"Explains why he kept reminding me of Yi Jie when we just started at the Institute," said Yang Qing as his eyes gleamed in interest while observing Lai Rou.
"Seems like your siblings are finally about to make a move," said Xia Boqin.
Yang Qing quickly shifted his focus toward them at Xia Boqin's mention. Even though he was completely impartial in setting up the test and its eventual supervision, deep down he hoped the two siblings would make it and there were those he hoped, wouldn't. But regardless of his sentiments, those who made it to his table would gain entry whether he liked it or not, while those who failed to make the cut would get eliminated regardless if he wanted them to stay or not.
It was up to Zou Yi and Zou Liqin to ensure their entry into the Order. All Yang Qing could do for them is secretly cheer them on and wish them luck.
…
"Before we start, I think from this moment forward, He Shan you should take the lead," said Zou Yi as he solemnly pointed at, He Shan.
"What do you mean?" asked He Shan in confusion.
"While we may not know what things have been placed on the mountain to serve as our test, its base value is still a mountain and the things that constitute one.
I don't know about Yu Mei, but Liqin and I have little to no experience when it comes to such a setting..."
"I don't either," interjected Yu Mei
"With Yu Mei, that makes it all of us except you. You are the only one of us who knows how to survive on a mountain. The experiences we have may not serve us too well there, as such I suggest He Shan you take the lead and guide us on what to do and don't do so we don't end up being a burden or make careless mistakes there.
We may not be strong, yet, but the insights you have He Shan, may very well help us to gain ground in there," said Zou Yi.
"You want me to be the leader?" asked He Shan incredulously
"In part yes, if we hope to make it through," said Zou Yi as he lightly smiled at the shocked look on, He Shan.
"Okay you're sure you want that?" asked He Shan still eyeing Zou Yi and the rest suspiciously.
"I am, what about you Liqin and Yu Mei? Do you have any objections to my suggestion?"
"I don't" simultaneously answered Zou Liqin and Yu Mei.
He Shan still didn't seem like he believed them and kept thinking it was some sort of trap. He eyed them suspiciously for a few seconds before he sighed and decided to go along with it.
"Fine, but you all have to do what I say to the letter," said He Shan as he purposely eyed Zou Liqin and Yu Mei.
"What do we need to know and do?" said Zou Yi to move things along. They were already short on time and didn't have much of it to deal with He Shan's overly apprehensive nature.
"First things first, whatever notions you have about hunting, throw them out the window. It doesn't work with spirit beasts; some may use your understanding of what's normal to trick you and before you know it your legs are in some spirit beast's mouth.
The name of the game is stealth supplemented by speed," He Shan said as he eyed the trio like a seasoned senior and they were his disciples swallowing his every word.
"These two components will determine how far we reach. If we are to make it far one cannot exist without the other. Speed without stealth will only expose us easily, the same thing can be said about stealth without speed."
He Shan paused as he saw the looks of confusion from the trio.
"Like I said spirit beasts subvert the norm. When you are being stealthy with no speed, you will be still, avoiding making movements and slowly creeping about. This makes you an easy target for any spirit beast that has a better reaction and sensory perception than us.
There are spirit beasts whose forte lay in precisely that, hunting stealthy creatures.
While you are stalking other creatures, they are stalking you, and with your speed at an all-time low, there's no easier target.
I almost died of an attack from a mahogany cloud luster viper that used that same move. I was hunting a purple arc hare and therefore had to be stealthy. I stalked it for weeks; with no idea, I was being hunted too.
That damn viper was sneaky and greedy. It waited until I had successfully shot the hare before it attacked me. This way it could have two prizes for the price of one and it would have succeeded too had I not smeared the dung of a night stream elephant on myself, which gave me the much-needed protection from its fangs," He Shan said visibly frightened.
"This brings me to my next point, survival is all that matters in there, it doesn't matter how or what, you just have to do it. If we have to bury ourselves in a pit of dung to survive, we do it, if we need to hide in the rotting carcass of some beast, we do it, or apply mildly poisonous herbs and putrid-smelling extracts on ourselves, we do it.
And finally…" He Shan paused slightly for pure theatrics. He clearly seemed to enjoy having the trio have their entire focus centered on him, though occasionally he would reach for his axe on reflex before he relaxed his hands.
"If we are unlucky and end up getting noticed by a spirit beast, we have no chance at all of defeating, then ignore the first rule about being stealthy and speedy.
In that moment make as much chaos and noise as you can, the louder the better. We need to draw as much attention to our area as we can, by some luck a stronger spirit beast will appear, or the spirit beast attacking us will grow wary and choose to escape.
However, if it decides to attack, we are to run in different directions, but that's only if it's a single spirit beast if they are two or three, it's safer to stick together.
I don't have time to tell you everything, just keep those three in mind as for the rest, I'll mention them as we move up the mountain, after all, every place has a different set of rules," said He Shan.
The trio nodded to him as they got up.
"Yu Mei which side would you choose for us to enter the mountain from?" asked Zou Yi.
Yu Mei was surprised by the sudden question but nonetheless answered after she gave it some careful thought,
"That side," said Yu Mei as she pointed in the north-northeast of their direction.
"Great, the far west it is," the trio instantaneously said. With Yu Mei admitting her natural affinity towards dangerous situations, she was the best danger sensor available.
The west was likely to be safer for them than whatever awaited them in the north-northeast direction.
I hope that girl picked that side thought He Shan as he remembered the yellow-haired girl.
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