Chapter 1154, A Lure Is Needed

Translator: Silavin

 

*Fwump…*

 

The Peak Eagle beat its broad wings steadily, Su Bai and Yan Hua seated upon its back along with the others.

 

They had chosen to bring a single Ferocious Beast this time, which made things considerably simpler. It also helped that their numbers were small.

 

“Shaman, where are we flying to?” Yan Hua called out over the wind.

 

She had her arms wrapped firmly around Su Bai and had absolutely no intention of letting go.

 

It was not quite fear, in truth. Mostly it was because he had told her to hold on, and Yan Hua had no desire whatsoever to release her grip.

 

She had always been fond of Su Bai. An opportunity as fine as this was not something she would willingly surrender.

 

“Shaman, this direction doesn’t look like the way to the Hunting Ground?” Sha Lan was puzzled as well.

 

Sha Lan sat in front, which meant Su Bai sat in the middle and Yan Hua sat behind.

 

“We’ll fly about and see. Wherever the forest looks densest, that’s where we head. More vegetation means more Ferocious Beasts.” Su Bai said, his voice steady.

 

One hand gripped the Peak Eagle’s feathers firmly. The other arm was around Sha Lan, keeping her from slipping off.

 

“I’ll help look.” Sha Lan brought out a pair of binoculars and began scanning.

 

“I’ll watch behind us then, in case we miss anything in that direction.” Yan Hua said at once.

 

“No need to rush. Once we find somewhere to land, I have my own way of drawing the Ferocious Beasts to us.” Su Bai said calmly.

 

He had no wish for the girls to start leaning over the side of the bird to peer at the ground below. That was a little bit too dangerous.

 

“Understood.” Both of them answered at the same moment.

 

*Fwump…*

 

As the Peak Eagle glided gradually downward, Su Bai and the others found a wide, open patch of ground to use as a temporary stopping point.

 

Sha Lan had already gathered some dry wood and started a small campfire going on the spot. In a forest this dense, fire was the sensible thing to have. Some Ferocious Beasts feared it, and when you had no other means of defence, a fire kept you alive a little longer.

 

“Put it out. We don’t need fire just yet. Start one again when we’re hungry.” Su Bai gave the instruction.

 

“Shaman, but a campfire does make things considerably safer.” Sha Lan looked uncertain.

 

“That’s precisely the problem. Too safe is not what we want right now. Too safe and we’ll be going home empty-handed.” Su Bai said it with a quiet smile.

 

“I understand now. You want the Ferocious Beasts to see that we have no fire, so they’ll dare to come close. Is that right?” Yan Hua asked, her expression brightening.

 

“Exactly. Light a campfire and the Ferocious Beasts will be wary of approaching. If they won’t come close, we have no way of catching them.” Su Bai cast a slow look around at the surrounding terrain.

 

“I see. I’ll put it out right away.” Sha Lan smothered the campfire immediately.

 

“And we’ll need additional lures as well. Something to bring the Ferocious Beasts running.” Su Bai continued.

 

“Additional lures? Do you mean catching some wild animals and leaving them out?” Sha Lan asked.

 

It was something the Tribe’s Totem Warriors occasionally did when hunting. If you wanted to take down a large Ferocious Beast, laying out a lure was often your best option.

 

It was a risky business, naturally, because lures attracted not just one beast but many. If something of a considerably higher level appeared and the Totem Warriors lacked the means to fight back, there was only one way it ended.

 

“Yes. And we’ll need to catch several. Then bleed them. That’s what will draw the bigger ones in.” Su Bai said it with an easy smile.

 

He had the look of someone who had already worked through every detail, as though he were savouring the shape of a plan coming together.

 

“Shaman, that’s very dangerous. One ought to be enough. Too much blood and the scent will attract enormous numbers of Ferocious Beasts.” Sha Lan’s worry was plain.

 

“Don’t worry. I can handle it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be asking you to do any of this.” Su Bai said it without a trace of doubt.

 

There had never been enough room back in the Tribe for him to do things properly. Out here was different.

 

Out here the space was vast and the people were few. He could work without constraint.

 

“Shaman, will this be enough?” Yan Hua walked up with four or five animals dangling from one hand. Wild boars, rabbits, and wild fowl, all together.

 

“When did you…” Su Bai started, genuinely caught off guard.

 

He and Sha Lan had been talking for perhaps ten minutes. In that time, she had simply appeared from nowhere. And she was holding that many animals at once. What kind of speed did it take to catch that many in such a short time?

 

Not that it was anything remarkable for Su Bai himself, whose Physique was now stronger than anyone else’s. But still.

 

“Oh…” Sha Lan’s mouth twitched several times. She had been genuinely startled by the speed.

 

She had not even noticed Yan Hua leave. She had been entirely absorbed in the discussion about Ferocious Beasts.

 

Sha Lan could only say that Yan Hua’s speed of action was truly something. The decision had not even been made yet, and she had already come back with this many.

 

“I slipped off to one side while Shaman was talking about needing to catch some animals. It didn’t take long.” Yan Hua grinned and held her hand out further. “Is this enough, Shaman? I can always catch more.”

 

“Go ahead and catch more. Larger ones if you can find them. Bigger animals mean more blood, and stronger scent.” Su Bai said.

 

He supposed he ought to reflect on himself as well. He hadn’t noticed Yan Hua dash off and return with this haul at all.

 

“Of course. I’ll go right now.” Yan Hua departed again immediately, vaulting up into the high branches overhead in a single leap.

 

“Shaman, I won’t go and help her. I’ll stay here and keep watch over you.” Sha Lan shifted into a more alert stance.

 

“No need to worry about her. She’s a Mid-Stage Totem Warrior now. Looking after herself is no trouble at all.” Su Bai smiled lightly and went on. “And I’m perfectly fine as well. Do you think anyone here could actually hurt me?”

 

The aura that came off him was strong. Just standing near him made one carry a weight on them. And this was only when Su Bai wanted to show a bit of his strength.

 

“Yes. Then I’ll start processing these.” Sha Lan drew her knife and began bleeding the animals.

 

“Once they’re done, hang them in the trees around us. Space them out well so the scent carries in every direction.” Su Bai said.

 

“Understood.” Sha Lan worked with quick, clean movements, processing the animals and distributing them evenly among the surrounding trees.

 

*Drip drip drip…*

 

The blood fell from the carcasses and struck the ground with a clear, quiet sound.

 

It was a striking scene, truth be told. The sort of thing that would unsettle most people.