“Oh, senior brother, you’re awake.” After Ling Yichen saw that Fu Chengyu had woken up, he asked in concern, “Do you feel any discomfort anywhere? If you feel anything, please say so.”
Fu Chengyu shook his head and smiled. “I’m fine.”
“If you’re fine then wash your face and come and eat.” Ling Chuxi had already washed up. She turned around and added, “If you are slow, I won’t leave any food for you. Zhuoyi only managed to find four wild chicken eggs.”
Fu Chengyu observed Ling Chuxi’s clear eyes and smiled gently. This young maiden always seemed to leave one in a good mood.
After breakfast, they started doing all the things they had to. Ling Chuxi picked and collected herbs and taught Ling Yichen and Xia Zhuoyi the correct method of doing so too, as well as how to properly preserve them. This place was indeed good because throughout all four seasons, it remained as though it was spring. Not only were there many herbs, the climate also ensured that the herbs grew much better than they would in other places. They managed to gain a fruitful harvest in just a single morning. Ling Chuxi was so happy that her brows were raised, and her eyes were curved just looking at the amount harvested.
“Zhuoyi, how did you find such a good place?” asked Ling Chuxi offhandedly as she looked at the bulging backpack containing all their collected herbs.
Xia Zhuoyi chuckled. “It’s nothing much. There was this one time where I was chased by a wild boar and I lost my way, so I ended up finding this place,” explained Xia Zhuoyi truthfully as he scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
“Are you serious? What level is your Battle Qi at? How could you be chased by a random wild boar?” asked both Ling Yichen and Ling Chuxi in surprise.
“That wild boar was no ordinary one,” replied Xia Zhuoyi, feeling somewhat ashamed.
“Isn’t a wild boar just an ordinary wild beast though? So, Xia Zhuoyi’s standard is not even comparable to that of a wild boar. There’s no need to explain further!” said Ling Chuxi as she pursed her lips.
“In short, he’s not even comparable to a pig,” snickered Ling Yichen as he added another jab.
“The two of you are completely without conscience! Spit out the wild chicken eggs you ate just now!” shouted Xia Zhuoyi angrily.
Fu Chengyu watched the three of them bantering as he walked alongside them and saw a faint smile that was barely noticeable appearing on Ling Yichen’s face. At the sight of this, Fu Chengyu smiled too.
“All right. Let’s return to the academy. These herbs are enough for now. As for some of the other herbs needed, we can just buy them in town,” announced Ling Chuxi as she happily patted the stuffed backpack.
Ling Yichen also nodded. If they took any more, they would not be able to stuff it into the backpack.
The group of them cleared up their things and got ready to leave. After travelling not far from their makeshift campsite by the hot springs, Ling Chuxi and the rest suddenly felt like something was not quite right.
“Do you guys feel that the surface of the ground seems to be shaking?” asked Ling Chuxi softly.
“It can’t be that coincidental right…” said Xia Zhuoyi with a face that looked like he was about to cry as his expression changed.
“What do you mean?” asked Ling Yichen doubtfully.
Just as Ling Yichen spoke, a cloud of dust could be seen up ahead and loud rumbling sounds could be heard. Then, a wild boar the size of a small hill came thundering over. The strength that exploded from its huge body was terrifying. It was running and knocking over big trees and huge rocks in its path. The boars’ two incisors gleamed with a chilling light and its yellow saliva dripped to the ground with hisses, corroding the surfaces of the parts of the ground it came into contact with. Anyone who saw this sight would feel their hearts shuddering.
“Oh! Oh! Oh! It really is that coincidental! Run!” howled Xia Zhuoyi as his face turned green. He immediately turned on his heel and ran.
“F*ck! Zhuoyi, are you sure that’s a wild boar?!” cried Ling Chuxi when she saw the wild boar the size of a small hill rampaging towards her and could not help but scold Xia Zhuoyi. Was this really a wild boar? What kind of joke was this! Where on earth was there such a strong wild boar? Where on earth was there a wild boar whose saliva was so acidic! Now she finally understood why Xia Zhuoyi ran helter-skelter when he was chased by such a wild boar.
“Isn’t this a wild boar?” asked Xia Zhuoyi very innocently as he blinked.
“It’s a Level 6 monster beast! The Slate Beast!” roared Ling Chuxi in anger. “I really wonder how you managed to survive the last time round!” She had trouble dealing with a Level 5 Wind Owl Beast the last time, and yet this time she was meeting with a Level 6 monster beast!