The Dragon Ridge Mountains were steep and treacherous, with dense forests and thick undergrowth. Even experienced hunters rarely ventured deep inside.
Su Jinse left the temple in Huamei’s care, taking only a chopping knife and some melons as she ventured alone into the mountain.
Huamei wanted to follow, but Su Jinse refused.
“Watch the house.”
Her abilities were her greatest secret; no one could see their full extent—not even Huamei, whom she had already tamed.
Entering the forest was like a fish returning to water.
The omnipresent scent of plants made her feel profoundly at ease. She could even “hear” the wind rustling through leaves and sense each plant’s subtle emotions.
As she moved, she used her powers to perceive her surroundings.
Before long, she discovered a variety of valuable resources: wild mushrooms, plump chestnuts, and several common medicinal herbs.
She was not greedy, taking only what she needed and storing them in a vine-woven basket.
As she prepared to head back, a dangerous aura made her freeze in place.
The wind in the forest abruptly stopped.
A pungent mix of earth and blood hit her nose.
The hairs on her neck stood on end.
From the nearby bushes, a massive shape emerged.
It was a fully grown wild boar, its bristly black fur stiff as steel needles. Its tusks jutted out menacingly, yellow and grimy. Its small eyes were bloodshot, locked on Su Jinse, nostrils exhaling thick white breath.
She had intruded into its territory.
Run?
The thought flashed briefly, then she dismissed it.
With her malnourished, thin body, she couldn’t outrun it. Ten steps, and it would be on her. Those tusks could easily rip her open.
Escape was blocked.
Her heart pounded, yet her face showed no fear. She didn’t retreat; instead, she stepped forward calmly toward the boar.
“Roar—!”
The boar, provoked by this tiny human, snorted and dug its hooves into the ground. In an instant, it charged like a black whirlwind, carrying a stench of blood and dirt.
The earth trembled.
Su Jinse’s pupils contracted. Just as the tusks were about to strike, she focused her mind.
“Pup! Pup! Pup!”
The ground beneath the boar exploded, dozens of green vines, as thick as a baby’s arm, erupted like living snakes, wrapping around its hooves with incredible speed.
The charging boar tripped, its massive body crashing to the ground, sending up dust and leaves.
“Argh—!”
It roared in rage, thrashing violently. The vines stretched under the strain, snapping some of the thinner ones.
It seemed about to break free.
Su Jinse’s face paled slightly. She bent forward, pressing her hands firmly onto the damp soil.
“Rise!”
More vines surged from the earth, this time with fine barbs. Layer upon layer twisted around the boar, forming a huge green cage that tightened continuously.
The barbs dug deep into its thick flesh.
Pain and restraint made its roars sharp and desperate. It struggled fiercely, only tightening the vines further.
Finally, the forest tyrant exhausted itself, collapsing in heavy, unwilling breaths.
Silence returned.
Su Jinse leaned on her knees, gasping, the world spinning around her. Sweat ran down her face into the mud.
The power drain from her abilities had been far greater than expected.
After a long moment, she calmed the dizziness and stood.
Before her lay the boar, bound like a bundle, with only a pair of small red eyes able to move. Su Jinse’s lips twitched.
A wild feast had arrived—but a problem remained.
How was she going to carry such a massive carcass down the mountain?
She did not kill it; even if she had, she couldn’t drag it back. Instead, she approached, and with the boar watching in terrified silence, used her chopping knife to cut a large chunk of meat from its thick hindquarters.
“Borrowing some meat. I’ll return it next time,” she murmured, not caring if it understood.
Then she untangled the vines. The boar, as if granted clemency, scrambled back into the forest.
With at least twenty pounds of pork and a basket of mountain goods, Su Jinse walked back satisfied.
Passing a damp cliffside, she paused again.
In a crevice, a strange plant caught her eye. Thick, dragon-scale-like leaves topped with a small purple flower emitted a faint fragrance.
She sensed with her power; pure life energy pulsed back from the plant.
A spirit plant!
Though low-tier, it was a treasure for her at this stage.
Carefully, she dug it out with soil intact, wrapped it in cloth, and tucked it into her arms.
This mountain trip had yielded far more than expected.