Conflict

The forest was so quiet that only the chirping of insects could be heard.

It only took a few breaths from Gu Sheng's exclamation for everyone else to react. Four people drew their bows, nocked arrows, and the sound of the taut bowstrings was clear.

Cold sweat broke out on Gu Erniu and the others' backs.

They had been too careless this time, despite their successful hunt.

At this moment, they also heard movement from the other side. If Gu Sheng hadn't spotted them first, and if the other party had launched a surprise attack, they would have been in trouble.

There was some commotion on the other side; they seemed surprised by how quickly their group had reacted.

Gu Erniu shouted:

"Friends on the other side, we are hunters from Gu Family Village. If you have no business here, please retreat to avoid any misunderstandings."

In these deep mountains and old forests, if the other party saw the wild boar and harbored ill intentions, a fierce battle might ensue.

Hearing Gu Erniu's shout.

The other side fell silent for a moment, and then a slightly rough voice rang out. Gu Sheng detected a hint of malice in it.

"Tsk tsk, so it's an old acquaintance. Gu Erniu, long time no see."

Gu Erniu's expression changed.

"Li Yan, is that you!"

Zhang Ze and Gu Youfu both looked enlightened, clearly not strangers to this person named Li Yan.

The foliage on the other side rustled, and a group of people appeared before Gu Sheng's eyes.

The person in front was about the same age as Gu Erniu, but more handsome than him. A faint scar ran across his right eye. Behind him followed four hunters holding long bows.

There were five people on the other side.

However, these five were also cautious, not openly exposing themselves to Gu Sheng's group's arrows. They had cover nearby, allowing them to dodge at any moment.

The scar-eyed youth, Li Yan, glanced at the wild boar on the ground, his eyes showing a flicker of greed. He snorted, "Quite a good harvest. You have some skill, Gu Erniu, at least you haven't starved Li Lian."

Gu Erniu roared in anger:

"Lian'er is my wife. As long as she's with me, Gu Erniu, she won't starve. What business is it of yours, Li Yan? Do you want to fight?"

Listening to the two men's exchange.

Gu Sheng frowned and suddenly recalled a memory from long ago.

It was when Gu Erniu got married.

Li Lian was a well-regarded young woman from Li Family Fort, and many young men coveted her. Gu Erniu and Li Yan were both her suitors. However, Li Lian later fell for Gu Erniu and married into Gu Family Village.

Judging by their demeanor, the two seemed to have crossed paths many times. After all, they were both hunters and would occasionally encounter each other.

Cang Mountain, while not small, was not exactly vast either.

"This Li Yan... is he still infatuated with Sister-in-law Erniu?"

Gu Sheng felt a strange sensation.

While he had to admit that Li Lian was quite charming, it wasn't enough to hold onto her for so many years. Or perhaps this person before him had some peculiar habits?

As his thoughts raced.

Li Yan spoke again.

"You're lucky this time, Gu Erniu. Besides your archery, which is barely passable, how do you compare to me, Li Yan, in terms of family background or appearance? Li Lian must have been bewitched to choose you back then. Take good care of her, lest she accidentally dies in the mountains one day and has to live as a widow for you!"

A coldness flickered in his eyes, which, combined with the faint scar, gave him a subtle aura of menace.

"However, I wouldn't mind her remarrying me."

Gu Erniu was furious. An arrow shot out like a star, instantly covering dozens of meters.

As experienced hunters, they weren't easily hit. The men on the other side dodged, and the arrow whizzed past, embedding itself in a tree a hundred meters away.

"You have such murderous intent!"

Li Yan's eyes widened. Just as he was about to speak, another arrow flew directly at him, forcing Li Yan to duck his head again.

It was Gu Sheng who had shot.

The other party wanted to provoke Gu Erniu, and Gu Sheng naturally wouldn't allow it.

This arrow was incredibly swift, striking the center of the tree trunk where Li Yan was hiding. The impact of the arrow sent leaves scattering. Li Yan, behind the tree, changed his expression.

An expert's move immediately revealed their skill.

"It seems Gu Family Village has produced another archery master."

Li Yan cast a cold glance in the direction Gu Sheng was hiding.

With Gu Sheng's intervention, Gu Erniu gradually calmed down. His voice turned cold, "Li Yan, if you want trouble, bring it on. If you don't want to die, then get lost!"

Gu Youfu and Zhang Ze's muscles tensed instantly. The hunters from Li Family Fort were not to be trifled with; they were fundamentally different from wild beasts.

But at this moment, there was no room to retreat!

If they lost their nerve, the other side would turn into jackals!

Li Yan's eyes flickered.

Having lost the initiative, although the other side had one fewer person, they also had a master whose archery skills were comparable to Gu Erniu's. If they were to fight head-on, they likely wouldn't gain any advantage.

After some deliberation, Li Yan let out a cold snort:

"Gu, remember this, our business is far from over!"

He gazed in the direction of Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu, waved his hand backward, and the hunters from Li Family Fort retreated cautiously.

They had only come to probe, and if there had been an opportunity, he wouldn't have minded striking a dirty blow. Since there wasn't, there was no need to fight to the death.

After the opposing group retreated, Zhang Ze and the other felt a great sense of relief.

Gu Erniu's expression was grim.

Being provoked like that would make even a clay figurine angry.

"That son of a bitch Li Yan, next time I see him, I'll pierce him with an arrow!"

Gu Erniu spat, letting out a vulgar curse.

Zhang Ze quickly tried to placate him:

"Erniu, don't be angry. Li Yan is all talk. Last year when we met this guy, didn't he get scared by you and run off, dropping his prey?"

Gu Erniu's expression softened slightly.

He had encountered Li Yan more than ten times over the years. Although each encounter was unpleasant, he hadn't suffered many losses.

This was also the reason why Li Yan had always been taunting Gu Erniu.

After waiting for a while longer, Gu Sheng could no longer sense any movement from the other side, and his expression eased.

He stepped forward, retrieved the arrow he had shot, and handed it to Gu Erniu, reminding him:

"Brother Erniu, Li Yan probably discovered us long ago. I suspect they deliberately ambushed hunters coming down the mountain. We need to be more careful when we go hunting in the mountains from now on."

Just now, Li Yan had tried his best to pretend he had only just recognized Gu Erniu and the others.

But Gu Sheng vaguely sensed that the man was not speaking his true mind.

To be waiting in the outer areas at this time instead of hunting in the deep mountains, and without any prey in hand, their malicious intent was clear.

Gu Youfu's expression changed.

"Why don't we not go into the mountains for a while? There's no reason to guard against a thief for a thousand days."

Zhang Ze snorted coldly:

"If you're scared, don't come. How could Li Yan be waiting specifically for us? That guy is vicious. He probably just preys on whoever is easy to catch. This time it was just a coincidence. Cang Mountain is so big, we can't run into them every single time."

Gu Sheng's impression of Zhang Ze shifted slightly. Although this man was a bit rash, he wasn't someone who shied away from trouble.

"You!"

Gu Youfu was angered and was about to retort.

Gu Erniu shouted loudly.

"Enough, stop talking. Let's go back to the village!"

Zhang Ze and Gu Youfu immediately snorted and turned away, unwilling to look at each other.

After this interruption, the group no longer felt the same sense of joy and relaxation.

Gu Erniu and Gu Youfu hoisted the wild boar again, while the other two took up the front and rear guard, subconsciously quickening their pace to avoid further incidents.

Fortunately, this time there were no more complications.

Soon, the four of them exited Cang Mountain.

Emerging from the forest, a large expanse of sunlight streamed down, somewhat blinding, but Gu Sheng felt a warmth instead.