Chapter 42: Hunt and Kill

Amidst the mist.

Xia Daoming walked step by step toward the center of the valley.

His eyes flashed with sharp light, his internal blood and qi power circulating constantly, ready to erupt at any moment.

His spirit was tightly tensed, his five senses acutely sensing every change around him.

Two short spears were gripped tightly in his hands.

Individual strength is limited!

This was far from the time to openly break with the Xu family.

He still needed the combined strength of others to hunt the Ice Rabbits and gather Ice Purple Shouwu.

Only after hunting enough Ice Rabbits and gathering sufficient Ice Purple Shouwu would be the time for him to act.

The mist grew thicker, the surrounding temperature dropped further, and patches of frost formed on the ground.

Through the mist, he faintly saw a cold pond.

Mist continuously rose from the cold pond.

More than a dozen white shadows darted back and forth in the grass around it.

As Xia Daoming drew closer, those white shadows became clearer.

Each one was a white-furred rabbit, as large as a leopard.

The Ice Rabbits possessed both the ferocity and cruelty of demonic beasts, yet retained the innate wariness and caution of rabbits.

As Xia Daoming neared, a young Ice Rabbit shot out like a released crossbow bolt, leaping behind an adult, then erecting its long ears, its purple eyes fixed on Xia Daoming with vigilance and menace.

The adult Ice Rabbit’s purple eyes likewise watched Xia Daoming with vigilance and menace.

Worried that lingering too long would alarm other Ice Rabbits, Xia Daoming picked up a stone from the ground, flicked it with his finger, and shot it toward the rabbit.

“Shhh!”

The rabbit opened its mouth and spat a white mist, which solidified into an ice arrow, meeting the stone midair.

“Bang!”

The stone shattered into fragments, scattering everywhere.

The provoked rabbit, enraged, thrust its hind legs hard against the ground and lunged at Xia Daoming with lightning speed.

Its front paws spread wide, as large as tiger claws, sharp as blades, gleaming with cold light.

Xia Daoming had anticipated this outcome.

He tapped his feet against the ground and shot backward at high speed.

“Bang!”

The rabbit missed.

Its sharp claws struck the earth, sending dirt and stones flying.

The Ice Rabbits by the pond were startled, but by then Xia Daoming had vanished into the mist; they glanced from afar, then resumed hopping and playing among the grass near the pond.

The adult rabbit, having missed its strike, refused to give up; it kicked off again and chased after Xia Daoming, firing ice arrows as it pursued.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming moved with exceptional speed, and his Dragon-Serpent Nine Steps were mastered to perfection.

He moved like a coiling dragon and slithering serpent, flawlessly evasive.

Each time, he dodged the incoming ice arrows and descending claws.

Even so, Xia Daoming was inwardly startled.

He knew his true strength was no lesser than that of an aged eighth-rank Martial Master, yet he still had to use six or seven tenths of his power merely to barely evade the adult Ice Rabbit’s pursuit.

If anyone else were in his place, survival would depend entirely on luck.

With good luck, one might lure the Ice Rabbit to the target and keep half a life.

With bad luck, one would die en route.

“Get ready—the Ice Rabbit’s coming!” As he still had some distance from the gathering spot, Xia Daoming shouted loudly, reining in much of his powerful blood and qi, while also letting his hair hang loose and tearing his clothes into tatters.

No sooner had Xia Daoming spoken than a large net descended toward him.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming had anticipated this; before the net could fall, he flattened himself against the ground and slithered like a snake through the gap between net and earth, shooting out with a swift “whoosh.”

No sooner had Xia Daoming slid clear than a white shadow dashed into the net and was caught inside.

“Got it!” someone cried excitedly.

But at that moment, a tremendous force yanked violently.

“Squeak!”

The piercing screech of claws scraping the ground shattered the valley’s silence.

The four Martial Masters holding the net’s corners were dragged along the ground, net and all, by the Ice Rabbit.

Even the overly excited Martial Master lost his grip on the net rope; his palms tore open, blood streaming freely.

Almost simultaneously, the Ice Rabbit shot forward like a released bolt, targeting that Martial Master.

“Useless fool!” A cold voice rang out.

A flash of cold light pierced the mist, striking the Ice Rabbit with lightning speed.

“Ding!”

The Ice Rabbit raised its paw to block the tiger-head saber, but was knocked back into the net.

Others immediately seized the net ropes again.

“Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!”

Almost simultaneously, several arrows sliced through the air toward the Ice Rabbit, now trapped and tearing at the net with its claws.

Two spears also hurtled through the air toward the creature.

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

White mist spewed from the Ice Rabbit’s mouth, forming ice arrows that blocked several arrows and one spear.

But the Ice Rabbit remained entangled in the net, unable to unleash its full power.

Though it blocked several arrows and one spear, others pierced through the net’s gaps and struck it.

Blood slowly seeped from its pure white fur, emitting a strong, chilling scent.

Xu Zhiji, seeing this, seized a spear from the ground, strode forward, and thrust it deep into the still-struggling Ice Rabbit.

The Ice Rabbit was pierced clean through; its limbs twitched violently a few times, then fell still.

“Demonic beasts are demonic beasts—no matter how strong, they still fall to human wisdom!” Watching the Ice Rabbit die, Xia Daoming thought inwardly.

“Hah! Liang Jingtang, your disciple did well—he’s earned great merit!” Xu Zhiji released the spear, clapped his hands, and looked approvingly at Liang Jingtang and Xia Daoming.

As Xu Zhiji spoke, a sixth-rank Xu family Martial Master stepped forward, removed the Ice Rabbit’s heart, and placed it in a leather pouch, sealing it tightly.

Only the Ice Rabbit’s heart was needed to brew the Golden Crow Returning Yuan Decoction.

“Thank you, Clan Elder, but it was merely luck,” Liang Jingtang said.

“Heh, luck is also skill! And such matters—first time awkward, second time familiar. Uncle, I suggest we ask this Master Xia to go again!” Xu Shisen smiled, his gaze toward Liang Jingtang and Xia Daoming laced with mockery.

“Clan Elder! This is unfair—my disciple has already...” Liang Jingtang hurried to say.

“Shisen is right—first time awkward, second time familiar. I think we must trouble your disciple to go again,” Xu Zhiji interrupted calmly.

Hearing this, Liang Jingtang’s temples throbbed with veins; powerful blood and qi surged wildly within him.

“Master, the Clan Elder speaks sense. I’ll go again,” Xia Daoming said.

“Daoming!” Liang Jingtang’s eyes reddened, filled with regret and self-blame.

Had he known this would happen, he would never have let Xia Daoming come along.

“It’s fine, Master. I’m tough,” Xia Daoming reassured him, then turned to Xu Zhiji and bowed: “Clan Elder, as the saying goes: merit deserves reward, fault deserves punishment.

You just said I earned great merit. I ask for no reward—only that if I survive this, you spare my master and me.

Our Qianjiao Martial Hall has no special ties to the Ding family—we only wish to live peacefully in Li City.”

“Heh, boy, do you think this is only about the Ding family? Have you forgotten...?” Xu Shisen sneered.

But before Xu Shisen finished, Xu Zhiji waved his hand, stopping him.

Xu Shisen bit back his words.

“Liang Jingtang, you’ve trained an excellent disciple!” Xu Zhiji praised, then turned to Xia Daoming: “Rest easy. My Xu family has guarded Li City for over a hundred years—we have enough tolerance. If you survive this, I guarantee your Qianjiao Martial Hall will thrive here in peace, without hindrance.”

Hearing this, Xu Shisen’s face changed; his lips trembled as if to speak, but was silenced by Xu Zhiji’s icy gaze.

“With the Clan Elder’s word, I’m at ease!” Xia Daoming bowed, inwardly sneering: “Old man, I’m only playing along—let you use your hands to hunt the Ice Rabbits for me, then I’ll find my chance to kill and plunder.”

“Go,” Xu Zhiji said Dandan ly.

“Alright,” Xia Daoming nodded, turned, and walked away.

“Daoming!” Liang Jingtang called.

Xia Daoming slowly turned, seeing Liang Jingtang’s reddened eyes and trembling silver beard.

“Don’t worry, Master!” Xia Daoming gave Liang Jingtang a carefree smile, then tapped his toe against the ground and leapt into the thick mist, vanishing quickly.

Watching Xia Daoming’s figure disappear into the mist, Liang Jingtang finally shed old-man tears.

Among the onlookers, almost none showed pity; instead, most wore relief or even gleeful malice.

PS: Monday ranking push—this noon’s chapter was posted early.