Chapter 113: Forest Hunting
Jiang Yu immediately detonated the spiritual energy bomb, then pressed Lin Ye down beneath her body to shield him.
Boom!
Layer upon layer of spiritual energy shields materialized in misaligned positions behind Jiang Yu, rotating and shattering one after another, deflecting the spiritual energy shockwave toward the surrounding tendrils.
More than ten seconds later, the two climbed to their feet covered in dust. The cave wall had been blown open into a wide breach, with sunlight streaming into the cavern from deep within the gap.
Their luck held—the turn had been close to the outside world.
Fine tendrils sprouted from the damaged cave wall, gradually narrowing the gap until the cavern plunged back into darkness.
Lin Ye drew Red Blade and charged toward the breach. Before leaving, he secretly tossed an artistically crafted item deep into the gap. The growing tendrils coiled around the object, pulling it into the cave wall before sealing the opening completely.
"...I hate tendrils."
Several minutes later, Lin Ye and Jiang Yu lay resting dozens of meters outside the cavern.
"I'm not fond of them either, but if I ever need mutated body parts in the future, I might consider growing a few. They seem quite practical." Lin Ye sheathed Red Blade and straightened his outer clothing.
"You could always cut them off and grill them when you feel hungry."
Jiang Yu stood up and stretched. Her coat had protective properties, and combined with Lin Ye's spiritual energy shield covering her, she emerged unharmed.
At that close range, without the spiritual energy protection, she would have been either dead or severely injured.
"Let's move, heading north to investigate."
Lin Ye rose to his feet, then suddenly turned to look toward the hillside nearby.
"Who's there?"
"Sorry, I was taking photos in the area, didn't mean to spy on you."
A male tourist with a professional camera peeked out from behind the hillside.
"...It's fine. We just emerged from the cavern. It's pitch black inside with some dangerous creatures—better stay away from there."
Lin Ye offered a friendly smile.
"Alright, I'll just take some photos around here then return to the hotel."
Hou Zhibin waved his camera with a smile before turning and leaving the hillside.
Lin Ye watched Hou Zhibin's retreating figure until the man moved beyond his detection range.
Jiang Yu: Is he suspicious?
Lin Ye: In my perception, he registers as ordinary, but I didn't sense him at all until he approached the hillside.
Jiang Yu: Were you relaxed? I sometimes overlook enemies when my mental guard drops.
Lin Ye: Outside the shelter, I never let my guard down.
Jiang Yu: Should we make a move then?
Lin Ye: No rush. Let's explore the remaining two directions first. Acting recklessly could cause problems.
Wang Yao: Which one is he? I'll go test him out.
Lin Ye: The photographer. Be careful—you might not be his match.
Feng Youcai: I'll handle this appropriately.
After communicating with their teammates, the two resumed their recovery while heading toward the hotel's northern area, their pace now matching that of ordinary tourists.
The pond area hosted numerous visitors—the three students and both couples were there enjoying the scenery.
"Any issues over here?"
Noticing Lin Ye, Song Qi quietly approached and whispered.
"There's a monster in the pond. We need someone to lure it out, and I think you'd be perfect for the job."
Lin Ye addressed the girl who radiated stealthy curiosity.
"Uh, I can't swim..."
Song Qi froze in place. She sought excitement but didn't want intimate contact with monsters.
"No problem. Bait doesn't need swimming skills—makes no difference anyway."
Lin Ye moved toward the pond, gesturing for Song Qi to follow.
Song Qi didn't dare follow, uncertain whether Lin Ye was teasing her or being serious.
The pond appeared bottomless, mirroring the cavern in its complete absence of visible life.
"Should I go down?"
Jiang Yu stretched her body—she excelled at swimming.
"Please don't tell me you even brought a wetsuit?"
For the first time, Lin Ye felt his preparations might have been insufficient.
"No, but I brought a swimsuit."
Jiang Yu produced a black one-piece swimming outfit.
"There are probably numerous tendrils down there. You can give me anything valuable before descending—no need for a will though, I won't have time to read it."
As he spoke, Lin Ye retrieved an artistic object and, while others weren't looking, casually tossed it into the pond.
Jiang Yu noticed but remained silent.
"Then forget it. Let's go hunting in the forest instead—I'm quite skilled at tracking prey."
"Good. I've never hunted before—perfect opportunity to try."
Lin Ye bid farewell to the others and headed east toward the hotel with Jiang Yu.
Thirty minutes later, they reached the primeval forest.
The forest teemed with massive trees dozens of meters high, requiring multiple people to encircle their trunks. Moss and lichen carpeted the ground while small creatures scurried and leaped through the woodland.
"Not bad here. Finally feels somewhat like actual traveling."
Lin Ye gazed upward at the light filtering through the branches, breathing in the fresh air.
"Quite pleasant indeed, but now isn't the time for scenery. Time to begin hunting—you don't want to return empty-handed, do you?"
Jiang Yu excitedly produced her hunting rifle.
"Received, Leader Jiang Yu."
Lin Ye also drew his spiritual energy sniper rifle—he rarely used the weapon unless enemies stayed sufficiently distant.
In hunting matters, Jiang Yu proved unquestionably professional. She taught Lin Ye numerous hunting fundamentals and quickly located their first prey.
A robust first-tier mutated beast.
Somewhat resembling a wild boar, but with six legs.
Jiang Yu dispatched the mutated boar with three precise shots, each striking vital points.
Lin Ye smoothly processed the boar's carcass, storing fresh meat cuts within his loot space.
Their carcass-dressing techniques differed—Lin Ye's approach proved more meticulous, capable of extracting intact organs without damage, while Jiang Yu operated more brutally, concerned only with ingredients' culinary appeal.
After hunting several beasts, Jiang Yu kindled a campfire and began grilling animal organs alongside some suspicious-looking fungi.
"Are these things actually edible?"
Lin Ye pointed at a white mushroom speckled with red dots.
"Not sure, but eating barbecue without mushrooms feels incomplete. Even if they're poisonous, probably won't kill spiritual energy users, right?"
Jiang Yu indifferently poked at grilled innards on the cooking grate.
"I'll have to decline."
Lin Ye somewhat regretted taking advice from mature women—matters concerning youth indeed required youthful solutions.
"Clearly delicious."
Jiang Yu picked up a pitch-black mushroom, blew on it, and popped it into her mouth.
"I'll stick with grilled meat."
Lin Ye selected a piece of cooked liver and took a bite.
Remarkably flavorful indeed.
"What did you do before? Your prey-dressing technique doesn't seem newly learned."
Jiang Yu inquired curiously.
"Guess."
Lin Ye took another piece of stomach—tender and crispy, perfectly cooked.
"Butcher? Chef? Surely not a doctor?"
Jiang Yu tossed out random guesses.
"...Seems I've done them all. Chef was amateur level, but I was quite professional with the other two."
Lin Ye responded seriously.