Morning arrived with a pale silver sky.
Snow still covered the Northern Border, but the cold felt lighter than before. Smoke rose from village chimneys, soldiers trained inside the outpost, and for the first time, the people under my banner looked like they believed tomorrow would come.
That was good.
But belief did not fill stomachs.
Food did.
And if Chen Lie wanted to starve me, then I would make sure the border could feed itself.
I stood at the eastern gate of the outpost, wearing black winter armour and Zhao Ming's heavy cloak. At my side were the two Frost Wolves, calm and alert.
Before me stood today's hunting party.
Yue Lian with ten Phoenix Flame Guards.
Lin Xue looked like she had been born from winter itself.
Hu Mei, who somehow looked overdressed for a beast hunt.
And of course—
Feng Yuehuang.
Crimson hair. Golden eyes. Divine beauty. Permanent superiority.
Mo Jianli leaned lazily against the wall with his giant demonic blade.
"I'm not coming."
I raised a brow.
"Oh?"
He yawned.
"Hunting weak beasts sounds boring."
Hu Mei smiled sweetly.
"You're afraid of dirt."
He pointed at her.
"I am a dignified demon sovereign. I do not wrestle pigs."
Reasonable.
I nodded.
"Fine. Stay here and protect the outpost."
He looked offended.
"Now I sound like a babysitter."
I walked past him.
"You'll survive."
Behind me, I heard him mutter something about ungrateful masters.
The eastern forest was known as the Black Frost Beast Forest.
Dense.
Ancient.
Filled with spirit beasts, poisonous herbs, and things that preferred humans as food.
Perfect.
As we entered the forest, the air changed.
Colder.
Heavier.
Even the Frost Wolves lowered their bodies slightly, their instincts sharp.
Yue Lian stepped closer.
"There are three main beast territories here."
She pointed ahead.
"Frost Wolves are in the outer zone, Iron Horn Beasts deeper inside, and the northern lake belongs to a Thunder Serpent."
A Thunder Serpent.
Interesting.
Very useful too.
Beast materials.
Spirit cores.
And possibly—
a new mount.
I smiled.
"Let's say hello."
Hu Mei laughed.
"I love when Master says things that sound peaceful and absolutely are not."
We moved deeper.
Along the way, I stopped more than once—not for enemies, but for the land.
Broken old irrigation channels.
Wild medicinal herbs.
Signs of abandoned hunting routes.
This place had resources.
It had simply been ignored.
In my previous life, wasted resources annoyed me more than bad meetings.
Same problem.
Different world.
I crouched near a frozen patch of wild root vegetables.
"These can be cultivated near Frostwood."
Yue Lian blinked.
"You know farming and beasts?"
I stood up.
"I know expensive mistakes when I see them."
She still looked confused.
Fair.
Lin Xue pointed toward claw marks on a tree.
"Something large."
Fresh.
Good.
The hunt was starting.
A low growl came from the trees ahead.
Then another.
Five massive wolves stepped from the shadows.
Silver fur.
Blue eyes.
Each one larger than a horse.
Spirit beasts.
The leader was clearly stronger.
Its aura pressed outward like cold wind.
Qi Gathering Realm.
The pack leader.
The Frost Wolves beside me growled softly.
Recognition.
Same bloodline.
Interesting.
I stepped forward.
Yue Lian immediately moved.
"Your Highness, dangerous—"
I raised a hand.
"No."
The pack leader stared at me.
Its eyes were not wild.
They were intelligent.
Good.
I slowly removed a spirit beast core from my storage ring—it was taken from Han Luo's beast pens.
Then tossed it forward.
The wolf sniffed.
Did not move.
Still watching me.
Testing.
I smiled faintly.
This was no different from negotiating with arrogant board members.
Do not show fear.
Do not rush.
And never blink first.
I stepped closer.
The Phoenix Guards behind me looked ready to die.
Feng Yuehuang watched silently.
Golden eyes unreadable.
The wolf growled once.
I kept walking.
Then—
It lowered its head.
Silence.
Even Hu Mei looked surprised.
"Well…"
She smiled.
"Master is either very brave or very stupid."
I reached out and touched the wolf's head.
Cold fur.
Heavy breathing.
Power.
The system flashed.
[Spirit Beast Submission Successful]
Frost Wolf Alpha acknowledged the host.
Frost Wolf Pack ×5 added to Border Beast Corps
Army Combat Power Increased
Perfect.
The two Frost Wolves beside me looked unbearably proud.
Honestly, same.
Yue Lian exhaled slowly.
"You tamed the alpha…"
I smiled.
"Kings recognise kings."
Hu Mei actually clapped.
Lin Xue pretended not to be impressed.
Feng Yuehuang walked past me and lightly touched the alpha wolf's forehead.
The beast instantly froze in fear.
She looked at me.
"Not bad."
Coming from her—
That was basically a marriage proposal.
I grinned.
"Careful. Keep praising me like that, and I'll expect another kiss."
The forest went very quiet.
Hu Mei looked delighted.
Yue Lian looked like she suddenly wanted to be somewhere else.
Lin Xue turned away immediately.
Professional.
Feng Yuehuang stared at me for several long seconds.
Then she stepped closer.
Very close.
Her golden eyes locked onto mine.
"If you defeat the Thunder Serpent today…"
Her voice was soft.
Dangerously soft.
"…I may consider it."
I blinked.
Then smiled slowly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Challenge accepted.
At that exact moment—
The lake ahead exploded.
BOOM.
Water and ice shot into the sky.
A massive black serpent rose from the frozen lake, lightning dancing across its scales. Its eyes burned like blue thunder, and its roar shook the entire forest.
The Thunder Serpent had arrived.
Hu Mei sighed dramatically.
"There goes the peaceful flirting."
I drew my sword.
Qi Gathering Realm is pulsing.
My wolves growled.
My army tightened its formation.
And Feng Yuehuang stood beside me with a faint smile that said she was absolutely enjoying this.
Perfect.
I pointed my blade toward the giant serpent.
"Looks like I'm earning that kiss."
The Thunder Serpent roared.
And the hunt truly began.