Chapter 39: What Does It Mean to Cherish Beauty and Compassion?

After leaving Old Zhang’s shop, Lin Huang had acquired every item on his list. It was almost noon. He picked a noodle shop at random, had a bowl of ramen, and prepared to head out to the wilderness.

Just as he neared the exit of the stronghold, his Imperial Heart Ring vibrated, displaying an incoming call. The number was unfamiliar. After a moment’s hesitation, he answered.

“Is this Lin Huang? It’s Yi Yeyu. Where are you now?” Yi Yeyu’s voice came through the call interface.

“I’m still in the stronghold, about to head to the grassland wilds for practical training,” Lin Huang replied, puzzled why Yi Yeyu would contact him. “Is something wrong?”

“For now, don’t leave the stronghold,” Yi Yeyu said. “Some hunters who just returned reported that monsters outside have become strangely agitated. The same seems to be happening in the desert, with quite a few candidates attacked, and I’m receiving more and more distress signals. If things get worse, the assessment might be ended early.”

Her words reminded Lin Huang of what Xue Luo had mentioned earlier: a newly ascended extraordinary monster adept at mind manipulation had appeared in the desert. Yet, he couldn’t reveal this to Yi Yeyu without a plausible source.

After some thought, he said, “Actually, a few days ago—before I climbed the snow mountain—I experienced something similar. As you know, my summoned beast is a Stage Three Blackiron, a mutant Sand Slayer on the verge of advancing. Normally, other desert monsters avoid it. But the day before I climbed the mountain, the monsters I encountered went berserk, relentlessly attacking both me and the Sand Slayer. It happened several times. It felt like they were under hypnosis or some kind of mind control…”

He couldn’t say the truth outright, but he tried to steer Yi Yeyu’s thoughts in the right direction.

“So you’re saying there’s a higher-level monster manipulating things behind the scenes?” Yi Yeyu found his logic plausible but hesitated. “But if only one wild zone was affected, I’d believe it. The problem is, from the assessment’s desert region to the grasslands east of the stronghold, it spans over a thousand kilometers. Not even a Gold-rank mind-affecting monster could cover such an area.”

“What if it’s a mind-affecting monster beyond Gold-rank?” Lin Huang hinted at the truth.

Yi Yeyu was stunned. It took her a moment to respond. “You mean… extraordinary class?!”

“I think we can’t rule out the possibility,” Lin Huang guided her further.

She fell silent, then said, “Alright, I’ll trust you this once! I’ll report this to the higher-ups and see what they say.”

After hanging up, Lin Huang considered his options and decided to return to the hotel and wait for a reply. If the Hunter Association’s leadership didn’t take the matter seriously, that extraordinary monster would run rampant, its predatory instincts only growing, possibly causing incalculable damage to nearby strongholds.

He hurried back to the hotel, and just as he reached the entrance, Yi Yeyu called again.

“I’m already at the hotel entrance. Come upstairs, we’ll talk there.” Lin Huang ended the call and went straight to her room.

Yi Yeyu stood in the living room, her expression grim. Only when she saw Lin Huang did she relax a little.

“I’ve reported the situation to the higher-ups. They think it’s very likely an extraordinary-class mind-affecting monster, but the extraordinary stationed at Stronghold 7C87 is away. Bringing an extraordinary over from another area will take at least three days.”

“I’ve just issued an emergency notice to all candidates, suspending the assessment for now. Everyone has been told to activate their location beacons and wait for rescue on the spot. The problem is, we’re short-staffed.”

“What do you need me to do?” Lin Huang asked straightforwardly.

“Stay in the hotel lobby. As we bring people in, help assign them rooms and get them settled. Don’t let anyone leave the stronghold—even traveling by Wind Roc isn’t necessarily safe right now. If anyone asks, don’t tell them the truth to avoid panic; just wait for my return before explaining anything.” With no one else available, Yi Yeyu could only rely on Lin Huang.

“No problem, I’ll take care of it,” he agreed readily. “Anything else?”

“Nothing for now. If I need you, I’ll let you know.” As she spoke, she summoned the Emerald Gate. “I’m going to pick people up. You head to the lobby.”

When Yi Yeyu stepped through the Emerald Gate, Lin Huang turned and left. Not long after he reached the lobby, she returned with a tall girl in tow. Without a word, Yi Yeyu vanished again through the gate.

The girl was slightly taller than Lin Huang, around sixteen or seventeen, already well developed. She was fashionably dressed in a white T-shirt and denim skirt, with white sneakers on her feet.

“Hello, I’m Lin Huang, the temporary receptionist here,” he greeted.

“I know you. You’re that guy who joined the assessment without even reaching Blackiron rank!” the tall girl recognized him instantly.

“I’ll take you to register for a room,” Lin Huang changed the subject, surprised she knew of him.

“I’m not staying. This assessment’s been called off—no need to waste my time here. I’m going to Stronghold 7C65 for the next assessment.” She headed for the hotel entrance.

Lin Huang blocked her path with an outstretched arm. “You can’t leave.”

“What’s your problem? Who are you to tell me what to do?” she snapped, hands on hips, glaring at him.

“You can leave, but only with the chief examiner’s approval,” Lin Huang insisted, invoking Yi Yeyu’s authority since she clearly didn’t take him seriously.

“I’m giving up this assessment, isn’t that enough? Can I leave now?” she pressed.

“No,” he replied, unmoving.

“What’s wrong with you? You like to throw your weight around, don’t you?” Her voice rose, drawing the attention of others in the lobby.

“Say what you like, but you’re not leaving,” Lin Huang said, standing his ground.

“Hmph. As if you could stop me!” she sneered. “Move, or I won’t be so polite.”

“You’re welcome to try.” Lin Huang’s Grey Eagle 17 was already in his hand.

“So you think having a gun makes you special?”

She scoffed and tried to grab the weapon, but Lin Huang was faster—the muzzle was already pressed to her forehead.

“Would you really shoot?” She was just a Stage Two Blackiron, and at this range a shot from the Grey Eagle 17 would be fatal. Yet, she tried to bluff him.

Lin Huang shifted the gun slightly to the right and pulled the trigger. The bullet screamed past her ear, shattering a decorative vase in the lobby.

Before she could react, he moved the gun back to her forehead.

Her face turned ashen, but she dared not say another word.