Chapter Thirty-Two: Encounter in the Forest

Chen Mu strolled out leisurely, completely unaware that four sinister intentions were trailing behind him.

It was only when he entered a broad expanse of mountain terrain that Chen Mu sensed someone was following him. The four—He Silai and his companions—realized there was nowhere to hide, so they stepped out openly. “Your name’s Chen Mu, right? Who would’ve thought that a nobody like you would become the Valley Master’s personal disciple?”

Chen Mu regarded the four with indifference. When his gaze fell upon a young man’s face, his internal energy surged violently. This was the man who had nearly killed him—He Silai!

Suppressing his fury, Chen Mu glanced at the other three, his pupils contracting. Late-stage Yuan Foundation cultivators—an echelon he could not contend with yet.

Seeing Chen Mu remain silent, He Silai laughed. “That day I gave you a fatal blow. Who’d have thought you’d survive? If it weren’t for the recent uproar over the Mingyue Blade Sect, I wouldn’t have believed I’d failed to finish you off.”

Still silent, Chen Mu stared at He Silai as if he were a ravenous demon, longing to gnaw his bones and drink his blood.

He Silai sneered, “If you’re afraid, just admit it. Why pretend to be tough? Don’t think of escaping—today I’ll kill you for sure. The sect forbids deadly duels, but you’re not in the sect now. Who’ll know if you die out here?”

Chen Mu stood unmoved, as if he hadn’t heard a word He Silai said.

He Silai, thinking Chen Mu had resigned himself to fate, grinned and raised his broad blade, aiming a strike at Ye Wangchuan’s face.

With a sidestep, Ye Wangchuan dodged lightly, then unleashed a Falling Star punch squarely onto He Silai’s cheek. The sound of teeth breaking echoed, and He Silai was sent flying.

“You! You!” He Silai sputtered, stunned to be felled in a single move. “How dare you hit me? You’re dead! You must die! Senior brothers, hurry and kill this brat!”

Seeing He Silai’s three companions move, Chen Mu bolted swiftly toward the entrance of the mountain forest. His only chance to shake them was within the Star Peaks Forest.

“This kid’s got some wits, knows he should run. But no matter how he runs, he won’t escape us,” Ning Zhongqiu sneered.

As one fled and four pursued, Chen Mu and the others used the Meteor Step technique, but his lower cultivation meant his speed was no match for theirs. Fortunately, the quality and output of his vital energy were far above the ordinary, allowing him to regain some ground.

“Tsk, this kid—he’s only Yuan Vein stage, yet he runs so fast? He hasn’t even entered Yuan Foundation stage,” Ning Zhongqiu frowned.

“If he gets away and reports to the Valley Master, we’ll be doomed.”

“Damn it, this little bastard’s bound to die soon!”

The four cursed as they chased, but despite their best efforts, the gap to Chen Mu barely closed.

Thus, the five—one fleeing, four chasing—entered the Star Peaks Forest together.

Once inside, Chen Mu immediately deployed the Phantom Veil technique, hiding himself like a crafty fox among the trees.

When the four lost sight of him, they erupted in curses. “Chen Mu! Coward, come out if you’ve got guts!”

“Chen Mu! You little coward, I’ll give you a fair fight—come out!”

“Chen Mu! Elder Xiao won’t let you off! Just wait—you’ll die, and die horribly!”

Their curses echoed through the woods, but Chen Mu was nowhere to be seen.

A moment later, Chen Mu delved deeper into the Star Peaks Forest, his gaze icy. He Silai must die by his hand, as for Elder Xiao—he’d wait until he had the strength to deal with him.

Perched on a treetop, Chen Mu summoned Rou’er. “Rou’er, we’ve reached the outer edge of Star Peaks Forest. I’m out of money, and hunting beasts for their cores is the fastest way to earn some. Can you sense any nearby beasts? Preferably lone ones, early to mid-tier level two. I’ve been itching to try the second form of the Sunset Sword.”

“You want to hone yourself by fighting beasts and get their cores? Good plan. About fifty miles ahead and to your left, there’s a mid-level two beast. Want me to cut off its escape?”

“You watch from the side—if it tries to run, block it for me.”

“Alright~”

Thus, man and fox began their hunt in the Star Peaks Forest.

Chen Mu and Rou’er targeted only lone beasts of comparable levels. If any beast exceeded mid-level two, Rou’er would warn Chen Mu to avoid it.

By day they hunted, at noon and night they built a fire and cooked their kills, sleeping in the trees at night to guard against sneak attacks.

Even asleep, Rou’er kept her spiritual senses alert, watching for danger.

So, this adorable pair—boy and fox—roamed the forest’s edge for nearly half a month.

Chen Mu killed about four or five beasts a day, all level two. In half a month, he amassed countless materials and sixty-one beast cores.

One day, as Chen Mu and Rou’er hunted, Rou’er suddenly sensed a battle not far ahead.

Perched on Chen Mu’s shoulder, she tapped his head with her tiny paw. “Ahead there’s a fight—looks like some adventurers are being besieged by beasts. Seven beasts, all early to mid-level two; five adventurers, at a disadvantage. Should we turn back?”

Chen Mu pondered, then replied, “Let’s help them. We can’t ignore someone in peril.”

“Alright, I’ll return to the bracelet. Just run straight ahead—you’ll find them.”

Rou’er nodded, then dove into the spirit beast bracelet.

Chen Mu raced toward the site of the battle.

Seven Jade-Eyed Shadow Wolves were besieging a team of four men and one woman.

“I can’t hold on much longer. At this rate, we’ll end up as these beasts’ dinner,” a young man fought desperately, beginning to falter.

“Li Mu Tian, hang in there! Maybe someone heard the fight and is coming to help,” a burly man said with difficulty.

Li Mu Tian replied despairingly, “Zhao Dong Ren, do you honestly believe that? Out here in the wilderness, who’d just happen to pass by?”

A green-clad woman, voice trembling with tears, said, “Li Mu Tian, stop it. The more you talk, the less hope I have... Am I really going to die here? I don’t want to die... I miss my mother, I still want to buy so many pretty, cute accessories...”

“Who wants to die? Enough, everyone, focus on fighting,” a scrawny cultivator said helplessly.

The last member remained silent, face full of sorrow, clearly hopeless about their chances.

Just as despair settled over them, a figure suddenly entered the fray—Chen Mu.

With the Xuanjin Sword in hand, Chen Mu unleashed the first and second forms of the Sunset Sword in rapid succession, instantly killing one of the Jade-Eyed Shadow Wolves.

The five were stunned by his arrival, especially by the ease with which he slew a wolf in two strikes. The fiery sword moves left a lasting impression.

The remaining six wolves were likewise startled by the sudden intruder, their formation thrown into chaos.

Seeing the five paralyzed with shock, Chen Mu shouted, “What are you waiting for? Each of you, hold off one—I’ll take care of the rest!”

The five snapped out of it, each engaging a wolf, knowing now they had hope.

They were astonished—not just by Chen Mu’s age, but by his unmatched strength. A mere boy, yet so valiant, unfazed in the face of danger, willing to rescue others.

Such composure was rare in a youth of fourteen.

Soon the wolves targeted Chen Mu with ferocious attacks—biting, clawing, even spewing cold flames.

But Chen Mu’s Sunset Sword moves were no less formidable. Two linked strikes swept aside all assaults; claws met sword, and the wolves’ paws were slashed open, deep wounds carved by his blade.