"Master, I wish to go home for a visit."
Xu Yan spoke respectfully.
"Mm!"
Li Xuan nodded, his expression unchanged.
"I will return within half a month at the latest."
Xu Yan sighed with relief and spoke again.
Li Xuan nodded, then added, "There's no need for extra words. Your master prefers to keep a low profile, understand?"
"Yes, Master, I understand!"
Xu Yan nodded solemnly.
Seeing that the timing was about right, Li Xuan slowly said, "Splendid Ferocious Tigers, with their robust Qi and blood, are excellent food for strengthening the body and beneficial for cultivation."
Xu Yan's eyes lit up, and he immediately felt a surge of excitement, "Indeed, refining my bones consumes a lot, and Master reminds me that in addition to treasured medicines, the flesh and blood of Splendid Ferocious Tigers are also nourishing and assist in cultivation!"
He nodded vigorously and said excitedly, "I understand, Master!"
Li Xuan expected Xu Yan's excitement and thought to himself, "This foolish disciple, once again, sees hope and is overjoyed, isn't he?"
"Unfortunately, as nourishing as it may be, one shouldn't expect to make a breakthrough in cultivation with it alone."
Appearing casual, Li Xuan reminded him, "There are Splendid Ferocious Tigers in the thirty-li Forest of Malice, be extra cautious on your way."
Finally, he added another piece of advice, "I prefer peace and quiet, and I dislike disturbances, so try not to cause too much of a commotion."
Knowing that Splendid Ferocious Tigers were in the Forest of Malice and that their flesh and blood could aid cultivation, Xu Yan would surely lead hunters to hunt the beasts of the forest if he successfully crossed it this time. Given his background, it was inevitable.
Li Xuan had warned him in advance not to bring anyone to their small village, to avoid disturbing his peace.
As long as no outsiders came, the risk of being exposed would decrease, and no one would uncover that he was a fraud.
Once the danger of the Forest of Malice was eliminated, Li Xuan could leave the village at any time. If there was any risk of exposure, he could quickly make his escape, rather than being trapped in the village with nowhere to go.
Xu Yan's heart was filled with excitement, "Is Master telling me to hunt that Splendid Ferocious Tiger? With my current strength, am I already capable of hunting such fearsome beasts?"
"Don't let the beast escape and cause a disturbance that would bother Master, so I must act swiftly and decisively, without creating too much noise!"
He then thought, "Master is sending me to hunt at this time to also refine me, allowing me to spur my Qi and blood, master my strength, and improve my control over my power in combat with the beasts!"
Xu Yan stood up, clenched his fists, and said excitedly, "Don't worry, Master, I will definitely not make a big commotion, and I will not disturb your tranquility!"
"Mm, very good, I trust you!"
Li Xuan nodded in satisfaction.
This foolish disciple was still obedient and could understand the meaning behind his words.
Yet Xu Yan was overjoyed, having now fully grasped his master's deeper intentions. His journey to the Forest of Malice was bound to yield results!
Perhaps in less than a month, he could achieve Bone Refinement!
...
Li Xuan watched Xu Yan leave, his heart in turmoil, "I hope this foolish disciple can also safely cross the Forest of Malice this time, and then lead people to hunt down the tigers and fierce beasts inside.
"In doing so, I would have avenged the villagers who died tragically."
As long as the tigers and beasts in the Forest of Malice were dead, the path away from the village would be safe, and he could flee immediately upon sensing any danger.
He would flee directly to Wu Country,
Far away.
He could live well off Xu Yan's initiation gift.
...
Xu Yan, with his Longsword slung on his back and a look of excitement on his face, walked faster and faster until he arrived at the Forest of Malice.
Xu Yan was not entering the thirty-li Forest of Malice for the first time, and he had seen more than one carcass of a wild animal gnawed to pieces.
He had come and gone several times without encountering any danger.
This time, Li Xuan entered the Evil Forest without hurrying on his way, instead he began searching through the dense woods.
"Since Master said so, that means with my current strength, fighting a fierce tiger should be no problem."
Xu Yan's blood and energy circulated, his muscles tensed, his keen senses alert to his surroundings as he searched the Evil Forest.
"There, ahead!"
Suddenly, Xu Yan heard faint snoring sounds.
Treading lightly, he cautiously approached and at last saw a Splendid Ferocious Tiger resting in the grass.
Even from a distance of several meters, he could still feel the tiger's aggressive aura, as well as its strong physique and vibrant life force.
"Shh!"
At the sight of the tiger, Xu Yan was astonished.
"Why is this tiger so huge?"
He was born into a wealthy family, fond of martial training from childhood, and had hunted fierce tigers more than once with a group of family guards and hunters.
However, the tigers he had hunted in the past were nothing compared to the one before him now.
The tiger in the Evil Forest was at least twice as big.
Its mottled fur made it look even more ferocious.
"No wonder Master asked me to come to the Evil Forest; this tiger is no ordinary beast, its vitality is much stronger.
"Its flesh and bones are greatly nourishing, very beneficial for my Bone Refinement!"
Excitement shone in Xu Yan's eyes as he inwardly exclaimed, wondering why Master had him hunt the tiger of the Evil Forest; this one was extraordinary.
"With the flesh and bones of this tiger, along with precious herbs, the effect will surely be stronger, enough for my Bone Refinement to transform three times or more!"
Many thoughts flashed through Xu Yan's mind, capturing this tiger and bringing it back so that the family's Pharmacist could cook it with precious herbs would surely enhance the supportive effect for Bone Refinement.
"Don't be careless, now is the opportunity, take it to strike in a flash, killing the tiger without making a commotion, and prevent it from escaping the Evil Forest!"
Xu Yan's blood boiled, his heart beating powerfully, as his vigorous life force circulated throughout his body.
His muscles tensed, ready to unleash his power.
He slowly drew out his Longsword, treading lightly, moving closer.
He was preparing to ambush!
To slay the tiger with one sword strike!
"I can't use the sword!"
Xu Yan suddenly realized something, "If I kill the tiger with the sword, won't I damage its skin?"
"This tiger skin looks so beautiful; peeling it off intact would be perfect to present to Master!"
Upon this thought, Xu Yan gently put down the sword, clenching his fists, his blood surging and muscles tensing, ready to fight the tiger with his bare hands.
Getting closer now, the resting tiger suddenly twitched its nostrils a few times.
It abruptly lifted its head and looked backward.
A human appeared in its sight.
Roar!
The tiger let out a deep roar, ready to spring up, while Xu Yan, at that moment, saw the tiger lift its gaze; those eyes were blood-red, filled with savagery and a bloodthirsty hue.
"Red-Eyed Tiger!"
A chill ran down Xu Yan's spine; no wonder the tiger was so huge, more than twice the size of ordinary tigers.
It was the king among tigers, the Red-Eyed Tiger—the one from the legends!
He had seen it mentioned in stories before, a kind of tiger with eyes like red flames, fierce and ruthless, fond of eating humans; even a hunting party of a hundred people, once encountering it, would surely suffer heavy casualties!
The tiger of the Evil Forest turned out to be the legendary king of tigers, the Red-Eyed Tiger!
Now that he had been discovered.
Xu Yan's blood surged, and without waiting for the Red-Eyed Tiger to leap forward, he fiercely pounced!