ARC 4 — THE HUNTERS
The mountain air smelled of blood.
Fresh blood.
Yan stood motionless among the dead wolves while rainwater slowly washed crimson streaks across the ground.
In front of her, Chen Guanlin remained unusually calm for a man who had just witnessed something impossible.
Most humans would have run.
Some would have screamed.
Others would have tried to kill her out of fear.
But Chen Guanlin simply looked at her.
Too calmly.
Too carefully.
Like a man solving a puzzle.
Yan disliked it.
Dangerous humans always looked like that.
"What are you?" he asked quietly.
Yan's golden eyes narrowed instantly.
Not who.
What.
She hated that question.
Without another word, she turned to leave.
But Chen Guanlin suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The movement was fast.
Instinctive.
Yan froze.
Warm fingers wrapped firmly around her skin.
The contact sent something strange through both of them.
For a brief second—
Neither moved.
Chen Guanlin looked down at her wrist in his hand before slowly lifting his gaze back to her eyes.
"You keep running from me."
Yan stared at him silently.
Then—
"You keep chasing."
Instead of releasing her, Chen Guanlin stepped closer.
"So stop running."
Yan's pulse became uneven.
Too close.
This human stood too close.
She could hear his heartbeat.
Strong.
Steady.
Fearless.
It made her restless.
Her instincts screamed at her to either attack him—
Or drag him deeper into the forest and keep him there forever.
Both urges were equally dangerous.
Suddenly—
CRACK.
A branch snapped nearby.
Both their heads turned instantly.
Yan's expression changed first.
Cold.
Predatory.
Someone else was there.
Not animal.
Human.
But unlike Chen Guanlin—
These humans carried killing intent.
Yan shoved him backward hard enough to make him stumble.
"Hide."
Chen Guanlin frowned immediately.
"What—"
"NOW."
The sharp warning in her voice silenced him.
Several figures emerged from the trees moments later.
Men dressed in dark hunting gear.
Weapons strapped to their backs.
Guns.
Crossbows.
Knives.
Their leader stepped forward slowly, his scarred face twisting into a smile when he saw Yan.
"Well," he muttered. "Looks like the rumors were true."
Chen Guanlin's eyes darkened dangerously.
The hunters completely ignored him.
Their focus remained entirely on Yan.
Like predators finally finding their prey.
One of the men whistled lowly.
"She really does have golden eyes."
Another lifted his rifle slightly.
"Boss said alive if possible."
Yan immediately bared her sharp canines.
A low growl vibrated deep inside her chest.
Chen Guanlin noticed the subtle shift in her posture instantly.
Protective.
Aggressive.
Like an animal cornered by hunters.
The scarred man chuckled darkly.
"There's no point running anymore, little monster."
Monster.
The word made something inside Yan snap.
Before anyone could react—
She moved.
The nearest hunter screamed as Yan slammed him into a tree hard enough to crack bone.
Chaos exploded instantly.
Gunshots echoed through the forest.
Birds scattered violently into the sky.
Chen Guanlin's expression turned ice cold.
Without hesitation, he disarmed the closest hunter and drove his elbow directly into the man's throat.
CRACK.
The hunter collapsed instantly.
Yan briefly glanced toward Chen Guanlin in surprise.
He killed without hesitation.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Another hunter aimed toward Yan—
But Chen Guanlin stepped directly in front of her.
BANG.
The bullet grazed his shoulder.
Yan's pupils instantly shrank.
Something primal exploded inside her chest.
Mine.
The thought appeared so naturally it shocked her.
Rage consumed her instantly.
The hunters suddenly realized too late—
They were no longer hunting prey.
They had awakened a beast.
Yan attacked with terrifying brutality.
She moved faster than human eyes could properly follow.
Bones shattered.
Blood sprayed.
Screams echoed through the mountains.
The remaining hunters panicked immediately.
"What the hell IS she?!"
"RUN!"
Too late.
Yan grabbed one man by the throat and slammed him against the ground viciously.
Her glowing golden eyes locked onto the scarred leader.
Pure killing intent radiated from her body.
For the first time—
The hunter looked afraid.
Real fear.
Yan slowly walked toward him while blood dripped from her fingers.
"You," she growled softly, "called me monster."
The man trembled while trying to reload his weapon.
Chen Guanlin watched silently nearby despite blood staining his shoulder.
Not fear.
Not horror.
Only fascination.
The more violent Yan became—
The more beautiful she looked to him.
Dangerous.
Wild.
Untamed.
Perfect.
The hunter finally raised his shaking gun toward her again—
But suddenly—
A deep tiger roar exploded through the mountains.
Everyone froze.
Even Yan.
The forest became silent.
Then massive footsteps approached slowly from the shadows.
One by one—
The hunters' faces turned pale.
A gigantic white tiger emerged from the trees.
Its icy blue eyes locked directly onto Yan.
Chen Guanlin's breathing stopped for a second.
Impossible.
The tiger walked toward Yan calmly before rubbing its massive head gently against her shoulder.
Like family.
Like protection.
The scarred hunter whispered shakily—
"Spirit beast…"
Yan closed her eyes briefly against the tiger's fur.
Then she looked back at the hunters.
And smiled.