The Hunt

As the party pressed on, the terrain grew increasingly desolate. Dry grass rustled beneath their feet, and a chill mountain wind blew in from the mouth of the valley.

In the afternoon, a sharp eagle cry suddenly rang out overhead.

Zhuang Huan stopped abruptly and looked up at the sky.

The White-headed Eagle circled at great speed, occasionally diving toward a certain direction to investigate.

Zhuang Huan's eyes lit up. He raised a hand and pointed. "The eagle's spotted something! Stay sharp and pick up the pace!"

"This trip is bound to turn up some fat game!"

At his words, the dozen or so martial artists in the hunting party seemed to catch fire. They perked up at once and quickened their steps, their breathing growing more rapid.

Chen Jing stayed close beside Zhuang Huan as they headed into the mountains.

Once they entered the outer reaches of Cold Mountain, the path suddenly narrowed until only one person could pass at a time.

Dense trees crowded both sides, nearly blocking out the sky. Insects chirred incessantly, and from the distant forest came the occasional low growl of some unknown beast. As this was Chen Jing's first time in the mountains, his heart tightened.

By the time they reached the place where the sun was setting, the light between heaven and earth had grown dimmer.

Zhuang Huan raised a hand to signal. "It's getting late. The depths of Cold Mountain at night aren't child's play. Let's make camp and rest. We'll go farther in tomorrow."

"Yes!"

The hunters answered in unison, then went ahead to find suitable ground.

Before long, they chose an open patch with a mountain at its back and rocks nearby, where they had a relatively clear view.

The group moved with practiced ease: they took off their baskets, raised tent poles, spread out animal hides, and whittled wooden stakes, keeping themselves busily occupied.

Though it was Chen Jing's first time on an expedition, he helped carry wood and clear away dead branches. Before long, he had settled in with the hunting party.

As dusk fell, a bonfire was lit.

The flames danced, stretching everyone's shadows long across the ground. One moment they twisted; the next, they quivered.

The hunters sat in a half-circle, chewing on dry rations as they spoke in low voices about the habits of the mountain beasts and the dangers they had encountered on hunts in years past.

After arranging three watches for the night, Zhuang Huan came over to Chen Jing.

"Xiao Jing, since this is your first time here, I won't put you on night watch."

He patted Chen Jing's shoulder and said warmly, "Once you've made a few more trips into the mountains, it'll be your turn."

Chen Jing nodded. "Thank you, Uncle Huan."

Zhuang Huan asked, "By the way, what weapon do you usually use?"

Chen Jing shook his head. "I only know fist techniques. I'm not very good with weapons."

Fei Feng had only taught him fist techniques these past few days, so Chen Jing knew nothing about blades or swords. Even if he picked one up, he would only be able to swing it around at random.

Zhuang Huan nodded in understanding. "Then take a knife when the time comes and cover the flank. Don't charge in recklessly."

After a pause, he moved on to the important part. "Our main target this time is the Green-skinned Horned Pig."

"You've eaten this beast before, haven't you?"

At that, Chen Jing immediately remembered the two pounds of pork Zhuang Tao had given him. "I've eaten it, but I've never seen one alive."

Zhuang Huan laughed. "You'll see one tomorrow."

Chen Jing asked, "By the way, Uncle Huan, are Green-skinned Horned Pigs dangerous?"

"Of course they're dangerous. Otherwise, anyone could hunt them."

"Let me tell you about them. They usually live in groups and have violent tempers. A full-grown one is bigger than two men put together. The green bristles on their bodies are as hard as iron plates, but the most dangerous thing is that horn. Even a light bump can punch a hole through a tree."

"But don't be afraid."

Zhuang Huan smiled and continued, "There are so many of us. We only need to hunt a couple that have strayed from the herd."

As Zhuang Huan spoke, Chen Jing listened carefully and committed every word to memory.

Zhuang Huan then explained their battle positions in great detail: how to judge the herd's movements, when to provide cover, and when to fall back.

"All right, get some rest."

After saying that, Zhuang Huan patted Chen Jing on the shoulder and walked away.

Chen Jing listened to the insects chirring around him, then slowly closed his eyes.

The next morning.

Chen Jing had slept for less than two hours when the rustling nearby made him open his eyes.

The bonfire was nearly out. Some hunters had already gotten up to boil water and fill their flasks, while others were sharpening blades and checking their bows and arrows.

Seeing Chen Jing awake, Zhuang Huan smiled. "You're up early. We won't set out for a while yet, though. Eat your rations first."

After a simple breakfast, the party set out again and officially ventured deeper into Cold Mountain.

The deeper they went, the colder the air grew, and the harder it was for sunlight to filter through.

When they reached the third mountain hollow—

"Shriek!"

The White-headed Eagle gave another piercing cry.

At once, the two hounds whimpered softly, tails raised as they stared ahead.

Seeing this, Zhuang Huan made a hand signal for everyone to stop.

The others behind him crouched down as well and held their breath.

Zhuang Huan gently parted the bushes blocking the path and peered through a gap.

Ahead lay a clear, babbling stream.

On the far bank, seven or eight enormous Green-skinned Horned Pigs were lowering their heads to drink. Their green bristles glinted with a cold sheen in the sunlight.

The one leading the group was almost absurdly huge, with a towering back and shoulders. It was as big as a polar bear.

Looking at the colossal beast, Chen Jing couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.

Zhuang Huan whispered to Chen Jing, "That's a Green-skinned Horned Pig. It's your first time seeing one alive, right?"

"Yeah."

Chen Jing nodded, his heartbeat gradually quickening.

Zhuang Huan continued explaining. "The biggest one is the Pig King. Don't provoke it under any circumstances. A beast like that... takes a Third Blood Martial Artist to fight head-on."

Zhuang Huan frowned slightly. "That's strange. A herd usually has a dozen or so. Why are there only seven here?"

But he quickly waved the thought aside. "Never mind. We're only hunting the ones that stray from the herd."

Then Zhuang Huan turned to Chen Jing. "It takes two Second Blood Martial Artists working together to bring down one Green-skinned Horned Pig."

"We'll keep watch first. Everyone else, provide cover according to plan!"

"For now, we wait. Once the Pig King leads the rest away, we'll ambush the one left behind!"

At his words, the hunters held their breath and crept a few steps closer under the cover of the trees.

The wind stirred the leaves. The air was taut as a bowstring drawn to its limit.

Zhuang Huan leaned against a tree and watched the Pig King.

The enormous Pig King had drunk its fill. It slowly raised its head, hot breath steaming from its nostrils as if it were sniffing the air.

"Don't move..." someone whispered nearby.

A moment later, the Pig King tossed its head and moved toward the deeper forest.

The other five Green-skinned Horned Pigs followed close behind, their heavy hooves pounding the ground with dull thuds that made Chen Jing's heart beat along with them.

Soon, only two stragglers remained by the stream, one large and one small.

Zhuang Huan's eyes lit up. He whispered, "Would you look at that, one big and one small. We'll take those two! Same as always: Old Wu and I will face the big one head-on, while the rest of you provide cover. Xiao Jing..."

He glanced at Chen Jing and continued, "Take position behind me on my right with your knife ready. Don't charge in! Move when you see an opening!"

Chen Jing nodded, his palms sweating with nerves.

Then Zhuang Huan made a hand signal.

Everyone bent forward and moved silently through the wet grass.

The stream drew nearer, and the tension kept tightening.

When they were less than twenty paces away, Zhuang Huan suddenly shouted, "Attack!!"

In that instant, the hunters lying in wait in the woods burst out like tigers descending the mountain!

Startled, the Green-skinned Horned Pigs raised their heads, murderous intent flashing in their eyes.

"Roar!!"

The larger Green-skinned Horned Pig let out an enraged roar and drove forward with all four legs. It tore up the earth and charged toward Zhuang Huan like a boulder!

"Go!!"

Zhuang Huan gripped his blade with both hands and roared as he charged to meet it.

Old Wu seized his chance at once, lunging at the Green-skinned Horned Pig from the side.

"Boom!!"

Amid the deafening impact, Zhuang Huan's blade struck the pig's neck with tremendous force. Sparks flew, and the blade was nearly knocked away by the impact!

"What hard bristles!"

"Keep drawing its attention!"

Old Wu shouted as his spear darted toward the Green-skinned Horned Pig's belly like a venomous snake.

Pfft!!

This time, the spear pierced half an inch into its hide, but the wound only drove the Green-skinned Horned Pig into an even greater frenzy. It thrashed wildly.

"Fall back!"

Zhuang Huan rolled to the side, barely dodging the sharp horn that could pierce a tree.

The smaller Green-skinned Horned Pig had also been startled. It charged toward the hunters' right flank!

"Stop it!!"

"Don't let it break our formation!!"

Several hunters on the right, Chen Jing among them, gripped their blades and fell back half a step, holding formation to resist it.

But when the Green-skinned Horned Pig charged at them, Chen Jing felt as if the air had been squeezed until it burst!

Its roar made his ears ring.

The Green-skinned Horned Pig's massive body, terrifying speed, and the killing intent of a primordial beast made Chen Jing's entire body shudder instinctively.

This was his first time facing a real mutant beast.

For the first time, he felt the pressure of death at such close range.

Chen Jing's hand trembled slightly, but he held the knife hilt in a death grip.

"Chen Jing! To your left! It's going to hit you!!"

Someone shouted beside him.

At that instant, the smaller Green-skinned Horned Pig lowered its head and charged. Its horn pointed straight at Chen Jing!

Chen Jing hurriedly rolled left.

Bang!!

The enormous impact was deafening.

The tree trunk beside Chen Jing snapped clean in two. Splinters flew everywhere like knives!

"Roar!!"

The Green-skinned Horned Pig roared again, its cry almost tearing his eardrums apart.

Chen Jing scrambled to his feet, his chest heaving.

For the first time, he faced a mutant beast that could truly kill him.

For the first time, he understood this wasn't training. This was a struggle between life and death.

Before Chen Jing could catch his breath, the Green-skinned Horned Pig wheeled around and charged at him again!

"Chen Jing!!"

A First Blood Hunter on his left desperately swung his blade, drawing the pig's charge a few inches away from Chen Jing.

Seeing this, Chen Jing clenched his teeth. Veins stood out on his knife-wielding arm as the blood and qi in his entire body surged into motion.

"Haah!!"

Seizing his chance, Chen Jing pushed off with both feet and shot forward. Before the Green-skinned Horned Pig could turn back, he slashed hard at its eye.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed out. The Green-skinned Horned Pig let out a thunderous roar of pain and thrashed its head wildly.

"Beautiful!! Draw it away again. Don't meet it head-on!!"

Someone shouted behind him.

Chen Jing hurriedly yanked his knife free. In the next moment, the Green-skinned Horned Pig's foreleg came down at him like an iron hammer!

If that blow landed, he might not die, but he would be severely injured.

Chen Jing forced down his fear and shifted his feet, narrowly dodging the blow.

"Hold it back! Don't let it charge toward Master Zhuang!"

An old hunter responsible for this side called out a warning.

The other hunters rushed forward, swinging their clubs and forks with all their strength in an attempt to hold the Green-skinned Horned Pig at bay.

But the beast struggled frantically, its hooves pounding into the mud and spraying up great clods of earth. Then it swung around and charged at Chen Jing again!

"Come on!"

Seeing his chance, Chen Jing darted in from the left and swept his hunting knife sideways.

Pfft!

The blade sliced open the Green-skinned Horned Pig's flank, and blood gushed out.

The Green-skinned Horned Pig howled in agony, but it didn't retreat. Instead, the pain drove it into a frenzy, and it pressed forward with a surge of furious strength.

In the blink of an eye—

Chen Jing circulated the Five Harms Technique with all his might, unleashing all the blood and qi he had accumulated over this period.

In an instant, a faint red aura of blood and qi rippled around him, and his speed surged.

Without any flashy moves, he suddenly bent his knees and crouched low, his knees almost touching the ground. He pushed off with his feet and slid forward like an arrow loosed from its string.

The cold, gleaming tip of the long blade in his hand pointed straight at the soft flesh beneath the Green-skinned Horned Pig's neck—the weakest spot on its body, and its fatal point.

Thwack!

The long blade pierced the soft flesh without resistance, sinking straight into a cluster of blood vessels.

The Green-skinned Horned Pig stiffened all over. A violent spasm seized it as the pain hit, and its fierce eyes instantly went unfocused. The murderous glint faded like the tide, leaving only unbearable agony and bewilderment.

Chen Jing's gaze was cold. He abruptly twisted his wrist, wrenching the blade hard through the wound, then yanked it free!

The sound of steel tearing through flesh was sharp and clear. The tiny wound split open into a ghastly gash, and scalding blood burst out like a raging waterfall, staining the earth beneath it and soaking Chen Jing's robes.

Chen Jing pulled out his blade in one smooth motion. The Green-skinned Horned Pig's massive body convulsed twice more, its legs kicking uselessly at the ground before it crashed down with a thud.

The dull impact sent leaves flying all around. It drew its last breath, and only the blood continued to trickle from the wound, pooling on the ground.

"It's dead!"

"It really died!?"

"He... he actually took down a Green-skinned Horned Pig all by himself!?"

The hunters standing nearby froze for a full three breaths before they finally reacted. One by one, they stared wide-eyed at the twitching carcass as if they'd seen a ghost.

That was a Green-skinned Horned Pig!

Even the smallest one usually took at least two or three First Blood veteran hunters to surround and kill. One careless move, and it could smash their bones to pieces.

But now, a kid on his first trip into the mountains—a new martial artist who had only recently broken through to First Blood—

had actually... killed it all by himself!!!

"Damn... am I seeing things?"

"That blade technique... that nerve... tsk. Even if you asked me to fight a Green-skinned Horned Pig one-on-one, I wouldn't dare!"

The hunters' cries of surprise came in an unending stream, their voices trembling with shock.

Some even swallowed hard. The way they looked at Chen Jing had changed: he was no longer a newcomer they had to look after, but a reliable comrade they could entrust their backs to—and there was even a hint of fear and awe in their eyes.

Chen Jing still gripped his bloodstained hunting blade. His chest heaved, but there was no fear in his eyes—only calm, sharp focus, and the battle fervor of a fresh kill.

Just as everyone stood too stunned to speak,

"What are you all standing around looking at!?"

Zhuang Huan's roar crashed into their ears like rolling thunder. "Get over here and help me, damn it!!!"

The hunters jolted and snapped back to their senses. "R-right! We still haven't dealt with the Big Horned Pig!"

"Move, move! Don't make Master Zhuang angry!"

The hunters hurriedly snatched up their weapons and rushed toward the battle where Zhuang Huan was fighting.