The Golden Python

A Hunter ran back, crying that he had encountered a Bear.

His companions, Li Tugen and Jiang Huagou, were dead, their bodies never returned.

To pay taxes, some people risked their lives, while others took advantage of the misfortune.

Hearing that Jiang Huagou was dead, Zhou Menghu's eyes lit up. His daughter was fourteen, and he could snatch her.

" Xiao Haozi, Brother Zhou is doing this for your own good," Zhou Menghu said in the end, "Don't be ungrateful."

"Yes, Brother Zhou, I understand."

Eager to prey on the vulnerable, Zhou Menghu didn't persuade further. He called his two lackeys and left excitedly.

"Big Brother," one of the ruffians suggested to Zhou Menghu, "Just take her by force. Why be polite?"

"Idiot!" Zhou Menghu casually hit the ruffian on the head. "Do you think those big shots in the city will let us run wild? We also have to be wary of those self-righteous martial artists."

"Then what should we do?"

"Three taels of silver isn't that easy to gather. Perhaps at that time, we can get Su Yun for just three taels of silver."

Cui Hao closed the wooden door and decided to go to the market to buy some glue. He would maintain his old bow during the day.

Tomorrow morning, he would go to the edge of Second Mountain to practice archery. He would deal with Zhou Menghu within seven days.

" Brother Hao," Su Yun cautiously emerged from the kitchen, "Has Zhou Menghu left?"

"He's gone."

"What are people saying outside?"

"They encountered a Bear, and Li Tugen and Jiang Huagou didn't return."

"Ah!" Su Yun was shocked. "Uncle Jiang is dead?"

Cui Hao nodded. " Zhou Menghu went to prey on the vulnerable."

" Brother Hao..." Su Yun thought of Jiang Huagou's fourteen-year-old daughter, Lingdang. "Do you think... we could possibly... help Aunt Hua and Lingdang?"

Cui Hao gently shook his head. "It's already difficult enough to take care of ourselves."

Yes, their own tax money was still not secured. Su Yun's face was filled with worry.

The next day, at dawn, Cui Hao carried his bow and arrows on his back, a Chopping Knife at his waist, and a Shoulder Pole in his hand. A grass rope hung from the pole.

It would be best if he could hunt something. If not, he would bring back two bundles of firewood. In any case, he couldn't return empty-handed.

Taking the water gourd and dry rations from his wife, he strode out of the house into the darkness.

Su Yun secured the courtyard gate from the inside, bracing it with two sturdy wooden sticks. When her husband went out, the most she could do was protect herself at home and try not to be a burden.

As dawn broke and the sun peeked over the horizon, Cui Hao arrived at the stream again. Second Mountain was on the other side of the stream. As soon as he arrived, a Pheasant was startled into flight.

Unlike domestic chickens, wild pheasants were small and thin, with almost no meat. They flew faster than wild ducks and weren't worth wasting energy on.

He took off his shoes and waded into the water. Late autumn was in full swing, and the stream water was bone-chillingly cold.

Two Squirrels were fighting on a Camphor Tree by the river, chattering fiercely. Cui Hao merely glanced at them, not wasting an arrow.

He walked along the stream, this time in the opposite direction.

He hadn't encountered any prey yet, but he first met a thin, small man holding a wooden fork, quietly fishing by the stream.

The thin, small man stared intently at Cui Hao, worried that he would shoot him with an arrow and steal the last of his family's clothes.

Cui Hao, on the other hand, was worried that the other party would treat the wooden fork as a spear, stab him to death across the narrow stream, and steal his bow and arrows.

Only after creating some distance did both parties relax.

Fortunately, after walking less than a kilometer, at a distance of more than twenty meters, Cui Hao spotted a beautifully feathered Grouse with a group of chicks, foraging in the clearing between the stream and the woods in the early morning.

He nocked an arrow and shot.

With a swish, the wooden arrow flew out and the grouse fell.

The Grouse was alerted and leaped into the air, startled. It was hit in the wing but didn't die immediately. It flapped its wings, trying to escape, but because an arrow was stuck in its body, it couldn't fly fast. Cui Hao caught it.

The chicks did not scatter.

Using the grass rope, he tied the Grouse's legs and wings and slung it over his back. He planned to sell the seven or eight chicks.

After hunting prey, his status panel updated.

[Archery: Beginner]
[Progress: 25/300]
[Effects: Soreness -5, Arm Strength +5, Accuracy +5]

The progress was originally 20. It increased to 25 this time. Compared to the increase before reaching Beginner level, the increase after reaching Beginner level was significantly smaller. However, Cui Hao was content. As long as he practiced and grinded, he would eventually reach Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and even Perfection.

He continued to walk forward. The injured Grouse kept clucking. Just as Cui Hao was annoyed that the foolish bird was disturbing his hunt, a snake, the color of corn and as thick as an adult's arm, dangled down from a large tree ahead.

This was unexpected for Cui Hao. He hadn't expected the bird's chirping to attract prey, but on second thought, it made sense!

He nocked an arrow and drew his bow. Whoosh!

Ten meters away, the wooden arrow pierced the golden snake's body.

Struck hard, the golden snake recoiled violently, its body coiling like a spring.

Fearing it would escape, Cui Hao quickly advanced two or three steps and shot a second arrow at close range, hitting it again.

With a thump, the snake fell from the tree trunk, revealing its full body.

It was about three and a half meters long, a considerable snake.

Worried about being strangled and also about the prey dying, he shot two more arrows at the area below the snake's waist.

Hit by four arrows and injured, the snake instinctively coiled into a ball, breaking three of the arrows, but it didn't flee, staying put.

Cui Hao didn't approach either, maintaining a standoff.

After about fifteen minutes, the snake's body slowly relaxed.

Cui Hao lowered his bow, opened a piece of blue cloth, and flicked it forward, covering the snake's head.

The snake weakly resisted, trying to shake off the cloth. Cui Hao pounced at the opportune moment, using a straw rope to tightly bind the snake's head to the cloth, three knots to ensure it wouldn't come loose.

Not wanting the snake to die, he used mud to seal the wounds.

He fixed the snake's head and tail to either end of a shoulder pole, cut dead branches and dry grass to disguise it, making it look like a large pile of firewood, so much so that it could bury a person.

He lifted it onto his shoulders. It weighed about thirty kilograms, a bit heavier than a bag of rice.

This was not a problem for Cui Hao. He had not mistreated himself, and while not bulky, he was not thin either.

Coupled with his +5 Strength and +5 Physique, carrying twenty kilograms was quite easy.

'Physique' was a benefit gained from the introductory level of the 'Bedchamber' skill.

[Bedchamber: Novice]
[Progress: 50/300]
[Effects: Physique +5, Progress Points available +20]

No wonder he was arranged to have a child bride at the start; she was quite useful.

Cui Hao walked ahead with the load, the chicks following him unsteadily. After an hour together, they had grown accustomed to him, and he easily caught eight chicks.

He bundled them up, leaving gaps for ventilation, and carried them with him.

He stopped once midway to eat dry rations and drink water. After ten li, he reached Qingyuan County.

He walked into Xu's Pharmacy, which was closest to the north gate.

"We don't buy firewood," the shop assistant immediately tried to drive Cui Hao out. "Get out, get out!"

After walking ten li, Cui Hao's clothes were soaked with sweat, and his scholarly appearance was gone. He looked like a vagrant. It was no wonder the assistant was disdainful. Cui Hao quickly explained, "I'm here to sell snake gallbladders."

"We don't buy! Leave quickly."

All pharmacies bought snake gallbladders. If this one didn't, he'd go to the next. But just as he was about to leave, someone else inside the pharmacy called out, "Wait."