"Not necessarily. Scientists have found that animals of the same type have similar genes. They might have been related in ancient times. Take felines for example; their evolutionary path is uncertain. A domestic cat might have tiger stripes, and a tiger might have leopard spots. It's all very mixed."

The beast below had a tiger's head and a leopard's body. It had both the fierce strength of a tiger and the agility of a leopard. More than twenty chimpanzees surrounding it couldn't harm it. Instead, almost half of them had been killed.

The group of chimpanzees recognized their disadvantage and began an organized retreat. The tiger-leopard, having strained itself in combat, was too exhausted to chase. It collapsed on the spot, licking its injured leg.

"Now's our chance!" Zhou You aimed his gun at the creature's wound, but Shao Qi held down the gun, advising, "Don't shoot. One bullet won't kill it, only scare it off. We need to prepare first."

Zhou You lowered his gun, asking, "What should we do?"

Shao Qi scanned the surrounding trees, pointing to a large one across from them. "I'll jump onto that tree. The more intact a high-level mutated creature's corpse is, the more valuable it is. Don't use heavy weapons unless absolutely necessary. Use those twelve flying knives to stab into its wounds. The pain will make it flee, and I can capture it with the Sky Silk Net. Then you can finish it off with a dagger."

"Sky Silk Net?" Zhou You saw him pull out a gun, not one provided by the Jiangnan military but Shao Qi's own. It turned out to be a net used for hunting.

Shao Qi leaped from branch to branch, reaching the other side. He gave Zhou You an "OK" gesture, and Zhou You nodded, controlling the twelve flying knives which hovered before launching at the four wounds on the creature's back.

As the knives approached, the creature sensed danger and rolled on the ground. However, it wasn't aware that Zhou You could control the knives from a distance. They changed direction to continue their assault.

The creature was no longer as agile as before; severe blood loss made it very weak. Unable to dodge Zhou You's second attack, all twelve knives penetrated its wounds, causing fresh blood to gush out.

The creature roared in agony, struggling to its feet and limping away at a surprisingly quick pace.

Zhou You heard Shao Qi's countdown in his ear, "Three, two, one, now!" Pressing the trigger, Shao Qi released the net from his gun. Expanding rapidly in the air, the net ensnared the creature.

Now was the time! Zhou You jumped from a high branch, propelling himself off a tree trunk toward the trapped prey, a glinting dagger in hand.

The size of the creature meant the dagger's killing potential was limited. Aiming for its few exposed wounds, Zhou You thrust the dagger deep into its back, using his internal energy to slice through its flesh and blood vessels, aiming for the heart.

Although the skin of a mutated beast is tough, its internal organs are not as resilient. The dagger met little resistance as it entered.

The creature cried out one last time, convulsing for a moment before dying minutes later.

Shao Qi descended from the tree, standing in front of the massive creature, still feeling a sense of its former menace up close.

He peeled the Sky Silk Net off its body. Zhou You touched it, noting its cold, smooth, and slightly slimy texture. He wondered what it was made of, especially since the creature's claws couldn't tear through it.

"This Sky Silk Net is made from the silk of a human-faced spider, a high-level mutated beast. It's huge, with a terrifying human face and fur. It's one of my least favorites. Unfortunately, I've encountered one. I killed it despite my discomfort, then collected its silk, treating it with dozens of ingredients over days to get this thread."

Zhou You was a mix of envy and admiration. He could only imagine the difficulty Shao Qi went through. He hoped that once his skills were restored, he'd have a chance to spar with him.

Shao Qi stored the net. The two stared at the huge carcass, realizing the difficulty of transporting it. Their vehicle was parked too far away to be of use.

"With your strength, carrying a creature like this shouldn't be a problem. Go for it!" Shao Qi encouraged Zhou You.

Zhou You coldly sneered, "Don't pretend I'm unaware. The internal injuries you suffered haven't affected your strength. Carrying a tiger or leopard shouldn't be a problem for you."

"But I am the employer. Two thousand credits a month can hire a hundred laborers."

Zhou You pointed to himself, "Those laborers won't assist in killing high-level mutated beasts. Let's be clear: if I carry it away, it's mine. Any money from its sale goes to me."

"Sixty-forty. Considering you did more work than me."

"Are you joking? I killed it. Giving you ten percent is already generous."

"If it wasn't for my Sky Silk Web, could you have easily ambushed it? I even sacrificed an expensive isolator when we killed the mutated vine. I can't let you reap all the benefits."

"Twenty-eighty. That's my final offer."

"Let's both compromise. Thirty-seventy. Given your penniless state, I'll consider it a good deed."

A twitch appeared at the corner of Zhou You's mouth. He was broke, and being called out on it was embarrassing. "Fine. I'll handle transporting the body, you keep watch."

"Agreed."

Zhou You looked for several appropriately sized trees, made a makeshift stretcher, and set off, with Shao Qi holding a gun, trailing behind him.

"If you have any energy left, we might as well bring that gorilla back. No point in wasting free gains," Shao Qi commented, passing a gorilla's corpse.