Chapter 5, the moment of lethal intent arrived suddenly
Zhang Fang glanced sideways at Qing Yan, who shyly turned her head away. Zhang Fang smiled and said, "This test is quite good, alright, I will give it a try"
Han Chong's mouth opened wide: "I... I haven't had the chance to shout out yet!"
Only Han Chong scratched his head, feeling a bit confused: My eyes have been fixed on the trap, when have I ever looked at that arrow
Han Chongze, being straightforward and unceremonious, hurriedly grabbed two, disregarding the scalding heat, and after peeling them for just a moment, tossed them into his mouth. The crunching sound indicated that he probably chewed the shells to bits before swallowing them
One of the innate instincts of a psychologist is to observe the eyes of their subjects at all times and in all places. Even the most skilled at concealing their inner thoughts will have their eyes reveal some valuable information. Han Chong is merely a straightforward youth; how could he hide his emotions? He had intended to point out the location of the trap to Zhang Fang, and his eyes had already betrayed the specific location. With just a brief glance, Zhang Fang was able to determine a general area based on the angle, direction, and duration of Han Chong's gaze, allowing him to approach with ease. Under careful observation, he indeed discovered that one of the trees bore a carved arrow, indicating the direction right beneath his feet.
Zhang Fang then quietly peeled the shells of the two bird eggs and consumed them entirely. With something in his stomach, he somewhat regained his strength. He clapped his hands, stood up, and said to Han Jun: "No matter who you intend to leave it for, I suggest you eat it. There will be more food—do you really think I only have two hundred copper coins?"
Zhang was startled and was about to ask what was the matter, but in that instant, he caught a glimpse of a murderous intent in the eyes of the thin man. At the same time, the cloth bag had been untied, and it turned out to be a knife.
Qing Yan bit her lip and let out a soft hum, so it is like this, merely a matter of being bold, meticulous, and having keen eyesight
Han Jun only ate one, while the other was tucked into his pocket
Zhang Fang looked at the serious expressions of the Han brothers and felt a sense of emotion in his heart. The children of the poor mature early; this fact will not change even after two thousand years
Han Jun uneasily said: "Young master..."
The surface of the trap was intact, so naturally, there would be no prey caught. However, at this moment, the disappointment of the Han brothers had completely been replaced by curiosity, and Han Chong could no longer hold back and asked: "How did the young lord see through it?"
"You did not tell me with your voice, but with your eyes," Zhang Fang said
On the left stood a thin, yellow-skinned man, clutching a narrow cloth bag, who forced a smile and cupped his hands in greeting to Zhang: "You must be the young master Zhang from Chang'an, indeed... this... is truly remarkable." This rough man had a limited vocabulary and clearly struggled to find the words to describe such a beautiful youth, stammering for quite some time before finally managing to utter a sentence.
When they arrived at the first trap, Han Chong was about to point it out to Zhang Fang, but he was stopped by Qing Yan, who smiled and said, "Young master, having read countless books and possessing extraordinary wisdom, you must surely be able to discern where the trap lies, so there is no need for you to meddle."
The Han brothers breathed a sigh of relief, their previously dark and yellowish faces surprisingly turning a bit pale as they hurriedly walked over. Han Jun casually picked up a broken piece of wood, carefully brushing away the leaves and loose soil, revealing a net woven from fine vines. Lifting the vine net, he uncovered a deep pit measuring approximately 1.5 meters in length and width.
Next, let us examine the other two locations. The three traps are all quite cleverly arranged; however, unfortunately, there were no gains to be had
By the way, Zhang Fangzheng was about to take a step when he seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, "There isn't anything lethal in the trap, is there?"
And stop! The words were still in my throat, not yet rolled to the tip of my tongue—when I saw Zhang Fang seemingly naturally lift his foot, about to step down, but suddenly withdrew it while turning back with a smile: "This is the place."
The traps set by the Han brothers are located at the junction of the inner and outer edges of Gyro Mountain, and only in this area is there a possibility of striking luck. There are three traps in total, spaced a hundred zhang apart, and their surfaces are covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, which are well camouflaged. Not to mention birds and beasts, even humans would find it difficult to notice them.
Seeing the three of them looking dejected, Zhang Fang consoled them, saying: "It is of no concern, Elder Han and your elder brother are likely to have anticipated such a situation and may very well bring back some meat."
Zhang Fang peered out from the dappled light filtering through the tree canopy. The pit was over three meters deep, and at the bottom, a dozen sharp wooden stakes, each more than a foot long, jutted out like the jagged teeth of a shark's open mouth. It was not difficult to imagine the consequences of falling into this trap
The Han brothers are all young, using self-made soft bows and primitive bone arrows. They can hunt small birds and beasts, but they would never dare to approach larger wild animals. Therefore, their hunting range is limited to the outskirts of Gyro Mountain. The residents of Qingxi Village and nearby settlements also hunt in these areas on a daily basis, but those with long-haired, hairy feet basically have no success. Given that hunting occurs in such a repeatedly sifted area, one can imagine what kind of harvest can be expected. The residents of Qingxi Village and nearby settlements also hunt in these areas on a daily basis, but those with long-haired, hairy feet basically have no success. Given that hunting occurs in such a repeatedly sifted area, one can imagine what kind of harvest can be expected
Zhang Fang raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips: "Is it so challenging? Good, that makes it more interesting"
Qingyan's柳眉 stood upright, ready to scold in anger. As the words reached her lips, she paused to clearly see the visitor, and hurriedly changed her tone to a low and hurried voice: "What I said earlier was about these two people..."
A casual remark from a man reveals a wealth of information
The hemp shoes crunched on the thick layer of dead branches and decayed leaves, the sound of snapping twigs echoing incessantly with each step, leaving a clear footprint behind. Three pairs of eyes followed Zhang Fang's advancing steps, growing wider and wider. Just over twenty meters away from the three, seeing Zhang Fang seemingly unfazed and continuing to move forward, they could no longer contain themselves and simultaneously opened their mouths.
Zhang Fang smiled as he looked on. Two thousand years later, going out for a picnic is still done this way; it seems that this technology is truly something that has transcended a millennium
Han Jun gently shook his head, forced a smile, and remained silent
The area surrounding Tuo Luo Mountain spans several dozen miles, with a dense cluster of peaks. The main peak rises several hundred zhang, piercing the clouds, and many places are rarely visited by humans, teeming with wild beasts and venomous insects. The settlements near Qingxi are all situated on the outskirts of Tuo Luo Mountain. As for the depths of the mountain, it is essentially uninhabited by anyone.
This was precisely what Qingyan wanted to ask, but since she was the one who initiated the matter, it was difficult for her to speak up. She turned her gaze elsewhere, yet her ears were perked up.
After a day of fruitless searching, their stomachs grumbled from hunger, having long since digested the meager porridge and bitter greens they had in the morning. Ultimately, it was Qingyan who utilized her strengths, scanning the surroundings attentively. After a short while, she nimbly climbed a tall tree and discovered a nest of bird eggs. One of the Han brothers used a fire starter to ignite a fire, while the other built a mud stove. Once the earth was heated, they placed the bird eggs in between and covered them with hot soil. In no time, they used branches to clear away the scorching mud stove, and the steaming cooked bird eggs were ready.
As Zhang Fang took a step forward, Qing Yan's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but hesitated. In that moment of hesitation, all she could see was Zhang Fang's back.
There are only seven bird eggs, to be divided among four people, with one person receiving only one egg
There were no gains; the Han brothers and Qingyan had lost all interest. Zhang Fang's fall was inconsequential, merely regarded as a hike up a mountain. However, this body, just beginning to mature, accustomed to a life of comfort, was evidently incomparable to the physiques of later generations. After less than an hour on the mountain path, I was exhausted, my whole body aching, and my legs felt as if they were filled with lead. It seems I must find an opportunity to train properly.
Han Jun nodded and smiled knowingly
Zhang Fang smiled faintly: "It was you who told me."
Just after exiting the forest, having walked along the path for a while, two individuals suddenly emerged from behind two large trees, blocking the way and startling the four people.
Zhang Fang cupped his hands in salute, smiling: "Do you two have something to discuss with me?"
Young Master Zhang of Chang'an? Zhang Fang was taken aback; what a coincidence that the original owner of this body also shares the surname Zhang? ... Well, this is not surprising, as Zhang is indeed a prominent surname, and the probability of sharing the same surname is quite high ...! ... Chang'an! Indeed, this elegantly dressed, wealthy young man with carriages and servants must have an extraordinary background, coming from the imperial capital of the Han Dynasty, Chang'an!
The Han brothers exclaimed in unison: "There are wooden spikes!"
Rather than saying that the Han brothers went hunting in the mountains, it is more accurate to say they went to check the "harvest"—the yield from their traps
The matters related to psychological observation are too complex to explain; even the Han brothers and Qingyan may not fully comprehend them. Therefore, Zhang Fang chose to remain silent, merely gesturing towards the arrowhead on the tree trunk.
In the mountains and fields without clocks or hourglasses, the passage of time is entirely based on feeling. Estimating that it is nearly noon, the four individuals prepare to descend the mountain and return home
Qing Yan was the first to pick one up, blowing on it as she said, "My appetite is the smallest, one is enough." After saying this, she walked away on her own, leaning against an old tree, carefully peeling the shell and savoring it slowly.
The eyes of the two men immediately focused on Zhang Fang—despite wearing the same coarse linen clothing, his handsome and striking appearance was truly eye-catching. It is not just a matter of blending in among four people; even if there were forty or four hundred, anyone would naturally gravitate towards him at first glance
Under the astonished gaze of the Han brothers and Qing Yan, Zhang Fang walked leisurely with his hands behind his back, his posture upright, not glancing around, nor displaying the slightest hint of caution, as if he were strolling in his own backyard
Han Chong shook his head: "That requires money, it's different"
Zhang Fang nodded slightly and took two steps forward. Since the other party was coming for him, he decided to handle the situation himself. Thanks to Qing Yan's previous hint, Zhang Fang deliberately sniffed with his nose and indeed, a faint briny smell, barely perceptible, emanated from the two burly men.
The slender man stepped forward, simultaneously untying the cloth bag, his eyes fixed on Zhang Fang, nodding slightly: "Indeed, there is a matter at hand, and it is a matter of life and death."