The Threat

As he ventured deeper into the outer forests of Yunling Mountain, he came across traces of large carnivores roaming through the woods.

He looked at the animal tracks on the ground, each one larger than his head.

If he really ran into one of those beasts, one slap would probably be enough to kill him.

He couldn't help but marvel at his predecessor! He didn't know whether the man had been skilled enough to be fearless or simply ignorant, but he'd actually dared to enter the Mountain alone.

Worried he might run into danger if he lingered there, Luo Yi headed back toward the outer forests.

He spent the afternoon searching the outer forests, but only managed to catch a snake and a pheasant, which he put in his pack.

As the sky gradually darkened, Luo Yi thought of the frightening stories Wang Meng and the others had told him: terrible things happened in Yunling Mountain at night.

Following the marks he had left along the way when he entered the Mountain that morning,

he made it safely out of Yunling Mountain's outer reaches and ran toward Dongsheng Town.

He arrived at the restaurant where Wang Meng had sold his game the day before.

Luo Yi approached the waiter greeting guests outside and said,

"Could you please find Manager Chen for me? I have some game to sell, and I'd like to see if he's interested."

The waiter, who had been welcoming guests, heard him and turned to look at Luo Yi.

"Skinny fellow, dressed like a down-and-out hunter." The waiter figured he probably didn't have anything worthwhile. He was just about to wave him away when

Manager Chen, who had just escorted a guest outside, looked at Luo Yi and asked, "Are you Luo Wei's son?"

Hearing Manager Chen's question, Luo Yi remembered that his predecessor's father had been named Luo Wei and nodded.

Manager Chen looked at the boy before him, who bore some resemblance to Luo Wei, and nodded, confirming his identity.

Seeing the hunting pack on the young man's back, and remembering Luo Wei's exceptional hunting skills, Manager Chen figured his son couldn't be too far behind and hurriedly asked,

"Young man, do you have something to sell to our restaurant?"

Seeing Manager Chen's eager expression, Luo Yi opened his pack and took out the game he had caught that day.

Manager Chen looked at the game laid out on the ground: two rabbits, a pheasant, and a snake. The rabbits were a full size larger than the ones other hunters brought in.

Seeing that such a young fellow had managed to hunt such fine game all by himself, Manager Chen thought he might be able to buy a big haul from him in the future.

He had no intention of driving down Luo Yi's price and smiled cheerfully.

"These two rabbits are quite large. I'll give you seventy-five copper coins apiece. This snake is excellent for steeping in wine, so I'll give you thirty. The pheasant's too small; I can only offer twenty."

"That comes to two hundred copper coins in all. What do you think, young man?"

Hearing Manager Chen's offer—higher than what he had paid Wang Meng and the others the day before—Luo Yi knew he wasn't trying to cheat him.

He nodded.

"Thank you, Manager Chen. I'll be sure to bring you more good game in the future."

Manager Chen was very pleased with Luo Yi's answer. He returned to the counter, took out two hundred copper coins, and handed them to him.

With the day's hunting earnings in hand, Luo Yi walked along the town's streets.

Thinking of the little Black Dough left at home, he went to the largest Grain Shop in town. A sign hanging outside listed the prices:

Today's Grain Prices:

Millet: 500 copper coins per shi

Polished Rice: two taels of silver per shi

Wheat: 800 copper coins per shi

Wild Rice: 600 copper coins per shi.

Looking at the prices, Luo Yi felt the two hundred and forty-four copper coins he had earned over the past two days in his pouch.

He entered the Grain Shop and, gritting his teeth, bought four dou of millet for two hundred copper coins.

After looking at the prices of the other foods in the shop, Luo Yi felt the forty-four coins left in his pouch, hefted the thirty-jin bag of millet, and headed home.

When he reached his front door and was about to knock, he saw that the gate was covered in dents left by stones. He knew Second Uncle Luo Wei was responsible.

With his strength as it was, there was nothing he could do about him. Luo Yi unclenched his fists and steadied himself.

He called through the door, "Xiao Xi, I'm back. Open up."

Luo Xi, hiding inside the house, heard her brother's voice and hurried to open the door.

Seeing the bag in his hand, she asked, "Brother, what have you got there?"

At his sister's question, Luo Yi opened the bag, revealing the millet inside.

"I caught a few small animals today. I remembered we were almost out of food, so I picked up some millet on the way home."

Seeing the millet in the bag, Luo Xi happily took it from him.

"Brother, you worked hard hunting in the Mountain today. Go get some rest. I'll call you when dinner's ready."

Looking at the thoughtful Luo Xi, he didn't refuse her kind offer.

Considering that he hadn't practiced the Basic Archery Skill today, Luo Yi decided not to return to his room to rest.

He took his stance, aimed at the scarecrow in the corner, drew his bow, and fired.

Arrow after arrow struck the scarecrow's head, and the progress on his Archery Skill kept climbing.

More than half an hour passed, and Luo Xi finished cooking millet porridge.

Seeing her brother practicing archery in the courtyard, she didn't interrupt him. She went to a patch of open ground nearby and sat down.

Watching his valiant figure repeatedly draw and nock his bow, Luo Xi felt that her brother had changed completely ever since he encountered the Evil Spirit.

Before, he spent every day in his room studying. Whenever their father tried to teach him to hunt, he always found excuses to avoid it. Now, he was actually practicing archery of his own accord. A trace of worry flashed through her eyes.

Luo Yi was so absorbed in his archery practice that nothing around him could distract him.

Only when intermittent pain shot through his arm and he reached his limit for the day did he put the arrows back in his quiver.

He looked at the Panel, where the Skill had changed from Basic Archery (Beginner 64/200) to Basic Archery (Beginner 121/200), and shook out his numb arm.

Seeing that her brother had finished practicing, Luo Xi went into the kitchen, brought out the millet porridge that was nearly cold, and handed it to Luo Yi.

Millet porridge was much like the millet porridge he'd eaten in Hua Kingdom in his previous life. After a busy day, Luo Yi was famished and dug in.

As the siblings ate, Second Uncle Luo Wei's voice came from outside the door:

"Luo Yi, are you home? If you're there, open the door. I've got something for you! Something good!"

Hearing Second Uncle Luo Wei outside, Luo Yi figured the man had no good intentions and didn't answer.

Luo Yi went to the woodpile in the corner of the courtyard, took out two thick logs, and wedged one against each door.

Luo Wei, who was directing his men to knock, heard the sound of something heavy bracing the door from inside. His face twisted with malice.

He shouted, "Fine! You little bastard, you dare not open the door for me? You'd better watch your step the next time you go hunting outside town. If I catch you, I'll break your dog legs!"

After cursing, he saw there was no response from inside. Luo Wei had no idea whether his threats had worked.

He kicked the door twice to vent his anger, then called for his men to follow him. The group headed for the biggest brothel in town.

Hearing their footsteps fade into the distance, Luo Yi worried Luo Wei might fly into a rage and attack him in town in front of everyone. His desire to grow stronger became more urgent than ever.

He looked at the Basic Archery Skill, which was only seventy-nine points from leveling up.

He returned to his room, took out his bow and arrows, and forced himself to keep shooting despite the pain in his arm.

After a round of shooting, Luo Yi saw that the Skill was still sixty-four points short of leveling up.

The pain in his arm had become unbearable. Worried it would affect his hunt the next day, he went back inside, found an empty spot, lay down, and fell asleep early.