“It’s all thanks to the immortal. If the immortal hadn’t intervened, this beast might have troubled us for another hundred years!” Jiang Dahe said earnestly.
Lu Fan was quite pleased with his words and walked over to the wolf king. “Since we didn’t catch any prey today, let’s carry this wolf king back. It will feed the villagers for a while!”
“That might not be appropriate!” Jiang Dahe quickly replied. “According to the rules of the White Dragon Dynasty, we ordinary folk are not qualified to eat demonic beasts. Such beasts must be handed over!”
“What kind of rule is that? Isn’t that too discriminatory!” Lu Fan said indignantly. “I killed this demonic beast, so I decide who gets to eat it!”
Jiang Dahe was hesitant but couldn’t refuse Lu Fan. He was also curious to taste if demonic beast meat was different from other meats.
Before long, they were carrying the wolf king down the mountain, their faces beaming with smiles. With the wolf king gone, Lu Fan’s hunting trips on the mountain would be much less hazardous.
They soon arrived at Niutian Village, where the villagers gathered around them.
“Dad, what did you hunt? It’s so big!” Da Hu exclaimed. “Are we going to have a feast today?”
“Brother Jiang He, what is that? Is it a wolf? That’s amazing!” Several women commented, their eyes filled with admiration. In this world, strength was paramount; with enough power, one earned respect everywhere.
“This is the wolf king, the demonic beast from the mountain!” Jiang Dahe explained. “It’s all thanks to Immortal Lu. If he hadn’t acted, I would have been in grave danger. Now that he has resolved this crisis for us, we won’t have to fear the mountain anymore!”
“Did big brother take it down?” Da Hu asked excitedly. “Big brother is so amazing, so amazing!”
The surrounding women were also astonished. They hadn’t expected Lu Fan to possess such skills, even being able to kill a demonic beast. This was something ordinary people couldn’t achieve.
“An immortal!” Many villagers in Niutian Village exclaimed, their reverence for Lu Fan deepening. They knew how noble the status of immortals was and understood why he might be on the mountain, perhaps having encountered some trouble that led to Jiang Dahe rescuing him.
“An immortal?” Xiao Hua, standing amidst the crowd, looked at Lu Fan with a slight change in her expression. “No wonder he was indifferent to me. I didn’t realize he was an immortal!”
“Everyone, no need to be like this. I am not an immortal,” Lu Fan said earnestly. “I am just an ordinary person, like all of you.”
However, the villagers dared not presume familiarity and remained respectful toward Lu Fan, especially such an approachable immortal, whom they had never encountered before.
“Uncle, go and stew this wolf!” Lu Fan instructed. “Let the villagers have a taste of demonic beast meat!”
The villagers exchanged glances, their brows furrowed slightly. According to the White Dragon Dynasty’s rules, ordinary people like them were not eligible to eat demonic beast meat. They didn’t object to this rule, as normally they would never have the chance to hunt and kill a demonic beast, let alone eat its meat.
“I’ll take it to stew right away!” Jiang Dahe nodded, his expression calm. Since Lu Fan had spoken, he had nothing to hesitate about. After all, the mountains were high and the emperor was far away. Though they were subjects of the White Dragon Dynasty, in Niutian Village, they were just a hamlet, and no one would ever know.
Jiang Dahe shouldered the wolf king and left. Many villagers went to help, creating quite a stir.
At that moment, several figures on horseback approached the village entrance. They appeared quite young and full of vigor. Their horses were adorned with silver ornaments, indicating they were quite valuable.
“Immortals! Immortals are here!” Someone at the village entrance shouted. The villagers immediately knelt down, their eyes filled with awe.
Lu Fan observed the scene, his brow furrowing slightly. He could tell that the men and women on horseback were no ordinary individuals; their auras were so powerful that he felt utterly outmatched.
Jiang Dahe looked flustered, unsure of their purpose, and was visibly anxious.
“Have you seen anyone pass by here? Wearing black clothes and with injuries!” a woman asked, her gaze sweeping over the villagers of Niutian Village.
The villagers, like ants, remained prostrate on the ground, not daring to utter a word.
“I have been in the village and haven’t seen anyone in black,” Lu Fan replied, his demeanor calm. These people were young, but their auras were incredibly strong. He didn’t dare to be too presumptuous.
The woman on horseback glanced at Lu Fan and then exclaimed in surprise, “I never expected to find a Spirit Master in a small village of the White Dragon Dynasty!”
“Indeed, it is rather surprising!” another man commented. “I heard that even the peerless prodigies of Clear Water Sect haven’t reached this level.”
“There are many experts under the heavens. Merely a Spirit Master can only reside in such a remote and desolate place,” another woman remarked. “Let’s hurry and track the person in black. If we miss our chance, we’ll be unable to bear the consequences when we report back!”
After their exchange, they turned and left, not lingering in Niutian Village. The villagers of Niutian Village remained prostrate, not daring to rise carelessly. Facing immortals, they didn’t even dare to look them in the eye.
“They’ve left!” Lu Fan announced. “Everyone, there’s no need to be afraid!”
Upon hearing his words, the villagers looked carefully and finally relaxed.
“Immortals are indeed immortals. If you hadn’t answered just now, we wouldn’t have known how to respond!” The villagers of Niutian Village praised Lu Fan profusely and flattered him greatly.
“Who were they?” Lu Fan asked. “Why did they come here?”
“Those people weren’t from Clear Water Town!” Jiang Dahe stated. “Their auras were much stronger, likely more powerful immortals!”
Lu Fan nodded slightly, saying no more. He wasn’t very familiar with the hierarchy of this world, but the woman had mentioned being a Spirit Master, which he assumed was a level of cultivation.
Some time later, Jiang Dahe finished stewing the wolf. The villagers of Niutian Village gathered around, looking quite cheerful. After all, this was their first time eating demonic beast meat, and they were naturally excited.
“I heard demonic beast meat is very good for the body,” a man chuckled. “It’s a great tonic. Brother Jiang He, you should eat more!”
The disciples of Niutian Village erupted in laughter. Even Xiao Hua, with a sweet smile, glanced at Lu Fan from the corner of her eye, appearing quite smitten.