Chapter 462: The Last Day Before Parting

The sound of sobbing echoed through the mountains.

It was undoubtedly a temptation, a fresh delicacy waiting to be devoured.

Xuan'er wiped her eyes, crying and shouting like a lost little rabbit. At such times, a big bad wolf would usually appear and swallow the easy prey in one gulp.

"Eh, why isn't there any movement?" Xuan'er wiped the corner of her eyes, secretly glancing around. The surroundings were empty, without a stir.

Lin Fan, in his invisible state, looked at Xuan'er before him, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

When it came to acting, children were the best—so realistic.

He wondered what children were made of; tears came as soon as they wanted, truly admirable.

Xuan'er's cries grew louder, sounding utterly helpless.

"Swish..."

Just then, a rustling came from the bushes, as if something was hiding there, quietly observing.

Xuan'er's small body trembled slightly, but remembering that Uncle Lin was by her side, her frightened heart calmed, and she raised her voice.

"Wah..."

Lin Fan looked around, a smile on his lips. He hadn't expected it to work, attracting quite a few ancient beasts.

He just didn't know their cultivation levels.

But no need to think too much—they couldn't be too high, since this was only the fringe area.

"Uncle, they seem to be coming." The trees around kept rustling, and Xuan'er shrank back in fear.

"Mm, don't panic, I'm here." Lin Fan said with a smile.

"Mm." Xuan'er nodded, then her cries became even more pitiful.

To the ancient beasts, this sound was like bait, delicious and tempting, drawing their attention.

"Boom..."

At that moment, an ancient beast suddenly leaped out from the bushes.

Its robust body and ferocious face startled Xuan'er.

"Ancient Beast: Moon-Howling Wolf, Supreme Heaven Realm Peak."

Lin Fan knew that high-level ancient beasts were rare here; at most, they reached Earth Heaven Realm.

"Roar..."

Then the earth shook violently as a towering ancient beast appeared before Xuan'er.

"Ancient Beast: One-Eyed Giant Ape, Earth Heaven Realm Initial Stage."

Lin Fan was somewhat surprised to see this beast; he hadn't expected to attract an Earth Heaven Realm beast—not bad.

Several more ancient beasts appeared one after another.

To these beasts, the delicious child before them was clearly the main attraction.

"Roar..."

The One-Eyed Giant Ape let out a fierce roar at the surrounding beasts, as if to say,

"All of you, get the hell out of here. This prey is mine."

"Howl..."

The other beasts roared back defiantly, but against the One-Eyed Giant Ape—the strongest here—who would dare compete for food?

Seeing the other beasts wisely back off, the One-Eyed Giant Ape roared excitedly, then fixed its gaze on the little girl ahead.

Though the prey was small, a fragrant aroma wafted over, like a delicacy.

"Uncle Lin..." Xuan'er's face paled at the sight of the beasts, but then she felt a warm hand on her head, calming her.

"Right, Uncle Lin is here, no need to be afraid." Xuan'er shook her head, looked at the beasts, and stuck out her tongue. "Come on... come on, I'm not afraid of you..."

"Roar..." The One-Eyed Giant Ape roared, enraged by the tiny creature's insolence, and leaped forward.

"Uncle Lin, it's coming!" Xuan'er shouted as the ape pounced.

"Don't worry, it's fine..."

At that moment, Lin Fan suddenly reappeared from invisibility, a cold gleam flashing from his axe as he swung it at the One-Eyed Giant Ape.

"Thud..."

In an instant, blood and flesh flew; the One-Eyed Giant Ape was cleaved in two by Lin Fan's axe.

Its massive body crashed to the ground, motionless.

"We won!" Xuan'er cheered excitedly at the sight. "Uncle Lin, you're amazing!"

Seeing Xuan'er's excitement, Lin Fan flicked his hair and said casually, "A piece of cake. Watch closely—this is all thanks to you."

The other beasts, seeing the One-Eyed Giant Ape killed with one axe stroke, roared wildly and backed away, trying to flee.

But Lin Fan wasn't about to give them that chance.

"All of you, stay."

His axe split the sky, like a butcher's knife, reaping one ancient beast after another.

"Ding, congratulations on killing an Earth Heaven Realm Initial Stage ancient beast."

"Ding, congratulations, experience +500."

"Ding, congratulations on killing a Supreme Heaven Realm Peak ancient beast."

"Ding, congratulations, experience +80."

...

A flood of experience surged into Lin Fan's body like a warm current, an incredibly satisfying feeling.

"How was that? Exciting?" Lin Fan turned to Xuan'er after finishing off all the beasts.

"Mm!" Xuan'er nodded vigorously, her little heart pounding. "Uncle Lin, you're so strong! Those beasts were no match for you."

Lin Fan smiled faintly, feeling immensely proud.

Of course—if those beasts could beat him, he'd have wasted his time.

"Xuan'er, today's catch is all thanks to you. Let's take them back and show the village chief." Lin Fan said with a smile.

"Yeah! I'm not useless after all!" Xuan'er clapped her hands excitedly, then lifted her proud little face, beaming with joy.

Lin Fan stored the beast corpses in his backpack and led Xuan'er back to the village.

When they arrived and Lin Fan laid out the corpses, the villagers were stunned again. Hearing that Xuan'er had a part in it, they showered her with praise.

The proud Xuan'er was overjoyed, walking as if on air.

The village chief watched the scene with a gratified smile.

He could tell from Lin Fan's expression that Lin Fan would soon leave, but he didn't ask, knowing it was inevitable.

Still, seeing the joy and changes brought to the village, he felt deeply comforted.

"I'm not that great. Though I did contribute, Uncle Lin did a lot too." Surrounded by the villagers, Xuan'er beamed and spoke up.

The villagers knew the truth, but they were happy to praise Xuan'er, as it made her even happier.

Xuan'er ran from the crowd to Lin Fan and beckoned him.

Lin Fan bent down so she could whisper in his ear.

"Uncle Lin, I won't let them only praise me. I want them to praise you too. Aren't I good to you?"

Lin Fan laughed at her clever, mischievous expression.

Then he left Xuan'er in the village and ventured alone into the mountains again.

Today was the last day.

Tomorrow morning, he would leave and continue onward. An安逸 life would dull one's fighting spirit.