Chapter 1333: A Decent Harvest

"The captain is right, we must show our skills today!"

"That's right! The fact that the gentleman has come to Qinghe Town is a blessing for the children of our town. We must catch a decent demon beast to celebrate!"

"Is it really a good idea to go deeper?"

"What's there to fear? With Captain Xu leading the charge, this demon hunt will surely be a success!"

"We must return fully satisfied!"

The group brandished their weapons and spears, shouting with fervor.

Ordinary folks are simple and sincere like this. They will do their utmost to repay even the smallest kindness, and their interactions with others are genuine. If they hit it off with someone, they are willing to give everything they have.

They may not be skilled in poetry or literature, but when it comes to hunting demon beasts, they are determined to put on a good show. They must let the gentleman witness the enthusiasm of Qinghe Town and their own strength.

After all, what man doesn't care about face?

Seeing everyone so motivated, Yi Feng simply wore a calm smile. He didn't utter any discouraging words and, after expressing his gratitude, continued the journey with the group, heading deeper into the mountains.

As night deepened, the team followed the mountain path upward, lighting torches. The path beneath their feet became increasingly rugged, with old traces almost impossible to discern. Without a guide, an outsider would have no way of finding the way forward.

Entering a dense forest, the trees grew even more lush. Compared to the wide forest road they had taken earlier, this area now resembled a wild jungle, with no signs of human presence. Towering trees were everywhere, and thick vines sprawled across the ground.

The wild forest was eerily quiet, with even the previous chirping of insects gone, replaced by a sense of oppression that made everyone tense.

Captain Xu, who was leading the way, raised his hand to stop the group and turned to give a serious warning.

"Everyone."

"Although we are still far from the mountaintop, this is already the deeper part of Qingmang Mountain. We could encounter powerful demon beasts at any moment. We must be ready for battle at all times!"

Everyone nodded solemnly, gripping their weapons tightly.

The previous cheerful atmosphere was now completely gone. The seasoned hunters were poised for action, their experience evident.

Even with the captain leading the charge, they were accompanying Mr. Yi today and were determined to avoid any mishaps. They scanned their surroundings with heightened vigilance.

Only after Captain Xu took the first step did the team begin to move forward steadily.

Everyone held their breath, fully alert!

After just a few dozen steps, sure enough, a white tiger appeared faintly among the trees. Its striped body shimmered under the moonlight, looking quite terrifying. Even from a distance, it exuded a formidable presence.

An ordinary person would have been scared out of their wits at the sight of such a massive beast!

But Xu Fengyue remained calm, his eyes gleaming with determination.

After a quick assessment, he turned to give instructions.

"Our luck is good. We've encountered a Moon-Eroding Demon Tiger!"

"This demon tiger is covered in white stripes, indicating it's at least a hundred years old. Though not yet fully grown, it's comparable to a peak Martial Master cultivator. It's the perfect prey for today!"

"Later, all those at the Martial Master level and above will follow me in the attack. The rest of you will assist. I'll handle the tiger myself, while Wei's niece and Old Liu will stay here to protect Mr. Yi."

"Everyone, do your part. We cannot afford any carelessness!"

His voice was firm, and the group was filled with excitement.

They exchanged determined glances, ready for action.

"A Moon-Eroding Demon Tiger! This is a big catch!"

"Our luck is great today. We can't let this beast escape!"

"Let's take it down!"

With Xu Fengyue gripping his short sword and leading the charge, the group quickly surrounded the beast from multiple directions. Shouts and the clash of weapons echoed through the forest, filling the air with fervor.

Yi Feng watched from a distance, observing the demon hunt.

Though his expression remained calm and his heart unperturbed, witnessing such an event in Qinghe Town was like watching a movie—quite entertaining.

Perhaps because he was watching so intently, Wei Xiaowei, standing beside him, noticed his expression and thought he might be nervous. She smiled and tried to reassure him while explaining the situation.

"Mr. Yi, there's no need to be nervous."

"Actually, that demon tiger might look big and scary, but there's no real danger. Captain Xu is a Great Martial Master, a level above the tiger. With him leading the charge, everything will be fine!"

Hearing her anxious tone, Yi Feng smiled and looked at her.

The young girl was gripping her short sword tightly. Though her words were light, her body was tense, betraying her inner turmoil.

It seemed this was her first time encountering such a powerful demon beast. A Martial Master-level demon was indeed terrifying for a small-town girl like her.

The fact that she could remain somewhat composed was commendable. She must have faced many dangers before to have developed such composure.

Not easy.

Feeling a sense of admiration, Yi Feng smiled and took over the conversation, trying to ease her tension.

"Is Captain Xu really that strong?"

Wei Xiaowei was momentarily stunned, then began to explain.

"Mr. Yi, you're underestimating Captain Xu."

"Captain Xu is a Great Martial Master, just a step below the old clan leader. He's definitely the strongest here. Not only can he handle this demon tiger, but even stronger beasts at the Great Martial Master level would be no problem for him!"

"Did you know? Captain Xu's swordsmanship is so impressive that even some of the major families in Yecheng have tried to recruit him as a guard!"

By the end, the girl's eyes were filled with reverence, much like how a student might look at Yi Feng. Her earlier tension had also eased somewhat.

Yi Feng nodded with a smile, appearing enlightened.

"I see, so Captain Xu is truly remarkable..."

Coming from a poor town and achieving such a level through sheer hard work, even earning the attention of major families in the city, was indeed rare. Among ordinary people, he was undoubtedly exceptional.

No wonder the girl spoke of Captain Xu with such admiration.

Seeing that Yi Feng finally "understood" the captain's prowess, Wei Xiaowei became even more enthusiastic. She pointed to the ongoing battle in the forest and began explaining, her delicate face glowing with pride for Qinghe Town.

"Mr. Yi, you're in for a treat today. With Captain Xu personally taking action, you're sure to witness something spectacular."

"Look!"

"Captain Xu is using his signature sword technique. It's said to be a secret manual passed down by the old clan leader. It's incredibly powerful! This move is called 'Sweeping a Thousand Armies'!"

Yi Feng raised his gaze slightly, his star-like eyes seeing through everything.

In the forest, Xu Fengyue charged forward with his short sword, fearless and unstoppable!

With both hands gripping the sword, he swung it with immense force!

The blade's aura shimmered with faint spiritual energy, indicating that he had reached a minor mastery level. Even the tiger sensed the danger and lunged at him, disregarding the others.

The clash of the sword's aura and the tiger's claws sparked flashes of light!

In just a few moments, the intense battle between the man and the beast left no room for others to intervene. The onlookers could only watch helplessly, the tension reaching its peak.

After a few more exchanges, Xu Fengyue, with his slightly superior cultivation, finally managed to slay the tiger. However, he was drenched in sweat, clearly exhausted. The physical strength of demon beasts was evident—far surpassing that of cultivators at the same level. If not for Captain Xu's slightly higher cultivation, today could have ended in disaster.

The others, unaware of the details, cheered at the sight of the tiger's corpse!

As the group rushed forward to congratulate him, Xu Fengyue laughed heartily. The team was immersed in the joy of victory, and Wei Xiaowei excitedly pulled Yi Feng closer to get a better look.