Before his rebirth, Hu Yu had been a man who dared not defy anyone's orders after becoming a son-in-law. As a result, Lin Yuan had completely ignored him. But after his rebirth, Hu Yu had started doing things completely contrary to his previous path, which drew Lin Yuan's attention and even resentment.
Similarly, the more things changed, the fewer overlaps there were between the reality unfolding now and the one before his rebirth.
Hu Yu realized this but wasn't too worried. The affairs in Linjiang were complicated, and even now, there were things hidden from his knowledge. But as a king among men, how could he fear such trials?
He walked forward under the rising sun, his dark eyes filled with indifference. "Mice hiding in the gutter, not one of you will escape this time."
With that, Hu Yu stepped into the forest.
The forest outside Linjiang connected to the vast and perilous Domain of Fallen Immortals, a place fraught with dangerous beasts and monsters. However, as mentioned before, the outermost areas had been cleared by human efforts, making them somewhat safer.
That being said, the remaining resources within the safe zone were scarce. Medicinal herbs had been ravaged over the years, and spirit plants had become extinct. To obtain anything valuable, one had to venture deeper. The further in you went, the more treasures there were, but the danger also increased. Eventually, one had to travel in groups, for at that point, humans themselves became prey.
Hu Yu entered the mountain this time in search of herbs to concoct a poison-removing pill. The ingredients weren't particularly rare, but as materials required for several low-level pills, they weren't easy to find in a small place like Linjiang. So, Hu Yu decided to take a chance and venture in.
Naturally, he knew that the safe zone wouldn't have what he needed, so he made his way deeper.
Beneath the dappled tree shade, a gentle breeze blew.
Suddenly, footsteps rang in his ears. Hu Yu turned his head to see about ten heavily-armed men, likely mercenaries hired for a job. If one looked closely, there was also a young man in white among them, looking quite striking.
"An odd combination," Hu Yu muttered to himself before turning back and continuing on his way.
But just then, a voice, as light as a breeze, called out, "Brother, wait a moment."
The one who stopped him was the young man in white. Hu Yu coolly asked, "Is there something you need?"
At the young man's words, the mercenaries all stopped and turned their gazes toward Hu Yu. The young man nodded and said, "Beyond here lies the hunting zone. You should turn back."
From his attire, it was clear he wasn't an ordinary person. Hu Yu thought for a moment and asked, "Who might you be?"
The young man almost spoke but hesitated, awkwardly saying, "I'm afraid I cannot disclose that."
"No matter. Thanks for the advice, but I have important matters to attend to and must go further. Farewell."
Hu Yu turned to leave.
"Wait!" The young man called again, offering, "Since we've met here, how about traveling together, if you don't mind?"
Hu Yu was a bit surprised as a grizzled mercenary uncle approached and slapped Hu Yu on the shoulder with a grin. "You've got guts, kid. Going to the hunting zone alone? Something must've happened at home, huh? No offense, but with your build, you'd be a snack for the beasts in there. Don't be stubborn; the employer said to let you join us."
The mercenary uncle didn't wait for Hu Yu's response, pulling him into the group.
Hu Yu was speechless but didn't resist.
One, rejecting now would seem ungrateful. Two, with his current lack of cultivation, going in alone would be dangerous if he encountered a beast.
The group continued ahead, and as the mercenary uncle grew taller and sturdier, he said, "Up ahead is the hunting zone. You two kids stay close, and don't do anything without permission."
The young man asked cautiously, "What if it's an emergency?"
The mercenary uncle answered solemnly, "Deal with it on the spot."
The young man's face turned red with embarrassment. "Oh, that's too…"
Clearly, the young man was someone used to luxury.
Hu Yu chuckled, tapping the tree beside him. "If you want to hide, go ahead, but remember to keep an eye on your head. You never know what might be drooling over you from above. And watch your feet; there's more than just rocks on the ground. One wrong move, and your precious bits might end up someone else's snack."
The young man instinctively covered his lower region. "Don't scare me like that."
The mercenary uncle nodded with approval, adding, "Exactly. The biggest danger in the hunting zone isn't the big, snarling beasts, but the little ones hiding in the dark."
The young man, serious now, nodded. "An open blade is easy to block, but an arrow from the shadows is hard to defend against, huh?"
Hu Yu couldn't help but think of the betrayal by You Kuang, his heart cold with bitterness as he let out a sigh. "Yes, arrows from the shadows are hard to defend against."
The mercenary uncle noticed the fleeting sorrow in Hu Yu's eyes and became slightly suspicious, but he didn't probe further. Instead, he kept a closer eye on him.
"Ahem. Kid, I'm Zhou Tong. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Zhou."
The young man smiled. "You can call me Ming Ren."
Hu Yu wasn't sure if that was his real name, but he didn't care.
"I'm Hu Yu."
Hu Yu?
Ming Ren immediately thought of the Hu Yu who had married into the Lin family. He was momentarily stunned, then realized it must be a coincidence and shook his head, dismissing the thought.
As they ventured deeper, the scenery around them slowly changed. The ground was overrun with weeds, and branches hung low, almost touching the earth. Thorns and brambles grew everywhere, making the path harder to navigate. The sunlight was completely blocked, and the temperature dropped several degrees, causing the travelers to shiver.
"Uncle Zhou, is this the hunting zone?" Ming Ren asked, huddling against the cold.
Zhou Tong nodded. "That's right. This is probably your first time here. Be careful."
As Zhou Tong spoke, the mercenaries instinctively gathered around Hu Yu and Ming Ren, forming a protective circle.
Hu Yu quickly surveyed the area, recognizing the signs of smaller beasts nearby. They posed no real threat to the group, so he casually asked Ming Ren, "What brought you here?"
Ming Ren sighed in disappointment. "I'm here for the same reason as you—looking for something."
Hu Yu crushed a poisonous insect disguised as a dead leaf beneath his foot and casually said, "If you don't mind, tell me what it is."
Ming Ren hesitated for a moment, then, seeing no reason to hold back since they were traveling together, said, "Water Cloud Bamboo and the core of the Jackal Tiger."
Water Cloud Bamboo and Jackal Tiger cores were excellent materials for crafting healing pills, but only alchemists typically knew about them. Ming Ren continued, "However, when combined, they produce a deadly poison."
Hu Yu briefly considered the information but ultimately decided not to interfere. He and Ming Ren were mere strangers, and it wasn't his place to get involved in another's affairs