Chapter 9, Hunting
Liang Bo, it is nothing. Just a small scar. Let this be a lesson; one day, I will repay it.
At this moment, she was already feeling quite full, her stomach slightly bulging, yet she continued to eat, tears in her eyes flowing uncontrollably
The old steward felt a deep sense of guilt towards the deceased master and mistress, so heartbroken that he could not even speak.
Yang Ji felt a twitch in his eyelid, sensing a tremendous danger. If he did not act quickly to rescue her, this woman would undoubtedly die
"Fortune does not come in pairs, and misfortune does not come alone. I wrote a couplet, but I did not expect it to come true in my own life. Time is short, and I must find a way to quickly gather money for the winter."
In Yang Ji's mind, a multitude of thoughts flashed through instantaneously, his gaze brightening as he vaguely contemplated something
The matriarch sat in the high hall, her gaze as cold as a venomous snake. "Remember this whip; it serves as a lesson for your disrespect towards your elders and your transgression against authority"
Yang Ji's only advantage now is that the peculiar "Star Iron" has altered his constitution, allowing him to stand on the same starting line as the other disciples of the clans.
One arrow after another, Yang Ji continuously shot the arrows out. These arrows required immense effort, and each time left his arms sore. An ordinary person might have grown weary long ago, or at least felt some irritation, but Yang Ji did not. His gaze remained calm, and his wrist was consistently steady.
Haha! Good! Good!
The responses were mostly like this. After visiting more than ten shops in a row, Yang Ji had not sold a single couplet. It seemed that overnight, all the stores began to shut their doors to Yang Ji, and their attitudes were very cold. In fact, in some shops, as soon as Yang Ji appeared at the entrance, the other party hurriedly waved their hands to indicate they were not interested.
Leaving the Discipline Hall, Yang Ji spotted the old steward among the crowd. As soon as the old man saw the bloody whip mark on Yang Ji's back, he could not help but shed tears
The depths of the mountains are fraught with dangers, and not just anyone can wander in carelessly
I apologize, young man, but we have enough stock.
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "This is the fox fur hunted in the mountains. Winter is approaching, and these animals are starting to shed their fur. Whether it is foxes or rabbits, they are all pure white. The young ladies and gentlemen in the city are very fond of them, and they sell quite well. If you can catch some as well, I will buy them from you too... Of course, you must not let your madam know."
No, it's too exhausting. I also need to send a message.
This is the wickedness of the lady
Yang Ji was taken aback, and at a glance, he saw the girl's bare ankles, marked by two deep snakebite impressions.
The shopkeeper spoke, but it was mostly in jest. Yang Ji, who was refined and cultured, writing couplets with a brush, found it difficult to relate to those hunters from the mountains.
Yang Jiyi gritted his teeth, disregarding everything else, and hurriedly ran towards the direction from which the sound was coming.
After Yang Ji left, the matriarch propped herself up with both hands and stood up
Although he had long sensed that someone was targeting him, he only thought it was a competitor; he never expected it to be the madam, whose reach was surprisingly extensive
The sound of the bowstring vibrating with a humming noise, a long arrow shot out with a whoosh, flying past another large tree branch more than three steps away, disappearing without a trace
I sincerely apologize, but our store no longer requires couplets
However, when Yang Ji walked into those few shops as he did yesterday, an unexpected event occurred
The journey was fraught with surprises but no dangers. Deep in the mountains, Yang Ji finally located the source of the cries for help. In the grass, a girl in a yellow hunting outfit lay on the ground, her body bruised and darkened, and she had fainted in just a short while.
Yang Ji's expression suddenly changed
After the lady left, the young girl finally burst into tears, crying and continuously vomiting.
You may want to look elsewhere
... ...
Yang Ji pulled the ironwood longbow to its full moon shape with both hands, carefully contemplating the techniques of archery
Yang Ji felt a mix of urgency and anger in his heart
Hunting
Hunting requires considerable strength; whether drawing a bow or releasing an arrow, the demand is the same. An ordinary person, after shooting just a few arrows, will experience numbness in the arm and overall weakness, necessitating a long rest before being able to shoot again
"Shopkeeper, what is that thing?"
Yang Ji turned and walked away. Just as he crossed the threshold, his gaze suddenly swept over something in front of the grain and oil store, stirring his heart, and he stopped.
Drive! And books
After sucking for more than thirty times, Yang Ji was drenched in sweat. Upon seeing that the blood he spat out had noticeably lightened in color, he finally managed to catch his breath a little
One day, I will enter openly and justly
The lady said this and then stepped forward to leave
Yang Ji felt a deep resentment in his heart, and then turned around and left without looking back
Wow
Yang Ji clenched his head tightly and turned to walk towards the vast and dense mountains in another direction, which in the large clan was referred to as the "wild area"
Her face resembled eternal ice, exuding a chilling aura
What a strong toxicity
Hunting requires a high level of accuracy. I have never shot an arrow before and need to practice first
With a glance, Yang Ji aimed at a large tree ahead.
Yang Ji sneered in anger, glancing at a nearby martial arts guard who was slowly coiling up a bloodied whip
Yang Ji's gaze grew increasingly bright; at this moment, he finally understood what he needed to do
Fortunately, I have managed to grasp the fundamentals of drawing the bow and arrow. My accuracy has also improved somewhat
Yang Ji felt a heavy weight in his heart, sensing that the future was shrouded in darkness
Whoosh
Madam, I can no longer dare, I can no longer dare...
As she lifted a roll-up curtain and entered the back of the Hall of Discipline, the "Madam" suddenly stopped in her tracks upon passing a kneeling young girl
The eerie silence in the hall of discipline
The matriarch coldly dropped this remark, turned around, and left, leaving behind three clan elders with ashen faces.
Hehe, young man, I will not hide it from you. You are a disciple of the Yang clan, aren't you? Yesterday, your matriarch sent someone over. She said that we are prohibited from purchasing your couplets, and there is nothing we can do about it
Yang Ji nodded and silently regained his strength under the tree. At that moment, Yang Ji's ears suddenly twitched, and he seemed to hear a faint sound of a woman's moan carried by the wind.
This woman is sincerely intent on cutting off all my avenues for survival
One wishes to maintain appearances while also wanting to indulge, but where in the world can one find such a good deal? Since one does not wish to join in, then the 'Longevity Pill' from the beginning should not be taken!
Yang Ji comforted the old steward, disregarding the cold sarcasm and the scrutinizing gazes of the onlookers, and returned to his residence
The whip is specially made, with barbs that prevent the skin from healing in a short period. Yang Ji applied some medicine, but the pain did not diminish at all
Not far from her, a venomous snake with a triangular head lay motionless, severed in two.
Madam, thank you for your generous gift; this whip, Yang Ji will remember!
Oh, you mean this!
It is imperative to quickly help her extract the poisoned blood
What? My lady
There is always a way out for those in despair; I refuse to believe that a living person can be brought down by just a few coins
"Selling couplets" was an idea he came up with, a way to earn enough tribute money in a short period. The madam cutting off this avenue for him was equivalent to choking off his lifeline
Emerging from the Hall of Precepts, Yang Ji felt a tumult of emotions within. Although the sky was not particularly bright, it seemed exceedingly glaring at that moment.
Yang Ji pointed to a snow-white fox fur in front of the grain and oil store
In the grain and oil shop, nothing else is easily sold; apart from Yang Ji's calligraphy and couplets, this fox fur is the most special.
Yang Ji did not even glance at the bloody wound on his back, allowing the blood to flow down freely.
Yang Ji finally could not help but exclaim loudly
One day, I will return it
Ah, I can't worry about so much anymore. A man should be resolute; what does it matter to hesitate and look back? It's better to go and take a look first
In the blink of an eye, half a quiver of arrows was shot out, and Yang Ji's arms went numb, unable to lift even a little.
Now, this matter can finally be considered resolved
Although writing couplets is arduous, it is the only thing he can do at present. Yang Ji is preparing to sell a few more couplets, just like yesterday
He only sold the couplets yesterday, and today this woman has ordered all the shops in the market to prohibit the sale of his items
... ...
The great figure who had accompanied her since childhood and whom she regarded as family is now reduced to mere remnants scattered on the ground. As she watches the fragments being expelled from her own body, the girl feels as if she is on the brink of collapse
In the end, it was the owner of a grain and oil shop who spoke the truth, wearing an expression of helplessness
This young girl, around sixteen or seventeen years old, possesses an exquisite and ethereal beauty. At this moment, she is half-kneeling on the ground, holding a pair of chopsticks in one hand and a large bowl in the other, which contains a fragrant and visually appealing dish of spicy stir-fried meat, eating while shedding tears
Yang Ji walked under the trees, where everywhere was covered with dry branches and fallen leaves, forming a thick layer that was permeated with a decaying odor
After collecting eight wen from selling couplets on the street, Yang Ji entered a bow shop. He selected a large ironwood bow made of cow tendons. This type of bow has great flexibility and an extensive range, making it unsuitable for ordinary people to draw.
Yang Ji shook his head and walked over to pick up the misfired arrow
The accuracy is too poor and requires more practice
If we do not sell couplets, how can we endure this biting cold winter
This is his only glimmer of hope
Before leaving, Yang Ji spent another two copper coins to buy more than twenty arrows, and only then did he depart from the archery shop
Shopkeeper, just speak plainly. What exactly is going on
However, Yang Ji is different. After reaching the sixth stage of breathing, his strength and stamina have greatly increased, far surpassing that of an ordinary person. While others may struggle to draw a bow, Yang Ji will certainly succeed.
Collapse
This direction ... ... is deep within the mountains
The mountain is filled with tall and dense trees, and the thick forest does not completely shed its leaves even in winter
... ...
Yang Ji gave a self-deprecating smile, moved his body a bit, and felt that his injuries did not significantly affect his mobility. Gritting his teeth, he shouldered his pack and departed.
From the ankle upwards, her entire leg had turned black, and the poison was spreading throughout her body at a visibly rapid pace
Buzz
Yang Ji clenched his fist, silently swearing that he would break through to the martial arts realm before turning sixteen
The girl cried out loudly, her voice hoarse and exhausted
Although Yang Ji is a disciple of the Yang clan, he has never had the qualification to enter there
As he walked onto the street, a sudden thunderous shout rang out, a fierce wind rushed towards him, and a spirited horse galloped by with its hooves flying. On the horse was a young man, full of vigor, dressed in complete hunting attire, followed closely by a robust hunting dog that sped past Yang Ji.
This is snake venom
Yang Ji clearly discerned the direction from which the sound was coming, and his expression slightly changed.
Every winter at this time, the various clans in Pingchuan County begin to enter their respective exclusive hunting grounds for competitive hunting
Yang Jizhun intends to use it to strengthen the tendons and skin of his entire body, enhancing his strength during the hunting process
More than half a year, how fleeting it is
Yang Jilai had no time to think carefully, quickly bending down and getting close to the girl's ankle, sucking vigorously, inhaling and exhaling, the blood was all black, resembling ink.
... ...
Yang Ji felt indignant, yet it also ignited the pride within him and the inherent spirit of nonconformity.
Once again, an arrow was shot out; this time the aim was somewhat better, yet it still fell significantly short.
Yang Ji squinted his eyes and recognized it
Yang Ji leaned against a large tree that could be embraced by two people, panting as he sat down. His strength was already considerable, but he could not endure such frequent archery.
is a disciple of Winter Hunting
Sixteen years old, sixteen years old... Achieving the martial arts realm is no easy feat. I fear that even those outstanding disciples in the clan, who have daily access to the training resources provided by the clan, cannot confidently claim they will definitely break through to the martial arts realm. Moreover, I have only reached the sixth stage of breathing.
Yang Ji was taken aback and immediately stood up. He had always thought he was the only person here, so hearing the cry for help was inevitably surprising.
He does not have many arrows on him, and each one was purchased with money, so they must be used to their fullest potential
This time it's just a small lesson for you. Focus on doing your own tasks well. If there is a next time, it won't be as simple as letting you eat the cat you've raised since childhood. I won't always be so benevolent!
However, Yang Ji did not think so. Upon hearing the shopkeeper's words, he suddenly felt invigorated.
The grocery store typically does not sell other items unless there is a substantial profit to be made. I earn only a copper coin from selling a pair of couplets, while a fox fur might fetch me seven or eight times, or even more than ten times that amount. Moreover, although I have reached the sixth stage of breathing, my tendons and ligaments are still quite loose. Practicing archery can strengthen the muscles and skin throughout my body, preparing me for future martial arts training.
However, no matter what, I will never allow you to succeed. Perhaps one day, I will leave the clan, but it will certainly not be in this manner
This sound... seems like someone has been injured
At this moment, the girl's complexion improved somewhat, yet she remained in a deep unconscious state