The cold wind bit at Hui Jian's face as he crouched low, hidden behind a cluster of snow-covered rocks. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale light over the desolate North Plains. In the distance, the faint sounds of Tao Xun's breathing could be heard as he moved through the forest, oblivious to the danger that stalked them both.
Hui Jian's eyes were fixed on the tracks in the snow—a set of prints too large to belong to a human. He had seen these before, during one of his scouting trips near the beastmen camps. The prints belonged to a massive predator, likely a snow wolf or something worse. But the size of the prints wasn't what concerned him the most. No, it was the fact that the creature had been circling their camp for hours, always just out of sight, always waiting.
Hui Jian's fingers tightened around the hilt of his knife. He knew the beast was hunting them, testing their defenses, waiting for the right moment to strike. And if they didn't do something soon, it would find them. But Hui Jian wasn't planning to let that happen. He was going to turn the tables on the predator.
He glanced over at Tao Xun, who was still scanning the trees with nervous energy. The man was a liability, too loud, too obvious. Hui Jian's instincts screamed at him to leave, to go off alone and take care of the threat quietly. But Tao Xun had proven useful in the past, and for now, Hui Jian wasn't ready to abandon him.
Not yet.
"Stay here," Hui Jian whispered, his voice low and controlled. "I'm going to circle around, see if I can spot it."
Tao Xun nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his face pale under the moonlight. Hui Jian could see the fear in his eyes, the uncertainty. It was the kind of fear that got people killed in the North Plains. He turned away, slipping silently into the shadows, leaving Tao Xun behind as he moved toward the tracks.
The wind howled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of frost and pine. Hui Jian moved like a ghost, his steps light, leaving barely a mark in the snow. He had learned long ago how to move without being seen, how to become part of the landscape. The North Plains rewarded those who could blend in, who could use the environment to their advantage.
He followed the tracks for several minutes, his eyes sharp, his mind focused. The beast was close—he could feel it. Its presence weighed on him, a heavy pressure in the air, like the calm before a storm.
Then he saw it.
A massive shadow moved between the trees, silent and deliberate. The beast's pale fur blended almost perfectly with the snow, but Hui Jian's trained eyes caught the faint movement as it stalked toward Tao Xun's position. It was a snow wolf, larger than any Hui Jian had ever seen. Its eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, hungry and predatory.
For a moment, Hui Jian considered letting the beast strike. Tao Xun was a good fighter, but against something like this, he wouldn't stand a chance. It would be quick, efficient. And then Hui Jian would be free—free to move without being slowed down, free to hunt on his own terms.
But something held him back.
His thoughts wandered to an old story, one he had heard as a boy. The Legend of Ren Zu, the first human. It was said that, long ago, Ren Zu had faced a great and terrible beast in the wilderness. He had been alone, lost, and without allies. The beast had circled him, waiting for the right moment to pounce. It was far stronger than Ren Zu, its claws sharp enough to tear him apart, its fangs gleaming in the darkness. The legend said that Ren Zu had been paralyzed by fear at first, knowing he could never defeat the creature in a direct battle.
But Ren Zu had been clever.
He didn't rely on strength, for the first humans were weak. Instead, Ren Zu called upon Wisdom Gu, which whispered strategies into his mind. The first human knew that the only way to survive was to outsmart the beast. He used the terrain, setting traps and lures, confusing the beast with false trails and sounds. Ren Zu had turned his fear into a weapon, using it to fuel his cunning. The beast had fallen into Ren Zu's trap, ensnared by the very environment it had thought was its domain.
Hui Jian wasn't Ren Zu. But in that moment, he knew what he had to do.
Just like Ren Zu, he couldn't defeat the snow wolf with brute force. The creature was far too powerful for a direct confrontation. But Hui Jian had something the wolf didn't—cunning, and the ability to use his surroundings to his advantage.
He crouched lower, his fingers brushing against the snow. He had a plan—one that would turn the hunter into the hunted.
Carefully, he reached into his pack and pulled out a small pouch of dried herbs, scattering them on the ground. The herbs were infused with a low-grade Lure Gu, designed to attract wild animals. It wouldn't hold the snow wolf's attention for long, but it would be enough to draw it closer, to give Hui Jian the advantage he needed.
He moved quickly, circling around the beast's flank, positioning himself between the wolf and Tao Xun. The wind shifted, carrying the scent of the herbs toward the beast. The snow wolf paused, its nose twitching as it picked up the new scent. Its head turned toward the source, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Hui Jian waited, his body coiled like a spring, every muscle tense. He watched as the beast sniffed the air, its attention focused on the herbs. Slowly, it began to move, its massive paws sinking into the snow as it approached.
Closer.
Closer.
Hui Jian's grip tightened on his knife. He could feel the beast's breath in the air, see the ripple of its muscles beneath its thick fur. It was now or never.
With a swift, silent motion, Hui Jian launched himself forward, his blade flashing in the moonlight. The snow wolf barely had time to react before Hui Jian's knife drove deep into its side, slipping between its ribs with deadly precision. The beast let out a low, guttural growl, its massive body twisting in pain as it tried to turn on him.
But Hui Jian was faster.
He pulled the knife free and struck again, this time driving the blade into the wolf's throat. Blood sprayed across the snow, dark and steaming in the cold air. The wolf staggered, its legs giving way beneath it as it collapsed into the snow with a heavy thud.
Hui Jian stepped back, his breath coming in sharp bursts, his heart pounding in his chest. The snow wolf lay dead at his feet, its blood pooling around it in the white snow.
He wiped his blade clean on the beast's fur, his eyes cold as he surveyed the scene. The hunt was over. The predator had become the prey.
But Hui Jian wasn't finished.
He moved quickly, slicing open the wolf's belly with practiced ease. Inside, he found what he was looking for—a small, dormant Beast Strength Gu, nestled between the wolf's organs. The Gu worm was still weak, but with the right cultivation, it would give Hui Jian a significant boost in strength. A valuable prize.
He pocketed the Gu worm and glanced back toward Tao Xun's position. The man hadn't moved, hadn't even realized how close he had come to death. Hui Jian's eyes narrowed as he studied his ally.
Tao Xun had been useful, but he was also a liability. The North Plains had no mercy for those who couldn't keep up, and Hui Jian knew that sooner or later, Tao Xun's fear would get them both killed.
For now, he would keep him close. But in the back of his mind, Hui Jian was already planning his next move—one that didn't involve Tao Xun.
As Hui Jian made his way back to the camp, his thoughts returned to Ren Zu's legend. After defeating the great beast, Ren Zu had faced a choice. He could continue alone, as he had always done, relying only on his wits and strength. But Wisdom Gu had whispered to him that while survival alone was possible, it was limited. True power came not just from the strength of one man, but from the strength of many. Ren Zu had chosen to lead, to gather others around him and forge a path through the wilderness together.
Hui Jian wasn't Ren Zu. And the North Plains were no place for leaders. Not yet.
The fire flickered in the distance, marking the location of their camp. Hui Jian approached quietly, his movements smooth and controlled. Tao Xun glanced up as he arrived, relief flooding his face.
"Did you find anything?" Tao Xun asked, his voice filled with hope.
Hui Jian's expression remained unreadable as he looked down at Tao Xun. "Nothing you need to worry about."
Tao Xun nodded, clearly unaware of how close he had come to being abandoned.
Hui Jian sat down by the fire, the weight of the Beast Strength Gu heavy in his pack. For now, he would play along, keep Tao Xun close. But in the back of his mind, the cold, calculating part of him was already planning the next step.
He would survive the North Plains. And if that meant leaving Tao Xun behind when the time came, so be it.