Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

Right!

’He must have learned it before, right?’

The atmosphere froze.

The people around them understood the meaning behind Instructor Sun’s words.

They silently fanned out behind Tang Wen, tacitly forming a semi-circle around him.

Tang Wen directly showed his waist token. "I am a Commander under Elder Li, personally appointed by Vice Gang Leader Zhao after completing a mission directly assigned by the Gang Leader."

He held the Commander’s token and swept his gaze around.

The crowd behind him, which had gathered quickly, dispersed even faster, breaking their encirclement.

It was as if nothing had just happened.

Instructor Sun frowned. "Then what about your Night Divine Fist?"

Tang Wen cut him off. "An Extraordinary once gave me some pointers. Today, it was just a natural breakthrough."

"Oh, so that’s how it is. Hahaha, Instructor, it’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding."

Someone tried to smooth things over.

Instructor Sun lowered his head, mulling over the names Tang Wen had dropped: Elder Li, the Gang Leader, Vice Gang Leader Zhao, an Extraordinary.

He reluctantly nodded and glanced at Tang Wen.

The latter offered a bland, noncommittal smile in return.

The two took the opportunity to de-escalate and went their separate ways.

But the story spread like wildfire.

The news that the Iron-Faced Instructor, Sun Sanliang, had been bested by a talented newcomer spread throughout the gang and beyond overnight.

In an age with few forms of entertainment, everyone loved hearing fresh gossip.

And aside from scandalous affairs, stories of reversals and putting someone in their place were also quite popular.

That night, when everyone went out for their usual revelries...

With girls in their arms, someone brought up the matter between Sun Sanliang and Tang Wen, instantly becoming the center of attention at the table.

The news traveled even faster than expected.

「The next morning.」

Inside the Martial Arts Hall at the Main Altar, the Martial Artists from the previous night were surprised to see Elder Li.

They secretly congratulated themselves for not having caused trouble for Tang Wen the night before.

’Is Elder Li here to back Tang Wen up?!’

’Could he be another one of his illegitimate sons?’

’Look at Tang Wen’s age.’

’Look at that sallow face.’

Hiss!

’You know, there is a slight resemblance.’

Thinking about Elder Li’s reputation, the gossips suddenly felt they had grasped the truth.

Tang Wen arrived neither early nor late.

He stepped through the gates five minutes before the appointed time.

He was a bit baffled himself when he saw Elder Li upon entering.

Others might not know, but he knew perfectly well.

His relationship with Elder Li was average at best.

’There’s no way he’s here to back me up.’

Just then, Instructor Sun also arrived. Seeing Elder Li, his expression became uncertain.

He was one of the other Vice Gang Leader’s men, not part of Elder Li’s faction.

Elder Li smiled at Tang Wen, then turned to Instructor Sun and said:

"I’m taking Xiaotang on a mission."

Instructor Sun was displeased. He had been gearing up to deal with Tang Wen.

Of course, he didn’t want Tang Wen to just slip away.

He said in a gruff, muffled voice, "Then he’ll miss the chance to learn the fist technique. He won’t be able to make it up later."

Elder Li’s eyes were profound. "This is an order from the Gang Leader! If you have a problem with it, go tell the Gang Leader yourself!"

Instructor Sun didn’t believe it for a second.

’Tang Wen is just a Martial Artist. How could he be summoned by the Gang Leader?’

’And assigned a mission? What a load of crap!’

But Elder Li was an Extraordinary, so he didn’t dare to be impudent. He simply turned his head aside and pretended he hadn’t heard anything.

After leaving the Martial Arts Hall, Elder Li looked at Tang Wen amiably. "They’re not the only faction in the Martial Arts Hall. I’ll find a Peak Martial Artist to teach you later. Don’t worry, it won’t delay your Martial Arts progress."

Tang Wen roughly understood what was going on.

He immediately pledged his loyalty, "I’ve long heard that guy doesn’t get along with our side!"

Elder Li smiled. "The story of you embarrassing him yesterday has already spread everywhere."

Tang Wen cupped his fists. "It was all thanks to you getting me out of that tight spot."

"You punk, you vented my anger for me, so of course I had to help you out."

’Vented your anger?’

’For you?’

’I didn’t know you two had a feud!’

’Yesterday I was just trying to show off a little.’

’I didn’t expect this bonus.’

In a flash, Tang Wen figured it out and laughed naturally. "Heh! He brought it on himself, walking right into it!"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Elder Li burst into hearty laughter.

After laughing, he told Tang Wen that, coincidentally, the Gang Leader really did have something for him.

Tang Wen’s heart immediately tensed up.

He had recently changed his facial disguise.

It just made him look a bit sallow, blotchy, and dark-skinned.

’I hope the Gang Leader doesn’t see through it.’

"Is it about Beast Taming again?" Tang Wen guessed.

"Yes, an unexpected situation has come up."

’So it really is about Beast Taming.’

Speaking of Beast Taming, Tang Wen remembered something and asked curiously:

"What have all the Beastmasters in the city been busy with? They still haven’t returned."

Elder Li suddenly whipped his head around, his expression grim. "Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t! You understand?"

"Understood, understood."

"Those two Water Spirits from last time aren’t enough."

"You got more?"

"More than that. You’ll see when we get there."

It was still early.

The two first went to Elder Li’s home for breakfast.

After the meal, Tang Wen had learned that he was to tame a dozen or so new Aquatic Exotic Beasts.

More importantly, he had to find a way to evolve the previous Male Water Spirit into a High-level Exotic Beast.

A thought struck Tang Wen, and he commented casually, "Seems like the sunken ship we’re salvaging this time is quite important. We absolutely must have a High-level Exotic Beast."

Elder Li nodded without saying anything.

When Tang Wen arrived at the Black Water Gang’s Main Altar, he saw a row of cages.

Water Spirits, White Water Otters, Water Elephants...

A whole menagerie of Aquatic Exotic Beasts.

Tang Wen began to have his doubts again. ’Something isn’t right.’

’What exactly are they trying to salvage?’

’Why do they need so many water-type Exotic Beasts?’

’Is it just to speed up the salvage operation?’

’No... The Black Water Gang has Martial Artists and even Extraordinaries who specialize in Water Element Techniques, right?’

’If they just wanted speed, couldn’t they just send the experts down directly?’

Tang Wen sized up the Exotic Beasts.

「Inside the Council Hall.」

The Black Water Gang’s Gang Leader said, "Time is short. Use whatever resources are necessary. Within fifteen days, all these Exotic Beasts must be tamed. Then we’ll all go to Green Water Pond."

After speaking, he left immediately without lingering.

Only then was Tang Wen led into the Council Hall by Elder Li.

He paid his respects to Vice Gang Leader Zhao and Vice Gang Leader Lin.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao waved a hand. He was sitting on a large chair, leaning forward, and spoke with an intimidating presence, "Tame all of them. You only have fourteen days!"

Tang Wen frowned and blinked, putting on the troubled look of an employee given an unreasonable demand by his boss.

Vice Gang Leader Lin said, "What? Is there a problem? Vice Gang Leader Zhao made a solemn pledge to the Gang Leader on your behalf."

"This...?"

Tang Wen glanced at him, knowing this instigating Vice Gang Leader was definitely not on good terms with Vice Gang Leader Zhao.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao declared, "Take whatever you need from the storehouse!"

Vice Gang Leader Lin was not pleased. "Old Zhao, that’s against the rules!"

Vice Gang Leader Zhao sneered, "I recall your grandson has also studied Beast Taming. Why not have him do it? He can have free use of the resources!"

"You! Hmph. Fourteen days it is, then. Do you dare to accept?" Vice Gang Leader Lin shot to his feet.

Tang Wen looked completely troubled, like a corporate drone whose boss was forcing him to work overtime on his girlfriend’s birthday.

He gritted his teeth and said:

"If resources are unlimited, I am willing to give it my all! I will not fail the trust placed in me."

Vice Gang Leader Lin’s gaze was like a sword. "You don’t know your own limits!"

Vice Gang Leader Zhao stood up and said with affirmation, "Good! Having confidence is what matters."

Vice Gang Leader Lin stormed out, flicking his sleeves.

Once the door was closed, only Li, Zhao, and Tang Wen remained.

Now, the two higher-ups were no longer smiling.

"Kid, be honest. What are your actual chances?"

Tang Wen wanted to fish for information, so he took the chance to ask, "That depends. What are we going to use these Exotic Beasts for?"

"How are those two things related?"

"They are," Tang Wen said, spinning a lie on the spot. "After all, any quick-and-dirty method is bound to have its flaws."

The two higher-ups exchanged a look.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao spoke up, "We need them to go to an extremely dangerous place to retrieve something."

Tang Wen immediately wanted to press for details about what that "something" was.

But a lingering bit of corporate-drone intuition stopped him from asking.

Sometimes, knowing certain things only meant big trouble.

For instance, it’s like asking your boss why he’s still here when you’re about to leave for the day.

You’d probably get a pile of new work dumped on you immediately.

He thought for a moment and rephrased his question, "Is evolving the Male Water Spirit into a High-level Exotic Beast the key?"

Vice Gang Leader Zhao and Elder Li gave a faint smile.

’This kid is pretty sharp.’