Chapter Summaries

Gu Sheng, Gu Erniu, Gu Youfu, and Zhang Ze encountered Li Yan and his hunters in Cang Mountain, where a confrontation over their wild boar nearly turned violent. Li Yan withdrew after Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu warned him off, and the group returned safely to the village.

• Gu Erniu called out to the hunters across the forest and recognized their leader, Li Yan, an old rival who had once pursued Li Lian.
• Li Yan mocked Gu Erniu and threatened that he might die in the mountains, prompting Gu Erniu to fire an arrow at him.
• Gu Sheng shot at Li Yan when he tried to provoke Gu Erniu again, and Li Yan decided his group should withdraw rather than risk a fight.
• Gu Sheng warned the others that Li Yan's hunters might have been lying in wait for hunters returning from the mountain, while Gu Youfu and Zhang Ze disagreed about whether to keep hunting.
• Gu Erniu ended the argument, and the four hunters carried the wild boar out of Cang Mountain without further incident.

After their successful hunt, Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu traded wild boar meat for millet and learned that drought and fighting in Yunzhou were driving grain prices upward. Gu Sheng feared worsening turmoil but took comfort in hearing the unrest had likely been suppressed, and he resolved to prepare for rising prices.

• Gu Sheng and the other hunters returned with the wild boar, divided the meat, and Gu Sheng received his agreed share.
• Gu Sheng considered selling some meat to fund martial arts training, but decided to prioritize food and trade for millet.
• Gu Erniu accompanied Gu Sheng to the village trading post, where Steward Wang exchanged their twenty pounds of meat for sixty pounds of millet.
• Steward Wang quietly warned Gu Erniu that drought in Yunzhou and fighting there would likely cause grain prices to rise.
• Gu Sheng asked about the conflict, and Steward Wang said the news was over a month old and the unrest had probably ended.
• Gu Sheng felt relieved that the dynasty's foundations seemed intact and recognized the need to stockpile grain.

Gu Sheng stocked up on grain and enjoyed a rare meal of millet and wild boar, then continued building his skills and relationships while preparing for a dangerous future. He declined Gu He's offer to match him with a niece, insisting he would establish himself before starting a family, and settled back into his routine of work, archery practice, and study.

• Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu exchanged wild boar meat for grain, leaving Gu Sheng with enough food to last several months.
• Gu Sheng cooked millet rice and wild boar, then discovered that his Archery proficiency had increased to 31% after hunting.
• Gu Sheng brought wild boar meat and bones to Gu He, who praised his thoughtfulness, invited him to call him Uncle He, and offered to help with future hunting trips.
• Gu He again suggested that Gu Sheng consider marrying his niece, but Gu Sheng said he would establish himself before starting a family.
• Gu Sheng resumed chopping wood, practicing archery, and studying, while learning more about the Great Liang Dynasty and its provinces.

Gu Sheng built a reputation as an exceptional hunter while secretly improving his archery beyond what he showed others. After reaching Mastery archery, he considered whether to begin hunting alone to increase his earnings.

• Gu Sheng joined Gu Erniu and the other hunters on repeated trips into the mountains, where his archery amazed the villagers and earned him a growing reputation.
• Gu Sheng politely declined the marriage proposals that began arriving at his home.
• More than a month after his first hunt, Gu Sheng practiced archery and struck a copper-coin-sized target from a hundred meters away.
• Gu Sheng discovered that his archery had reached Mastery and considered how it might threaten martial artists at the Skin Refining stage.
• Gu Sheng weighed the safety of hunting with Gu Erniu against the greater profits of entering the mountains alone.

Gu Sheng spent a month strengthening his body and learning hunting skills, then decided to enter the mountains alone to earn money for martial arts training. After Gu Erniu offered him a stronger bow and recognized his hidden skill, Gu Sheng set out with it the next day.

• Gu Sheng grew stronger through daily labor, archery practice, and nourishing meals, while saving his silver for martial arts training.
• Gu Sheng entered the mountains ten times with Gu Erniu, Zhang Ze, and other hunters, learning hunting skills while concealing the full extent of his archery.
• Gu Erniu celebrated Gu Wan's potential to become a martial artist and urged Gu Sheng to work hard toward training as well.
• Gu Sheng told Gu Erniu he planned to hunt alone the next day to prepare for the cost of martial arts training.
• Gu Erniu offered Gu Sheng his stronger hunting bow and admitted he suspected Gu Sheng's archery was better than he showed.
• Gu Sheng asked Gu He for leave and entered the mountains with Gu Erniu's bow.

Gu Sheng hunted alone in Cang Mountain, using his master-level archery to bring home a large haul. On his way down, he killed a red-spotted snake with his perfected Chopping Wood skill and decided to make snake meat soup.

• Gu Sheng cautiously entered the outskirts of Cang Mountain alone and adjusted to hunting without companions.
• Gu Sheng shot a fat wild rabbit from over eighty meters away and kept it for himself.
• Gu Sheng hunted two more rabbits and a pheasant, then started down the mountain before nightfall.
• A red-spotted snake ambushed Gu Sheng, but he dodged its attack and refused to surrender his game.
• Gu Sheng split the snake in half with his machete using Chopping Wood and planned to make snake meat soup.

Gu Sheng’s frequent hunting earned him growing wealth and a strong reputation, while he quit his chopping-wood job and continued practicing at home. He advanced beyond chopping wood’s Perfection to gain a Tier 1 Rend effect, and considered how powerful it might be against a martial artist.

• Gu Sheng hunted often with Gu Erniu, brought down valuable prey, and became admired by the hunters for his accomplished Archery.
• Gu Sheng accumulated five taels of silver and saved several hides to sell in Canghe County.
• Gu Sheng quit his chopping-wood job after discussing it with Gu He, then continued splitting wood at home to improve his skill.
• Gu Sheng entered a focused state while chopping and delivered a strike that split a piece of wood effortlessly.
• Gu Sheng checked his panel and discovered that chopping wood had advanced beyond Perfection, granting him the Tier 1 Rend effect.
• Gu Sheng wondered whether Rend could tear through the tough skin membrane of a Skin Refining stage martial artist.

Gu Sheng focused on improving his Archery while learning about the Great Liang Dynasty’s unrest and planning to practice martial arts in spring. At a hunters’ gathering, San Mazi revealed that a valuable Silver Fox had been sighted in Cang Mountain, setting Gu Family Village’s hunters on its trail.

• Gu Sheng noticed that Chopping Wood had gained Tier 1 Rend but no further progress bar, and wondered what effect Archery might gain at its limit.
• Gu Sheng devoted his time to Archery and reading, learned more about the Great Liang Dynasty’s disorder, and resolved to begin martial arts training next spring.
• Gu Sheng joined the hunters of Gu Family Village for a hotpot meal, where the men praised his idea and talked about hunting and marriage.
• San Mazi announced that a hunter from Dahe Village had found Silver Fox tracks in Cang Mountain, and said hunters from Dahe Village and Li Family Fort were already searching.
• The hunters accepted San Mazi’s explanation and quietly began considering how to hunt the Silver Fox for its valuable pelt.

Gu Sheng gave up prioritizing the elusive Silver Fox and hunted a doe instead, but Li Yan and three hunters from Li Family Fort ambushed him and demanded the deer. The chapter ended with Gu Sheng taking cover behind a tree as Li Yan threatened to shoot him.

• Gu Sheng realized his pursuit of the Silver Fox had reduced his other hunting gains, so he decided to focus on ordinary prey and leave the fox to chance.
• Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu entered Cang Mountain with other hunters, then split up to search separately.
• Gu Sheng tracked and killed a doe with an arrow from nearly a hundred meters away, then decided to return home with it.
• Li Yan and three hunters from Li Family Fort appeared and demanded that Gu Sheng surrender the deer.
• Gu Sheng rolled behind a redwood tree to evade Li Yan's warning shot, and Li Yan threatened to aim at his head next.

Gu Sheng was ambushed by Li Yan and three hunters from Li Family Fort while carrying a deer, but used his superior archery to strike at Li Yan and escape. Li Yan survived because a heart-protecting mirror blocked the arrow, then called off the pursuit.

• Li Yan distracted Gu Sheng while signaling three hunters to spread out and surround him.
• Gu Sheng recognized the danger and used his hidden archery skill to shoot an arrow at Li Yan before fleeing with the deer.
• Li Yan's heart-protecting mirror stopped the arrow, and the other hunters' shots missed Gu Sheng or struck the deer.
• Li Yan ordered his companions not to pursue, explaining that Gu Sheng's arrow had nearly killed him and cracked the mirror.

Li Yan and his men abandoned their pursuit of Gu Sheng and continued searching for the Silver Fox, while Gu Sheng resolved to strengthen his bow before taking revenge. Carrying a deer through the forest, he unexpectedly encountered the Silver Fox and shot its hind leg, slowing it down.

• Li Yan ordered his men to keep hunting the Silver Fox and planned to ambush Gu Sheng if he returned for revenge.
• Gu Sheng decided not to turn back, then resolved to buy a Two-stone strong bow and kill Li Yan after improving his archery.
• Gu Sheng spotted the Silver Fox drawn to the blood of the deer he carried and dropped the carcass to ready his bow.
• Gu Sheng shot the Silver Fox from nearly a hundred meters away, piercing its hind leg and sharply reducing its speed.

Gu Sheng killed a Silver Fox without damaging most of its valuable fur and carried it and a deer back toward safety. Elsewhere, Gu Erniu fled Li Yan and three companions after their clash over the fox, and he prepared to risk his life to take Li Yan down.

• Gu Sheng pursued the wounded Silver Fox and killed it with an arrow through its eye, preserving its valuable fur.
• Gu Sheng retrieved the Silver Fox and the deer carcass, then carefully headed down Cang Mountain with his heavy haul.
• Gu Erniu encountered Li Yan and three companions while tracking the Silver Fox, and the groups exchanged arrows as Gu Erniu fled.
• Gu Erniu, wounded in the calf and cornered behind a tree, resolved to lure Li Yan into a trap even if it cost him his life.

Gu Sheng intervened when Li Yan and three hunters cornered the wounded Gu Erniu, killing one hunter with a surprise arrow. As the remaining hunters panicked, Gu Erniu seized the opening and shot at Li Yan.

• Li Yan taunted Gu Erniu while his three hunters closed in around the tree where Gu Erniu was hiding.
• Li Yan spotted blood from Gu Erniu's injured leg and directed the hunters to surround his position.
• Gu Sheng heard that Gu Erniu was being hunted, abandoned his deer, and crept closer to help him.
• Gu Sheng shot Shunzi through the throat from concealment, killing him and startling Li Yan and the other hunters.
• Gu Erniu took advantage of their panic, rose from behind the tree, and fired an arrow at Li Yan.

Gu Sheng rescued Gu Erniu by killing the hunters with his bow, then faced Li Yan at close range. He defeated Li Yan with a single axe strike, leaving the two survivors amid the aftermath of the fight.

• Gu Erniu’s arrow wounded Li Yan, and Gu Sheng shot down two more hunters with arrows through their throats.
• Gu Sheng killed the last hunter after the man panicked and fired blindly into the woods.
• Gu Erniu recognized Gu Sheng and warned him as Li Yan charged with a short blade.
• Gu Sheng drew his woodcutter’s axe and blocked Li Yan’s attack with a powerful downward chop.
• Gu Sheng’s axe knocked away Li Yan’s blade and beheaded him in one blow.

Gu Sheng killed Li Yan and began accepting the ruthlessness needed to survive, then helped the wounded Gu Erniu escape the mountain with their spoils. They hid the weapons before returning to Gu Family Village, where Li Lian saw Gu Erniu’s injuries.

• Gu Sheng killed Li Yan with a brutal hatchet blow and resolved to show no mercy to those who threatened his survival.
• Gu Sheng pulled an arrow from Gu Erniu’s leg, treated the wound, and gathered the hunters’ weapons and a wild rabbit.
• Gu Sheng carried the deer and weapons as he helped Gu Erniu descend the mountain by a safer route.
• Gu Erniu warned Gu Sheng to keep Li Yan’s death secret because Li Yan had connections to a martial artist from Li Family Fort.
• Gu Sheng buried the bows and blades near the village, then returned home with Gu Erniu, who told Li Lian that a wild wolf had bitten him.

After helping Gu Erniu cover up the deaths of Li Yan and the other hunters, Gu Sheng preserved the spoils and trained his archery. He learned that Gu Erniu and Li Lian were reinforcing their wild-wolf story, leaving the deaths less likely to be traced to him.

• Gu Sheng skinned and kept the Silver Fox pelt, hid the recovered weapons, and planned to sell his hunting spoils when the manor's purchasing team went to the city.
• Gu Sheng practiced archery and believed he was close to reaching the perfected realm.
• Zhang Ze told Gu Sheng that Gu Erniu had supposedly been bitten by a wild wolf, and Gu Sheng hurried to visit him.
• Gu Erniu told the gathered hunters that a wolf had injured him near Red Maple Forest and revealed where he had found Silver Fox tracks.
• Gu Sheng realized Gu Erniu and Li Lian were spreading a plausible cover story, and he stayed silent as the hunters prepared to search for the Silver Fox.

Gu Sheng and Li Lian discussed keeping quiet about Gu Sheng’s role in saving Gu Erniu, and Gu Sheng returned to his usual hunting routine. Five days after Li Yan’s death, Zhang Ze reported that Li Yan and his lackeys were missing, while rumors blamed the Black Sand Gang, leaving Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu’s involvement concealed.

• Li Lian thanked Gu Sheng for helping her family and promised to keep the matter secret.
• Gu Sheng returned to hunting after resting, bringing half a rabbit to the injured Gu Erniu.
• Zhang Ze told the gathered hunters that Li Yan and his lackeys had not returned to Li Family Fort for several days and were presumed dead in Cang Mountain.
• Zhang Ze speculated that the Black Sand Gang might have killed Li Yan over the Silver Fox, prompting the hunters to avoid the mountains.
• Gu Sheng silently praised Zhang Ze as the hunters’ suspicions about Li Yan’s death shifted away from him.

After Li Yan’s death, Li Yu urged Du Jiangbo to seek justice, but he resolved to investigate only among hunters from Li Family Fort and avoid provoking the Black Sand Gang. Meanwhile, Gu Sheng stayed home from hunting and perfected his archery, leaving the story with his skill reaching a new peak.

• Li Yu begged Du Jiangbo to avenge Li Yan, insisting that wild beasts could not have killed him.
• Du Jiangbo warned Li Yu not to threaten the Black Sand Gang and promised to question hunters from Li Family Fort in secret.
• Du Jiangbo privately admitted that he suspected Li Yan had been murdered but did not want to risk investigating beyond the fort.
• Gu Sheng used his time away from the mountains to practice archery and improve his skill each day.
• Gu Sheng shot through a leaf and a flying insect before hitting a bullseye a hundred meters away, reaching perfection in archery.

Gu Sheng continued improving his archery and prepared to travel to the city with Gu Erniu before winter. As the Silver Fox hunt faded from memory and game grew scarcer, Gu Sheng returned to hunting but began reducing his trips into the mountains.

• Gu Sheng assessed his mastered archery, recognized the limits of his one-stone bow, and resolved to train until archery advanced beyond mastery.
• Gu Sheng visited Gu Erniu, who told him the village would organize a trip to the city before winter and that Gu Dajiang would escort it; Gu Erniu offered to conceal Gu Sheng’s bows among the furs.
• Gu He confirmed the trip and promised to speak to purchasing steward Gu Renxu about Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu joining it.
• More than half a month after Li Yan’s death, hunters resumed entering the mountains, while the Silver Fox’s disappearance remained a mystery to everyone except Gu Sheng.
• Gu Sheng returned to hunting and used his mastered archery to kill prey from over a hundred meters away, then reduced his trips as animals became scarce and winter approached.

Gu Changming arranged for Gu Dajiang to secretly take demon wolf blood and other materials to Canghe County so Alchemist Ge Qing could refine Blood Strengthening Pills. Gu Sheng prepared to enter the city with the village convoy, carrying his accumulated hunting goods, and waited for the convoy to arrive.

• Gu Changming told Gu Jingang and Gu Dajiang that Alchemist Ge Qing had agreed to refine Blood Strengthening Pills from the village's materials.
• Gu Changming chose Gu Dajiang to carry the materials into the city with the purchasing team, while Gu Jingang worried about the danger.
• Gu Sheng counted his accumulated furs and medicinal materials and expected his wealth to exceed thirty taels of silver after selling them.
• Before dawn, Gu Sheng carried his bundled goods to the village edge and met Gu Erniu and other villagers preparing to enter the city.
• Gu Erniu praised Gu Sheng's impressive hunting haul, and the villagers showed him greater respect.
• The village's purchasing convoy arrived with donkey carts and flatbed carts as the group waited to set out.