Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Who Is the Right Choice?

The two who were kicked out stood frozen, at a loss, their faces filled with humiliation and shame.

They didn’t want to follow Jiang Che, but at the moment, they had no other choice.

After hesitating for a long time, the two reluctantly shuffled over to Jiang Che’s side, their heads bowed, not saying a word.

Watching the scene unfold, Yin Yingying fumed. She turned on Jiang Che, complaining, "This is all your fault! You just had to oppose him! Great, now there are only four of us, and we’re a bunch of rejects!"

Despite her words, she ultimately stayed.

Jiang Che shook his head. Instead of arguing, he simply took the lead and started down the path to the right.

Yin Yingying watched him go, her mouth opening as if to say something. In the end, she just let out an indignant "Hmph!" but her feet had already started following him subconsciously.

The dark and skinny youth exchanged a look with the other female disciple, then silently fell in at the rear of the group, their expressions still a mixture of unease and confusion.

Jiang Che said nothing more. He walked at the very front of the group, short blade in hand, occasionally hacking away vines and shrubs that blocked their path.

The path to the right was indeed much more difficult than the one on the left.

Though the undergrowth was dense, it wasn’t impassable. It just required more effort to clear the way.

The layer of fallen leaves on the ground was thicker here, feeling soft and spongy underfoot.

Occasionally, they would startle small animals like rabbits and squirrels, which would dart swiftly into the undergrowth. It was a sign that the local ecosystem was relatively healthy and not solely overrun by Black Beasts.

’It seems my judgment was correct. This path is relatively safe,’ Jiang Che thought to himself.

"Hey, when does this damn path end? We haven’t seen a single thing. Don’t tell me there aren’t any Black Beasts at all?"

After they had walked for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Yin Yingying finally couldn’t resist complaining.

As she carefully dodged the tree roots underfoot, she scanned her surroundings vigilantly. Her grip on the small blade at her waist was tight, her palms already slick with sweat.

"Exactly... Senior Brother Xiong’s group has probably hunted several by now," the female disciple driven out by Xiong Hui chimed in softly, her voice filled with disappointment.

Jiang Che didn’t break his stride as he said calmly, "You can’t rush things. When it comes to hunting, patience is the most important thing."

’Besides, they’re already here.’

The words had barely left his lips when the dark, skinny youth at the rear of the group suddenly gasped, pointing a trembling finger at the bushes to their rear flank. "S-Something’s there!"

Everyone’s heart jumped. They stopped in their tracks and whipped around to look.

RUSTLE—!

The bushes shook violently, and five Black-toothed Pigs wreathed in black smoke suddenly charged out!

Their Tusks jutted outward, and their greasy green eyes were locked on the four of them. They snorted heavily through their nostrils, poised to charge.

"Five Black-toothed Pigs!" Yin Yingying’s face went white.

The other two tensed up instantly, their hands balling into fists. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"What are you panicking for?" Jiang Che’s voice was as calm as always. "I’ll take two. The three of you can handle one each."

Without even waiting for a response, his figure blurred as he proactively charged the two strongest Black-toothed Pigs.

The fight erupted in an instant!

Although Yin Yingying and the other two were all in the Stone Skin Realm, none of them had much experience fighting Black Beasts.

Facing the frenzied attacks of the Black-toothed Pigs, they were a clumsy, panicked mess. They barely managed to hold their ground, their defense riddled with openings.

Meanwhile, Jiang Che’s battle was already over.

His form was like a phantom as he weaved between the two Black-toothed Pigs. With a single punch and a single kick, he had dispatched them cleanly.

Glancing at the three who were still struggling, Jiang Che sighed inwardly.

’They’re still too green.’

His figure blurred once more, and he instantly intervened in the other three fights.

With three dull thuds—THUD, THUD, THUD—the remaining three Black-toothed Pigs hit the ground and moved no more.

The woods fell silent in an instant, leaving only the sound of the trio’s ragged breaths.

They were all disheveled from the fight. They stared at Jiang Che, who stood calmly beside the five carcasses, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

’Is... is he really in the Early-stage of the Stone Skin Realm?’

’He killed a Black Beast... in one punch?’

’He’s way too strong!’

Their minds went blank, completely stunned by the terrifying power Jiang Che had just displayed.

Ignoring them, Jiang Che skillfully used his small blade to cut off the five beasts’ ears. He stored two away for himself and tossed the other three to Yin Yingying, the dark and skinny youth, and the other female disciple.

"Take them."

"Senior Brother Jiang, you killed all of them, we can’t..." the youth stammered.

"Cut the crap," Jiang Che interrupted him. "There’s plenty more where that came from. I’ll take the lion’s share, but you can’t go empty-handed."

The two stared at the beast ears in their hands, stunned. After a long moment, they put them away, their faces filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang!"

"Thank you..."

Yin Yingying looked from the ear in her hand to Jiang Che, her cheeks growing slightly hot.

She stuffed the beast ear into her Antiseptic Bag, then turned her head to the side and muttered under her breath:

"Hmph, so you do have a conscience after all!"

Jiang Che watched her proud and petulant act and couldn’t help but find it amusing.

He walked over to the dark and skinny youth and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don’t panic during a fight. Your Realm is higher than theirs, so you don’t need to be afraid. They can’t actually hurt you."

Then, he turned to the other female disciple.

"You too. Aim before you strike. These brutes die easily if you hit their weak points."

Listening to Jiang Che’s advice, they both nodded emphatically, their eyes filled with conviction and admiration.

At that moment, any lingering dissatisfaction or doubt in their hearts vanished. Instead, they felt grateful that Xiong Hui had kicked them out.