Translator: mianbao Editor: Aelryinth
Edited by RED
Alas, not even an electronic lighter functioned properly in the beast world, not to mention the more technologically advanced personal terminals.
Thus, even if Zhang Che waited until the end of time, no one would come offer him any advice.
“Hmm? Right, an electronic lighter is useless, but what about those flint lighters?”
Zhang Che suddenly thought of a question, his heart immediately shook!
Regretfully, however, a distant fire wouldn’t boil the water close at hand. So what if a flint lighter worked?
Did he have to specially make a trip back?
With that lost time, it would be better to directly ask someone in the safety zone to take care of it for him.
“Forget it; I’ll stop thinking about starting a fire for now, and go find a water source to clean this thing up first.”
Shaking his head self-mockingly, Zhang Che mounted onto Hanxue once more, scanning around him to look for the nearest source of water.
There would definitely be a stream somewhere in this vast grassland, no questions asked. Otherwise, what would the creatures living here drink? It was only a matter of time before he found it.
Zhang Che shifted his gaze towards the horizon in a certain direction. That was one of the V-shaped outlines of the mountain range extending behind him.
That mountain range was so tall; there would probably be a mountain stream flowing along the ravines to the grasslands here. As long as he kept looking along the foot of the mountain range, he would surely find water. It was easier than searching in the endless grasslands.
Sure enough, before he even got close to the towering cliffs, Zhang Che saw several waterfalls falling from an extremely high altitude, scattering into a curtain of mist.
It was pretty good this way. Even if he can’t start a fire in the end, at least he could clean the carcass first.
~~~~~~
Qian Wei City, the Ding Feng Corporation building...
Zhang Yujie was standing expressionlessly, like a lone pine tree. In front of him, an employee was bending his waist slightly, his head lowered, his forehead full of sweat.
“So, regarding that Sun Che, you guys basically found nothing on him?” Without waiting for the employee to reply, Zhang Yujie waved his hand, gesturing for him to leave.
That employee immediately felt as if he was pardoned, and lowered his waist further, stepping backwards. Only when he reached the door did he turn around and leave. When he shut the door to this office, he let out a long sigh of relief. “Zhang-dashao¹ seems so amiable usually. I didn’t expect him to have such a fearsome aura around him when he puts on a serious face. It seems like the Ding Feng Corporation has truly found a worthy successor!”
In the office, Zhang Yujie recalled his transaction with Zhang Che previously. He couldn’t help but reveal a slight bitter smile, shaking his head. Perhaps he shouldn’t have acted so pretentiously, and thoroughly investigated that Sun Che’s identity earlier?
Thinking of his failed operation, and the ridiculing looks on his two good-for-nothing brothers, Zhang Yujie’s mood took a dive.
He could faintly guess that Sun Che must have had something to do with the sudden disappearance of the elephorse herd at the grasslands behind the mountain range, but the details of it really left him confused.
However, thinking of this, the depths of that Sun Che’s strength were really unfathomable.
Not only did he make the entire herd of elephorses leave, he even had the guts to go deeper into the grasslands. That was not something ordinary beastmasters could do easily.
“Forget it. The investigation ends here. It’s better to make friends with that guy as best as we can in the future. It’s way better to be friends than enemies with such a figure.”
Zhang Yujie was thinking, since he already had a pleasant transaction with that Sun Che, and they didn’t have an acrimonious falling-out with each other for this matter, either, it would probably still greatly benefit himself and the Ding Feng Corporation if he made friends properly with him.
——-
Unlike how Zhang Yujie was so at ease, the few people who lost a White-Headed Falcon all had gloomy expressions on their faces when they returned in the end.
Especially the owner of the White-Headed Falcon, Old Lu. That was his most capable subdued beast. He only got it through a stroke of luck back then, and it was a great assistant to him. Be it scouting for exotic beasts or hunting them, it had proved itself to be extremely useful.
Now that it lost its life on that grassland under such unknown circumstances, it truly left him bleeding in his heart, as if he had just lost his parents.
It could be said that they took a double loss on this impromptu operation that was born from greed. Without a pair of sharp eyes in the sky from today on, their profits would surely shrink by a large margin.
——
The one responsible for all this, Zhang Che, was currently squatting by the side of a converged stream of river under the foot of the mountain range, focused on cleaning the carcass of the unknown exotic beast in his hand.
The knife Huang Tielan had gifted him flew about up and down in his hand. First he cut off the smashed head, followed by skinning it and cutting it open from the chest, removing its innards. The series of actions was rather delightful.
Of course, it would be perfect if the skin and fur he threw away to the side weren’t there.
“Tsk tsk, my technique still needs some polishing! Now, then, comes the noble problem that concerns the survival of humans; how to start a fire.”
The ingredients were prepared. If he still couldn’t start a fire, all the work he had done so far would be for naught. He can’t possible eat them raw.
“The principle behind drilling wood to obtain fire is only making use of the friction caused to ignite flammable objects. Although I can’t do that, I can choose a more reliable method.”
Zhang Che looked at the cliff not far away from him. A glint of light suddenly flashed in his eyes as he strode over.
Walking to the face of the cliff, Zhang Che looked for some flammable grass and chose a spot to place them. He looked at the alloy knife in his hand, thinking inwardly, -Whether I succeed or not all depends on this.-
In the next moment, Zhang Che suddenly raised the alloy knife and slashed continuously at the rock cliff, causing a wave of screeching sounds. Countless rock bits and powder fell, yet not a single spark could be seen.
“Gah, the knife is too sharp; it can’t produce the frictional effect at all.”
Zhang Che fell silent for quite a while, looking blankly at the fresh marks on the rock wall. He was too naive; this method didn’t work at all.
It might work if the knife was an iron rod instead, but where is he going to find one now?
Naturally, it was impossible to find one right now, but Zhang Che found something even more fitting than an iron rod.
The Fiery Scorpion was summoned out. Following its master’s command, it raised its pincer and rubbed madly against the cliff, producing a ear-piercing sound, causing Zhang Che’s eyes to light up. -It works!-
Soon, a bunch of sparks flew down and landed on the grass he had placed on the ground. A wisp of green smoke immediately rose slowly, and quickly turned into a flame, illuminating Zhang Che.
“Ha, I’ll reward you with a piece of meat later!”
Zhang Che hurriedly used dried tree branches to layer on the burning grass from below like a cross and placed them under the pile of dried leaves and branches he had prepared beforehand. Soon, a vigorous bonfire was burning.
When the fat of that rabbit-like exotic beast racked above the fire was sizzling, its aroma wafted out, Zhang Che really wanted to laugh out excitedly.
It wasn’t easy, to finally have his first piping hot meal in the beast world!
However, before the roasted meat above the fire was fully cooked, Zhang Che suddenly heard Hanxue neighing from the side, its voice filled with fear.
Zhang Che hurriedly turned his head to look. In the bushes by the side, a group of brown-furred wolves had come up before he noticed them. Their green eyes were filled with their greedy desire for food.
Zhang Che wasn’t shocked, but pleasantly surprised by this.
-Good boys, did you know I was trying to advance to Tier Three beastmaster and came here to gift me experience!?-
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Translator’s Note:
1 – Dashao: As mentioned previously, shao(少) is a less formal way of calling someone young master, shaoye(少爷). Dashao(大少), literally meaning big young, refers to his status as the eldest of the young masters.