Junior

Lu played around with the dagger during the day. He also spent a fraction of his time seeing what he could do to improve his Chameleon's Hiding Technique. Limping Lightning Leopard had said it would work and would conceal his world essence presence until he broke through to the stage of earth.

But Lu couldn't be sure no one would see through it or that he had mastered it. If there was something he could do to improve, he should do it.

During the night, Lu tirelessly exhausted himself and his world essence by using his Blessing and hopping around and back and forth in the moonlight. If he paced himself, he could keep a moderate tempo for an entire night. It was pretty neat. Now, if only the nights lasted forever, Lu would be unbeatable.

Lu sighed. He was so miserable. Why did there have to be such a thing as day?

"Hide."

After more than a week of traveling, it seemed like they had finally made some headway toward Imra. The smuggler whispered back to Lu as they approached a city they had to pass through when taking this route.

Lu did as he was told and hid inside a wooden crate. The smuggler didn't even try to bribe the guards and just let them look into his carriage. It was everyday items like cloth and sewing supplies. If the guards were paid more or had reason to suspect the smuggler, maybe they would have asked to look through his cargo more thoroughly.

But the smuggler looked weary after being on the road so long, and in the afternoon, no guard wanted to take on more job than necessary. So, after a cursory glance through the carriage, the smuggler could enter the city.

As a border city, the city didn't have any specialties other than its inns and trade. But Lu still went sightseeing during the night before they left in the morning. There was still a little ways to go before they arrived at Yennet County.

The road had been smooth so far, but they could never tell what would happen. The forests would also get progressively riskier the further from Leoso they got. Unlike the peaceful little corner, Lu called home that was Leoso Principality, Imra Kingdom's wilderness and forests were full of powerful beasts that could tear men to shreds in the blink of an eye.

Lu and the smuggler were wary of their surroundings.

Beasts usually avoided roads since people weren't foolish enough to travel without security.

But the smuggler chose a little more secluded route, and they had two horses, a carriage, and two humans. They weren't populous or armed enough to stave off the hunting instincts of the forests' beasts.

"You got your dagger, kid?"

"Sure do."

Lu popped out of the carriage and plopped down next to the smuggler. He was hoping for another lesson. Considering the worth of a gold coin, it wasn't impossible.

"Good. Next lesson."

'Yes!'

"Live combat. Go."

The smuggler pushed Lu off the cart and pointed at the four-legged beast that hovered at the side of the road, prowling to the side while watching the smuggler and the horses.

"Is it alone?"

The striped dark brown beast that looked like a mix of a large cat and a dog glanced at Lu when he spoke.

"No idea."

The smuggler shrugged and halted the horses. His lips and expression told Lu that he wasn't going to tell him anymore or lend aid.

"Tch. I'm telling your employer if you let me die."

"Sure. You do that."

Lu grumbled while turning around and raising his dagger as he faced the beast. Seemingly deciding that Lu was an obstacle to its feast, the beast also faced Lu.

The striped beast kept close to the ground, and its tail flicked back and forth in the air as it crawled closer.

Lu pointed at the beast with his dagger.

"You're dead meat, Tiger Junior."

In response to Lu's words, Tiger Junior leaped across the ditch and landed only a few strides away from Lu. Lu kept a sharp eye on the beast. But the moon wasn't up, and his senses weren't anything supernatural. Fortunately, the beast wasn't all that either.

While closing the distance by stepping forward and side to side, Lu thought about how this would go down. Would he engage in a fierce battle that would last days and nights with this ferocious beast?

It seemed unlikely when he thought about it. It wasn't like he could block Tiger Junior's attacks or even parry them. And the beast's hide didn't look thick enough to block his dagger.

'Hmm—!'

Lu was forced out of his considerations when Tiger Junior had enough and pushed off the ground with its forelegs stretched out and its jaws opened wide, revealing a frightening set of teeth.

Lu didn't even have time to think before his body tossed itself to the side to avoid the beast's attack. Adrenaline rushed through his body in a different way from when he almost got caught stealing. He didn't even feel the scrapes he got from sliding on his stomach on hard, gravely road.

Lu hurried to stand up, not forgetting his dagger. He turned around and slashed horizontally at the beast sprinting at him. Lu's quick recovery was better than the beast's speed, and he managed to cut Tiger Junior's nose.

"Ha! Eat shi—!"

Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to stop the beast in its tracks as it lunged at Lu again.

Lu rolled forward under the flying beast. He got up as the beast landed, but he turned around before Tiger Junior.

'Aha!'

Lu saw an opening and jumped. It was his turn to do a leap attack.

Lu landed on the beast's back. The beast tried to toss Lu off, but Lu's legs gripped its mid-section tight. Lu's left hand grabbed the beast's thick fur, and his right hand with the dagger rose into the air before plummeting downward and plunging into the beast's neck.

"Eat shit and die, Tiger Junior!"