Chapter 29: Please Respond If You Hear This

Dusk had fallen, around six thirty in the evening. After dinner, Shen He began wandering through the alleyways near the bar district. According to their plan, they had chosen the more secluded lanes, not far from where the high-ranking official’s son had been murdered. This sort of endeavor was a game of chance—no one could guarantee that the bait would lure anything. It was much like those seasoned anglers, heavily equipped and hoping for a miracle, yet so many returned empty-handed. The ones who cared for their pride would buy another’s catch, or even slip into the market to buy fish, pretending it was their own. Of course, Shen He and his team would never stoop to such measures. If they caught the monster, they caught it; if not, nothing could be done. There was no third option.

Shen He observed his surroundings, making use of the area map he had activated. The map displayed, with him at the center, all beasts above the third tier and various caves within a kilometer radius. He glanced at the radar hovering in the upper left corner of his vision. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. He had, in fact, found something—judging by the size of the light source, it was likely a third-tier entity from the future. It was concealed right on the edge of the map’s range.

He recalled their afternoon reconnaissance at the scene; at that time, the creature had apparently hidden right under their noses. If his memory served, that spot was a partially demolished building, not far from the bar street. Many young men and women, seeking thrills after their night out, would go there. Besides saving money on lodging, the main attraction was the excitement—it catered to a certain craving they shared.

Following the planned route, Shen He paused as he passed that building. He lifted his foot and strode directly inside. Meanwhile, in a car slowly trailing him from another corner, Chen Zhao watched the light source on his tablet suddenly shift direction. He spoke immediately, “Shen He, why did you change route?”

The next moment, Shen He’s voice came through the headset, “Found something interesting, though I’m not certain yet. Keep your distance; wait for my signal.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhao quickly pulled up detailed information on the building. It was simply a half-demolished structure. If not for that accident, it would have been razed to the ground today. They had searched it before during daylight, but found nothing.

Inside the ruined building, Shen He switched off his headset and watched the light source approach. He drew his entrenching tool with a snap; it unfolded instantly. Holding the tool in one hand and a flashlight in the other, he advanced toward the spot where the beast was lurking, drawing ever closer. When he reached the half-concealed underground entrance in the corner, a scarlet warning flashed before his eyes.

[Warning! Warning! You have entered the hunting grounds of a third-tier mutant hound…]
[Warning! Warning! You have entered the hunting grounds of a third-tier mutant hound…]
[Warning! Warning! You have entered the hunting grounds of a third-tier mutant hound…]
[…]

Shen He tightened his grip on the entrenching tool, his expression growing more serious as he read the warning. So it was a dog. But for it to reach third-tier mutant status in the future meant it was exceptionally powerful. The combat prowess of dogs and earth dragons was in entirely different leagues. He would have to come up with a strategy.

He crouched, picked up a stone from the ground, and tossed it toward the nearby entrance. At the sound of stone hitting earth, a shadow burst from the hole, charging at Shen He with remarkable speed. Instinctively, Shen He swung his entrenching tool.

Clang!

At the moment of collision, the shadow was flung aside. Shen He saw its full form—a fierce hound, easily reaching his waist and, if upright, likely taller than him. No wonder it had been able to snap the second-generation victim’s neck in one bite, decapitating him entirely. Yet, like the other two murders, the act had been killing, not predation—peculiar, indeed.

With his flashlight in one hand and entrenching tool in the other, Shen He bent slightly, focusing intently on the mutant hound before him. The ‘Cross-Tier Combat’ achievement granted him a fifteen percent boost to his attributes, making him keenly aware of his increased strength.

In the darkness of the ruined building, the mutant hound growled low. Shen He reversed his grip on the flashlight, angling the beam behind him and plunging the surroundings into darkness. This gesture seemed to provoke the beast—it lunged at him with a sudden snarl.

The next instant, blinding light flashed. The hound, mid-air, was dazzled, forced to rely solely on instinct as it snapped at him. Shen He sidestepped and brought his entrenching tool down in a sharp vertical slash, its blade opening a massive wound in the hound’s flank. Crimson blood sprayed, filling the ruins with a reeking stench.

As the hound landed, Shen He swiftly moved, his tool slashing upward and scoring its neck. Unfortunately, the mutant hound’s reflexes were astonishing—even wounded, it managed to move. The strike meant to sever its head only carved a gash in its neck.

The savage light in the hound’s eyes faded, replaced by fear. Though newly awakened, it understood that if things continued, it would die here. It darted past Shen He’s side, making for the exit.

Shen He’s eyes widened. “You think I’ll let those attribute points slip away?” He hurled the entrenching tool with force. In the gloom, a glint flashed—the tool struck the hound’s lower back, knocking it to the ground.

He approached. The hound was not yet dead; its formidable vitality had it panting, struggling to stave off death. Shen He pulled out the tool, aimed at its neck, and stabbed down fiercely. With all his strength, the hound’s head came off in an instant.

A moment later, his vision filled with the words: [Free Attribute Points +3]. Shen He was surprised. This was not the reward for completing Daily Task Two, and the task still showed as incomplete. That meant this mutant hound was not the beast mentioned in Daily Task Two.

Now things were complicated. He had to find that creature quickly and deal with it, or his daily tasks might cease to refresh. Without daily tasks, how could he complete the main quest within a month?

He opened his headset, and Chen Zhao’s voice came through immediately, “Shen He, please respond.”

“Please respond.”