Chapter 1158: Wolf and Bei as Solid Partners
“Why has the number of demon beasts outside the city dropped so drastically lately? Do you think it could be a sign that something is about to happen?
“If we knew the reason, would the city lord have sent us here to investigate?”
A reconnaissance squad of seven trudged through the icy lands. They were all battle-hardened cultivators with experience in fighting and defeating demon beasts of the same level. The city lord had dispatched them to uncover the cause of the changes in the demon beast population.
They flew low to the ground, clad in white robes with high-grade Qi-Concealing Talismans pasted inside. Magical treasures hung at their waists, while the compasses in their hands spun continuously.
As they got farther from Muxue City, the demon beasts they encountered finally increased.
Their qi-concealing skills were sublime. They could glide past demon beasts a major realm higher without being detected.
Suddenly, darkness filled their vision. A figure as humongous as a mountain materialized before them and exhaled a blast of frigid air. One of the cultivators couldn’t react in time, and the chilling air touched him, causing him to freeze into an ice sculpture instantly.
The squad leader looked up and met the gaze of the mountain-sized figure, finally recognizing it. “It’s a Frost Elephant, a great demon king. Run!”
The moment the others laid eyes on the Frost Elephant, terror seized their hearts. Their wealth of experience surviving on the ice plains and battling demon beasts was rendered utterly useless in that instant.
The leader’s shout snapped them out of their paralysis. They couldn’t even be bothered to conceal their auras as they turned and fled.
A snake’s tongue suddenly lashed out and coiled around another companion, dragging him away.
A white snake lay hidden amidst the snow and ice, so perfectly camouflaged that none of them had noticed its presence.
“It’s another great demon king, a White Snake!”
One by one, legendary beasts of the ice plains appeared, all great demon kings. The squad completely lost their capacity for thought, their eyes growing vacant.
~~~
“Stay close and don’t fall behind.” Teacher Lu Doudou raised a little red flag and led the class on a field trip.
“Strange. Aren’t those people from the Tiger Roar Martial Arts School? Why are they leaving the city?” two guards at Muxue City’s gate whispered to each other.
“No idea.”
Not long after the martial arts school’s students departed, the reconnaissance squad leader staggered back through the air and crashed to the ground at the city gate with a thud, grievously injured. The two guards rushed over in alarm.
The squad leader lay in the guards’ arms, raising a quivering hand to point in the direction he had come from.
“Quick, inform the city lord. A beast tide is coming...”
“What? A beast tide?” The two guards shuddered. It was said that beast tides were terrifying, but despite having lived so long, they had never heard of Muxue City encountering one.
“Wait, isn’t that the direction the Tiger Roar Martial Arts School people went?!”
~~~
Outside Muxue City, Lu Yang led over thirty students, all bundled up in thick cotton-padded jackets like little snowmen. Only Lu Yang wore a long robe emblazoned with the Tiger Roar emblem, looking utterly out of place among them.
“T-Teacher Lu, isn’t it too dangerous to do live combat training already?” One student raised a hand tremblingly. We came to class in high spirits, only to have Teacher Lu tell us that we’re going out into the wild to kill demon beasts?
We are talking about demon beasts here. Even our parents would turn tail and run at the sight of one. How could we possibly stand a chance?
“All of you have been practicing the Tiger Roar Fist for a long while now. It’s time to test the fruits of your training. Don’t worry, I won’t pick opponents too strong for you.”
The students groaned. As powerful as Teacher Lu, what if something happened and he couldn’t make it over in time?
Lu Yang paid no heed to what the students were thinking. He continued forward with his little flag, and the students had no choice but to follow.
“There are wolf footprints here. It should be in this direction!” Lu Yang crouched down and pointed at the expanse of snow with conviction, like a veteran hunter.
“Teacher, I don’t see footprints here, though.”
“The footprints have been covered by the heavy snow. You’re still young and can’t see them, but I can make out the footprints beneath the snow.”
The students looked at Lu Yang with admiration.
Pleased with their reactions, Lu Yang led them toward the wolf demon he had located with his spiritual consciousness.
After walking for some time, Lu Yang raised a clenched fist, signaling everyone to halt.
He pointed at a large boulder not far ahead. “See that big rock? Behind it is a wolf demon. Based on my experience, it’s at the Level Two Qi Training Stage. It has one eye, is lame in its left leg, and has been abandoned by its pack.”
Fang Zhige’s expression turned odd. Is this really something you can tell with experience?
“Gong Che, Shi Yi, the two of you will direct your classmates in encircling and eliminating this wolf demon.”
“Yes!” Gong Che and Shi Yi replied in unison, their voices a mix of fear and excitement.
Fang Zhige was the calmest among everyone present. As a cultivator at the Great Perfection Qi Training, dealing with Qi Training demon beasts was child’s play for him.
“Little Fang, come here for a second.” Lu Yang beckoned Fang Zhige over to the base of a pine tree. “You shouldn’t fight with them. I’ll find a Foundation Establishment demon beast for you.”
Fang Zhige stumbled back several steps, staring at the impassive Lu Yang in disbelief.
How is this possible? How could Teacher Lu have seen through my true cultivation level? Even Sect Leader Murong, a Golden Core cultivator, can’t see through me!
Could it be that Luo Shi has never come after me because Teacher Lu has already dealt with him?
With that thought, Fang Zhige lowered his voice and warned gravely, “Teacher Lu, you shouldn’t have waded into these murky waters and gotten yourself involved in this mess. Maybe Luo Shi isn’t a threat to you, but behind him is the Ghost Assassin Alliance’s endless pursuit orders, and above the alliance is the Nine Ghost Alliance. You'll face wave after wave of assassinations!”
The thought that a teacher as good as Lu Doudou might face a life-threatening situation because of him filled Fang Zhige with remorse.
“Alright, kids shouldn’t worry so much. Go kill your demon beast.”
Only then did Fang Zhige suddenly realize his biggest problem—he was only at the Great Perfection Qi Training Stage and had never fought a Foundation Establishment demon beast before.
All the assassination arts I’ve learned are useless against demon beasts.
“Walk one li north. There’s a snow fox at the Basic Foundation Establishment Stage. Go fight it.” Lu Yang patted Fang Zhige on the back, urging him on.
After Fang Zhige left, Lu Yang stroked his chin. “Come to think of it, the surroundings of Muxue City are really nice. We walked such a long way and only found low-level demon beasts.
“Immortal Fairy, what do you think...”
“Awoo, awoo—this immortal is now a wolf. Awoo—”
Inside the mental space, goose-feather-like snow fluttered down, burying the Great Dou Dynasty’s imperial palace. The roof was no more than a decoration; snow was falling indoors as well, blanketing everything from the floor to the throne beneath a thick layer of snow.
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was draped in a white wolf pelt. She jumped up and down in the snow, howling as she brandished her claws. When Lu Yang turned to ask his question, she seized the opportunity to pounce and tackle him to the ground.
“Immortal Fairy, what are you doing?”
After Lu Yang staggered to his feet, he realized that the Everlasting Immortal Fairy had draped some kind of beast hide over him while he wasn’t paying attention.
“This is a bei wolf skin.”
“Isn't there an idiom that says ‘wolf and bei as solid partners?’[1] It describes the close relationship between wolves and bei. This immortal is now the wolf, and you’re the bei, so our bond is rock-solid!"
1. The original idiom is “wolf and bei in cahoots.” However, the character for “jian” is changed here. Instead of the “jian” for collusion and evil, it is now the “jian” for steadfast and indestructible. ☜
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