcass. With a flick of his long sword, he pierced the beast's skull and pried it open. A moment later, a substantial Beast Core landed in his palm. He looked around; dozens of Three-Tailed Snow Deer lay dead. It was, he had to admit, a tidy sum of wealth. The quantity was decent, though the quality was only average for him at this point.
"My god, we... we nearly wiped out the whole herd of Three-Tailed Snow Deer!" Zheng Jia walked over, staring at the field of corpses. He had recovered from the heat of battle, and as he looked at the spoils, his left eyelid twitched with excitement.
*We’re rich! We’re actually rich!*
The other members were equally thrilled. Indeed, they had struck gold. As they looked at Ye Qing—standing there, long sword in hand—he appeared to them like a god of war. In this short span of time, their reverence for him had reached an insurmountable height.
"Alright, everyone, hurry up and clean this up. Extract the cores and strip anything useful from these deer. As for the rest, take as much as you can carry."
"Understood, Captain!"
"You got it!"
A chorus of responses followed. Everyone set to work. Soon, piles of Beast Cores were collected, and the hides of the Three-Tailed Snow Deer were stripped away along with other bits and pieces.
After a rough sweep, everyone was laden with gear. Ye Qing frowned. It seemed his club was still short on manpower; they had only just encountered one herd, and they were already unable to carry everything. Surely they weren't going to head back today? That would be far too wasteful!
*Boom!*
A violent explosion suddenly erupted from far in the distance. A flock of low-tier birds burst from the canopy, chirping frantically.
*Hmm? Something's happening. Another beast? Or something else?*
Ye Qing was the first to react. With a single step, he vaulted upward toward the canopy. Zheng Jia and the vice-captain followed suit. Being on a hillside, they had a vantage point that allowed them to see into the distance.
*Crash! Boom, boom, boom!*
More explosive sounds echoed from afar. Then, they saw a massive tree topple over, followed by a cloud of dust and debris, as if a small bomb had gone off.
The vice-captain was stunned, while Zheng Jia looked at Ye Qing. "Big Brother, it looks like there's a fight over there! And the power involved... it’s not low!" Zheng Jia now called him 'Big Brother' with genuine sincerity.
"Let's go take a look." A glimmer of excitement flashed in Ye Qing’s eyes.
*What?! Go look?!* Zheng Jia and the vice-captain were both taken aback. Was that really an option?
The three descended. "Forget the rest of the scraps! Take what's valuable and leave the rest. We’re heading that way!"
Ye Qing signaled the group, and they all began to move in the other direction. *Leave the rest behind?* Even if the scraps weren't worth much, every little bit counted! Still, since it was Ye Qing’s order, they obeyed immediately.
"Everyone, keep your guard up this time!" Zheng Jia shouted to the group. After all, they were likely heading straight into a dragon’s den. They began to sprint.
A moment later, from ahead: *Boom! Rip!*
The sound of tearing flesh followed. A figure was sent flying into a tree, crashing hard. He barely managed to keep a grip on the water-fire staff in his hand. A long, deep wound ran down his leg, blood spurting rhythmically from it.
"Damn it!" Li Mubai gritted his teeth. He saw the giant creature lunging toward him and regained his focus instantly. He gathered his remaining strength, his foot slamming into the earth until the soil cracked. Blood sprayed from the wound in his leg like a geyser. "Die!"
Li Mubai stared at the equally battered Twin-Winged Silver Tiger. It was a life-or-death moment. *All or nothing!*
*Boom!* Another explosion, and dust filled the air. Li Mubai flew backward, slamming into a giant tree and snapping it in two.
*Ugh!* He fell to the ground and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
*ROAR!* From the dust, the Twin-Winged Silver Tiger emerged—five or six meters tall, ten meters long, snowy white with a pair of wings. It looked at Li Mubai, the bloodthirsty violence in its eyes clear for all to see.
Li Mubai’s mouth twitched. *I was too arrogant.* He hadn't expected this mid-sixth-tier Twin-Winged Silver Tiger to be this difficult to deal with. He realized that leaving his club to hunt a high-tier beast alone was a mistake. He looked at his water-fire staff, preparing to hurl it far away. *Better one person dies than two.* The staff seemed to feel his intent, vibrating with a low, mournful hum.
In the distance, Ye Qing and his group arrived.
"Holy crap, a Twin-Winged Silver Tiger! A powerful mid-sixth-tier beast! This guy is a total maniac to try and hunt a high-tier beast like that alone," Zheng Jia whispered. The others were also startled. A mid-sixth-tier Twin-Winged Silver Tiger! That was a beast they would normally run away from on sight. This stranger was truly a madman.
"But look, he’s about finished, and that tiger is still full of energy. Big Brother, should we intervene?" Zheng Jia asked. It was incredibly dangerous; if they stepped in, they might end up as sacrifices themselves.
"Big Brother? Big Brother?! What the..."
Zheng Jia realized there was no answer. He looked over and let out a string of curses. The others were the same, a chill running down their spines. Ye Qing had already charged in, sword in hand, his speed creating a sonic boom.
Ye Qing had seen what the others hadn't—the beast was at the end of its rope. If he didn't strike now and let the tiger die on its own, he wouldn't just miss out on the core; he’d have to haul the carcass back himself. That would be a disaster!
*Snatch the kill! Wait, no—save a life in peril! It is my duty!*
He approached at top speed. The Twin-Winged Silver Tiger had its eyes fixed solely on Li Mubai. It crouched, growling, radiating a terrifying pressure. Its muscles bunched, and just as it prepared to pounce on Li Mubai—
*ROAR!*
The water-fire staff shivered violently. Li Mubai, sensing his Weapon Spirit’s intent, stared back with grim determination. *You beast! I’ll kill you!*
He struggled to rise, but just as he was about to move, a figure streaked past. Ye Qing reached the tiger and delivered a kick.
*WHOOSH!* The kick produced a whistling sound and a sonic boom, distorting the air itself.
*THUD!* The blow landed square on the tiger’s snout.
*YELP!* The Twin-Winged Silver Tiger howled as it was sent flying sideways, two of its fangs kicked clean out.
*CRASH!* It slammed into a giant tree, shattering the trunk into splinters. Dust billowed.
Li Mubai’s eyes widened in disbelief. *There’s an even greater master here!*
Ye Qing dashed into the dust.
"Big Brother!" "Captain!" Zheng Jia and the club members cried out as they ran toward the scene. Li Mubai was shocked to find an entire club nearby.
*ROAR! Squelch! Thud, thud, thud!*
The sounds of battle echoed from the dust. Moments later, they vanished. Everyone held their breath, anxious. *How is Ye Qing faring?* This was a mid-sixth-tier Twin-Winged Silver Tiger!
Zheng Jia was about to check when a figure emerged. Ye Qing held his sword in one hand, tucked a massive Beast Core under his arm, and dragged the tail of the gargantuan Twin-Winged Silver Tiger with his other.
He looked absolutely imposing.
Li Mubai was stunned. He stared at the hole in the tiger’s skull and its other wounds. He then fixed his gaze on Ye Qing’s sword.
*Whoosh!* Just looking at it sent a massive wave of pressure his way. *What kind of Weapon Spirit is that? So sharp! Such overwhelming pressure! This kid... he actually contracted such a high-quality spirit!*
"Captain!" "Big Brother!" "Are you hurt?"
"Nah, I'm fine!" Ye Qing looked at the large hole in the ground and blinked. "Oh, this guy had a den here! Come on, a few of you, come check it out with me. We might find some Spirit Plants!"
Ye Qing dropped the tiger and led the others toward the cave.
Li Mubai: "..." *Hey! Hey! There’s someone else here! Help! Someone, save me!*
The water-fire staff in his hand ceased its transformation.
"Mubai, are you alright?" Han Xue asked, full of concern.
"I... I’m fine," Li Mubai said, his face deathly pale.
"You’re in this state and you say you’re fine?!" Han Xue was even more worried seeing him try to act tough.
A while later, Ye Qing and his group emerged, faces beaming with smiles. He had to admit, this Twin-Winged Silver Tiger had a rich collection—so many Spirit Plants, and already dried for them!
Ye Qing grinned, and the others began packing everything up. Once finished, they approached Li Mubai.
"Are you... Li Mubai?!" Zheng Jia asked, recognizing the water-fire staff.
Ye Qing pulled Zheng Jia aside. "You know him?"
"He’s a top fourth-year student at Jinling Spirit Master University, the captain of their first-tier club. Rumor has it his family is well-connected in the Jinling Military Department!"
"Oh?" Ye Qing was interested. Jinling Spirit Master University was as prestigious as Jinling University. Coupled with his background, that meant he was probably loaded.
He walked over to Li Mubai. Li Mubai looked at them; since he didn't recognize them, he assumed they weren't sixth-tier yet, as he knew most of those. He looked at Ye Qing, assuming he’d won due to his terrifying Weapon Spirit.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. We’re all brothers. Your injuries are quite severe. I happen to have some medical supplies."
Before Han Xue could even finish saying "Really? Thank you, thank you...", Ye Qing added with a smile, "Specialty medicine. One sixth-tier Beast Core per treatment."
*BOOM!*
The words were like a thunderclap. Everyone stared in shock. *What? A sixth-tier core? That’s extortion!*
Zheng Jia’s mouth twitched. *So that’s why he asked me about him—he was planning to kick him while he was down!*
Li Mubai and Han Xue were dumbfounded. "You’re asking for an arm and a leg!" Li Mubai roared, trying to stand. "I don’t believe in your 'specialty medicine'! You’re a thief! Han Xue, let’s go!" But he was losing too much blood; he couldn't even stand.
Han Xue held him down. "You’re in this state, where do you think you’re going? Do you want to die?"
*Die...* Li Mubai felt his life force fading. He gritted his teeth at Ye Qing. "Fine. A sixth-tier core it is. I don't have it on me, but you know who I am. I won't default on a debt. You can come find me when I’m back."
"A sixth-tier core, plus five fifth-tier Beast Cores," Ye Qing said, sitting down on the ground. He had just increased the price by fifty percent.
Zheng Jia: "..." Everyone: "..." Li Mubai: "..."
*He's raising the price while sitting there!*
"You! Why did you raise the price?!"
"Believe my earlier price, or pay this one."
"What’s the difference? It’s all cash on delivery!" Li Mubai growled.
"Wow! Do you think I’m some kind of fake medicine peddler? I’m a respectable university student with integrity!" Ye Qing snapped back.
*Pfft!* Li Mubai couldn't take it and coughed up another mouthful of blood.
"Fine! Fine! You’re ruthless! The price is yours!"
"That’s better. Now, for the rescue fee—considering how weak you look, I’ll take off the change and just charge you..."
Li Mubai’s eyes brightened; maybe the guy had some humanity after all.
"...just two sixth-tier Beast Cores!"
"I..." *He increased it again!*
The club members were speechless, but they couldn't help but admire the shamelessness. Ye Qing didn't see what the problem was; otherwise, he would have asked for even more.
"Fine!" Li Mubai spat out.
"Zhang Cai, bring the medicinal wine."
Since Li Mubai was so cooperative and clearly dying, Ye Qing decided to save him before he kicked the bucket. Two sixth-tier cores were no small sum!
"Coming, Captain!" Zhang Cai brought the wine over. Ye Qing popped the lid, and the scent of strong liquor mixed with herbs filled the air.
"Wait!" Li Mubai panicked as Ye Qing prepared to pour the wine directly into his wound. "You’re just going to pour it in?"
"What else?"
"That... that might sting a bit."
"Don't worry, it doesn't hurt," Ye Qing waved it off.
Li Mubai breathed a sigh of relief. But the next second—a pain that pierced his very soul surged through him!
"ARGHHH!"
"WHAT THE...!"
"ARGHHH!"
Li Mubai screamed, his facial muscles twitching.
Ye Qing: "..." *Is it really that painful? I'll have to use it sparingly in the future.*
A while later, Li Mubai stared daggers at Ye Qing. "You said it didn't hurt!"
"A grown man, crying over a little pain? Aren't you embarrassed?" Ye Qing looked at him with disdain.
Li Mubai felt like he was going insane.
"Alright, alright, stop worrying about the pain. Look, the bleeding has stopped, hasn't it?"
Li Mubai: "..." *Stop worrying about the pain? You’re not the one bleeding!*