Learning to Hunt

The lingering glow of summer gradually drew its curtain, and Chen Xuan headed toward Uncle Zhang Shan's home from his memories with a bamboo basket on his back.

Yet his heart remained unsettled.

The scenes from earlier kept replaying in his mind.

He had never encountered such a bizarre sight before, nor had he ever imagined one.

Especially that prompt from the Conceptual Ability—it sent a chill through his entire body.

That was definitely not aquatic grass.

Nor could aquatic grass possibly be dispelled by Virgin Boy Urine.

At this moment, he thought of even more. Perhaps the previous owner of this body had not drowned at all. It was very possible that he had met the same fate as Chen Xuan today.

I can't go near the river again!

As the thought flashed through his mind, Chen Xuan's heart grew heavier still.

The Conceptual Ability was undoubtedly powerful, capable of allowing him to accomplish many unimaginable things.

Just like these past two days, when he had repeatedly obtained food through fortunate coincidences.

But clearly, the system still conformed to the rules of the real world.

Without the river, the difficulty of obtaining food would undoubtedly rise further.

However, Chen Xuan also understood that with the river being so dangerous, even if he could obtain food there, every trip might be a dance at the gates of hell. No one could guarantee that they would be so safe the next time.

With such a Conceptual Ability and such a broad future ahead of him, there was no need to take that risk now.

Thinking of this, Chen Xuan glanced at the bamboo basket on his back, and his resolve grew firmer.

Just then, Uncle Zhang Shan's home gradually came into view ahead.

Compared with his own home and Chen Er Zhuang's, Uncle Zhang Shan's house was undoubtedly much more impressive. Not only was it built from stacked bricks, but it also had a small courtyard, and its grounds were nearly a full circle larger.

Chen Xuan drew a deep breath and hurriedly quickened his pace.

A moment later, he arrived at Uncle Zhang Shan's door.

Knock, knock!

He lightly knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

A rough voice came from inside the courtyard.

"Uncle Zhang Shan, it's me, Er Gou!"

Chen Xuan called out loudly.

"Er Gou?"

There was some confusion in the courtyard, but someone soon came forward and opened the gate.

When the gate opened, Chen Xuan finally saw Zhang Shan clearly.

He was a middle-aged man even more heavily built than Chen Xuan's second uncle. Though his hair had already gone gray, the bulging muscles on his body still made one's scalp tingle. Across his rugged face ran a scar that almost stretched from his forehead to his neck.

It was said that Zhang Shan had received it years ago after being wounded by a fierce beast in the mountains.

"Er Gou, what do you need?"

Zhang Shan looked at Chen Xuan with a somewhat weary expression, his voice carrying confusion.

As a fellow villager, Zhang Shan naturally knew Chen Xuan, but he could not understand why Chen Xuan had come looking for him.

"It's like this, Uncle Zhang Shan. I want to learn how to hunt."

Chen Xuan did not beat around the bush and spoke directly.

"Hunt?"

Zhang Shan paused, then frowned.

But before he could speak, Chen Xuan had already taken down the bamboo basket on his back and removed the grass leaves covering it.

When Zhang Shan saw the black carp inside, he could not help but pause again.

"Uncle Zhang Shan, Er Gou knows the rules. This is a black carp I caught today."

Chen Xuan spoke respectfully.

"You caught it?"

Zhang Shan's brow twitched, and surprise appeared on his face.

Zhang Shan knew how dangerous that river was. He had not expected the boy before him to catch such a large fish from it.

"Yes, Uncle Zhang Shan. I know fish is not as good as other kinds of meat. How many days can I study under you for, Uncle Zhang Shan?"

Chen Xuan nodded, his tone still respectful.

"This fish weighs about twenty jin. How about this? I'll count it as ten days. Er Gou, does that work for you?"

Only after hearing Chen Xuan confirm it again did Zhang Shan recover from his shock. He pondered for a moment before speaking.

Fish really could not compare with other meat, but this fish weighed a full twenty jin. Zhang Shan had no intention of refusing it.

Even though he was a hunter, he could not bring back prey every time he entered the mountains, much less now that great changes had occurred there and the risks had risen even further.

Twenty jin of fish was already quite a lot.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang Shan!"

Hearing Zhang Shan's words, Chen Xuan let out a slight sigh of relief and quickly thanked him.

"No need to thank me. You provide the meat, and I teach you to hunt. We're simply each taking what we need."

"Come in."

Zhang Shan spoke, then stepped aside.

Chen Xuan quickly put the bamboo basket back on his shoulders and entered the courtyard.

"Just put the fish in the kitchen."

Zhang Shan said.

Chen Xuan quickly acknowledged him, then carried the fish into the kitchen.

After finding a wooden basin and placing the black carp inside, he came back out.

Zhang Shan was already waiting for him in the courtyard, holding a wooden bow.

"Starting today, come here every afternoon for the next ten days. I'll teach you for one shichen each day. How much you learn will depend on yourself. After ten days, you can bring me one jin of meat, or another fish."

Zhang Shan's rough voice rang out.

"Understood, Uncle Zhang Shan!"

Chen Xuan quickly nodded.

"Hunting is mainly about searching, tracking prey, becoming familiar with the forest, and archery. Prey is faster than people. With other weapons, it is almost impossible to catch it. Only a bow gives you the chance to kill prey. Archery is also the most important thing!"

"I'll first teach you how to shoot."

Zhang Shan spoke slowly.

Chen Xuan immediately began listening intently, not daring to lose focus in the slightest.

"The first step in archery is your stance and how you hold the bow. An archer stands sideways toward the target. In other words, your chest should align with the person—or the prey—you intend to shoot. Spread your feet apart. Watch me."

Zhang Shan spoke, then began demonstrating with the wooden bow before Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan watched carefully.

Only after a while did Zhang Shan hand the wooden bow to Chen Xuan.

At the same time, he began personally teaching Chen Xuan his stance and how to grip the bow.

Yet it was clear that this body's talent could only be considered average. Chen Xuan spent more than a shichen learning just the stance and grip alone.

The sky gradually darkened before Chen Xuan barely managed to grasp it.

"Alright, come again tomorrow!"

Zhang Shan shook his head and spoke softly.

"Yes!"

"Then I'll come disturb you again tomorrow, Uncle Zhang Shan."

Chen Xuan thanked him, then left Zhang Shan's home with the bamboo basket on his back.

On his way home, the evening glow of the setting sun had completely faded, and night began to descend.

Facing the darkness, Chen Xuan was clearly far more nervous than yesterday. His footsteps involuntarily quickened.

Only after he reached home did he finally let out a slight breath of relief.