Yu Chen dashed through the forest surrounding the sect, following the tracks of his prey. This close to the sect the undergrowth wasn’t as tangled as the verdant wildlife in the ancient forests, and the trees were widespread enough to allow light to filter down to the forest floor.

He found himself here after taking on a hunting mission from the Mission Hall, which were very popular among the disciples. The sect offered an additional bounty on top of paying for the spirit beast’s hide and core, so it came as no surprise that they were a favorite.

An Ironback Boar had been seen near the base of the mountain and had been spotted ranging a little too close to the town. It was powerful enough to pose a threat to the mortal population, so the Mission Hall had marked it for culling.

He’d been searching for it most of the day, and had recently closed in on the spirit beast, finally stumbling across some fresh tracks as he searched. He paused as he heard some deep grunts in the distance, the wet sounds of the boar rooting around entering his ears.

Yu Chen narrowed his eyes, slowing down as he stealthily approached his target.

The boar appeared in his sight, and Yu Chen could see it snuffling at the base of a tree. It was nosing the dirt as it searched for treats. The boar squealed in delight as it found something, and the coarse gray fur on its back rippled as it munched in contentment.

Yu Chen bent his knees slightly, and then pushed off the ground, circulating his movement technique as he dashed towards the unsuspecting boar. The technique was many times more efficient due to his newly opened meridians, and Yu Chen flew through the air as he struck out at the beast.

The boar seemed to suspect something as he approached, twisting around at the last moment, its blazing red eyes widening in confusion as it took in the boy who was already upon it. It was too late for it to dodge, and Yu Chen let out a roar of triumph, as, heart pounding, he twisted in the air to land a kick with the full force of the Condensing Fist technique against the side of the boar’s head.

There was a brief moment as his foot connected, where the sheer density of the boar warred with the force of Yu Chen’s blow, and time froze, as if reality itself were unsure who would win. Then the moment was over, as the boar was blasted away, tumbling across the forest floor until it hit the side of a tree with a loud thud.

A few leaves fell from the large tree at the blow, slowly floating to the ground, and Yu Chen softly landed, smiling as he looked towards the fallen boar. He started walking towards it when to his surprise, the boar slowly stood, shaking its head dumbly before turning around to stare at him, eye’s filled with spite and malice.

Yu Chen’s strongest attack had only left a small cut on the thick, metallic hide of the spirit beast, marring the side of its face, but it was little more than a flesh wound to the powerful creature. The boar pawed at the dirt, steadying itself as it regarded him. Tossing its head, it charged at him, its sharp tusks rushing forward like twin spears aiming to impale the boy.

Yu Chen danced out of the way, easily avoiding the boar. He threw out a few attacks of his own in return, each one slamming into the spirit beast with the full force of his empowered qi. The boar turned, squealing wrathfully as it charged again and again as Yu Chen evaded its attacks with ease.

His heart pumped harder as the fight went on, once again filling him with an endless source of energy that seemed to nurture his spirit, sharply increasing his qi regeneration. A reckless confidence overtook him, and he became more daring, risking his body as he sought to inflict more damage on the spirit beast.

He laughed as he danced out of the way of another blow from the ill-willed boar. The attack was a near one, but the joy of battle filled him, and he used the opportunity to slam a fist into the boar’s side, buckling its legs. The boar got back to its feet, chest heaving, and turned around, continuing its ceaseless attacks.

They went back and forth, the boar striving to hit him as Yu Chen avoided the spirit beast. He spun on his feet, landing a kick into the boar’s hips, knocking it off balance and using the opening to strike it two times in quick succession. Yu Chen felt like a god, his heart beating faster than ever, pumping endless energy to empower his blows.

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The boar made an attack towards his left-hand side, and Yu Chen once again spun out of the way, dodging the attack. It was then that the boar showed the first spark of intelligence in the fight, revealing its malicious intent as it shifted, revealing the first attack to be a feint. Yu Chen tried to compensate, flooding his legs with qi in an attempt to circulate his movement technique.

It was too late. Filled with arrogance and convinced of his victory, Yu Chen had made a mistake, and the boar landed its first blow of the fight.

Its tusk speared through Yu Chen’s right side, goring him, and splashing his blood across the forest floor. The boar squealed in victory, and tossed its head back and forth, mangling the boy as it battered him across the clearing.

Yu Chen had a stroke of luck, as a chance toss of the boar’s head as it rampaged ripped its tusk free and sent him flying into the distance. Yu Chen quickly stumbled back to his feet, dazed and confused, holding a hand to his bleeding side as he stared at the boar in disbelief.

The creature pawed at the ground again, and Yu Chen could swear a sinister grin crossed its face as it tossed its head once more, one tusk dripping with gore after having savaged him, and the soft sound of his blood hitting the dirt reached his ears.

Yu Chen’s heart beat. The sounds of the forest disappeared, replaced with the sound of his blood beating through his veins. It roared in his ears, filling his mind until it was all that he heard, replacing his reckless abandon with an all-consuming rage, a rage set to burn down the world, an equal match for the boar’s enmity.

The boar charged at him, refusing to give him a chance to recover, and Yu Chen moved on instinct as he dodged the wild assault. He pulled his hand from the bleeding wound at his side and slapped his wet palm across the boar’s eyes, obscuring its vision as it blew past him.

The boar faltered as it came to a stop, shaking its head back and forth as it tried to clear its vision.

It needn’t have bothered. Yu Chen was already upon it, grabbing hold of its clean tusk with an iron fist, before using his other to slam a blow into the side of the boar’s head, targeting the open cut he’d made earlier. The unexpected hit took the boar off of its feet, and Yu Chen followed it down, striking again and again before it could recover.

Its hard hooves scrabbled against Yu Chen’s side, scratching him and tearing his robes to shreds, but he ignored it as he smashed his fist into the boar, accelerating his qi as it sped down his arm and condensing it into his fist, using it to batter the boar senseless.

Yu Chen didn't know how long it was until he returned to his senses, his cramped hand slowly letting go of the boar’s tusk and letting its lifeless body slide to the ground where it lay still. He was dizzy, his arms shaking, and he rested there for a second, taking slow racking breaths as he filled his body with air. By the time he moved again, the once hot blood that covered him had become sticky, and he had to unpeel himself to stand up from the forest floor.

He observed the corpse in silence for a moment, before a sharp pain in his side reminded him he still had a slow bleeding wound to attend to. He took out a small pouch containing a healing salve, grimacing as he dabbed it over the gaping wound. Yu Chen didn’t know how it worked, but he hoped it did given the large amount of contribution points it had cost him. Once that was finished, he tore a sleeve off of his robe and tied it around his waist, staunching the wound.

If he was still a mortal, he would have already died from such a wound, but a cultivator could survive such things.

Hopefully.

He took his time skinning his kill, peeling the iron-thick hide from the monster’s flesh. Once that was completed he dived back in, searching around the general location the beast’s core appeared. He yanked it free when he found it, giving a small hiss as the movement pulled at his wound.

He slid the core into his pocket before wrapping up the skin and tossing it on his back. He winced as the weight of it settled across his shoulders, and prepared his weary body for the long trip back to the sect.

It was taking him much longer to return than it had to arrive, wounded as he was. Around halfway back, the hairs on the back of his neck went up, and Yu Chen immediately reacted, dropping the boar’s skin, unburdening himself as he looked around for the source of danger he felt in the air.

“Well, what do we have here?” A voice called out of the forest.

Yu Chen looked around, frowning as a group of boys appeared amongst the trees, surrounding him in a loose circle. He recognized the one in charge of the group, as well as the one calling out to him, but the other three were unknown to him.

The Feng brothers. Yu Chen hadn’t seen them since his earliest days in the sect, but it seemed that streak was over with.

“A boarskin? It might be worth something I suppose.” Wu Feng said, as he swaggered closer to Yu Chen, looking the boy over. A slow smile crossed his face as he took in the wound on the boy’s side, but his eye’s flickered in surprise once he made out his face.

“I remember you! It seems our little newbie has grown up. As I recall you still haven’t paid your dues, have you?” Wu Feng said, leering at Yu Chen, before staring at the spirit beast’s hide with unhidden greed.

Yu Chen stiffened, rage flickering in his heart. He still hadn’t had the chance to avenge the first slight, and here the boy was, ready to step on him again. He clenched his fists, unsure if his heart could stomach another insult.

“I don’t owe you anything. I’m on a mission for the sect, and I don’t have time to talk, so kindly remove yourself from my way.” Yu Chen said through clenched teeth. Adrenaline filled him, and his heart began beating a bit harder, sending a fresh wave of energy to fill his tired bones.

“You don’t owe me anything?” Wu Feng said slowly, as if tasting the words. “But what if I say you do?” He said softly, a malicious grin crossing his face, as he examined the boy.

His older brother snorted, and the mocking laughter of the other boys filled the air. The sound seemed to empower Wu Feng, and a cruel look spread across his face as he regarded Yu Chen.

“Make it quick Feng’er, we have our own mission to get back to.” Li Feng said with a bored tone.

“Of course.” Wu Feng said, as he launched himself towards Yu Chen.