Translator: CinderTL
"Stay home and recover. I need to arrange some matters for the tribe," Xun Ancai said, preparing to leave.
Xu Sanyan quickly asked, "What arrangements?"
"A hunting expedition. We also need to distribute the weapons you brought back yesterday."
Assuming he was afraid to be alone, Xun Ancai pointed to the Five-Headed Dog and said, "I'll have it stay here to keep you company."
Xu Sanyan pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Who's going?"
"Lots of people. Brother Shitou and the others are going. Why?"
"I'm going too."
"What for?" Xun Ancai asked, noticing how difficult it was for him to even get out of bed. She couldn't understand why he wanted to join.
"I'll ride the Five-Headed Dog. I won't be any trouble," Xu Sanyan said, gesturing to the beast.
Xun Ancai initially wanted to refuse, but she couldn't resist his persistence and eventually relented.
Xu Sanyan's true motive for joining was to seize an opportunity to eliminate Xun Shitou.
Although Xun Shitou had previously supported Xun Ancai as clan chief, he had done so for the greater good of the Dog Clan, not out of loyalty to her.
Moments later,
the Dog Clan people gathered at the foot of the mountain. Xun Shitou glanced at Xu Sanyan, who was riding on the back of the Five-Headed Dog, and frowned slightly. "What are you doing here?"
In that state, he'd be more of a hindrance than a help on the hunt.
Xu Sanyan caught the hostility in his tone but merely smiled lightly, unconcerned. "Just stretching my muscles."
"Tch~"
Xun Shitou scoffed, but said no more. His flickering eyes, however, betrayed the calculations churning in his mind.
Xu Sanyan wanted him dead, but Xun Shitou harbored the same desire for Xu Sanyan. Previously, Xun Ancai had kept a close watch, denying him any opportunity. But this time was different.
The wilderness was fraught with danger; anything could happen.
Xu Sanyan had accompanied Xun Ancai on one previous outing, but that had been confined to the relatively safe area around the village.
This time, however, the group of dozens would venture deep into the jungle. The jungle teemed with countless wild beasts, many of which possessed strength comparable to sixth- or even seventh-blessing cultivators.
"Take good care of him," Xun Ancai said, bowing her head to the Five-Headed Dog.
"Mmm~"
The Five-Headed Dog nodded with remarkable understanding.
Xu Sanyan patted the Five-Headed Dog's head, thinking that sometimes animals were far more reliable than humans.
"Let's go!"
Xun Ancai led the way out of the tribe on horseback.
As dusk fell, the forest grew dark.
Xu Sanyan glanced at Xun Ancai, who was still urging her horse deeper into the woods. A flicker of worry stirred within him.
He had overlooked one crucial detail: he could only remain in this world for three days.
After three days, he would be forced to return, and his next appearance would inevitably be at the exact spot where he had vanished.
In other words, Xu Sanyan might find himself alone in this very forest the next time he appeared.
"Sigh..."
Xu Sanyan sighed softly. He couldn't understand why they were pushing so far into the wilderness.
But since they were already here, he decided to focus on the immediate task at hand.
His gaze fixed on Xun Shitou at the front of the group, a hint of murderous intent lurking in his eyes.
By the time darkness had completely enveloped the forest, the group had been traveling for a full day and night, utterly exhausted.
The Five-Headed Dog beneath Xu Sanyan also appeared listless, even its robust physique struggling to endure the relentless pace.
"Rest for a while," Xun Ancai finally called out, halting the group. The Dog Clan people immediately settled onto the ground, seemingly without a care in the world.
Even in the treacherous mountain forest, they showed no fear of ambush. After all, they were the Dog Clan.
Three-headed and four-headed dogs of all sizes formed a vigilant perimeter, investigating every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs.
Xun Ancai turned and approached Xu Sanyan, pulling a sweat-soaked piece of dried meat from her tunic. "You must be hungry. Eat this."
Xu Sanyan stared blankly at the glistening meat, swallowed hard, and firmly refused. "You eat it. I'm not hungry."
"Oh."
Without hesitation, Xun Ancai tore into the meat with gusto, pointing toward the night sky. "That's Southern Mountain. We're going hunting there this time."
Xu Sanyan squinted, straining to see through the dim moonlight. He could barely make out the silhouette of a mountain range.
He had heard of Southern Mountain before. Xun Hua had mentioned during her clan chief election campaign that she would lead the clan across Yue Nan Mountain, implying there were other tribes on the other side.
"Why are we going so far?"
Gulp.
Xun Ancai strained her neck, swallowing the jerky with difficulty. "Because there's more prey there. There are sheep herds."
"Sheep herds?" Xu Sanyan repeated instinctively, picturing a flock of fluffy lambs wearing "wool sweaters" and bleating "baa." Could such creatures even survive in this world?
How hadn't they been hunted to extinction?
Could it be just a shared name for entirely different species?
"Do these sheep eat grass or meat?"
Xun Ancai replied matter-of-factly, "Meat, of course. Have you ever seen a sheep that eats grass?"
Xu Sanyan nodded. As expected, it was just a shared name.
Xun Ancai glanced at the sky and stood up. "Let's go. We need to reach Southern Mountain before dawn and gather as much prey as possible. The Long Night is coming."
"What's the Long Night?" Xu Sanyan asked, hearing the term for the first time.
Xun Ancai took a moment to explain, "Oh, it's just that there's no daylight. It's always dark, even the moon is gone. It's incredibly dark and lasts for thirty to forty days. We need to prepare extra prey."
"When does the Long Night begin?"
"Hmm..." Xun Ancai counted on her fingers. "About half a month from now, I think."
The Long Night...
Xu Sanyan nodded slowly, a faint smile creeping across his lips. The Long Night sounds perfect...
Meanwhile, on the other side of Southern Mountain, Lin Fan hobbled along behind the Jade Clan members, clutching his injured rear. His gait was unsteady, and even his thighs trembled with each step.
A tall, dark-skinned girl beside him gripped his arm, her voice rough as she whispered, "Can you keep up? If not, you should turn back."
It was clear she cared deeply for him.
Hearing this, Lin Fan's face flushed crimson, then paled. He stubbornly straightened his neck and retorted, "Of course I can! I'm fine!"
How could a man ever admit he couldn't handle it?
A burly man nearby sneered, "Hmph, follow if you want. Just don't get eaten by the sheep."
"I'm protecting him," the girl snapped, her eyes flashing. "What's it to you?"
Her eyes widened, her expression darkening. She could say her man was capable, but no one else had the right to question him.
"Tch~"
The man turned away, his face twisted with disdain.
Lin Fan gritted his teeth, his heart a mix of frustration and unwavering resolve. This wasn't the first time he'd been mocked, but he vowed to make the Jade Clan people take him seriously sooner or later.
He had followed them for two reasons: first, to quickly understand this world, and second, to try and find a way out.
There was another reason as well: he wanted to integrate into the Jade Clan as quickly as possible and find a way to gain power.
Lin Fan's current situation was even more precarious than when Xu Sanyan first arrived.
Though both had lost their spiritual power, Xu Sanyan had already possessed a certain level of physical cultivation and soul techniques. Lin Fan, however, had nothing.
With the sudden loss of his spiritual power, Lin Fan's strength plummeted by over eighty percent. Even an eight-year-old child could pin him down and beat him, a humiliation that fueled his burning desire for power.
Before long, the sky brightened.
On both sides of Southern Mountain, two teams began their ascent simultaneously.
(End of the Chapter)
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