C19 Running

Jiang Xiaoxiao was taken aback. She had heard the rumbling sound yesterday and had assumed it was far off, but to her surprise, it was alarmingly close. It felt as though she had narrowly escaped death the night before.

Ye Han stood agape before slowly crouching down. He reached out to touch the enormous footprint, feeling the residual power of the high-level spirit beast. Despite a night having passed, the energy lingered, indicating that this was likely within its territory. It explained why they hadn't encountered any spirit beasts during their time here; clearly, this beast tolerated no rivals on its turf.

Ye Han felt fortunate that he had chosen to conceal his strength and endure in silence the previous night. Had he acted impulsively, the outcome for them both could have been grim.

"We need to leave; this place isn't safe," he urged.

The more time Ye Han spent there, the more he realized the urgency to leave. He quickly set off in the direction opposite the footprint, hoping to distance themselves as much as possible from the formidable spirit beast. It wasn't that he was overreacting; they simply stood no chance against such a creature. A mere swipe from it would be more than Ye Han, still recovering from a recent illness, could withstand—especially with the vulnerable Jiang Xiaoxiao at his side.

Jiang Xiaoxiao followed Ye Han with a sense of unrest, quickening her pace. She did her best to keep up, staying alert and scanning their surroundings for any sign of other spirit beasts.

Ironically, they found themselves hoping for an encounter with a spirit beast, as it would signal that they had left the high-level beast's domain.

As they traveled, they came across a variety of unusual herbs. Time permitting, they hastily gathered what they could. Ye Han understood the importance of these herbs for his constitution. Once processed, they would become essential medicinal materials for healing wounds. He couldn't afford to miss out on collecting them, despite the danger, as he couldn't be sure when he might return to this place.

The two moved with incredible speed, and at last, they reached the outskirts. Noticing signs of spirit beast activity not too far ahead, they breathed a sigh of relief.

However, it wasn't time to let their guard down, so they kept running.

Before long, they encountered a group of fierce spirit beasts. Far from being concerned at the sight, they were actually elated.

Ye Han spotted the spirit beasts nearby and swiftly drew his long sword, charging forward without hesitation. He gave them no opportunity to retaliate and dispatched them with rapid strikes.

Having viciously dispatched the group of spirit beasts, the pair stopped, gasping for breath, and then burst into unrestrained laughter.

"Fantastic, we've finally left the high-level spirit beasts' territory," Jiang Xiaoxiao said with a joyful smile, picking some of the high-level herbs nearby.

Their bodies were adorned with a variety of herbs, all gathered in preparation for the future.

Ye Han gave a slight nod, gathered some dry wood, and started a fire. They had been busy all morning and hadn't eaten anything, leaving them ravenous.

The spirit beasts before them were an excellent source of food!

They weren't concerned about the noise attracting other spirit beasts; they needed the constant challenge to grow stronger, so they acted with increasing boldness.

As the bonfire roasted the meat, a tantalizing aroma filled the air, prompting them both to swallow hard.

They could hear the rumbling in their throats and exchanged a glance, breaking into joyful laughter.

The rumbling of their stomachs had been persistent; they hadn't had time to eat the day before, and the tension of the night had pushed the thought from their minds.

Now, enticed by the delicious scent, their bodies clamored for sustenance.

"Here, this piece is for you," Ye Han said, passing a well-roasted piece of meat to Jiang Xiaoxiao. He then tore off a chunk for himself and began to eat heartily.

Though the meat was tough, it was a feast for the famished duo.

"The prey we ran into this time was a wild panther beast. The flavor is a bit off. Next time, let's hope for something better so we can prepare extra provisions."

Ye Han swallowed a bite of meat with a hint of dissatisfaction. He wasn't usually fussy about food, but the constant diet of dry rations was becoming unpleasant.

"Alright, but we should make an effort to keep our distance from this area. That high-level spirit beast looks incredibly fierce, and the difference in strength is too great. It's not safe for us to linger here."

Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't have much to say in response, but she was visibly shaken, especially when recalling the previous night's events, which only heightened her anxiety. This made her all the more eager to put as much distance as possible between them and this place.

Without further comment, Ye Han simply nodded, though he found himself involuntarily glancing towards the distance. He had a strong feeling that he would return to this spot, determined not to flee in such a disheveled state again. He was resolved to defeat that high-level spirit beast, convinced that it would be surrounded by valuable herbs. The specifics, however, remained unknown.

Ye Han's gaze grew darker, but he remained silent, continuing to eat his meal with vigor. Soon, the fire had died down, leaving nothing but a pile of bones. Anything that could be utilized had been, and anything that could be carried had been taken.

Ye Han and Jiang Xiaoxiao roamed without a clear destination. Their current need was to continually train and engage in combat with any beasts they encountered. If no beasts were to be found, they would search for herbs that could aid in their recovery or enhance their strength.

Their clothes were now ragged, but they were not concerned with their appearance. They had nearly depleted their supplies, and their bodies were adorned with various prepared herbs and charred food.

After a long trek, they finally reached a shallow pool. It had been a long time since they had last seen water, and they were parched. They hurried towards it, yet remained cautious, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Once they were confident the area was safe, they slowly made their way to the water's edge.

Water was a precious commodity in this region, and its presence almost certainly indicated danger. Despite its serene appearance, the pond was unlikely to be as benign as it looked.

Jiang Xiaoxiao deliberately stayed a few steps behind, aware that her reactions weren't as quick as Ye Han's in the face of imminent danger. With caution, Ye Han edged closer to the pond.

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