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Sabre Wolf came to the Spirit Beast Forest as usual with his team. His team enters the forest twice every week, to hunt for Beasts and spiritual plants.
After years of hunting, he was familiar with the forest and its layout. The closer one gets to the volcano, the more dangerous it will be for the hunter. The stronger spirit beasts live around the mountain, and valuable spirit plants grew there compared to the outer area.
The Spirit Beast Forest shares a stretch of border with the Grand Demon Forest, the largest forest in the continent. It was less dangerous when compared to the latter, and thus many people depended on it for a living. Hunters like him and the villages around depended on the forest resources as their livelihood.
Today, everything was unusual about the forest. Weather was extremely odd in the volcano with lightning and tornado. As the tall mountain was visible from all the villages and towns around the forest, it quickly grabbed everyone's attention, including his team's.
The hunter team he leads, the Hunter Wolfs, includes four members, including himself: Sabre Wolf, Sword Wolf, Blade Wolf, and Arrow Wolf.
They hunter names were all based on the weapon they carry.
The unusual event made almost all hunters and cultivators of the village to rush towards the volcano. On their way, they met hordes of fleeing beasts and had to defend themselves. After an hour of fight, they redirected the beasts to the Grand Demon Forest side. That was what happened in all other settlements around.
Sabre Wolf decided to risk, and go near the volcano with his team. Curiosity was in their nature, and they knew very well that without risking they won't be able to succeed.
"Pick up that ginseng fast." Sword Wolf said to Blade Wolf. The latter had nimble hands and thus can harvest the plant without causing any damage.
"See any danger. Arrow?" Sabre as an experienced hunter always kept his guard up.
"Nothing yet." Arrow Wolf replied from top of the tree; her hands never left the bow, and her eyes always kept searching for any signs of danger.
"This is the best day ever." Sword Wolf unsheathed his sword and swung it aimlessly. The lean young hunter grinned as he carried the cloth bags that have their harvest.
"We made a big harvest today." Sabre Wolf proclaimed with a smile. The burly man was brimming with happiness. This was the biggest hunt he had with the team throughout all these years. His cloth bags and leather bags were full of spiritual and medicinal plants. Without any threat from the strong beasts and his team's high efficiency, they wiped the land clean very fast.
"But from now on, we must be extra careful, especially of humans rather than beasts." He continued.
"Boss." Arrow yelped in surprise. "Someone is coming out of the tornado."
"What?" Saber's mind raced along with his heartbeats.
He immediately started giving instructions.
"Arrow, stay hidden."
"Sword, keep your hands off your weapon. Someone who can barge into the tornado is way stronger than us."
"Blade, hide with half of our bags behind the tree. Even if he wanted to rob us, this can keep that much left for us.
"Don't. I repeat don't irritate that person."
It didn't take long before the person appeared before them. He looked young with smooth skin and shoulder-length hair.
His long years of experience made Sabre not judge the person in front with just his appearance.
Upon further look, smoke surrounded the person, and he saw something else that terrified him.
Qi armor. The person's bare upper body was covered by a semi brown armor.
"Never offend this senior." He warned his team.
The person who was walking in a different direction took a turn and walked towards them.
Sabre Wolf's heartbeat quickened and he nervously watched the person walk closer.
"Greetings Senior. I am a humble hunter known as Saber Wolf. How can I be of service to you?" He bowed.
"Huh."
"Idiot. Pay respect to Senior." Sabre Wolf scolded.
"Sword Wolf greets Senior."
"It's fine." The so-called Senior, Immortal Lu, waved his hand with a smile.
"Senior's cultivation and strength must be unparalleled considering you break inside the tornado without a scratch." Sabre Wolf praised.
"Oh." Senior didn't reply but looked at him curiously.
"So did Senior managed to get the treasure?"
"What treasure?"
"There is no treasure? Such a weird natural phenomenon is said to occur when a heavenly treasure gets born." Sabre replied respectfully.
"Oh. Is that so?" Immortal Lu smiled. "What a waste of time. There is no such treasure here. Are you here for the treasure as well? Don't waste your time."
"Oh no. Senior, we know our inferior strength. We came here just to harvest some insignificant medicine. We are just staying here out of curiosity." Sabre respectfully replied. "We are grateful for Senior's presence. Forgive this ignorant hunter for not recognizing you. How should I address you?"
"Oh, the reason I came here is due to that young lady staring at me," Senior said as he looked at the tree behind Sabre. "Young lady, it's not good for a fine lady like you to hide behind on the treetop."
"Arrow come down and apologize to Senior." Sabre panicked.
"Senior please forgive her. She is inexperienced."
"Don't think of harming her." Sword Wolf warned with his hands on his weapon.
"Shut up idiot." Sabre berated.
Arrow jumped down and bowed. She had her cheeks full of blush and she avoided having eye contact with the Senior.
"I...so...rry..." She said shyly.
"I apologize. Is there anything I can do to make up?" Sabre hopefully asked.
"It's nothing to worry about. I was just curious. It's an interesting skill this young lady has, despite her low cultivation." Senior waved it off, making the members of the Wolf team sigh in relief. "I do need a favor. My upper clothes got burned by the lava. So, if any one of you has a spare robe, that will be very helpful."
"How can our lowly clothes be a match for Senior's magnificence."
"There are no such things as lowly and there is no reason that makes me magnificent. It's fine that you don't have spare clothes."
"We will be happy. Sword, give your spare cloth to senior."
Sword Wolf opened his bag and took out his spare cloth. It was a grey robe just like what he was wearing. He offered it to Senior with a bow.
"Thank you very much for your help." Immortal Lu also bowed.
After taking another look at Arrow and telling them one thing, he left.
"Keep our meeting a secret."
Within seconds he disappeared from their sight.
"Fuu." Only then Sabre gets relieved.
"Arrow, you used your eye power on him? What did you see?"
"He..he..he..s...Big." Arrow's cheeks turned red like an apple and her face was filled with shame and shyness.
"Yes, he is powerful. At least a Martial Lord."
Only Arrow Wolf knew what she meant.