Chapter 105: Later

The Shadow Tiger relentlessly pursued Cang Luo, though it could not catch up, it never lost track, lingering far behind.

At this moment, Cang Luo was no longer afraid or anxious; instead, he slowed his pace to match the Shadow Tiger’s, even enjoying it.

Yes, carrying Uesugi Emiko was truly delightful—the soft pressure against his back felt wonderfully comfortable.

Cang Luo ran leisurely as Uesugi Emiko recounted her background and why the fifth-rank beast, the Shadow Tiger, was chasing her.

Uesugi Emiko said she was an outer disciple of the Five Elements Hall, a royal sect in Tongzhou, with a cultivation base of Warrior Level One, aged sixteen, and from Japan.

She had come to the Beast Forest because she had just broken through to Warrior Level One and could now subdue second-rank beasts, so she came to find one to tame.

Of course, she was not alone; two senior brothers accompanied her, though they were not Japanese—they were both from Huaxia.

One of the senior brothers was her lover, her boyfriend, with a cultivation base of Warrior Level Two.

The other senior brother had joined them en route; his name was Feng Qingyun, with a cultivation base of Warrior Level Seven.

Feng Qingyun said he too was heading to the Beast Forest and wished to travel with them, offering to help Uesugi Emiko find a beast.

Uesugi Emiko and her boyfriend had originally been reluctant—why would they want a third party interrupting their private training and pleasures in the Beast Forest?

Why invite a third wheel?

But Feng Qingyun’s lineage was formidable—his grandfather was a sect Elder, a powerful figure at Warrior King Level One.

Uesugi Emiko and her boyfriend could not refuse, nor dare offend him, so they reluctantly agreed to let him join them.

Along the way, Feng Qingyun behaved with grace, taking charge of leading the way and offering guidance on Uesugi Emiko’s cultivation.

He played the role of the perfect senior brother, always calling them “dear younger brother” and “dear younger sister,” assuring them that if they ever faced trouble in the sect, they should just come to him—he’d help whenever he could.

Feng Qingyun’s conduct and formidable strength earned Uesugi Emiko and her boyfriend’s admiration and trust.

But several days later, one morning—half an hour before meeting Cang Luo—Feng Qingyun suddenly distracted Uesugi Emiko’s boyfriend.

Then, he suddenly began touching her inappropriately, attempting to molest her.

Only then did Uesugi Emiko realize Feng Qingyun’s true nature and his motive for approaching them—he had feigned the role of a kind senior brother merely to find an opportunity to molest her.

She refused and resisted fiercely; her clothes were torn during the struggle, and only after a fierce fight did she land a kick to his groin and escape, fleeing desperately.

Though Uesugi Emiko escaped, Feng Qingyun did not give up—he endured the pain in his groin and summoned his beast companion to pursue her.

Hearing this, Cang Luo understood and sighed: “So that’s it—the Shadow Tiger behind us is Feng Qingyun’s beast companion?”

Cang Luo sighed not because of Uesugi Emiko’s plight, but because she already had a lover.

What a pity. What a pity indeed!

Uesugi Emiko naturally had no idea what Cang Luo was thinking; she assumed he pitied her, and softly said: “Cang Jun, I shall never forget this life-saving grace—I will repay you handsomely in the future.”

“In the future...” Cang Luo paused, then suddenly smiled: “Let’s talk about it later!”

Uesugi Emiko nodded firmly: “We Japanese are not ungrateful people—we will surely repay you in full.”

Cang Luo couldn’t help laughing out loud, delighted: “Yes, yes, later, later, we’ll talk about it later.”

Uesugi Emiko, puzzled by his joy, added: “Cang Jun, we’re almost out of the Beast Forest—put me down, I’ll walk myself. My senior brother should be waiting for me at the camp outside.”

The senior brother she meant was her boyfriend, and the camp was the Five Elements Hall’s camp—not the Profound Heaven Sect’s.

Cang Luo said softly: “Uesugi Senior Sister, don’t worry about me—I’m not tired. You’re injured and can’t move well; your Qi is depleted, right?”

Let me carry you—it’s safer. We can’t risk the Shadow Tiger catching up.”

Uesugi Emiko thought it over—her condition was indeed too poor to run fast, and the Shadow Tiger was still chasing. Feng Qingyun might be right behind. Better to let Cang Jun carry her.

“Thank you, Cang Jun!” Uesugi Emiko expressed her gratitude once again.

Cang Luo smiled but said nothing, continuing to savor the softness against his back.

But at that moment, Cang Luo recalled something he had unconsciously overlooked earlier.

Cang Luo slowed his pace again and asked: “Uesugi Senior Sister, what level was Feng Qingyun’s cultivation again?”

Uesugi Emiko answered quickly: “Feng Qingyun is Warrior Level Seven, and he cultivates a Lower-Grade Earth-level technique—ordinary Warrior Level Nine aren’t his match.”

“Only Warrior Level Seven?” Cang Luo blinked, slowed further, and asked: “So his beast companion, though a fifth-rank beast, is actually only at Warrior-level strength?”

Uesugi Emiko nodded in confusion—Feng Qingyun’s fifth-rank beast was captured for him by his Elder grandfather last year. Though not fully grown, it already possessed the combat power of a Warrior Level Nine, not to be underestimated.

“Hah!”

Upon hearing Uesugi Emiko’s confirmation, Cang Luo burst into laughter.

What was his purpose in coming to the Beast Forest?

Originally, he wanted to capture a beast. Later, he found first-rank beasts too easy, so he decided to challenge a second-rank one.

He hoped to kill it—if he could, eating its second-rank core might let him break through to Warrior level, then he could capture a second-rank beast.

Now, though he hadn’t yet found a second-rank beast, he’d encountered a fifth-rank beast with second-rank combat power.

Even if immature, a fifth-rank beast’s core would be better than a second-rank one—perhaps it could truly trigger his breakthrough to Warrior level.

The more Cang Luo thought about it, the more excited he became, never once considering whether he could kill the Shadow Tiger.

In his mind, he activated the Body-Annihilating Divine Art, and with Erha’s second-rank combat power assisting him—how could he fail to kill a beast at peak second-rank strength?

Cang Luo’s spirits soared. He set Uesugi Emiko down, drew his longsword, pulled her behind a giant cedar, and mentally signaled Erha to coordinate with him to kill the Shadow Tiger.

After finalizing the strategy with Erha, Cang Luo patiently waited for the Shadow Tiger to fall into the trap.

Beside him, Uesugi Emiko stared in confusion: “Cang Jun, what... what are you doing?”

Cang Luo whispered: “Kill the Shadow Tiger—to avenge you!”

Uesugi Emiko’s eyes widened, staring at Cang Luo as if he’d spoken something unbelievable.

He planned to kill the fifth-rank beast, the Shadow Tiger?

He was only at Warrior Level Nine!

A human Warrior Level Nine’s strength equaled that of a top-tier first-rank beast—how could someone at first-rank level kill a fifth-rank beast?

Even if this Shadow Tiger was immature, it still had the combat power of a second-rank beast—indeed, peak second-rank power.

On what grounds did Cang Jun believe he could kill a Shadow Tiger with peak second-rank combat power?

By relying on that two-headed mutated Flame-Devouring Wolf?

Uesugi Emiko felt even with her added, they still couldn’t match the Shadow Tiger. She panicked: “Cang Jun, we can’t beat it—run!”

She grabbed Cang Luo’s hand, pulling him to flee, but he didn’t budge, telling her not to worry.

Seeing this, Uesugi Emiko raised her voice: “Cang Jun, go now!”

Cang Luo frowned slightly, seriously: “Don’t worry—I’m certain I can kill it.”

Uesugi Emiko wanted to say one more thing—that Feng Qingyun might be right behind—but the urgency choked the words.

She peeked out and saw the Shadow Tiger had caught up—she decided to flee on her own.

She had come from Japan to Chu State’s Tongzhou to join the royal sect Five Elements Hall not just to cultivate—she had a mission. She couldn’t die here now.

Once clear, Uesugi Emiko gave Cang Luo one last grateful look, then turned and ran.

The Shadow Tiger was nearly upon them—she hoped Cang Jun and his beast could hold it off a little longer.