Wang Mu gasped for breath, feeling a continuous assault of burning pain, as if hundreds of needles were pricking him.

The Flame King Human-faced Lion had an immense Life Force, and once his arrows were used up, Wang Mu could only engage in close combat.

This was the state he was left in.

The consequence of hand-to-hand combat was burns all over his body.

Fortunately, his face was unharmed.

Eventually, he managed to hack the Human-faced Lion to death with an axe.

Those attribute arrows are powerful, and even stronger after being enhanced and enchanted with Divine Ore.

If I had two more months to prepare, I should be able to kill this Human-faced Lion without taking any damage.

Wang Mu silently shook his head.

Unfortunately, this hidden quest isn't going so smoothly.

But, the result is good.

If I knew some Spells, or some impressive moves… it wouldn't have ended like this, Wang Mu pondered to himself.

Having strong Attributes but no Skills is a bit difficult.

Luckily, my equipment is strong, and my overall qualities are robust; otherwise, I might have been utterly defeated this time.

After I return, I need to quickly upgrade all my Skills to level 20 and see if I can meet the requirements for the Hundred Refinement Body Technique.

I want to cultivate!

Wang Mu sat atop the head of the Human-faced Lion, resting, when he heard something and turned around to see a figure glowing faintly.

It was Qin Yuyan, but she seemed a bit odd.

Her aura was strange.

She was still dazed.

"Didn't I tell you to run? Why did you come back?"

Wang Mu asked, puzzled, "What happened to you?"

Qin Yuyan remained silent.

"You… you… you killed that Flame King Human-faced Lion?" Qin Yuyan looked several times, confirming she wasn't mistaken.

"Otherwise?" Wang Mu panted. "This beast is truly formidable, far stronger than any Fierce Beast I usually hunt. It tried to flee later, but to think it could escape from the Divine Wood Forest right under my nose? Unless it could fly."

"Unfortunately, it couldn't."

Is this for real?

That Flame King Human-faced Lion had already cultivated into a Demon!

How could a mere mortal defeat it?

Outrageous!

Qin Yuyan fell silent.

For a moment, she felt rather bewildered.

Why could a mortal defeat such a powerful Fierce Beast?

He doesn't possess a shred of Spiritual Power!

Is the Sword Sect on Gu Yun Mountain blind?

Such an impressive mortal, and they haven't even recruited him into the Sect… Failing that, they should have at least taken him in for study, shouldn't they?

Moreover…

Observing his appearance, Qin Yuyan asked,

"How are your injuries?"

In her judgment, Wang Mu's injuries looked quite severe.

"They're manageable, not fatal," Wang Mu said, shaking his head.

"One or two months of recovery in the village should suffice."

"Why didn't you run?" Qin Yuyan asked.

"Have you heard a story?" Wang Mu replied, sounding weary.

"What story?"

"It's about two men being chased by a tiger, both running for their lives. One of them was exceptionally fast. The slower one asked him, 'Why are you running so fast? It doesn't matter; we can't outrun the tiger anyway. We're doomed to be eaten sooner or later.'"

"The fast runner said, 'Running faster than the tiger doesn't matter; running faster than you is enough.'"

"I'm very familiar with the Divine Wood Forest; escaping would have been a breeze for me. If I had run, given that beast's cunning, it definitely would have chased you. In your weakened state just now, do you think you could have escaped its grasp?"

Wang Mu added casually, "Besides, I promised the Village Chief I would hunt this Flame King Human-faced Lion. This beast attacked the village over a decade ago, and this is the trial the chief gave me. I originally planned to prepare for another two months before hunting it. But since I ran into it now, I figured I might as well take care of it."

Qin Yuyan hesitated, wanting to say something.

Just then, a streak of rainbow light flashed across the distant horizon.

Qin Yuyan's expression changed. She quickly pulled a brocade box from her robes and handed it to Wang Mu:

"Brother Wang, I must leave now due to an urgent matter."

"This is a Healing Holy Item, the Moonlight Essence Pill, which can help you recover from your injuries!"

"I have already collected the materials, so I won't disturb you any further."

After saying this, she tossed the brocade box to Wang Mu and turned to fly away.

Her speed was incredibly fast.

Wang Mu was left speechless.

What was that all about?

Wang Mu glanced at the box, which was quite exquisitely made.

It was engraved with intricate patterns and looked quite valuable.

Hmm… a Healing Holy Item. Weren't you going to take me back to the Sect for cultivation? Wang Mu mused. Well, after this whole ordeal, I guess my role as a guide wasn't exactly a success…

Wang Mu secured the box and then dragged the Flame King Human-faced Lion back to the village.

All in all, the trip had been quite fruitful.

Qin Yuyan sped along, soon meeting up with her two followers.

"Sister Gu, how did it go?" Xu Feng asked eagerly. "Is that fellow head over heels for you already?"

"Need you even ask?" Zheng Hai chuckled. "With Sister Gu's charms, how could a mere mortal resist? Right?"

Qin Yuyan remained silent.

"Ahem…" Qin Yuyan waved her hand. "Of course. But we should leave quickly. Those disciples from the Sword Sect on Gu Yun Mountain have noses as keen as hounds; they're already on our trail."

"Hmph, isn't that because you, Sister Gu, enthralled the Sword Sect's chief disciple back then? I heard he's still confined to Contemplation Cliff on Gu Yun Mountain, practicing his Sword Cultivation."

"Well, I suppose that completes the mission, more or less. In a few days, that fellow will probably start longing for Sister Gu…"

The three transformed into three streaks of light.

Within the light, their figures shimmered and changed, transforming into three graceful, immortal silhouettes that vanished instantly within the Divine Wood Forest...

Wang Mu dragged the Flame King Human-faced Lion back to the village.

Upon reaching the village entrance, Wang Mu shouted:

"Village Chief! I've completed the hunting quest!"

CREAK... SQUEAK... With the sound of one wooden door after another opening, villagers began to emerge.

The Village Chief strode over, reaching Wang Mu in the blink of an eye.

He first glanced at Wang Mu, frowned, and then saw the corpse of the Flame King Human-faced Lion on the ground.

The still-warm corpse instantly raised the surrounding temperature by several degrees.

"Indeed…"

The Village Chief's voice trembled slightly. "Yes, that's the one! Weren't you guiding that disciple from the Shuiyun Sect to find materials? How did you run into this beast?"

Wang Mu smiled helplessly and briefly recounted what had happened.

After hearing this, everyone fell silent.

"I didn't expect this," the Village Chief sighed softly. "Mu Guy, you succeeded so quickly… It's only been two years since you came to our village."

Wang Mu's heart stirred, quietly waiting for what would come next.

He knew that, logically, the Village Chief should be giving him a reward now.

It was a hidden quest, after all, wasn't it?

Actually, speaking of rewards, the Mountain-Shattering Bow from Newbie Village was practically an advance.

I wonder if there's anything else…

"Aunt Hong, take the women and butcher this Flame King Human-faced Lion," the Village Chief instructed. "This beast has plagued countless villages. Be careful—its flesh cannot be eaten casually. It contains a special Flame Energy and Fire Poison. If we were to simply cook and eat it, we'd all go mad."

"I know," Aunt Hong nodded, signaling the others to carry the Human-faced Lion away. "I've practiced the art of butchering and skinning for decades, just waiting for the day I could personally handle such a Fierce Beast."

"Mu Guy, how are your injuries?" the Village Chief asked, his voice grave.

"I'll need some time to recover, but I definitely won't die," Wang Mu replied with a faint smile.

"Good. Come with me. I have something important to discuss with you!" The Village Chief beckoned to Wang Mu.

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