Vol. 1 - Ch. 104 - Listen to My Apology

Under the gaze of everyone, Chen Qinghe scratched his head awkwardly, a somewhat silly smile spreading across his face.

He recalled how Qingmeng often wore this expression and rarely got punished. Perhaps it was worth a try.

"Smiling? You violated family orders, sneaked into the mountains, and you still have the audacity to grin?"

Chen Tianjing's breathing was slightly rapid, his eyes scanning the group anxiously.

"Just wait until I deal with you properly!" he growled, grabbing a branch as thick as an arm. He began approaching Chen Qinghe slowly, anger evident in every step.

Chen Qinghe's awkward smile grew more strained as he watched his father's actions. Why wasn’t it working?

When Chen Tianjing raised the stick menacingly, Chen Qinghe panicked and blurted, "Father, listen to my apology! No—listen to my explanation!"

Chen Tianjing ignored him.

One of the clan members chuckled and interjected, "Tianjing, why not hear him out?"

"Right, let's hear his reason," another added, their tones laced with amusement.

Their intervention prompted Chen Tianjing to pause. He squeezed the stick tightly, sneering.

"Fine. Speak. Let’s hear your excuse."

Chen Qinghe straightened, his expression turning earnest. "Father, Qingmeng and I are now mid-stage Body Tempering Realm warriors, yet we haven’t even gone hunting in the mountains. If this continues, how can we strengthen the family? How can we shoulder its responsibilities and share the burden?

"Although this mission is dangerous, it’s also an opportunity to gain experience. With so many elders present, would we truly be in danger?

"We snuck out this time for the future of the family!"

His voice carried a tone of righteousness, and his determined expression struck a chord with the gathered clansmen.

"Well said!" one remarked.

"Qinghe’s sense of responsibility is far better than my lazy son’s. All he does is farm," another added.

"Indeed, the future of the clan depends on young warriors like him. They must be tempered," chimed in another.

Chen Qinghe relaxed, seeing his father deep in thought and the approving nods of the clan members. He thought, Looks like I’ve got this. Maybe I won’t get punished this time.

But Chen Tianjing suddenly snorted, shattering his hopes.

"No matter how eloquent you are, it doesn’t change the fact that you violated family rules. Punishment is inevitable. But not now—we’ll deal with it when we return."

Chen Qinghe’s brief moment of relief evaporated.

Still, no one noticed the faint smile that tugged at Chen Tianjing’s lips as he lowered the stick.

"You will walk in the middle of the group and focus on learning hunting techniques."

"Yes, Father."

Chen Qinghe nodded, though his disappointment lingered. He had hoped to lead, but this wasn’t the worst outcome. At least he hadn’t been beaten—yet.

Punishment later? Chen Qinghe thought. We’ll see about that when we get back. By then, I’ll be much stronger. Why should I still be punished?

Chen Tianjing’s voice interrupted his musings.

"Wait. Have you noticed we’ve been walking for so long without encountering a single wild beast?"

The group halted. Chen Tianjing’s puzzled expression prompted murmurs of agreement from the others.

Logically, even if the green wolves were scarce, there should have been other fierce beasts. This was, after all, the center of the Chaotic Burial Mountain.

"Qingyu, do you sense anything?" Chen Tianjing asked, turning to his brother.

Chen Qingyu shook his head. "No wild beasts, but as we moved, I detected faint auras. They disappeared as we advanced."

Both Chen Tianjing and Chen Tianyu frowned.

"It seems the green wolf in the Innate Realm has detected us," Chen Tianyu speculated, his tone calm yet grim.

The group wasn’t surprised. Wolves were intelligent hunters. In territories dominated by a wolf pack, other beasts rarely lingered.

"If the green wolf sensed our presence and dispersed the pack, it has likely foiled our plan," Chen Tianyu concluded.

"What do we do now?" a clan member asked.

Chen Tianyu deliberated briefly before speaking. "It’s getting late, and moving at night would be unwise. I suggest we set up camp here and continue at dawn."

"Tianjing, what’s your take?"

"Agreed," Chen Tianjing replied decisively.

The group promptly began preparing for the night. They had anticipated staying in the Chaotic Burial Mountain for several nights and had brought ample supplies.

Despite their numbers, tracking an Innate Realm green wolf was no simple feat. Splitting up was out of the question—such a tactic would leave them vulnerable to the wolves’ cunning.

As night fell, the dense trees and vines obscured the sky. The temperature dropped noticeably, and the darkness was accompanied by the unsettling chirping of unseen insects.

Sizzle!

A spark flared in the darkness, illuminating the group and providing warmth. The flickering firelight lifted their spirits.

"Finally, it’s lit!"

The damp wood made difficult to ignite by recent snow, had been coaxed into flames with the aid of pi oil—a substance extracted from the Chinese tallow tree.

Once the fire was ablaze, the clan members gathered around, sharing survival and hunting techniques with the younger warriors.

"To stay in the Chaotic Burial Mountain, always avoid low-lying spots to keep insects away."

"If fire isn’t an option, resting in trees can help."

The guidance was invaluable for Body Tempering Realm warriors like Chen Qinghe and Qingmeng, whose blood and qi were yet to fully condense.

Chen Qinghe stole a glance at Chen Qingyu, seated nearby. His uncle's balanced aura kept even insects at bay. For an Innate Realm warrior like him, the precautions seemed unnecessary, but for others, they were critical.

As the fire crackled, the group huddled closer, preparing for the challenges that awaited them at dawn.

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