Chapter 192: Sea Tide Hunter

Xia Nan clearly remembered.

On the second day after he decided to join the "Sea Spine" squad, in a corner of the White Tit Tavern lobby.

The scene when he first met Mint.

He could recall very clearly the change in the girl's expression when Kashi led him to the dining table.

First was the instinctive resistance to new things brought about by her own introverted personality.

As a newcomer who had also just joined the squad not long ago, not yet fully familiar with the two members in the team, and suddenly having another companion.

Feeling uncomfortable was extremely normal.

But immediately, after the fleeting resistance, was a curiosity hidden deep in the bottom of her eyes.

Especially when she saw Xia Nan's face that was too young and the equipment that was definitely exquisite.

As a newcomer, she couldn't decide the stay or leave of team members, but she was still a proper professional.

She still had a certain eye for people.

Especially when her own class belonged to the "Druid" branch, with "perception" as the main spellcasting attribute.

Mint could perceive the solid momentum radiating from Xia Nan's body.

Then, it was after Kashi introduced the nickname "Grey Sword" to her under Xia Nan's subtle expression of wanting to speak but stopping, and emphasized his outstanding strength.

Xia Nan took the initiative to greet her.

The shyness when she stood up to shake hands at a loss and introduced herself stumblingly.

Finally, it was when Xia Nan sat at the dining table and was discussing the mission plan seriously with Kashi and Weiruisi.

The adaptation she revealed to the new member of the squad, and even sometimes taking the initiative to answer in a low voice and communicate with Xia Nan.

From the initial resistance, to the curiosity, shyness, and finally the adaptation later.

Normal, simply too normal.

It almost perfectly displayed the changes in expression and state that should occur when a character, as an introverted novice spellcaster, faced a new member in the team.

Compared to the two "naturally familiar" people, Kashi and Weiruisi, it formed a sharp contrast.

But just like a pure method actor with superb acting skills, who could control facial muscles and body posture through indirect perception and external techniques, vividly expressing the character as if they were a real person.

In reality, there was no substitution experience at all, and the self and the character were in a state of complete separation and detachment.

The perception ability that far exceeded ordinary people, and even reached a level that general professionals couldn't reach.

Made Xia Nan always feel that this thin and weak girl was a bit strange.

He had also followed the topic and asked tentatively about the other party's origin and background.

After all, this kind of auxiliary role that took care of both healing and crowd control was absolutely a hot figure that was snatched up as soon as it appeared in the eyes of adventurers.

Even before obtaining a professional level, there might be professional teams throwing olive branches at her.

Joining the Sea Spine squad just like this, wouldn't it be a bit too coincidental?

Regarding this, the explanation Kashi gave was that Mint had been following her Druid mentor to practice and train in the depths of the dense forest, and was only allowed to leave and go out to adventure after becoming a professional.

The Sea Spine squad was the first squad she joined after leaving the forest.

Hmm...

Hard to say.

Although it wasn't impossible for such a coincidental thing to happen.

But if he added his own strange feeling about Mint before.

Then the development of the matter was a bit subtle.

Xia Nan couldn't help but raise his vigilance, even placing the girl's possible threat above the two.

Even if he occasionally needed to hand his back to the other party during battle, he would still divide his attention, leave enough reaction time, and secretly guard against it.

"Ugh..."

Having finally broken free from Weiruisi's restraint, Mint panted slightly, and the bangs on her forehead were soaked with sweat.

Clearly, that kind of spell that quickly healed others' wounds wasn't easy for her either, and there was some consumption.

But even so, this thin girl in a plain robe still looked at Xia Nan, who was sitting on the other side, the first time after the treatment ended.

Closing her five fingers, she gestured with both hands.

As if asking if he was injured and needed help.

Waving his hand to indicate that he was in good condition, Xia Nan nodded politely to express his gratitude.

He didn't say anything extra, maintaining his consistent cold persona, just pulling out the decapitation longsword again, placing it horizontally on his knees, and performing maintenance.

At the same time, Weiruisi, who was fully healed, seemed to be in high spirits.

Moving her smooth arms without any scars left, she walked straight toward the wild boar's corpse with her two long legs.

At the moment, she was still wearing that tight leather clothing she had when they first met in the tavern.

Xia Nan only thought it was clothing for decoration that simply reflected her figure before.

But after entering the Mist Forest for a few days, there were no traces of scratches from thorns or branches on the surface of the leather clothing.

Clearly, while being light, it also had a certain defensive ability.

"Clap!"

He didn't know where she bought it, but the pointed leather boots embroidered with a few strands of dark patterns stepped heavily on the wild boar's head.

Weiruisi wrapped her hands around her chest, bent down, and while showing her plump curves, carefully sized up the wounds on the wild boar's corpse.

A pair of crystal-clear eyes turned slightly, and her gaze swept over the wounds on the wild boar's spine and flank.

Finally, it stopped at the deep wound on the back of its neck.

Her face, which was turned away from everyone, sank quietly and then instantly returned to normal.

With a smile on the corner of her mouth, she deliberately raised her tone and teased:

"Tsk tsk, one-hit kill."

"Mr. Grey Sword, your skills seem to be much sharper than the rumors."

"Did you often come to the forest to hunt wild beasts before?"

Xia Nan's expression was calm, and he wiped the longsword with gauze in his hand without raising his head.

"Chopping goblins more often."

He didn't answer the other party's question directly, but he wasn't lying either.

Dealing with the other party's probing with ambiguous words.

It wasn't that there was an oversight in his strength during the battle that exposed his own strength.

The traces left on the wild boar were all things he wanted the people in the team to see.

Xia Nan thought very clearly.

They were all senior adventurers who had obtained a professional level; there wouldn't be any novices who would unconditionally trust someone just because they joined the team.

While he was observing several people, the other party was also probing him.

He analyzed the class, level, and combat style of Kashi and Weiruisi through his performance in battle, and the other party was definitely also sizing up his skills in secret.

And obviously, both sides had reservations and hadn't used their full strength.

In this case, he could certainly fight using only Spinning Slash, but if he hid too deeply, it would only aggravate the distrust between each other and cause cracks in the team.

Therefore, at the beginning of the adventure, he didn't avoid showing his combat ability at all.

Whether it was the physical fitness that exceeded ordinary adventurers or the 【Spinning Slash】 at the mastered level, he hadn't reserved them.

Even 【Tooth Hunting】, Xia Nan didn't intend to hide it, but he hadn't encountered a sufficiently strong opponent yet.

After all, they were all professionals; everyone knew that promotion required three combat techniques.

The other party hadn't shown hostility at the moment, and he was also a member of the squad.

Using only one combat technique from the beginning to the end of the mission—anyone could see he was slacking off, and that wasn't his personality either.

Xia Nan's real trump card was 【Gravity Control】, which was extremely difficult for outsiders to detect when used, and 【Gravity Etching】, which could ignore armor defense and explode from within, as well as the flexible combination of various combat techniques.

This was enough for him to deal with the vast majority of emergencies.

Besides, he also had several precious equipment props on his body that could turn the tide at critical moments.

On the other side, Kashi also finished the work of stripping materials.

This sturdy man with a sturdy figure and tattoos on his neck to the side of his face. He held the leopard skin in one hand and the slightly blood-stained loot bag in the other, walking toward the direction of several people.

"Luck is not bad; this jungle leopard definitely can't be eaten, but the integrity and quality of the useful parts are quite good."

"Going back should be able to sell for a few gold."

Saying this, his gaze couldn't help but look at the wild boar corpse lying on the ground beside him.

"The quality of these two tusks is also okay; I seem to have seen a grocery store collecting them in town before, maybe we can talk about the price."

"Hmm... the money for supplies for this mission can be considered earned back."

Kashi laughed, his mood looking quite good.

Professionals, perhaps because of the extremely difficult promotion conditions and the strong strength after upgrading, were deified by bottom-tier adventurers.

But once you really obtain a professional level, you will find.

Adventure life actually doesn't have much difference.

They will also feel excited because of the unexpected harvest in the mission, and also feel fortunate that this adventure won't lose money.

At most, it's just a slightly higher tolerance for error.

"Take advantage of the fact that it's not dark yet, everyone rest well and keep your energy up."

Packing up the loot, Kashi looked at the sky and instructed everyone.

"Wait until about three or four hours later, when the silver moon rises, and we'll set off."

In most cases, moving through the Mist Forest at night is strictly forbidden for adventurers.

Many dangerous predatory animals are accustomed to hunting at night, and without the illumination of the sun, visibility in the dark under the cover of thick fog is extremely low.

Adventurers with even slightly poor perception might not even notice a venomous snake lying right by their feet.

Extremely dangerous!

Yet, the target of the Sea Spine Squad's trip this time is a pack of "Temple Night-Walking Wolves" that only come out to hunt at night.

During the day, they basically hide deep within their lair.

Unless one possesses some relevant detection ability, it is generally very difficult to catch a glimpse of them.

Therefore, long before setting out, the group had already formulated a detailed plan and made sufficient preparations.

Travel in the morning, make minor adjustments in the afternoon, then use the relatively safe first half of the night to search for the target, and return to camp to rest in the second half of the night.

They are all professionals, and they are still on the outskirts of the Mist Forest.

While danger certainly exists when operating at night, compared to bottom-tier adventurers, they still possess a certain level of combat capability.

Right now, there is still some time before the operation begins.

Weiruisi takes Bo He to check the warning traps around the camp.

Xia Nan follows Kashi to help dismember the wild boar carcass he dragged back.

"Squeak."

The sluggish sound of a sharp blade cutting through flesh and blood echoes faintly in the air, which is filled with the sounds of insects chirping and branches swaying.

The small dagger from the Rock Hammer Shop, specifically used for cutting trophies, finally gets a taste of fresh meat after cutting off countless Goblin ears.

Sizzle—

The thick, coarse bristles tremble slightly, and the sharp, cold glint, like a shark fin on the sea surface, glides smoothly through the flesh along the muscle fibers.

Xia Nan's expression is focused; he grabs the wild boar's hoof with his left hand and gives a sharp tug, and a complete right front leg is sliced off.

Beside him, Kashi looks somewhat surprised.

"You don't look that old, how are you so skilled?"

"Does your family have butchers?"

Xia Nan shakes his head, not saying much, and replies with a calm expression:

"Practice makes perfect, that's all."

That is also not a lie.

Although he has been a real adventurer for less than a year, the number of various creatures that have died under his sword is already quite high.

Especially those Goblins; he has been hacking through them one lair after another.

With this as a premise.

While the body structure of a wild boar is vastly different from a Goblin.

In some subtle areas, such as the way bones and muscles connect, and the arrangement of tendons and fascia, there are similarities.

After feeling around a bit and making a few cuts with the dagger, he already understands it seven or eight tenths.

To some extent, a wild boar is just a big-nosed Goblin.

Dismembering and dividing it is easy.

"Your strength is good, and you have some fame in town, why not form your own squad?"

Half chat, half probe.

Kashi asks, appearing casual.

"Forming a squad earns too little," Xia Nan says, focused on cutting the flesh. "A mission takes half a month, and when I get back, I can't even afford to replace my armor; it's better to work alone."

"Uh..."

Xia Nan's answer makes Kashi choke suddenly.

The words he had prepared to say are stuck in his throat.

He glances with a strange expression at the fine, high-defense plate-chain composite armor on Xia Nan's body.

Without thinking too much, he just assumes the other party doesn't want to discuss this topic.

Kashi pauses before deliberately sighing.

"Sigh..."

"You should be able to tell that I come from the continental coast."

"Born by the sea, even the milk I drank as a child was mixed with a salty taste."

"I've dealt with fish and shrimp from the sea since I was little, following my father; year-round, I spent more time on the boat than at home."

"Even when I got lucky later and learned a few combat techniques, barely reaching a professional level, I still couldn't sever my ties with that sea."

"【Sea Tide Hunter】, have you heard of it?"

"That is my profession."

Xia Nan's movements stop abruptly, feeling surprised in his heart.

He has only just joined the squad, and the two aren't even friends yet.

And he's already revealing his background to me?

Thinking it shouldn't be that simple, he only secretly notes down the name "Sea Tide Hunter" without fully believing it.

Kashi doesn't notice Xia Nan's reaction and continues:

"Speaking of which, this profession of mine should be a branch under 'Ranger', only it's more suited for maritime combat compared to jungles or plains."

"You should be able to tell that from the name."

Xia Nan nods silently.

"A niche profession like mine certainly has its benefits—as long as I'm near the sea, adventurers of the same level are basically no match for me."

"But the drawbacks are equally obvious, and even particularly severe."

Hearing the words "niche profession," Xia Nan instantly perks up.

After all, the 【Meteor Blade Ranger】 profession he holds is a niche within a niche that likely only one person in the world possesses.

Suppressing his extra emotions, he remains as usual, not turning his head.

"How so?"

"I mentioned when I first met you on the second floor of the Association that future job changes are determined by the combat techniques learned previously, right?"

"Yes, I remember."

"The problem lies right there!"

(End of Chapter)