Chapter 61: The Ink Ape


    The situation was becoming increasingly intriguing. Han Ming sneered, crossing his arms as he watched coldly from the sidelines. He wanted to see what these people were really up to.


    The burly man who had arrived later seemed to fear the white-robed man, only scolding the tall woman while avoiding eye contact with the white-robed man. His evasive gaze was unmistakable.


    The tall woman bit her lip, her face pale. The situation was deeply humiliating for her.


    "I''m sorry, Brother Zhang. I''ve wronged you. In my next life, I''ll serve you as an ox or a horse to repay your kindness. You taught me everything I know, and now I''ll destroy my martial arts in front of you. We''re even."


    With a bitter smile, the tall woman raised her right hand and struck her abdomen. The force caused her to vomit blood, her body collapsing weakly to the ground. Sweat poured down her forehead as she truly dissipated the combat energy within her, becoming a cripple.


    Throughout this, the white-robed man remained silent, smiling faintly.


    "Why... why would you do this? Come back with me, live a peaceful life. Why must you follow him?" The burly man was furious at the tall woman''s actions.


    The white-robed man spoke lightly, "Take your hand off me. Do you think you have the right to point at me?"


    The burly man, startled, quickly withdrew his hand, awkwardly trying to help the tall woman up.


    But the tall woman shook off his hand, struggling to crawl toward the white-robed man.


    "Good girl. I''ll help you rebuild your combat energy when we return. You''ll recover fully within three years," the white-robed man comforted her.


    The tall woman looked at him with genuine gratitude, her feelings clearly not feigned.


    Han Ming was puzzled. While the burly man might be somewhat timid, that wasn''t necessarily a flaw. Courage often correlates with strength; with enough power, one naturally gains confidence.


    Those who dare to face stronger opponents are heroes; those who don''t are just ordinary people. That''s not a fault. But it was clear to Han Ming that the burly man truly cared for the tall woman, or he wouldn''t have chased her this far.


    Han Ming couldn''t understand what the white-robed man had that made the tall woman so infatuated. Anyone could see the white-robed man didn''t care about her life or death.


    There had to be something more to this. While it wasn''t Han Ming''s business, his curiosity was piqued.


    The other two women, clinging to the white-robed man, remained silent, heads bowed.


    Were they being forced? Han Ming wondered. But it didn''t seem so; the tall woman clearly had feelings for the white-robed man. Han Ming''s mind was a mess, and he gave up trying to figure it out.


    "Friend, since you have matters to attend to, I won''t intrude. Farewell." Han Ming was curious to see how this would end, but it was their private affair. He had no right to stay and watch. He didn''t want to get involved in others'' business.


    Seeing Han Ming about to leave again, the white-robed man quickly stopped him, "Wait, friend, don''t go yet."


    Han Ming halted, his face turning cold. "You keep stopping me. If you have something to say, say it. I''m busy."


    The white-robed man gave Han Ming a meaningful look. For a moment, Han Ming felt his mind go hazy, as if something was trying to invade his consciousness.


    At that moment, a faint light emanated from the ring on Han Ming''s finger, invisible to the naked eye. The light silently flowed into Han Ming''s body, causing him to shudder and immediately regain clarity. He had no idea what had just happened or that the white-robed man had just attempted to manipulate him.


    Seeing Han Ming only momentarily dazed and otherwise unharmed, the white-robed man was surprised but not alarmed. Instead, he smiled even more warmly.


    "Go, accompany our friend. We''ll head to the underground city together. You''ll take care of his daily needs for the next few days. No mistakes allowed," the white-robed man ordered the tall woman.


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    The tall woman hesitated, biting her lip, then quietly walked to Han Ming''s side, head bowed.


    Han Ming couldn''t bear to see the woman naked. He pulled a black robe from his waist and tossed it to her. The tall woman gave him a grateful look and quickly put it on. This time, the white-robed man didn''t stop her, merely smiling.


    Han Ming had clearly heard the white-robed man mention an "underground city." Could there be another city in the wilderness forest besides Heishi City? This was why Han Ming didn''t refuse the white-robed man''s arrangement. He wanted to follow them to this so-called underground city. But he kept his expression neutral, revealing nothing.


    "You! How can you just give her away? If you don''t love her, why did you take her from me? I''ll fight you!"


    The burly man, blinded by rage, raised his sword and charged at the white-robed man.


    The white-robed man smiled, dodging lightly like a swallow. He extended a finger, tapping the burly man''s forehead. The man collapsed instantly.


    A finger-sized hole appeared in the burly man''s forehead, blood and brain matter oozing out. He was dead.


    "My name is Bai Kai. May I know your name, friend?" The white-robed man didn''t even glance at the dead man, pulling out a white handkerchief to wipe his hands as he introduced himself to Han Ming.


    Han Ming gave the tall woman beside him a meaningful look. She barely reacted to her husband''s death, only swaying slightly before regaining her composure.


    Seeing her coldness, Han Ming ignored her, replying expressionlessly, "Han Ming. Your name doesn''t sound local, does it?"


    Aside from Li Chengfeng, this was the first time Han Ming had encountered such a Chinese-style name. Most people he''d met had names similar to those from Western countries on Earth. Out of curiosity, he asked. After all, on a small planet like Earth, names of all kinds were common, let alone in a vast otherworld.


    Bai Kai nodded, smiling. "Brother Han, neither are you, right? Let''s get moving."


    Seeing Bai Kai unwilling to reveal more, Han Ming didn''t press further. The group set off westward under the cover of night, heading deeper into the wilderness forest.


    Along the way, Bai Kai spoke little, only occasionally asking Han Ming harmless questions. Han Ming answered carefully, leaving no room for error.


    By noon on the third day, Han Ming and Bai Kai simultaneously stopped.


    The three women following them also halted, though they didn''t ask why.


    Suddenly, the bushes rustled, and a massive black ape leaped out. The ape stood over five meters tall, yet moved with surprising agility, its footsteps eerily silent for its size.


    "A third-tier wood-attribute magical beast, the Ink Ape!" Bai Kai''s eyes widened slightly as he identified the creature.


    "Brother Han, such an opportunity, I''ll leave it to you."


    Han Ming smiled and nodded, thanking him quietly. He remained wary of Bai Kai, understanding that this was a test of his strength. He didn''t point it out.


    The Ink Ape showed no interest in Han Ming or Bai Kai, its gaze lingering on the three beautiful women. There was even a hint of lust in its eyes.


    The two younger women screamed, hiding behind Bai Kai in fear.


    "The Ink Ape is among the weaker third-tier magical beasts. Its only notable trait is its lust for beauty. It often kidnaps women from villages, taking them back to its lair to torture and kill. Quite a fascinating creature," Bai Kai explained with a light laugh, seemingly admiring the ape''s behavior.


    The Ink Ape''s gaze shifted to the tall woman, its eyes lighting up. Clearly, she was exactly its type. Excited, it beat its chest with its fists, the sound echoing through the forest, and began to dance on the spot.


    Han Ming found the ape''s human-like behavior amusing, though its habit of killing women disgusted him.


    After a moment of jumping around, the Ink Ape''s eyes gleamed, drool dripping from its mouth. It leaned back, gathering strength, then lunged forward, its front claws digging deep into the soil.


    Suddenly, a thick green vine, as wide as a human thigh, emerged from beneath the tall woman, wrapping around her and dragging her toward the ape. The Ink Ape, nostrils flaring, panted heavily, clearly excited.


    The tall woman screamed, looking to Bai Kai for help. But Bai Kai ignored her, his smile unwavering as he watched Han Ming closely. The two younger women were also worried, stomping their feet in frustration but not daring to speak.


    Han Ming remained calm, leisurely walking forward. As the Ink Ape grabbed the tall woman from the vine and tore off her clothes, Han Ming reached the ape''s side. Just as the ape was about to climb a tree with its prize, Han Ming swung his giant axe.


    The Ink Ape, hearing the wind beneath it, tried to dodge, but Han Ming''s sudden move left it no time. It hastily brought its hind legs together, attempting to block the axe.


    Han Ming wasn''t worried. He knew the weight of his axe better than anyone. Even if he simply placed it on the ground, the Ink Ape would struggle to lift it.


    "Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot," Han Ming muttered disdainfully. The giant axe sliced through the Ink Ape like a scythe through grass, cutting it cleanly in half at the waist.


    The ape''s blood and guts spilled onto the ground, its upper body swaying before collapsing.


    "Seems like both men and beasts want to strip you," Han Ming joked with the tall woman, tossing her another black robe. He didn''t wait for her or Bai Kai''s reactions, immediately pulling out a sharp dagger to cut open the Ink Ape''s chest.


    Bai Kai didn''t stop him, still somewhat shocked by Han Ming''s display of strength. The Ink Ape was a third-tier magical beast, albeit a low-tier one. Han Ming had killed it with a single swing of his axe, a feat that was truly impressive. Bai Kai didn''t mind Han Ming taking the beast''s core; after all, Han Ming had killed it.


    "Ah, nothing," Han Ming sighed after rummaging through the ape''s body. As expected, the low-tier third-tier beast hadn''t produced a core. No wonder it was so weak. Disappointed, he smashed the ape''s head, retrieving a small wood-attribute crystal. Just as he was about to leave, his eyes widened in surprise.


    "What''s this?"


    Han Ming was shocked to find a yellow piece of animal skin inside the ape''s skull, with faint writing on it.


    Who could have done this? Placing a written piece of animal skin inside a living ape''s skull without killing it? Han Ming''s mind raced with questions.


    He discreetly crumpled the skin into a ball, storing it with the crystal. By the time he turned back, his expression was calm, revealing nothing.