Chapter 23: Bringing the Bear Cub Home

Su Hao’s gaze was sharp as lightning, keenly seizing the split second of the mother beast’s distraction. With a sudden burst of strength, he gripped his cold, glistening machete like an iron pincer. In a flash, he bolted forward, thrusting the blade directly toward the demon bear’s exposed and defenseless throat.

At that moment, the demon bear was tilted back, roaring toward the heavens. Immersed in grief and rage, its neck was completely unprotected; it remained utterly oblivious to the impending fatal strike, never sensing the danger closing in.

"Squelch!"

With a crisp yet dull sound, the machete sliced through the beast as if it were tofu. The majority of the blade embedded itself deep into the bear’s thick neck, piercing straight from the throat to the crown of its head. In an instant, blood erupted like a fountain, painting every inch of the surrounding earth in a shocking, visceral display of carnage.

The beast’s mournful howl cut off abruptly. Its massive body collapsed like a kite with severed strings, slamming into the ground and sending a cloud of dust into the air, as if the earth itself had trembled.

"Roar!"

Just then, an even more soul-shaking roar erupted from the distance. The sound tore across the sky, as if threatening to shatter the heavens—it was the grief-stricken cry of the three cubs' father.

Upon hearing the tragic news, the male bear had rushed over in a frantic rage. From afar, it witnessed its mate slaughtered at Su Hao’s hands. Consumed by sorrow and burning with fury, it roared incessantly as it charged, a momentum so overwhelming it seemed intent on devouring the world, chilling to the bone.

It charged at Su Hao with the unstoppable force of a flash flood. Each step it took caused the ground to shudder violently, as if the very terrain were trembling beneath its weight. As it closed in, the bear leaped high, its massive paw whistling through the air with the crushing weight of a falling mountain, aiming to flatten Su Hao into a pulp.

Su Hao’s expression turned grave, but he moved with the fluidity of a nimble fish. At the very last millisecond, he narrowly evaded the lethal blow, causing the beast to strike only empty air.

The male bear, missing its target, grew even more enraged. In the blink of an eye, it swung its second paw, aimed directly at Su Hao’s vitals. The attack was even more ferocious than the last, as if it would not rest until Su Hao was dead.

As he dodged, Su Hao assessed the situation: this male bear’s power and speed were at least a tier above the female’s—not to be underestimated. Yet, rather than fear, a sense of unyielding fighting spirit surged within him, fueling his determination to face the beast head-on. More importantly, looking at the three adorable cubs, a wave of pity washed over him, sparking an idea: he would tame them as his own beast companions and embark on a new, extraordinary journey together.

But the bear would not yield. It had become a completely berserk creature, its attacks growing increasingly savage. Every strike carried a terrifying force that could shatter boulders, forcing Su Hao to focus entirely on his defense.

Su Hao darted left and right, weaving through the forest like an elusive ghost. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: he still had a large-caliber handgun holstered at his waist!

Taking advantage of the distance he had created with his nimble footwork, Su Hao quickly drew the cold, steel firearm.

Being a level 5 master of firearms, Su Hao was well-accustomed to such weapons. He didn't even need to aim; he simply raised his arm and fired a crisp, decisive three-round burst.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The deafening gunshots echoed through the woods, shattering the forest's silence. The three bullets tore through the air like shooting stars, striking the bear’s eyes and throat with pinpoint accuracy and blinding speed.

The bear’s massive body jolted, a flicker of confusion and agony crossing its eyes. The next moment, its vision was swallowed by an endless darkness. A tickle in its throat turned instantly into searing pain, and blood gushed uncontrollably from its neck, drenching its thick chest in a tragic, gruesome sight.

Seeing this, Su Hao hardened his heart and gripped his machete once more. Seizing the opportunity of the bear’s injury, he pressed the attack. Every strike of his blade carried the force of thunder, raining down upon the beast. The sound of his slashing blade rang clear through the quiet forest.

Though blinded, the bear struggled on instinct, thrashing its massive body to shake off the assault. Yet, it could not escape its fate. After a final, desperate struggle, it collapsed into a pool of blood. The fire of life extinguished, its once-mighty frame turned cold and rigid.

After defeating the two fierce demon bears, Su Hao’s gaze naturally fell upon the three ignorant little cubs. They were curled tightly together, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and fear. However, they showed no defensive hostility toward the stranger who had suddenly appeared. They merely watched him with innocent, pure eyes, then glanced back at their fallen parents, their confusion palpable as they struggled to understand the sudden tragedy. It was a heart-wrenching sight.

Su Hao approached them slowly, his movements as gentle as a spring breeze, careful not to startle the tiny creatures. He knelt down to meet their gaze and carefully produced some dry rations he had prepared from his storage space.

The food was elegantly packaged, and as soon as it was revealed, an enticing aroma wafted through the air, enough to make anyone salivate. Su Hao carefully tore open the packaging and handed the rations to the cubs with a gentle, patient expression.

The cubs sniffed the food with their tiny noses, immediately drawn by the unique scent. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They reached out with their small, tender paws, held the food, and began to chew happily, their little faces radiating satisfaction.

Watching them eat, the corner of Su Hao’s mouth curled into a warm smile. A wave of tenderness washed over him, deeply moved by the heartwarming scene.

Once the cubs were settled, Su Hao turned around. He gently lifted the bodies of the mother and father bears, handling them with care as if afraid to disturb them, and placed them into his storage space. He knew well that while these beast corpses were massive and heavy, they were invaluable resources that would serve him well. After storing them, he patted his storage bag, as if bidding a silent, respectful farewell to the pair of bears.

With that, he led the three cubs and set off, leaving the blood-stained battlefield behind.

Before the fight, Su Hao had donned an old, blood-stained garment to keep his own clothes clean. Now, he stopped to swap his attire, discarding the soiled clothing into his storage space and smoothing out his new, clean outfit. Feeling the comfort of the fresh fabric, his mood lightened.

Suddenly, a powerful, oppressive perception swept over him, as if a peak-level magical beast were watching him. Su Hao’s scalp tingled, and cold sweat broke out on his back. The pressure was terrifying.

He immediately scooped up the three cubs and fled at full speed. Only after the presence no longer seemed focused on him did he set the cubs down.

He played with the three lively, adorable cubs, his heart filled with warmth and tenderness. Carefully avoiding areas that might hide danger, he led them slowly toward the outskirts, moving further and further away from the land of blood and slaughter.

The setting sun cast its glow upon him, gilding his silhouette with golden light. He looked serene and warm, like a beautiful painting. He walked on with the cubs, step by step toward the distance, where a new life, full of hope and infinite possibilities, awaited them.

Meanwhile, at the perimeter, Bi Luochun, Gui Xiangling of the Justice Sect, the cold and aloof Yi Binglan, and the sharp-witted Wen Xiaochuan were all gazing anxiously toward the depths of the Forbidden Zone, their eyes filled with worry. They tried to pierce through the dense, tangled forest with their gazes, but they could not catch a glimpse of Senior Brother Qingming—Su Hao. Their hearts were in their throats, and the tension hung heavy in the air.

"It’s been two hours already. Could Senior Brother Qingming have run into some real trouble?" Wen Xiaochuan frowned, his voice trembling with uncertainty and deep concern.

"Pah, pah, pah! Stop your crowing! Senior Brother Qingming is always cautious; how could he get into danger so easily?" Though Yi Binglan spoke with bravado, she was pacing like an ant on a hot pan. Her outward composure was merely a mask, and anyone could see the anxiety hidden within her heart.