"So this is what it's like, traveling at night."

Carrying a bundle of firewood, Yue Feiyan followed beside Luciel, her bright red hair swaying as her curious eyes darted around the dark wilderness.

"Otherwise, what did you think it would be like?" Luciel glanced sideways at the lively, red-haired girl walking next to him.

"I heard from the hunting team that traveling at night is dangerous — they say beasts often attack people."

Yue Feiyan tugged lightly on the rope slung over her shoulder. Since she wasn't carrying anything heavy, the rope rubbed uncomfortably against her skin.

Wei Geng, walking behind them, twitched his lips at her words.

With two fierce beasts clearing the path ahead, what danger could there possibly be?

"It really is dangerous to travel at night," Luciel said seriously. "You'd better not do it again in the future."

He spoke deliberately — he didn't want the girl to think that venturing out at night was safe just because of today's circumstances.

"Really that dangerous?" Yue Feiyan blinked, still doubtful.

"The only reason it's safe now is because my domesticated beasts are opening the way."

Luciel gestured forward. "And with the Little Black Tortoise watching from a distance, most beasts won't even dare to come near us."

He smiled faintly. With the Little Black Tortoise on guard, their journey was smooth and peaceful.

The white-haired girl, Liyue, had been quietly amazed. She hadn't enjoyed such a restful night in the wilderness for a long time.

"I see…" Yue Feiyan's expression grew serious.

She remembered her first hunt, where all she'd gained was a good fright.

"Miss," Wei Geng spoke up politely, "if you carry a bit of high-level beast dung with you, it can also help reduce the number of night attacks."

It couldn't drive off every beast, of course — some of them were too sensitive or simply too stupid to care.

"High-level beast dung?" Yue Feiyan nodded thoughtfully, storing the tip in her mind.

The long journey continued in silence — monotonous, yet strangely calm.

"All right, everyone gather here. We're going up." Luciel's voice rang out.

"Huh? We've arrived?"

Yue Feiyan lifted her head — and froze.

Before her stood an enormous shadow — the Rock Tortoise, its massive shell rising like a hill in the dark.

"Let's go up." Luciel stomped his foot lightly.

A stone platform rose smoothly beneath them, lifting the group — along with the two beasts — up to the tortoise's back.

The platform connected to the city wall built atop the shell. The hunting team quickly stepped off, while the Red Ghost Spider leapt nimbly onto the tortoise's armored back and disappeared from sight.

Luciel retrieved the Nine-Section Demon Insects from the tricolor lizard, then used his "Thousand-Silk Control" technique to fling the insects down into the city streets.

Whoosh!

Moments later, seeing the light below, Liyue, Yue Qinlan, and Mino rushed out to help.

Boom!

A huge Nine-Section Demon Insect dropped from the sky, landing just a few meters in front of them. The impact shook the ground — all three women flinched in alarm.

"That wicked man…" Yue Qinlan sighed. She didn't need to guess who had done this.

"Indeed," Liyue replied with a twitch of her lips.

"Um… is that tonight's prey?" Mino whispered timidly, hiding behind the white-haired girl.

"I think so." Liyue nodded.

"Why did you all come down?" Luciel descended the city wall and looked at them in surprise.

The three women had arrived far too quickly — clearly, they had been watching and waiting for his return.

Mino glanced at Luciel's figure. Seeing he was unharmed, her worry melted away.

Her gaze landed curiously on the beetle perched on his shoulder — clearly a newly tamed beast.

"We came to help," Yue Qinlan said softly, tucking a strand of blue hair behind her ear.

Seeing her daughter safe, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Then let's process this Nine-Section Demon Insect — make the meat into bacon."

Luciel pointed at the seven-meter-long creature sprawled on the ground.

"Nine-Section Demon Insects… I haven't seen one in years," Yue Qinlan said, intrigued.

"My Lord, let us handle the butchering," Wei Geng volunteered immediately.

After all, if even this task was handed to the City Lord's people, it would look like the hunters were neglecting their duty.

"Alright, it's yours," Luciel nodded.

He had planned to assign it himself, but Wei Geng's quick initiative earned him a mental note of approval.

This one's sharp. Worth training.

"This insect's shell would make good material for spiritual artifacts," Liyue observed, tapping the hard carapace.

"Yes, it could be used to craft some armor-type spiritual tools," Yue Qinlan agreed.

"You know how to make spiritual weapons?" Luciel looked at her in surprise.

"I can make some simple ones," Yue Qinlan smiled gracefully, "but not the complex, high-level types."

Crafting advanced spirit weapons required not just knowledge, but also talent — and special secret techniques.

Luciel nodded thoughtfully. A proper force didn't just need resources and manpower — it needed equipment.

Just as elite troops used more precise rifles than ordinary soldiers, powerful cultivators required superior tools.

"Liyue, take some of the shell and forge a spiritual weapon for yourself," Luciel said.

Since she was leaving in the morning, it was better for her to have additional protection.

"I lack an arm guard," Liyue nodded and began cutting pieces from the insect's shell.

"Not you," Luciel said, stopping Mino as she stepped forward with a knife.

"I-I can do it," Mino said earnestly, gripping her short blade. "I've killed lots of little lizards."

"I'm getting hungry," Luciel smiled. "How about you grill some meat instead?"

"Hungry? Then I'll make barbecue!"

Mino froze for a second, then happily grabbed a hunk of meat and ran off toward the high ground.

"Luciel, can I see that glowing beetle?"

Yue Feiyan leaned forward eagerly, eyes sparkling.

"Sure. If you want it to glow, just tap its shell three times."

Luciel lifted the Shining Beetle from his shoulder and sent a small pulse of intent through it — the beetle's light flickered on and off playfully.

"Then how do you turn it off?" Yue Feiyan asked, eyes wide with wonder.

"One tap." Luciel placed the glowing insect carefully into her palms.

"Ohh, I'll remember!" Yue Feiyan cradled it with both hands as if it were a treasure.

Overjoyed, she rushed toward her mother.

"Mother, look at this beetle!"

She held it up proudly, her eyes gleaming. "Guess what this is?"

"Without even looking, I can tell it's Luciel's beast," Yue Qinlan said calmly. "What are you doing with it?"

She had seen Luciel with the beetle earlier and already knew what it was.

"Oh… just guess, Mother!"

Yue Feiyan's face fell a little — her mother didn't even look curious.

"Not guessing," Yue Qinlan replied with a small smile.

"You're no fun at all," Feiyan muttered, pouting as she trudged back toward the high ground, beetle in hand.

"That's enough for today." Liyue approached, arms full of insect shells.

"Then let's go," Luciel stretched, signaling to Wei Geng.

"Process the meat properly," he instructed. "Distribute portions to each family according to their size. Whatever remains — the extra meat and shells — must be sealed."

"Yes, Lord Luciel." Wei Geng bowed respectfully.

"Come on," Luciel said, leading the women back to the high ground.

Yue Qinlan quickened her pace to walk beside him.

"How do you plan to divide the leftover meat?" she asked softly.

Liyue, too, moved closer, walking on Luciel's other side.

"I'll distribute it based on contribution," Luciel replied with a faint smile.

"It seems you've already thought this through." Yue Qinlan nodded, relieved — she had meant to remind him not to hand it out too freely.

"I have a rough plan," he said.

"By the way," Yue Qinlan asked, glancing back, "what beetle was Feiyan holding just now? Why was she so excited?"

Luciel chuckled, a mysterious smile curving his lips. "You'll have to ask her."

"...???" Yue Qinlan blinked, momentarily stunned by his evasive answer.

"The expressions of mother and daughter are really alike," Liyue murmured with a faint smile.

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