Edited by Aelryinth

Among the members of the military personnel sent to protect the students, Zhao Wu's four-man squad was mixed inconspicuously within a group of beastmasters, their gazes never shifting away from where Huang Tielan was.

She was the precious girl of the Huang family's third generation, and the girlfriend of Zhang Che, whose achievements in the future would be unimaginable, as well as probably becoming the next patriarch of the Huang family. The matter of her safety couldn't be taken lightly at all!

As elites of the Huang family's elite forces, Zhao Wu's group could defend against even epic-quality exotic beasts for some time. Huang Juyun had arranged for them to protect Huang Tielan in the dark this time, showing his trust in their strength, especially since their trip with Zhang Che to Mt Fallen Star. The four of them had each gained a legend-quality subdued beast, their strength rising a level.

Even if an epic-quality exotic beast suddenly appeared and went on a rampage, wanting to harm Huang Tielan, Zhao Wu's group could totally react in time and stop it for a short while.

As for what to do after they could no longer hold on… well, there was still Zhang Che's protection in the dark.

They believed that given the Darkfiend Abyssal Dragon's speed, Zhang Che could totally rush to them in a very short time once he discovered anything amiss. Zhao Wu's group would only need to delay it for a time.

Moreover, Zhang Che had already scouted the area beforehand. If there really was that kind of powerful exotic beast, it would have been eliminated already!

Of course, this matter was of utmost importance. Even though they knew there wouldn't be anything too dangerous appearing, Zhao Wu's group had always kept themselves within a certain distance from Huang Tielan, acting casually. Not even the tiniest of mistakes was allowed on this matter.

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Unbeknownst to them, a powerful faction had already set their eyes on Huang Tielan in the dark. Their cautioun had given her some security.

Soon, the huge group entered the mountainous forest. Afterwards, the university's staff gathered all the students and teachers and reiterated the disciplinary guidelines before letting everyone move out freely to look for and hunt the exotic beasts here. However, they had strongly emphasized not leaving the perimeter set by the school and military staff.

Although there were many students, and they were young and proud, everyone knew that danger lurked everywhere in the beast world. No one dared to go against the school's guidelines. Although they had scattered in high spirits, no one dared to leave the perimeter set by the school.

Huang Tielan quickly walked to a hilly area on the left together with a few other girls she got along well with.

While the girls chattered noisily and excitedly, they summoned out their respective subdued beasts. Although their overall strength wasn't high, their numbers made them seem similar to an army.

Some weak exotic beasts were alarmed by them and ran out from the woods or the grass, turning into targets for the girls, who clumsily ordered their subdued beasts to go kill them.

Zhao Wu's squad of four was following them from a distance, paying close attention to the situation ahead while chatting in whispers.

Suddenly, Zhao Wu sensed something and looked up to the skies. However, there didn't seem anything amiss. The blue sky seemed like usual.

Qian Chunhe asked, "What is it, leader? Is something wrong?"

Zhao Wu shook his head slightly and replied hesitantly, "Nothing, but I keep feeling like something is staring at us from the sky."

The others' faces changed slightly. They said worriedly, "Could there be some powerful exotic beast observing from the sky, going to attack Young Miss' group?"

Zhao Wu shook his head again, saying, "That doesn't seem likely. I don't sense any hostility; it shouldn't be an exotic beast… Hmm? Right, do you guys remember that scouting-type flying subdued beast Zhang-shao had? I presume it should be that big condor monitoring us."

Qian Chunhe and the others came to a realization. They nodded and said, "Right, that must be Zhang-shao's subdued beast looking at us. With that, we can be more assured. Young Miss will be fine no matter what dangerous situation happens."

Since they were sure Zhang Che's Purple Jade Condor was monitoring them from the skies, Zhao Wu and the others were fully reassured.

Suddenly, they turned to look in another direction. A group of men were slowly but certainly approaching Huang Tielan's group, seemingly unintentionally.

Those men obviously wanted to follow behind the girls. Their gazes were always on the girls ahead. It looked like they were probably their admirers or were trying to pursue them.

Since they were also Bei Du University students, Zhao Wu's group paid no heed to them and continued executing their mission dutifully. Their attention remained on Huang Tielan's group, not daring to be careless.

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Jiang Chao stood prominently within a group of men, and was currently being ridiculed by his fellow schoolmates.

"Hmm? Jiang Chao, are you interested in one of the girls there? You're actually leading us to follow them?"

"Let me see… those girls ahead seem to be from the beast card cultivation faculty. That Huang Tielan is among them… Woah, Jiang Chao, you're not thinking of pursuing Huang Tielan, are you? Let me tell you; I've heard from others that this Huang Tielan's background isn't simple, and she already has a boyfriend! Just go ahead and follow them if you're not afraid of getting beaten to death, but we're not participating in your matters."

"Right, right. I heard Huang Tielan is from a large military clan, and her boyfriend is a super expert of the younger generation. You can go ahead if you're not afraid of death, but we're definitely not helping you."

Jiang Chao shook his head, "No way, I'm not the kind of person to steal another's girlfriend. It's just that I noticed the girls were going to a rather secluded area and was worried something might happen to them. As fellow schoolmates, of course we'd have to display the spirit of protecting them as men and not let them get hurt."

"Hmm… you're talking so righteously, but why haven't I discovered such nobility from you before? Haha, in the end, you just want to steal someone's girlfriend. But let me remind you; this wall is too high to climb. If you dare to try casually, be careful that you don't fall to your death! Hahahaha!…"

"Right, right. At that time our Young Master Jiang Chao from Qinzhou will be the first man to die to a wall. That'll be really shameful," the students around him mocked, not believing Jiang Chao's explanation at all.

Jiang Chao showed a helpless look, no longer bothering to defend himself.

-Freaking hell, you think I don't know Huang Tielan's background, and I am not really here to seduce her?

-You might not believe me if I say it out loud, but I'm really prepared to act as their white knight this time, without looking for anything in return.-

Jiang Chao had come into contact with Zhang Che once or twice, be it directly or indirectly. Also, his family wasn't weak, and he knew quite a lot about Zhang Che's matters. Naturally Jiang Chao wouldn't dare to try steal Zhang Che's girlfriend. He'd be looking to die if that happened!

However, although he had no intention of seducing Huang Tielan, this was a pretty good opportunity for him as well. If Huang Tielan's group really met with danger, and he managed to save them in time, it'd definitely turn into Zhang Che owing him a huge favor. With that, his clan could make friends with Zhang Che and the Huang family.

Although Jiang Chao was only a university freshman, he had lived in a large clan all his life, and he was far more mature than his peers of the same age. Although he had always acted rather flippantly and seemed like a playboy, he was a child from a large clan, after all. He knew how to make use of all kinds of resources available to him.

Even though the Huang family had surely arranged men to protect Huang Tielan in the dark, sometimes accidents happened when you weren't expecting it. Using the excuse of admiring the girls to follow them with a group of students with decent strength, they could definitely provide help immediately if they were to come into danger.

The students around Jiang Chao were still mocking him endlessly, but the corners of his lips drew back into an inexplicable faint smile.

-How can you guys possibly know what I'm really thinking?-

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The Bei Du University freshmen gradually spread out. The staff in charge of security had tried their best to keep the area contained, ensuring nothing unexpected would happen.

Suddenly, a small team of beastmasters emerged from the woods at the side, pursuing a few exotic beasts and unknowingly entered the area the Bei Du University freshmen were at.

A staff from Bei Du University quickly stepped forward and asked them very politely not to approach any further.

"Halt. This area is the training grounds for Bei Du University freshmen. Please cooperate with us and try not to come in and disturb our students' training."

A tall, skinny woman with high cheekbones in the team of beastmasters immediately felt dissatisfied when she heard this. She stared at the staff and said, "Hey, did the Bei Du University buy this piece of land or something? We're pursuing exotic beasts on our own. How have we gotten in your way?"

The staffer from Bei Du University was immediately shot down by her words, nearly losing his ability to speak.

She was speaking the truth. Anyone could come into the beast world, and the Bei Du University didn't have the rights to this area, either. On what basis were they not letting anyone in?

Although the reasoning was sound, in reality, since the Bei Du University had expressed that they were using this area as training grounds for the students, ordinary beastmasters should respect the university's prestige, more or less, and stay away.

There wasn't anything good in this area, anyway. They could just go somewhere else. There was no need to get into a dispute with a huge entity like the Bei Du University.

"Sorry, sorry. She just lost two subdued beasts while chasing those exotic beasts and isn't in a good mood," a slightly overweight youth hurriedly stepped forward and explained calmly after seeing the Bei Du University staffer's awkward expression. "Please understand our plight. We'll leave this area immediately after killing those exotic beasts. We definitely won't cause any trouble for the university."

The staffer's expression immediately turned a little better. Although they didn't want to give off the feeling that the Bei Du University was being too forceful and unreasonable, the students' safety came first. It'd be for the best if they didn't let any outsider beastmasters enter the area.

Seeing them acting so submissively, in addition to them promising to leave after killing their prey, it would be unreasonable for the staffer to act too harshly.

He considered for a moment with knitted brow, then said, "You guys go kill those exotic beasts as fast as possible and leave immediately."

The staffer sounded a little impatient. The woman with high cheekbones stared at him, seemingly about to flare up again, but was pulled back by the chubby youth and he signalled to her with his gaze, not allowing her to speak up again.

"We're really sorry, big brother. Rest assured, we'll leave immediately after killing those exotic beasts. We definitely won't disturb those geniuses. My younger brother is a university student himself; I can understand the school's intentions. We won't make any trouble for you!"

The Bei Du University staffer nodded slightly and waved his hand at them, hinting for them to quickly be done with their matters and leave.

The team of beastmasters immediately directed their subdued beasts to quickly chase after the exotic beasts who were about to disappear from their sight, their expressions anxious. It seemed like they really wanted to kill their prey.

Seeing they weren't acting suspicious, and their strength was only decent as best, the Bei Du University staffer no longer paid any heed to them, only watching from afar and not letting them head in any further.

However, he didn't notice that while he was interacting with this team of beastmasters, a few silhouettes had passed through the area he was in charge of monitoring, and had crept deeper into the area!