"Impossible!" Alex exclaimed, his countenance mirroring his inner turmoil as Shen Hong's words reverberated in his ears.
"I asked, are you trying to steal my kill?" Shen Hong spat out the accusation once more, his tone escalating in intensity, resonating with irate undertones.
"Such audacity truly knows no bounds," Alex pondered in disbelief, his thoughts swirling with indignation.
He, Alex, had been the one to inflict grievous wounds on the Shadowclaw, teetering on the brink of a kill. Shen Hong's intervention, however, had been unsolicited and unnecessary, his arrow loosed at the beast was a redundant gesture. If there was any truth to the accusation of theft, then by all means, Shen Hong was the guilty party, not him.
Alex regarded Shen Hong's livid expression, his gaze unwavering as he retorted, "How exactly did I try to steal your kill, I was well on my way to slaying the Shadowclaw single-handedly."
"Your perspective seems flawed to me," an irritating voice drifted from behind Shen Hong.
Alex's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the speaker. Xiao Se. He hadn't anticipated his arrival, his focus having been solely on Shen Hong and their heated exchange.
Naturally, where Shen Hong was, Xiao Se and the others were likely to be as well. However, since the abrupt interruption of his impending victory by Shen Hong's misplaced arrow, Alex's mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of new skills and Shen Hong's blatant lack of shame, leaving no room for other considerations.
Casting his gaze over Shen Hong's shoulder, Alex spotted Xiao Se sauntering towards them, with Wu Lina standing a short distance behind, her arms folded across her chest, observing the unfolding situation with a detached interest.
"You truly show no gratitude," Xiao Se commented disdainfully before adopting a self-righteous tone, "Despite being a lowly individual, your ingratitude knows no bounds. You were barely holding your own against a weak Qi beast when Shen Hong extended a helping hand. Yet, you disregard his benevolence and dare to accuse him of theft."
Alex's expression darkened momentarily at Xiao Se's words, but it was swiftly replaced by a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ah, Senior Xiao, your wisdom is indeed profound!" he responded in a playful tone, "I was just pondering, perhaps the beast isn't as dead as we think. Maybe Shen Hong's arrow didn't quite finish the job. After all, stranger things have happened."
Alex's use of the honorific 'Senior Xiao' was not out of respect but a customary practice within the Cloud Moon Sect, where outer disciples commonly referred to the inner sect members as 'Senior'.
As anticipated, Shen Hong's temper flared at Alex's veiled mockery. "What are you insinuating?" Shen Hong demanded, his voice seething with fury, "Are you implying that my shot was feeble and insufficient to slay a lowly Qi beast?" His anger spiraled, his face twisting into a grimace as he barked, "Are you daring to insult me?"
Alex, after hearing these words, graced his face with a congenial smile. "Insult you? I dare not, Senior Brother Shen Hong," he responded with a loud, clear voice, emphasizing the 'senior' once again to provoke Shen Hong further.
"You...you..." Shen Hong's voice was filled with rage, his hands shaking as he pointed a trembling finger at Alex. His anger was palpable, his face a mask of indignation.
But Shen Hong was not alone in his fury. Beyond Shen's shoulder, Alex noticed Xiao Se, also seething with anger.
Yet, his rage was better controlled than Shen's. His face may have been calm, but the anger flashing in his eyes and the murderous intent radiating from his very being couldn't be concealed.
Seeing this, Alex couldn't help but inwardly smile in victory. "So, it seems it's quite easy to ruffle both your feathers," he mused quietly to himself. "Perhaps in the future, there will be no need for violence. Maybe words will be enough to bring you both down."
His triumphant smile was hidden well, replaced with a tranquil expression. As he approached Shen Hong, his voice took on a patronizing tone, "Senior Brother Shen, there's no need to be so upset. Perhaps, with more practice, you'll be able to land a lethal hit on a Qi Beast from this distance," he commented.
But, Alex knew this wouldn't be enough. Turning his back to Shen Hong, he made his way to the corpse of the Qi Beast. He knelt and, with a dagger in hand, began to carve into the beast's body.
"What are you trying to do?" Shen Hong demanded, his voice laced with suspicion at Alex's actions.
Alex ignored him, his focus solely on the beast before him.
This, of course, only served to fuel Shen Hong's anger. After a while, Alex managed to extract the Qi Beast's core, the coveted Shadowclaw's Qi core. He stood, holding the core aloft for all to see, and approached Shen Hong.
"Senior Brother Shen Hong," he began, his voice calm and steady, "I'm sure you believe me when I say that I was the one who delivered the killing blow on the Shadowclaw. Hence, this Qi Core rightfully belongs to me, don't you agree?"
The mention of the Qi Core seemed to send Shen Hong into a fit of rage, his face a deep crimson. Alex, however, paid no mind to this and moved past him.
Halting near Xiao Se, Alex could feel the murderous intent radiating off him.
Unfazed, he turned to face Shen Hong once more, raising the Qi Core so that Xiao Se, Shen Hong, and Wu Lina - who was observing from a distance - could see.
"Elder Brother Shen Hong," he announced, his voice echoing through the silence, "if you truly desire the Shadowclaw's Qi Core, you need only ask. I would be more than happy to give it to you." His voice was tinged with an insincere warmth, like an elder brother offering a prized possession to his sibling.
This statement further infuriated both Shen Hong and Xiao Se, but Alex remained unperturbed, holding the Qi Core aloft, as though still offering it to Shen Hong.