Chapter 21: Greed

The intense atmosphere persisted for what felt like an eternity.

The bushes rustled violently, leaves shivering and parting as a head pushed through. A dark brown turban was wound tightly around his head, the fabric stained and frayed at the edges. His skin was light-tanned, toughened by sun and grit, stretched over a squarish face that seemed chiseled from stone.

He had his palm pressed firmly against his forehead, but it did little to stanch the flow of blood. It seeped through his fingers, drawing a thin, crimson line down the back of his hand before dripping onto the ground below.

Luo Ling ignored the scathing glare thrown his way, his expression calm and detached. He focused instead on the blood flowing through the gaps of the man’s fingers. The wound wasn’t light—if the blood dripping freely was any indication. It puzzled Luo Ling. It had been just a stick, a simple thing snapped from a random branch. Yet it had struck like a hammer, splitting skin and drawing blood as if it were a weapon forged for that purpose.

Had he misjudged his own strength? It seemed that crude branch had packed far more punch than he ever intended. Perhaps, he had been underestimating Penetration a little too much.

“Brat,” He hissed, his words carrying the intense hate he felt for Luo Ling. “You got some nerve to shoot an arrow at me. Do you know who I am?”

“A rat.” Luo Ling answered naturally, without missing a beat. “And perhaps a pervert too. After all, which adult would sneakily tail a child in the woods?”

“Pervert…? What?” The man’s brow furrowed; his anger momentarily replaced by confusion at Luo Ling’s casual jab. He spat at the ground with a harsh sneer, eyes narrowing as if trying to pierce through Luo Ling’s calm façade. “I don’t have time to argue with a snot-nosed brat like you,” he snarled, the impatience in his voice sharpening every word. “You must know where that lord killed the maneater; take me there.”

Luo Ling blinked and his lips curled into a sneer. “I see. I see. So that’s what you are after.” His eyes hardened into a glare. Unfortunately, he had not yet awakened his mental force and could not project his killing intent outwards. “Leave. That thing is mine.”

“Brat, don’t get ahead of yourself,” the man growled, his voice rough like gravel grinding underfoot. His gaze turned predatory, eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. “You either obediently take me to where the corpse is, or my boss will come to meet you in person.” The threat hung heavy in the air, the man’s anger morphing into a twisted smirk that spread across his face like a slow-oozing stain. “And he won’t be kind just because you’re a kid.”

“Oh no! I am so scared!” Luo Ling smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he faked a shiver, putting on an exaggerated performance of terror. “What do I do? A big bad man will come after me because I beat up his dog.” He spat on the ground in front of the man, the insult landing with a wet smack.

The man’s face flushed with anger, the vein in his forehead pulsing visibly, but Luo Ling didn’t miss a beat.

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“Are you not ashamed to be bested by a child?” Luo Ling’s smirk widened; his tone sharp as a blade. “And now you’re threatening me with numbers? Pathetic. Man, if I were you—and as an adult, I was beaten up by a child—I’d probably jump off a cliff.”

He delivered the words with casual cruelty as if they were a simple observation rather than a cutting remark. The man’s face twisted in a mix of rage and embarrassment; the sting of Luo Ling’s taunts was more painful than the wound on his head.

If not for the throbbing wound on his forehead—a stark reminder of the kid’s unexpected strength—the man might have lunged at Luo Ling with his fist raised. Luo Ling’s keen eyes caught the flicker of fury in the man’s expression, and he couldn’t help but snort.

“Shame! Shame!” Luo Ling taunted, his voice cold and mocking. “Leave before I poke a hole through your head.”

The man’s face contorted with frustration; his pride wounded far more deeply than the injury on his forehead. With a final scowl, he turned and stormed off. Watching his retreating back, Luo Ling’s smirk contorted into a frown.

He had overlooked the possibility of greed triggering among the hunters. These bastards would even disregard his age and threaten him. The human heart is hard to fathom.

Experience had taught Luo Ling that this encounter was far from over. Perhaps he would have to be careful when in the village and out in the woods from now on.

Although Luo Ling boasted considerable strength for his age—thanks to his status as a 2nd-rate martial warrior—the hunters who dared to venture into the woods were far from weak. They practiced a form of body tempering cultivation known as External Martial Arts.

Luo Ling had witnessed its application and found it lacking. Its methods were straightforward and unrefined, with a low ceiling for potential.

But still, those who had mastered this body-tempering art to a high enough level could hold their ground against a martial master for hours. His current self was far from a match against such people.

~-X-~

The wrapped-up carcass was hidden beneath the hollow bark of a tree. Even standing right next to it, Luo Ling could detect no trace of blood, thanks to the talisman’s effectiveness. Its enchantment was so potent that it neutralized all scent, concealing the carcass’s presence from even the most sensitive noses.

The world of cultivation was far too interesting than he had anticipated. Talismans, demon beasts, pill connotations, flight, and immortality; all these were just a part of that world.

From the depths of his soul, he felt the calling from this world. Cultivator, he had to become one.

It took considerable effort to peel off the panther’s skin. The stone knife struggled against the thick hide, making the process slow and grueling.

After wiping the blood from the skin, Luo Ling carefully rolled it up using large leaves. When it came to the meat, he hesitated. The panther had been feasting on humans for days, and the thought of consuming flesh from an animal that had devoured human flesh made him uneasy.

He might have missed an abundant source of nutrition, but Luo Ling felt no regret. The thought of consuming the flesh of an animal that had fed on human remains was too unsettling. He couldn’t bring himself to do it, no matter how practical it might have been.

For his return, Luo Ling took another path, fearing an ambush. Although it was not clear if that turban-wearing man was acting alone or under someone else’s orders, it would not hurt to be extra careful.

By the time he returned to the village, the noon sun was at its zenith, scorching the world below with its relentless blaze. The summer heat was unbearable, making the day seem even more oppressive.

Daluo was absent from his post at the gate, but Luo Ling paid it no mind. He offered a casual greeting to the two guards on duty, who responded with brief nods. Their lack of familiarity meant there was no reason to linger.

Without a prey to buy herbs for, Luo Ling bypassed the market. Instead, he stopped by Madam Wei's for a batch of stuffed buns—his favorite treat. With the warm buns tucked safely away, he made a direct path to his secret training spot behind the village.

He couldn’t wait to learn the manual Lord Ping gifted.