Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“This is a beastling, one of the three most populous subhuman species in Shea and even the entire East Continent.”
In the exhibit area of Shire University, Trand, a famous professor in the university, was standing before a cage made of tempered glass with students.
Inside the cage was a barbaric middle-aged man who had thick hair.
The middle-aged seemed to have been visited too many times to feel ashamed anymore. He stayed in the cage, numb and indifferent.
“Look closely at the hands, ears, and teeth of this werewolf. His fingernails are much sharper than those of human beings. His ears are pointy. His teeth are also typically canine… Also, this is just their state when they are holding. Once they are enraged, those features are even more obvious. Their hair is denser, the claws sharper, and they are more like gray wolves…”
Baili Qingfeng listened to Professor Trand’s interpretation in the crowd.
He never thought he would see such a bizarre creature in reality.
“Beastlings are a huge community. Besides werewolves, there are also foxmen, catmen, tigermen, lionmen, and dozens of other species. Some of them have even established power empires with complicated social structures…”
“Professor.”
At this moment, a student raised his hand and asked, “This beastling looks too similar to humans. If he put on gloves and a hat and does not talk, we cannot tell he is a beastling at all. Is there any way for us to distinguish beastlings from humans except by their appearance?”
“It’s a subject that all humans are interested in, but sadly, the answer is no.”
Professor Trand sighed. “If beastlings can be identified easily, they wouldn’t be one of the three greatest troubles of mankind. They pose a greater threat than dragons, giants and fire demons do because they hide among human beings and can barely be found. Dragons, giants and fire demons, on the other hand, can easily be targeted and killed by the army as soon as they leave the woods.”
“We can arrange a test and ask everyone to run three kilometers. When their blood flows faster, they won’t be able to conceal their features as a beastling,” one student suggested.
“It’s useless. Three kilometers is exhausting for a human, but it’s nothing for a beastling. Every beastling has remarkable physical strength. Also… The stronger they are, the higher the self-control they boast of. Some of them won’t show any anomaly even if they are enraged,” Professor Trand said regretfully.
Then, he led everybody to the second cage of tempered glass.
“Let’s talk about the second most populous subhuman on the East Continent, cavemen. Cavemen are less hazardous compared to beastlings, but they are not entirely tame. Cavemen are talented at prospecting and digging. According to an experiment, six cavemen can dig as fast as a minor tunnel boring machine when fully equipped!”
“Hiss!” The students gasped hard.
Six cavemen could dig as fast as a minor tunnel boring machine. That was remarkable.
“Cavemen are greedy and often fearless for gold and special mines. Also, their advantage is that they hide underground. They can cause massive collapses by digging holes, which can be a major threat where there are underground rivers. Sometimes, they can even cause an earthquake. Shea has been organizing people to hunt cavemen but to little avail.”
Baili Qingfeng looked at the three cavemen in the cage.
The three cavemen were all around 1.5 meters tall, but they were very brawny. Probably because they dug all year round, their arms were disproportionately thick. The bulging muscles were the best depiction of strength.
Baili Qingfeng observed the cavemen for a while before Professor Trand led them to another place. It was a huge water tank.
Inside the water tank…
There was someone.
It was a person who had gills near the ears and scales on part of the skin.
“This is a fishman, a subhuman that can live under the water. Fishmen are also the main obstacle for communication between us and the other continents. They live in both oceans and rivers. Water is their home field… Thankfully, our ships are mostly made of iron now, and fishmen are not as much of a threat anymore. Still, they occasionally climb on human boats and attack the crew.”
“Professor, is it true that every fishwoman is extremely beautiful, and mermaids are based on them?” One student asked curiously.
“Fishwomen? They may look pretty for human beings, but if you don’t want to be devoured, you’d better stay away from the dangerous subhumans.” Trand shrugged. “We are not living on a safe planet. There are many more subhuman species whose population is smaller. It is our job to study the society, civilization, and morals of those people. Sometimes, it can even help us win a war.”
“I know. It’s like the Battle of Fanden thirty years ago. The Kingdom of Syke built a rampart to defend Fanden City, but the Iron Empire tamed a cavemen tribe and dug into the castle quickly. With dynamites, a major landslide was caused, and Fanden City was destroyed, killing sixty thousand soldiers of Syke. That’s how the Iron Empire claimed hegemony,” a student said.
“You’ve learned history well,” Trand praised him. “Now, I will tell you the social structure of the cavemen…”
…
In the afternoon, Baili Qingfeng went to his place.
Today’s class was a great eye-opener for him. It also made him realize that this world and that world…
They were not the same.
Since he was now living in this world…
He had to accept whatever there was in this world.
“There are still too many things for me to learn. I should read books after I practice the Rumbling Thunder Thirty-Six Moves a hundred times. I have to grow physically and intellectually at the same time.”
Baili Qingfeng decided so and returned to his residence. Soon, he came to the woods he had to pass.
Right when he stepped into the woods, his level in the phase of divinity revelation allowed him to sense the upcoming danger. The next moment, he moved his head away…
“BAM!”
A gunshot!
A bullet brushed past his left cheek with scorching air and hit a tree two meters away from him…
Bits of wood went flying.