Chapter 97: Yu Yan is Hunted

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Yu Yan is Hunted

Dongfang Ruoyu was also comforting everyone!

At the same time!

Meanwhile, Yu Yan had already left the barrier.

However, she was now fully geared up, moving stealthily through the jungle like an assassin clad in black.

After a moment’s thought, she headed in the direction of a Mutant Plant.

Upon arriving, she plucked it and placed it in the basket on her back.

After that, she gathered a few more Mutant Plants.

’Just one last Mutant Plant to go!’

Yu Yan recalled that this particular Mutant Plant was guarded by a Late-Golden Stage Exotic Beast.

’I didn’t want to clash with that thing before,’ she thought.

’Not because I was afraid, though.’

’Today, I can just go and take care of it!’

With that thought, Yu Yan set off in that direction.

A short while later, she saw a massive Black Crystal Leopard appear before her.

At that moment, the leopard was fast asleep.

Inside the cave behind it, a Mutant Eggplant was faintly visible.

It, too, was covered in black crystal.

Yu Yan stared at the leopard, her eyes narrowing.

’This thing...’

’It’s even bigger than a Wind-Chasing Leopard!’

’Quite a bit bigger, in fact.’

’And...’

’...parts of its body are covered in black crystal, too.’

’It looks...’

’...quite impressive.’

’This kind of Exotic Beast...’

’...is incredibly fast.’

’If I can’t kill it in one strike...’

’...things could get tricky.’

’It definitely can’t turn the tables and kill me, but...’

’...whether it escapes is another matter entirely.’

Yu Yan finished her assessment.

Then, her dagger flashed out, glinting with a cold light.

The next moment!

As if a switch had been flipped, Yu Yan went from absolute stillness to explosive motion.

She shot toward the Black Crystal Leopard!

She moved so fast that her body created a sonic boom as it cut through the air.

The Black Crystal Leopard’s eyes snapped open!

But in the next instant!

The dagger plunged into its eye.

AWOO!

A pained howl rang out instantly.

Yu Yan pressed her advantage, driving the blade deeper.

With a yank!

A huge, gold-colored Crystal Core flew out!

The Crystal Core landed in her hand.

Yu Yan was satisfied with her handiwork.

’A one-hit kill.’

She put the Crystal Core away and walked into the cave, ready to collect the Mutant Eggplant inside.

Meanwhile, in the distance, a group of people was rushing over.

At the head of the group were a man and a woman.

They were followed by a large retinue.

Those in the front each rode their own Exotic Beast mount.

At the very back, however, two people were sharing a single mount.

"Young Master Hu! From this direction and that sound, it must be the Black Crystal Leopard I found earlier!" one of the men at the rear said upon hearing the howl.

His heart sank.

After all, he had just been scouting ahead.

That was when he had spotted this Black Crystal Leopard.

It was a perfect find.

After all, Young Master Hu’s previous mount had been killed by a damn arrow that came flying out of nowhere!

That left him without a mount.

This Black Crystal Leopard!

A Late-Golden Stage beast!

If it could be tamed as a mount...

...that would be absolutely incredible!

Covering a thousand miles a day would be a piece of cake!

That was why they had all mobilized in full force.

They planned to capture this Black Crystal Leopard and make it into a mount.

But they hadn’t expected to hear the Black Crystal Leopard’s pained howl before they even got there.

As they drew closer,

Young Master Hu leaped directly off his mount.

The others dismounted as well.

They watched from a distance.

Young Master Hu gazed into the distance, his eyes narrowing.

’This...!’

’Damn it!’

’Who killed the Black Crystal Leopard I had my eye on?’

’I was going to make it my mount!’

His expression turned grim.

He was beyond furious.

He then fixed his gaze on the cave.

The others nearby were shaken by the sight of Young Master Hu’s face; his expression made it clear he was in an extremely foul mood.

’And it looks like whoever killed the Black Crystal Leopard is still inside the cave!’

’When they come out, a fight is definitely going to break out!’

Back in the cave, Yu Yan had plucked the Mutant Eggplant.

After placing the eggplant in her basket,

she was in high spirits. After all, she had now gathered every Mutant Plant she’d discovered in the jungle.

Plus, she’d scored a Late-Golden Stage Crystal Core!

With that happy thought, she started walking out of the cave.

’Here they come!’

Hu Tian watched as Yu Yan emerged.

He was stunned for a moment.

It was a girl, and she had a good figure.

He couldn’t see her face, though.

But!

’This score isn’t settled just like that!’

He eyed Yu Yan’s basket. ’Looks like she’s got quite a haul in there,’ he thought.

A greedy glint appeared in Hu Tian’s eyes, and he gestured to his followers behind him.

The next moment!

The men behind him charged forward!

Straight for Yu Yan!

’Hm?!’

Yu Yan watched the approaching men, her eyes narrowing.

’This...!’

’Someone’s ambushing me here!’

’Courting death!’

She instantly reversed the grip on her dagger.

She lunged toward one of the men!

Her speed!

Was extreme!

However, her opponents were prepared.

The man directly blocked Yu Yan’s attack.

The next moment!

Hu Tian charged in with his blade!

He swung at Yu Yan’s shoulder!

The others followed suit.

In an instant, Yu Yan was attacked from all sides.

She twisted her body to the side!

The blade scraped past her face!

The force of the slash tore through her mask.

It revealed the nation-toppling beauty beneath!

The woman beside Hu Tian saw this, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Cousin, isn’t that the girl from our wanted notice?!"

Hu Tian heard Jing Xiaohan’s voice.

He looked at Yu Yan.

’It really is her!’

This was the girl from the bounty notice!

And as he took in her appearance, an almost imperceptible smile crept onto Hu Tian’s face.

’Beautiful!’

’If I capture her and make her my wife...’

’...we could definitely produce powerful Mutants, just as planned!’

"Capture her alive!" he ordered.

His men immediately surrounded Yu Yan.

Yu Yan looked at them and grit her teeth.

’I can’t believe I ran into the ones hunting me here!’

’These detestable scions of the great families!’

Yu Yan scanned them. ’There are probably even a few Early-Diamond Stage Mutants among them,’ she thought grimly.

’Looks like today’s going to be a bloodbath!’

’If I kill one, I break even. If I kill two, I come out ahead!’

’It just means... I won’t be able to go back to the Garden with everyone... with my husband!’

’But at least I didn’t bring trouble to him and the others!’

As she thought this, Yu Yan’s gaze fell upon the crowd. Pushing off her feet, she shot toward their leader, Hu Tian.

"Courting death!"

Seeing Yu Yan dare to charge him, Hu Tian brought his Giant Blade crashing down!

Yu Yan dodged to the side and thrust her dagger toward Hu Tian’s heart.

Her speed was astonishing.

Hmph!

TING!

With a crisp ring,

Hu Tian looked at Yu Yan, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Still trying for a one-hit kill?"

Yu Yan saw her dagger blocked by the flat of his blade and was about to make another move.

But in the next instant!

The woman from before was upon her!

Jing Xiaohan rushed at Yu Yan!

She landed a solid kick right on Yu Yan’s shoulder!

The power of an Early-Diamond Stage expert erupted!

WHOOSH!

Yu Yan was sent flying backward!

She hurtled toward the trees behind her!

CRASH!

With a tremendous noise,

Yu Yan smashed a huge hole through a massive tree behind her!

She shot out from the other side!