Zhou Qiu quickly shouted, "Young Master Tu Tian, be careful! Any heavenly material or earthly treasure like this will definitely have a powerful contracted beast guarding it!"
"Hmph! I don't care!" He took out his beast taming scroll, "[Spear Warrior], stab anyone who causes trouble!"
As hired beast tamers, Qiu Xia and Zhao Biao naturally knew the miraculous uses of the Dongting Flower. Even the withered and budding flowers on this single tree, if picked and auctioned, would ensure the brothers didn't have to worry about their livelihoods for the rest of their lives.
However, as hired beast tamers who had faced death many times, they understood the principle that heavenly materials and earthly treasures were always guarded! Seeing Tu Tian, this reckless youth, charging forward without fear, they decided to let him scout the situation first. It wouldn't be too late for them to pick the flowers afterwards.
"Hahaha, all these Dongting Flowers are mine!"
Tu Tian took out his spatial item and reached out to pick them.
Just then, a sword gleam flew over!
"Young Master Tu Tian, be careful!"
Tu Tian was greatly alarmed and quickly ducked down, prostrating himself on the ground.
The [Spear Warrior] beside him had been cautiously observing the surroundings. The moment it saw the sword gleam, its spear was already unleashed.
The spear's radiance collided with the sword's gleam, erupting in scattered points of light.
Tu Tian was still recovering from the shock.
"Guard!"
Just then, a small contracted beast with abstract facial features, wearing a worn-out helmet and holding a broken sword, stood in front of him, blocking his path.
"Sword Guard?"
Zhou Qiu was slightly stunned, "Could this Sword Guard be the guardian beast of this Dongting Tree?"
Zhao Biao laughed, "Since it's a Sword Guard, it's easy. We'll just take care of it together and then pick the flowers!"
Given the strength of those present, dealing with a mere Sword Guard would be quite easy. They didn't take it seriously at all.
"Get out of my way! Or I'll devour you alive!" Tu Tian said fiercely.
The Sword Guard showed no fear, its expression looking menacing.
"Damn it, I'll kill you!" Tu Tian was enraged.
Just as he was about to issue combat orders to the [Spear Warrior], a head suddenly poked out from behind the Dongting Tree.
Everyone was startled.
The person wore a grass-woven flower crown with a few Dongting flowers tucked into it, and their clothes were strangely woven from various weeds and vegetation. They looked like a wild man.
Fortunately, their facial features were still relatively clear.
"It's you!"
Tu Tian roared with anger.
Qiu Xia also recognized the person, "Young friend Lu Fei?"
Following that, the few of them quickly walked over, "Young friend Lu Fei, why are you here?" Qiu Xia asked.
Lu Fei looked somewhat perplexed. He looked at everyone, gestured with the Dongting flowers in his hand, and said plainly, "Picking flowers."
Zhou Qiu's brow furrowed. He thought to himself, "Where did this young man come from? He can actually find such a heavenly material and earthly treasure. And looking at his youthful appearance, he's probably around the same age as Tu Tian."
"Wait, could he be the one who set fire to the camp and roasted the berserk contracted beasts that day?"
Qiu Xia chuckled, "How did you find this place, young friend Lu Fei?"
Lu Fei pondered for a moment, "Well, I was just wandering, and I ended up here. What? Are you also interested in these flowers and grasses?"
Zhou Qiu also smiled and said:
"These Dongting Flowers are ownerless. May we pick some?"
Lu Fei looked utterly bewildered, "Sure, I've already picked mine. You can pick as many as you like. I'm leaving now."
With that, Lu Fei prepared to leave. He had found the Qingxin Grass and now had the Dongting Flowers as well, having picked quite a few. Coupled with the berserk contracted beasts and the [Parasitic Beast] he had captured alive, he had exactly ten. It was time to leave this place.
Zhou Qiu was taken aback by Lu Fei's answer. He had initially expected the young man to refuse, and he might have had to offer something in exchange. After all, he was a teacher from the academy, not a bandit, and wouldn't resort to robbery.
But he never imagined that these priceless and rare Dongting Flowers would be treated like dirt by the young man, not worth mentioning.
"Gentlemen, feel free to visit my courtyard again sometime. I'm preparing to leave this place."
Lu Fei said goodbye to Qiu Xia and Zhao Biao. He had a good impression of the two.
Zhao Biao, being straightforward, reminded him, "Brother, you should leave with us! This forest is not safe. Seven or eight people have already died!"
He spoke his mind without thinking.
Lu Fei was taken aback and looked at him suspiciously. He had traveled smoothly all the way here, encountering only contracted beasts he could defeat. If he could defeat them, surely they could too?
"No, I haven't encountered any danger on my journey. If there was danger, it would be the bone monster you all saw that day."
Qiu Xia initially believed Lu Fei's answer. However, seeing so many people perish here, he remained cautious.
"Does young friend Lu Fei know the way out?"
"Of course." He looked at them, "You guys aren't lost, are you, and stumbled upon this place by accident?"
The few of them exchanged glances, looking embarrassed.
Lu Fei sighed, "Alright then, you two can come with me."
The girls who had been waiting expectantly on the side were filled with surprise. They had finally found someone who could lead them, and they had hope of survival! All they wanted now was to leave this damned place as quickly as possible.
But the young man immediately poured cold water on their hopes.
"But him, that's out of the question."
The young man was looking in Tu Tian's direction.
Tu Tian, holding a few Dongting Flowers, looked at him with murderous intent. He still remembered how the other had insulted him during their last experience in the Yanbei region. Due to the crowd and Fifth River's presence, he had no choice but to endure it.
But now, with his own people present, how dare he act so presumptuously?
Tu Tian burst into laughter.
"You say you won't take me out? Hahahahaha!"
Tu Tian's expression turned cold.
"You're just one person. Soon you'll be kneeling and begging us to take you out of here!"
Tu Tian first looked at Zhou Qiu, "Instructor Zhou, haven't you been coveting the position of Vice Principal for a long time? Whatever happens here today, you pretend you know nothing about it. After we return, I will have my father recommend you as the Vice Principal of Longzhen Beast Taming Academy!"
Zhou Qiu's eyes lit up instantly, his lips trembling slightly. He hadn't shown much reaction even when he saw the Dongting Flowers, but upon hearing about the Vice Principal position, he was indeed tempted.
"This... Young Master Tu Tian, what do you intend to do?" Zhou Qiu asked haltingly.
Tu Tian coldly snorted, "Heh, you'll know soon enough."
After speaking with Zhou Qiu, Tu Tian immediately turned to Qiu Xia and Zhao Biao.
"Gentlemen, as hired beast tamers, you won't hold grudges against me, will you? Pretend you saw nothing of what happened today. After we get out, I will give you more money than you can spend in a lifetime."
Qiu Xia and Zhao Biao exchanged glances. They lived a precarious life as hired beast tamers. They didn't know what grudges Tu Tian had with Lu Fei, but judging by his tone, he clearly intended to kill him.
Seeing everyone remain silent, Tu Tian laughed heartily, "Don't worry, I won't kill him." His gaze turned sinister, "I'll just cripple him and then leave him to fend for himself in this forest!"
"Everyone, all issues and responsibilities will be handled by my family, so you don't need to have any psychological burden."
"And these Dongting Flowers, I can give them all to you!"