At the main gate of the Xiao residence, Xiao Zhan had been waiting since early morning.
"After this parting, I know not when we shall meet again."
Looking at Han Feng in his cyan robes, Xiao Zhan felt a bit emotional. Although they had only known each other for a few days, he felt a sense of friendship between gentlemen, as light as water.
From this, it was clear that getting to know someone did not require a long time.
If there was a connection, a single glance was enough to sit down and discuss wine and song.
To this day, Xiao Zhan still did not know that the Mr. Han before him was actually a Dou Emperor expert.
Because in their daily interactions, he really couldn't feel the pride and dominance of a Dou Emperor expert. He only felt that the other person was a gentle and refined scholar.
But how could an ordinary scholar know so many secrets?
Xiao Zhan knew very well that Mr. Han must be a powerful cultivator, and a very righteous one at that, who would not bully others with his power.
"Clan Head Xiao need not worry. Although the road ahead is winding, I believe that we will definitely be able to forge a great path," Han Feng said solemnly.
"Good! Then with this cup, I wish Mr. Han a safe journey!"
Xiao Zhan personally poured the wine to see Han Feng off.
They drank.
Several people escorted him all the way to the gate of Wu Tan City. Han Feng bowed to Xiao Zhan in farewell.
"Clan Head Xiao, we will meet again someday."
Xiao Zhan nodded.
"Take care!"
"Take care!"
Han Feng turned and left. The autumn wind was bleak, and the air was slightly cool.
Xiao Zhan watched that figure disappear at the end of the road and whispered softly.
"Let's go. We, too, have our own path to walk."
The position of the Xiao Clan's head was not something an ordinary person could hold. Xiao Zhan's cultivation aptitude was not considered good, but since he had shouldered the great responsibility of continuing the family line, there was no turning back.
———
The morning light in the outskirts was clear and bright, warm but not irritating.
Like a young girl's thoughts, pure and sincere.
Han Feng walked against the flow of people and entered a mountain forest path.
The emerald green cypress trees were evergreen, emitting a faint, tranquil fragrance.
Like that cypress, bearing snow and embracing frost.
The plant, praised for its steadfastness, covered both sides of the hillside.
Han Feng walked all the way up, occasionally seeing a few woodcutters chopping trees in the forest.
"Young man, are you going up the mountain?"
A woodcutter who was closer to Han Feng stopped his work, his tone filled with concern.
"Yes, old gentleman."
Han Feng looked at the woodcutter, who was about fifty or sixty years old. The fact that he still had the strength to chop wood meant his real age was probably not much older than his own, but his appearance was already very old.
"Recently, there have been rumors of a vicious tiger on the mountain that eats people. You are a scholar, and you have no escort. You should go back down and take a detour."
"A vicious tiger? Since when?"
The woodcutter looked up at the mountain with lingering fear.
"It's been a while. Three people from our village have been eaten. The neighboring village is even worse; more than ten lives were lost. Now we all go chop wood in groups and don't dare to go any higher."
"Thank you for the reminder, old gentleman, but it's alright. I'm not afraid."
"Hey, you young man, why won't you listen? Of the dozen or so people who died in the neighboring village, more than half were like you, organizing to go up the mountain to kill the tiger. And what happened? Not a single one came back!"
The old woodcutter scolded Han Feng, stomping his foot in anxiety.
Han Feng smiled helplessly and asked again, "Have you tried reporting it to the officials?"
"Of course we have! The government officials said they would solve it, but so much time has passed without any news. It's probably been left unresolved."
This place was some distance from Wu Tan City. The nearest official power was a place called Qing Shan Town.
There were troops from the imperial capital stationed there.
But because it was a remote location and bordered the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, they probably didn't have enough manpower. Most of their forces were in the form of militia, similar to mercenary groups.
The mercenary groups did things for money and had indeed solved many problems for the surrounding common people. However, the disadvantage was that most of their members were not highly cultivated. When faced with a powerful opponent, they were helpless.
"Old gentleman, I have to continue on my way. If I encounter the vicious tiger, I will deal with it for you."
After speaking, Han Feng continued up the mountain.
Seeing that he could not be dissuaded, the old woodcutter could only sigh and shake his head.
"Alas, what a fine young man. I hope he's lucky and doesn't run into the vicious tiger."
Han Feng reached the summit of the mountain but did not encounter the so-called vicious tiger.
If it weren't for the old man's reminder, he probably would have just continued on his way.
But since he knew about the plight of the villagers here, Han Feng could not turn a blind eye.
He closed his eyes and spread his perception with his soul power.
Soon, he sensed the aura of a magical beast in a hidden cave.
Han Feng condensed Dou Qi at the tips of his toes, leaped lightly to the treetop, and after a few more leaps, arrived near the hidden cave in less than half a minute.
Looking down from above, Han Feng saw a huge figure slowly walking out of the cave and finally got a clear look at what species it was.
It was a Blood-Striped Ferocious Tiger. Judging by its size, it was probably an adult, with the strength of at least a tier-three magical beast.
Equivalent to a human Dou Grandmaster.
No wonder no one had dealt with it. A tier-three magical beast was not easy to handle even for Wu Tan City, let alone the small Qing Shan Town.
Han Feng jumped down lightly from the treetop, revealing himself.
The Blood-Striped Ferocious Tiger looked at the human before it who did not have Dou Qi wings. It let out a low growl, and a bloody stench filled the air.
Han Feng frowned.
The Blood-Striped Ferocious Tiger liked to devour human blood. After reaching adulthood, it could grow to tier-five and was considered a must-kill magical beast in the eyes of humans.
Therefore, he did not need to show mercy.
He raised a finger, and a sword fell.
A blue sword formed from condensed Dou Qi instantly pierced the ferocious tiger's forehead.
The roar of the Blood-Striped Ferocious Tiger was frozen in its mouth before it could be uttered. Its two tiger eyes were wide open as its huge body crashed to the ground.
It didn't seem to understand why this ordinary-looking human could kill it in one move.
Han Feng reached out with one hand and took out the Monster Core from the tiger's head from a distance.
It was indeed a tier-three magical beast, and it was even at the late stage of tier-three.
This kind of magical beast had the strength to fight against a human Dou Spirit. If it hadn't encountered Han Feng today, it probably would have advanced to a tier-four magical beast in a short time. By then, the nearby people would have suffered.
Walking into the cave, Han Feng lit it up with a flame in his hand and found that the ground was covered with human bones. The smell of blood was so thick it was nauseating.
This was a very typical Blood-Striped Ferocious Tiger's lair. It liked to create a bloody, enclosed environment, leaving only a long, narrow vent, which could preserve the smell of blood to the greatest extent.
Han Feng sighed with compassion, ignited the Sea Heart Flame, and burned this filthy place clean.
Generally speaking, in the territory of this kind of Blood-Striped Ferocious Tiger, a rare ore called Blood Essence Stone would be born.
Because of its exquisite shape, with clear blood-red patterns within the crystal-clear jade, it was novel and rare, and thus loved by some wealthy people.
Many mercenary groups also hunted the Blood-Striped Ferocious Tiger for it.
Tigers kill men, and men kill tigers.
Such is fate.
Lifting the ferocious tiger's corpse, Han Feng returned the way he came and threw it by the side of the path.
The woodcutters had already returned home, so Han Feng raised his sword-finger and wrote four large characters on a thick tree: "The Vicious Tiger is Slain."
After doing this, Han Feng glanced at the deserted mountainside. Blue Dou Qi condensed into wings on his back, and his whole body shot into the sky like a sharp sword.