Ascending the Mountain (Part 1)

Goo goo.

A strange sound came.

Wei He paused, looking up at the gloomy forest.

In the distance, a pair of faint green eyes flashed and disappeared.

Wei He swallowed, withdrew his gaze, and focused his attention on the ground before him.

Beneath his feet were patches of dry grass and fallen leaves and branches, occasionally mixed with some vines.

He used his curved blade to carefully push down the grass ahead, lest hidden thorns or sawgrass cut him.

In this dense forest, once he was injured and his blood scent was exposed, he would surely attract troublesome hunters.

He pushed through the thorns while cautiously observing his surroundings.

Wei He's purpose this time was to gradually adapt to hunting. As for investigating the situation at Shaoyang Gate and whether it was related to his family's disappearance, he wasn't in a hurry.

Even if he found out now, he wouldn't be able to get revenge. So, it was better to familiarize himself with hunting first, try to hunt rare birds and exotic beasts, and then deal with this matter after improving his strength.

Of course, if he had the chance to investigate incidentally, that would be a pleasant surprise.

Poof!

A faint sound suddenly sprang from the grass ahead.

Wei He collected his thoughts, slowed his steps, and listened carefully.

Suddenly, he stopped and gently used his machete to push aside the grass to his right front.

His movements were very light, almost soundless.

Compared to the sound of the wind rustling the grass, it was insignificant, blending in.

On the other side of the grass, a thick, dark green python, as thick as an arm, was biting a black rat and slowly, rhythmically, swallowing the rat whole.

Wei He's expression remained unchanged, and the machete in his hand slowly rose.

Swish!

His Second Stage Qi and Blood's explosive power and speed far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Even though Huishan Fist only increased explosive power and didn't focus on other aspects, when facing ordinary fierce beasts.

Wei He's strike was completely invisible.

A gray blur flashed.

The machete flew out, and the python dodged with lightning speed at the same time.

Both actions happened simultaneously, but the python was still a step too slow.

Poof, the machete struck the python's neck, just below its head.

Not the seven-inch mark.

The seven-inch mark was a technique only professional snake handlers could use, targeting a crucial part of the snake's cervical spine, which would make the snake docile if grasped.

However, he would forgo that skill.

As for the saying "strike the snake at its seven-inch mark," according to the teachings of the professional old hunter Ding Hai, it was merely a misunderstanding.

If any part of the snake's spine was broken, it would die. The seven-inch mark was generally only used for control.

If you wanted to kill a snake, the fastest place to strike was the head.

Also, if you encounter a snake and can't defeat it, flee uphill immediately. Snakes are slow going uphill and extremely fast going downhill, so...

Wei He looked at the python, which was almost split in two by his machete.

The python lay on the ground, bleeding profusely, writhing and struggling, seemingly wanting to cling to life for a while longer.

But Wei He stepped forward and stomped hard on its head.

His movements were incredibly fast and accurate.

Poof.

The snake's head was flattened and motionless.

"It's a python, counts as a kill," Wei He said, shaking the python's tail with satisfaction.

This was to test the experience taught by the old hunter Ding Hai.

No matter what kind of snake it was, as long as you grabbed its tail and shook it vigorously, it couldn't bite you.

Of course, the force required for shaking varied with the size of the snake.

For small snakes, an ordinary person's shaking force was enough.

But for this python, as thick as a forearm...

Wei He shook it with all his might, and with a pat, it happened.

The black rat, which the python had been half-swallowing, was shaken out.

Not from its mouth, but from its crushed abdominal cavity.

Watching the black rat that had been shaken out, Wei He thought about it. He decided not to keep it.

He coiled the python, sprinkled it with deodorizing powder, then packed it into an insulated leather bag and tied it shut.

This python was enough for him to eat for several days. This trip was a bountiful harvest.

After scouting for so many days, this was the first time he had encountered such a large prey.

"That Ding Hai definitely has specialized hunting and tracking skills, but he didn't tell me. However, what he taught me is enough. I can figure out the rest on my own. After all, it's someone else's livelihood."

Wei He estimated that if someone without experience were to rely on hunting for a living, encountering such little prey after so many days, they would likely starve to death.

He tossed the python into his backpack and secured it. The originally shriveled backpack now looked much fuller and more substantial after being stuffed with a python over two meters long.

Wei He decided to head back today. He couldn't rush; he had to take it slow, bit by bit.

He looked around and slowly turned back the way he came.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a flying stone shot from the left, diagonally towards him.

"Stop right there!"

A loud shout suddenly rang out from the woods.

The flying stone hit the ground near Wei He's feet, creating a small dirt pit.

It had considerable force.

Wei He glanced at the pit and remained still.

Soon, from beyond the surrounding bushes, several grey-clothed men, some burly and some thin, emerged from the woods.

The leader was a bald, burly man holding something that looked like a slingshot, only much larger.

"I smelled the blood from far away. Came to take a look, and sure enough, there's something!" the bald man said with a smile.

He looked at Wei He, who was carrying the prey bag. He was instantly stunned.

Wei He was dressed in thick, sturdy dark green clothes, wearing a round hat and a mask, covering everything from the eyes down.

In this weather, being wrapped up like that, wasn't it hot?

The bald man muttered to himself.

Moreover, the person opposite him was bulky, with calm eyes, seemingly having some confidence. He wasn't even afraid of all of them?

The bald man immediately made an assessment.

"Put down your things and leave," he said to Wei He in a deep voice.

Wei He didn't act rashly. In these mountains, judging by their attire, these people were likely local bandits. Their ability to survive here for so long must have a reason.

His current intention was to disguise himself as a hunter going up the mountain, so...

He thought for a moment, then put down the python from his back and placed it on the ground.

"I'll leave now," he replied in a low voice.

He began to back away step by step, moving away into the distance.

"Wait!" Seeing his prompt action, the bald man's eyes narrowed. Was this guy deliberately feigning calmness?

He had encountered people like this before, quite a few. In this day and age, masters were supported by powers; they wouldn't come out hunting on their own.

Even if they did, they were very few.

For someone alone like the person opposite, even if he were a true master, with so many of them and so many valuable goods, they could still kill him through trickery.

The bald man had encountered a master once before. Unfortunately, although that person was strong and had killed one of his brothers, he still died under their underhanded tactics.

Since that time, he had understood a principle: even masters are human.

As long as they are human, they can die. So, as long as the ambush was successful, it didn't matter who it was, they could be killed!

And because of that successful ambush, he had obtained a martial arts manual. He then diligently practiced and, through his own exploration, finally broke through the Qi and Blood stage once.

With his martial prowess and cunning methods, he had become a formidable and valiant fighter among the bandits in the stronghold.

"What are those bulging things on you! Take them out!" The bald man was now staring intently at the person opposite him.

Beneath the outer clothing, the other person definitely had something hidden, and not just a little bit, but a lot!

He had seen countless people and had this much insight.

Moreover, the young man had dropped his prey without a word and left. If he were a true master, he wouldn't have agreed so readily.

The bald man's eyes flickered. He suddenly felt that Wei He's calmness was forced.

His decisive action of dropping the prey must have been to conceal the more valuable items hidden on his person!

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

"Take out whatever you have hidden inside your clothes!" His face contorted with ferocity, and his companions, as if by unspoken agreement, spread out in a fan formation, surrounding Wei He.

One by one, they sneered maliciously, their shining sabers waving back and forth, emitting chilling whistles.

"There's nothing inside my clothes," Wei He replied.

Aside from the poison powder, lime, poison darts, his leather armor, and the poisoned hilt dagger, he truly carried nothing else.

However, the robbers across from him didn't believe it, and they pressed closer step by step.

"Nothing? Your clothes are so bulky, you think I'm blind!?"

One of the robbers walked closer, reaching out to grab Wei He's clothes.

Wei He paused. He didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble. He wasn't sure of the strength of this group, and this was their territory. He also didn't know who else might be behind them.

But he couldn't let them touch what he had on him.

So, he took a step back, avoiding the other person's hand.

"I really have nothing on me. My good sirs, I've been squatting for days, and all I caught was the snake in the bag. I truly have nothing else."

"Nothing? I think you're definitely hiding something under your clothes." The bald man looked him up and down, finding the other guy shifty and secretive. He was so heavily wrapped up, and he'd so readily discarded the contents of that large bag.

There had to be something wrong!

He definitely had more valuable things on him!

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

"Xi Zi, hold him down. You guys, go search him and strip him of everything."

Wei He glanced left and right, planning to withdraw first. This was unfamiliar territory. Since he was going to play the part of a hunter, he had to do it convincingly.

The surroundings were deep with woods and thick with grass. Who knew if anyone else was watching from a distance?

What if the other party had accomplices hiding, ready to throw hidden darts or cold arrows? That would be troublesome.

Even the best fists can't fight off four hands.

Wei He took another step back, taking out the bag of dry rations from his clothes.

"My good sirs, this is my last bit of food."

He lowered his voice and placed the bag on the ground.

"Dry rations? Heh, you've got plenty of other things under your clothes."

Suddenly, a bandit slashed his knife towards Wei He's waist.

Wei He quickly retreated, dodging the blow.

Screech.

He dodged the knife, but his clothes, being a bit too baggy, couldn't completely avoid the tip.

With a crisp sound.

The bandit chuckled, "Heh, let's see where you hide now."

He saw a row of poison darts revealed beneath the clothes, and a pale purple hilt dagger, clearly poisoned.

What was a hunter doing with these things?

The bandit's smile gradually faded.

He looked up at Wei He.

Wei He looked back at him.