Chapter Fifty-Six: The Long-Awaited Vengeance Fulfilled

The evolution of his body allowed Lu Chen to break through the limits of speed once again. Now, when he burst forth, he could run at a staggering nine meters per second. A powerful heart granted him endurance that lasted longer than ever before.

Lu Chen’s hunting range grew ever wider; with the river as his guide, he could sprint along both banks for over a hundred kilometers. The subtropical jungle teemed with prey, and so every day he ate his fill, his body growing rapidly.

In just one month, his weight had surpassed one hundred kilograms, making him the undisputed tyrant of the river’s mouth. In truth, even on land, few creatures remained that could threaten him.

From half a kilogram to five kilograms, Lu Chen spent two months. From five to fifty kilograms, it took less than four months. Now, to reach a hundred kilograms, he needed only a single month.

A qualitative change had finally brought quantitative transformation.

It was no exaggeration to say that if Lu Chen were to encounter that black bear again, even if he couldn’t win, he could still face it head-on. Should the conditions favor him, he might even turn the tables and kill it.

He had sought out the bear’s territory several times near the beehive, but never caught its scent again. It seemed, with winter’s arrival, the beast had migrated elsewhere.

The scent of blood from his prey drifted with the wind, soon permeating the surrounding forest. As expected, those carnivores with keen noses would be drawn in quickly.

Lu Chen made no effort to conceal himself. He simply tore the prey into large strips with powerful claws and swallowed it whole.

Soon enough, something foolish set its sights on him...

Suddenly, Lu Chen caught a scent in the air—one he could never forget!

The clouded leopard!

After more than a month, the clouded leopard had finally appeared again!

As ever, it was furtive and sly, lurking in the distant branches, spying from afar. Unbeknownst to it, its scent shone conspicuously, like a firefly in the night.

Upon seeing his nemesis, Lu Chen wasted no time; he sprang forth without hesitation.

This time, he wouldn’t let the despicable creature escape his grasp.

Within two minutes, Lu Chen had sprinted hundreds of meters, finally cornering his enemy in the boughs of a tall horsetail pine.

The leopard crouched more than five meters up, breathing shallowly through its nose and mouth.

Felines are famed for their speed, but their stamina is poor. After running several hundred meters, the clouded leopard was almost spent. If it hadn’t scrambled up the tree at the last moment, Lu Chen would have torn it apart already.

Compared to a month ago, the leopard was even thinner and frailer; rough fur clung to its bones, its body radiating the air of decline and age.

Even without Lu Chen’s pursuit, it likely wouldn’t survive for long in this perilous jungle.

But Lu Chen felt no pity. All lives meet misery in their twilight years—this is nature’s inescapable cycle.

Forgiveness was the Jade Emperor’s concern; Lu Chen’s task was to send it to see him.

Strike while it’s weak—take its life!

Lu Chen’s limbs moved swiftly across the ground, claws scraping the bark like sharp iron hooks, gripping tight. In just a few breaths, he was beside the branch where the leopard rested, his beastly eyes filled with ferocity and murderous intent.

In contrast, the clouded leopard’s gaze brimmed with terror and unease.

It bared its teeth and whimpered, shrinking back along the branch. Suddenly, it leapt, landing awkwardly on another tree, then bounded further away.

Though aged and feeble, with one hind leg mangled, the leopard hadn’t forgotten its feline prowess; it still leapt nimbly between trees.

In a few quick movements, it cleared four or five trunks.

Lu Chen gave chase, leaping in pursuit. Yet, his massive frame hampered him; he was less agile than the leopard among the branches. Within moments, he lagged forty or fifty meters behind.

Seeing his quarry about to vanish again, Lu Chen dropped from the tree and continued the chase by scent.

He abandoned the idea of killing the leopard quickly, instead resolved to wear it down, pursuing until it died from exhaustion or hunger.

After all, he’d just eaten his fill, and had energy to spare.

He ran a bit further, then stopped abruptly.

For the first time in over two months, he caught the scent of humans—along with the smell of dogs.

Were they hunting fugitives again? That was his first thought.

No—the scent of blood was there too.

As a top predator of the jungle, Lu Chen was sensitive to smells. Despite being upwind, he could clearly distinguish the tangled aromas.

Should he confront the humans? He hesitated.

Watching the clouded leopard disappear among the dense leaves, Lu Chen decided to pursue after all. If he let it escape, who knew when he’d see it again?

“Woof, woof, woof...”

Suddenly, urgent barking rang ahead, followed by the clamor of human voices.

“There’s prey... I see it, up in the tree!”

“Let me do it!”

Bang, bang—

Two muffled gunshots echoed, and something crashed down from between the trees.

“Damn, it’s a clouded leopard. Brother Jiang, how’s my marksmanship? Bull’s-eye from a hundred paces...” a human voice crowed triumphantly.

“Xiao Ma, all you do is boast. Hundred paces? That wasn’t even ten meters,” a hoarse voice mocked.

“Who cares how far? At least I hit it. But it’s so thin... Brother Liu, can we make a specimen out of this?” the first asked.

“We can. We’ll have to skin it anyway for the specimen... But this one’s fur is poor, not much to look at. Maybe it’ll fetch a few tens of thousands at most,” replied another.

Poachers!

Lu Chen hid among the thick branches, peering through layers of leaves at the shriveled corpse of the clouded leopard a hundred meters away, his emotions in turmoil.

Just like that—it was dead!

Not slain by a predator’s claws, but felled by a human bullet.

Its eyes were wide open in death, as if unwilling to go.

The vengeance was complete, but Lu Chen felt no joy—only a touch of sorrow.

No matter how fierce the beast, compared to humans it was utterly powerless. A bullet worth mere pennies could end any life.

Lu Chen wondered if his “scale armor defense” could withstand a bullet, but suspected it likely could not.

He had no urge to test it.

He resented the poachers, but could only leave quietly.

He was about to climb down when a Dogo hunting dog ran ten meters toward the woods, sniffing the air.

Lu Chen felt a sudden unease: he’d forgotten he was upwind.

“Woof, woof, woof, woof!”

Sure enough, the dog barked loudly the next second.

Its bark signaled the others, and the remaining two hunting dogs responded.

They followed quickly, barking in unison.

“There’s something else...” Liu called to his companions.

“Could it be a leopard? I thought that clouded leopard was off somehow, like it was being chased. If it is, we’ll really make a killing this time.” The bald man nearby grabbed his shotgun and hurried after.

“Wait, I’ll launch the drone...” the youngest said, opening his camouflage backpack.