Chapter 1, Deep in the Dense Forest
At this moment, Ding Hao had already begun to consider whether he needed to move closer for observation, but this thought was immediately dismissed. He recalled the consequences of being discovered by that monster; just by its appearance, it was evident that the creature was ferocious and absolutely bloodthirsty. Glancing at its thick scales, Ding Hao started to doubt whether his bow and arrows could inflict any damage on it. Moreover, its mountain-like size further diminished Ding Hao's confidence in his own strength, not to mention that it was also highly venomous
The monster seemed unsated, its dark purple eyes darting around as if searching for its next prey
In the span of a breath, the tiger roared past the tree where Ding Hao was hiding, and at that moment, Ding Hao finally discerned what kind of animal was pursuing it
Ding Hao had no idea what in the forest could instill such fear in the tiger. As the sound drew closer, Ding Hao concluded that the tiger was doomed, and astonishingly, it was running even faster than the tiger!
After a moment's hesitation, when Ding Hao looked at the monster again, he discovered that one-third of the tiger had already been consumed. The speed at which the monster devoured its prey made Ding Hao question whether it swallowed without chewing. However, the next moment, as the monster bit through the tiger's neck, all of Ding Hao's doubts were immediately dispelled, and he no longer dared to question the sharpness of its teeth
Years of hunting experience led Ding Hao to feel that something unusual was bound to happen. His footsteps gradually slowed down, and along the way, small and gentle animals became increasingly scarce. What caught his eye were carnivorous animals such as wild boars, lone wolves, and leopards—creatures that were not often seen but kept appearing in his line of sight. Ding Hao deliberately concealed himself, ensuring that he did not attract the attention of these animals along the way.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his ears as he ran, growing louder and closer.
However, this forest has not given any hunter the opportunity to realize this dream
Without any warning, a sharp, high-pitched bird call suddenly rang in Ding Hao's ear. The monster's dark purple eyes flashed, and it began to frantically retreat along the path it had come from
It drew closer, and behind it was a larger whirlwind, mixed with dust and leaves, making it difficult to see clearly
Thus, Zhang Cheng carried Ding Hao home. In the following days, Zhang Cheng would hold Ding Hao every morning, waiting for his parents. However, he never noticed his parents coming to find him. Zhang Cheng adopted him, calling him Ding Hao by the name on the jade tablet, and taught him hunting skills, until Ding Hao was thirteen years old, when Zhang Cheng was killed by a tiger in the forest
Standing on the tree, illuminated by the moonlight, Ding Hao's vision became broader. With the arrival of this gigantic beast, a whirlwind swept across the ground, its multicolored fur appearing like a phantom.
However, these two points can no longer be constraints on him. As he hunts down the most dangerous tigers, Ding Hao no longer feels threatened by anything. On the other hand, due to his tireless hunting, he has exchanged the mountain of accumulated prey for a sufficient amount of silver for the villagers. The villagers' lives have greatly improved over the past few years, and they no longer have to worry about their livelihoods.
It is a tiger! Ding Hao squinted his eyes, a glimmer of cold light flashed by. Years of experience allowed him to quickly determine that it was the sound of a tiger running. However, it was strange that he only heard the sound of the tiger's movement and not the sounds of other animals running or any signs of struggle. Normally, if a tiger were hunting, based on the sound of running and its direction, he would not be able to miss the sounds of the prey fleeing. Ding Hao was absolutely confident about this.
The bamboo basket appeared to be hastily woven, with the bamboo tips left unpolished. Zhang Cheng feared that those sharp tips might prick the baby. After a brief hesitation, he held the baby in his arms. The baby was wrapped in a large red belly band, and around its neck hung a piece of emerald jade with the characters "Ding Hao" engraved on it.
In one hour, the sky will be completely dark. Every inch of land in the summer forest seems to be baked by the scorching sun as if it is about to melt.
It resembles a monstrous creature lying in wait, with its enormous mouth wide open, continuously devouring one exceptional hunter after another
He gasped in shock, and at that moment, he began to feel grateful for his earlier decisiveness in climbing the tree! Before him appeared a creature that was neither a python nor a snake, with two horns on its head and two wings on its back. This monster had dark purple eyes the size of fists, measured about 8 meters in length, and had a body as thick as a barrel, covered in thick scales. Its wide-open mouth revealed several rows of conical teeth, and just by looking at their hardness, Ding Hao had no doubt about its immense lethality
Yet he believes that this forest indeed holds some mysteries, and he is also convinced that one day he will completely conquer it, which is the dream of every hunter in the mountains and villages
Instinctively, he spotted the tallest tree with a quick glance and climbed up with the agility of a wild monkey. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, as other animals, apart from those capable of flight, posed little threat to him.
This monster, of course, would not know that there were other prey atop the towering tree. It rushed past Ding Hao and the books, but in its movement, it created a whirlwind. The whirlwind stirred up dead branches and soil, momentarily blurring Ding Hao's vision.
With prominent brows and large eyes, every corner of the square face is sharply defined. Although only eighteen years old, he is already imbued with the masculine beauty of a man.
Although the monster was still several meters away, the stench from its mouth was already overwhelming. Ding Hao felt a slight heaviness in his chest from just a whiff and immediately held his breath, secretly feeling fortunate. He had not expected that the odor from its mouth could be so toxic.
Two years ago, when Ding Hao returned to the village carrying a tiger on his back, he further proved this point. Standing nearly 1.9 meters tall, every muscle in his body was filled with explosive strength, and in terms of speed and power, there was no one in the village who could match him
In the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the tiger has been completely devoured, leaving only tattered pieces of its skin and scattered bones on the ground
After Ding Hao became sensible, he no longer believed the words of the village elders, nor did he think that there were any deities or ghosts deep within the forest
If it is not hunting, then what could cause the tiger to run at full speed? Ding Hao felt a bit puzzled. While he was in doubt, another sound appeared in his ear; it was a sound of skin rubbing against the ground. Is it a snake? It doesn't seem like it; the friction of a python is not this great. What could it be? Ding Hao could not determine, but this sound led him to another astonishing conclusion—this tiger is running for its life! It is evading an animal behind it!
The tiger is approximately 3 meters long, with a tail measuring about 1 meter. Given its weight of around 300 kilograms, it is evident that this is a male adult tiger. At this moment, however, it is running wildly—not in pursuit of prey, but merely to escape for its survival! Now, along with *Tu* and Ding Hao, I am even more curious about what animal is actually chasing it.
The Black Wind Forest is the name given to this area by the villagers. In this forest, everything grows larger than in other places, including both animals and plants
When Ding Hao was very young, he heard the elders in the village say that if you misbehave and do bad things, you will be sent to the Black Wind Forest
There are actually things that can scare it! Ding Hao suddenly froze!
Ding Hao quickly reached the conclusion that this object was absolutely beyond his ability to handle, and remaining in place was undoubtedly the wisest course of action at this moment
Zhang Chengyuan initially thought that Ding Hao's parents were nearby, just temporarily away due to some matters. Therefore, he stayed there with Ding Hao, waiting for his parents to come looking for him. However, by nightfall, he had not seen a single person.
At this moment, a mournful roar of a tiger announced the end of the chase. Ding Hao turned to look in the direction of the sound and discovered that the tiger had silently collapsed. Just by observing the unnatural distortion of the tiger's body, Ding Hao could be certain that a living tiger could never assume such a position.
The vast branches and leaves of the towering tree are lush, and deep within the forest, a chilling wind blows year-round, creating a somber atmosphere where even the sounds of insects are much weaker than in other places
At this moment, Ding Hao began to consider his own safety; an animal that could make even a tiger flee for its life was certainly not something he could easily handle
It has been two hours since we set out, and the sun in the sky has long since transformed into a crescent moon. With the aid of the moonlight, Ding Hao's vision is not significantly affected. The sound of insects has grown increasingly faint, barely audible, creating an oddly silent atmosphere.
Ding Hao continued to advance deeper into the forest. It is said that no hunter has ever reached the end of this forest. Legends speak of deities and spirits lurking in the depths of this forest, and even the most astute and powerful hunters cannot truly conquer it completely.
Ding Hao was discovered in the forest by the old hunter Zhang Cheng. Zhang Cheng had originally shot a few deer and was preparing to return to the village when he came across the still infant Ding Hao. In the simple bamboo basket, Ding Hao neither cried nor made a fuss, but looked at Zhang Cheng with his bright, dark eyes.
The children in the mountains mature quickly. From a young age, Ding Hao accompanied Zhang Cheng to hunt in the forest. In hunting, Ding Hao displayed remarkable talent, intelligence, resilience, bravery, and composure; he seemed to possess the qualities of a hunter by nature. Moreover, his mastery of hunting skills far surpassed that of his peers. All the hunters in the village believed that Ding Hao would undoubtedly become the most outstanding hunter in Shanhhe Village when he grew up.
Checking the three-tube arrows on his back and the bow that had accompanied him for five years, he drew out the fine hunting knife he had just purchased. Ding Hao finally ceased to be melancholic and took the most crucial step of his life
Ding Hao could no longer remember how many times he had come here. This area was already far from the village, and if he did not return to the village now, he would not be able to return today. Furthermore, if he continued forward, he would be entering a forest that was entirely unfamiliar to him, a place that was the most legendary within the Black Wind Forest, as well as the most dangerous and mysterious.
The sound of insects has completely ceased, and the silence is somewhat astonishing. Ding Hao's footsteps have become increasingly slow, and the creaking noise made by stepping on the thick layer of decayed leaves is exceptionally piercing in the quiet forest
On many previous occasions, he had stopped his exploration here, partly because he felt he had not yet become the best hunter in Shanhhe Village and was not fully prepared. On the other hand, he still had concerns in his heart, feeling that he had not completely repaid the villagers of Shanhhe Village for their nurturing kindness towards him