114: Hunting the wolf pack

Chu Shengfan pondered with narrowed eyes, "There were no traces of wild Source Beasts in or near the town, but as I got closer to the mountains and wilderness, Source Beasts began to appear sporadically.

Initially, I encountered small Mortal Rank Source Beasts. Sensing my Uncommon Rank and higher aura, they wisely avoided me.

The further away from the town, the higher the rank of the Source Beasts that appeared, with occasional Uncommon Rank Source Beasts showing up.

If I met a single Uncommon Rank Source Beast, it would have been fine—if I couldn't beat it, I could run. Who knew I would encounter an Azure Wolf species group containing over a dozen Uncommon Rank Fanged Wolves?

I only got injured because they besieged me, but I didn't lose out too much; I brought back two to take the fall."

As he spoke, he touched the Storage Jade Pendant at his waist, and two Fanged Wolves with fatal neck wounds were thrown onto the floor inside the house.

Even in death, they still exuded a fierce aura.

Chu Qinhui glanced at the corpses on the ground and instructed the Head Steward to have the Servants take them away for processing. The fur could be used to sew clothes, the teeth for making decorations, and the bones ground into powder to be added to certain medicinal formulas.

Chu Jingyu asked in a deep voice, "Where is that wolf pack?"

Chu Shengfan looked up at his grandfather and offered a weak smile, "It's getting dark; they've probably already moved locations. Grandfather doesn't need to go look for trouble with them."

Chu Jingyu flicked his sleeve. "Tell me directly. How can members of the Chu Family be bullied by a group of wild Source Beasts without us retaliating?"

Only then did Chu Shengfan realize that his grandfather seemed much younger. Seeing his firm attitude, Chu Shengfan said helplessly:

"I encountered the wolf pack while heading to town, near Fengyuan Mountain."

Chu Jingyu nodded without saying anything, stepped into the Central Hall courtyard, lightly tapped his foot on the ground, and his figure shot directly into the sky, disappearing from the Chu Family Member' sight.

Seeing this sight, Chu Shengfan immediately widened his eyes. Although he had noticed his grandfather looked much younger earlier, he had assumed he had found some miraculous medicine to heal the injuries his grandfather sustained Beyond the Border.

So, his grandfather had actually achieved a Breakthrough to the Spirit Rank?

Then his act of returning to the Family seemed truly unnecessary.

Jiang Nian, holding the Ginseng Baby in her palm, came before Chu Shengfan and whispered, "Ginseng Baby, check Xiaofan carefully again, just to make sure no hidden injuries remain."

The Ginseng Baby was often cared for by Jiang Nian like a child. In the Ginseng Baby's eyes, Jiang Nian was the most important person, second only to Chu Qinhui.

It climbed from Jiang Nian's palm onto Chu Shengfan's shoulder, emitting a faint green spiritual light, its small head restlessly shaking back and forth.

A moment later, it opened its eyes, stretched its arms wide, and leaped into Chu Qinhui's embrace nearby.

"He only needs to rest and recuperate for a period now."

Hearing Chu Qinhui say this, Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief. "Xiaofan has now also ascended to the Uncommon Rank and can contract a new Source Beast. We have some Source Beasts in our Family now; you can go see tomorrow if there are any you like.

"This second one must be a combat-capable contract."

"If you don't find one you like, there's no need to rush. Now that your grandfather has ascended to the Spirit Rank, he can protect us within the Family, so you can take your time choosing," Chu Qinhui added.

Chu Shengfan nodded. He still wanted to ask about the current situation of the Family and about the Villagers who had moved up.

But before he could say anything, Jiang Nian, not wanting him to worry further, forcibly ordered him back to his courtyard to rest, even assigning two Servants to monitor him.

Chu Shengfan felt helpless, knowing this was his mother's concern, and could only return to his courtyard to rest under her urging.

About an hour later, Chu Jingyu returned home, covered in the scent of blood.

His figure landed steadily in the courtyard, and on his left side, the corpses of Fanged Wolves and Azure Wolves clattered to the ground.

To his right, three Fanged Wolves, restrained by Beast Rings around their necks, lay weakly on the ground.

This time, no arrangements were needed; Head Steward Wu Heng swiftly arranged for people to drag the corpses to the kitchen, while the living Fanged Wolves nearby were chained up by the Guards and dragged toward the Beast Yard in the back courtyard.

Chu Jingyu glanced around, noticing that the Family Members were still gathered in the Central Hall, and waved his hand,

"It's nothing important. You should all go rest first. I'll stay here."

While saying this, Chu Jingyu gave Chu Shengyuan a particularly focused look. He wondered what the little fellow had experienced with Ancestor Chu; he had seemed listless ever since returning, which was completely unlike his usual lively personality.

He walked up to Chu Shengyuan, rubbed his head, and asked softly, "What's wrong? What did Ancestor Chu tell you this afternoon that made you so listless after coming back?"

Chu Shengyuan rubbed his eyes, looked left and right, and then pulled his grandfather to a less crowded corner.

Chu Jingyu smiled at his little grandson's secretive behavior, cooperating by crouching down and leaning in to listen.

Even so, Chu Shengyuan looked left and right again to confirm no one was following them before whispering close to Chu Jingyu's ear:

"Ancestor Chu, that venerable elder helped me Awaken a Talent, and he told me not to tell anyone else except you."

"A Talent?" Chu Jingyu was truly surprised this time, and he looked sideways at Chu Shengyuan for confirmation.

"Yes, a Talent just like Sister Yin Yue's," Chu Shengyuan affirmed quietly. "I'm only like this because I consumed too much Mental Energy while experimenting with the Talent this afternoon."

Chu Jingyu waved his hand and said to Jiang Nian and her husband, who were waiting for Xiao Yuan, "The two of you go back first. Xiaoyuan is staying with me tonight."

"Alright." The couple responded and left the Central Hall, and the Maidservants and Servants also departed.

The entire Central Hall instantly became empty.

Chu Jingyu scanned the surroundings and had the Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast scout the area. Only after confirming that no one was eavesdropping did he continue to ask:

"What is the Talent that Ancestor Chu gave you?"

"Source Beast Twin Birth. It means I can create a duplicate of a Source Beast I have already contracted."

Chu Jingyu pondered for a moment, understanding the meaning represented by this Talent. He rubbed Chu Shengyuan's head and gently asked,

"Xiaoyuan, can you show Grandpa this Talent of yours?"

He had to demonstrate it again? Xiao Yuan couldn't help but make a bitter face, but meeting his grandfather's expectant gaze, the refusal on his lips turned into "Alright."

The Green Forest Giant Python, which was sleeping soundly within the Source Beast Space, was suddenly released into the courtyard. It opened its sleepy eyes and looked inquiringly at Chu Shengyuan.

When it saw the blue rune light up on Chu Shengyuan's glabella, it closed its eyes and turned its head away, as if something unsightly was about to happen next to it.

The blue rune quickly wove and grew, then formed a shape identical to the Green Forest Giant Python beside it.

Chu Jingyu watched the scene before him, his eyes and lips curving slightly. "Good, not bad. Can it release Skills normally?"

Chu Shengyuan shook his head, "Grandpa, I really can't today. This Ability consumes too much Mental Energy. I already demonstrated it once this afternoon for Ancestor Chu. I really can't do it today."

"Alright, alright, put it away for now."

Confirming that Xiaoyuan had indeed just gained a new Ability, Chu Jingyu stopped asking him to demonstrate further, crouched down, and picked him up with one arm.

"Let's go. You can rest with Grandpa tonight."

The cold moonlight shone upon Qixia Mountain, penetrating the mist on the mountainside and spilling onto the forests and the temporary residences of the Villagers.

Because the residences were built by Spirit Rank Source Beasts, the residual aura kept the Floating Jellyfish and Colorful Cloud Jellyfish wandering in the forest far away from this area.