Chapter 36: Hunting Trip (1)
His eyes widened. " This is your personal mount....A 9th-stage Body Refining beast?"
Mei nodded. "Yes, her names Autumn wind, I wanted to give her to you for the hunt. I thought it would increase your chances of surviving….and maybe even help you increase your strength for tomorrow."
Lin Mu took a step back, shaking his head. "No, I can't accept this. A mount like this...it's too much. And besides, I'll be fine with the one I've been assigned."
Mei crossed her arms, her smile taking on a hint of exasperation. "Don't be so stubborn, Brother Lin."
" With how everyone's clearly rushing for your neck, I wouldn't forgive myself if I let you leave without this....I might not say it outright but I'm really worried about you. You saved I and my sisters lives, the least I could is return the favor."
Her words made him pause. The sisters' actions had always been puzzling, but this gesture felt deeply personal. He struggled to find the right words to respond. "Still, I can't—"
"You can," Mei interrupted, her tone more insistent. She placed the reins firmly in his hand, clasping his in her's. "And you will. Autumn wind is strong, loyal, and will obey your commands so you don't have to worry."
" Taking such risk's, You'll need every advantage you can get out there."
Lin Mu stared at the reins in his hand, his protest dying in his throat. The weight of the gesture wasn't lost on him, and he realized refusing would only insult their goodwill.
"Thank you," he said finally, his voice subdued. "But wouldn't your sister be upset if she knew about it?"
Mei hesitated for a moment before her lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
" You don't have to worry about her."
" She's currently still worried about her mount, it's still recovering from it's injuries. It barely made it out alive during our last encounter with the Anthroporal Shark. This one is in better condition and far stronger."
The mention of the shark-like predator sent a chill down Lin Mu's spine, the memory of the deadly creature still fresh in his mind.
Before he could respond, Mei stepped closer, her expression softening. "Between you and me," she said in a conspiratorial tone, "the idea to give you the mount was actually Lian's. She pretends to be annoyed with you, but she's not as good at hiding her feelings as she thinks." Mei chuckled on recalling her sisters flustered expression when she asked why she was so hellbent on helping him if she clearly disliked him.
Lin Mu blinked, caught off guard. "Lian?" he said with a raised brow, finding it hard that the same person who had gotten enraged at him earlier would actually be going this far just to help him.
Mei's smile widened. "Yeah, her. She even considered giving you her own mount directly. But since it's injured, she settled for this instead."
As Lin Mu stood there, stunned by the revelation, Mei leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to his cheek. The unexpected gesture sent a wave of warmth rushing through him, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"Don't tell her I told you any of this," Mei said teasingly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "She'd kill me if she knew."
Before he could respond, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Lin Mu standing at the gates with the reins in his hand and a conflicted expression on his face.
"Lian's idea, huh?" he murmured to himself, glancing at the mount beside him. "She really is full of surprises."
The system's voice broke the silence, laced with amusement. «[It seems you've made quite the impression on those two. Not bad for someone who's apparently hated by the entire tribe.]»
Lin Mu sighed, shaking his head as he mounted the beast. "Yeah, well, I wish their help didn't come with so many strings attached."
Still, as the mount shifted beneath him and carried him toward the hunting party, he couldn't help but feel a small spark of gratitude. Whatever awaited him in the desert, he was at least a little better prepared now.
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Back to the Present....
Lin Mu's hunting party, eight tribesmen, including the two obnoxious suitors or should he say the Lang brothers as he recalled Mei had referred to them, formed a loose formation around him. Most of them kept their distance, their expressions ranging from wary to openly hostile. Only a few nodded respectfully in his direction, acknowledging the circumstances that forced them to be in their company.
The desert stretched endlessly in all directions, its eerie red hues blending with the darkening sky. The silence was broken only by the occasional calls of their mounts and the whispers of the wind. Lin Mu tightened his grip on the reins, his mind preoccupied with the upcoming contest and the dangerous position he found himself in.
"Keep your eyes open," one of the older tribesmen said, his voice cutting through the quiet. "This area is known for predators."
Lin Mu nodded, scanning the landscape ahead. The system's voice chimed softly in his mind.
«[He's right you know, I can already sense a few bloodthirsty creatures in the area, though too weak and cowardly to approach.]»
"Trust me, I'm painfully aware," he muttered under his breath.
They traveled for nearly an hour before the first sign of trouble appeared.
" Their finally making their move..." A faint rustling noise reached Lin Mu's ears, growing louder as they moved further.
One of the Lang brothers, a broad shouldered tribesman with an irritatingly smug grin, raised his hand to halt the group.
"Mutated rats," he announced, his voice tinged with excitement. "A whole pack of them." he said when he saw several marsupial heads popping out of the sand several meters Infront of their group.
«[Be careful, my scanners suggest that these ones are far stronger than any you've come across before.]»
«[The lowest amongst them are at the 3rd stage while the majority are at the 5th stage.]»
«[Also, I can detect traces of a Rat king amongst them.]»
«[It seems to be at the 8th stage]»