As Chen Jing and the other hunters charged into the fray, the hounds barked furiously and lunged at the huge Green-skinned Horned Pig's hind legs. Their sharp fangs sank into gaps in its bristling mane, tearing its flesh until it hung in ragged strips.
The huge Green-skinned Horned Pig swung its hind legs wildly, its massive hooves pounding the ground and sending dust billowing into the air.
The hunters around it kept stabbing with their long forks, striking the Green-skinned Horned Pig's hide again and again.
Each thrust left only a shallow wound, but as they accumulated, they were like iron nails, gradually slowing the beast's movements.
Roar!!!
The huge Green-skinned Horned Pig's bellow shook the leaves from the trees. It twisted its enormous body in fury, nearly knocking two hunters off their feet.
The moment the beast whipped its tail around, Old Wu's eyes suddenly lit up. "Now!"
He tightened both hands around his long fork and charged forward. Taking advantage of the Green-skinned Horned Pig's turn, he drove the point in with a vicious thrust.
Pfft!!!
The long fork plunged deep into a vital spot low in the Green-skinned Horned Pig's abdomen!
The Green-skinned Horned Pig shuddered all over from the pain, its shriek nearly piercing their eardrums.
"Now!!!"
With a thunderous shout, Zhuang Huan charged out, swinging his blade. Like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, he met the beast head-on, his long blade flashing coldly.
Pfft!!!
The blade pierced its throat from beneath the jaw. Blood gushed like a spring, splattering Zhuang Huan from head to toe.
The beast staggered backward two steps, its eyes bloodshot, but it no longer had the strength to stay upright.
Crash!!
Its massive body hit the ground, nearly knocking several hunters off their feet.
The mountain forest fell silent in an instant, leaving only the hounds' excited barking.
"We won! The Green-skinned Horned Pig is dead!"
At the sight, the old hunters burst into excited laughter. "Ha ha! Looks like there's over a thousand pounds of meat there! This trip was worth it!"
Zhuang Huan wiped the blood from his forehead and face, his heavy breathing gradually settling.
He glanced first at the fallen huge Green-skinned Horned Pig, then at the gutted carcass of the small Green-skinned Horned Pig on Chen Jing's side. A rare, satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Xiaojing, you handled things cleanly over there."
Zhuang Huan said, somewhat surprised, "You didn't hold us back. You even gave us quite a shock."
Old Wu nodded too. "Not many can kill a Green-skinned Horned Pig on their first hunt."
The hunters beside them chimed in at once.
"Exactly! When I went hunting for the first time, I turned and ran the moment I saw a Horned Pig!"
"That was a steady, ruthless strike, Brother Chen. I'm not sure I'd have dared to go for it!"
Chen Jing felt a little embarrassed by the praise and could only shake his head. "If you brothers hadn't kept it occupied, I couldn't have killed it so easily."
"Ha ha, you're too modest, kid!"
Everyone roared with laughter, clearly treating Chen Jing as one of their own.
After facing life and death together, these simple hunters' trust came readily and warmly.
As dusk fell, the hunters expertly butchered the Green-skinned Horned Pig, discarding the bones, hide, and offal and keeping only the most valuable cuts of meat.
Before long, the bags of more than a dozen hunters were packed full.
Zhuang Huan looked up at the sky. "All right. Let's get back to last night's camp before dark. We'll return to the city first thing tomorrow!"
Knowing full well that the carcasses of exotic beasts would attract predators from the mountains, everyone sprinkled Beast-Repelling Spice over their packs before retracing their route.
With their heavy loads, the return journey took a full two days before they reached the gates of Red Rock County.
"Whew... we're finally here!"
"My shoulders have gone numb from carrying this all the way!"
At the sight of the familiar city gates, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They dragged their tired bodies toward the Zhuang Family, faces alight with excitement and satisfaction.
When Chen Jing returned to the Zhuang Family, Zhuang Tao hurried over to greet him. "Junior Brother Chen, I didn't expect you to come back with such a haul on your very first hunt!"
Zhuang Huan grinned and patted Chen Jing on the shoulder. "Don't let his modesty fool you. He killed a small Horned Pig all by himself! Who knows, he might become the best hunter in Red Rock County someday!"
"Uncle Huan, you're giving me too much credit."
Chen Jing waved a hand. "If you all hadn't helped me, I'd probably have been badly injured this time."
Just as everyone was talking,
a young servant ran in from outside and said hurriedly, "Young Master Chen Jing, someone at the door says she's Ren Zhining and wants to see you. Do you know her?"
"Ren Zhining?"
Chen Jing's face filled with confusion.
He did know Ren Zhining, but what had brought her to see him?
Could she have found out that he had killed Xie Chong?
Chen Jing asked, "I know her. What is it?"
The young servant shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either. "She only said she had something important to tell you and could only explain in person. I've already arranged for her to wait in the reception hall."
"I understand. Senior Brother Zhuang, Uncle Huan, I'll go see what she wants."
Chen Jing turned to Zhuang Tao and Zhuang Huan beside him.
"Go ahead and see her. We won't get in your way."
At that, Zhuang Tao gave him a knowing look and quickly waved him off.
Chen Jing couldn't help laughing at his expression, but said nothing.
Then, led by the young servant, Chen Jing soon met Ren Zhining in the reception hall.
When Ren Zhining saw Chen Jing enter, she immediately stood up. "Chen..."
"Just call me Chen Jing. What brings you here?"
Chen Jing waved to stop her and got straight to the point.
Ren Zhining nodded, her expression tense. "Since Xie Chong's death, Head Constable Zhao has been investigating the cause under pressure from Hu Duanzhuo."
"Head Constable Zhao came to Spring Return Hall a couple of days ago, but he didn't find any leads there."
"Later, when he questioned the old women, one of them said Xie Chong had taken an interest in your older sister at the time too..."
At that, Chen Jing's expression darkened.
Ren Zhining continued, "Head Constable Zhao knows you're a martial artist, so he'll probably turn his investigation toward you."
"I've already fired the old woman who ran her mouth. It's my fault for getting you caught up in this."
With that, Ren Zhining bowed deeply to Chen Jing.
Chen Jing waved a hand again and asked in a low voice, "Head Constable Zhao? Is he a martial artist too?"
Ren Zhining quickly replied, "Yes. And because he's a First Blood Martial Artist, he was able to become the head constable of Red Rock County."
Chen Jing nodded. "Thank you for warning me. I'll keep it in mind."
Ren Zhining had come to warn him at the first opportunity. That was already a great kindness.
Besides, it had been the meddlesome old woman who revealed information about him, not Ren Zhining.
Chen Jing knew how to tell right from wrong!
Ren Zhining continued, "If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."
"Consider it compensation from Spring Return Hall."
Chen Jing waved her off, unconcerned. "We'll see when the time comes."
Ren Zhining said a few more words, then left.
As Chen Jing watched her go, he turned it over in his mind.
That Head Constable Zhao... had he really found a clue and come to investigate him?
Or was he just planning to use Chen Jing as a scapegoat?
Before you continue