"Are you nuts?" Nie Li looked at Shen Yue like he was crazy. The memory of Ye Ziuyin telling him about this Fox Bear taking out several of the expedition party rang to loudly. It would be foolish to put them all in danger like this. "It is the early summer, they only come out from the caves and nests to the forest to start hunting. That means they are more dangerous than normal."
"That..." Chen Linjian did not like the sound of the unnecessary danger but Shen Yue had a point as well. "isn't around the time they would start hunting now?"
"Fox bears are in the end mostly bears. It is easy to bait and kill them if you are not scared. Most hunters die because of fear or shock when confronting them." Shen Yue shrugged not really minding that they wanted to run. "Keep in mind we are not that far from Glory City, the next Demon Beast Horde will have these Demonic Beast if we are not careful."
"Fox Bears are very conscious of their area. Making their territory with urine. The odor I smelled earlier was probably left by one after they moved out to hunt." Nie Li rather not risk some people in the group lives like this. It best they leave so he tried harder to convince Chen Linjian. "They are sure to appear very soon!"
"We have time to set traps." Shen Yue countered. He pulled out a pill from the belongings of one of the people he killed. Feeding it to the Black Star Tiger cub. It ate it quickly and started to slumber. "Hmm, should have made some baby carriers already. Silly me." Not wanting to place it in his Internal Space since he wanted it to experience things faster, the cub was placed in his robes as the sleeves were retied to make a sturdier carrier.
"Then what should we do?" Liangjian was not that knowledgeable about beasts. Remembering they were here to find treasure was more important than the demon beast activity. His eyes looked at the Black Star Tiger cub. 'When did he get that demon beast1? I know their were none for sale at the market!'
"We need to leave immediately in the night. The Fox Bear's sense of smell is very sensitive. If we rediscovered, a war will be inevitable." Nie Li passed his senses over the cub Shen Yue carried. He received a stern look from Shen Yue for that. "Our goal is the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, it'll be best to avoid any unnecessary battles!"
"En!" Chen Linjian looked to his lackeys and gave orders. "Return and tell everyone to pack up at once!" They left quickly leaving the three there in a stalemate. "Are we all good here?"
"We are for the most part." Shen Yue took a step towards Nie Li, investigate something of mine again.. and you will regret it!" He vanished on the spot. Heading towards the camp was more important since he needed to know who all was gathered.
"What did he mean Nie li?" Linjian asked slightly bothered. 'I do not want to believe the rumors spread by Shen Fei that Nie Li and Shen Yue are both seeking to destabilize Glory City. it makes no sense for them to do so! But Shen Fei and his lackeys have done nothing this entire trip. I must be cautious.'
"It's nothing.." Nie Li felt the Demon Beast was really abnormal. The fact it seemed so comfortable with Shen Yue was even scarier. "There is no way he killed a Black Star Tiger in the wild. Right?" Chen Linjian gave him an uncomfortable look. "We should go as well."
"Right." As the two left towards camp, Linjian had other thoughts. 'If his rank was at the level he said before and he spent that time in secluded cultivation to make those pills, he is most likely even stronger I need to tread carefully at this rate!'
It was not that hard to get the camp up and ready.
They traveled into the night and the next morning quickly.
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Along the Path-
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Shen Yue was walking with those of the Alchemy Association. Yang Xin was more reserved than she was before considering a lot was on her mind. The Mother Black Star Tiger had a lot to share with her battle wise and senses wisely. The various plants it consumed actually improved Yang Xin's understanding of Alchemy.
Which was fair considering the humans of the Dimension were reluctant to try certain plants and Demon Beasts unless desperate. She was already aware of the Silver Rank killers that trailed behind them. But nothing to worry about really.
"Shen Yue, do you really think we could have taken a herd of Fox Bears?" Ye Hong asked. Considering they brought up the rear a few looked back wanting to know the answer. He was also keeping an eye on Ye Ziyun as requested. "Surely the need to leave was the right choice."
"Not really." Shen Yue Astral Sense kept tabs on the killers as well as the Black Star Tiger cubs that ran around the group. They were enjoying themselves more then the tired cultivators were. "Injuries can be fixed but those killed later are just dead. But let's forget that boring subject. Have you picked the people following the group yet?"
"Eh?!" Ye Hong was startled. He was after all thinking he was just overthinking things. But he did pick up something following them for a while now. "I have somewhat. I think Lianjian might be as well."
"Nie Li, good call on getting us out of there early enough. Thanks to your foresight we were not caught in a bad situation." Linjian was worried and it showed a little on his face. "Do you feel anything else is amiss?"
'Nie Li was the one who discovered the Fox Bears? How awesome!' Ye Ziyun was impressed.
"Yes, we are being followed." Nie Li said calmly. He was suprised Linjian picked that up. 'Is he still at the Bronze Rank?' Unaware the young Divine Family scion stepped into the Silver Rank like most of the people in his group, would have been a shock. "I believe they are Silver Rank."
"Since you helped us by spotting that incident, consider it as me Chen Linjian owing you a favor." He was wanting to see if Shen Yue would react to the conversation as well as those with him. But they did not. So he went for the other thing he wanted to do. "Are you sure you won't follow me?"
"Master Chen is to kind with the offer but no." Nie Li refused. 'He was a little annoyed that the 3 Silver Rank killers that followed them were not a priority for the young leader. 'I must be missing something.'
"Members of the Dark Guild are generally a problem." Nie Li said sternly. This changed the way Linjian acted. 'Finally!'
"The Dark Guild!" Linjian gritted his teeth only having bad memories associated with them. "That organization of criminals needs to be wiped out!" They walked a little further before a plan finished forming. "Leave it to me to deal with them!"
Setting up for a break, everyone was beyond ready to take a nap at that. Those of the Alchemy Association kept to themselves. While the various groups started making food and relaxed.
Nie Li and Ye Ziyun started talking away while Ye Hong followed Chen Lijian who went to get Shen Yue.
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Show us!-
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Shen Yue had the cub sitting on his shoulder once more. It was tired after playing with its sibling but did not want to sleep just yet. Smelling the battle scent coming off Shen Yue was enough to energize it.
"If you are as strong as you said before, then this is no problem for you." Chen Lijian said. His voice almost breaking as if it was true then not only was it best to get on Shen Yue's good side considering his strength and accomplishments as an Alchemist, then he defintely made a mistake by not taking out those Fox Bears. "I was to busy to have it confirmed before."
"Alright." Shen Yue nodded in agreement. It would only benefit him anyway. "Long as they base work is done by your people I do not care."
"Good!" Linjian too off in a sprint as the trap was already in place. His lackeys had already surrounded the killers up ahead. "We better not be to late!"
*Boom!* The sound of explosion caused those resting to jump up. Well, the Alchemy Association kept doing what they were doing.
Surrounded were three members of the Dark Guild. Only one of them hid his features the other two were too stupid or just too arrogant to do so. The leader of the group held a scroll in his hand.
"Speak! Where the hell are you from!" Chen Linjian shouted. Shen Yue did not stop moving as he charged forward.
'If they know our identities, we can save ourselves her but it will bring trouble to the family head!' As the scroll was open, he pointed it towards the young scion. 'I can at least take out this brat first!'
"Get the scroll!" Shen Yue ordered the tiger cub. It jumped off his shoulder snatching the scroll easily. Turning it smiled at the trio. "Good job!" He then activated the Metal Seed for his real attack against the leader of the group.
*Fwish!* Two blue-white flame blades appeared surrounding Shen Yue's hands. With a push of spirit energy they extended as he stabbed the other two. as for the man one, he jumped forward kneeing him in the sternum.
"Flare Up!" As he landed while his enemy flew into a tree, the Flame Blades increased in intensity burning the internal organs up in an instant. "Will this suffice for a test?" He looked back at Linjian bored.
"Yes.. that will do." Linjian was sure he was not in the Silver Rank. He himself could not produce an attack that strong to take out one let alone to silver rank. ".. the third one!"
"Ughh!" The killer was crawling away in agony. The force of the impact sent a weird pulse through his body. Whatever it was, disrupted spirit energy enough and reversed blood flow. "I can not be caught here!"
"Umm are you really trying to run away after that?" Shen Yue picked up and stabbed him in the spine. His spirit entered the body and made short work of the meridian and nervous system. "We have questions to ask!"
*Woosh!* He threw the man towards Chen Lijian like a ragdoll. They were not stupid, they could tell the young man would never move again. Let alone cultivate. The burn marks all across his body caused a few to turn away in disgust.
The tiger cub walked over placing the scroll by Shen Yue. Picking both of them up, he looked it over making sure it was by those he thought.
The three may work with the Dark Guild but they were members of the Sacred Family all the same. Which brought the question, what did Shen Fei hope to accomplish with just 3 Silver Rank members?
"I will never talk!" Despite his injuries, the assassin still barked back defiantly. 'Is young master Shen Fei going to do nothing to help me!?' He looked over in a panic towards Shen Fei who watched silently. 'That bastard said this would be easy!'
Shen Fei was more worried about how his brother attains all this strength. Let alone having the unusual Black Star Tiger under him. This was supposed to be his chance to take out Nie Li as well as deal with his disobedient brother!
Another member of the Sacred Family nudged the annoyed scion of the family whispering in his ear. Warning him that if they didn't do something soon, they may be exposed.