Monster Paradise Chapter 22: Killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.
Xue Jie's face paled as Lin Huang pointed at him. He had originally thought that the matter was resolved with Zuo Qiu Kang's apology. However, Lin Huang singled him out.
"Lin Huang, what is the meaning of this?" Xue Jie definitely didn't think he stood a chance against the ogre. Furthermore, with Lin Huang acting as ranged support from the back. His defeat was set in stone.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Lin Huang eyebrows jumped as he turned to Xue Jie, " The person who provoked me was you, the person who attacked me was also you. Do you honestly think that I would let you go just like that?"
"Xue Jie, we are to blame for this incident. Just apology and compensate him. As they say, friendship can sprout from the unlikely situations." Zuo Qiu Kang did not intend to give up on Xue Jie. He turned to Lin Huang and said, " Brother Lin, I know you are mad at us. This Xue Jie has a foul mouth so it's understandable. If you require any compensation, we will do our best to satisfy you!"
Lin Huang couldn't help but praise this teenager's astuteness. The way he carried himself was flawless. Given enough time, he would surely grow to be someone influential. "Since you've put it that way, I'll give you some face and settle for these: One, I want a sincere apology from him! Two, I want all his Equipment and anything valuable in his storage space!"
"Lin Huang, you are taking things too far!" Xue Jie refused, his face livid.
" Xue Jie, Shut Up!" Zuo Qiu Kang immediately interrupted him.
"Zuo Qiu Kang, I finally understand why the Zuo Qiu family doesn't favour you. You are just a weakling! You not only choose not to help , you even stood on the side of this outsider! I can't believe I have a cousin like you!"
As he said this, Zuo Qiu Kang's face immediately fell. Lin Huang finally understood why Zuo Qiu Kang did not forsake Xue Jie but constantly tried to help him.
"Are you stupid, I'm trying to save you."Zuo Qiu Kang shouted back.
"I don't need your help, scram!" Xue Jie spat on the ground near him as he said this.
"Brother Lin, I can give you all the BlackIron Equipment in my possession and all the valuables in my Storage Space. I'll take him away and I guarantee we won't cause anymore trouble for you!" Zuo Qiu Kang made another offer to Lin Huang.
However, Lin Huang firmly rejected his offer, "Zuo Qiu, this matter doesn't concern you. This is a matter between me and him. If you can't bear to witness the following scene you can leave."
"Do it, Tyrant!"
Upon receiving this command, the ogre who had been suppressing his thirst for blood, finally sprang to action as he pounced excited on Xue Jie.
Zuo Qiu did not leave but instead retreated a few steps out of the battle site and quietly observed the situation.
Lin Huang's Gray Eagle was primed and ready as he monitored the situation from afar.
On the other hand, Xue Jie thanks to his injuries could only exert up to 70% of his original strength. His right arm was useless thanks to his injured shoulder and on top of that, his speed was affected by the severe pain. He desperately tried to retreat but it was to no avail.
Tyrant quickly caught up to him and punched him.
Tyrant's fist tore through the air as it careened towards Xue Jie. Xue Jie lifted up his BlackIron Long Knife in a last ditch attempt at blocking the powerful blow.
A tiny cut appeared on Tyrant's fist as the two made contact. The knife barely made a scratch on his defense. Xue Jie on the other hand fared a lot worse. As the fist collided with his knife, a tremendous force radiated outwards and threw him into the air as the impact forced him to drop his weapon and fly backwards.
One punch was all it took to completely cripple Xue Jie's remaining arm. The outcome of this battle was clear for all to see at this point. With both his arms out of commission, his knife was useless. Without any means of attack, he was merely a toy in the face of this ogre who was nearly a BlueCopper.
Seeing his prey lose his combat capabilities, Tyrant grew excited as he started chasing Xue Jie in a cat and mouse. He was careful not to deal any fatal blows as he toyed with this mouse. Soon, Xue Jie was on the verge of collapse. Tyrant broke into a devilish smile as he reached out and captured Xue Jie in his hands.
Xue Jie desperately tried to break free but it was in vain as Tyrant's vice-like grip grew tighter and tighter.
Zuo Qiu Kang hesitated momentarily before trying his luck one last time, "Brother Lin, can you spare him? The Zuo Qiu family will owe you three favours if you give us this face."
As he said this, he took out a command token from his storage space.
Lin Huang glanced over at Zuo Qiu Kang and saw that token. While he wasn't what's that token, he still instructed Tyrant to stop, "Tyrant, put him down."
Xue Jie was petrified with fear and collapsed on the ground, not daring to move a muscle. The bones throughout his body were mostly shattered by Tyrant's grip.
Lin Huang walked up to him and said "Confess or Die!"
"Lin Huang, I know you don't dare to kill me." Xue Jie laughed at his threat.
"I don't know where you get this confidence from." Lin Huang squatted down as he said this. He shook his head and laughed slightly before continuing, " To the Hunter's Association, you aren't worth anything. You are just a normal person who couldn't become a Reserve Hunter while I am a Beastmaster. Do you think the association would disqualify me just because I killed you? Even if they did, with my status as a Beastmaster, joining any other organization won't be a problem."
"As for your relations with the nobility, it's shallow at best. Do you honestly think the Zuo Qiu family would try to take revenge on me on behalf of someone like you? Beastmasters are highly sought after by the various major powers in this power. The Zuo Qiu family won't offend the Association for the sake of a BlackIron."
"Here's another secret…" Lin Huang leaned in and whispered into Xue Jie's ears. "While I'm not a BlackIron, the amount of minion I can summon is not one but 3… In the future, it will only increase."
Xue Jie's pupils shrank in fear as he heard this secret. While he wasn't familiar with the Beastmaster occupation as a whole, he knew the vast majority of Beastmasters only awakened their gifts after breaking through to the BlackIron tier.
Being able to summon a minion before that placed one squarely in the ranks of the geniuses. As for being able to summon 3 minions before reaching BlackIron, Lin Huang's talent could be only be described as being inhuman.
Even without taking this exam, he would be an honored guest in any organization. Even if the fact that he killed him was exposed, the Association would do their best to suppress it.
"Since you know my secret, you can take it with you to your grave." Lin Huang stood up as he said this and aimed the Gray Eagle 17 at Xue Jie's forehead. Taking aim, he said "Don't worry, it will be over in an instant."
"Wait! Wait! Don't kill me. I'm begging you!" Xue Jie finally cracked under the threat of imminent death and started begging for his life.
Zuo Qiu Kang was shocked by this scene. He wasn't sure what Lin Huang said to Xue Jie but its effect was astonishing.
"You already know my secret so I can't let you live." Lin Huang smiled as he cocked the gun.
"I promise I won't reveal your secret to anyone. If I do so, may I never take a single step past BlackIron." Xue Jie frantically reassured Lin Huang. "I'll apologize for the previous matter. It's all my fault! I'll pay!"
On the surface, Lin Huang looked like he was hesitating however he was secretly delighted.
Despite Xue Jie's winning personality, Lin Huang never intended to kill him. He only wanted to beat him half to death. This was a well-known tactic was killing the chicken to warn the monkeys. He wanted to make an example out of Xue Jie to warn Zuo Qiu Kang.
As they say, money is only useful if you are alive to spend it. Lin Huang purposely tried to portray himself as a ruthless killer so as to dispel any thoughts of future revenge. He knew that nobles like him would try to take revenge on him after suffering such a humiliation.
"I have 4 BlackIron Equipments, it's all yours! Here is the stuff in my storage space, take it! Please." Xue Jie was completely subservient at this point. It gave Lin Huang a good excuse to back down.
"Brother Lin, if you feel that my cousin's compensation isn't enough, I'll give you more." Zuo Qiu Kang quickly came up to Lin Huang and pleaded with him. He was thoroughly scared by Lin Huang and was afraid Lin Huang would kill his cousin.
"Alright, since he admitted to his wrongdoing. Zuo Qiu, I'll give you face and forgive him." Lin Huang lowered his gun and finally stood up.
He stored the various BlackIron equipment from Xue Jie and looted his storage space before letting go of this matter. As for Zuo Qiu Kang's compensation, he only took the defensive Equipment he was promised at the start. He rejected the command token and the other stuff.
Having settled the matter, Zuo Qiu Kang pressed the SOS beacon for Xue Jie and his other 3 teammates before leaving by himself.
After seeing him off, Lin Huang grinned.
I did not expect Xue Jie to be so cooperative. Making an example out of him paid off after all. Judging from his expression as he left, Zuo Qiu Kang is probably not in a hurry to see me again. He probably won't try to take revenge on me in the future. I guess that's the end of this episode.
Translator Note:
Giving a person "face" in chinese is the equivalent of saying "On account of your background/status/friendship etc etc, I'll do you a favour." While slapping a person's "face" or hitting his "face" is the equivalent of disrespecting him/insulting him. "face" does not refer to the person's actual face but has more to do with his prestige and status in this context.
There is probably a better way to say it in English but I'm experimenting with leaving certain phrases as is. Like "giving him face" and "killing the chicken to warn the monkey" Feel free to give me feedback regarding this.
Thanks for reading as always.