Chapter 32

Lu Jing furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and still leaned over.

As he drew near, the cries for help grew clearer.

He followed the sound.

Ahead, several waist‑thick trees were broken off.

It was clear a fierce battle had taken place.

On a clearing, three youths were confronting a demon ape radiating Black Aura.

The demon ape had a pair of horns on its head, and a scarlet Single Eye on its face.

Its whole body was covered in dense hair, with a faint Black Aura surrounding its surface.

Compared with the three in front, the demon ape was enormous, like a small mountain.

"This is a Third‑Rank Demon Beast, a One‑Eyed Demon Ape!"

Lu Jing instantly became interested, slipped back behind an Ancient Tree, and quietly observed.

The three, whom Lu Jing recognized, were Lóu Wǎnqīng, Zhāng Méng, and Huáng MáO, whom he had briefly met on the High‑Speed Rail.

Their highest level was only Second‑Realm Martial Artist, and against the One‑Eyed Demon Ape they were like toys.

"But this is the outer edge of Huāngshén Cónglín; normally you wouldn't encounter a Third‑Rank Demon Beast here. Could it be due to Demon Beast Turmoil?"

Lóu Wǎnqīng and the others were at a loss; they had planned to hunt a few First‑Rank Demon Beasts on the outskirts, which would fulfill their School Mission, but they didn't expect a demon ape radiating Black Aura to appear suddenly.

When they saw the Third‑Rank Demon Beast, their legs went weak with fear; they couldn't fight and couldn't flee.

Fortunately, this kind of demon ape is playful, and it started a Cat‑and‑Mouse Game with them; otherwise it would have devoured them in one bite.

At this point, only Huáng MáO was struggling to resist, while Lóu Wǎnqīng, injured, lay on the ground, repeatedly calling for help.

"Damn it, why is this monster here? It's all your fault for taking the Huāngshén Cónglín mission; were you trying to set yourselves up for failure?"

Huáng MáO barely dodged a Slap from the One‑Eyed Demon Ape and shouted angrily toward the two women.

"You idiot, you followed here on your own; what does this have to do with us?"

Lóu Wǎnqīng finally could no longer hold back and spoke her thoughts outright.

"You! Ah!"

Huáng MáO trembled with anger, and in a moment of distraction, the One‑Eyed Demon Ape seized him.

At this moment, Zhāng Méng leaned against a large tree, curled up, and shivered.

She kept repeating, "Help, who will save us..."

Lu Jing hid in the shadows, observing, with no intention of rescuing Huáng MáO.

He had a poor impression of Huáng MáO, and rescuing him offered no benefit.

Nevertheless, he admired Huáng MáO's courage; with Second‑Realm Martial Artist strength, they dared to act as a Flower‑Protection Envoy in Huāngshén Cónglín.

The Xuánwǔ Shòuliè Tuán had two Third‑Realm Martial Artists stationed, and could only obediently patrol the outskirts, trying to avoid the activity zones of large Demon Beasts.

The One‑Eyed Demon Ape that had captured Huáng MáO applied slight pressure, causing the victim to vomit blood incessantly.

"This demon ape is a famous Demon Beast; not only is it fast, its strength is top‑tier, and being an ape, it can attack with its hands, making it extremely agile."

"When Huáng MáO is eaten, I'll go out to finish it; the One‑Eyed Demon Ape's Single Eye is very valuable."

Lu Jing thought to himself.

But at that moment.

The One‑Eyed Demon Ape halted the motion of delivering Huáng MáO to its mouth; it seemed to sense something.

It rotated its head, staring intently toward the direction where Lu Jing was hidden.

Its gaze was full of caution.

"Did it discover me?"

Lu Jing was somewhat surprised; he had just emitted a trace of Killing Intent, yet the opponent keenly detected it.

"What strong Perception!"

"Boom!"

The half‑dead Huáng MáO was violently flung onto the ground by the One‑Eyed Demon Ape, smashing a Small Pit.

The One‑Eyed Demon Ape's odd behavior also caught Lóu Wǎnqīng's attention.

She looked toward Lu Jing's direction and shouted loudly, "Is anyone there? Could you come rescue us? There will be Great Thanks!"

Lu Jing sighed, "Since that's the case, it seems I need not hide."

He calmly stepped out from behind the tree, smiling, and said, "You seem to have run into trouble; is there anything I can help with?"

Seeing someone appear, Lóu Wǎnqīng's eyes lit up instantly.

Zhāng Méng also sprang to her feet, thinking someone had come to rescue them.

But upon seeing the newcomer was Lu Jing, the hopeful look in her eyes instantly turned to disappointment.

"Why is it you?"

Lóu Wǎnqīng was slightly startled, furrowed her brows, and shouted loudly, "Run, you're no match for this Demon Beast; it's a Third‑Rank Demon Beast!"

That shout revived the half‑dead Huáng MáO on the ground; he quickly looked up, saw Lu Jing, and then lay down in despair again.

Seeing Lu Jing standing still, Lóu Wǎnqīng thought he was frightened dumb, and shouted loudly again, "Run, hurry out, go find someone to rescue us!"

This youth dared to come into Huāngshén Cónglín alone; he must be a Martial Artist, but she didn't think Lu Jing alone could change the current situation.

"It's fine, I'm enough on my own."

Lu Jing's expression remained calm, as if the One‑Eyed Demon Ape before him didn't exist.

He sauntered over to Lóu Wǎnqīng, smiling, and said, "You mentioned Great Thanks earlier; how exactly do you intend to repay?"

Lóu Wǎnqīng looked at the boy before her, who haunted her thoughts, and sighed inwardly.

Heaven itself let her meet him again before death, but unfortunately......

Huáng MáO struggled to sit up, looked at Lu Jing with a teasing expression, and laughed, "Ahem, truly… the ignorant know no fear."

"Do you know? From the moment you appeared, you were already doomed. This One‑Eyed Demon Ape is no ordinary Demon Beast; besides possessing the strength of a Third‑Rank Demon Beast, it can also wield Innate Ability."

"Do you understand Innate Ability? It's equivalent to a Talent Endowed among Martial Artists!"

Huáng MáO, getting excited, coughed up a large clump of blood, "But that's fine; one more companion for the burial, the road to the Yellow Springs won't be lonely."

At this moment, the One‑Eyed Demon Ape, drooling, watched Lu Jing with keen interest; its nose told it that this person seemed a bit more appetizing.

The scent was sweeter than that of the others.

In the next instant, it advanced its body, nearly ten‑plus meters tall, toward Lu Jing.

"Don't worry, I can handle this monkey; just don't forget my Great Thanks later."

Lu Jing's tone was full of confidence.

He cast his gaze toward the slowly approaching demon ape, his calm eyes meeting its green, dim twin pupils.

One man and one ape, though their sizes differed by dozens of times, Lu Jing gave the impression of a towering giant!

Even under the influence of his confident aura, the trembling Zhāng Méng gradually calmed down.

Because she realized that this youth seemed overly calm.

And someone who could come here alone could not possibly not know the One‑Eyed Demon Ape!

Thinking that way, Lóu Wǎnqīng also felt a faint spark of confidence.

The One‑Eyed Demon Ape extended its large hand, bristling with spikes, and reached to grasp Lu Jing.