Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

Fortunately, Tang Wen had anticipated this on his way back to the gang.

He had already prepared an excuse. "I wouldn’t dare hide it from you, Vice Gang Leader. It can be done."

"Oh?" Vice Gang Leader Zhao’s eyes glinted.

Elder Li also narrowed his eyes, his gaze wavering.

’To so quickly tame two Middle-level Exotic Beasts... With that kind of power, how could he be just an ordinary Middle-level Beastmaster?’

’Just who is this kid?’

Tang Wen continued without looking at their expressions.

"But it’s only temporary."

"Temporary?"

"What do you mean? Explain yourself," Elder Li said, his tone turning grave.

Tang Wen cupped his fists. "I used a special technique just now to quickly calm the male Water Spirit, making it obey my commands temporarily, as if it were tamed. In reality, it’s far from it."

Hearing this, the expressions on Vice Gang Leader Zhao and Elder Li grew even darker.

’Rapid taming.’

’A technique like that is even more incredible than simply hiding one’s strength.’

Of course, they didn’t believe him.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao’s gaze sharpened. "Are you saying you have a technique to rapidly tame a Middle-level Exotic Beast?"

"Not tame, calm. I rapidly calm it, then use a Pill made from Extraordinary Exotic Beast Blood Marrow to coerce and entice it, making the Exotic Beast temporarily obedient."

The two men remained silent, exchanging a look with furrowed brows.

Tang Wen continued, "I need to train this male beast for a few more days to truly tame it. Otherwise, I might get it to pick some lotus pods, but if I try to make it do heavy or strenuous work, I’m afraid it will take the first chance to escape."

Vice Gang Leader Zhao gave Tang Wen a long, hard look. "There’s no rush on the Beast Taming, we have plenty of time. First, let’s see this ’calming’ masterpiece of yours."

He spoke without giving Tang Wen a chance to respond.

He immediately ordered a man to bring over a Middle-level Exotic Beast horse.

Clearly, Vice Gang Leader Zhao was suspicious.

Before long, a man came leading a black stallion.

This stallion was an impressive specimen, used by the gang for breeding purposes.

And stud horses are notoriously aggressive.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

After giving it a few lashes with a whip, the handler quickly scurried away.

The stallion immediately flew into a rage.

It snapped its reins and, with hooves flying, chased the man, trying to bite him.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao looked at Tang Wen.

Tang Wen took a deep breath.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, he walked right up to it.

He walked slowly, pausing with each step, and after a few paces, he was standing directly in the stallion’s path.

The stallion snorted repeatedly and reared its front hooves high, looking as if it wanted to trample Tang Wen to death on the spot!

[Spiritual Soothing]

Tang Wen stared into its big, dark, glistening eyes and confidently stretched out his hand.

He made a small gesture.

"NEIGH!"

The stallion controlled its hooves, bringing them down to one side. It cocked its head and looked at Tang Wen, its eyes filled with confusion, but it was now quiet.

"Phew!"

Tang Wen let out a long breath, clutching his temples and staggering back several steps.

He looked as if he were too dizzy to stand.

Wu Hao and the others looked on, their faces full of confusion, wondering what had happened to him.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao, however, was fascinated. "That technique of yours, does it consume Spiritual Power?"

Elder Li also asked, "That’s an interesting technique. I wonder, can it be taught to others?"

When Tang Wen looked at the two men’s faces now, both of their expressions had softened.

Clearly, their suspicions had been greatly diminished.

Tang Wen didn’t dare let his guard down; he had to see the act through to the end.

After resting for thirty seconds, he spoke. "The one who taught me the Beast Taming Skill was a crazy old man. His entire family was murdered by the Black Mountain Battalion."

"He wandered into my village and said I had a Talent for the Beast Taming Class, so he taught me for several years."

"I doubt anyone else could learn it, and I won’t teach it anyway."

"The strange thing is, I’ve tried this technique before, but it’s always been hit-or-miss, and it always gives me a headache afterward."

"I have no idea what’s different today, but it somehow worked three times in a row."

He finished with a frown, looking as if he didn’t understand it himself.

Instead, it was Elder Li who asked thoughtfully, "Xiaotang, are you a Martial Artist?"

"That’s right. A Peak Martial Artist." Tang Wen puffed his chest out slightly.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao also seemed to realize something. "So that’s it! Kid, you must be on the verge of a breakthrough!"

Tang Wen had deliberately displayed speed surpassing that of a Martial Artist today.

’His original plan had been to win the competition and make a great contribution. Then, during the rewards ceremony, he’d use the excuse of an impending breakthrough to request permission to learn the Night Divine Fist.’

’He never expected that the [Spiritual Soothing] would be so effective.’

’It ended up arousing suspicion about his true strength.’

’Fortunately, just when things looked bleak, a new opportunity arose. The speed he had intentionally displayed earlier now became the best reason to allay their suspicions.’

’Before the competition, Tang Wen had never mentioned having this Talent.’

’That was the source of their suspicion.’

’When you first join a gang, it’s the perfect time to show off your talents and make a name for yourself.’

’With an ability like that, what’s the point of hiding it?’

’The explanation Tang Wen had subtly constructed was this:’

’My ability was hit-or-miss before, so I didn’t mention it.’

’But this created a new problem.’

’It was unreliable before?’

’So why has it been working perfectly today?’

That question...

...was one Tang Wen didn’t need to answer himself.

Elder Li, who had been watching him closely, had already noticed his unusual speed and now brought it up as a matter of course.

This was ten, even a hundred times more effective than if he had tried to explain it himself.

Vice Gang Leader Zhao followed Elder Li’s train of thought, wondering if Tang Wen was on the verge of a breakthrough.

"Oh! So that’s it!"

Tang Wen, the man at the center of it all, feigned a look of sudden realization.

"Thank you for the reminder, Vice Gang Leader, Elder. So that’s what it is."

Stroking his beard, Elder Li looked at Vice Gang Leader Zhao and speculated, "First, let’s have Xiaotang tame the Water Spirit as soon as possible. Then, we can arrange for him to attempt his breakthrough to the Martial Artist realm. Once he becomes a Martial Artist, I imagine his Talent Ability will stabilize."

"Mm, good. We’ll do that. However, meritorious service must be rewarded."

"I said before that if you beat the Boat Gang, I would reward you with the position of Vice Commander."

"Now that you’ve won, how would you like to assist Wu Hao as his second-in-command?"

Tang Wen was "overjoyed." "Thank you, Vice Gang Leader! Thank you, Elder!"

Wu Hao was also beaming with delight. A Beastmaster on the verge of becoming a Martial Artist as his deputy? This was a stroke of luck he could never have hoped for!

The other team members were all smiles, though one or two might have harbored some private thoughts.

Beastmasters and Pharmacists were famous for making money fast.

Their own direct superior was now such a powerhouse.

Wouldn’t they be able to bask in his reflected glory?

Judging by how Tang Wen threw down his silver for the bet today, they knew this guy was definitely not the stingy type.

Weren’t the good times just around the corner?

The courtyard filled with cheers and laughter.

Knowing Tang Wen still didn’t have a place to live...

...Elder Li had someone bring out the deeds to several Black Water Gang residences for Tang Wen to choose from.

Of course, when it came to picking a house, it was always best to see them in person.

Wu Hao eagerly volunteered to take Tang Wen.

There was no time to delay. He would have to spend the next few days taming the Water Spirit. Only today, with his Spiritual Power supposedly overdrawn, did Tang Wen have some free time.

As soon as Vice Gang Leader Zhao and Elder Li left, Wu Hao immediately took Tang Wen out on horseback to pick a residence.

"Brother, the locations of these manors are all pretty remote. Take a look and see if any catch your eye. If not, we can privately ask Elder Li to swap them," Wu Hao said, giving him a meaningful look.

He and Tang Wen were now firmly considered Elder Li’s men.

’How hard could it be to switch houses?’

Tang Wen’s heart skipped a beat. ’Remote?’

’Remote is perfect!’

’That’s exactly what I want. How else am I supposed to practice my fist techniques?’

’How am I supposed to sneak out to investigate the matter of the Bai Family’s exploration team?’

He thought for a moment, then, looking at the team members behind Wu Hao, he spoke in a voice loud enough for them to hear as well.

"The gang doesn’t stop its members from earning a little extra on the side, does it?"

Wu Hao slapped his thigh. "You got that right, Brother! They don’t stop us, of course not! You have an idea?"

Tang Wen immediately pitched his idea. "As a Beastmaster who can tame male beasts, I could run a little breeding business on the side. For instance, my male wolf is a Top-Grade Sand Wolf with the Talent to become a High-level Exotic Beast. It can breed with any wolf or dog-type Exotic Beast."

Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces lit up with delight.

The stud fee for a male with High-level Exotic Beast potential would be at least five hundred taels of silver a session.

Seeing that he had them hooked, Tang Wen immediately grinned. "For that to work, I’ll need a quiet, secluded location for my residence."

"We’ll find one! Let’s get searching! We’ll do as Brother Tang—no, as Commander Tang says! Everyone, let’s look together!"

"Commanders, I actually know a place. It’s also one of the gang’s properties, but someone’s living there. It would take a bit of trouble to get it."

"Where is it? What’s the situation? Tell us."

After the man finished speaking, Tang Wen felt a strange sense of unease. ’Why does that family’s situation sound so familiar?’