From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"etc!"

Just as Gu Hanying was about to step forward, Chen Shi stopped her.

"Look there."

"...Iwakyou!"

Following Chen Shi's direction, they saw a strange beast resembling an ape, with a blue face, fangs, and thick arms encased in shale that looked like fish scales, squatting a dozen meters away from the strange fruit on a protruding rock on the cliff.

Because its body was covered in snow, it wouldn't be easily spotted without careful observation. However, this suggests that the strange beast had been crouching there for some time.

What grade?

"Seventh rank!"

Gu Hanying frowned and said in a deep voice.

Chen Shi's expression darkened instantly. The strange beast and the martial artist were of the same rank, so this was equivalent to a seventh-rank martial artist!

He had just mastered the explosive energy, but hadn't actually reached the requirements for the eighth rank. Gu Hanying was only at the eighth rank as well; even if the two of them joined forces, they might not be able to handle it.

I had heard Xiao Fengxiao say before that rare and precious herbs are also great tonics for these exotic beasts. Therefore, many rare and precious herbs are guarded by exotic beasts, and they are harvested and consumed only when they are fully mature.

Now it seems that this was indeed the case.

It was just bad luck. If it were an eighth or ninth-grade beast, killing it would not only have yielded a rare and precious herb, but also a portion of its blood. However, it was only a seventh-grade beast.

"Let's give it a shot! If we join forces, we might just have a chance!"

The treasure is right in front of us; it would be a shame to give it up now.

Gu Hanying stared at the strange fruit and said in a deep voice.

Chen Shi shook his head, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"A direct confrontation is a poor strategy; there are actually middle and better strategies."

"Um?"

Gu Hanying blinked, looking at Chen Shi in surprise. He actually managed to come up with a middle-to-upper-level strategy.

Tell me about it!

"The middle strategy is to only take the treasures and not kill the beasts. One of us will provoke the Panxiao to lure it away, while the other takes the opportunity to pick the exotic fruit. The pamphlet says that this fruit can be picked directly with its stem and leaves attached, so it won't waste much time."

"A clever diversionary tactic! A brilliant idea!"

Gu Hanying's eyes lit up immediately, but she was also annoyed. It was actually a very simple idea, how come she hadn't thought of it? She must have been too hasty just now.

However, it would be a pity to let this seventh-grade beast go, so he quickly asked another question.

"The best plan! Tell me quickly!"

"The best strategy is to obtain the treasure and kill the beast! However, it will be a bit troublesome. It's quite risky for just the two of us, so let's find some helpers."

"Looking for help?"

Gu Hanying, who had just been looking excited, frowned again.

"In that case, wouldn't we have to share the benefits with them? Besides, people found on short notice may not be trustworthy, and it might be even more dangerous then."

"That's exactly the point. So, we can't just go looking for it directly. Instead, we should find a way to lure people here, making them think they've discovered the treasure themselves. We'll hide, wait for those people and the Panxiao to fight each other to the death, and then we'll strike and reap the benefits!"

"you……"

After hearing Chen Shi's words, Gu Hanying's big eyes widened, and she moved her body to the side.

"You're so cunning! You've sold me out and I'm still counting the money for you. I need to stay away from you."

"..."

Chen Shi was speechless for a moment, but what Gu Hanying said was actually true. He was with Gu Hanying because he really intended to use her as a shield.

However, three days have passed, and Jia Shun has still not caught up. Either he has lost track of him, or he has been held up by other things.

Chen Shi figured that as long as he didn't leave the mountain and return to the camp halfway, Jia Shun shouldn't be able to find him in such a large Yongqiu Mountain, and there would be no need to use Gu Hanying as a shield.

"Judging from your expression, I was just joking with you."

Gu Hanying suddenly smiled and patted Chen Shi on the shoulder in a casual manner.

Chen Shi smiled, stopped thinking about it, and continued.

"The problem now is how to lure them here. Yongqiu Mountain is so big, we don't even know where to look for them, and we can't arouse their suspicion. It's not easy."

"Hehe, easy."

Gu Hanying smiled and blew the silver whistle again.

Upon hearing the whistle, a snow falcon flew over from a nearby tree.

"Xiao Bai! Go find three or four people, not too strong, just about the same strength as that Panxiao, and lure them over!"

After giving a few instructions, Gu Hanying released the snow falcon again.

Chen Shi stood there dumbfounded. Could this bird be that powerful, capable of executing such complex commands?

"Don't underestimate Little White. It's very intelligent and is said to have some exotic beast bloodline, but it's so diluted that it's no longer visible."

Gu Hanying gave a light snort, looking quite smug.

Chen Shi nodded, a look of joy on his face. In any case, with Xiao Bai's help, things would be much simpler.

After Xiaobai was released, Chen Shi and Gu Hanying found a secluded spot nearby to hide, and then they could wait patiently.

According to the booklet, the strange fruit was ready to be harvested. However, it clearly hadn't yet reached the ripeness standard in Panxiao's eyes, so it was still waiting.

This is actually normal. Humans collect these rare and precious materials for medicinal purposes, so they don't actually need to be "fully cooked," but the mythical beasts eat them directly.

Now, the two of them just hope that the exotic fruit won't "ripen" before Xiaobai finds a sucker.

If Panxiao wants to pick the exotic fruit before people arrive, Chen Shi and Gu Hanying will have no choice but to use a middle-ground strategy.

A day and a night passed in the blink of an eye, and on the morning of the fifth day, neither Panxiao nor Xiaobai made a move.

"Why isn't it here yet? I'm so worried!"

Gu Hanying snapped angrily, already losing her patience.

That makes sense. As a noble lady from a noble family, she could have anything she wanted delivered to her immediately. She had never had to wait.

"Let's wait a little longer. Rare treasures are hard to come by. We'd be lucky to find one or two in a month. Only five days have passed."

Chen Shi repeatedly comforted her, fearing that Gu Hanying might act impulsively.

Chirp!

Another half hour passed, and as noon approached, a cry of an eagle came from the sky, and Little White flew slowly towards them.

"They've finally arrived!"

Chen Shi and Gu Hanying were both overjoyed and quickly hid themselves.

Since Xiaobai has arrived, it means the sucker should have arrived soon too.

"You damn hairy beast! You poked my nose while I was sleeping, and you shit in the pot while I was cooking! I'm going to catch you today, pluck all your fur off, and roast you!"

Sure enough, accompanied by shouts and curses, three men followed closely behind.

Hearing one of them speak, Chen Shi looked at Gu Hanying, who smiled awkwardly. Xiao Bai could be a bit mischievous sometimes.

However, the effect was indeed very good.

Soon, the three men caught up with the group and reached the bottom of the cliff.

"Second brother, there's a cliff ahead. That beast flew over it, so let's not chase after it."

The three stopped; the cliff was steep and covered in snow, making it difficult to climb.

"No way! I'd rather not find any treasure this time than miss out on that hairy beast..."

"Big brother! Second brother! Look! Look what that is!"

"Holy crap! A rare treasure!"

As noon approached, amidst the snow-covered cliff, the bright red exotic fruit, reflecting the sunlight, stood out like a jewel.

"Very good!"

All three were overjoyed; with such a rare treasure before them, they had no time to chase the bird.

Without the slightest hesitation, they immediately began climbing towards the exotic fruit.

Roar~!

When they were still seven or eight meters away, a roar rang out, and the Panxiao, which had been waiting nearby and was almost covered by snow, suddenly leaped up and fiercely pounced on the three people on the cliff.