Hunting Wild Boar

Second Mountain is a place most hunters go in groups.

On one hand, it's dangerous, and they can look out for each other.

On the other hand, if they manage to take down a large beast weighing several hundred pounds, they'll need help carrying it back.

Over time, this naturally formed small communities.

To join one of these groups, it's best to have someone you know vouch for you.

Otherwise, if someone gets greedy, you might not even find your body in the deep mountains.

"You want to go to Second Mountain?"

Zhao Qiao was a bit surprised. "Little Stone, how long have you been hunting?"

"My family hasn't paid this year's taxes yet,"

Chen Sanshi said frankly. "Besides Second Mountain, where else can I earn three taels of silver in such a short time?"

"Sigh~"

Hearing this, Zhao Qiao couldn't help but sigh.

In this day and age, harsh policies are more terrifying than tigers.

He hesitated for a moment. "Alright, but let's get this straight: if you come back empty-handed, you can't blame me."

"Of course, Uncle Zhao. Don't worry."

Chen Sanshi nodded.

On the way up the mountain, Zhao Qiao began to explain the precautions. "The deep mountains might have game, but they also often claim lives. If you encounter a Great Worm or a Black Bear, you'd best run immediately."

"And the most important thing – 'avoid the Brocade clothing'."

"'Avoid the Brocade clothing'?" Chen Sanshi questioned.

"Yes."

Zhao Qiao explained in a deep voice, "Those wearing Brocade clothing to hunt in the mountains are either Martial Arts School masters or rich young masters. We can't afford to offend them."

"There have been cases in the past where hunters clashed with these lords over prey and ended up losing their lives."

"So, in the end, our hunting grounds have been limited to the south of Second Mountain. Few dare to go to the north anymore. Just remember that."

"Lastly, if you hunt something big that you can't move yourself, shoot a whistling arrow into the sky. Hunters nearby who aren't carrying anything will come to help carry it down the mountain. Of course, you'll have to pay them depending on the situation."

"That's all I have to say. In short, be careful with everything. Even fellow villagers might try to trick you."

He took a Marrow-head arrow from his quiver and handed it over.

The Marrow-head arrow, like the whistling arrow, is a type of signaling arrow. However, its arrowhead isn't made of iron but of wood, with a hollowed-out design that makes it exceptionally loud when fired, rendering it harmless.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao."

Chen Sanshi was very sincere.

Exchanging a few salted duck eggs for this advice was definitely worth it.

As they talked, the two arrived at the foot of Second Mountain.

To avoid conflicts over prey, hunters generally acted separately unless they had agreed to hunt large beasts together.

Second Mountain was deep and dense.

The moment Chen Sanshi stepped into the forest, he detected numerous traces within a ten-meter radius, such as animal droppings hidden in the soil and footprints beneath the grass.

"Some hunting dogs can't do what I can!"

"Although I don't have hunting dogs, I'm better than any hunting dog!"

"And this is just the beginning!"

He unleashed his full power, carrying his bow and arrows as he weaved through the jungle, not letting a single movement escape his notice.

Second Mountain had plenty of prey, but the vast majority were small creatures like rabbits and pheasants. Large animals were still hard to find.

Coupled with years of poor harvests and overhunting, the hunters of Second Mountain could barely make a living, and returning empty-handed was a frequent occurrence.

According to Uncle Zhao, the areas with truly abundant game were in the northern part of the mountain, but those were hunting grounds for the elite. Without martial arts skills, the poor dared not venture there.

"Even hunting is a form of oppression?"

Chen Sanshi didn't rush to hunt.

With his current skill level, he could catch rabbits and similar creatures anytime. It would be best to find something larger, even a roe deer would do.

He focused his attention to the maximum.

Chen Sanshi didn't feel tired at all. Instead, the world in his eyes became clearer and clearer, as if he were entering another realm.

As expected, after breaking through the critical point, the System Panel appeared like ripples on water.

Tracking (Proficient)

Progress: 0/500

Effect: Astonishing perception, light as a swallow.

After a profound and mysterious sensation, Chen Sanshi felt his five senses elevate to another level.

Today, he could even clearly observe the animal hairs on the ground!

Some wild animals deliberately hide their droppings.

But they can't hide the hairs they shed unintentionally!

Moreover, insight isn't just useful for hunting; archery also requires excellent eyesight.

A palm-sized bullseye, just a black dot eighty meters away, but if he could see even smaller things, he would naturally shoot more accurately.

These skills could all complement each other.

"Combined with 'eidetic memory' from reading, it's like I've opened Sherlock Holmes' mind palace, just a version specialized for hunting."

Chen Sanshi bent down and picked up a black hair from the grass at his feet.

'This hair is half a finger long, rather stiff, and not yet decayed, meaning its owner appeared in the vicinity not long ago.'

He found similar hairs almost every ten steps. After about a hundred steps, clear footprints began to appear.

He started to follow the trail.

The rugged and complex mountain paths felt exceptionally easy under Chen Sanshi's feet. He moved at an astonishing speed while making almost no sound, truly light as a swallow.

'I wonder if this counts as Qinggong.'

'Movement!'

He slowed his pace outside a bamboo forest, approaching the direction of the sound.

A strong, jet-black wild boar suddenly came into view.

Behind the boar were five piglets. It rooted in the mud to forage in front, while the piglets followed behind, grunting. The pig family was living harmoniously, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

"Jackpot!"

"This sow must be at least three hundred pounds, and the piglets are even more valuable!"

Chen Sanshi saw piles of silver coins beckoning him. He suppressed his excitement and moved as close to the boar as possible.

He could shoot far, it was true, but the closer he was, the greater the power, especially against tough-skinned creatures like wild boars. Shooting from too far away wouldn't be fatal.

Only when he was about twenty steps away from the boar did Chen Sanshi stop behind a reverse slope.

He gently took the longbow from his back and nocked a brand-new two-bladed barbed wolf-fang arrow.

The four-force bow felt light as a feather in his hands now, fully drawn with almost no effort. It felt like it would snap if he pulled any harder.

The string was released, and the arrow arrived in an instant!

"Rooooar--"

Since it was a surprise attack from behind, the arrow lodged directly into the boar's hindquarters, eliciting a sharp scream. Large flocks of birds took flight in alarm.

Perhaps because the bow was too light, the arrowhead only penetrated about three inches into the flesh.

The boar didn't flee. Instead, it entered a berserk state. Ignoring the profuse bleeding, it snorted and charged towards him.

Wild boars are, in fact, a type of fierce beast.

An ordinary person rammed by a wild boar would be lucky to survive and not be incapacitated for half a month!

Chen Sanshi's expression was calm. The second arrow had already been loosed.

"Grrr--"

Another arrow hit the boar, causing it to pause noticeably. However, it didn't stop, merely continuing its charge at a slightly slower speed.

The third arrow followed immediately, piercing its skull.

This time, the wild boar finally fell straight down, dead.

The five piglets beside it, startled, scattered in different directions.

The surrounding terrain was complex, and the piglets were small. For an ordinary hunter, at least two would have escaped. But Chen Sanshi's archery was extraordinary.

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh--"

In just a few breaths, all five piglets were pierced by arrows, undeniably dead.

The arrows in Chen Sanshi's quiver were also just used up.