Chapter 13: Hunter and Prey

Chapter 13: Hunter and Prey

The Ten Thousand Woods lay 90 kilometers west of Huntian City. Outside the forest, a camp had been erected.

Within the camp stood rows of wooden huts, with banners fluttering in the wind, their words clearly visible.

"Baozheng Trading Company."

"Qianxing Trading Company."

These were outposts established by trading companies from Huntian City.

In one corner of the camp, a crowd had gathered.

"Wind and Fire Team seeks one Sixth Level Body Forging Realm martial artist skilled in movement techniques and footwork..."

"Dark Howl Team seeks one Seventh Level Body Forging Realm martial artist skilled in heavy assault..."

Signs were propped up, each displaying the names of the teams and their requirements.

After scanning the area, Chen Feng walked toward the Wind and Fire Team.

From his inquiries over the past few days, he had learned that newcomers to the Ten Thousand Woods were best off joining a team first. Wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly not only yielded poor results but also increased the danger.

"I am at the Sixth Level of the Body Forging Realm, skilled in movement techniques," Chen Feng said to the gray-clothed youth seated beside the sign.

"Follow me," the gray-clothed youth replied, standing up and leading Chen Feng not far away.

"Captain, we have a Sixth Level Body Forging martial artist skilled in movement techniques who wants to join us," the gray-clothed youth announced to a black-robed middle-aged man in his thirties.

The gazes of the black-robed man, a red-clothed woman, and a blue-clothed youth all fell upon Chen Feng.

"Welcome. Please demonstrate your movement techniques. After all, our Wind and Fire Team needs a teammate proficient in footwork or movement techniques to coordinate better once we enter the Ten Thousand Woods. I hope you understand, young brother," the black-robed man said with a faint smile, his eyes fixed on Chen Feng.

Chen Feng nodded. With a flicker of his figure, he split into four illusions. The four members of the Wind and Fire Team narrowed their eyes, scrutinizing closely.

"Excellent movement techniques. Even I, at the Eighth Level of the Body Forging Realm, find it hard to distinguish the real from the illusions," the black-robed man praised without reservation.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Shi Feng, at the Eighth Level of the Body Forging Realm, skilled in defensive martial arts. I am the captain of the Wind and Fire Team," the black-robed man said, removing the large black round shield from his back, which was the size of a millstone.

"Little brother, my name is Zhu Li. Can you guess my cultivation level and specialty?" the red-clothed woman teased, her eyes fixed on Chen Feng.

Chen Feng observed her, and the woman deliberately straightened her ample chest. Instinctively, he averted his gaze.

"Alright, stop teasing the young man," the black-robed man interjected, noticing Chen Feng's slight discomfort. "Zhu Li is at the Seventh Level of the Body Forging Realm, skilled in close combat. Her weapon of choice is a whip."

"My name is Lin Yi, Sixth Level Body Forging Realm, skilled in archery," the blue-clothed youth said coldly.

"Brother, I'm Chen Yan, Sixth Level Body Forging Realm, skilled in blade techniques," the gray-clothed youth said, clapping Chen Feng on the shoulder with a hearty laugh.

"Chen Feng, Sixth Level Body Forging Realm, skilled in movement techniques and a bit of swordplay," Chen Feng replied with a smile.

The four of them were highly approving of Chen Feng's movement techniques, though they paid little attention to his claim of knowing "a bit of swordplay."

"Now that everyone is acquainted, I should mention that since Chen Feng has just joined our Wind and Fire Team, he may not be familiar with our rules. Let me explain," Shi Feng, the black-robed man, said with a smile. "As teammates, we respect and help one another. Additionally, when searching for rare herbs or hunting demonic beasts in the Ten Thousand Woods, whoever discovers and collects the herbs first will receive 60% of the share, while the remaining four will each receive 10%."

"When hunting demonic beasts, individual kills still account for sixty percent, while the remaining forty percent is divided among the others. For joint kills, since my cultivation is the highest and I serve as the main force to hold off the beast, I take forty percent. Zhu Li, at the Seventh Level of the Body Forging Realm, is responsible for skirmishing and takes twenty percent. The remaining forty percent is distributed among the three of you based on contribution."

Chen Feng expressed no objections.

"Let’s set off now. We’ll celebrate properly once we return with our spoils," Shi Feng said, clapping his hands.

The Wind and Fire Team immediately left the camp and headed toward the Ten Thousand Woods.

Along the way, Chen Feng inquired about various aspects of the Ten Thousand Woods—what precautions to take when entering, how to better locate rare herbs, hunt demonic beasts, and so on.

The Wind and Fire Team held nothing back, sharing all their knowledge.

Chen Feng committed everything to memory, knowing that such experience would otherwise take considerable time and exploration to acquire.

The towering trees of the Ten Thousand Woods blocked out the sunlight, casting the forest into deep gloom.

The moment he stepped inside, Chen Feng felt the clamor of the outside world fade away, replaced by the rustling sounds of the forest and the occasional distant roars of beasts.

"This route is commonly used, so the chances of encountering demonic beasts are slim," Zhu Li whispered to Chen Feng in explanation.

Chen Feng nodded.

As they ventured deeper, the roars grew more frequent and distinct, and the expressions of the group grew increasingly solemn.

While following the team, Chen Feng memorized the route and imprinted every detail of the surroundings in his mind, never forgetting a thing.

"Little Brother Chen, what’s the name of the movement technique you practice?" Shi Feng suddenly stopped and turned to Chen Feng, asking with a jovial smile.

"Nine Shadows Illusory Body," Chen Feng replied casually.

Shi Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling something, and he immediately exchanged glances with the other three.

"Little Brother, this sister has a favor to ask of you," Zhu Li said pitifully. "A rogue cultivator like me lives on the edge of a blade every day, never knowing when I might end up in a beast’s belly. But if I could learn a movement technique, my chances of survival would surely improve."

The Blue-Clothed Youth, standing a few meters away, remained silent, but his gaze was sharp as he aimed his bow at Chen Feng.

"What do you all mean by this?" Chen Feng frowned slightly.

"Stop playing dumb. Hand over the technique, or you’ll learn what it means to wish for death but be unable to find it," the Gray-Clothed Youth snarled, pointing his blade at Chen Feng with murderous intent.

Shi Feng and Zhu Li also fixed their cold, ruthless stares on Chen Feng, all pretense of friendliness gone.

"Out of gratitude for the knowledge you’ve shared with me, let’s part ways here," Chen Feng said with a faint sigh, disappointment flashing deep in his eyes.

"Cut off one of his arms," Shi Feng suddenly ordered.

The Blue-Clothed Youth immediately loosed an arrow.

The shaft tore through the air with a piercing shriek.

The Gray-Clothed Youth grinned cruelly, slashing mercilessly at Chen Feng’s right arm.

The disappointment in Chen Feng’s eyes turned razor-sharp. His figure blurred as an illusionary shadow appeared, evading both the arrow and the blade. His sword left its sheath like a gust of wind, swift as a fleeting shadow.

The Gray-Clothed Youth’s pupils contracted to pinpricks, a trace of terror surfacing in his gaze.

"Stop!" Shi Feng roared, his expression drastically changing as he threw a punch.

Zhu Li, in the same instant, whipped out her long whip, sending it cracking toward Chen Feng with an ear-splitting snap.

Chen Feng's sword pierced the Gray-Clothed Youth's neck, while his illusions were simultaneously shattered by Shi Feng's fists and Zhu Li's whip. A phantom suddenly appeared beside the Blue-Clothed Youth, its blade cutting through the air like lightning, piercing his heart before he could react.

Shi Feng and Zhu Li were stunned.

They had never imagined that Chen Feng, at only the Sixth Level of the Body Forging Realm, could be so formidable.

"Kill him!" Shi Feng roared in fury, swinging his black round shield at Chen Feng with crushing force, the impact resonating like a booming drum.

Zhu Li flicked her whip, releasing a series of ear-piercing shrieks as it lashed out like a venomous serpent.

Chen Feng's eyes gleamed with sharp intensity, cold light flickering within them. He activated the Nine Shadows Illusory Body once more, evading Shi Feng and appearing behind Zhu Li. The Wind Shadow Sword Technique sliced through the air, striking with lethal precision.

A chilling sense of danger crawled up Zhu Li's spine, her hair standing on end as terror surged from the depths of her heart. Her voluptuous figure twisted forward in a desperate attempt to escape, but she was just a fraction too slow—the blade pierced through her back and emerged from her chest.

"Zhu Li!" Shi Feng's eyes nearly burst with rage as he bellowed, hurling his round shield at Chen Feng like a falling boulder.

Yet in the next moment, Shi Feng turned and fled in the opposite direction.

Once a sword was drawn, it could not be sheathed without bloodshed. Chen Feng would never allow his enemy to escape.

Activating his movement technique, Chen Feng dodged the shield's crushing impact and swiftly gave chase. However, instead of closing the distance, he found himself falling farther behind as Shi Feng vanished into the Ten Thousand Woods.

"The Nine Shadows Illusory Body is a movement technique suited for combat, not pursuit," Chen Feng mused with a silent sigh.

Another factor was the disparity in cultivation.

He was at the Sixth Level of the Body Forging Realm, while Shi Feng had reached the Eighth Level. In a one-on-one fight, Chen Feng was confident of victory—but when it came to sheer speed, he was at a disadvantage.

"I must find an opportunity to train in a movement technique better suited for pursuit," Chen Feng thought to himself before returning to the scene of the killings to search the bodies.