Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 369 A Terrifying Experience in the Cave! A Frenzied Escape!
Amidst the wind and snow, and the continuous mountain range, the soft sunlight illuminated the snow-covered gullies worn by people, and also revealed three figures.

The team leader was Huo Hong, a man of lean build. He walked steadily and his sharp eyes scanned the surrounding environment.

Amei followed closely behind Huo Hong, carefully watching her step while taking snacks out of her pocket;

Following behind Amei was a tall, robust young man with a bright smile on his face. He strode forward, exuding energy.

"Azure Hound, is there any danger nearby?" Huo Hong's voice suddenly rang out.

"Wang Wang!"

The Azure Mist Hunting Dog, which was leading the way to scout ahead, looked back and shook its head.

Its bushy tail, like a lush fern, swayed gently with its cautious and light steps.

The emerald-green nose was twitching slightly at an extremely high frequency. The fine veins on its surface seemed to come alive at this moment, greedily capturing and analyzing every faint scent molecule in the air, guiding the team to the safest path.

Amei's lark soared and danced in the air, sometimes swooping down to explore the rock face, sometimes flying high to survey the whole scene, its sharp eyes not missing any subtle movement.

The tall, carefree young man followed beside him. His pet beast was a slender, silver-armored mantis with arms that resembled silver scythes forged through countless trials.

The silver-armored mantis's compound eyes vigilantly scanned all directions, and its sickle-like legs occasionally rubbed together very slightly, producing a warning sound like a clear metallic clang.

"Have you firmly etched the mission objectives into your mind?"

Huo Hong suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but with his usual composure, which sounded particularly clear on the silent snow: "According to reliable intelligence, what the employer needs is at the deepest part of this cave. The reward for this mission is very generous, so we must take it seriously."

He turned his head and looked at the Silver Mantis: "Stone, your Silver Mantis has reached a bottleneck. You might as well find some much-needed steel-type materials for it and nurture it properly so that it can break through the bottleneck as soon as possible."

The tall, burly boy, Shi Tou, patted his chest forcefully and assured him in a loud voice, "Don't worry, Master, I will definitely treat you well!"

Amei let out a burp, then patted her slightly protruding belly, muttered softly that she was about 40% full, and nodded, "Yes, Liu Yunque and I will do our best too."

Huo Hong looked at his two apprentices, a complex emotion that was hard to detect flashing deep in his eyes. He added, "We went to great lengths to get this intelligence, so the mission can only succeed, not fail. Otherwise, we'll really be starving for the next few months."

After saying that, he sighed inwardly.

Amei and Shitou were both orphans he took in. One was a thoughtful girl with a big appetite, and the other was a straightforward and honest young man with an equally impressive appetite. Supporting them made life very difficult for Huo Hong, who was not well-off to begin with.

He's supposed to be a bounty hunter who lives on the edge of a knife and values ​​tangible rewards, but somehow, as time goes by, he feels more and more like a heartbroken orphanage director.
Huo Hong shook his head helplessly, as if trying to shake off the pressure of making a living that was making his scalp tingle, and refocus his attention on the dark and unknown cave ahead.

The three of them had their pets break the icicles hanging from the cave entrance and then crawled in one by one.

The cave was instantly enveloped in cool, damp air, and the light dimmed rapidly. Only the faint sound of dripping water and the smell of mud and rocks mixed together could be heard.

"Everyone, stay close to me and watch your step and head."

Huo Hong lowered his voice to remind him, his voice echoing slightly in the small space.

Without hesitation, the Azure Hound ventured into the darkness first. Its emerald nose seemed to glow softly in the extremely dim light, making it a very reliable guiding light for living beings.

The lark lowered its flight altitude and weaved nimbly through the formation, using its excellent night vision and airflow perception to provide additional early warnings for the team.

The Silver Mantis deliberately stayed at the back of the group, its scythe-like blades slightly raised, ready to attack or block at any moment, while vigilantly watching the movements behind and to the sides.

The cave was deeper and more winding than they had imagined, and the silence was amplified to an extreme degree, with only their suppressed breathing, careful footsteps, and the occasional crisp sound of water droplets falling from the cave ceiling onto rocks or puddles.

This oppressive stillness was pure torture for the stone.

After walking along a seemingly endless path, he couldn't hold back any longer. He nudged Amei in front of him with his elbow and whispered, "Senior Sister, this cave is so deep. Do you think there might be some very valuable dark-type pets inside?"

Huo Hong, who was walking ahead, didn't turn his head and said indifferently, "There are at most some worthless Shadow Bats inside, and some Earth and Steel type pets. Watch where you're going and don't worry about these things."

Shi Tou scratched the back of his head, and after a few minutes of silence, he couldn't help but lean closer to A Mei again. This time, the topic quietly shifted to another direction he had been thinking about: "Senior Sister, does Master really know Consultant Chen?"

Before Amei could respond, Huo Hong sighed helplessly, glanced at the stone, and the dim light in the cave outlined his smiling lips: "You brat, you've been asking this question since we set off, my ears are practically calloused."

Stone chuckled twice, his face filled with disbelief:
"Mainly...mainly I can't believe it. Consultant Chen is a legendary big shot, someone who seems to be from a completely different world than us. Master, you actually know him?"

The sound of stones echoed slowly in the deep cave, filled with pure worship and a sense of unreachable distance.

Huo Hong deliberately glared at him, but his tone carried a hint of smugness: "What? So those big shots are allowed to know each other, but your master isn't allowed to know Consultant Chen?"

"No, no!" Shi Tou hurriedly waved his hands, his dark face turning slightly red with anxiety. "It's just too unbelievable, like a dream. Master, you're amazing."

Walking beside her, Amei blinked her clear, large eyes and added softly:
"Actually, I also met Consultant Chen. At that time, I had just started following my master and had been starving for several days. My stomach was growling. I didn't expect to run into Consultant Chen while doing a mission."

She tried to recall, her fair cheeks flushed slightly, and she smiled somewhat embarrassedly. "But I was probably too hungry at the time, and I was so focused on eating that I don't think I really saw what Consultant Chen looked like. I just remember that his voice was very pleasant and gentle."

Upon hearing this, Shi Tou's face immediately showed great disappointment, and he beat his chest and stamped his feet: "Ah? Senior sister, you didn't see it clearly, what a pity."

He paused, lowered his eyes, and sighed, "Although the people in the village always say that Consultant Chen is the most powerful beast tamer in Qin Province, I have never known what he looks like, nor do I know much about his pets."

Recalling Shi Tou's experience, Huo Hong sighed inwardly, then forced a smile and softened his tone considerably: "It's alright. After we finish this mission, I'll buy you a phone. There are plenty of reports about Consultant Chen online, so you can also study his battle videos, which will be of great help to your path as a Beastmaster."

Looking at the stone with its gleaming eyes, Huo Hong's smile widened: "By the way, once this mission is successfully completed, your master will take you to Xuanhe Town to give you a proper visit to Consultant Chen, whom you've been longing to see."

"Really? You mean it!"

Stone was overjoyed and almost jumped up with excitement: "Master, you're so kind!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Hong raised his eyebrows and stroked his chin, his face full of smugness. However, when Shi Tou's voice rang out again, he coughed heavily several times.

“Master, do you think I could use my Silver Mantis to launch a formal challenge against Consultant Chen, even if it’s just one move, just one move? The Silver Mantis must also be eager to fight a true powerhouse.”

Shi Tou clenched his fists, full of fighting spirit, while Huo Hong coughed incessantly.

The silver-armored mantis beside him seemed to sense its master's surging fighting spirit and immense courage. It emitted a crisp "clang" sound like clashing blades, its scythe-like legs rubbing together, flashing with a cold light, and its compound eyes burning with eager anticipation.

Seeing the actions of the man and his pet, Huo Hong was speechless for a moment. Looking at Shi Tou's fearless and naive appearance, he opened his mouth but did not say anything to advise him. He just silently gave Shi Tou a thumbs up: "If you cause trouble in the future, don't say that you are my disciple."

As they talked, the three of them gradually ventured deeper into the cave.

Occasionally, you'll encounter some indigenous people who live here, such as shadow bats hanging upside down on the rock tops, making sharp squeaking noises when startled by footsteps, and fluttering their wings as they fly by.

Or they might be burrowing moles that suddenly emerge from narrow gaps on the side, staring at these uninvited guests with their round little eyes, before quickly retreating back into their hiding places.

However, with the incredibly accurate guidance of the Azure Hounds and the warnings of the Flowing Cloud Larks, they were always able to detect the wild beasts hiding in the caves in advance, cleverly choose another path or wait quietly, avoid all kinds of unnecessary conflicts, and venture deeper into the caves without any danger.

After walking for nearly an hour, led by the Azure Hound, they navigated through several forks in the road as if in a maze, until a very peculiar light began to emanate from the depths of the cave ahead.

The earthy smell faded, replaced by a cold, metallic energy; one could even feel a slight chill in their lungs with each breath.

Huo Hong gestured to the two men to be careful, so they both tread lightly and, using the natural rocks inside the cave as cover, slowly approached the source of the light.

The three people and their three pets hid behind a huge stalactite covered with condensation droplets, holding their breath and looking ahead.

At the deepest part of the cave was a rather spacious natural rock cave, with countless minerals of various sizes and shapes embedded in the four rock walls.

These minerals all emitted a soft or bright light, colorful and illuminating the entire cave in a dreamlike way.

Huo Hong's pupils suddenly contracted, but he forcibly suppressed his excitement, looked away, and quickly searched, finally finding his target for this trip—Silver Cloud Stone.

As a level-three resource, the silver marble exudes a unique silvery-gray metallic luster, its surface seemingly flowing with liquid metal. The three of them simultaneously displayed barely suppressed excitement and joy; Stone almost cried out in excitement, but thankfully he quickly realized something was wrong and hurriedly covered his mouth.

However, the next moment, the ecstasy on their faces froze instantly, as if doused with ice water.

Right in front of those glittering ores, a massive, suffocating figure lay prone.

It was a colossal beast fast asleep, its entire body covered in thick, silvery-white metallic scales resembling medieval plate armor. Each scale was incredibly thick, with sharp edges, reflecting a cold and indestructible luster under the dim light of the mineral.

Even when lying prone on the ground, its height is almost chest-high, creating a chilling sense of oppression.

The most striking features are its thick, battering ram-like silver horn on its forehead, gleaming with a cold light, and its enormous tail casually draped over the ground, covered in ferocious, bone-spiky armor.

Each of its long breaths produced a low, rumbling sound, like a small bellows beating.

Steel-Armored Rhinoceros, a Steel-type pet, is born with the quality of a leader.

Huo Hong recalled the relevant information about this kind of pet beast, his face remained calm, as if he had long been fully prepared to face the powerful pet beast.

Then, he made several very simple, clear gestures toward Amei and Shitou, his eyes sharp and calm.

In a brief exchange of glances, a classic diversionary tactic was quickly agreed upon: he and the Azure Hound would create a large enough commotion to lure away the sleeping behemoth. Amei and Shitou would then sneak in, gather the necessary resources as quickly as possible, and immediately retreat along the same route, avoiding any lingering fight, before meeting up at a relatively safe fork in the road they had previously passed.

The plan will be implemented immediately.

With a thought from Huo Hong, the Azure Hound instantly moved like a ghost blending into the shadows, silently circling around the rock wall to the other side. It quickly selected a loose rock and fiercely dug at it with its claws.

"Crash."

The sound of falling gravel was like thunder in the silent cave!

At the same time, the Azure Mist Hunting Dog let out a clear and provocative long howl: "Woof woof!"

"Roar--!!!"

The sleeping steel-armored rhinoceros was instantly awakened. It let out a deafening roar of anger, its massive body suddenly standing up. Its scarlet eyes, like searchlights, instantly locked onto the Azure Hound that dared to disturb its slumber and Huo Hong, who emerged from behind the rocks.

The Armored Rhinoceros's thick, pillar-like limbs pounded the ground, producing a heavy rumble that made the earth tremble slightly. With its head lowered and its terrifying horn pointed forward, it charged towards Huo Hong and the Azure Hound like a silver tank starting at full speed.

Huo Hong and the Azure Hound turned around without hesitation and fled along the predetermined route at top speed. Relying on their brief memory of the terrain and their agile skills, they narrowly avoided the savage charge and quickly led the enraged Armored Rhinoceros to another fork in the cave.

The heavy footsteps and angry roars quickly faded into the distance.

Seeing that the armored rhinoceros had been successfully lured away, Amei and Stone immediately rushed out of their hiding place, their hearts pounding, excited and nervous as they ran towards the rock wall that shimmered with alluring light.

"Lark, Silver Mantis, get started."

The Swift Lark aimed at the junction of the ore and the rock face, preparing to make a precise cut with its sharp wind blades. The Silver Mantis's eyes flashed, and it raised its sharp blade, ready to deliver a precise slash.

However, just as they were preparing to dig for the ore, a sudden change occurred.

"Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!!"

A series of heavy, rapid, terrifying footsteps, as if pounding on their hearts, accompanied by a furious roar that struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, came violently from the dark side road not far behind them.

At that moment, Amei and Shitou felt as if their blood had frozen instantly, their movements halted in mid-air, and the blush that had just appeared on their faces due to excitement vanished completely in an instant, leaving only a pale expression of terror.

They turned around extremely slowly, like rusty robots.

Then they saw another massive, equally ferocious steel-armored rhinoceros, clad in silver-white armor, charging out from a side path they had previously scouted and thought was safe.

The armored rhinoceros's crimson eyes burned with rage as it locked onto the two men attempting to mine the ore.

Two armored rhinoceroses actually lived in this cave!

Moreover, judging from their aura, they are probably all powerful beings in the third tier!
"run!!!"

Amei screamed at the top of her lungs, grabbed the still-dazed Shitou, and turned to run for her life in the direction she had come from.

"Roar!!!"

The armored rhinoceros was completely enraged. It suddenly lowered its head, and its horn gleamed with a dangerous metallic sheen, like a giant spear poised to strike, and slammed into the backs of the two fleeing figures.

"Lark, maximum power air surge!"

"Silver Mantis, Full Power Steel Blade!"

The lark flapped its wings vigorously, creating a powerful gust of air that attempted to block sight and footsteps.

The Silver Mantis suddenly turned to face the massive enemy, its sharp blades slashing out with the sharpest cross of light it could muster, aiming with resolute force at the Steel-Armored Rhinoceros's face.

"Clang! Clang—!"

The sharp, cold light struck the thick armor of the Steel-Armored Rhino precisely, but only produced a series of dazzling sparks, leaving two shallow white marks. It was unable to penetrate the thick defense at all, and the difference in strength was as insurmountable as an insurmountable chasm between the two.

The armored rhinoceros was only slightly slowed down by this ticklish attack, which made it even angrier. Its thick tail, like a steel whip, swept horizontally with a whistling sound, aiming directly at the silver-armored mantis and the two people behind it.

"Get out of the way!"

Shi Tou suddenly pushed Amei to the side, and then fell to the other side himself due to the reaction force.

Thanks to its exceptional agility, the silver-armored mantis narrowly dodged the deadly sweep with a backward leap, but the resulting gust of wind still made it unsteady on its feet.

Faced with the enraged third-tier pet, the two people and their two pets dared not have the slightest thought of continuing the fight. Taking advantage of this brief gap, they scrambled and crawled back the way they came, desperately fleeing.

The armored rhinoceros pursued closely behind, its heavy footsteps like the drumbeats of death, its angry roars shaking the entire cave passage, sending pebbles and dust tumbling down.

In his frantic escape, Stone stopped at a fork in the road with two paths, panting heavily. He glanced at the terrifying figure getting closer and closer behind him, and then at Amei beside him, pale-faced and panting heavily.

A momentary struggle flashed in his eyes, which then transformed into a resolute determination.

He shoved Amei from behind, pushing her toward the narrower-looking side path on the left. His voice was urgent but unusually firm: "Senior sister, you go to the left path. I'll go with Silver Armored Mantis to the right to shake it off. Hurry up, don't look back!"

Amei stumbled from the push and turned back to look anxiously at Shi Tou: "But you..."

"No buts, run! See you at the rendezvous point!"

Stone roared, and before Amei could retort, he turned around and made a face at the Steel Armored Rhinoceros that was chasing after him. Then, trembling, he and the Silver Armored Mantis plunged headlong into the wider passage on the right.

The Steel-Armored Rhinoceros's hatred was instantly drawn to the provocation from the stone. It let out a roar that could shatter eardrums, abandoned its target on the left without hesitation, and with earth-shaking strides, chased after the right passage where the stone had disappeared.

The heavy footsteps and furious roars gradually faded into the depths of the passage, leaving only unsettling echoes and deathly silence in the cave.

The fork in the road on the left.

Amei stopped, leaning against the cold rock wall, panting heavily. She looked back at the darkness where the stone and the silver-armored mantis had disappeared, her eyes filled with worry and anxiety.

She gritted her teeth, knowing that now was not the time to hesitate, and forced herself to turn around and continue running into the darkness, praying again and again that her junior brother and his silver-armored mantis would be safe and sound.

"Master, where are you?"

(End of this chapter)