Chapter 002: Bouldering and Battling Beasts
With a rustling sound, a large and menacing head emerged from the bushes, its two tusks resembling sharp blades, and a pair of blood-red eyes glaring fiercely at the few people outside
The beasts in Laoshunzi Mountain do not recognize people, and your family has only this one seedling; what if...
With a loud bang, the scene before them left all the hunters in shock: Shi Hong collided fiercely with the charging wild boar king while holding a massive stone.
However, once he attempted to recall that dream, a terrifying pain surged from the depths of his mind, akin to the excruciating agony of being forcibly pulled back into his own body as the sun rises
... ...
He said, taking a string of copper coins from his sleeve and handing it to Shi Hong: "Little Brother Shi, this is for you. I have already taught those servants a lesson, and I, Zhang, guarantee that such incidents will never happen again in the future." He cupped his hands towards Shi Hong and turned to leave
Shi Hongzheng returned from outside, carrying a digging hoe. He was somewhat surprised to see Zhang Xiucai, who was dressed in luxurious attire. Upon noticing him, the latter immediately displayed a beaming smile, saying: "Little brother Shi Hong has returned."
Swish
Gasping heavily, the Wild Boar King let out a few breaths, its two blood-red eyes fixed intently on the leading hunter. With a sudden kick backward, it charged forward with a thunderous stampede.
The immense recoil from the snapped bowstring sent the leading hunter flying, while the Wild Boar King lowered its head, tusks forward, charging fiercely at the leading hunter
In the entire village, there is only one person who speaks in such a peculiar manner, and that is Scholar Zhang
In the past, Shi Hong was particularly afraid of these sounds, but now he feels an indescribable excitement, as if those sounds are constantly tempting him in his ears. Shi Hong's courage is growing; even if there is danger, with his current speed, escaping is always a possibility.
A fourteen-year-old boy is already a capable laborer in the mountains, and correspondingly, he will earn a position of respect at home. Moreover, Shi Hong single-handedly takes care of all the farming work for the family
The Great Xia has gone to war with the Ghost Rong
On this day, Shi Hong's father returned from the mountains empty-handed. After all, he was not a proper hunter by trade; he merely assisted others. If luck was on his side, he might bring back some game, but if not, he would just accompany them for the experience. In any case, all the chores at home were left to Shi Hong, so he had nothing else to do.
Although his father knew that his son was very capable, in fact, after the age of fourteen, all the work in their family was done by Shihong alone—this kid's strength was equivalent to that of five of his father. His father, on the other hand, had become idle, spending his days hunting in the mountains with the villagers, which could be considered an additional source of income
The massive stone in Shi Hong's heart also cracked with several fissures, and his entire foot sank deeply into the ground, reaching all the way to his ankle.
Despite the matchmaker's efforts, Shi Hong's marriage proposal has yet to materialize
It is like this. Master Zhang took out the account book from his pocket and symbolically flipped through a few pages: "I checked the accounts for these past few years and suddenly discovered that I had overcharged the rent from your family. I truly apologize; it was all due to those ignorant servants. But rest assured, I, Zhang, am a person of utmost integrity and would never take advantage of the tenants."
After finishing breakfast, Shi Hong's mother prepared an extra portion of food for him. His father picked up a hunting knife and slung the homemade bow and arrows over his back. He called out to his wife, "We are leaving," and took Shi Hong out the door.
As soon as the Wild Boar King appeared, the hunters sensed that something was amiss
"Nothing will happen." Shi Hong's father pushed his hand away.
Thud thud thud... The Wild Boar King charged forward at breakneck speed, an arrow lodged in its eye, blood streaming profusely, recklessly rushing towards its enemy—Shi Hong's father. Shi Hong's father dropped his bow and arrow and turned to flee, while the Wild Boar King pursued him like a mad beast, crashing through everything in its path, whether it was small trees as thick as a bowl or stones the size of a stool. Its single eye glowed a blood-red, fixated on Shi Hong's father, vowing not to rest until it had gored this man to death. Shi Hong's father dropped his bow and arrow and turned to flee, while the Wild Boar King pursued him like a mad beast, crashing through everything in its path, whether it was small trees as thick as a bowl or stones the size of a stool. Its single eye glowed a blood-red, fixated on Shi Hong's father, vowing not to rest until it had gored this man to death.
Upon reaching the village entrance, several hunters in the village were somewhat surprised to see Shi Hong: "Ah Hong, you are going too?" They glanced at Shi Hong's father, who nodded in affirmation: "Yes."
Shi Hong's father was somewhat displeased: "Nonsense!"
The leading hunter shouted anxiously to his father: "Old Shunzi, run, run!"
Hmph, hmph... The wild boar king fixed its gaze on the leading hunter and charged forward violently
Shi Hong's father hurriedly came out, repeatedly bowing and greeting: "Oh, it's the gentleman, please, come in quickly." Naturally, he would not say any polite phrases like 'rare guest' or 'your presence graces this humble abode'; he simply earnestly urged the esteemed guest to enter the house.
The leading hunter let out a loud roar and aimed the spear in his hand directly at the mouth of the wild boar king, thrusting it fiercely.
However, Shi Hong's father was not very articulate; he was even less inclined to speak in front of strangers, which is a common trait among people from the mountains. As a result, he did not know how to convey to others that his child was actually a good worker.
However, a well-proportioned figure does not appear to possess much explosiveness. In the words of the mountain people, he is not a good laborer. Nowadays, Shi Hong has evidently become a "decorative pillow" in the eyes of the mountain folk. This causes great concern for Shi Hong's father, as the mountain people do not value appearance; what matters for a man is his ability to work in the fields.
The wild boar king fell to the ground with a thud, crying out in pain as it lay on its back, its four hooves frantically pounding the ground, creating a thunderous sound akin to a drumbeat
He saw a large-eyed monkey, the size of a domestic cat, hunting locusts, witnessed a large group of ants, the size of yellow beans, constructing an anthill shaped like a chimney over a person's height, observed two newborn cheetahs playing under a tree, and saw a family of white birds, with their necks tucked in and eyes squinted, standing in a row on a branch
Shi Hong was somewhat taken aback; he was well aware that the Zhang family was charging his family extra rent. He understood that this was a deliberate attempt by Zhang Xiucai to make things difficult for him. The so-called "servants" were merely a few hired hands, and without Zhang Xiucai's instructions, they would never dare to act in such a manner. The reason Shi Hong did not confront Zhang Xiucai was that, after all, he was working on their land. The extra amount they charged was not significant, and with Shi Hong's labor, the Shi family was living quite comfortably, not caring about a few extra liters of corn.
Shi Hong intended to return the money to Zhang Xiucai, but the latter insisted on refusing it. In the end, with a glare, he declared that if Shi Hong did not accept it, the Shi family would no longer rent land from the Zhang family. With no other choice, Shi Hong accepted the money, and Zhang Xiucai immediately displayed a beaming smile, as if he had gained a tremendous advantage over Shi Hong.
With a long howl, the wild boar king kicked back fiercely, sending two clumps of soil flying with a whoosh. It charged towards the big tree like a whirlwind, and it seemed that the tree would surely not escape this blow. Suddenly, a person appeared in front of the tree
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Shi Hong is now fifteen years old. At this age in the mountains, he is already considered a late single youth. Recently, Shi Hong's father has been busy arranging a marriage for him
Shi Hong spent the entire day preoccupied with worries, unable to comprehend what was happening. When his parents and younger sister inquired, he responded vaguely, deciding to wait until the evening to see if he was truly dreaming.
Or he should now be called Master Zhang, as his father passed away last year. Zhang Xiucai inherited the family fortune, and once he took possession of the family tree, land deeds, and the keys to the storeroom, he had everyone address him as "Master." The mountain folk did not understand the difference between "Master" and "landlord," and since Zhang Xiucai held considerable esteem in the village, everyone complied with the address.
Ah—" shouted Shi Hong.
The fields in the mountains are scattered, and often a ridge separates two plots of fertile land. When the villagers are working, it is difficult for them to see each other. Even if someone occasionally sees Shi Hong plowing the land, no one would believe that this young man is handling all the work at home by himself
Shi Hong's father was also very surprised and quickly urged Shi Hong: "Ah Hong, hurry and return the money to them." Shi Hong responded with an acknowledgment and turned to chase after them
In these three years, Shi Hong accompanied his father to the county town several times to purchase animal hides, gradually broadening his horizons. To him, this small mountain village felt like shallow water confining a dragon, and sooner or later, he would break free and leave.
Feeling somewhat confused, Shi Hong looked around but could not understand what was happening at all
The other hunters looked at Shi Hong with some suspicion. The hunters wore sleeveless coarse cloth jackets, their shoulders already frayed. Their arms were as solid as pebbles, crisscrossed with scars, the result of years of battling wild beasts
The wild boar king did not even glance, and as it approached, it suddenly slammed its massive head, causing a hunter to scream and be thrown out. A gash about a foot long appeared on his thigh, and blood gushed out.
Shi Hong listened for a moment and immediately understood
With a thud, the spot where it was struck shattered, sending tree bark flying. The leaves of the large tree rustled down. The tree had already tilted somewhat, and the soil at its roots had heaved up.
Another hunter struck the back of the wild boar king with a knife, and with a sharp clang, sparks flew up! The hunter's arms went numb, his bones cracked, and blood flowed freely.
Seeing that he could not escape, Shi Hong's father suddenly jumped up onto a tree as thick as a cow's leg. The wild boar king charged up with a loud roar and crashed violently into the tree.
The leader of the hunters was momentarily taken aback, but the owner of that menacing large head suddenly jumped out from the bushes with a thud, causing the ground beneath several people to tremble.
Scholar Zhang, after all, had studied in a private school in the county, so he possessed some knowledge. At that time, Shi Hong was merely a twelve-year-old child who had never even left this valley, yet he could accurately predict national affairs. Scholar Zhang immediately realized that this child was certainly not an ordinary person
A hunter suddenly pounced from the side, grabbing Shi Hong's waist and knocking him to the ground: "You are crazy, you are not going to help your father, you are going to your death"
Several old hunters were on edge for most of the day, but fortunately, they did not encounter any formidable beasts. They only managed to catch a few wild rabbits and mountain chickens, which hardly constituted a significant harvest, merely serving as a side dish for their drinks
In the east, a pale light appeared, and Shi Hong suddenly felt a surge of pressure. Before he could comprehend it, the sun burst forth with a resounding thud, instantly unleashing a vast and overwhelming force that irresistibly pushed him backward.
Since this discovery, Shi Hong has allowed his soul body to be exposed to the moonlight for an hour every night. Three months ago, he discovered that his soul body faintly emitted a silvery light similar to moonlight. His "flying" speed has increased, and he can see further even in the darkness.
Shi Hong felt somewhat confused; everything that happened in the evening seemed like a dream, appearing somewhat unreal, as if it were an experience shared by two different people. Recalling that interesting episode within himself felt as though someone was telling him a story.
The earth is tranquil, the mountains and fields are asleep, and under the embrace of darkness, various beasts and insects move freely in their own domains. Shi Hong sweeps past them like a gust of wind, and that feeling is incredibly exhilarating
This day passed exceptionally slowly. After a long wait for the sun to set, Shi Hong hastily shoveled in a couple of bites of food and collapsed onto the bed.
... ...
As soon as I entered the house, I heard someone outside shouting loudly: "Is Shi Hong's younger brother at home?"
Ah! The two hunters on either side shouted and charged forward, brandishing their hunting knives
Bang
He originally intended to pay back these debts, but upon reconsideration, he simply took a string of copper coins from the cash box to Shijia, feeling a pang of pain all the way there
Everyone let out a sigh of relief and was about to head back when suddenly a series of snoring sounds came from the bushes. A few hunters showed expressions of joy, and the leading hunter made a gesture. One of the hunters beside him grabbed Shi Hong and retreated to the back.
Father! Shi Hong broke free from the hunter who was holding him and charged fiercely towards the wild boar king. The leading hunter was taken aback and shouted, "Ah Hong, come back, don't go..."
The wild boar king charged forward, regardless of whether it was a person or a tree in its path, sending them flying with a single blow. Shi Hong glanced around, picked up a massive stone the size of a person beside him, and with a roar, charged towards the wild boar king.
The wild boar king, the size of a small elephant, was knocked away with a howl, landing on the ground and rolling several meters away before letting out a grunt, lying still on the ground and no longer moving.
That night, when Shi Hong's soul left his body, he heard a sound of weeping coming from his parents' room. Shi Hong stood in front of his parents' room for a long time, deep in thought.
The remaining hunters, along with Shi Hong's father, gradually dispersed and moved towards the direction of the sound.
He tried to take two steps and discovered that the "soul" was actually much more agile than the body; it could not only run and jump but also fly! Which child has not dreamed of soaring like a bird? With a youthful heart, Shi Hong's initial fear was quickly replaced by curiosity. He joyfully bounced around in the open space in front of his house, jumping over ten meters high, making his home appear small in comparison.
However, after three years, Shi Hong knew very well that the extra corn, which amounted to less than a dou, was certainly not worth this one string of copper coins
The big tree suddenly swayed with the book, and Shi Hong's father, who was holding onto the tree, almost fell down
Shi Hong is well-known in the village for being "frail". The only one who "advocates" for him is his eight-year-old sister, Shi Shan. However, who would believe that a fifteen-year-old boy could take on all the heavy chores at home, especially when this claim comes from the mouth of an eight-year-old girl
With a surge of courage, Shi Hong leaped from the treetop, effortlessly covering a distance of several hundred meters before landing on another large tree. After a few such leaps, he plunged into the forest like a hawk.
In three years, Shi Hong has grown to nearly the same height as his father, with a well-proportioned physique. The labor in the mountains has given him a sun-kissed bronze complexion. However, for some unknown reason, beneath his skin, there seems to be a layer of luster akin to jade, which endows this child raised in the mountains with a rugged beauty, while also adding a touch of delicacy.
The next morning, Shi Hong took a few bites of his meal, put down the bowl, and said to his father: "Father, I would like to go into the mountains with you today." His father, a man of few words and a typical mountain dweller, did not ask much after hearing his son's words. He simply nodded and replied, "Alright."
In the following days, the shadow of war swiftly enveloped the entire Great Xia, and even the small mountain village of Shi Hong was no exception
Despite saying this, once they entered the mountains, the leading hunter still exchanged glances, and several hunters surrounded Shi Hong, clearly fearing that something might truly happen to him, which would extinguish the lineage of the Shi family.
The wild boar king let out a loud roar
"Old Shunzi, is your boy capable?" The hunter, who spoke first, looked at the delicate-skinned Shi Hong with some skepticism. Compared to his father, Shi Shun, who was robust, Shi Hong's physique indeed appeared somewhat frail
The scenery of the mountains and forests rapidly receded, an unbearable pain surged through him, and he felt as if his very soul was about to be torn apart. In almost an instant, he suddenly opened his eyes and realized that he had returned to his body.
His father only nodded affirmatively, saying, "Alright." After finishing his words, he was about to leave, but the leading hunter grabbed him and said, "Old Shunzi, this is not a joke. If anything happens, we won't be able to take care of him..."
As for Shi Hong's younger sister, Shi Shan, although she is only eight years old, she already possesses a charming appearance. Several well-off families in the village have come to propose marriage, but Shi Hong's mother, reluctant to part with her daughter, has not agreed to any of the suitors.
Shi Hong's father stood at a distance, without a second thought, and shot an arrow at the wild boar king.
Shi Hong jumped onto a large tree and looked around. The mountain village lay nestled within a flat valley, shrouded in darkness, with not a single light visible. Strange sounds occasionally echoed from the surrounding peaks.
Puff! Blood splattered everywhere; unexpectedly, this lucky arrow actually shot out one of the Wild Boar King's eyes.
The hunters gasped in astonishment; this was a wild boar king the size of a small elephant
Everyone in the village is on edge, uncertain when the conscription edict will arrive. Even Shi Hong's father has been frowning these past few days. His mother, too, has been secretly shedding tears
Zhang Yuanwai waved his hand in a pretentious manner: "There is no need for you to be so polite, my dear elder. Is Shi Hong's younger brother available?"
In such a mountain village, a single cash coin is undoubtedly a substantial sum; apart from the Zhang family, no other household in the entire village could possibly produce such a large amount of money all at once
Seeing that he still insisted, the leader of the group, a hunter, shook his head and said: "If you don't listen, don't blame me when something goes wrong"
The people in the mountains are robust, characterized by their simplicity and honesty, and they adhere to military discipline, making them a sought-after source of soldiers
As the sun began to set in the west, the blood-red glow of the sunset filled half the sky. The leading hunter waved his hand and said, "Let's call it a day; it's time for us to head back."
He has seen the fastest wolf running in the mountains, and Shi Hong dares to bet that the speed of his own soul is definitely several times that of that wolf
The news only reached the county town this morning, and by noon, Mr. Zhang was already aware of it. The first thing he did was to quickly pull out the account book and recheck the accounts of the Shi family. After that, he let out a slight sigh of relief: fortunately, he had not been too ruthless.
In the stillness of the night, Shi Hong suddenly sat up in bed with a call, and upon turning his head, he saw his own body peacefully sleeping on the bed. He couldn't help but reveal a faint smile
This beast is the one that hunters least wish to encounter; it has tough skin and thick flesh, possesses immense strength, and is exceedingly brutal, completely devoid of fear. Even a stone would be charged at head-on.
The leading hunter shouted, "Ah Hong!" The other hunters turned their heads away, unable to bear the scene any longer
Moreover, ever since Shi Hong clashed with Scholar Zhang three years ago, the Zhang family has been making things difficult for the Shi family both openly and covertly. The villagers have witnessed this, and no one is willing to marry their daughters into the Shi family, fearing that the Shi family will face further difficulties and that their own families will also be implicated.
With a swing of his arm, Shi Hong surprisingly threw the hunter aside, who was unable to restrain him. Shi Hong then got back up and charged towards the Wild Boar King again
The wild boar king staggered back four or five steps after being struck, yet remained undeterred. Shaking its head, it suddenly charged forward again, crashing violently into a large tree.
Therefore, hurry to mend the relationship with Shi Jia. Although spending this consistent amount of copper coins is painful, in his view, it is worth the expense.
Along the way, his father reminded Shi Hong with a phrase: "Be careful, if it doesn't work out, you should run first"
What puzzled him was that despite not having slept all night... his soul had not rested, yet his spirits were exceptionally high, and it seemed as though there was an inexhaustible strength within his body
Shi Hong chased after and happened to see Zhang Xiucai sitting on the large millstone at the village entrance, chatting idly with the villagers
Shi Hong was taken aback. Ever since he refuted Scholar Zhang's remarks, this fellow had been scrutinizing his family with a critical eye. What was going on today?
The skin glows with a purplish hue, and two sharp fangs extend from its mouth. Its stout, short limbs resemble pillars.
Suddenly, the wild boar king leaped up with all its might, its remaining single eye fixed intently on Shi Hong's father
Hmph
Shi Hong is not worried at all. Ever since he was struck by lightning at the age of twelve, for the past three years, he has been leaving his body every night to play in the surrounding mountains. Not only has his strength increased, but he has also become increasingly intelligent
... ...
He left the house, floated into the sky, and stretched his "body," trying to maximize the contact of his body with the bright moonlight. A year and a half ago, Shi Hong inadvertently discovered that his soul and body could be "tempered" under the moonlight, allowing his spirit to become more "robust." When the sun rises, the immense tearing force and the resulting pain would be alleviated.
The wild boar king let out a strange cry, biting down on the spear. Its thick neck swung its massive head sharply to one side, producing a crisp cracking sound, and astonishingly, it bit the spear in half with sheer force