Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 59: Mountains And Forests (II)

For this trip, Lin Zheyu's main goal was to familiarize himself with the environment outside the city and to map out the nearby terrain and roads in preparation for the future. That was why he deliberately chose small trails; it was to better acquaint himself with the forest terrain.

Crossing a mountain and reaching the foot of another, he once again found himself uncertain which path to take.

"Which path should I take?" muttered Lin Zheyu.

He looked at the three paths before him, compared them to his unreliable map, and studied the direction. The road on the map was no longer visible as all three of these paths had been recently trodden by people.

"This one will do!"

With a few quick movements, he climbed to the top of a nearby tree, identified his bearings, and chose the middle path. If it proved impassable, he would simply make a new path himself.

As a great man of his previous life[1] once said, 'The ground had no paths, but as people walked more and more, a path appeared.'[2]

After walking about five hundred meters, Lin Zheyu realized the path led upward into the mountain. So he had to climb up another treetop, confirm his bearings again, and force a path of his own. After confirming his direction, Lin Zheyu went forward for several hundred meters, when the roar of a beast came from ahead.

Bang, bang, bang.

Rooaar!

Thunderous crashes, mixed with beastly roars, echoed from the forest, startling the birds into flight in every direction.

The sound is powerful and deep. Its strength seems impressive. What kind of beast is this?

Curiosity stirred in Lin Zheyu's heart. He moved swiftly, rushing toward the source of the sound. The closer he drew, the louder the commotion became. After advancing two to three hundred meters, he finally saw the beast locked in battle.

It was a beast standing nearly 2.5 meters tall, its body as massive as a giant bear. Its head was large, its muzzle protruded outward, and two sharp fangs jutted from its mouth. Opposite it stood a middle-aged man. The man was around forty years old, with a sturdy and muscular build. He wore a beast hide on his upper body, his muscles bulging and his aura strong. His strength was around the mid-stage of the Organ Forging Realm.

In his hand, he held a saber with a blade sharp enough to gleam coldly. The saber was known as the king of weapons. Its techniques emphasized cleaving, chopping, blocking, thrusting, and sweeping. It was straightforward and easy to learn. Among the martial artists Lin Zheyu had seen, the saber was the most widely used weapon.

Boom!

The beast, as massive as a giant bear, swung its enormous claws at the man. The air howled with force, showing the terrifying power behind it. By Lin Zheyu's estimation, the strike carried at least the power of an Organ Forging Realm expert at the peak stage.

The man dared not take it head-on. He retreated swiftly, raising his saber in a diagonal slash that avoided the beast's massive arm and cut toward its chest. The blade grazed across the beast's chest, leaving only a shallow wound. Blood seeped out but clotted against its fur, sealing the injury.

Roaaar!

The beast roared, stomped backward, then lunged forward with its bloody maw wide open, aiming to bite the man's head. The man twisted his waist, turned his wrist, and with a swish brought the saber slashing toward the beast's furry face.

Buzz!

The beast's massive claws struck the saber, and the overwhelming force made the blade tremble with a buzzing hum. The man failed to dodge in time and was struck head-on, his whole body flung backward as he spat blood.

Rolling across the ground, he grabbed a fallen crossbow, nocked an arrow, and fired at the beast's eye. With a sharp swish, the arrow flew toward its target, but the beast suddenly swerved and bolted into the depths of the forest.

Puff.

The arrow struck the beast's back, piercing through its hide and embedding shallowly into its flesh. But the wound was too shallow. As the beast ran, the arrow shook loose and fell to the ground.

Hiding in the shadows, Lin Zheyu could not help but marvel. "What incredible defense!"

The man's earlier strike had unleashed all his strength, yet it had only managed to cut through the beast's fur, leaving nothing more than a shallow wound. The man glanced at the fleeing beast but did not pursue. Instead, he leaned against a tree, gasping heavily. His strength was greatly depleted.

The beast was far too powerful. Its hide was thick and tough, and it was nearly impervious to attack. If it hadn't stepped into a hunting trap and bled so much that most of its strength was drained, the man would have had no choice but to flee upon encountering it.

"What a pity! It still managed to escape," muttered the man as he shook his head regretfully. He had chased the beast all the way here, yet still failed to kill it.

After regaining some strength, he shouted toward the forest, "Friend, since you are already here, why hide sneakily in the shadows? Show yourself."

Lin Zheyu was taken aback. Hm? Have I been discovered?

He had been using the Tortoise Breath Grand Method to its fullest, rendering his body like lifeless wood, without the faintest trace of aura. He had crept forward in silence, staying hidden deep in the shadows. So, if the man before him still sensed his presence, that would be a display of perception that was truly astounding.

"Could he be trying to trick me?" muttered Lin Zheyu who still did not reveal his presence.

After killing Xing Jinglong and his group, he had said similar words to the empty forest, just to see if anyone might be hiding in the dark.

The man looked toward the bushes where Lin Zheyu was concealed and spoke with a smile. "Friend, there’s no need to hide. I've already found you."

His right hand gripped the saber tightly and his eyes were full of vigilance. Another reason he had not continued chasing the beast earlier was because he had sensed someone hiding in the shadows.

He really did notice me!

Lin Zheyu was utterly surprised.

Since he had been exposed, there was no need to remain hidden. The man before him was weaker than he was, and judging from the battle just now, he clearly was not skilled in poisons, so he posed little threat.

"By chance, I was passing through here. I heard the sounds of battle and came out of curiosity. I mean no harm," said Lin Zheyu with a smile as he stepped out from the bushes.

Eh? The man looked at Lin Zheyu, surprise flashing across his face. The youth was far too young; he looked no more than sixteen or seventeen.

This fellow isn't simple! the man thought to himself. He did not underestimate Lin Zheyu just because of his youthful appearance. His eyes narrowed slightly as his heart was filled with guarded suspicion. Nowadays, with bandits rampant, anyone who dared to wander the mountains alone was not someone to be taken lightly. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"I see. Since you were only passing by and the beast has already fled, can I ask you to take your leave now?" said the man.

"That is indeed my intention. However, I am unfamiliar with this forest. May I ask which route is the easiest to reach Lion Valley?" asked Lin Zheyu.

"Lion Valley? Bandits are everywhere near Lion Valley, you know? It's not a good place to go. But since you plan to head there, you must be quite capable and have no fear of those bandits. If you wish to reach Lion Valley, head in this direction for about a kilometer. You will find a small path. Follow it to the end, where there are three forks, and take the leftmost road..." said the man kindly, giving detailed directions, and even drew a rough sketch on the ground with his saber.

"Many thanks, brother. If not for you, I would have wasted much more time on this trip," said Lin Zheyu with a respectful bow.

"You're welcome," replied the man calmly, though he still did not lower his guard. His hand gripped the saber firmly, ready to strike at the slightest sign of danger without hesitation.

Lin Zheyu paid it no mind, taking out his map and marking the directions on it. Seeing Lin Zheyu mark his map, the man's expression softened. Lin Zheyu did not look like a villain or a bandit, and the man quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He had just fought a ferocious beast and spent much of his strength, so he had no wish to get into conflict with the young man before him.

1. This is talking about the life before he was transported to this world. ☜

2. This line comes from 鲁迅(Lu Xun), one of the most influential modern Chinese writers. It appears in his prose poem collection 《野草》 (Wild Grass, 1927), specifically in the piece 《故乡》 (My Old Home, 1921). ☜