Chapter 107: The Hunter

It was another night and Geyi Kun and Wang Zen once again were looking through the forest for more ingredients for Kun’s Forever Hot Soup, while Zen collected more Criss Grass. He had been anxiously waiting for five days for Geyi Kun to go herb foraging again. After he had finished three helpings of the awefully tasting Criss Grass Soup, he felt his ki begin to purify after which he had to quickly run out of Kun’s room to relieve himself at the nearest toilet where his body flushed out the impurities. The soup had a lower effect than a low grade ki purifying pill but the fact that it was free made it better in his opinion and now he had a goal to collect enough for two helpings.

Geyi Kun continuedto grow more impressed by Zen’s efforts. He no longer needed her to point the Criss Grass out to him. He was able to quickly and effcienlty pick them out. He had somehow gotten even Shibi to pick out the plants. At this rate, they would pick the forest clean.

“So you haven’t seen a plant on your Forever Hot Soup ingredients?”

“Not yet.” she said, looking around.

“Don’t worry, we’ll come across it soon.”

“Your optisim disgusts me, Crooked Nose.”

Shibi climbed up Zen’s shoulder and offered him a Criss Grass plant with the stem and brown bud already separated. He accepted the plant and stored it in his storage stone. “Oh come on, Kun Kun, I’m just trying to keep you motivated.”

“What dd you just call me, you loser?”

“I called you Kun Kun.”

“Never call me Kun Kun, you… you second rate boy!”

“Aaahh! Kun Kun is so cute when she’s angry.”

“Wang Zen, if you call e Kun Kun one more time…” she wagged a finger in warning.

Zen stopped and turned to face her, revealing the evil smirk on his face as he leaned closer to Kun, his lips poised to say her newly required nickname when a beast smashed through the foilage heading for them! Kun jumped up and Zen was blown back as the beast passed him and Kun. She clumsily landed on her front, keeping an eye for the beast that crashed into a tree.

Zen recovered and stood between the beast and Kun. “Are you okay, Kun Kun?”

“Yeah,” she said as she got up. “No thanks to you.”

“You should probably get out from behind me.” Zen said as he stared at the beast green scaly beast, which rose to look at him. “it’s best you get out from behind me. This is a Ripping Lizard and it is fond of a charging attack.”

“If I get from behind you, I may draw its attention and it might charge at me, idiot.” She said. “Send Shibi out.”

“I’m not risking Shibi.” He said.

“What’s wrong with it?”

Zen noticed it too. The Rippng Lizard was short on breath, had a bloody wound at its neck and looked more scared than angry. They heard barks as two beasts came out of the foilage from behind them. Each ran past either side and another blur came from overhead, all coming together on the Ripping Lizard’s position which did not have long to struggle until the human and the two hound beasts took it down and ended its life.

The man rose and looked back at the two and Zen smiled awkwardly at him. “Jiahai! Long time no see!”

It was a lie. Zen saw Jiahai most of the days, in class, on the grounds, sometimes at the canteen, just from very far away.

Jiahai grunted an acknowledgement before he drew the dead body into a storage stone. He then walked toward Wang Zen.

“So, funny seeing you here in the forest.” Zen said. “I see your still hunting. It’s good! It’s good! Gotta get those cores, huh?”

Jiahai walked around him and continued on his path, followed by the two hounds.

“Geez, that guy doesn’t like you much.” Kun said. “What did you do, throw that killing intent of yours towards his direction.”

“No!” Zen said turning to her, only to see her walking towards the direction Jiahai took. “Where are you going?” Zen followed after her.

“I’m going to see where he is going.”

“Argh, Geyi Kun, leave the guy alone!”

“I will, after I see what he’s up to.”

Geyi Kun crouched and looked around a tree to remain hidden. Zen did the same, while warning her about not spying on people. His complaints died in his mouth when he saw a small herd of Ripping Lizards lying on the forest floor.

Jiahai tapped the storage stone and the newly collected body joined the others before he began his work of collecting the pelts and cores of the beast. Zen recognised the heard, especially the big male lying dead at the centre of bodies. This was the male that he, Jiahai, Shibi and Rizon had fught so long ago. Had Jiahai really killed them all?

One of the Ragged Jackal’s Jiahai was with turned to look at them and they immediately hid behind the bush. Zen did not recognise the Jazkal as it was not Rizon but he was unsure if it was Blackfur either.

They slowly crept away from the site of death and Jiahai and his Ragged Jackals.

“So that guy is some kind of tamer?” Kun said once they were away from them.

“A tamer? I guess.” He said.

“What do you mean you guess? He has 2 Ragged Jackals that are well trained enough for him to hunt with.” Kun said. “Maybe I should have asked him to protect me.”

“Pssht, as if.” Zen said absentindeldy. He was still shocked at how much Jiahai had grown. He had truly improved, while he felt that he was standing still. He clenched his fists as he guessed that Chen Jian was also probably growing in leaps and bounds while he was struggling with an introductory technique into Sword Ki Arts. He knew now that he had to put more work if he would keep up with his peers. “Come,” he said, increasing is walking pace, “let’s find more herbs!”

“Hey, wait up!” Kun shouted in annoyance as she tried to catch up to Zen.