Xue Shen was still deep in sleep, until a sudden knock awoke him.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Mmmh…"
Xue Shen's eyes opened, his drool all over the table. He glanced toward the door, but his stomach growled loudly, "Grrr~." He pushed himself up from the chair and headed toward the door to open it.
A female server stood smiling in the hall.
"Good morning, sir. Breakfast has been prepared downstairs, if you'd like to eat."
"Mm. I understand," Xue Shen nodded, then went downstairs, sitting at an empty table.
A few minutes later, the server returned, balancing a stacked tray of food: a steaming bowl of rice porridge packed with vegetables, a boiled egg, tender chicken, and green onions. Beside it, she set six steamed buns with soy sauce, a plate of scrambled eggs, and finally, a cup of hot tea.
Xue Shen stared at the trays laid out in front of him, his expression showing clear disdain.
"Is something the matter, sir?" the server asked, noticing Xue Shen's expression.
Without a word, Xue Shen stood up, grabbed the trays, and stacked them neatly.
"Take these back," he said, handing them to her.
"Wha…" The server looked shocked—both surprised and afraid she had done something wrong.
"Hmm?" Murmurs spread as several people at nearby tables turned to look.
"Just give me bread and water," Xue Shen said flatly. He despised food—it was, to him, one of existence's many ploys.
The server hesitated, still worried. "Is something wrong with the food, sir?"
"No," he replied. "Just bring me what's necessary to keep my body functioning. Everything else is meaningless."
The server looked confused by his words but nodded and took the trays away, her expression dimming as she left.
Moments later, she returned with a plate of bread and a jar of water.
"Here you are, sir! Oh, here's some honey in case the brea—"
Suddenly, as she tried to hand him the jar of honey, Xue Shen waved her off.
"You've already brought me my food. What else do you need by standing here?" he said coldly.
"Oh… Right… Sorry, sir," she said, looking sad, but she still bowed.
He quickly ate the meal. The customers in the inn glaring, murmuring at his rudeness, but he didn't care. Everything vanished on his table until not a speck of food remained.
Xue Shen finished eating and called the server back over. Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out a single gold coin.
"Yes, sir?"
"Here. Take this." He placed the coin in her hand.
"Oh my!?" Her eyes widened in shock.
"Sir, this… This is too much!" the server stammered, hesitant to accept it.
"How can gold ever be too much? It's all the same—meaningless trinkets that fools worship as if it ever mattered," Xue Shen said in a flat voice. He stood and walked toward the door as he spoke.
Her face showed confusion. "Sir!" she called out, watching him leave. "Thank you, sir!" she shouted, waving as Xue Shen walked away.
Xue Shen hopped back on his wagon and began searching around for the Monster Hunter Guild.
10 minutes later…
"Where the hell is it??" he muttered, annoyed he seemed lost. It felt like he was going in circles around this town.
Xue Shen stopped the wagon and spotted the lady he had seen when he first entered the city—the one who pulled the boy.
"Hey," Xue Shen said, tapping her on the shoulder.
"Hm?" She turned and saw him.
"Oh. Hello, sir. What do you need?"
"Do you happen to know where the Monster Hunter Guild is located?"
"Ah, it's in the Guild District. You can't miss it—it has a massive brown gate with tiger and bear statues on either side."
"Guild District?" Xue Shen tilted his head.
"Ah… You must be new to Lin City," she said.
Xue Shen nodded.
"Well, there are four districts. The Inner District, where wealthy and powerful families live, like the Ning, Li, and the late Jia family."
"The Guild District is closer to the center of the city, where most of the guilds are located—organized for trade, easy access, and daily business."
"The Military District is near the gates, so soldiers can respond quickly to any invasion or threat."
"And the Civilian District—that's the ring of houses and shops you see surrounding Lin City."
"Hmm… I see. Thank you."
Moments later, Xue Shen guided his wagon along the street toward the center until a large fountain came into view.
He continued scanning the neighborhood and finally spotted it—the towering beasts guarding the massive gate gave the entrance a feral, intimidating presence.
"This should be it," he muttered, climbing down from the seat.
He reached the towering door and gave it a push, swinging it open.
Creeeek.
Inside, a tavern-like hall stretched before him, a receptionist's desk at the center, noticeboards lining the walls, and tables scattered with men drinking and talking. The moment Xue Shen entered, the chatter vanished, dozens of heads turning in unison to stare at him.
"Are you lost, boy? This is the Monster Hunter Guild," a burly man said from beside the receptionist, his hairy chest out and his halberd leaning against the counter.
"Not at all. If this is the Monster Hunter Guild, then I've come to the right place," Xue Shen answered calmly.
"Are you mad, child? Do you even know the average life expectancy of a hunter?" another scoffed.
"Some might say so…" Xue Shen replied, unfazed.
"Tch. Suit yourself. Don't blame anyone if you die because of your own ignorance." The burly man said.
Ignoring them, Xue Shen walked to the counter.
"I'd like to apply to become a monster hunter."
The receptionist studied him, thinking, 'Another child chasing great dreams of grandeur…'
She handed him a parchment. The next page listed the terms.
Risks of Becoming a Monster Hunter:
"Injury or Death – Hunting monsters is dangerous; severe injuries or fatalities may occur."
"Equipment Loss – Weapons, armor, and items may be damaged or lost during hunts."
"Mission Failure – High-risk quests may fail, resulting in wasted resources or danger."
I, ______________________, have read and understood the risks listed above. By signing this document, I accept full responsibility for my participation in all guild activities.
After Xue Shen read everything he began writing down all his information.
I, Qian Liu, have read and understood the risks listed above. By signing this document, I accept full responsibility for my participation in all guild activities.
Benefits of Becoming a Monster Hunter:
"Joining Bonus: 10 gold coins upon initiation."
"Beast Ownership: Any monster hunted or killed belongs solely to the hunter; the guild makes no claims."
"Selling Bonus: +10% gold when selling monster parts to the guild."
"Guild Resources: Access to armories, training grounds, and crafting facilities."
"Mission Rewards: Special assignments may grant bonus gold and rare materials. Guild Support: Injured hunters may receive medical aid and compensation."
After carefully reading, Xue Shen signed the contract and returned it. The receptionist glanced over it, then nodded.
"Alright. Follow me, Mr. Qian Liu."
"Heh… This is going to be a funny show to watch…" most of the men in the tavern murmured, following along with the receptionist.
Soon, they arrived at what looked like a training ground, the entourage seemingly eager to witness something amusing. In the center stood the burly man Xue Shen had seen earlier, a halberd tightly gripped in his hands.
The receptionist spoke, "Before you can officially join the Monster Hunter Guild, we'll need to assess your combat prowess. Based on that, we'll assign you a rank. From highest to lowest, it goes: Tier 1—Ascendant, Tier 2—Platinum, Tier 3—Gold, Tier 4—Silver, and Tier 5—Bronze."
"You'll be dueling Mr. Da Xiong, a Tier 3 hunter, using real weapons to simulate a true battle. You may pick any weapon from the rack, Mr. Qian."
Xue Shen walked to the rack and selected a blade. He held it in his right hand, then lowered his other blade to the floor. Stepping into the center of the training ground, he pointed the tip of his blade toward the ground.
"Alright, kid. Just tell me when you're ready," Da Xiong said, his tone filled with mockery.
"I'm ready," Xue Shen said, immediately lunging straight at him.
"Woah… that kid's fast!" one of the onlookers exclaimed.
Da Xiong was caught completely off guard. He hadn't expected Xue Shen to charge immediately, nor with such speed. By the time he reacted, Xue Shen's blade was already upon him. Instinctively, Da Xiong raised the tip of his halberd to block.
CLANG!
The impact shook Da Xiong's arms. "UGHH!" he grunted. 'What the hell! This kid is strong!'
CLINK!
"No way! This kid overpowered Da Xiong!" someone else shouted.
Da Xiong stepped back, hoping to use his halberd's reach advantage and strike once he gained distance. But Xue Shen saw through his plan, closing the gap before he could act. Unending strikes followed, each blow forcing Da Xiong onto the defensive, leaving him no choice but to only block.
CLINK!
"Impossible… Da Xiong is being overwhelmed. He can't even counter!"
CLANG!
'God damn… does this kid have endless stamina?!' Da Xiong cursed inwardly. Every strike came in rapid succession, smothering any chance he had to retaliate. It was as if the moment he blocked one attack, another immediately followed.
CLINK! CLINK!
"My god, this kid is relentless!" another man yelled.
Step by step, Xue Shen drove him back until Da Xiong's back scraped the wall.
Xue Shen was close enough to yank the halberd from Da Xiong's hands—and he did. Grabbing the weapon by its shaft, he twisted it until the sharp end faced Da Xiong's neck. At the same time, the blade in Xue Shen's right hand pressed firmly against the same spot, both edges carving thin lines of blood across his throat. Da Xiong froze, trapped between two gleaming blades poised to decapitate him.
If Xue Shen weren't surrounded by so many witnesses, and knew he could kill them all and escape without leaving a trace, he would have gone through with it, cleanly severing Da Xiong's head. That restraint saved him and everyone.
"STOP!" the receptionist shouted, eyes wide in disbelief. Da Xiong, beaten by a rookie… he couldn't even attack, only block against Qian Liu's relentless onslaught!
Xue Shen froze, though every inch of his body burned with the urge to slice the man's neck. He chose restraint. "I'm sorry… You couldn't find peace…" he whispered to Da Xiong, his voice so low only he could hear.
'What…?' Da Xiong thought, his mind struggling to grasp the meaning behind Xue Shen's words.
Every face in the training ground was in utter shock, all their jaws dropped. A Tier 3 hunter bested in a completely one-sided duel, none of the men could believe what they had just witnessed.
"So, what's my rank?" Xue Shen turned around and asked the receptionist calmly, not a trace of exhaustion in his voice, as if the fight hadn't tired him at all.
"Ahem… since you defeated Mr. Da Xiong, it'd be Tier 2, Platinum…" the receptionist said, her voice trembling in disbelief. She still couldn't believe Da Xiong had lost.
"Hah… apologies, kid. It seems I was wrong about you," Da Xiong said, shame in his voice. "Welcome to the Monster Hunters Guild…"
"Welcome to the guild, kid!" one of the men chimed in, and soon everyone around joined, greeting him wholeheartedly.
"Ahem…" the receptionist cleared her throat, quieting the commotion. "If you'll follow me, Sir Qian Liu."
Xue Shen picked up the blade he had placed on the floor and followed her to the mission boards. She stopped and gestured.
"This is our mission board. Most jobs are requests to eliminate monsters, but occasionally nobles or wealthy citizens post special commissions with higher rewards."
Scanning the board, one mission caught Xue Shen's attention: 'Killer on the Outskirts of Lin City Roads.'
"What's this one about?" he asked.
The receptionist's expression darkened. "That case… It's very disturbing. I was part of a group escorting a wealthy person, along with a few hunters returning to Lin City, when we came across a wagon blocking the road. Beside it, there was a trail of blood, and we discovered five people—brutally slaughtered. The bodies were in such a state we couldn't even identify them, though we did find their IDs. Actually… You share a name with one of the victims. What we know is that the killer most likely used a blade like yours…"
She glanced at Xue Shen, shivering.
"Honestly… Just knowing a monster like that is still out there terrifies me. Someone capable of exacting that kind of cruelty… Especially against an older man and such a young girl… It… It isn't right," she said whilst shaking her head, trembling slightly.