242: Chapter 212 242: Chapter 212 The Earl and the others held their breath, daring not to go down any further, for there were more Demonic Beasts in the woods.
As expected, shortly after, a tiger emerged, followed by several robust adult tigers, coming to aid the besieged one.
The under-attack tiger had wounded a few wolves, but it too had been bitten in multiple spots, and wolf claws had scratched its body extensively.
There was blood, and a hint of a bloody scent, attracting even more Demonic Beasts lurking nearby, hoping to profit from the fight like opportunistic fishermen.
The Wolf King, who had been directing from the sidelines, upon seeing more tigers enter the fray, cried out again, calling for more of its kin to help.
With the addition of the new tigers, the wolves became disadvantaged.
The Wolf King stopped watching from the side and joined the battle itself.
It joined to help its pack not to lose too swiftly, waiting for reinforcements to arrive.
Veteran Hunters often ventured into the mountain forests to hunt in areas not too deep within, and they had never witnessed a confrontation of this scale.
Currently, they were trembling with fear atop the trees.
The Earl tightly grasped the Magic Wand in his hands, ready to use it at the first sign of danger.
Having never seen so many Demonic Beasts fighting, even with a treasure in hand, he was nervous.
The other young people were also trembling, tightly holding onto their weapons.
The tide turned again with the addition of the few tigers; the wolves, now at a disadvantage, were quickly killed off by the tigers.
The scent of blood attracted more ruthless Demonic Beasts, eager for a share of the bounty.
Around the battleground, leopards, lions, and other lower-tier Demonic Beasts watched from a distance, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to those weakened by the fight and consume them.
Another group of wolves rushed in from a different part of the forest, summoned by the Wolf King; they too joined the battle.
The additional pack turned the tables once more, putting the previously dominant tigers into a position of weakness.
Not wanting their kind to perish, the tigers, kings of the forest, for the first time chose to flee, knowing that the lions standing nearby would launch even stronger attacks.
They chose not to face annihilation.
What did losing face as the Mountain King matter?
Having acquired some degree of intelligence, the tigers and other high-ranking Demonic Beasts were prone to fight.
If defeated, they would choose to flee for their lives.
As the tigers suddenly fled, the wolves, spurred on, lifted their fallen companions and gave chase.
The other beasts, not wanting their prey to escape, followed in pursuit.
The lesser beasts began to flee, while the strongest among them left their dens, knowing they would be cannon fodder and become prey in turn.
The group saw that the place which had been engulfed in fierce combat now only retained the smell of blood and had returned to its original state.
Following the Veteran Hunter’s advice, the Earl agreed not to gather herbs nearby due to the lingering scent of blood, which could still attract Demonic Beasts.
They descended the tree and took another path into the mountain, venturing deeper into the higher forest.
After a day of gathering herbs, at dusk, their baskets were already half full of valuable medicinal herbs.
As night fell, they decided to make a fire with branches.
Eating their dry food by the fire, they also found some fruit.
It was a pity they hadn’t hunted; if there were game, a barbecue would have been a most delicious treat.
Having not encountered any water sources in their time in the mountains, their supply of water was running low.
For safety, they lit several fires and chose to stay in the trees, pulling out some grass around to prevent a wildfire from engulfing the entire area.
The sound, similar to both animal and human cries, was unknown to the Earl and his company as a secret signal used by people living deep in the mountains.
They were also unaware that recluses from the Cultivation World resided deep in the mountains, not only there for training but also for seclusion.
Without responding with the correct countersignal, the inhabitants knew that these were newcomers.
Uncertain whether the interlopers were enemies or merely passersby, one of them decided to strike from the trees to question them.
“Ah…” A Viscount, caught by surprise, was able to let out only a cry before being seized by the assailant, who then used a strange Cultivation Technique to draw him in.
Hearing the noise, the Earl used his Magic Wand to locate the attacker, initiating the wand’s magic to launch an attack.
The Wand’s multicolored glow revealed the attacker’s hiding spot, and its light struck the figure.
The assailant was a Cultivator who used his own Spells to fend off the incoming glow and counterattacked.
Stationed in the tree, when the Earl’s power knocked the tree down, he leaped to another, continuing to attack with his Magic Wand and verbally inquiring:
“Friend, who are you?
We are merely here to collect herbs in the deep forest.
Why are you attacking us?”
The Earl surrounded his group with the glow from his Magic Wand to protect them from the assailant’s Spells.
“Everything in the deep forest is ours; you cannot take it away.” The combatant spoke arrogantly, a tone of voice that indeed came with the capability to back it up.
“Whosoever finds something in the deep forest, shall it not belong to them?
My good sir, you are being too overbearing.
Our journey here has not been easy, and we cannot leave empty-handed,” the Earl responded, troubled by the man’s domineering stance.
If they hadn’t been accompanied by the Veteran Hunter this time and had come alone in the future, would they be captured or even killed by these people?
He realized that trading in herbs might not be safe anymore.
Yet, fortune favors the bold.
He hoped this encounter might lead to friendship so that they would no longer trouble his people in the future.
“Hmph, it’s not only I who resides deep in this mountain.
Even if I were to spare you, the others would not.
I wonder how you’ve managed to conceal your Qi so the Demonic Beasts do not attack you.
It seems you are just ordinary humans; how can you contend with us?
The only treasure you possess must be that object in your hands!”