The Hunt (4)

Yan Xiu and the rest walked back to the camp, they didn't forget gathering woods to make fire. Yan Xiu harvested some plants that could be used to substituted salt and pepper.

They had set the bait for Gudol Birds and got the firewoods, they even hunted a nice prey for dinner. They went back happily. On the way back, Chen Hanchen noticed some tracks from an unknown beast, he frowned. He was familiar with the beasts living in this forest and yet he couldn't recall the owner of these tracks.

He didn't want to scare Yan Xiu and the others, so he didn't go and observed the tracks up close, but he paid close attention to the surrounding. Then, he found more tracks, he also found claw marks and it was not small in size. Thankfully, Yan Xiu and the others didn't think much about it as it was normal for them to saw such marks when they went to the forest. 'I need to tell teacher about this.' thought Chen Hanchen. 

Bai Yuan also detected the smell of a new beast in the forest, and from the smell, the newcomer was far stronger compared to him. He growled at the smell, but he didn't want to have anything to do with the newcomer if he could, the newcomer was stronger than him. But if push comes to shove, he wouldn't shy away from the fight.

When they arrived at the camp, Liu Feng was standing outside the cave. Chen Hanchen dragged him inside without word and toward the Xiao Musheng, who was sitting cross-legged in the cave. Yan Xiu thought he probably had something to say to Xiao Musheng and Liu Feng, so he didn't ask and set up a bonfire outside the cave to cook. 

Liu Feng struggled free when the two of them were in front of Xiao Musheng, he crossed his hand and looked at Chen Hanchen with a look that said, 'If it wasn't something important, I'll whack you!'. Chen Hanchen sat down and Liu Feng follows suit. Xiao Musheng opened his eyes and asked. 

"What is it?" (XM) 

"Teacher, a foreign beast has entered the forest. Should we hunt it first?" (CH)

"It's okay." (XM)

Chen Hanchen frown but then he realized something.

"Is that foreign beast the testing beast this time?" (CH)

"Yes." (XM)

There was a tradition where the senior hunters would hunt a beast one stage higher or more than the junior hunters. The juniors hunter had to observe the fight and tried to withstand the pressure of a strong beast.

The purpose of this tradition was to train the junior hunter's fortitude and prepared them when they encountered a strong beast when they were on the real hunt with the team. So that they would not freeze later and endanger themselves or the whole team. After all, there was no telling what kind of beasts they would encounter on the hunt.

While the Gudol bird and One-horned Bull was an Inner foundation demon beast, it wasn't a ferocious one. The criteria for a demon beast used as the testing beast was a demon beast with ferocious nature. Unlike other demon beasts, ferocious demon beast could let out intimidation infused with their Zhenqi and blood lust to force anything weaker than them to submission.

Of course, the target could resist or even outright ignored it if it stronger than the user or had a strong will.

"Didn't we already decide on the Black Beak as the testing beast? and why wasn't I informed that the testing beast was changed?" (CH)

The Black Beak was an Inner stage beast with a strange appearance. It was like a quadruple bird, gray feathers as fur, black beak as mouth, and yet, its body and legs were that of a tiger. Liu Feng barged into the conversation.

"Yeah, but it's gone. That foreign monster ate it just two days ago. Hence, it becomes the new testing beast. And I plan on telling you about it after we hunt the Gudol bird." (LF)

"I see now, then how strong is that foreign beast?" (CH)

"Late-stage Inner Foundation, it shows sign of advancing to Outer Foundation stage. It's an armored type demon beast and it has huge claws." (LF)

"Do you know where it is?" (CH)

"Obviously. North from here, a bit far. It made its territory there. I have been watching it for three days, it is usually active from dawn to evening. We can hunt the Gudol birds first." (LF)

"Do you know what it's called?" (CH)

"No, but I call it Baller beast because it can turn to a ball." (LF)

A demon beast that could turn into a ball? What kind of beast is that? Thought Chen Hanchen. 

"It's strange, I know. I was surprised when I saw it curled its body and turn into a ball." (LF)

"Do you have more questions? If not, then go make a fire. We need to cook dinner." (XM)

Hearing the word dinner, Chen Hanchen smiled.

"Don't worry teacher, Little Xiu already cooking dinner. We caught a pair of black deers on the way here." (CH)

"I see." (XM)

Xiao Musheng smiled faintly hearing that, waiting and wondering what kind of delicacy Little Xiu would make. Liu Feng alone was left in the dark, wondering why his teacher and Chen Hanchen shared a knowing smile. then an appetizing smell filled the cave.