Chapter 33: The Hunters

Qian Ye ordered a large mug of light beer, while before Yu Yinnan stood two entire ceramic bottles of homemade grain wine. This beverage, as its name suggests, was made from grains. Though the taste was mediocre, its alcohol content was incredibly potent.

Without giving Qian Ye a chance to speak, Yu Yinnan filled a large mug with grain wine and pushed it in front of him.

"I don't drink strong alcohol," Qian Ye said truthfully.

"A man who doesn't know how to drink?!" she said, clearly displeased.

"I can't find a reason to drink with you."

Yu Yinnan was taken aback, "Why...?" She glanced at Qian Ye's almost expressionless face, then understood, "You don't think those scums deserved to be killed, do you?"

"Hand grenades are for real enemies," Qian Ye said indifferently.

Yu Yinnan snorted, sneering, "To that bunch of trash, does it matter? You thought you could handle the situation, but what about others? Have you considered their fates? Just yesterday, two women accidentally wandered into that area. Do you know what shape their bodies were in when they were found?! Killing such scum ten times over is not enough! It's all about killing anyway, so what difference does the weapon make?"

"But there were children inside..."

"That little rascal played a key role! He would identify valuable items and decide if it was worth the risk to kill the owners!"

Qian Ye opened his mouth, only to find he had nothing to say.

"Come on! Drink up, little man! I can't understand these strange thoughts in your head; you're not acting like a hunter! A rookie like you would die without even knowing why. Bottoms up! Don't be so shy and girly!"

"I... I grew up in a place like this," Qian Ye suddenly felt the need to explain.

Yu Yinnan looked at him with some surprise, then said, "Now I get it. You're not a coward. Come on, bottoms up, my apology!"

Their cups clinked heavily, and Qian Ye looked at the cup in his hand, slightly stunned.

This wasn't a wine cup; it was a water mug!

But Yu Yinnan tipped her head back and downed the whole cup of strong alcohol in one go.

Qian Ye's face turned bitter, his brows furrowing as he took small sips, taking a long time to finish the cup. Afterward, he exhaled a heavy breath of alcohol, his face immediately flushing red.

Another full cup slid across the table, stopping firmly in front of Qian Ye.

He struggled to speak, just lifting the cup when Yu Yinnan slammed hers against it, "Bottoms up!"

She tipped her head back again, finishing the whole cup in one go.

Qian Ye, once again, took several sips to finish the cup, his face now completely red.

After two rounds, one bottle of grain wine was empty. Yu Yinnan poured like she was drinking water, and in no time, two more rounds emptied the second bottle.

Yu Yinnan's gaze on Qian Ye softened, "Though a bit prissy, you still have a decent alcohol tolerance. Boss! Another two bottles, to rinse our mouths!"

"Rinse...?" Qian Ye heard the word and coughed immediately.

Yu Yinnan waved her hand, "Just two bottles, what else but to rinse? Oh, to clear the throat?"

Whether rinsing or clearing, it didn't matter much.

The bar owner brought two more bottles of grain wine, jogging over to them.

Qian Ye and Yu Yinnan's table had already attracted the attention of the entire bar. But this girl seemed well-known here, with the semi-drunk crowd cheering and hooting, yet none dared to challenge them.

After rinsing, they cleared their throats, then rinsed again.

Thus, the pile of empty bottles at their feet grew larger.

Yu Yinnan found Qian Ye more and more likable, calling him brother, and thought that apart from his subpar disguise skills, pale skin, lack of muscle, low rank, soft actions, and somewhat unimpressive presence, he was a complete man with no other flaws.

Qian Ye couldn't help but laugh and cry, wondering what virtues he had left after all her deductions.

Since he couldn't interject, Qian Ye held the water-mug-sized cup and slowly, sip by sip, drank the strong alcohol.

Every time he finished a cup, Yu Yinnan would fill it up again, clink it hard, finish her own in one go, and then watch Qian Ye slowly deal with his.

From the first cup, Qian Ye was swaying, ready to fall. Hours later, after more than ten bottles, he still wobbled, on the brink of toppling.

Qian Ye slowly finished his cup, setting it down heavily. He waited for Yu Yinnan to refill it, but after a while, the cup remained empty. Looking up, he saw Yu Yinnan lying under the table.

He stared for a while before realizing the bold female hunter was drunk, passed out.

The bar owner jogged over, checked Yu Yinnan, and gave Qian Ye a thumbs-up, whispering, "Impressive! You're the first to outdrink her. Oh, sorry, we're closing. Could you settle the bill?"

Qian Ye saw the hefty number on the bill and realized how much they had drunk.

He reluctantly paid with three gold coins and then helped Yu Yinnan up. She leaned heavily on him, her armor alone weighing around fifty kilograms.

The bar owner eagerly pointed out Yu Yinnan's place, winking at Qian Ye with a lewd smile, offering a "potent drug" to keep her in bed the next morning.

Qian Ye, torn between laughter and tears, declined. If he did anything to the four-star hunter, she'd break his legs, and he'd be the one unable to get out of bed.

Carrying the hunter, Qian Ye walked to a small building.

The door was unlocked, and the simple traps posed no problem for Qian Ye. He carefully avoided the security mechanisms from the entrance to the corridor, reached the third-floor bedroom, and dropped Yu Yinnan on the bed, finally sighing in relief.

Looking around, the room was a testament to her violent nature. One wall was covered with guns, the other with knives. The bookshelf-like cabinets contained strange parts from dark races, proof of her achievements. Most men would keep their distance.

Qian Ye felt the aftereffects of the night's binge, finding some cold water on the table, drinking several cups, and feeling better.

He threw himself onto the sofa, relaxing as the alcohol's effects overtook him, and he fell asleep.

In a daze, Qian Ye sensed a subtle danger, finding himself in an empty street. But this time, it was Yu Yinnan emerging from the alley, her face stern, pointing a gun at his forehead.

Panicking, he tried to call out, but no sound came.

Yu Yinnan, cold, pressed the trigger.

Just before the shot, Qian Ye sprang up, tackling her, disarming her, and throwing her over his shoulder.

As her feet left the ground, she twisted, using overwhelming force to throw Qian Ye instead.

Disoriented, Qian Ye woke, finding himself hurtling towards the wall. His battle instincts kicked in, extending his limbs to cushion the impact, then hanging from the corner of the wall and ceiling, looking back.

Yu Yinnan stood in the room, still in a throwing stance, looking at him in shock.

This wasn't a dream but reality.

Yu Yinnan lowered her stance, embarrassed, "I... didn't mean it. I just wanted to cover you. I didn't expect you to... but you're skilled. No harm done, I guess."

Qian Ye slid down the wall, chuckling, "Not your fault. I have nightmares. Instinctive reaction."

Yu Yinnan nodded, "Your senses are amazing. You could sense me in your sleep. You're qualified to operate alone in the wild."

Qian Ye checked the time: 5 AM. Hunters usually started their day then.

Yu Yinnan, embarrassed, scratched her head, "I got a bit carried away last night. Didn't expect you to hold your drink so well! What did you do before?"

"Ran a bar," Qian Ye's reply froze Yu Yinnan's smile.

Later, over breakfast, they discussed business.

Yu Yinnan had heard of a new hunter, highly rated by Er Ye. She had a tricky mission, short on manpower, and found Qian Ye in the slums. His hesitation irked her, so she handled the mob in her usual brutal style.

Then, she suggested a drink, planning to get him drunk as a lesson. But she met her match, someone who ran a bar!

Usually undefeated in drinking, Yu Yinnan was finally outdone, and Qian Ye carried her home.

This made her see Qian Ye in a new light. Good drinkers, she believed, had good character.

Qian Ye disagreed but wisely didn't argue, instead asking about the mission.

Yu Yinnan had intelligence about a werewolf den 300 kilometers from Dark Blood City, containing an ancient totem boosting their cultivation. Highly sought by the Empire's Research Institute, it was crucial for studying dark energy.

She planned to acquire it but needed more strength. Her team included a four-star and two three-star hunters, but she couldn't find suitable additions. She turned to Qian Ye, mainly due to Er Ye's recommendation.

Qian Ye was surprised by Er Ye's influence. Four-star hunters were formidable, and Yu Yinnan had slain dozens of dark races, including powerful Level 4s. Her trust in Er Ye indicated his true caliber.

"You stay here, I'll take a shower."

Yu Yinnan, in front of Qian Ye, stripped down to her underwear, revealing a graceful, sensual body, and headed to the bathroom.