Solo Hunt, Reaping the Spoils

The massive convoy left the level Official Road, its wheels rolling over increasingly rugged dirt-and-stone paths before finally stopping at the entrance to a relatively open valley. Ahead lay the dense mountain forest marking the true boundary of the Cloud Mang Mountain Range—ancient trees towered overhead, thorny brambles tangled everywhere, and snow blanketed the dead branches and fallen leaves, exuding a primal, dangerous aura.

The party made its final preparations here and divided into separate groups.

Second Young Master Lin Gong, dressed in luxurious hunting attire and mounted on a tall horse, looked full of high spirits. Leading nearly a hundred elite guards under his command, he shouted as he spurred his horse forward, taking the planned left-wing route and charging into the forest first, sending flocks of birds scattering amid the clamor.

Close behind, Third Young Master Lin Ming's party advanced in orderly formation toward the river valley on the right. Though he appeared scholarly and frail, his guards were equally well-trained. They moved without a sound, carrying an air of sharp efficiency.

Meanwhile, the massive logistics and supply train remained in the relatively flat, safe clearing at the valley entrance. The servants expertly began unloading supplies and setting up temporary tents, cooking stoves, and stables, establishing a simple yet fully functional forward base. With one arm hanging uselessly, Sun Yi directed his squad of "crippled soldiers" to set up a perimeter around the camp, his face dark. From time to time, his eyes flicked venomously toward the direction in which the Young Miss's party had departed.

Li Bufan followed the Young Miss's Personal Guard led by Nanny Wu, accompanying Lin Zhiyan's carriage—plain but exceptionally sturdy—along a trail trampled out by those who had come before, heading deeper into the mountains.

The carriage stopped in a relatively spacious clearing amid the woods. The curtain lifted, and Lin Zhiyan stepped down with measured grace, clad in a fiery-red fox-fur cloak and carrying a delicate silver bow on her back. Her cool gaze swept over the twenty-odd capable personal guards before her.

"We are already deep in the forest, where prey is becoming more plentiful." Her voice was like a clear mountain spring, cold and crisp. "Form groups of three and hunt separately. Let the horn be your signal. Before sunset, you must return here to gather, then head back together to the camp at the mountain entrance."

She paused, then continued, "The rules remain the same. Small prey such as pheasants and wild rabbits may be kept as you wish, or sold to the estate at seventy percent of market price. If you are fortunate enough to hunt large prey such as Snow Deer, Black Bears, or even tigers, you may keep thirty percent of the meat, blood, bones, and sinews. You may also use them to exchange for corresponding pills, weapons, or silver from the estate. The remaining seventy percent must be handed over. Whether you gain anything depends entirely on your own skill and fortune."

At those words, many in the personal guard breathed a little heavier, eagerness flashing in their eyes. The mountains were dangerous, but the opportunities were just as great. Whether consumed to strengthen one's blood and vitality or traded for cultivation resources, the rewards were immensely tempting.

"Now, form your own groups and spread out!" Nanny Wu ordered in a deep voice, adding, "Keep at least one li between each group. Use whistles to communicate, and fire a signal arrow immediately if you encounter danger!"

At the command, the guards immediately and skillfully sought out familiar companions. Before long, they had formed groups of two and three. Quiet voices exchanged words as they inspected bows, crossbows, and weapons, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense with excitement.

Li Bufan, however, stood awkwardly where he was. He had only just arrived and had no friendship with these direct-line Lin Family guards, who had long since formed their own fixed circles. Moreover, he had drawn too much attention at the training ground yesterday and offended Sun Yi's group. Now, not a single person was willing to team up with him. As several groups passed by, they even cast him openly exclusionary or indifferent looks.

Nanny Wu watched coldly from the side without interfering. Lin Zhiyan had already returned to her carriage, seemingly unconcerned with anything outside.

Li Bufan understood. This was exactly what he had expected. His expression remained calm, without the slightest embarrassment or anger. He merely checked his equipment in silence: a standard-issue heavy bow, a quiver of arrows, a waist saber, and a little dried food and a waterskin hanging from his horse.

Before long, all the other groups had finished preparing. Like arrows released from the string, they silently vanished into different directions of the forest. Soon, only Li Bufan remained, along with the silent carriage and the few elite guards clearly assigned to protect Lin Zhiyan at close range.

Li Bufan did not linger. He gave a slight bow toward Nanny Wu and the carriage, then turned and chose a direction no one else had taken, stepping steadily into the dense forest.

The instant he entered the woods, the sounds of the outside world seemed to be cut off. Towering trees, thick snow, winding dead vines, and jagged strange rocks surrounded him. The air was cold and fresh, carrying the scent of soil and decaying leaves. Snow crunched beneath his feet, especially distinct in the silence.

Li Bufan immediately cast aside all distracting thoughts and focused completely. He pushed his five senses to their limits, listening in all directions and watching every side as he advanced cautiously. At the same time, his blood and vitality circulated slowly within him, warding off the bitter cold while keeping his body in peak condition.

He knew full well how dangerous it was to hunt alone, but he also understood that this was an excellent opportunity. Without anyone to hold him back, every gain would belong to him, and he could better hone his martial skills and Archery to his heart's content.

The terrain in the direction he had chosen gradually rose, and the forest grew denser still. Following the scattered hunting knowledge his father had taught him before his death, he carefully examined the marks in the snow—occasional paw prints, gnawed tree bark, scattered feathers, and droppings.

Time passed little by little as he moved through the forest like a ghost, patient to the extreme.

Suddenly, his steps halted. From the bushes to his left came an exceedingly faint rustling sound. He immediately held his breath and slipped soundlessly behind a large tree like a wildcat, slowly peering around it.

Behind a snow-covered thicket not far away, a plump gray-furred wild rabbit had raised its ears alertly and was nibbling at grass roots beneath the snow.

Li Bufan's heartbeat quickened slightly. Slowly, he removed his heavy bow and nocked an arrow. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he recalled the feeling of his hard practice over the past three days, his gaze locking onto the target.

Whoosh!

The arrow left the string! Perhaps he was a little nervous, or perhaps a moving target truly differed from a fixed one—the arrow grazed the rabbit's back and buried itself deep in the tree trunk behind it!

"Squeak!" Startled, the wild rabbit shot forward and fled deeper into the forest!

Li Bufan inwardly cursed his bad luck, but did not hesitate in the slightest. Power surged through his legs, and the blood and vitality of Minor Success in Skin Refining roared into motion. His speed exploded in an instant as he gave chase like a cheetah! At the same time, he nocked another arrow!

The wild rabbit darted left and right through the snow, moving incredibly fast.

Li Bufan pursued without letting up, his eyes sharp as he drew his bow again while running! This time, his mind was more focused, and under pressure, his control over the bow seemed to improve.

Whoosh!

The second arrow flew out! It anticipated where the rabbit would land after its leap!

Thud!

The arrow pierced straight through the rabbit's neck, pinning it firmly to the snow!

[Archery] Proficient (18/1000)

Li Bufan strode over, pulled out the arrow, and lifted the still-twitching rabbit. It weighed heavily in his hand, probably five or six jin. A first victory, though it was only small prey, greatly lifted his spirits.

He skillfully tied up the rabbit and hung it at his waist before continuing his search.

Perhaps luck had come his way, or perhaps this area truly was rich in prey. Over the next hour or so, relying on his increasingly practiced Archery and patience and sharpness far beyond ordinary people, he successfully hunted two more plump pheasants.

[Archery] Proficient (35/1000)

The spoils at his waist gradually increased, and Li Bufan's mood grew steadier. He found shelter behind a wind-blocking rock and rested briefly, eating some dried food to restore his strength.

After resting, he decided to explore deeper, hoping to encounter more valuable prey. He remembered Lin Zhiyan mentioning Snow Deer. Their blood and Deer Antler were powerful tonics for blood and vitality, bringing immense benefits to martial practitioners.

The deeper he went, the older the trees became. Some towering ancient trees were so enormous that several people would need to join hands to encircle them. The snow on the ground grew thicker, making travel increasingly difficult.

Suddenly, an unusual gust of foul-smelling wind, mixed with low whimpering, drifted over on the breeze!

Every hair on Li Bufan's body stood on end! An intense sense of danger enveloped him! Without a second thought, he used both hands and feet to climb the densely branched tree beside him with the agility of an ape. Holding his breath, he concealed himself.

Through a gap in the leaves and branches, he looked down tensely.

In a forest clearing below, a brutal hunt was underway! A massive Snow Wolf, nearly as tall at the shoulder as a grown man, its gray-white fur dotted with black spots, was madly attacking a Snow Deer even larger and more powerfully built than itself, its head crowned with enormous branching antlers!

The Snow Deer was clearly at the end of its strength. Its body was covered in claw wounds deep enough to reveal bone and bite marks, its blood staining its white coat red. Yet it still fought desperately, ramming the Snow Wolf viciously with its massive antlers. Every collision carried the force of a thousand jun, forcing even the Snow Wolf to avoid taking it head-on.

Snow Wolf! And a Snow Deer! Li Bufan's heart shook violently. Both were fierce beasts of the mountains, especially the Snow Wolf—cruel and cunning, its strength was absolutely no weaker than that of a Warrior at Grand Completion of Skin Refining, perhaps even stronger!

While the snipe and clam fight, could the fisherman reap the profit?

A mad thought surged into Li Bufan's mind. His heart began pounding wildly.

Li Bufan held his breath, pressing tightly against the cold trunk. His heart pounded like a war drum, and the rush of blood buzzed in his ears. While the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman reaped the profit—this thought was full of temptation, but also fraught with enormous danger!

The battle in the clearing below had reached a fever pitch. The Snow Wolf was clearly more cunning and enduring. It no longer clashed head-on with the Snow Deer's terrifying antlers. Instead, it used its more agile body to circle and strike repeatedly, its sharp claws and fangs adding fresh wounds again and again to the Snow Deer's already battered body. The Snow Deer's cries became shrill and despairing, its movements visibly slowing. Blood streamed out, splashing large patches of glaring scarlet across the pristine snow.

A cruel, greedy green light gleamed in the Snow Wolf's eyes. Seizing an opportunity, it lunged forward and savagely bit down on the Snow Deer's hind-leg tendon!

"Awooo—!" The Snow Deer let out a cry of agony beyond endurance. Its hind leg gave way, and its enormous body crashed to its knees, kicking up a cloud of snow.

Now!

A fierce light burst from Li Bufan's eyes! He knew that if he waited for the Snow Wolf to kill the Snow Deer completely, its guard would be lowest while it fed. But at the same time, a well-fed Snow Wolf might be harder to deal with, or it might simply drag its prey away. At this moment, the Snow Deer was on the verge of collapse while the Snow Wolf was tearing into it with all its strength. Its attention was at its most concentrated—and thus it was most likely to overlook danger from outside!

The risk was immense, but the opportunity would vanish in the blink of an eye!

He no longer hesitated. The blood and vitality of his Minor Mastery surged through him at an unprecedented speed, and the power of the Skin Tempering Realm flooded his entire body! Like a cheetah poised to strike, he silently drew three arrows from his Quiver!

The first arrow was aimed not at the Snow Wolf's vital point, but at a thick tree trunk not far beside it!

Whoosh!

The arrow cut through the air and struck the tree trunk with precision, producing an abrupt dull thud!

The Snow Wolf, still tearing furiously at the Snow Deer's hind leg, jolted in alarm. It raised its head warily, its green eyes sweeping toward the source of the arrow as a threatening growl rumbled from its throat.

At the very instant it raised its head! Li Bufan's second arrow flew! This arrow was swift as lightning and incomparably vicious, aimed straight for the Snow Wolf's exposed throat!

The Snow Wolf sensed the fatal threat. Animal instinct made it attempt to turn its head aside, but it was ultimately a fraction too slow.

Splat!

The arrow buried itself deep in the side of the Snow Wolf's neck. Though it did not strike the throat directly, it still tore open a massive bloody gash, and blood sprayed everywhere!

"Awoo—!" The Snow Wolf let out a shrill, agonized howl. It abruptly released the Snow Deer and shook its head madly, trying to fling off the arrow. Pain and fury instantly drove it into a frenzy.

Li Bufan's heart was still as water, his gaze cold as iron. Once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back! The third arrow was already nocked! This time, he aimed at the Snow Wolf's soft belly, exposed as it reared up under the agony!

His bow pulled into a full moon, whoosh!

The third arrow, like Death's sigh, carried all of Li Bufan's focus and strength as it drilled with unerring precision into the Snow Wolf's chest and abdomen!

"Whine..." The Snow Wolf's wail cut off abruptly. Its massive body stiffened, then crashed heavily into the snow. Its limbs twitched several times before falling still, dark-red blood rapidly staining the white snow beneath it.

At the same time, the Snow Deer exhausted its last trace of strength. It let out a faint cry, its enormous head drooping as it finally fell silent.

In the blink of an eye, the two powerful beasts had actually perished together!