Hunters in the Mountains

"Whoosh~"

In the slanting sunlight, an arrow shot from the string flew swiftly through the neck of a small beast in the forest. It instantly twisted its head and collapsed.

A figure darted out, picked up the small beast, pulled the hard bamboo arrow from its neck, and held the wound over a gourd to catch the blood.

Once the blood had finished draining, he immediately stuffed the small beast into the pouch at his waist.

"I wonder if this is a Yellow Muntjac. Maybe not, but it does look rather similar."

Feeling the weight of the yellow little beast, Li Chengfeng's heart surged with irrepressible joy.

He had scored some good stuff today!

"In my previous life, wild animals needed protection because their habitats had deteriorated and their numbers had dwindled. Yellow Muntjacs were even specially protected animals, precious beyond measure. But in this era, the vast mountains and forests seem to hold countless rare beasts and exotic creatures. Most mountain forests are places ordinary people cannot set foot in, so it seems you can catch whatever you want!"

After dealing with the Yellow Muntjac's corpse, Li Chengfeng looked at the arrow that had barely pierced through its neck and shook his head with a sigh.

Today, fortune had truly smiled on him. He had found this wood resembling Yew Wood; otherwise, with the power of the Laminated Bamboo Bow alone, taking down a small beast resembling a Yellow Muntjac would probably have been difficult.

"These five excellent bow staves resembling Yew Wood need to be properly worked once I get back. After four months of full processing, polishing, and crafting, their power can rise sharply again!"

Feeling the strength of the rough bow stave resembling Yew Wood in his hand, Li Chengfeng was delighted. He could not help gripping the wooden bow tightly, then quickly removed its bowstring to let the stave rest.

He then fitted the bowstring onto the Laminated Bamboo Bow. Holding his cleaver, he swept his gaze over the forest. Seeing that the sun had begun to set, he immediately hurried toward the edge of the mountains.

He crossed two mountains in succession along the mountain path. Just as he was about to continue onward, his expression suddenly froze, and he warily looked to the side.

"Rustle~"

From the forest to one side, a middle-aged hunter emerged with a half-grown boy. When they saw Li Chengfeng, they too paused in surprise.

After giving him a glance, they had been about to toss out a casual greeting and leave. But when their eyes fell on the five bow staves on his back, their brows rose despite themselves.

"Young brother, those are some fine bow staves you found."

The Old Hunter could not help turning his gaze toward Li Chengfeng. "I make my living by hunting. I haven't seen you around much before. Have you been hunting year-round, or do you just come now and then?"

"I've only just started hunting. What advice do you have, brother?"

Li Chengfeng shifted his body slightly. Hearing the man's words, he kept an eye on their movements and asked in a low voice.

"I wouldn't dare call it advice. I just saw such good bow staves on your back and felt some appreciation for them."

Seeing Li Chengfeng's guarded expression, the Old Hunter knew that since they had only just met, it was best to be straightforward. He immediately said decisively, "I know how to make bows. I have fine new hunting bows at home, made from the same material as the wood on your back. I'll trade you two finished new bows made from the same material for those five staves. Will you trade?"

"Two new bows for five bow staves?"

Li Chengfeng was startled and gave him an unexpected look. After weighing it in his mind, he hesitated before saying, "What do you make them from? How do you make them? Tell me the process, and I'll see how well you make them. If it's good, I'll trade."

"So you're an expert bowmaker too."

Hearing Li Chengfeng say this, the Old Hunter raised his brows. After thinking for a moment, he slowly explained his bowmaking methods.

After he finished speaking, Li Chengfeng slowly nodded.

They had only just met, so naturally the Old Hunter would not reveal all his techniques. He had only described the general outline, but based on what he said and Li Chengfeng's experience from his previous life, the new bows he made should not be much worse than bows Li Chengfeng crafted himself.

"As expected of an Old Hunter who makes his living in the mountains. Your craftsmanship is good."

Li Chengfeng looked at him. "I'll make the trade. But how will you get the new bows?"

"Simple."

The Old Hunter smiled, then directly took the bow from his back. The young boy beside him did the same, handing Li Chengfeng both bows along with their strings.

"Why are you both carrying new bows?"

Li Chengfeng looked at them in surprise, then carefully inspected the two bows they had handed him under the light of the setting sun.

Finding that they were indeed new bows, full of strength and completely free of damage, he nodded in satisfaction. His mind settled somewhat, though he still looked at them with puzzlement.

As he spoke, he handed his five bow staves over to them.

"Rest easy. We're all people who spend the year walking these mountains. We don't have that many tricks up our sleeves."

Seeing Li Chengfeng's meticulous and professional inspection, the Old Hunter's expression also grew more solemn. He looked at him and said, "My old bow just happened to break. My son has only recently begun hunting, and both he and I happened to be using new bows."

"Meeting today is fate. It isn't just bows and arrows—if we come across anything in the mountains in the future, and happen to run into each other, we can trade as well."

The young hunter beside him also smiled. "Sometimes one person may be badly short of something. Trading with each other like this means looking out for one another. Hunters in these mountains have always done things this way."

Life was not easy for mountain hunters. Looking after one another truly made survival easier.

"Alright. If we meet again in the mountains, anything either of us wants to trade, we can trade."

Hearing this, Li Chengfeng smiled as well. He then slung the two newly acquired finished hunting bows onto his back, clasped his fists toward them with a flicker in his eyes, and said, "It's getting late. The mountains are dangerous at night, so I won't keep talking with you. If we have the chance to meet again, we can talk then."

"Alright, until we meet again."

The Old Hunter also smiled and clasped his fists. Once the words fell, the two groups deliberately headed in different directions, disappearing back into the forest as they returned to their respective homes.

Li Chengfeng crossed three more mountains in succession. Only when he saw no movement behind him did he finally let out a breath of relief.

"Good thing no one followed me."

Li Chengfeng spoke softly, his gaze turning thoughtful. "Mountain hunters..."

He had not expected that this trip into the mountains would bring him not only bow staves resembling Yew Wood and a small beast similar to a Yellow Muntjac, but also contact with this group of people.

He touched the two brand-new hardwood hunting bows on his back, along with the two excellent-quality bowstrings, and a gleam flashed through Li Chengfeng's eyes.

"Five bow staves for two new finished hunting bows—not a loss."

Li Chengfeng calculated inwardly. After all, turning bow staves into finished hunting bows would take at least four months.

Though five bow staves could become five brand-new hunting bows after four months, he would have no hunting bow to use during those four months.

And judging from the rate at which his proficiency panel improved his strength, four months later, he might no longer even need hunting bows of this level.

Besides, crafting finished hunting bows required other supplementary materials as well.

It could only be said that to an Old Hunter who hunted year-round, those five bow staves were worth more than two new hardwood bows made with painstaking effort.

But to him, two brand-new hardwood hunting bows that he urgently needed and could use immediately were worth more.

"Each took what he needed."

Li Chengfeng's heart stirred slightly. Then, seeing that the sun was about to set, he hurriedly quickened his pace and passed through the private mountain forest ahead.

Carrying the joy of today's unexpected gains, he returned to Green Mountain City beneath the last streak of evening glow.