Zhang Chunhua's Shock

Chen Xuan hurried down the mountain, his heart somewhat tense. Fortunately, nothing happened, and half an hour later, he finally returned to the village.

Once back in the village, he wrapped the bamboo basket carrying Mountain Chickens and the bow and arrow in weeds before heading home.

No one paid attention to a child carrying such a huge bamboo basket.

Nor did anyone know that four Mountain Chickens, each weighing a good ten-odd jin, lay quietly inside Chen Xuan's basket.

About a quarter of an hour later, Chen Xuan returned home.

"Guoguo!"

"Guoguo!"

Hearing the voice outside, Xiao Shitou's cheerful voice rang out.

"Good boy, Xiao Shitou!"

Chen Xuan smiled as he picked Xiao Shitou up, gently rubbed his little head, then set him down and began sorting through the weeds in his basket.

At that moment, his mother, Zhang Chunhua, also came out of the room.

At first, she had not paid much attention to Chen Xuan's basket. But when Chen Xuan took out the bow and arrow and the Mountain Chickens, Zhang Chunhua's expression changed slightly, and she hurried over.

"Er Gou, you went up the mountain?"

Zhang Chunhua spoke with a trace of nervousness, her gaze involuntarily sweeping over Chen Xuan from head to toe, terrified that something might have happened to him.

"It's all right, Mother. I only wandered around at the foot of the mountain. My luck was pretty good—I actually caught four Mountain Chickens."

Chen Xuan smiled, soothing his mother's tense emotions.

"Er Gou!"

Looking at the four Mountain Chickens, Zhang Chunhua opened her mouth. Yet the scolding she had wanted to give could not come out no matter what.

"Don't worry, Mother. I know."

"See? Aren't I fine?"

As though he understood Zhang Chunhua's feelings, Chen Xuan turned around in front of her before smiling again.

"Er Gou!"

"It's Mother who's useless!"

Tears fell from Zhang Chunhua's face. In the next instant, Chen Xuan felt his body tighten as she hugged him fiercely.

"Mother!"

Chen Xuan called softly, but he did not move.

Zhang Chunhua held Chen Xuan tightly until he was nearly out of breath before finally loosening her arms.

Tear tracks still lingered on her haggard face.

"Mother, I'm fine. You know, there are so many Mountain Chickens at the foot of the mountain. Our family won't lack food anymore, and maybe we'll even have money to go into the city and find Father."

Chen Xuan deliberately spoke excitedly, as though trying to comfort Zhang Chunhua.

"Er Gou!"

"Promise Mother you won't take risks, all right?"

Zhang Chunhua only spoke softly.

"Mm!"

"I know, Mother!"

Chen Xuan sighed inwardly, but still nodded.

As a transmigrator, he understood very well a mother's vulnerability.

Only after Chen Xuan nodded did Zhang Chunhua let out a slight breath.

Ever since the day she learned that Chen Xuan had begun practicing archery and studying under Zhang Shan, she had known that he would go up the mountain. She also knew that he could not possibly stop going up the mountain from now on, and that going up the mountain meant danger was unavoidable. Yet at this moment, this was all she could do.

She silently stood up and took the four Mountain Chickens from Chen Xuan's basket.

"Er Gou, take this one to your Second Uncle's family later. Er Zhuang has practiced with you for so long these past days, and we've never properly thanked them."

After a moment of silence, she picked out one of the Mountain Chickens and handed it to Chen Xuan.

"All right, Mother!"

Chen Xuan nodded and did not refuse.

His archery had improved so quickly during this period largely thanks to Chen Er Zhuang's help. Especially during those final dozen or so days, Chen Xuan had not provided any meat, yet Chen Er Zhuang had still wholeheartedly helped him practice. Chen Xuan remembered that kindness.

He put the Mountain Chicken back into the basket and headed toward his Second Uncle's home.

Second Uncle's home.

The door opened.

Second Aunt's face looked somewhat haggard, but when she saw Chen Xuan, she still forced a smile.

"Er Gou."

"Have you eaten? Come in quickly and have a bite."

Second Aunt's gentle voice rang out.

"No, Second Aunt. This is the game I caught today. My mother asked me to bring some over. Please take it."

Chen Xuan shook his head, then took the Mountain Chicken from the basket.

"Game?"

Second Aunt was somewhat puzzled, but she soon noticed the Mountain Chicken Chen Xuan had taken out, and her expression could not help turning shocked.

"Second Aunt, my mother is waiting for me to eat. I'll be going first!"

After handing the Mountain Chicken to his dazed Second Aunt, Chen Xuan turned and left.

"Er Gou!"

Only after Chen Xuan had left did Second Aunt come back to her senses and hurry after him.

But Chen Xuan had already gone far away.

Second Aunt could only return home carrying the Mountain Chicken in shock.

When the news reached Second Uncle's ears, he too was shocked, even finding it hard to believe.

Of course, Chen Xuan knew nothing of this by then.

After giving the Mountain Chicken to Second Aunt, he returned straight home.

At home.

Mother's dinner would still take some time.

Chen Xuan was in no rush. Instead, he began thinking about the road ahead.

With his Conceptual Ability, plus the fact that his archery had already reached Minor Mastery, food would no longer be a problem if nothing unexpected happened.

But as a transmigrator, merely avoiding starvation was clearly impossible. He was not truly some thirteen- or fourteen-year-old mountain village boy.

But how should he proceed from here, or rather, what could he accomplish by relying on the system?

That was undoubtedly something worth pondering.

With a thought, words appeared.

Target: Archery Grand Mastery (Pending Confirmation)

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'Path One: Fierce Mountain Hall in Green Mountain City is recruiting members. Reach Green Mountain City within twenty-four hours and offer one tael of silver to Steward Chen. You may join Fierce Mountain Hall. If you render great merit, you may become a disciple of Fierce Mountain Hall's Vice Hall Master, Zhang Qiushan, and learn archery. In five years, your archery will reach Grand Mastery.'

"Path Two: With your archery already at Minor Mastery, hunt in the mountains every day. In twenty years, your archery will reach Grand Mastery."

The words appeared. These were the paths generated by the Archery Grand Mastery objective he had set earlier.

But Chen Xuan's gaze merely swept over those words.

It was not because the paths to Grand Mastery required too much completion, nor because the time involved was far too long. More importantly, as a transmigrator, Archery Grand Mastery held only so much appeal for him.

His mind involuntarily returned to that terror by the river.

"This world..."

He murmured softly, leaving the rest unsaid. Only Chen Xuan himself understood the meaning behind those unfinished words.

After a moment, he exhaled a turbid breath and fixed his gaze on his Conceptual Ability once more.

Target: Achieve Archery Grand Mastery in a Short Time (Pending Confirmation)

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Words appeared. As he looked at the content regarding Archery Grand Mastery, a smile could not help appearing on Chen Xuan's face.