Chapter 5: Safety First When Away from Home

Half a month later, in a mountain forest, the peaks rose and fell, the sea of trees stretched endlessly, and deep within, the occasional roar of wild beasts could be heard. Swish! With a swing of the mountain-splitting axe, blood splattered in arcs, and a brown bear collapsed lifeless on the ground. Sparks flew, a large pot was set up, water boiled, and the feast began immediately. 

"Old Bull, how about my unparalleled axe technique?" Chen Xun flicked the axe in his hand and looked at the big black bull. 

"Moo!" The big black bull responded perfunctorily, busy scraping the dirt with its hooves to bury the bloodstains. Safety first when traveling outside. 

"Truly a superhuman strength," Chen Xun muttered, clenching his fist and marveling at himself. He had single-handedly fought the brown bear, knocking it unconscious with one punch and breaking several of its ribs. 

Man and bull sat around the pot, devouring the meal heartily. The wild game was indeed flavorful, its taste robust and satisfying. 

"Old Bull, though we possess superhuman strength, you've seen it—damn it, there are cultivators out there," Chen Xun said while chewing on a bear paw, clicking his tongue. "Never act impulsively. Those seemingly ordinary people might turn out to be ancient monsters." 

"Moo." The big black bull responded, understanding the point as it continued to eat with relish. 

"Even if we kill a chicken in the wild, we must destroy the evidence and leave no trace behind." 

"Moo?" 

"Because there might be a flock of chickens behind it, tracking us down by scent." 

"Moo?" The big black bull still didn't quite get it. A piece of meat fell from its mouth, and it quickly picked it up from the ground. 

"You think a flock of chickens is no big deal? Just kill them all?" Chen Xun sneered, his mouth greasy. 

"Moo." The big black bull nodded. 

"But what if that flock of chickens belongs to a cultivator?" Chen Xun said mysteriously. "Wouldn't they come looking for trouble with us?" 

"Moo!" 

"And if we defeat those cultivators, wouldn't their masters come seeking revenge?" 

"Moo! Moo!" The big black bull froze, realizing the logic. 

"In the end, a single chicken might lead to a sect-wide war. How many people can we fight?" Chen Xun raised an eyebrow, tearing into the bear meat. "If we're careless and get killed, how many little cows would we lose?" 

"Moo~~" The big black bull finally understood, its large, bell-like eyes shining with admiration for Chen Xun, like an endless river flowing with respect. 

"A teachable student," Chen Xun said with a pleased smile. He loved seeing the big black bull wear that expression. "So, in the future, be cautious in everything. Not a single slip-up is allowed." 

"Moo!" The big black bull nodded. 

"Now, here's a question." Chen Xun's expression turned serious. "If a little cow were to face off against a cultivator over a spiritual herb, with a battle on the verge of breaking out, what should be done?" 

"Option one: Heroically rescue the beauty without hesitation, who else but me?" 

"Option two: Side with the stronger party, bully the weak, and ensure self-preservation." 

"Option three: Pretend nothing happened, quietly pass by, and avoid entanglement." 

"Option four: With me here, none shall live. The spiritual herb is mine." 

"Please choose." Chen Xun's deep gaze locked onto the big black bull, which began to sweat slightly, finding the question incredibly difficult. The bull's eyes showed its inner struggle. How could it stand by and watch a little cow fall into enemy hands? It made its decision: "Moo!" 

"Option one? Wrong!" Chen Xun sneered. "How could a little cow compete with a cultivator? If you charge forward, you'll only add another corpse to the pile." 

"Moo, moo." 

"Option two? Big mistake." Chen Xun narrowed his eyes slightly and explained, "You already know it's a fight over a spiritual herb. The more people who know, the greater the risk. Once the cultivator eliminates their enemies, they won't spare you either." 

The bull's pupils shrank, and its sweat intensified. It had already died twice. 

"Moo, moo, moo!" 

"Hahaha, option three? Even worse!" Chen Xun laughed wildly, his eyes cold. "In this world, there are no laws. Without strength, you can never be sure you won't be discovered. They'll kill you on the spot, thinking you're a scavenger trying to profit from the chaos." 

The black bull's body went limp, trembling in fear. It snorted heavily onto the ground: "Moo, moo, moo, moo!" 

"Unbelievable! You chose option four." Chen Xun slowly stood up, his face shrouded in shadow. The big black bull suddenly felt incredibly small, terrified to the point of collapse. Was it dead again? 

"Congratulations..." 

"Moo?!" The big black bull suddenly felt its strength returning, its legs gradually lifting, and hope igniting in its eyes. Had it finally chosen correctly? Was it about to be resurrected? 

Chen Xun's pupils slowly widened as he looked down at the big black bull, laughing deeply. "You've chosen the most tragic death of all, Old Bull. Die!" 

Moo~~!! The big black bull's pupils dilated, and with a puff of dust, it collapsed to the ground. It had gotten everything wrong... 

After a while, the black bull thought something was off. How could all the answers be wrong? The more it thought about it, the more it felt deceived. Looking at Chen Xun, who was still eating bear paw, it realized it had fallen into a trap! 

Moo!!! 

"Whoa..." Chen Xun was instantly sent flying into the air, still clutching the bear paw tightly. He felt the wind against his face and... saw a group of people fighting in the distance. 

His eyes narrowed, and his legs landed firmly, creating two deep pits. The big black bull continued eating bear meat and drinking soup, showing no intention of leaving any for Chen Xun. 

"Old Bull, pack up quickly. There's a fight happening nearby," Chen Xun said seriously, patting the bull. 

"Moo!" The big black bull responded. Whenever Chen Xun showed this expression, he was never joking. They packed the meat, dug pits, and buried traces with practiced skill. 

Chen Xun led the big black bull, looking like a simple farm boy, silently heading in the opposite direction without saying a word. 

From the heavens, three figures could be seen darting through the trees, rustling the leaves. Below, Chen Xun and the black bull strolled along, their eyes vacant, utterly inconspicuous. 

One figure suddenly stopped, his black hair flowing behind him as he narrowed his eyes at the young man. 

"Hold on," a voice called from the trees. Chen Xun's body tensed, and the big black bull's breathing grew quieter, its hooves ready to spring. 

The man leapt down from the tree, scrutinizing Chen Xun from head to toe. "Did you see what happened ahead?" 

Chen Xun was startled, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, senior. What matter are you referring to?" He couldn't tell if this person was a cultivator or a martial artist, nor did he know how many others might be nearby. Playing it safe was the best strategy. 

The man glanced at Chen Xun's hands—no calluses, clearly not a martial artist—and said, "Understood. Leave the bull behind." 

This big black bull, with its sturdy build, would be a great source of nourishment for a martial artist. 

"Senior... this is my only bull. You're clearly a martial arts master; there's no need to rob a bull, is there?" Chen Xun's face darkened, his fingers trembling slightly, his expression and movements perfectly convincing. 

Shing. The man drew his sword, his gaze sharp, and sneered, "I, a disciple of Bai Xuan Sect, wouldn't stoop so low. I won't waste words." 

"Ah, fine." Chen Xun let go of the bull's rope, looking despondently at the big black bull, silently thinking that this man was definitely not a cultivator. 

The man took the rope and suddenly chuckled. "Actually, you've seen it, haven't you? This isn't a place for grazing cattle." 

"Your suspicious behavior—well, you can only blame your bad luck." The man turned his back to the bull and spoke to Chen Xun, as if he had seen through everything. This person was highly likely a spy.