C20 I Just Want to Go out and Walk Around

As Lee Yu emerged from the forest with the soldiers, he squinted at the sun overhead.

"Life is good," he sighed, then glanced at Mu Yinhua. Her arrow wound had received basic treatment, and at Lee Yu's earnest request, Qing Anqi, though clearly irritated, had produced a medicinal pill.

The color returned to Mu Yinhua's cheeks after she swallowed the pill, much to Lee Yu's relief. It appeared she was out of mortal danger.

"Are you truly of the Thunder Bloodline?" Qing Anqi inquired, her curiosity piqued.

She sat astride a shaggy beast resembling an oversized leopard with longer fur and two enormous fangs jutting from its mouth.

"I've said it before, I'm as truthful as a little dog," Lee Yu replied with a hint of resignation, gazing up at Qing Anqi's finely sculpted face. "What good would come from deceiving you, anyway?"

"None at all," Qing Anqi affirmed, her delicate face tilting as she leaned down to stroke the beast's head. With narrowed eyes, she teased, "I'd have Little Flower here devour you."

The beast's name was a misnomer; it was hardly bear-like, sporting a coat of many colors, and it stood nearly two meters tall on all fours.

"That's why I wouldn't dare lie to you," Lee Yu said, watching the creature turn and snarl at him. He estimated that its gaping maw could easily fit his head.

"By the way, where are we?" Lee Yu asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"You don't know this place?" Qing Anqi asked, a touch of surprise in her voice, but she was in high spirits and began to explain, "The county is hosting a hunting competition. You've stumbled into the very area I've claimed."

County?

Lee Yu mentally noted the confirmation of a structured system beyond Stone Village.

The sight of soldiers emerging from the woods, their shining armor catching the sunlight, left Lee Yu awestruck.

In China's film industry, there was no shortage of grand investments aimed at recreating the historical image of a unified army and the splendor of organized cold-weapon troops.

But those were merely images flickering on a movie screen, nothing compared to the awe-inspiring spectacle of witnessing such scenes in person. Particularly striking were the unknown iron cages imprisoning a variety of exotic beasts, all captured alive, offering a sight that was truly exhilarating.

"If only I weren't in one of these cages myself," Lee Yu mused, letting out another sigh. He didn't dwell on it, though. At worst, he'd find a chance to escape later. If all else failed, he could always return to Blue Star and come back after a decade or two. By then, everything would have changed, and no one would remember him.

"To be hunted by me is a privilege. Why the long face?" Qing Anqi's beautiful brows knitted together slightly.

"Can't a guy even sigh when he's been turned into prey?" Lee Yu retorted, shaking his hand in a gesture of resignation.

Qing Anqi caught sight of her mark on Lee Yu's hand and couldn't help but flash a toothy grin.

"What's got you so cheerful, little sister? Did you make some big catch?" a warm male voice inquired.

Lee Yu's curiosity piqued, and he looked up to see a strikingly handsome man. With his thick eyebrows, large eyes, and lean physique, the man should have exuded a scholarly air, but his armor and the scar on his left cheek lent him an imposing, authoritative presence.

The man's brow furrowed as he spoke sternly, "How many times must I remind you? The residents of Qingshan County are citizens, not to be treated like this. Your actions tarnish the Qing family's reputation!"

"Release the two people in the cage!" Qing Yangde commanded the soldier beside him.

He had initially thought Qing Anqi had captured some peculiar or adorable beast when he saw the carriage for transporting exotic creatures. To his shock and anger, he found two people caged instead.

The soldier hesitated, especially as Qing Anqi's pout threatened to spill into tears, leaving him uncertain of what to do.

Qing Yangde's frown deepened, but then a voice emerged from the cage.

"Brother, there's no need for this. I volunteered to be Qing Anqi's prey as a way to express my gratitude for saving my life," Lee Yu quickly interjected, seeing Qing Anqi's near-tearful expression.

"Brother?" Qing Yangde's gaze sharpened as he took a closer look at the young man inside the cage.

Despite the wear and tear on his clothes, the fine quality of the fabric was still apparent. His delicate features suggested he was no ordinary scion of a common family. Moreover, his use of the term 'brother' revealed a serene disposition.

This boy was extraordinary!

Qing Yangde swiftly came to a conclusion and, with a gesture of respect, inquired, "Qing Yangde at your service. May I ask who you are...?"

"Lee Yu." Unaware of the many thoughts racing through Qing Yangde's mind, Lee Yu was accustomed to such egalitarian exchanges after China's lengthy period of reform and opening up. This was no feudal society.

He simply couldn't bear to see such an adorable child cry, especially a little girl who could weep for an extended time over a mere punch.

"Brother, why are you so concerned? She said she's fine, even though she's locked up!" Qing Anqi hadn't expected Lee Yu to refrain from seizing the moment to come to her defense. Feeling justified, she was ready to give Qing Yangde a piece of her mind.

"Hmm!?" Qing Yangde's glance silenced her immediately, her courage evaporating.

Lee Yu's attention shifted to Qing Anqi, feeling an impulse to facepalm. Wasn't this the time to gracefully back down rather than seek revenge?

Seeing Qing Anqi's look of distress, Lee Yu deftly steered the conversation elsewhere. After a brief exchange with Qing Yangde, who seemed preoccupied with other matters, he departed astride his beast.

Peering through the iron cage, Lee Yu observed a makeshift square ahead, sprawling and bustling with people emerging from the forest. The area was lined with cages, echoing with the roars of exotic beasts.

"Thank you. Even if you're deceiving me, I won't hand you over to Little Flower," Qing Anqi said. "Could you join her with the beasts first?"

"Don't worry. Just let me go after this is all settled," Lee Yu replied nonchalantly. He found the iron cage surprisingly comfortable—clean, free of foul odors, and sparing him the need to walk. "By the way, she's only Sixth Grade. Take her out first; she's of no use anyway."

"Wait, she's not going to be scattered around, is she?" Lee Yu suddenly had a thought. "Then I'll be like a sitting duck."

"No, we'll gather everyone in one area first. Once the family conducts the verification, I'll be able to let you go."

"Oh, got it." Lee Yu felt a wave of relief wash over him. Even though he wasn't sure what the verification entailed, he was confident it would happen quickly.

Before long, he was separated from Qing Anqi and the rest. It didn't take long for him to regret his earlier sense of relief. As the soldiers hauled him off to the enclosure of beasts, he understood the bitter taste of his own medicine.

He found himself amidst rows upon rows of iron cages, not positioned in the first or last row, nor at the edges. This meant he was encircled by eight bizarre creatures of various forms.

"Awoo!"

A gorilla-like beast bellowed at Lee Yu from the other side of the bars.

Wiping the spit from his face, Lee Yu quietly moved to the far side of the cage, only to inadvertently catch the interest of another creature. A massive python-like beast slithered close, its flickering tongue nearly grazing Lee Yu's cheek.

Despite his calm demeanor, Lee Yu's legs shook uncontrollably as he settled himself at the very center of his cage.

"When does the review start?" Lee Yu whispered to himself, trying to stay composed. "It's not that I'm scared, it's just... the cage feels a bit claustrophobic. I could use a walk!"