The Hunt

To be honest Gu Erin wasn't exactly all too pleased, he thought it would take longer, yet here he was having to duck and weave through alleys. Whomever was trying to tail him had some skill, but honestly was still amateurish in his eyes. As someone who had evaded mutated and ferocious beast, evading a common mortal was too easy. Even if he had a tag along.

This however, was not what concerned Gu Erin, what he was concerned about was who was behind the person who was tailing him. He wanted to capture and confront the person, however that would only put the people behind them on guard. Gu Erin still didn't dare to kill in the town. Sooner or later, he would have the guts to do so, but he was still at the first stage of the Blood Transforming Realm.

Gu Erin and Chan Ai made their way back to the campsite their group had occupied, finding that it had transformed slightly. The small clearing had been expanded as a few trees were cut down. Ten large campfires were slowly burning, just being kept alive slightly, as mounds of firewood was growing beside them. Gu Erin immediately found the group that Lee Shio Ming had chosen.

It was a group of about fifteen men and a single woman, who happened to be the woman that Gu Erin really was terrified of. Especially now that Chan Ai was closer to him. It was Lucy, her long red hair brought up into a pony tail. Although she looked a bit rougher than normal from camping out doors and from lack of sleep she still had an unrestraint charm about her. The worst fact about the situation.

Chan Ai seemed to pick up his interest in Lucy, although his interest was for various reasons he wouldn't be a lie if he said he wasn't attracted to her. Gu Erin could already feel a suspicious glare boring into the side of his head.

Gu Erin was slightly upset, he had asked Lee Shio Ming to organize the group for a reason, and that was to pick disciples he knew of to help with the hunt. While most of the group before him was made primarily of Blood Jackets. If he wanted it that way he would have sent the message to Kei Jiahao, but Gu Erin really didn't trust that man as he knew nothing about him. His goals for having Lee Shio Ming do so was to scout out talents in his dojo, that couldn't be quantified by the Heavens. After all geniuses could easily be nurtured.

"Ai, we're going out for a hunt, make sure to cultivate while we're gone." Gu Erin told her without turning to face her glare.

Chan Ai still displeased about the presence of a woman she could instinctually sense a threat from, merely huffed in response before opening her mouth. "I think I'll take a nap first."

Gu Erin let it be, even he was starting to feel his body begin to tire, these past two days have been too eventful. Perhaps he should follow suit afterwards. However, at the thought of this waste of time Gu Erin internally cringed. He would rather cultivate and suffer through the lack of sleep. He was going to be on a timer his entire stay within Heaven's Mercy.

Gu Erin knew that there were going to be more 'Events' however, there would be fewer and fewer as time goes on. With each 'Event' the competition for the best results would get harsher and harsher. When towards the end you really didn't have to worry about the 'Event' itself, rather your fellow competitors.

Gu Erin smiled bitterly as he approached the group, James and lee Shio Ming weren't the only ones to notice his approach.

Emphasized by Lucy's next words. "Ah Bastard Gu, your finally here huh? Good I wanted to test how hard I can punch now." Lucy gave Gu Erin a wicked smile, as if she could already feel Gu Erin's face giving into her fist.

Honestly Gu Erin wasn't surprised, each time Gu Erin met Lucy she only seemed to get violenter. He then thought back to her cultivation talents and silently nodded to himself. From here on out she would most likely become more unhinged unless she either found an outlet or was forcibly subdued. Each of which he really didn't want to be apart of, however he would not let such potential go to waste. Even if it meant ruining his relationship with her.

So, in return Gu Erin simply smiled. "Alright Lucy lets fight then, come at me whenever you're ready."

"Huh?" Lucy was at first stunned then slightly confused, but seeing Gu Erin's calm yet serious face she had to take another moment to process his statement. Before a fire like none other burned up within her chest.

What? Did this bastard Gu not think she would bite him to death?

Lucy did not even hesitate after that as she closed the distance between the two of them within the blink of an eye. Her movements kicking up a small trail of dirt and dust behind her. Gu Erin watched her approach as if she was moving at normal speeds. He noted how her movements looked more feral than controlled.

Gu Erin himself stood still, his slightly more filled out frame appearing like a mountain, just as Lucy was about to reach him Gu Erin moved. Honestly, as the more experienced cultivator, he considered her movements truly unrefined, granted he couldn't blame her as even he was surprised at his own perception. Was this the advantage of refining your nerves?

The only reason why Gu Erin could react so fast was due to subconscious movements, he guessed that as soon as he refined his brain his conscious movements would match the speed at which he could perceive the movements. It was a strange disconnect that truly made it a discomfortable situation.

However, what had him more curious was the unrestraint aura starting to pour out of Lucy, as she missed her target after her attempted charge and strike. Gu Erin could already tell that more than a few members of his group had suffered from her treatment. But, seeing the fighting intent from all of them Gu Erin had to be careful for this not to turn into a sparring session instead of hunting.

Gu Erin weaved out of the path of another punch, subconsciously categorizing Lucy's strength and speed. He wasn't sure what gave her such a huge gain in power, he knew it was one of her talents, the only question was, which one? There was the Mortal Devil Root, the Evil Yin Body, and the Evil Spirit omen. Personally, Gu Erin was leaning more towards her bloodline talent the Evil Spirit Omen, but he wasn't sure.

Lucy was starting to get visibly frustrated, as Gu Erin kept evading her attacks with seemingly no effort. All of which ended as soon as Lucy was about to open her mouth to start complaining. At that moment Gu Erin struck out, with a swift and controlled kick Gu Erin sent Lucy flying back, her body bent from the force of the kick.

Gu Erin lowered his leg as Lucy groaned, he had to admit he was impressed that she was already getting back up, that was not a light kick, most of the people in this group would no doubt pass out from the pain. Gu Erin himself was secretly praying that he had held back enough to not injure her. He did not know his full strength yet, especially now with his new talents.

But, he need not worry because as soon as Lucy got up she was her normal self. "Fucking bastard, that hurt. Better sleep with one eye open or I'll curb stomp your balls." Lucy continued to go on to a foul-mouthed rant, which honestly put Gu Erin at ease rather than put him on edge. Which only served to piss her off more.

The tigress subdued and the fighting spirit of the group properly cowed, for now at least. Gu Erin led them into the forest. He never really hunted around Haymire in his past life. But, he knew the signs and how to navigate the wilderness well enough. As he found himself on more than one occasion trekking through days of woods and hazardous terrain, just to reach a treasure trove of herbs to trade in for pills or elixirs.

Although he knew that finding herbs so close to the town and capital would be near impossible without butting heads with the controlling group. He might get lucky and stumble across an errant herb or two.

The group was relatively silent as they moved through the woods, Lucy primarily being the main noised maker as she followed behind Gu Erin to make sure he could hear her barbed tongue. Gu Erin did not stop her as he was aware that their auras would give them away long before her noise ever would. That did not however, stop her from testing his patients. More than one time he had the urge to shut her up in one way or the other but refrained.

It wasn't till Gu Erin felt the ambient qi shift in the air around them that he paused, making the line of nearly twenty people follow suit. Making even Lucy quiet down. Gu Erin felt the qi flow and observed the environment. This feeling was definitely the give away that a grade one or two herb was around. Although not the most valuable, they were very good supplementary ingredients. But, that was not the reason why Gu Erin was excited.

An herb like this would have a guardian, ferocious beasts often cultivated natural resources for themselves, as most got higher in quality from age. While only a few powerful natural treasures ripened at a specific moment. Of which Gu Erin knew more than a dozen. One of which he had already planned on claiming himself, that one in particular had caused a small massacre.

Gu Erin signaled for everyone to be quiet and to ready their weapons. He was wielding a cheap sword, such swords would honestly break against a high Rank 1 beast, but Gu Erin doubted for one to be this close to a human settlement.

Gu Erin and his group slowly approached the area Gu Erin led them to, only to come close to a small clearing. They had only been walking for close to half an hour, and ye they had come across such a beast. The realization that they were close to this big a threat made all their hearts shudder slightly.

In that clearing was a lone shrub, but laying right under it was a dark brown wolf, as the wind ruffled its fur, one could see slight green highlights. The beast was still sound asleep; however, its nose was twitching wildly, making Gu Erin feel slightly grim. This was a beast easily in the middle stage of Rank 1, a Valley Wolf.