A Plan in Mind, Entering the Mountains

Uncle Fu's words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up towering waves in Li Bufan's heart. The twelfth lunar month, the year's end, Master Lin's return to the manor, the guard promotion assessment... these terms kept colliding and combining in his mind, finally coalescing into a single, crystal-clear, and urgent goal—he must achieve a qualitative leap in strength within one month to seize that slim chance of leaping over the dragon's gate in the fierce competition!

He quickly and calmly calculated his current situation and available resources. Grand Completion of Skin Refining was certainly gratifying, but the daily Medicinal Cuisine provided by Lin Manor to new guards was no longer as effective for him as before. It could only sustain his daily cultivation consumption and slowly nourish him. Relying on it for a major breakthrough within a month was nothing short of a fool's dream.

The once-a-decade Medicinal Bath had indeed been remarkably effective, helping him break through his bottleneck. But Li Bufan knew full well that its success was due, first, to his being at the peak of Minor Success in Skin Refining with enough accumulated experience, needing only that final push; and second, to his body never having undergone such a bath, absorbing the medicinal power at its most ravenous peak. Subsequent baths would inevitably be less effective, and whether they could support his charge toward Perfection of Skin Refining remained uncertain.

Waiting was the worst strategy. Following the routine would never let him stand out.

So, only one path remained—to actively fight and strive! To obtain more and better resources!

And the fastest way to get resources, for him at present, was to go into the mountains again! Though dangerous, the mountains held opportunities: rare Medicinal Herbs, the flesh, blood, fur, and bones of powerful Fierce Beasts could all be traded for resources at Lin Manor, and life-or-death combat could squeeze out his own potential!

With this thought, there was no more hesitation. A flash of resolve in his eyes, Li Bufan turned and strode directly toward Coach Qin Shi's location.

When he found Qin Shi, the coach was berating several guards who had been slacking in training. Li Bufan stood quietly to the side until Qin Shi finished his business, then stepped forward with a cupped-fist salute: "Coach, I have something to report."

Qin Shi turned, saw it was Li Bufan, and his expression softened slightly: "Oh? Bufan, what is it?"

Li Bufan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath and subtly circulated the blood and energy in his body. Instantly, his skin took on a restrained, deep bronze luster, and a far more steady and substantial aura naturally emanated from him. Standing there, he was like a copper stake driven into the earth—steady and powerful.

"Huh?!" Qin Shi, with his keen eyes, immediately noticed the significant change. His bell-like eyes lit up, and a delighted smile spread across his face. "Good lad! Grand Completion of Skin Refining?! How many days has it been?! Excellent! I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"

He couldn't help but slap Li Bufan's shoulder vigorously, feeling the tough strength beneath the skin and membrane, and laughed heartily with satisfaction.

Li Bufan withdrew his blood and energy, returning to normal, and spoke solemnly: "All thanks to the manor's nurturing and your guidance, Coach. The reason I've come today is to request leave."

"Leave? To accompany your little brother again?" Qin Shi asked casually, in a good mood.

"No, it's not that." Li Bufan shook his head, his eyes blazing with determination. "I want to apply to go into the mountains again!"

"Into the mountains?" Qin Shi's smile faltered slightly, and he frowned. "The Winter Hunt just ended. The snow in the mountains hasn't melted yet, and the Fierce Beasts are at their most ravenous and dangerous. You've just broken through and should be stabilizing your realm. Isn't it too risky to go now?"

"Coach, please hear me out!" Li Bufan said in a low voice, firm with unshakable resolve. "Precisely because I've broken through, ordinary Medicinal Cuisine can no longer help much. The martial path is like sailing against the current—if you don't advance, you retreat! The guard promotion assessment is imminent, and I don't want to miss this opportunity. I have to take a risk, seek opportunities in the mountains, hunt Fierce Beasts for resources, or temper myself through life-and-death trials to break through faster! I ask for your approval!"

His words were forceful, laying bare his urgency, ambition, and thirst for power without reservation.

Qin Shi didn't immediately scold him. Instead, he stared sharply at Li Bufan for a long moment, as if re-evaluating the young man. The scene fell silent, broken only by the howling wind.

After a long pause, a complex glint flickered in Qin Shi's eyes—surprise, admiration, and a trace of barely perceptible worry. He suddenly slapped his thigh hard, his voice booming: "Good! A fine 'martial path is like sailing against the current'! A fine 'take a risk'! Kid, you've got guts! This sharpness, this daring to break the mold—I like it! The martial way is about striving! Strive for resources, strive for opportunities, strive for that chance to break through! If you're timid and hesitant, you'll never amount to anything!"

He shifted his tone, becoming serious: "But the manor's rules can't be ignored. New guards can't be absent without reason. If you want an exception, you need a pretext."

Qin Shi pondered briefly, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, and said, "Here's what I'll do: I'll assign you a task—go into the mountains and hunt Snow Foxes for Lin Manor! The year's end is near, and the manor has a great need for Snow Fox pelts. The requirement isn't high, but when you return, you must hand over at least three intact Snow Fox pelts! That way, this trip counts as official business, aboveboard!"

Li Bufan understood—this was the coach creating an excuse to smooth his way. To break the rules, one had to do extraordinary things and bear extraordinary responsibilities. Three Snow Fox pelts were no easy feat, but their value would offset the cost of this exception.

Without any hesitation, he replied firmly, "I accept the task! I will not fail your trust, Coach!"

"Good!" Qin Shi's eyes gleamed with even more approval at his prompt agreement. "In that case, I'll give you a hand. Pick any Standard Longbow from the archery range that suits you! And I'll give you twenty Armor-Piercing Arrows! Use them well, and return safely!"

The Standard Longbow and Armor-Piercing Arrows were far superior to the old hunting bow his father had left at home and the arrows that had been reused countless times. This was truly a timely gift!

"Also, I'm giving you a month's leave! Remember, you must be back in a month! Otherwise..." Qin Shi's tone grew heavier, his gaze meaningful, "if you miss the promotion assessment, this trip will be meaningless. And keep this in mind: there's no promotion assessment, no strength improvement—only that I saw your good performance in the last Winter Hunt and sent you to hunt foxes for their pelts in service to Lin Manor."

Li Bufan took the hint. So that was what Coach Qin had been about to say last time—the chance for a guard promotion. He bowed deeply: "Thank you for your help, Coach! I'll follow your advice and remember your guidance and nurturing!"

Qin Shi waved his hand: "Go on, go on. Be careful in everything! Coming back alive is what matters most!"

Li Bufan said no more. After bowing again, he turned and headed straight for the archery range. He picked up a heavy, solid Hardwood Longbow and twenty gleaming Armor-Piercing Arrows, then didn't pause for a moment—not even returning to the dormitory. With the bow and arrows on his back, he strode purposefully toward home.

Pushing open the door, his younger brother Li Ping'an was sitting on a small stool, reading a book by the light streaming through the window. Seeing his big brother return fully armed with a brand-new strong bow and arrows, the little boy's smile instantly froze, replaced by obvious worry and unease.

"Brother... you, you're going into the mountains again?" Li Ping'an put down his book and stood up, his small hands unconsciously clutching the hem of his clothes.

Li Bufan looked at the worry in his brother's eyes, felt a pang in his heart, but forced a relaxed smile as he walked over and ruffled his hair: "Yeah, I got a task from the manor. I need to go into the mountains for a bit. I'll be back soon."

"But... the mountains are dangerous..." Li Ping'an's voice choked slightly. The shadow of their father and brother's last trip still hung over him. "Dad, he..."

"Don't worry, little brother." Li Bufan crouched down to meet his brother's eyes, his tone utterly serious and firm. "I'm much stronger now than before! Look at this new bow—how sturdy it is! I'm just going to complete the task, hunt a few foxes, and come back. I won't go to dangerous places. And I promise you, I'll be very, very careful, come back safely for the New Year, and bring you something tasty!" As he spoke, he picked up the not-so-sharp hunting knife their father had left behind and tucked it into his belt.

Li Ping'an looked up at his brother's determined eyes and tough demeanor. He knew he couldn't stop him, and he knew why his brother was pushing so hard. He sniffled hard, forcing back the moisture in his eyes, and looked at Li Bufan with utmost seriousness, saying word by word: "Brother, be safe. Ping'an... Ping'an wants you most. The tasty food, the new clothes—I don't care about any of that, really. Brother, you have to be okay."

The childish words carried the most sincere and heaviest burden of concern.

Li Bufan felt his throat tighten as if something were blocking it, his nose stinging. He nodded heavily, hugged his brother's thin shoulders tightly, and said hoarsely, "Yeah! I promise you! I'll be fine!"

He didn't dare look again at his brother's eyes, barely holding back their worry, afraid his resolve would soften. He stood up abruptly, slung the bow and arrows onto his back, turned resolutely, pushed open the door, and strode out.

Behind him came his brother's tearful shout: "Brother! Come back soon!"

Li Bufan didn't look back. He just raised his arm high and waved to show he'd heard. He was afraid that if he turned, he'd see his brother standing at the door watching him go, a pitiful sight that would shake the determination he'd just built.

The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, lashed his face, biting and icy, but it only made him more clear-headed. He gripped the strong bow tightly, his knuckles whitening from the pressure. His gaze was fixed firmly on the distant, undulating mountains covered in white snow—where danger and hope lay.

For his brother, for the future, he had to fight and strive!

His footsteps crunched on the snow, steady and powerful, step by step, toward the official road into the mountains, toward the unknown perils and opportunities of the deep forest, without looking back.