"I'm quite hungry. How about grilled fish?" Shao Qi walked around the peculiar fish, contemplating which portion to eat. This fish weighed at least ten kilograms and seemed out of place in the small river.

Zhou You approached, knife in hand, while the strange fish was still twitching. He looked up and asked, "Aren't you going to pursue it? It's a high-level mutant beast. Capturing one would mean we're halfway through this mission."

"There are no bloodstains on the opposite bank. It probably continued upstream or downstream with the river's flow. Which path do you think it would choose?"

"When injured, most creatures tend to return to their lair. Since it entered the water, it might be to conceal its scent, preventing enemies from tracking it. Surprisingly smart."

"Advanced mutant beasts have not only undergone significant physical changes, but research suggests their intelligence has also increased. This is the most terrifying aspect for humans. Once they possess high intelligence, humanity will face unprecedented disaster."

"Then let's choose a direction at random. It's certain it will pick a spot to come ashore. If we can't find any traces, we'll turn back." Zhou You turned around and quickly dispatched the fish, taking the freshest part and slicing it into pieces. His knife skills were exceptional, ensuring each slice was uniformly cut. He handed a plate of fish to Shao Qi, wrapped in leaves. "Time is tight. Let's have sashimi for today. It should be quite flavorful."

Each holding a plate of raw fish, they walked and ate. Interestingly, the mutated fish in the mountains had a sweet, fragrant taste—tender and delicious even when consumed raw.

Walking downstream along the river for a stretch, they finally spotted signs of a large creature passing through at a certain point. The ground was damp, and while diluted by water, the bloodstains were still discernible. The tracks were recent.

"Judging from these footprints, it's likely a mutant beast of the tiger or leopard type. Among the high-level mutants we've encountered so far, predators are the majority. They have a natural advantage and evolve faster than other small animals. That's why high-level mutants are challenging to deal with."

"Roar..." A beastly roar echoed from the woods. The two exchanged glances and followed the direction of the sound.

As they neared the source, the sight of destroyed trees and trembling ground became clear. One couldn't help but wonder if those two mutant creatures were engaged in another battle.

Shao Qi placed a hand on Zhou You's shoulder and whispered, "We'll move through the trees. Stay hidden. We need to find the right moment to strike."

Zhou You nodded. With one arm around Shao Qi's waist, he leaped onto a tree branch, taking Shao Qi with him. Perched on the branch, Shao Qi felt a bit dazed. He hadn't mentioned that he couldn't get up, so why was Zhou You lifting him like this? It was quite embarrassing to be carried up a tree like this.

Zhou You noticed Shao Qi's discomfort but continued to carry him layer by layer until they reached a point where the view was wide enough and secure enough to proceed horizontally.

Soon, they saw the battleground. It wasn't two high-level mutants engaged in combat but a group of chimpanzees surrounding a creature resembling both a tiger and a leopard.

"It's injured," Shao Qi murmured softly. Both of them could clearly see that the hybrid beast had not only deep, bone-revealing scratches on its back, but also a large chunk of flesh missing from its hind leg. These injuries couldn't have been inflicted by the chimpanzees; most likely, they were remnants of a previous fight.

"It seems these chimpanzees are trying to take advantage as well. They're quite bold."

"Chimpanzees are social animals. While they're low-level mutants, their intelligence is not to be underestimated. They've probably stumbled upon an opportunity and don't want to let go of such a large chunk of meat. It's common for mutant beasts to prey on each other. Consuming the flesh of a high-level mutant beast might even give them a chance to evolve."

"No wonder predatory creatures evolve faster. They consume more, thus gaining more energy. However, a wounded high-level mutant should still be able to handle this group of chimpanzees."

Concealed in the trees, they observed discreetly. The chimpanzees didn't recklessly attack; instead, they circled the hybrid creature, occasionally changing angles to pelt it with stones.

While the stones couldn't harm the advanced mutant, they managed to agitate it, causing it to twist and roar incessantly at the chimpanzees.

Just when Zhou You thought the hybrid creature might initiate an attack, the chimpanzees suddenly ceased their assault. Two of them, standing behind the creature, hurled tree branches covered in thorns towards it. Remarkably, they aimed specifically for the creature's wounds.

"That's a deadly move. If they had guns, they could probably take down this hybrid creature immediately." Shao Qi didn't underestimate the low-level mutants. Their intelligence was at least comparable to that of a ten-year-old human.

Chapter 59: Talking Without Doing

Zhou You saw Shao Qi activate a camera on his shoulder to start recording and asked, "Can these video materials be sold?"

"As long as they have value."

"How do you determine if they're valuable?"

"You just need to upload them to the Institute's official website and choose to sell. There will be reviewers who assess your videos. How much they're worth depends on their value to them. In simple terms, they'll offer whatever they're willing to, and there's no room for bargaining."

"Isn't that a form of monopoly? Does our country's antitrust law still exist?"

Shao Qi gave him a sidelong glance, arching an eyebrow as he remarked, "Electronic maps are exclusively sold by the aerospace company, with all proceeds going to the research institute. When gathering materials for 'Beast Hunter Chronicles,' there's no room for bargaining either. The signal stations of various bases are operated by a single company, and even the armor you're wearing is produced by a sole manufacturer. Do you think antitrust laws still hold any meaning?"

Zhou You fell silent, focusing his gaze on the battlefield below. The actions of the black gorilla greatly provoked the tiger and leopard. Even while injured, a mere swish of its tail could strike down a black gorilla.

When one black gorilla fell under the claws of the tiger and leopard, suddenly two others lifted a large stone simultaneously and lunged at the tiger and leopard, attempting to smash its head by sitting on its back.

However, as the two black gorillas leaped onto the back of the tiger and leopard, it rolled over. Not only did the stone fall to the ground, but the two black gorillas also met their demise in the jaws of the tiger and leopard.

"Black gorillas were capable of mimicking human actions before the apocalypse. Knowing how to launch a coordinated attack and use weapons isn't surprising. On the contrary, that tiger and leopard, with its mixed appearance, is it truly a product of nature? Could it be a hybrid of two different species?"