Qing Rui stood tall, her gaze fixed on Wu Zheng, clearly expecting something from him after her impressive display. Wu Zheng, now standing closer with the guards, could immediately sense what she was after. Without missing a beat, he smiled and complied, his eyes gleaming with exaggerated admiration. "That was... incredible! You're unbelievably powerful! How can someone be that strong? And that last move—what was it? It was unbelievable!"
His words tumbled out in rapid succession, each compliment more enthusiastic than the last. The guards, who had been observing Wu Zheng's cold, calculating demeanor, stared at him in disbelief. This sudden shift in personality was jarring, as if Wu Zheng had transformed into an excited child.
One of the guards leaned toward his comrade, muttering, "Is this really the same guy? He's figured out how to get on her good side pretty fast. I thought he was a lot more reserved, but now he's acting like a scared kid trying to please her."
The other guard shrugged, his expression confused but amused. Neither of them knew how to respond to Wu Zheng's sudden enthusiasm.
Qing Rui, on the other hand, reveled in the attention. Each word of praise seemed to light up her face, her smile widening as if Wu Zheng's compliments were fuel for her pride. She basked in the admiration, and for a moment, all the frustrations she'd felt earlier were washed away.
After letting the moment linger, Wu Zheng shifted gears. His tone softened slightly as he asked, "Would it be alright if I... took it?"
Qing Rui blinked, not quite following at first. "What do you mean?"
He pointed toward the lifeless body of the beast she had just slain. "The deal we made earlier—can I take the parts I need from the beast?"
Realization dawned on her, and she nodded with a small smile. "Oh, of course! After all, it was part of our agreement."
Wu Zheng wasted no time. He moved toward the fallen fang claw beast and began expertly dismantling it, collecting its teeth, claws, and most importantly, the spirit core. Each part was handled with care, as he knew how valuable they could be for cultivation and other uses. The guards watched in silent awe as he worked, impressed by his efficiency.
Once he had gathered what he needed, the group prepared to leave. They started descending the mountain, their footsteps quick but steady. The wind carried the scent of blood and freshly disturbed earth, and though the battle was over, the atmosphere remained tense, as if the mountain itself had yet to settle from the chaos.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled. The earth shook violently, and before anyone could react, a deafening roar pierced the air, echoing through the valley like a thunderclap. The noise was so loud it forced them all to stop in their tracks, covering their ears against the painful sound.
One of the guards, his face pale, yelled over the roar, "That's... that's a fourth-tier beast!"
Panic set in almost immediately. Without another word, the group began to run, their footsteps pounding the ground as they raced to escape. Wu Zheng struggled to keep pace with Qing Rui and the guards, his legs working double-time to avoid falling behind.
"There wasn't any mention of a fourth-tier beast in this area!" Qing Rui shouted, glancing back at Wu Zheng, her voice filled with urgency.
Wu Zheng, still keeping up, called back, "It could be related to the fang claw beast you just killed. The roar... it sounded similar. Maybe it's seeking revenge for its kin or its child."
At those words, the guards' faces drained of color. Fear gripped them as they exchanged nervous glances, but there was no time to respond.
With a thunderous crash, a massive shadow loomed in front of them, causing the group to skid to a halt. Emerging from the treeline was another fang claw beast, but this one was far larger—standing nearly five meters tall. Its sharp, blood-stained claws and wild, glowing eyes made it clear that it was far more ferocious than the beast they had just defeated.
The beast let out another ground-shaking roar, its eyes locked onto them, filled with a terrifying rage. It was clear—this was no ordinary beast. This was a beast seeking vengeance.