Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Tracking in the Woods (Part 2)

Translator: 549690339

Xiang Kun lay at the bottom of the hillside, in the bushes, clutching his knee and moaning from time to time. After more than three hours, there was still no sign of that mutant creature.

Close to Xiang Kun was a twig that emitted an unusual odour, so he wasn’t worried about the mutant creature not be able to find him.

It seems, the mutant creature either has high intelligence, or it is just extremely cautious.

However, considering the past encounters with Host Xue’s group, if they were harmed by the mutant, this creature must be extremely brutal – it was unlikely that it killed three people purely for blood-drinking.

Xiang Kun got up and brushed off the grass and dirt from his body. He flipped his middle finger at the twig that looked like common grass, regardless whether the mutant creature could see this gesture through the twig or understand its meaning.

He picked up the Compound Bow, quiver and shoes, then yanked the twig and crushed it under his foot.

If the mutant creature decided to avoid him, then Xiang Kun was likely to return empty-handed. He could not stay in this uninhabited forest for too long, as drinking blood and sleeping here would be like a suicide given the presence of other mutants.

Apparently, this creature was different from the Giant Owl and Guo Tianxiang, since the latter two were in desperate need of other mutants’ blood prior to their encounters with Xiang Kun. Therefore, it was Xiang Kun who took the opportunity to fight back, rather than being the hunter.

However, this mutant creature wasn’t in such a state just like Xiang Kun and could act more rationally and cautiously.

Xiang Kun presumed that the creature was a product of plant mutation, which would follow basic instincts and not have high intelligence. But based on its behaviour, its intelligence might not be low and possibly superior to that of the Giant Owl.

Xiang Kun planned to search for another day. If he still couldn’t find the mutant or its nest, he was prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, before night fell, he – following a scent of blood – found the leopard that had tried to attack him under the influence of the red fruit.

The leopard lay dead in the grass with a small wound on its body, similar to the one on the boar in Host Xue’s video.

While touching the leopard’s fur, Xiang Kun lamented softly, “This is a protected animal…”

It was clear that the leopard was hunted by the mutant – Xiang Kun confirmed this from the special smell on the leopard’s corpse and its surroundings. This smell was much stronger than that from the twigs grafted onto other plants, indicating that the mutant creature itself had attacked.

Has it drunk blood?

So, the appearance of the red fruit that attracted the leopard wasn’t necessarily targeting Xiang Kun but aimed at attracting prey for the mutant creature’s blood-drinking period?

So following the regular pattern, wasn’t it supposed to be slumbering?

After all, feeling drowsy after drinking blood seems like a common characteristic for these mutants. This was certainly the case for Xiang Kun, Owl and Guo Tianxiang.

The Giant Owl would swallow a stone after drinking blood to suppress drowsiness, and then flew back to the cliff’s nest.

Although this mutant had shown an ability to fly before, Xiang Kun suspected that its flying was somewhat restricted. Unlike birds who could freely roam the sky, it should have its nest not too far from here which he might be able to track.

Of course, if it meticulously separated the smell by a cliff or other discontinuities, then he wouldn’t be able to proceed.

Following the smell left on the leopard’s corpse, it didn’t take Xiang Kun too long to find the potential “nest” of the mutant.

It was a towering tree. Looking up, it would be difficult for an average person to spot a “large ball” that seemed to be wrapped in various vines amongst the branches and leaves, if not for Xiang Kun’s exceptional vision.

The special smell was robust on the “large ball,” which was obviously different from the twigs grafted onto other plants. Therefore, there was a high chance that the mutant was hibernating inside it.

However, Xiang Kun had some doubts as after inspecting the leopard’s corpse, fresh blood was still oozing from the wound with a significant amount of blood stains around. Compared to the boar in Host Xue’s video, this leopard had lost less blood.

If the mutant had previously drunk the blood from a wild boar weighing over a hundred kilograms, there’s no reason why it couldn’t finish the blood of a thirty-kilogram leopard.

Xiang Kun even estimated from the volume of blood left on the leopard’s corpse that the mutant might not have drunk blood at all and simply killed the leopard.

Therefore, his ability to track the smell to this place in less than twenty minutes might not have been luck, but a deliberate lure by the mutant.

Could it have thought that Xiang Kun would suppose it would go into hibernation after hunting, and therefore, follow the smell to the “large ball” in the tree?

If it really could set a trap through this line of thought, then Xiang Kun had to raise his estimation of its intelligence.

However, judging from the smell, the mutant should be inside the vine-woven “large ball” in the tree that was like its nest. Was it waiting for Xiang Kun to climb the tree, then suddenly strike? Or was there some sort of trap in the tree itself?

Since Xiang Kun knew it could very likely be a trap set by the mutant, he wasn’t going to be careless. He didn’t climb up the tree trunk directly but strapped his bow on his back and climbed a tree next to it.

Midway up that tree, Xiang Kun switched to infrared imagery mode in an attempt to see whether the “blue spot” was inside the “large ball.” However, because of the multiple layers of vines covering it, the source of heat was blocked, and he couldn’t see inside.

Finding a position on the tree, Xiang Kun secured his body by clamping the trunk with his legs, took off the Compound Bow, took out two arrows – one in his mouth and one in his hand – slowly put the arrow on the bow, pushed it, pulled it, and then aimed.

The arrow left the bow and instantly penetrated the green “large ball.”

Xiang Kun, with his keen hearing, even heard a crisp “pop.” Almost three-quarters of the arrow had buried itself.

Then, to Xiang Kun’s surprise, the whole of the “large ball” erupted in a blast of green liquid after being pierced by the arrow. Like a sudden sun birth, a large area of red appeared under Xiang Kun’s infrared image vision.

White smoke was rising. The liquid inside the vines seemed to mix with another liquid, rapidly reaching boiling point. It sprayed and burst like a water-filled balloon on the tree. However, the “water” inside was all highly corrosive liquid.

Looking at the rapid corrosion and smoking in the areas where the liquid touched the tree, Xiang Kun couldn’t help but curse silently under his breath.

Was that mutant being this sneaky?

If Xiang Kun had been a bit careless and climbed up the tree, attempting to pry open those intertwined vines with some tools, only for the liquid to explode and the corrosive substances to drench him, he might have fallen right off. Even if he didn’t die from the shock, the corrosive damage would surely injure him severely.

This was beyond harsh!

Too damn cunning!

But in this forest teeming with plants, this creature’s capabilities were indeed quite formidable! Apparently, those “branches” weren’t just for detection or simply to lure other creatures into consumption.

If other creatures couldn’t distinguish the “grafted” “branches” of the mutant being by a “unique smell” like Xiang Kun could, the chances of getting tricked would be even higher. It would be impossible to guard against.

How did it manage to produce such a highly corrosive liquid? Were there existing plants with such property or did the creature produce it itself?

Xiang Kun remembered seeing something similar in the animal kingdom—he’d seen ‘Bombardier Beetles’ with a similar ability, but never plants.

Amid his astonishment, Xiang Kun had already started relying on his sense of smell, hearing, and vision to search for the mutant. After the “big ball” exploded, there was no trace of the mutant inside. It wasn’t there.

Presumably, the strong scent that led him to believe the mutant was present earlier must have come from some of the creature’s tissues left inside. These tissues might have a direct connection to the corrosive liquid.

If it had set such a trap, then, once the trap was triggered, it should arrive to “kick him when he’s down”, “plunder his spoils”, or “take his life while he’s ill”.

As expected, a few minutes later, Xiang Kun was able to spot a “blue spot” appearing on a tree in the distance through his infrared vision.

But as soon as the “blue spot” appeared in Xiang Kun’s sight, it disappeared swiftly—this clever thing had clearly recognized that Xiang Kun wasn’t fooled and decisively ran off again!

Damn it!

Xiang Kun cursed in his mind, somewhat regretting that he didn’t immediately fall from the tree and pretend to be injured.

While that may not have completely fooled the mutant, it could have been lured closer, giving him a chance to shoot it with his bow and arrow.

Xiang Kun didn’t chase after the mutant. Given the distance between them and their previous speed comparison, he knew it would be futile.

If he went in that direction, the creature would easily escape by leaping across the terrain. Because he could not keep up, Xiang Kun had no way of closing the distance to a shooting range and bringing it down with his bow and arrow.

Moreover, witnessing what just happened, Xiang Kun once again raised his assessment of the mutant’s intelligence. It needed to be handled more cautiously. Its combat ability might not be very strong, but this forest could be seen as its prudently designed “home ground”. The highly corrosive liquid, like he encountered earlier, was not something Xiang Kun could disregard.

Once he came down from the tree, Xiang Kun immediately noticed a large number of dead insects of different sizes around him. Most of these insects had not come into direct contact with the corrosive liquid, indicating that the liquid was not only corrosive but also highly poisonous. No wonder it was so foul-smelling.

Subconsciously, Xiang Kun lowered his breathing rate. The toxic effects of the liquid after evaporation should not affect him due to the low dose, but it was better to be cautious.

Xiang Kun gingerly touched some of the unreacted liquid with his pinky finger, feeling a sting on his skin. It was quite clear that his flesh couldn’t withstand this corrosive liquid. If he got drenched in it, it would be unbearable and have a considerable impact. Particularly his eyes, nose and other vital organs, if they were unexpectedly damaged, his combat ability would be severely affected in a short time.

However, judging by the behavior of the mutant, producing such a large amount of corrosive liquid at once was probably not an easy task. Otherwise, why didn’t it use this strategy while being pursued earlier?

The big tree looked utterly wretched. Seeing the extent of the corrosion, it probably wouldn’t last much longer.

Xiang Kun carefully inspected the parts of the tree that had been drenched in the corrosive liquid and the condition of the liquid spilled on the ground. He quickly noticed a small portion of the liquid turning into a gray powder.

The liquid was mixed with other corrosive liquids. If Xiang Kun was not that careful, it would be hard to notice.

This indicated that the liquid that had exploded contained components from the mutant’s bodily tissues.

Picking up his arrow from the ground, Xiang Kun saw that it was not corroded by the liquid. Although it had fallen from a high place, it was cushioned by the branches and leaves in between and had not suffered any damage on the soft ground.

Looking up at the location where the “big ball” was originally situated, Xiang Kun speculated that the mutant must have begun preparing in advance. After killing the leopard and creating an illusion of blood-drinking, it pseudopodiated to return here and complete its setup. It then should have flown away directly from the tree, quickly hidden away by using the surrounding trees, and waited for Xiang Kun to fall into its trap.

However, its subsequent “appearance” suggested that the surrounding “branches” likely could not directly feed it visual data to allow it a clear idea of the scene.

As dusk began to fall, Xiang Kun revisited the location where he had seen the “blue spot” appear. Following the scent trail for some distance, he discovered that the creature had ascended to higher ground again.

Xiang Kun did not continue following it. Obviously, it was resorting to the same tactic and there simply were no other clues to follow, pursuing it further would be a waste of energy.

He had made up his mind. He would focus on finding the mutant’s “nest” the next day.

If he couldn’t find it, he would leave immediately and rush back to his city before the Blood-drinking Period.

Xiang Kun knew that catching the mutant hinged on its Blood-drinking Period.

If it had to drink blood and fall into deep sleep within the next 24 hours, Xiang Kun would have his chance. Otherwise, if it deliberately wanted to hide in this forest, Xiang Kun wasn’t sure if he could capture it.

As for its Blood-drinking Period, in his time in this region, besides today’s leopard, Xiang Kun hadn’t found any recently killed animals whose blood had been sucked by the mutant—he could determine if an animal carcass had been drained of blood by the mutant just by sniffing for that “unique smell”.

From the spread of various “branches” around this area, it was clear that this was the territory of the mutant. Its hunting grounds and resting nest should also be within this region. Unless absolutely necessary, it was unlikely to abandon its territory.

Perhaps the reason it expended such great efforts on making this elaborate trap for Xiang Kun was that it was in a hurry to drink blood.