As Li Dashan's voice rang out, everyone immediately tensed up. Soon after, five demonbeasts slowly emerged, baring their teeth and growling. They weren't large, about one and a half meters long, but their bodies were covered with strange dark red patterns.
"It's Blaze-pattern Hyenas, they're skilled in group combat, be careful, they're adept at fighting in packs."
However, upon hearing it was Blaze-pattern Hyenas, Liu Lei immediately said, "They're just aberrant beasts with low defense, watch me take it down."
With that, he charged forward alone, like a fearless young bull. The others felt the same; although the Blaze-pattern Hyenas were not weak, their advantage lay in speed, and their defense was among the lowest of Tier 1 Aberrant Beasts.
The Blaze-pattern Hyenas moved quickly. As Liu Lei rushed in, they scattered and surrounded him. However, a girl swiftly approached one of the hyenas. Her name was Su Yan, a late-stage 1st-rank martial artist, her movements more agile than the others, easily catching up to one of the hyenas.
"Beast, die!"
With a swift stab, her blade pierced the hyena's neck, blood spurted out, and a slight smile appeared on her face.
"Heh, the first kill is mine..."
"Watch out!"
Wang Qiang shouted, quickly pulling Su Yan back. Then, with a move called Rock-Breaking Palm, he struck the paw of the hyena whose neck had been pierced. With a loud bang, Wang Qiang staggered back several steps, his arm slightly bleeding, while the hyena, failing in its desperate counterattack, died.
Su Yan broke into a cold sweat. If Wang Qiang hadn't pulled her back, she might have been dead. She had clearly pierced the beast's neck, so why did it still counterattack?
The other Blaze-pattern Hyenas were also easily taken down by the team. Lin Ye and Lin Xi didn't get a chance to act, as the five hyenas were quickly divided among the others.
Except for some minor injuries to Wang Qiang and Wang Yidao, the operation was a great success.
"So this is beast hunting? Doesn't seem that impressive, does it?"
Liu Lei remarked confidently, while Li Dashan chuckled, "You all reacted faster than we expected. Here, Yidao, Qiang, you got scratched. Although these beasts aren't poisonous, infections are troublesome. I have some alcohol here, disinfect yourselves."
"Thanks, Brother Li."
The two nodded in gratitude, while Li Dashan turned to Lin Ye and Lin Li, "Little brother Lin, how was it seeing aberrant beasts for the first time?"
"Heh, what else? They didn't even take down one."
Liu Lei grumbled, but Lin Ye ignored his taunts and asked Li Dashan instead.
"Uncle Li, why didn't the three of you act earlier? Was there a reason?"
Li Dashan paused, then laughed heartily, "Hahaha, no reason. Besides the three of us, it's your first time leaving the Safe Zone for the Danger Zone. I thought I'd let you practice and prepare. This is just the Green Zone, mostly Tier 1 Aberrant Beasts. If we reach the Blue Zone, it'll be dangerous, with Tier 2 everywhere, and possibly even encountering Tier 3 Aberrant Beasts. I wouldn't survive going in there."
"Brother Li, why tell him this? The kid was scared stiff earlier. I said we shouldn't have brought him! Just thinking about splitting the reward with him later makes me mad."
Liu Lei continued to grumble, but Lin Ye wasn't bothered by him. Instead, he was pondering a more curious question.
This mission was organized by Li Dashan, along with two other 2nd-rank initial-stage martial artists, one named Chen Feng and the other Zhao Ping.
Three 2nd-rank martial artists, one even at the peak stage, could easily find a better team for more rewards and profits. Why bother with this group of 1st-rank rookies?
"By the way, Brother Li, I haven't asked yet. How much are these five Blaze-pattern Hyenas worth?"
Wang Yidao asked with a shrewd look, clearly focused on the money, and Li Dashan replied.
"The price of Tier 1 Aberrant Beasts varies by species. Blaze-pattern Hyena meat is tough and hard to eat, so it's not very expensive, about five to eight thousand each. The value is mainly in the skin and claws."
"Damn, five to eight thousand each, so these five are at least twenty-five thousand. If I worked on a production line, I'd have to work for half a year to save that."
Another girl, looking nearly thirty with healthy tanned skin, named Song Yuanyuan, a late-stage 1st-rank martial artist, said discontentedly.
Wang Yidao quickly said, "No, that's not what I meant. I meant we could hunt more! Even if we split among ten people, each of us would get at least two thousand five! That's more than half a month's salary for me! No wonder so many people like being Beast Hunters! It's damn profitable!"
Li Dashan immediately said, "These five hyenas were killed by you guys. Chen Feng, Zhao Ping, and I won't take a share. You guys divide it."
Lin Ye also said, "My sister and I didn't participate, so it's not right for us to take a share. You five divide it."
Liu Lei was about to mock Lin Ye, but Lin Ye preemptively blocked him, leaving him with nothing to say, then he asked.
"But these five hyenas are so big, how do we carry them?"
"Just skin them with a knife and put the pelts in your bags, they're valuable."
As the group started skinning the hyenas, Li Dashan approached Lin Ye, "Little brother Lin, are you sure you don't want any?"
"I didn't participate, so I shouldn't take any. By the way, what's the mission this time, Uncle Li?"
"We're out to catch a Demon-pattern Boar. That thing weighs three hundred kilograms, terrifyingly strong. Although it's a Tier 1 Aberrant Beast, its defense and attack are strong, and it's fast, almost a Tier 2 Aberrant Beast. It's very profitable, and the meat is delicious, selling for about fifteen to twenty thousand each."
Hearing this, Wang Yidao was dumbfounded, looking at the hyena pelts in his hands with less enthusiasm.
"Brother Li, that boar is worth so much!"
"After all, it's priced by weight, five hundred per kilogram."
"So valuable! Brother Li, from today on, I'm sticking with you. I'm going to get rich!"
"We won't stay long, just one night, and we'll head back tomorrow. After skinning, we need to keep moving!"
"Alright!"
After skinning the hyenas, everyone stuffed the pelts into their backpacks, heavy but filled with anticipation. Earning twenty thousand in two days, the money came really fast!
Time slowly passed, and as night fell, the group reached a dense forest. Li Dashan spoke slowly.
"Looks like we won't find that boar today. Let's camp here for the night, eat something to replenish our strength."
"Alright."
Though disappointed, everyone followed Li Dashan's lead, for no other reason than he was a peak-stage 2nd-rank martial artist and an experienced Silver-rank Beast Hunter.
They quickly set up a campfire and a pot, and Su Yan eagerly cooked some meat soup, then warmly said.
"Come on, everyone, try my cooking and give me some feedback!"
Wang Yidao leered, "Su, no main course?"
"In the wilderness, what main course do you want? What do you want to eat?"
"Steamed buns! Big, white steamed buns, didn't you hide two? Hahaha!"
"Too expensive, can't you give a discount?"
"I'll give you a bone fracture discount! Get lost!"
"Hahaha..."
Listening to their laughter, Lin Ye continued observing everyone's expressions, especially Zhao Ping and Chen Feng. Though they were 2nd-rank martial artists, they hadn't spoken since joining the group, seemingly following Li Dashan's lead.
"Here, little brother Lin, little sister Lin, try some of my soup, it's delicious."
Su Yan brought over two bowls of soup, and Lin Ye smiled brightly, "Thanks, sister, but I don't like soup."
"Are you rejecting my cooking, little brother? So heartless!"
Seeing this, Lin Ye chuckled, "Alright, thank you, Sister Su. I'll drink it later when it cools."
"Make sure you drink it! Let me know how it is, little brother."
"By the way, Sister Su, can I ask you something?"
"What is it, little brother? If it's a date, it's free for you!"
Lin Ye:...
"No, it's just about the other two 2nd-rank martial artists. Why don't they talk?"
"Who knows? We tried talking to them when we arrived, but they didn't say a word, and their eyes are so cold, it's chilling. Maybe that's the aloofness of experts! Whatever, remember, my offer always stands! Free for you!"
Su Yan laughed and sat beside Wang Qiang. After she left, Lin Xi immediately came over, "Why does she seem off?"
"Maybe your brother is too handsome! Seems like I'm not the only one who's a troublemaker, I'm a blue troublemaker too!"
"Vain, speaking of which, the soup looks good, but..."
Lin Xi glanced at Lin Ye, who said, "As usual, don't eat what others give."
With that, Lin Ye discreetly poured the two bowls of soup away in the night...
After everyone had eaten their fill, Li Dashan slowly stood up. By now, the moon was high, and a cold wind rustled through the forest, making the leaves rustle, giving an eerie feeling as if something bad was about to happen.
"Everyone, are you full from dinner?"
"Yeah, full. Brother Li, are we taking turns for night watch? I'm a night owl, I can do it."
Liu Lei stepped forward, but the next moment, a hand clamped around his neck, the voice losing its warmth, turning cold.
"No need for a night watch. As long as you're full, it's time to go."
With a crack, Liu Lei's neck was twisted, his eyes filled with disbelief as he fell to the ground, not knowing what happened even in death.
"Why?"
Song Yuanyuan almost screamed, and Li Dashan slowly spoke, "No reason. People die for wealth, birds for food! Do it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Feng and Zhao Ping finally moved, charging at them like phantoms...