Muster the Troops, Set Out!

The next day, when the horizon had only just begun to pale with the faint white of a fish's belly and the bitter cold had yet to be scattered by sunlight, Li Bufan quietly rose. Moving gently so as not to disturb his sleeping younger brother, he used the weak morning light to inspect one last time the old hunting bow that had accompanied his father for many years, checking whether the few arrows in the quiver had neat fletching. He then carefully wrapped the last half-bottle of incomparably precious Skin Tempering Paste in oil paper and tucked it into the pocket of his inner garment.

Only after finishing all this did he softly close the creaking wooden door. Stepping over the frost-covered ground beneath the dim dawn, he made steadily and swiftly for Lin Manor.

The vast training ground of the Lin Family Guard Camp was empty and desolate at this hour. Only the howling north wind swept up scattered snow dust from the ground, producing a mournful wail. The piercing cold rushed at him head-on, yet Li Bufan took a deep breath of icy air and felt his spirits lift, the last remnants of sleepiness completely blown away. He found a sheltered corner and slowly assumed a stance.

Rather than choosing the fierce and explosive Mighty Ox Fist, he began practicing the more restrained and profound Nameless Fist Technique. His punches flowed in rounded, unbroken motions, neither fast nor slow, and his mind settled with them. The thread of qi and blood within him, at the realm of Minor Mastery, was like an awakened warm current. It circulated gently yet firmly with each movement, washing warmly through his limbs and bones, rousing every dormant part of his body and smoothing away the slight stiffness left by a night of rest. After completing two sets, warmth suffused his entire body and a light sweat had formed. His essence, energy, and spirit had reached their peak, and a sharp glint flickered in his eyes whenever they opened and closed.

[Nameless Fist Technique] Minor Mastery (262/2000)

After finishing the set, he did not rest. Instead, he reached back and removed the old hunting bow from his back. Drawing an arrow, he did not pursue absolute precision. He merely aimed at a training stake twenty paces away and steadily repeated the motions of drawing, aiming, and releasing. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Arrows flew out one after another. Most struck the edge of the stake, or even landed slightly off target, but he did not care in the least.

What he sought now was not to hit the bull's-eye, but to reacquaint himself with the feeling of man and bow becoming one—to fully awaken the muscle memory in his arms, shoulders, and back, and find the best rhythm for exerting force and the proper line of aim.

[Archery] Proficient (12/1000)

As the sun gradually rose and its rays barely pierced the clouds, bringing a trace of thin warmth, it was roughly the end of the hour of the Dragon—around nine in the morning. The once-silent training ground began to grow noisy. Guards and apprentices participating in this Winter Hunt poured out from barracks in every direction. Voices roared like a boiling cauldron, mixed with the clatter of leather armor plates, the metallic ring of weapons being drawn and sheathed, and the impatient snorts and hoof-scraping of warhorses.

Especially from the direction of the row of low communal sleeping quarters nearby, Coach Qin's furious roar suddenly exploded like thunder over parched earth. "You pack of bastards! What time is it, and you're still playing dead? Get the hell up! If you delay the masters' auspicious hour for entering the mountains, I'll make your hides bloom!"

Before the roar had faded, the door to the communal quarters burst open. A group of disheveled guard apprentices, bleary-eyed and half-awake, some even fastening their belts as they ran, tumbled and scrambled out. They rushed in a panic toward the center of the training ground to form up, leaving the scene briefly chaotic and miserable.

Li Bufan had already put away his bow and stood quietly to one side, watching the bustle with cold eyes. His gaze swept across the crowd, and he soon spotted Sun Yi. The man had the arm with the wrist Li Bufan had cracked hanging in a sling, his face white as paper and his eyes evasive. He kept his head bowed, not daring to glance in Li Bufan's direction. Zhao Mang and the others who had joined in yesterday were all bruised and battered as well. Mixed into the ranks with their necks hunched, they had none of their former swagger.

At that moment, Coach Qin's iron-tower-like figure appeared once more atop the mustering platform. His cold, sharp eyes swept over the gradually forming lines below like a hawk's. When he saw Li Bufan already fully equipped and standing solemnly to one side, a trace of surprise flashed across his otherwise impassive face—so quickly it was almost impossible to notice.

"Open your damned ears and listen carefully!" Coach Qin's voice boomed like a great bell, instantly suppressing every bit of clamor in the field. "This Winter Hunt will last seven days! Your foremost duty is to ensure the safety of the masters of every branch. Only after that comes driving and surrounding the prey! Every action must obey orders without question! Anyone who dares abandon his post, disturb a master, or let a large beast escape will be dealt with under military law, without the slightest mercy!"

He paused, and his voice grew even harsher. "Keep your eyes wide open! The depths of Yunmang Mountain are not your family's back garden! There are not only roe deer, wild deer, and other game in there, but bears, tigers, and leopards that have grown formidable, along with poisonous insects and miasma! Every move you make must follow the orders of your respective Captain! Whoever thinks he has a little strength and charges ahead recklessly, leaving the main force without permission—if you die or are crippled, you'll have died for nothing. Don't blame me for not ringing your funeral bell in advance!"

This killing intent-laden speech was like a bucket of icy water dumped over their heads. The ranks, which had been restless with excitement at the prospect of entering the mountains, instantly cooled. The atmosphere turned grave and murderous, and everyone felt the heavy pressure bearing down on them.

"Now, assignments will be made according to the roster!" Coach Qin said no more. Taking out a thick register, he began calling names in a loud voice.

"Lin Hu!"

"Here!"

"Take your first squad and guard the Second Young Master's convoy. You'll be responsible for clearing and securing the hunting grounds in the forests on the left flank!"

"Order received!"

"Zhang Bao!"

"Present!"

"Take your second squad and guard the Third Young Master's convoy. You'll be responsible for driving and encircling prey in the river valley on the right flank!"

"Understood!"

"Sun Yi!" As he read that name, Coach Qin's gaze swept coldly over the man's slung arm. He snorted without concealing his contempt. "Hmph. Useless trash! Take that bunch of crooked melons and split dates under you to the logistics convoy. Guard the provisions and supplies, and ensure the camp's safety! If there's even the slightest mistake, both offenses will be punished together!"

Sun Yi's face instantly turned deathly pale. His lips trembled, but he did not dare show the slightest dissatisfaction. Bowing his head deeply, he said hoarsely, "...This subordinate obeys." Being assigned to the logistics convoy practically meant being completely removed from the heart of the hunt, with no chance at any achievement. He had unquestionably been pushed to the margins.

Li Bufan understood at once. This was clearly Coach Qin's silent stance and punishment regarding yesterday's conflict.

"Li Bufan!" At last, Coach Qin's gaze fell upon him.

Li Bufan drew a deep breath and stepped forward, standing tall. "Here!"

Coach Qin looked at him. His tone was calm and even, yet it carried an innate authority. "The Young Miss personally requested that you serve at close hand. From this moment onward, you are assigned to the Young Miss's Personal Guard, directly under Nanny Wu's command. Your primary duty is to hold her horse and assist her into the stirrups, while guarding her at close range. Keep yourselves twelve parts alert and stay sharp! If the Young Miss suffers even the slightest mishap, forget your future—you won't even be able to keep the head on your shoulders! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Coach! This subordinate understands! I will certainly give my all to ensure the Young Miss's safety!" Li Bufan answered in a deep voice, his heart turning solemn. This position at her side might appear to be a single step into the heavens, but in truth it placed him atop a volcano. Every word and action of his would be watched by Nanny Wu and perhaps even Lin Zhiyan herself. The responsibility was immense; there could not be the slightest mistake.

Once the assignments were complete, the enormous Winter Hunt procession began rumbling into motion like a precise war machine. The luxurious carriages of the young masters and young misses slowly emerged from the depths of the manor, surrounded by crowds of servants and maids. The steeds were magnificent, the canopies clustered like clouds, and the procession radiated grandeur. Servants shouted as they loaded crates of supplies, tents, game racks, and other equipment onto dedicated supply wagons. Dozens of powerful hunting dogs with keen noses gave excited, restless barks and whines under their handlers' restraints, impatient to rush into the mountains.

Li Bufan was led by a grim-faced personal guard to the front of a group that was the smallest in number yet possessed the strongest presence. This group had only a little over twenty people. Every one of them stood in silent solemnity, their gazes sharp as blades and their auras steady and condensed. Even the weakest among them had reached Minor Success in Skin Refining, while several gave Li Bufan a feeling of unfathomable depth. At their head stood Nanny Wu, the woman who had tested him before.

Nanny Wu had changed into a neat dark-blue fitted outfit today, with soft armor worn over it. Her gaze passed lightly over Li Bufan and paused for an instant on the old hunting bow behind him, so out of place among the standard-issue equipment around them. Yet she said nothing. She merely indicated the rear of the formation with her chin and gave a succinct order. "Fall in. Your horse and equipment are over there. Check them yourself."

A personal guard led over a remarkably fine Black Warhorse. Its coat gleamed with health, and its limbs were strong and powerful. Hanging beside the saddle were a new set of Gray Leather Armor with Iron Plates, a fresh bundle of Standard Carved Feather Arrows, and a Lin Family Standard Waist Saber whose blade glimmered with a cold, sinister light.

"Put on the armor. Carefully inspect the bowstring, horseshoes, saddle, and girth. Confirm that everything is in order. The unit departs on time in a quarter of an hour." Nanny Wu's voice contained not a trace of emotion. Though it was called armor, it was really just leather fitted with iron plates, but it still offered considerable protection.

"Yes!" Li Bufan replied. He quickly found a relatively secluded place to put on the leather armor. At once, his body felt heavier, and the iron plates gave off faint clattering sounds whenever he moved. An unprecedented sense of security rose within him. He tested the standard-issue heavy bow. The bow was cold and weighty, requiring nearly all his strength to draw to a full moon, far beyond his old hunting bow. Yet the force and range it contained undoubtedly surpassed the latter by a great margin. The waist saber likewise felt substantial in his hand. Drawing it half an inch from its sheath, the blade's cold gleam stabbed at his eyes.

He did not dare be careless. He carefully checked whether the warhorse's saddle was secure, whether the girth was tight, and whether any horseshoes were loose. Once he had confirmed that all was in order, he took a deep breath and vaulted onto the horse's back. Though his movements were not as smooth and graceful as those of an experienced rider and seemed somewhat unpracticed, his powerful bodily control and sense of balance from Minor Success in Skin Refining allowed him to stabilize himself quickly and establish an initial connection with his mount.

By now, the Lin Family's massive Winter Hunt party had fully assembled. Banners snapped in the wind, blades and spears reflected the pale winter sunlight, and the clamor of men and horses mingled with a chilling, murderous excitement in the cold air, soaring into the heavens and setting the blood racing.

With a long horn blast from the front, the massive convoy began to move like a giant dragon slowly awakening. Wheels rumbled, hooves clopped, and the enormous procession wound onward like a long serpent. Leaving through Lin Manor's grand gates, it followed the broad Official Road toward the depths of the Cloud Mang Mountain Range beyond the city—where mist coiled around layered peaks filled with the unknown and danger.

Li Bufan held the reins and guided the powerful black horse at the rear of the Young Miss's Personal Guard's solemn formation. He looked back once at the outline of Huaiyuan County's walls, gradually shrinking in his sight before finally being swallowed by the horizon. His heart churned with waves he could not calm.

Deep forests and old mountains, ferocious beasts running rampant, and human hearts too treacherous to fathom. The road ahead was fraught with peril, yet it also held boundless opportunities. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the cold reins. His eyes became as sharp as a blade drawn from its sheath as he looked steadily toward the distant, vast mountain ranges—primitive, desolate, and filled with the call of the wild.

The true trial, the tempering of blood and fire, had only now truly begun.