Chapter 21 - Dangerous Wilderness
The vastness of the wilderness made Yang Xie feel insignificant.
However, Nangong Ya was captivated by something else.
"The flowers and grass here are so big! I've never seen many of them before," she exclaimed.
"Xiaoya, let me teach you a basic rule for surviving in the wild," Nangong Qing said, his voice calm but firm. "The more delicate a plant looks, the more dangerous it tends to be."
"Why is that, Brother Qing?" she asked curiously.
Instead of answering, Nangong Qing picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at a particularly beautiful flower in the distance.
Suddenly, the delicate flower transformed into a ferocious, gaping mouth and swallowed the stone in one gulp.
Nangong Ya trembled in fright, while Yang Xie was equally shocked.
"A man-eating flower?!" he gasped.
"Plants can be just as deadly as animals," Nangong Qing explained. "After the resurgence of spiritual energy, humans gained the ability to cultivate, and animals evolved into powerful beasts. But at the same time, plants also found their own ways to survive."
"But why aren't the plants in the city like this?" Nangong Ya asked.
"In cities, dangerous plants have been eradicated," Nangong Qing replied. "But out here in the wild, exotic beasts may be the most obvious threat, yet plants can be just as deadly—just in ways you don't immediately notice."
"You still have a lot to learn," he continued. "I can't explain everything now, so I'll give you more insights as we go."
Then, he turned to Nangong Gou. "Gouzi, use your nose to find the direction of the Tianxinglan."
After locking the car doors, Nangong Qing tossed two protective suits to Nangong Ya and Yang Xie.
"You two should wear these," he instructed. "Short sleeves aren't suitable for the wild."
"Why not?" Yang Xie asked, puzzled.
"Because I don't want you becoming food for insects. Just put it on and get moving—you'll understand soon enough."
Neither Nangong Ya nor Yang Xie asked any more questions. They quickly donned the protective clothing, which included long sleeves and hats. Yang Xie also took out the sword Nangong Ya had given him and strapped it to his back, while Nangong Ya readied her weapon.
"Gouzi, lead the way," Nangong Qing commanded. "Wei, take point. Xiaoya and Yang Xie, stay in the middle. Xiuqin and Xiaolan will cover the rear. I'll take command."
With Nangong Gou's heightened sense of smell, it didn't take long for him to locate the direction they needed to go. The group followed behind Nangong Wei, who took the lead in clearing their path.
The wilderness was quiet, with no signs of other humans. The road ahead was filled with thorny plants, some of which even tried to attack them.
Nangong Wei wielded a large blade, hacking a path through the dense vegetation. Any thorny vines that lunged at them were swiftly cut down.
Yang Xie and Nangong Ya walked cautiously in the middle of the formation, weapons at the ready. However, thanks to Nangong Wei's efficiency, they barely encountered any hostile plants.
As they passed through a field of purple flowers, a sweet, intoxicating fragrance filled the air.
Nangong Qing, who had never seen this type of flower before, ordered everyone to keep their distance.
However, Yang Xie couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
The scent is too pleasant...
Earlier, Nangong Qing had explained that the more beautiful a plant appeared, the more dangerous it was. But what about its smell?
Despite his unease, there were no immediate signs of danger. No one felt any discomfort. He decided to suppress his concerns for now.
Maybe he was just overthinking things—after all, even Nangong Qing hadn't warned them.
"Brother Qing, why haven't we encountered any beasts yet?" Nangong Ya asked after a while.
Nangong Qing and the others exchanged knowing smiles.
"Just wait," he said. "You'll see them soon enough."
Almost as if on cue, several figures emerged from the depths of the jungle.
"Well, well… looks like we have company," Nangong Qing murmured.
As the figures drew closer, Yang Xie recognized them immediately.
"Alien wolves!" he exclaimed.
There were at least a dozen of them—larger and far more powerful than the ones they had encountered before.
"Xiaoya and Yang Xie, stay back!" Nangong Qing ordered. "Don't interfere until we've handled them. Xiaolan, guard them."
"Xiuqin, assist us with covering fire. Wei and I will engage. Gouzi, keep watch for sneak attacks."
With their battle plan set, Nangong Ya and Yang Xie found themselves in a purely defensive role.
As newly promoted martial artists, the team didn't expect much from them. With only 500 kg of strength, they wouldn't even be able to take down a single alien wolf. The best they could do was avoid becoming a burden.
Although Yang Xie was eager to prove himself, he held back, staying close to Nangong Ya while watching the others fight.
Nangong Wei was a formidable warrior, holding his own against four wolves with his massive blade.
Nangong Qing fought with a spear, facing five wolves at once. In a swift move, he impaled one, leaving it writhing on the ground.
But then, the largest wolf in the pack entered the fight. It slashed at the air—and invisible claw marks suddenly gouged deep scars into the trees and ground.
"That one's dangerous," Nangong Qing muttered, his movements slowing as he became more cautious.
Surrounded by six wolves, he found himself struggling to keep the upper hand.
"This isn't good," he called out. "Xiuqin, this one's a second-level wolf. I need to contain it—take out the others first and then back me up!"
Nangong Xiuqin assessed the battlefield. More wolves were closing in.
"Alright then… you damned wolves, taste my bullets!" she said, pulling out a machine gun from her back.
"Da-da-da-da!"
In an instant, eight approaching wolves were riddled with bullets and collapsed.
Yang Xie and Nangong Ya were stunned.
"Whoa! Sister Xiuqin is amazing!"
Despite their martial strength, there was no denying the sheer efficiency of hot weapons.
"I need to get my hands on some firearms," Yang Xie thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Nangong Xiuqin switched to a sniper rifle.
"Bang!"
A wolf attacking Nangong Wei had its head blown apart.
"Click."
"Crash."
"Bang!"
Another wolf went down.
Nangong Wei seized the opportunity to regroup with Nangong Qing.
"Bang!"
Another shot, another kill.
With the lesser wolves eliminated, only the second-level alien wolf remained. Realizing it was outmatched, it turned to flee.
"Not happening!" Nangong Xiuqin took aim and fired.
The bullet struck, but instead of falling, the wolf became even more ferocious.
"Watch out, it's going berserk!" Nangong Qing warned. "Wei, let's keep it contained while Xiuqin whittles it down!"
The battle dragged on, but as the second-level wolf grew weaker, Nangong Qing finally landed a decisive strike, bringing it down for good.
"Hah… That thing was stronger than I expected," he admitted, catching his breath. "If I hadn't broken through to the mid-stage of the warrior realm, it might have been a much tougher fight."
"It's odd, though," he added, frowning. "We've never seen second-level wolves in this area before. Something's changing."
Shaking his head, he turned to the group.
"Let's gather the herbs and head back. We've had a good haul today—this second-level wolf alone will fetch a high price, and the first-level ones aren't bad either."
With that, they secured their loot and prepared for the journey home.