Chapter 14: Into The Forest Part 2

Luo Ling had never seen gatekeeper Daluo so animated, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet like an excited child. It was as if he could hardly contain whatever good news he was bursting to share.

Daluo, who typically carried himself with the weight of years and experience, seemed to have shed all that in an instant. His usual gruff demeanor was replaced by almost youthful energy, as though something extraordinary had just happened, and he could barely keep it to himself.

Luo Ling couldn’t help but feel his curiosity surge in response. What could have possibly occurred to make this hardened iron-faced gatekeeper, a man who had seen and done it all, act so giddy?

“Gatekeeper Daluo, what exactly is the matter?”

With a lazy stretch, he allowed his muscles to unwind, letting out a yawn that felt as if it would expel the last remnants of sleep from his system.

He cast a quick glance toward the window, where the sky was still bright. His frown deepened as he realized it was still far from evening. The day was dragging on, yet something unexpected had already disrupted his plans for a restful afternoon. He had hoped to sleep through until dinner, but clearly, fate—or perhaps Daluo—had other ideas.

He shot a nasty glare at the bearded man, his eyes narrowing with irritation. The nerve of this sweaty, unkempt brute to barge in and ruin his well-deserved rest! Luo Ling clenched his jaw, suppressing the urge to snap at him right then and there. This baldy better have a damn good reason for disturbing his sleep or there would be hell to pay!

Either he didn’t notice it or simply didn’t care about the dagger-like glares Luo Ling was sending his way, Daluo wiped his sweaty face with the back of his thick, log-like, hands, unfazed.

“You remember I told you about how the village chief went to town to seek help from a cultivator? Well, guess what? He’s back—and he didn’t come alone!” Daluo’s voice was practically vibrating with excitement as he leaned in closer, his eyes wide with enthusiasm. “He brought not one, but two cultivators with him!”

The gatekeeper’s voice had risen a notch, as if the mere thought of such esteemed guests was too thrilling to keep contained. His eagerness was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed as if he might burst from the sheer excitement of delivering this news.

Luo Ling blinked, momentarily stunned as he took a few seconds to fully process what Daluo had just said. Cultivators, again? The word echoed in his mind, stirring a mix of confusion and suspicion. What was going on here? For six long months, he hadn’t seen a single trace of these so-called ‘immortals.’ They were shrouded in mystery, so much so that even the locals seemed to know little about them. It had led him to believe that they were rare, almost mythical beings who only appeared in the most extraordinary circumstances.

But now, in the span of just two days, there were suddenly four of them?

However, after thinking about it, he realized it was not that they were rare, but there was no reason for him to encounter them in such a backward place. It was the same with martial artists of Murim world too. Usually, if they were not doing any missions outside the bounds of their schools, common people had no chance of seeing a competent martial artist.

Luo Ling relaxed his overly imaginative mind.

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“That’s great news,” he said with a nod, his voice steady and calm. Luo Ling glanced briefly at Daluo, who was practically vibrating with excitement, but his own expression remained composed. “Maybe now we can finally capture that man-eating beast killing our hunter brothers.”

Though he acknowledged the significance of the cultivators' arrival, his eyes didn’t quite light up with the same enthusiasm as Daluo’s.

After meeting the two cultivators a few days ago, Luo Ling’s initial impression had been quickly tempered by reality. He had anticipated encountering beings of otherworldly prowess, but what he found instead were individuals with their own set of flaws and quirks. They were not the infallible, mystical figures he had imagined.

Of course, it was possible that these cultivators were not as accomplished as he had hoped. Luo Ling’s mind drifted back to the awe-inspiring figure he had once seen—a man who soared through the skies with the grace of a bird, defying the very laws of nature. The memory of that display of power was still vivid in his mind, a stark contrast to the more grounded and visibly flawed cultivators he had encountered recently.

“Do those cultivators need my help?” Luo Ling enquired, his brows furrowing.

In response, Daluo let out a long, exaggerated sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he shook his head. “Hah! And here I thought I’d finally see your surprised mug,” he said, his voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and amusement. He leaned back, a bemused smirk playing on his lips. “You really are an uncute brat, you know that?”

His words were laced with a playful sarcasm as if he had been expecting Luo Ling to react with more astonishment. The gatekeeper’s expression was a blend of mock disappointment and care, revealing that despite his gruff exterior, he held a certain fondness for Luo Ling’s unflappable demeanor.

Shaking his head, he answered. “Yeah. Because they are unfamiliar with this side of the Hundred Beast Forest, they need someone familiar with these woods.”

“Eh!?” Luo Ling exclaimed, raising an eyebrow in genuine confusion. “Aren’t there plenty of experienced hunters in the village? It shouldn’t be my turn to be the guide, right?”

He said it out loud, but his mind was already piecing together the likely reason why the task had landed in his lap. The sudden realization made him glance at Daluo with a knowing look.

“Heh! Why do you think?” Daluo winked, which sent shivers down Luo Ling’s spine. A beefy man with an unkempt appearance trying to act cute… the image was too ‘unique.’

Luo Ling bristled, his face flushing with irritation as he hissed through clenched teeth, his voice low and dangerous. “Gatekeeper Daluo, have you lost all your intelligence along with your hair?” His words were laced with sharp sarcasm as he growled, his frustration evident. “You know perfectly well why they’re going into the woods, and you still expect me to accompany them?”

“Calm down and listen to me first, brat.” Daluo dug into his ears, not caring about Luo Ling’s anger. “First, with those cultivators around, you’ll not be in any danger. After all, they need your guidance to navigate through the forest. Even if things go south, they will make sure you are safe.”

With his free hand, he showed two fingers.

“Second, your experience. You have been a frequent visitor to Hundred Beast Forest periphery for half a year. You know the ins and outs of those cursed woods better than some of those ‘experienced’ hunters.”

Luo Ling noticed tangible sarcasm in Daluo’s voice when he talked about those hunters.

“I believe, if things go south, even if those two cultivators didn’t return, you will.” Daluo finished, showing great confidence in Luo Ling.

“You have too much faith in me, Gatekeeper Daluo,” Luo Ling said, his tone reproachful. Despite the sharp edge in his voice, his mind was already whirring like a cog in an engine, processing Daluo’s reasonings.

As he thought it over, he couldn’t deny that the gatekeeper’s words had some merit. Given his familiarity with the outer periphery of the Hundred Beast Forest, he could easily keep himself out of possible troubles. Unless it was someone whose abilities vastly outclassed his own, nothing could stop Luo Ling from escaping.

It was worth a try, at least.

But before he agreed, Luo Ling knew he needed to be certain of what he stood to gain from this arrangement. He wasn’t one to leap into something without first weighing the benefits. “What’s in it for me?” he inquired, his tone sharp and calculating.

Hearing this, Daluo couldn’t help but snicker, a sly grin spreading across his face. He had expected nothing less from Luo Ling, whose thought process were far beyond his age.

“Well, have you ever heard of the Blood Refining pill?”