Chapter One: Fallen Leaves Settle on the Ground

  On the vast plain, a dilapidated building occupies this place, with weeds growing wildly around it, rust spreading all over the ground, and the broken walls that can be seen everywhere, revealing a desolate atmosphere.

  Under the two bright moons in the sky, one large and one small, a man wearing black combat uniform can be clearly seen sitting cross-legged in this dilapidated building.

  The man's age is not very large, and his facial features look slightly immature. A face that is not considered handsome reveals a mature and stable temperament that does not match his age, which can only be possessed by those who have experienced the trials of life.

  What was astonishing was that on the legs of this man who sat cross-legged, a long sword lay horizontally. The long sword was three feet in length and had turned into an ink color. From afar, it seemed as if it didn't have a sharp edge. It's unknown how such a long sword could be used to hunt and kill prey.

  A quiet night, exuding endless mystery, the jungle law is still being performed in the grass thicket, a faint rustling sound, lightly spreading, if not for people with extremely good hearing, they would not be able to hear this kind of sound at all, let alone understand what it represents.

  Ye Chen suddenly opened his eyes, a burst of energy emerged, revealing an unusual stability that didn't match his age. On a face that wasn't particularly impressive, a faint smile appeared. For someone living on the edge of life and death, encountering a mountain cat with moderate strength but great value was something to be delighted about.

  The mountain cat of today is different from the one before the great disaster, the most obvious being the two long fangs in its mouth, and it's precisely these two fangs that are the most valuable part of a mountain cat.

  Ye Chen slowly got up, holding his long sword, and made a move that he had done countless times, so quietly that no sound was heard. Ye Chen was like a dark messenger, sneaking into the grass.

  The grass was very tall and dense, making it almost impossible to walk through without making a sound. Ye Chen couldn't do it either, but he had patience, stopping for some time after each slight advance, waiting for the gentle breeze to caress him, following the faint rustling of the wild grass blown by the wind, advancing slowly.

  This way of advancing requires an unbelievable level of self-control, requiring control over every muscle in the body to avoid making any unnecessary sounds. As a result, there were hardly any unexpected events this time.

  Ye Chen had a long sword stuck to his chest, gazing straight ahead through the grass seam, and saw that in front of him, in the grass thicket, a black shadow about one meter tall was standing quietly there, with a pair of eyes like bright pearls carefully searching around for prey.

  The mountain cat's strength wasn't very powerful, only a first-class demon beast, but for Ye Chen, it was still somewhat difficult. This was also Ye Chen's first time attacking a first-class demon beast, otherwise he wouldn't have been so cautious.

  Ye Chen didn't dare to get too close, holding the long sword without a scabbard in his hand, holding his breath, being extremely cautious. The mountain cat in front of him couldn't see its fur clearly in this dim night, only able to make out its general shape, but for Ye Chen, that was enough.

  The lynx's gem-like eyes suddenly froze, its body moved, a black shadow flashed by, and it pounced towards one side, its long fangs piercing deeply, and Ye Chen could even hear the sound of the fangs piercing through flesh and blood splashing.

  When the mountain cat moved, Ye Chen also moved with it. The moment when the mountain cat had just killed its prey was the time when its vigilance was at its lowest, and it was also the easiest time to get close to it. Ye Chen's body moved swiftly, and the long sword in his hand adjusted its position in an extremely short period of time.

  Like a black lightning bolt, the long sword stabbed at the mountain cat's neck!

  A beast's instinct, always able to exert itself extraordinarily between life and death. The joy of the mountain cat in hunting its prey and the instant relaxation vanished in an instant. Its front paws pressed fiercely on the ground, and the mountain cat's body leapt up, barely avoiding Ye Chen's sword.

  Ye Chen's expression didn't change, his palm pressed down and then pushed forward. The long sword rotated half a circle in mid-air, its tip pointing upwards, and stabbed at the mountain cat's neck again. This time, the mountain cat couldn't dodge, and the sword tip pierced into its neck.

  The biggest difference between the demon beast and the wild beast is not just the different appearance, but also the stronger body of the demon beast, which has a much stronger defense than the wild beast. The sword tip only pierced into the neck of the mountain cat for a small point.

  No room for the mountain cat to struggle, Ye Chen's other palm mobilized the strength of his whole body and lifted it up. The tall body of the mountain cat was lifted by this force, and the black long sword pierced through the mountain cat's neck. Then Ye Chen stepped on the mountain cat's body and kicked it flying.

  The mountain cat's neck was pierced with a hole, and fresh blood flowed out. It was kicked to the ground by Ye Chen and struggled to get up, but only struggled for a few times before letting out a mournful cry and falling down completely.

  Ye Chen waited for a while before walking over to the mountain cat's side. The mountain cat had thoroughly died, and the previous blow seemed simple, but from the sneak attack to that one move, it was unknown how many life-and-death crises had been tempered through.

  Ye Chen used his long sword to remove the two sharp fangs from the mountain cat, then packaged it and carried it on his back. The credit points he would get for selling a first-class demonic beast like the mountain cat would be enough to last him for another month. During this time, Ye Chen basically wouldn't have to go on such a dangerous hunt again.

  Ye Chen left with a pleasant mood, carrying the mountain cat on his back. A faint smell of blood lingered behind him, perhaps attracting another round of fighting.

  In the sky, those two bright moons, one big and one small, were still hanging there peacefully. Ye Chen walked on the road back to the city with great care, as since the Great Calamity, many warriors had been born, and the binding force of laws had fallen to its lowest point, replaced by powerful law enforcement armies that dictated rules in every city, often made by those high above.

  However, the consensus reached by everyone is that within the city walls, no one is allowed to take action, whether it's an enemy or a love rival. Except for special places such as dueling grounds and underground worlds, once a fight breaks out, they will be pursued by law enforcement.

  This approach has also been endorsed by all the warriors, after all, a stable environment is needed for everyone, it's just that some strong warriors don't care about it much, but those weak and small people, even those who can't practice martial arts at all, need it greatly.

  Based on the principle of protecting the weak and vulnerable as well as safeguarding future generations, these rules are implemented smoothly with few people intentionally violating them.

  But rules are dead, people are alive. Inside the city walls, one cannot use force, but outside it is possible. Many contradictions and disputes were resolved outside the city, to the point where the outside became a paradise for those who used violence, cheated, and robbed, yet at the same time, it was hell for those who abided by the law, honest people, and peaceful individuals.

  Every year, the number of people who die at the hands of adventurers is not much less than those who die under the claws of monsters. Those who can survive are either extremely powerful or have a strong will to live and understand how to survive.

  Ye Cang started hunting at the age of fifteen and was able to survive for three years, which shows that it's not an easy thing to do.