Bear Heart Leopard Gall

"Is it the Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy?"

Exiting the military tent, Chen Sanshi recalled the conversation he just had.

Since the Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy was causing trouble, it must have been Qin Feng's doing.

The fact that he could get the Young Master of the Tianyuan Academy to help him with matters indicated an unusual relationship. Could he have become a True Disciple?

Furthermore, the Hundred Household Commander asked if he had any enmity with the Liang family, was he preparing to help him?

Wang Zhi's rapid change in attitude was unexpected, but upon reflection, it was within reason.

Most likely, he was valuable to them.

However, Chen Sanshi took it in stride, not finding it hypocritical.

The so-called social courtesies were simply a matter of mutual help.

Without any prior connection, where would genuine feelings come from?

Precisely because of this, Chen Sanshi didn't truly expect Wang Zhi to completely resolve this matter for him. He still needed to focus on cultivating and improving his strength, which was the ultimate path.

He returned to the training grounds.

The commotion earlier had been too great, and now everyone was looking at him with disbelief.

"Shi Tou, how did you do it?"

Zhu Tong was full of admiration. "I just saw it, Song Yan's maternal uncle turned green with anger after hearing about this matter!"

"..."

Chen Sanshi was speechless.

He had offended another person.

But it didn't matter, he couldn't hold back out of fear of offending people.

"I'm going home for a bit."

Chen Sanshi didn't linger for small talk, packing his things and leaving the military camp.

Eating at restaurants all the time was not cost-effective; it was best to buy meat and cook it himself.

After he left, within a few hours, the news of someone mastering a spear technique overnight with the help of a breathing technique spread throughout the entire Poyang Left Army Thousand Household Office.

Many new recruits who had been vying for the "elite selection" spots mentally collapsed and gave up, mostly shifting their goals to becoming Warrior Recruits.

It wasn't until two days later that people, one after another, began practicing the spear technique.

The fastest among this group was naturally Song Yan.

On the third day, with the aid of the breathing technique, he finally learned the spear technique, yet he still felt very defeated.

"Uncle, I can't compare to Chen Sanshi."

In a two-entrance courtyard house, Song Yan lowered his head, his tone dejected.

"You have to try even if you can't compare!"

Luo Dongquan said angrily, "You haven't cultivated Qi and Blood yet, so you still have a chance."

Two servants carried trays into the courtyard.

On the trays were steaming boiled meat, offal, and most prominently, a deep yellow, slender, and slightly twisted organ.

"This is Leopard Gall."

Luo Dongquan said, "Bear Heart Leopard Gall is considered a great tonic. Starting today, you will eat one every day. It will not only nourish your body but also help you cultivate Qi and Blood faster. This Leopard Gall costs ten taels of silver each, a price that boy's family cannot afford."

"Uncle, he's a hunter," Song Yan said. "And I heard he's a very skilled hunter."

Hearing this, Luo Dongquan couldn't help but laugh.

"A hunter? Do you know why those hunters outside Poyang County can't even afford to pay their taxes?

"The truly valuable things on Tiger Head Mountain are in the deep mountains north of Second Mountain. Those beasts rarely come out, and the hunters dare not venture in casually."

"Why?"

"Why? Because they're poor!"

Luo Dongquan said sternly, "Poor people only need to barely survive. Making money is not for them, it's that simple.

"That's why I'm doing my best to help you climb up. Only by climbing high enough can you bully others, instead of being bullied!"

"Uncle, why do we have to bully others?"

Song Yan was a little confused.

"Idiot!"

Luo Dongquan's anger flared. "Eat your Leopard Gall properly! As for that fatso, he's wasteful and extremely greedy. He definitely won't spend real silver to support that Chen kid."

"Hoo--"

After completing a set of spear techniques combined with the breathing technique, Chen Sanshi was covered in sweat and poured a bucket of cold water over himself.

Technique: Basic Soldier Spear Technique (Uninitiated)

Progress: (38/100)

Effect: None. "Cultivating Qi and Blood is really not as simple as Zhu Tong said."

He sat on a rock, taking a long while to catch his breath.

Chen Sanshi had trained day and night for the past two days, and only managed to increase his progress this much. He was still a considerable distance from true mastery.

"Brother Shi, it's time to eat," Gu Xinlan called out.

"Coming."

Chen Sanshi sat at the table and grabbed an entire piece of beef tendon to gnaw on.

Gu Xinlan said with concern, "You must be exhausted lately."

"I'm alright."

Chen Sanshi asked, "Are we running out of money at home?"

"We have one tael and three qian of silver left."

Gu Xinlan remembered every detail of their household finances. "We can still hold on for a few more days."

"Practicing martial arts really burns through money..."

Chen Sanshi was quite speechless.

In just a few days, he had consumed all the family's savings.

Yet, even so, his body still showed signs of Qi and Blood depletion.

It seemed the meat from ordinary livestock had limited effects; he needed to eat wild game.

Chen Sanshi said, "I'm going up the mountain this afternoon."

"You're going to hunt Black Bears with Uncle Zhao and the others?" Gu Xinlan asked nervously. "Be careful."

"Don't worry."

Chen Sanshi put down his chopsticks as the outer door was knocked upon.

It was Zhao Qiao and the others.

Zhao Qiao carried a basket of fish, Wu Da held a jar of honey, and there was also a young hunter with a honest face, leading a grayish-black hound.

After introductions, Chen Sanshi learned his name was Zhuang Yi.

The four of them set off together, heading to Second Mountain with practiced ease.

"South of Second Mountain, there are many things to hunt, but not many valuable ones," Zhao Qiao said. "Including that Black Bear, it's actually from the north. It's usually not our turn to deal with it. But this beast has developed a habit of eating people, and it's very smart.

"It doesn't dare to provoke martial artists. This time of year, it quietly goes to the south of Second Mountain or to First Mountain to attack hunters who go up the mountain.

"Even beasts bully ordinary people!" Zhuang Yi said indignantly.

"We're here."

Wu Da pointed ahead. "San Lu Zi and a few other hunters met their fate around here."

They stopped in a relatively open and flat grassy area, placed the bait they brought on the ground, and then hid in the distant woods, planning to use the autumn wind to spread the scent and attract the Black Bear.

However, after waiting for a long time, there was no sign of it.

"I'll do it."

Chen Sanshi hadn't wanted to embarrass them earlier, but since this method wasn't working, he shouldn't waste any more time.

Tracking (Proficient)

Progress: 350/500

Effect: Astonishing perception, as light as a swallow. It had been a while since he had hunted on the mountain, so he might as well take this opportunity to improve his skills.

His gaze was sharp, and before long, he found a piece of rotten fruit peel in the nearby grass, followed by cylindrical droppings wrapped around insects under a bush.

For Chen Sanshi, as long as he could lock onto a general area, there were no traces he couldn't find.

Only after he found them did the hunting dog follow, discovering them and barking excitedly, seemingly full of admiration.

Being admired by a dog felt a bit strange.

"Hey, Brother Chen, you're amazing!" Zhuang Yi said bluntly. "You're even better than the dog!"

"Watch your mouth," Wu Da said, hitting the back of Zhuang Yi's head. "Brother Shi has great skills, learn from him!"

Chen Sanshi gestured for them to be quiet and continued forward.

After about four li, they arrived at a valley with a small stream running through its center.

From a distance, Chen Sanshi could see many traces of medium and large animals in the woods on the other side of the stream.

"That's North Mountain across the way!"

Wu Da said with emotion, "Not only are there many large animals in there, but there's also a chance of encountering exotic beasts. One of them could make us rich.

"It's a shame we have to 'avoid the Brocade clothing.' We don't dare go there easily. If we offend a disciple from a martial arts academy, we'll be in serious trouble!"

Chen Sanshi had heard about this before. "What exactly counts as offending them?"

"There's no standard."

Zhuang Yi chimed in, "Whoever they take a disliking to is unlucky."

"But Brother Shi, you're different," Wu Da said. "If you can become a military officer in the future, you won't have to fear them!"

Falling behind by one step means falling behind at every step.

If he couldn't become an officer, he wouldn't even have the right to hunt, let alone...

Without wasting any time, Chen Sanshi continued westward, leading the group into a dense forest.

Once they entered the area, traces of the black bear's presence became much more obvious.

There were claw marks on the tree trunks, footprints on the ground, and overturned stones.

Chen Sanshi cautiously didn't get too close, searching for the black bear's whereabouts.

"There's a tree hollow."

Wu Da pointed to the hollow of an ancient tree ahead. "But it seems to be empty."

As he spoke, he moved to get closer.

"Careful!"

Chen Sanshi keenly sensed something was wrong and quickly stopped him. "Behind you!"

At almost the same moment, a massive figure emerged from the bushes and lunged towards Wu Da, the scarred man, from behind.

This beast had been waiting for a long time!

Ever since entering the dense forest, he hadn't heard any sounds, so he didn't dare to get too close.

Wu Da and the others thought the black bear had gone out to forage since the tree hollow was empty, and they let their guard down. They never expected that the black bear, accustomed to eating people, would turn around and actively hunt humans!

No wonder the bait didn't work!

"Thump—"

This black bear was larger than its usual kind, with an estimated body length of about two and a half meters and weighing at least seven to eight hundred jin. It could be said that just brushing against it would cause injury, and touching it would mean death!

Wu Da didn't even have time to nock an arrow before his bow was smashed into two pieces. He was just about to be struck by the thick bear paw on his face.

In a flash, a wolf-fang arrow accurately pierced the black bear's left eye.

"Roar—"

A shrill roar echoed.

Zhao Qiao and Zhuang Yi finally reacted and quickly shot their arrows.

However, their Four-force bows, due to their panic, were not fully drawn. The arrows only penetrated the skin and lodged in the black bear's fat, failing to cause any substantial damage. They only served to enrage the black bear, which then madly charged at them.

Zhao Qiao and Zhuang Yi were too close to shoot a second arrow and could only turn and run.

The hunting dogs barked wildly nearby, unable to even get close.

"Beast, come chase me!"

Chen Sanshi said, nocking another arrow.

Since the black bear's back was facing him, he couldn't hit a vital spot. He could only shoot its tough hide on its back.

However, because the arrow was heavy enough, half of it was still embedded.

"Roar!!!"

The enraged black bear changed its target and charged at the person causing it the most pain with extreme speed.

Although it appeared clumsy, it was incredibly fast when running.

Wu Da and the other two watched in terror, "Run, quickly!"

However, their hearts soon relaxed.

Because Chen Sanshi was even faster, agile like a monkey, he weaved and dodged through the dense forest, causing the black bear to miss its pounces several times.

The arrowheads and blades of the wolf-fang arrows continuously cut into its flesh and bone. Dark red blood soaked its fur, and its speed gradually slowed.

After creating some distance, Chen Sanshi drew his bow and nocked another arrow.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

Arrow after arrow, almost without interruption.

The Two-stone heavy bow, repeatedly drawn to its full extent – what kind of explosive power was this?

Zhao Qiao and the others watched in a daze but didn't stand idle, using their lighter bows to provide support from the side.

Before long, the black bear was hit by several arrows, and its movements became sluggish.

Chen Sanshi, confirming he could finish this beast without injury, deliberately avoided shooting its vital spots. Instead, he lured it out of the dense forest. While it was weakened, he picked up his Plum Blossom Spear and charged at it.

Such a good target, why not make the most of it?