The Next Day
After breakfast, Mu Feng headed to the training field.
Only Aditya was there this time.
Mu Feng walked up to him and greeted respectfully."Good morning. What are we doing today?"
Aditya looked at him calmly."Today, you'll be going on your first mission."
Mu Feng's eyes sharpened slightly."Alright. What is it?"
Aditya handed him a thin document."Read this first. After that—do you have a hunter license?"
"Yes," Mu Feng replied.
"Good," Aditya said with a nod."Then this mission is yours. You have one week to complete it."
He gestured toward the equipment area."Take any vehicle or supplies you need."
"Understood."
"Go," Aditya said simply.
Mu Feng bowed lightly and left.
Back in his room, Mu Feng opened the folder and read through the contents carefully.
It was a straightforward mission on the surface:
A rural farm had been losing large quantities of food.The cause—demon rats.
But as Mu Feng continued reading, his brows slowly furrowed.
Five to ten demon rats…
That number immediately stood out.
Normally, a mission like this would be completed in a single night by a low-level hunter team. Yet the reward listed was unusually low—far lower than what one would expect for dealing with multiple demon beasts.
"No wonder no one wants this mission," Mu Feng muttered.
Low reward.Multiple demon rats.Remote location.
The risk-to-reward ratio was terrible.
But Mu Feng wasn't interested in the money.
"This is perfect," he thought calmly.
Real demons.An open environment.No protection.
Exactly what he needed.
He closed the folder, stored it inside his storage ring, and headed toward the parking area.
After a brief glance over the available vehicles, he chose a motorcycle—fast, flexible, and ideal for rural terrain.
The engine roared to life.
With a sharp turn of the throttle, Mu Feng left the ashram behind, riding straight toward the mission location.
After half an hour, Mu Feng arrived at the location.
It was a farmhouse—isolated and quiet—with no major settlements nearby. Vast fields stretched in every direction, broken only by dirt roads and scattered trees. The silence itself felt heavy.
Mu Feng took out his phone and dialed the number listed on the mission.
After a few rings, the call connected.
"Hello?" A rough voice answered. "Kaun hai?"
Mu Feng paused for a second."Hello. Can you speak English?"
"Yes," the man replied, his tone shifting."Who is this?"
"I'm calling regarding the mission you issued," Mu Feng said calmly.
There was a brief silence.
"…Have you accepted it?"
"Yes."
"Good. What do you need?"
"I'm already at the property," Mu Feng said."I wanted to inspect the area firsthand."
"You're there already?" the man asked, surprised."Alright. Wait for two minutes. I'll be there."
"Okay."
Mu Feng ended the call.
While waiting, he got back on his bike and slowly rode around the surrounding area, memorizing the terrain. There were other farms nearby, but they were spaced far apart—each one isolated, making help unlikely if something went wrong.
That made this place a perfect hunting ground.
About twenty-five minutes later, a pickup truck approached the farmhouse and came to a stop. A middle-aged man stepped out, his face weathered from years of outdoor work.
The moment he saw Mu Feng, surprise flashed across his eyes.
"You're the one who accepted the mission?" the man asked, clearly skeptical.
"Yes," Mu Feng replied evenly."Is there a problem?"
The man shook his head quickly."No… no problem. I just didn't expect someone so young."
He gestured toward the house.
"Come. Let's go inside."
Mu Feng followed him in, his expression calm—but his senses already alert.
Whatever was stealing food from this farm had been doing so for a long time.
And it wouldn't be simple.
After that, Mu Feng carefully went around the entire farmhouse.
He checked every corner—the small house, the warehouse, the livestock pens, the farmland, and even the edges of the large crop fields. He paid special attention to the ground, walls, and fences, searching for holes, tunnels, claw marks, or traces of demonic aura.
But there was nothing.
No visible entrances.No collapsed soil.No obvious signs of demon rats tunneling in or out.
The farmhouse layout was simple: a small residential house, a storage warehouse, a few livestock sheds, and vast fields of crops stretching outward. Everything looked normal—too normal.
After completing the inspection, Mu Feng turned to the owner.
"What made you think this was the work of demon rats?" he asked calmly.
The middle-aged man scratched his head and sighed.
"My livestock has been disappearing," he said."Sometimes from the middle of the fields, we hear squeaking sounds late at night. One of my neighbors even got injured trying to check it out."
He paused, his expression darkening.
"We've also found pieces of flesh scattered around the farm," he continued."And once… I saw them myself. Two or three demon rats."
He quickly took out his phone.
"I even recorded a video. Others in the area have seen the same thing many times."
Mu Feng took the phone and watched the video carefully.
On the screen, three demon rats were visible in the darkness. Their bodies were large, their movements sharp and unnatural. They were gnawing on what looked like the remains of a deer, their single eyes gleaming faintly in the night.
Mu Feng handed the phone back, his gaze thoughtful.
"Alright," he said."I'll stay here tonight and see if they show up."
The farmer's face immediately relaxed.
"Thank you," he said sincerely."That would be a great help."
After that, they went inside the house. The owner poured Mu Feng a cup of tea, showed him a spare room, and explained a few more details about the farm before heading back to his own quarters.
Mu Feng also went to his assigned room.
He sat down on the bed and entered meditation, quietly restoring his mental strength and sharpening his senses. The day gradually passed, and soon night fell.
After a simple dinner, Mu Feng did not sleep.
Instead, he sat silently in the darkness, his presence subdued, his aura restrained.
Waiting.
Waiting for the demon rats to reveal themselves.
Near midnight, Mu Feng heard it.
A sharp rustling of crops, far louder than the wind.
It wasn't random.
Something was running through the fields.
Mu Feng immediately moved to the window and looked outside. Under the faint moonlight, he saw six distinct rows of crops parting unnaturally, all moving in the same direction—toward the warehouse.
"Six of them…" Mu Feng muttered.
Without hesitation, he activated his Space Walker Boots.
Flash.
His figure vanished from the room and reappeared silently on the roof of the warehouse.
From above, he could clearly sense the chaotic demonic auras gathering below.
Mu Feng raised his hand.
"Come out."
A summoning portal opened, and with a deep, oppressive roar, the Dark Demon Tiger emerged. Its black fur rippled with power as it landed heavily on the rooftop, instantly drawing the attention of the demon rats.
The moment the tiger roared—
Two demon rats panicked and fled in the opposite direction.
The remaining four shrieked and charged straight at the Dark Demon Tiger, claws flashing.
Mu Feng gave a calm order.
"Deal with those four."
The Dark Demon Tiger growled in acknowledgment.
Mu Feng didn't wait.
He activated his Magic Wing Ring, wings of light unfurling as he shot forward through the air. In just five seconds, he appeared behind the two fleeing demon rats.
He deliberately released a burst of mana.
The two demon rats sensed him instantly and spun around, their single eyes glowing red.
"Good," Mu Feng said softly.
Without wasting time, he raised his hand and connected his stars.
"Ice Spread—Freeze!"
Frost surged outward.
One demon rat was caught instantly, its body locked in ice mid-leap.
The second reacted faster, twisting its body and narrowly dodging the spell before trying to flee again.
Mu Feng's eyes narrowed.
He summoned the Ice Crystal Bow in one smooth motion.
The bow formed in his hand, cold mist spilling into the air.
Thrum.
The arrow flew.
It pierced straight through the demon rat's skull.
The creature didn't even have time to scream before its body froze solid and shattered into icy fragments upon hitting the ground.
Mu Feng turned back to the frozen rat.
Another arrow.
Crack.
The second demon rat met the same fate.
Mu Feng exhaled slowly and dismissed the bow.
Then he turned toward the warehouse.
The Dark Demon Tiger was already in motion—its claws tore through one demon rat, slamming another into the ground. Ice and darkness intertwined as the beast fought with terrifying efficiency.
Mu Feng launched himself back toward the battlefield.
"Finish them quickly," he said calmly.
Tonight—
The demon rats would not escape.
The Dark Demon Tiger let out a thunderous roar, its killing intent rolling across the field like a wave.
The remaining three demon rats froze for a split second—fear flickering in their single crimson eyes—before instinct took over.
They spread out.
One in front.Two from the sides.
Mu Feng hovered silently in the air above, eyes sharp, tracking every movement.
The demon rats attacked simultaneously.
The Dark Demon Tiger made its choice instantly.
It lunged toward the rat on its right flank—the least injured one. Its claws tore forward, ripping straight through the demon rat's chest and pinning it to the ground in a spray of blood.
But at the same time—
The demon rat in front slammed into the tiger's abdomen, its claws sinking deep into flesh.
Another demon rat, positioned behind, stopped abruptly—its single eye glowing violently.
It was charging its eye-laser.
Mu Feng's eyes narrowed.
"Ice Spread—Freeze."
A wave of frost descended from above.
The demon rat preparing its laser was frozen solid mid-charge, ice sealing its mouth and eye completely.
The danger was momentarily resolved.
The Dark Demon Tiger roared in pain and fury. It ripped its claws free from the dead demon rat and smashed the one clinging to its belly aside, sending it skidding across the ground. Deep scratch marks lined the tiger's body—but its gaze remained cold and lethal.
Then—
Its shadow twisted.
Under the cover of night, the Dark Demon Tiger vanished.
The remaining demon rat panicked, spinning in place, searching desperately.
Too late.
A dark blur appeared behind it.
The Dark Demon Tiger reemerged from the shadows in silence.
Before the demon rat could release its laser—
Slash.
The tiger's claws pierced straight through its skull.
The eye-laser discharged wildly into the ground as the beast's life was extinguished in an instant.
Without pausing, the Dark Demon Tiger turned.
It strode toward the frozen demon rat, raised its paw, and crushed the ice—and the creature inside—into shards.
Silence returned to the farmland.
Mu Feng descended slowly from the air, landing beside his summoned beast. He glanced over the battlefield—four corpses torn apart with brutal efficiency.
"Good work," he said calmly.
The Dark Demon Tiger lowered its head slightly, blood dripping from its claws.
This was no longer training.
This was real combat—and both of them had proven they were ready.
After the battle, Mu Feng instructed the Dark Demon Tiger to trace where the demon rats had come from. At the same time, he activated his magic wings and flew up, scanning the area from above.
It didn't take long.
Near the edge of the farmland, partially hidden by overgrown weeds and broken wooden planks, Mu Feng discovered a narrow entrance dug into the ground. He landed beside it and called the Dark Demon Tiger over.
"Is there anything else inside?" Mu Feng asked.
The Dark Demon Tiger sniffed the air carefully, its pupils narrowing as it sensed the surroundings. After a moment, it shook its head.
"No," its intent echoed back through their contract. "No other demon beasts."
Mu Feng nodded.
The tunnel was too narrow for the Dark Demon Tiger to enter, so Mu Feng went in alone. Inside, the passage sloped downward before extending straight ahead. The walls were rough, clearly dug by claws and teeth rather than tools. After several dozen meters, the tunnel opened toward the nearby wasteland outside the farmland's boundary.
It was nothing more than a feeding route.
After confirming that no other demon rats remained, Mu Feng exited the tunnel and returned to the farmhouse. He took a quick shower, washed away the smell of blood and sweat, and finally allowed himself to rest.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, the farm owner arrived as promised.
Mu Feng led him to the corpses of the demon rats. The man's face turned pale at the sight, but he quickly regained his composure.
"I know someone who handles demon corpses," the owner said hurriedly. "I'll take care of it."
Mu Feng nodded and pointed toward the tunnel entrance.
"Fill that passage completely," he instructed. "Stone, cement—anything solid. Don't leave even a small gap, or something else will come crawling through again."
"Yes, yes, I'll do it immediately," the owner replied.
With the task complete, Mu Feng returned to the Hunter system and submitted the mission. The reward—two hundred thousand rupees—was transferred shortly after. It wasn't much, but that had never been the point.
Experience was.
After everything was settled, Mu Feng mounted his bike and rode back toward the ashram.
The wind brushed past him as the road stretched ahead.
His first mission under Aditya's guidance had ended cleanly—and more importantly, it had proven one thing:
He and his summoned beast were no longer novices.
They were hunters now.