Crystal in the Heart (Part 2)

Zhang Chen looked at the peregrine falcon and made up his mind to take it back with him. While his body was recovering, he would tame the falcon!

The Fox Spirit had left him alone lately. This was the best time for him to tame the falcon. As long as he kept the peregrine falcon close to him, the Fox Spirit presumably would not risk being gravely injured by the Light of the Righteous God just to steal it.

Zhang Chen carried the basket back. Taming the falcon was no simple matter; there was much he needed to prepare, and he also needed to seek Wang Wu's advice. He had only heard of falcon-taming before. As for how exactly it was done and what details required attention, he still had much to learn.

Zhang Chen came down the mountain early today. After cutting some fresh grass, he waited directly at the village entrance for Wang Wu. When the sun had risen three poles high, Wang Wu emerged from the mountains carrying a fox and two rabbits.

The fox's fur was fiery red, beautiful as the evening glow. Its pelt gleamed with an oily luster, making it well suited for a fine fur collar.

Yet when Zhang Chen saw the fox in Wang Wu's hand, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He instinctively glanced toward the village, unease stirring in his heart.

"Today's luck was pretty good. I actually caught a fox. Once I skin it, I can make a fox-fur hat and sell it for a fine price." Wang Wu looked at Zhang Chen from afar, his voice brimming with delight.

But Zhang Chen could not smile. A Fox Spirit lived right next door. If she learned that they were plotting how to kill fox spirits, things would surely turn disastrous. Who knew what the Fox Spirit might do in a fit of shame and rage?

"I happen to need fox fur to make Little Sister a hat. Uncle Wang, how about selling this fox to me?" Zhang Chen's gaze settled on the fox in Wang Wu's hand. He could not watch Wang Wu walk into danger, so he spoke up, hoping to buy the fox.

Wang Wu burst into laughter. "If you want the fox, just take it. Why be so polite between us men?"

Though he said that, Zhang Chen still took out silver and handed it to Wang Wu. Wang Wu refused to accept it, but faced with Zhang Chen's insistence, he eventually took the money. Smiling broadly, he said, "I'll save this silver for you. You can use it to marry a wife someday. You're fourteen this year, lad—it's about time you got married. That'll cost a great deal of silver."

Zhang Chen accepted the fox and looked at Wang Wu, a trace of emotion in his eyes. Then he patted the back basket beside him. "Uncle Wang, I caught something good this time. Come take a look."

"It's rare for anything to be called a good thing by you, lad." Wang Wu's interest was immediately piqued. He stepped forward to the basket and lifted its lid. When he saw the peregrine falcon within, his pupils contracted. His eyes blazed with heat as he cried out, "A peregrine falcon!"

"This really is a fine thing! How did you catch it?" Wang Wu's voice was full of astonishment. His eyes were fixed tightly on the peregrine falcon, burning with fervor, and his gaze never shifted away.

"This fellow was unlucky enough to fall into my trap, so I caught it alive." Seeing the heat in Wang Wu's eyes, Zhang Chen said with a smile, "If Uncle likes it, just take it."

"No, I couldn't. This is a rare treasure! Do you know how much silver the hunter from the neighboring village got when he accidentally caught an injured peregrine falcon eight years ago?" Wang Wu shook his head. Before Zhang Chen could answer, Wang Wu held up two fingers, his eyes blazing. "Two hundred taels of silver!"

Zhang Chen was stunned. Two hundred taels of silver was indeed no small sum. Considering the purchasing power of this era, it was enough to let a family of five live without worry over food and clothing for ten years—and live quite well at that.

"Can the bond between us men be measured in money? Uncle, just take it." Zhang Chen did not care much. It was only a peregrine falcon. He could find another chance to catch one. So long as he discovered a peregrine falcon's trail, he would always have a way to catch it.

"That won't do!" Wang Wu shook his head. "If you sell this to some young master from a wealthy family in the city, you could get no less than two hundred taels of silver. Then you could buy good farmland, build a house, and marry a wife. Your life would be complete. This isn't a peregrine falcon—this is something that can change your fate."

After hearing Wang Wu's words, Zhang Chen shook his head in refusal. "I never intended to sell it. I want to keep it by my side, and I was just about to ask Uncle whether you know the art of taming the falcon."

"Of course I know how to tame a falcon, but... selling it would maximize your gains. Even if this hawk follows you into the mountains to hunt, how much silver could it bring in? I'm afraid that even until the day it dies, it wouldn't bring back prey worth fifty taels of silver." Wang Wu tried to persuade him.

"I'm still young. I have plenty of time to earn money. It was hard enough to catch a hawk, so I might as well train it for a few years and play with it before selling it. Its price will surely be even higher then," Zhang Chen said.

Wang Wu nodded, accepting Zhang Chen's reasoning, and began teaching him the techniques of taming the falcon.

One taught earnestly while the other learned patiently. In less than half a day, Wang Wu had finished explaining the art of taming the falcon. Only after he was done did Wang Wu say, "Just focus on taming the falcon. I'll keep an eye on your traps for you, and I'll deal with whatever prey you catch and sell it in the city for a good price."

"Thank you, Uncle Wang," Zhang Chen said.

"Why thank me? We're like father and son, like brothers." Wang Wu gave Zhang Chen a pat on the head, and then the two went their separate ways.

Once Wang Wu had gone far away, Zhang Chen looked at the Red-Haired Fox. Its large eyes were filled with sorrow as it looked at him, drawing a faint sigh from Zhang Chen. "You're a spiritual little thing too."

He had examined it with his Dharma Eye. It was merely an ordinary fox, but it possessed considerable spirit.

Zhang Chen carefully untied the rope. The fox shot away like a streak of cloud and sunset, flashing several times before vanishing into the mountains.

"You ungrateful thing. I kindly saved your life, yet you ran off without even a word of thanks." Zhang Chen looked toward where the fox had disappeared and muttered a curse under his breath. Then he slung the basket onto his back, picked up the bundle of grass, and headed home.

When Zhang Chen returned home, the sounds of chopping meat rang out from next door. He did not need to look to know that the Fox Spirit was cooking.

Zhang Chen cut a crude leather glove from animal hide. Using it, he took out the peregrine falcon, then tied its legs with three hemp ropes and fastened it to a nearby post. After that, he began making a fire to cook. He needed to eat and drink his fill before taming the falcon.

Taming the falcon was a test of endurance. How could he do it on an empty stomach?

"It seems there's a raging fire burning inside my body now, and I won't get sleepy. This is simply a heaven-sent opportunity!" Zhang Chen muttered.

P.S. Please keep following along! I hope all you big shots can help by keeping up with the latest chapters. There are only two weeks left—I'm begging you! Once it goes premium, this little author will work like an ox and a horse, updating to repay everyone.

Thanks to 'sunzhongjie1' for the 1,500 points donation.

Thanks to 'Essence Clear Crystal Gold Sutra' for the 100-point donation.

Thanks to 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf' for the 100-point donation.

Thanks to the three big shots.