Wind passed over the back of the beast, its matted hair dragging rocks as its back began to lift.

The beast was well over Hao’s height before standing. Hao was young, but not short. But the beast made everyone seem like a dwarf nearby; The sight would shake the best harpoon on the Island, and they hunted the ocean creatures.

Its backs waved as it stood, shaking away the effects of his nap, seeming bigger yet again, doubling the size of any other of its lessers in the herd.

The entire body was the greenest green Hao had seen in the forest; fur in layers, not tufts like the others. Its horns were great branches tipped with five spades, five massive leaves on each.

“Isn’t that what cultivators like us are for?” The man said, his face was the definition of righteousness, while the words of a fool spread out from his mouth.

His hands were up and out, one towards Hao, the other toward the women. “So we can protect fellow cultivators and guard the mortal—”

He was interrupted by a quake.

Hao had a view of both and all.

The beast raised its front leg, standing at the back of his herd. When its foot lowered to find the ground again, it was unconcerned with the consequences.

THUMP!

The ground jiggled like the flesh of fresh fish beneath Hao’s feet.

Before anyone could react to the first action taken by the great beast, it was performing its second.

A half turn, its side facing the humans, his horns dug into the ground. He flung his head back, and a plume of dirt, flying sticks, and stones on and beneath the surface of the ground flew out. Debris turned lethal, flew towards the people that disturbed his rest.

Hao saw its actions before it started, watching both shows, the two animals, the man and the bull at the same time.

Hao was not sure if it was on purpose; The chunk of debris that was the largest and fastest going towards the loudest of the humans. A large stone, nearly flat, not noticeable from a distance. Easy to spot in the air.

If left alone, it would hit the loud man in the back of the head.

Three of the people were able to react. The one in the most danger did not have that chance. The loud man did not have time to turn around. His hands were still lifted, turning to see the commotion.

Hao reached out, grabbing the arm closest to him. Hao would not watch a man die just because he made a snide remark about herb collectors.

He pulled hard, with extra strength just in case, yanking the man off his feet. To place behind Hao. Hao had to lift his other hand to cover for the piece of debris coming his way. A single little stick. He caught the stick in his hand, the recent practice already paying off.

No one saw the stick disappear. It went into the bag, keeping its momentum like an arrow, sticking one of the man jars floating in the space. Hao heard the shatter of ceramic in his mind. Luckily, the jar was near enough to the stone, which quickly created World Energy and a gold crystal.

The wound on Hao’s hand was not light. Not for such a tiny piece of debris. A bruise was forming quickly. Hao was thankful that was all. The pain was small and kind, compared to what would have happened if that stone hit the man he just saved.

That stone hit the tree soon after; It reminded Hao of a pickaxe on a stone. You did not have to look to find the location of the strike.

The bark of a tree had a burrow. The stone’s path left only dust floating in the air. If Hao had not pulled the man to the side, he would have been painted a dark red.

The two women were fine, the older of the two reacting even before Hao, leaving everyone else to their own devices.

The youngest was far more honest and untrained in her action. She shouted and dashed forward towards the peril. Her youth had her slowest, which kindly meant she was already the furthest back. She only got a light dusting of dirt finding the ground with her friend.

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Lastly, the man who was yet to find his feet again said, “We should retreat.”

They all made an unnecessary dash. The demonic beast had no interest in them. He just wanted the quiet of the forest back and peace for his young to eat.

They made the run back to the path that led up the mountain quickly.

Hao stayed slower than the rest, maintaining a distance behind the slowest of them, just barely keeping up. He was putting on a show to hide his strength. Not that he likes being underestimated.

Big sister, stop looking at me, you’re making me uncomfortable. The eldest of the group was not shy in her watching. She kept an eye on Hao during and after their run.

Once they stopped, the man was quick to start another conversation. “We will have to find another herd. I think that one may have reached a breakthrough. He might have surpassed a realm.”

“I’ve never heard of a Green-Horn bull with ten leaves on its horns.” He said.

“Isn’t that all the more reason to pursue the demonic beast? Better pay, more achievement? It’s perfect, isn’t it?” The older woman said. Her gaze was sharp.

I wonder if she knows it’s hard to hide that much disdain. She is not very good at it… A quick thought from Hao as he looked over the people blocking the path up the mountain.

“I agree with Senior Brother. I don’t think we could handle that with a full group, let alone our hunting group of just four.” The younger girl spoke. Her voice was a melody compared to the two she traveled with.

“Wait, stop. We shouldn’t be talking about any of this with a stranger here,” the eldest said.

“Stranger, I don’t think we should be anymore.” The man said.

He turned towards Hao. He had a look of terror and enjoyment on his face. A strange combination, pouring sweat, and smiling with a pout.

“Savior can just call me whatever you like, Lou Yi Shou is my name.” He said. The funny man with the surname Lou did a quick bow to Hao, before standing straight with a large grin.

Hao wanted to walk away, but the situation made it hard to. “Ah, please don’t call me that, it was just lucky Senior brother. I managed to see what it was planning from where it was standing.” Hao said, waving his hands.

The harrumph of the older woman was hard not to notice. She was not hiding it. She was expecting it to be something like that—How could an herb picker react as fast as me? Were her thoughts.

But the situation for Hao was a little different from they thought. It was not speed or seeing through it, but both.

“Very well, as you say. Even so, my Junior brother saved my life. Calling you just Junior brother does not suit such a relationship and action. If I can’t call you savior, I will call you brother and treat you like one.” He said, maintaining a fair posture when looking at Hao.

Then he looked to the side. For the first time, it was the older woman who received the side eye.

Hao was not fully sure what to do. The interactions he had throughout life were limited. This kind of situation was his first. Hao having never really talked to a peer as a peer.

“If that is what brother wishes, the brother should know my name is Hao,” Hao said.

Lou Yi Shou seemed to jump, taking a step toward Hao, and throwing his hand on Hao’s shoulder. “Good!” he said, “Good, this Elder Brother will have to buy brother a drink to celebrate. Surely I owe you more than that.”

The older woman lingering in the back was growing impatient with the situation. She was clearly not entertained in the same manner as the younger girl.

“Treat this person as you like, for now, send him away so we can talk of our missions.” The older one said.

“Oh, how about this, why doesn’t brother Hao join our hunting squad? We are lacking a fifth.” The man said. He showed no hesitation, his ears twitching to the tongue click in a few paces away.

The older woman was also decisive, and quick to show her disagreement.

Hao’s new brother Lou Yi Shou was quick to show confidence, talking about his new brother. Speaking of Hao’s prowess.

Hao stood there, a statue on the path up the mountain. He was mostly tuned out while they talked about it. He wasn’t uninterested in the offer, and these people showed no signs of recognizing him. They occasionally look at his hair. But the action was reasonable, considering he was the only one bearing a difference from the norm.

Hao was mostly thinking of the next step of the ‘Seven Colored Steps’ as they talked. The older woman, who was introduced to him as Senior Sister Jingshe, was double if not more Hao’s top speed.

If they were hard-pressed to make haste, Hao would lose track of her back after a minute.

Hao felt more pressure than just that from the three. He wasn’t sure if it was their techniques or being a higher level or their cultivation being higher.

Hao didn’t know the cultivation of the three and did not want to ask. It would have been rude. It would also give them a reason to ask him in return. Right now they did not ask him, purely out of disinterest.

All three gave him a similar pressure. Even the girl younger than himself.

She was introduced as Junior Sister Dai. Hao just called her Junior Sister, which she did not seem to mind.

Hao bowed during their introductions. JingShe looked at him from her nose’s bridge, her head refusing to bow. Dai returned the bow.

It was easy to figure out JingShe, but Hao struggled more with placing the girl named Dai. She seemed quiet and shy most of the time. But her greeting was loud, her hands slammed when they cupped. Dai also frequently interrupted the conversation of the other two with what seemed an uncharacteristically loud voice.

Which is the cover, the shy one, or the rude one? Hao had a small thought as he organized his mind.

“Should we ask the Senior brother over there first?” Dai interjected again, standing toe to toe with JingShe and Yi Shou.

Hao responded quickly to her comment, just as they turned to him. “I am not familiar with hunting beasts, but if you’re willing to have me,” Hao said.

He took the offer. The group was disjointed, but at least they spoke to echo others honestly. Another boon was one owed him favor. When will I get another chance like this?

“I see we’re taking another inexperienced kid. And now we have to look for a different bull. We will have to see what the senior brother’s opinion is.” JingShe said, losing her interest in the argument. She began to walk, heading back toward the mountain.

“Haaa… Brother does not need to worry about her. Senior Sister Jingshe just wants to prove her strength. She was a young rising genius till that Silver step guy showed up with his disciple half her age.” Yi Shou said his head in a constantly exaggerated bobble.

“We cannot hunt that beast, that bull no matter what Senior Sister says. Another herd shouldn’t be hard to find, right? Senior Brother?” Dai said, her voice starting strong, trailing to a whisper.

Hao looked at his hand, the one that caught the tiny twig the beast flung in his direction. A black spot had formed on his skin. The pattern of the stick was distinct.

If those horns were to touch a person, they would be split in half just from the force. Or much worse.

“It will take one day to find a herd, one day to prepare everything. I will not be approaching that beast again, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Brother Hao, if you wish to hunt with us, meet us at the mission hall in two days.” Yi Shou said.

He left eager to dash around and tell his Junior Sister of his skill as a scout. In the distance, Hao could hear him describe his ability to defend himself against any other beast but the one they found today.

Hao returned up the mountain, following the path JingShe took.

Hao was eager too. He had a new thing to study, beasts and how to hunt them. It was a good chance to get some wisdom from those around him. Even the man Li Tuzai.