Chen Yue noticed someone approaching but didn't act recklessly. He remained hidden, waiting to see what the other party intended to do.
The four people ahead were approaching the cave steadily. When they were not far from it, Lu Qinghe, who was leading the group, stopped and looked at the faint firelight coming from inside. He turned around and said:
"Captain, it looks like someone's already inside the cave."
Han Pojun didn't seem to care. His hand continued to caress Yao Qingyi beside him without stopping. "Send Bibo Bird to scout. If there are many people and they're strong, we'll take a detour. If it's just a few and they're weak, we'll just kick them out."
Lu Qinghe nodded and ordered his beast, Bibo Bird, to investigate.
Due to its oversized beak, the Bibo Bird could only fly low. Although it tried to stay hidden, it was still detected by Chen Yue and his companions.
But Chen Yue didn't react hastily—he wasn't sure yet whether the visitors were friend or foe.
"If they come in peace, I don't mind letting them share the shelter. But if they come with ill intent… I won't be polite."
After gathering the intel, the Bibo Bird returned to report to Lu Qinghe.
"There's only one person inside, a cat, and a Gale Sparrow," Lu reported to Han Pojun.
Han's hand continued wandering over Yao Qingyi as he contemplated, "Hmm… could it be a Silver-tier beastmaster? That's not someone we want to mess with. Let's leave."
He turned to leave without hesitation.
But Hans, who had been trailing behind them, perked up immediately after hearing Lu's description and asked urgently, "Is it a high school-aged kid? The cat—was it white, about the size of a normal kitten? Right?"
Lu Qinghe scratched his head, confused. "How do you know that?"
Han Pojun was curious too. "You know him?"
Hans nodded. "I know him too well. He's a Silver-tier beastmaster, but I know for sure that his beasts are still in the growth stage. That Gale Sparrow must be a new contract. At most, he can field two growing-stage beasts."
Hearing that, Han Pojun's eyes lit up. He was no fool—he picked on the weak and feared the strong. This new information changed his mind.
He had initially wanted to retreat due to perceived inferiority. But now? Three against two—he believed they could win.
Still, he wanted confirmation. "How do you know so much? You're not using us to take revenge for you, are you?"
Han's cold gaze made Hans sweat.
Of course Hans wouldn't tell the truth—it would reveal his motives. Thinking quickly, he said, "No way, Captain! I wouldn't dare lie to you!"
Seeing Han Pojun still somewhat doubtful, Hans gritted his teeth and sweetened the deal:
"Think about it. This kid reached Silver-tier at such a young age, yet he's dressed like a civilian—he's clearly from a poor background. He might have some rare treasure that helped him grow faster!"
Han's eyes gleamed at the thought. Greed overcame caution, and he led the group toward the cave.
Inside the cave, Buster had relayed every word of their conversation to Chen Yue through his excellent hearing.
"Hans? Still trying to rob me? Heh… he really has a death wish."
Hearing the intel, Chen Yue smirked.
Since they were clearly coming with hostile intent, he saw no reason to hold back.
"Buster, prepare for battle!"
Just then, the Gale Sparrow chirped rapidly.
Chen Yue didn't understand it, so Buster acted as the translator.
"You want to fight alongside us?"
The Gale Sparrow nodded.
Chen Yue's eyes lit up. "Fantastic! This is incredible!"
With the Gale Sparrow's legendary-level talent and Buster's strength, they were more than equipped to handle the situation.
"If they're coming with ill will, then we won't be polite. Let's strike first."
Buster and the Gale Sparrow readied themselves for combat, waiting for the enemies to approach.
Meanwhile, the four-person team was almost at the cave's entrance, still joking around, unaware of the imminent danger.
Han Pojun was already fantasizing about monopolizing whatever treasures Chen Yue might have.
Just as they reached the entrance, Buster and the Gale Sparrow launched a preemptive strike.
Wind Blades and Claws of Light simultaneously hit Lu Qinghe and Bibo Bird.
"Ahhh!"
"Bibo!"
With a burst of white light, both man and beast were blasted back into a tree, dead on impact.
Their team instantly lost a member. Han Pojun and Hans broke into cold sweats and immediately summoned their beasts.
Hans' beast was still his growth-stage, elite-potential Wood Mongoose. Chen Yue already knew its type and didn't bother checking again.
But Han Pojun's beast caught Chen Yue's attention.
With a flash of white light, a pitch-black two-headed hound, wreathed in ghostly flames, appeared in front of him.
Activating the Eye of Truth, Chen Yue examined the beast's stats:
[Name: Hellhound Cerberus]
[Stage: Growth, 80%]
[Potential: Rare]
[Attribute: Dark]
[Skills: Hellfire, Rending Claw, Bite]
[Description: A mutated dark-attribute hellhound that evolved into a twin-headed Cerberus. Weakness: Light-attribute attacks.]
Looking at the data, Chen Yue nodded in satisfaction.
"It's strong, I'll give it that. But Dark-attribute is innately weak against my Buster, and it's still a bit lower in level."
To him, this battle was already decided—the victor would be him.
As expected, once the beasts were summoned, the fight erupted instantly. The four beasts clashed in a violent melee.
However, in terms of development and potential, Han Pojun and Hans were completely outclassed.
Almost from the first strike, the Hellhound and Wood Mongoose were being crushed. The enemy side began retreating in disarray.
Han Pojun turned and glared viciously at Hans. "Damn it! Why is he this strong?! This is NOTHING like what you told me!"
But Hans could only grit his teeth in silence.