"Tianyuan Martial Hall?"
Walking out of the tent, Chen Sanshi recalled the conversation just now.
If the Tianyuan Martial Hall was involved in tripping him up, then this was clearly Qin Feng's doing.
For him to get the young master of Tianyuan Martial Hall to act on his behalf—it meant their relationship wasn't simple. Could it be that he had even obtained some true martial teachings?
Also, the fact that the Hundred-Household asked whether he had any grudge with the Liang family—was he planning to help him?
Wang Zhi's sudden change in attitude had been unexpected, but thinking carefully, it made sense.
Most likely, it was because Chen Sanshi had become valuable.
Still, Chen Sanshi didn't take it too seriously.
That was just how human relationships worked—you help me, I help you.
Without family or blood ties, how could there be pure sincerity in such a world?
That was exactly why Chen Sanshi didn't fully rely on Wang Zhi to solve his problem. The right path was to focus on cultivating and strengthening himself.
When he returned to the training field, everyone looked at him in disbelief.
"Shitou, how did you even do it?"
Zhu Tong exclaimed, full of admiration. "I just saw Song Yan's second uncle. When he heard what happened, his face turned green with rage!"
"…"
Chen Sanshi was speechless.
Another one offended.
But he didn't care anymore. He couldn't just shrink back out of fear of offending others.
"I'm heading home for a bit."
Without chatting further, Chen Sanshi packed his things and left the camp.
Eating at the restaurant every day wasn't cost-effective; it was better to buy meat and cook at home.
A few hours after he left, word spread through the entire Poyang Left Army Thousand-Household Division—someone had mastered spear techniques overnight without even learning the breathing method first.
Many new recruits who had once dreamed of earning the "Elite Selection" slot completely lost heart. Most gave up on that dream and decided to aim only for the level of martial soldier.
It wasn't until two days later that others began training in spearwork one after another.
Among them, the fastest learner was naturally Song Yan.
By the third day, with the help of his breathing technique, he finally learned the spear form—but his mood was still miserable.
"Second Uncle, I can't beat Chen Sanshi."
In a spacious courtyard house, Song Yan lowered his head, his tone gloomy.
"Even if you can't beat him, you still must compete!"
Luo Dongquan scolded, irritation clear on his face. "You haven't even cultivated qi and blood yet. That means you still have a chance."
Two servants came in carrying trays.
On the trays sat steaming boiled meat and animal organs. The most striking item was a deep yellow, elongated organ twisted slightly in shape.
"This is leopard gall."
Luo Dongquan said seriously, "Bear heart and leopard gall—together they form a powerful tonic. From today on, you'll eat one piece each day. It'll not only nourish your body but also help you generate qi and blood faster. This leopard gall costs ten taels of silver apiece. That boy could never afford it with his meager background."
"Second Uncle, he's a hunter," Song Yan said. "And from what I've heard, quite a skilled one."
Hearing that, Luo Dongquan couldn't help but laugh.
"A hunter? You think those hunters outside Poyang County are doing well? Why do you think they're so poor they can't even pay taxes?"
"The truly valuable prey from Tiger Head Mountain live deep in the northern region beyond Second Mountain. Those beasts never come out, and those hunters don't dare go in."
"Why not?"
"Why?" Luo Dongquan snorted. "Because they're poor!
"Poor people only need to survive—they don't get to chase wealth. It's that simple."
"That's why I'm breaking my back to help you climb higher. Only when you climb high enough can you be the one doing the oppressing—instead of being the one oppressed!"
"Second Uncle, why must we oppress others?"
Song Yan's voice carried confusion.
"Idiot!"
Luo Dongquan snapped. "Shut up and eat your leopard gall!"
"As for that fat bastard—he's extravagant and greedy to the bone. There's no way he'd spend his own silver to truly support that boy surnamed Chen."
…
"Hu—"
Finishing a full set of spear forms with the breathing method, Chen Sanshi was drenched in sweat. He grabbed a bucket and poured cold water straight over his head.
[Technique: Basic Spearsmanship for Infantry (Uninitiated)]
[Progress: (38/100)]
[Effect: None]
"Cultivating qi and blood really isn't as easy as Zhu Tong made it sound."
He sat down on a rock, panting for a long while before his breath steadied.
Despite training day and night for the past two days, his progress had barely moved forward. He was still far from reaching the Beginner stage.
"Shi ge'er, come eat!" Gu Xinlan called from inside.
"Coming."
Chen Sanshi sat at the table and grabbed a whole chunk of beef shank to gnaw on.
Gu Xinlan looked at him with concern. "You've been working yourself too hard lately."
"It's fine."
Chen Sanshi asked, "We're running low on silver, aren't we?"
"There's still one tael and three qian left," Gu Xinlan replied. She remembered every detail of their household accounts clearly. "It'll last us a few more days."
"Practicing martial arts really burns through money…"
Chen Sanshi sighed helplessly.
In just a few short days, he'd eaten through all the silver they had saved.
Even so, his body still showed signs of qi and blood deficiency.
Clearly, ordinary livestock meat wasn't enough anymore. He'd have to eat wild game to make real progress.
"I'm heading into the mountains this afternoon," Chen Sanshi said.
"You're going with Uncle Zhao to hunt the black bear?" Gu Xinlan asked nervously. "Be careful, alright?"
"Don't worry."
He set down his bowl and chopsticks just as someone knocked on the door outside.
It was Zhao Qiao and the others.
Zhao carried a basket full of fish. Wu Da held a jar of honey. With them was a simple-faced young hunter leading a slender black-gray hound.
After introductions, Chen Sanshi learned the man's name was Zhuang Yi.
The four of them set out together, moving with practiced ease as they entered Second Mountain.
"South of Second Mountain, there's plenty to hunt—but not much worth real money," Zhao Qiao explained. "That black bear we're after actually comes from the north. Normally, we wouldn't even get a chance at it. But that beast's developed a taste for human flesh—and it's frighteningly smart."
"It doesn't dare mess with martial artists. Every year around this time, it sneaks down to the south of Second Mountain or even the lower slopes of First Mountain to attack hunters."
"Even a beast knows how to bully common folk!" Zhuang Yi said angrily.
"We're here."
Wu Da pointed ahead. "Sanlüzi and a few other hunters were all killed somewhere around this area."
They stopped on a patch of open, flat grassland. They placed the bait on the ground, then hid in the distant woods, letting the autumn wind carry the scent to lure the black bear out.
But they waited for a long time, and nothing happened.
"I'll do it."
Chen Sanshi hadn't wanted to embarrass them, but since their method clearly wasn't working, there was no need to waste time.
[Skill: Tracking and Hiding (Mastery)]
[Progress: (350/500)]
[Effect: Extraordinary Insight; Moves as Light as a Swallow]
It had been a while since he last hunted, so this was a good chance to sharpen his skill.
His sharp gaze swept the surroundings. Soon, he found rotting fruit peels on the grass nearby. Then, under a bush, he discovered cylindrical droppings wrapped around insect shells.
For Chen Sanshi, once he locked onto a general area, it was impossible not to find traces.
He had already found them before the hound even noticed anything. When the dog finally caught the scent, it barked excitedly and wagged its tail, looking at him with something like admiration.
Being worshiped by a dog—now that felt a bit odd.
"Wow, Brother Chen, you're amazing!"
Zhuang Yi said earnestly, "You're even better than the dog!"
"Do you ever think before you speak?"
Wu Da smacked the back of his head. "Shi ge'er's skill is serious business. You better learn from him!"
Chen Sanshi gestured for silence and kept moving forward.
After walking about four li, they reached a valley with a small stream running through it.
Even from afar, Chen Sanshi could see signs of mid-sized and large animals on the opposite side of the stream.
"That's the northern mountain ahead!"
Wu Da sighed. "Up there, there's not just large game—sometimes you even run into exotic beasts. Just one of those is enough to make you rich."
"Too bad we have to 'avoid the brocaded ones.' We can't just go up there easily. If you offend a martial hall disciple, you're doomed."
Chen Sanshi had heard rumors before. "What exactly counts as offending them?"
"There's no standard," Zhuang Yi replied bitterly. "It depends on their mood. If they don't like your face, you're unlucky."
"But you're different, Brother Shi," Wu Da said. "If you can become a military officer someday, you won't have to fear them anymore."
One step behind, and every step after would fall further.
If he couldn't become a Flag Officer, he'd eventually lose even the right to hunt.
Without wasting time, Chen Sanshi led the group westward into a dense forest.
Once inside, traces of the black bear became obvious—claw marks on tree trunks, footprints on the ground, and overturned stones.
Chen Sanshi didn't rush in. He stayed alert, scanning for the beast's presence.
"There's a hollow in that tree," Wu Da pointed ahead. "But it looks empty."
As he spoke, he bent down to take a closer look.
"Watch out!"
Chen Sanshi sensed danger instantly and shouted, "Behind you!"
Almost at the same moment, a massive shadow burst out from the bushes, lunging straight at the scar-faced Wu Da.
The beast had been waiting all along.
Since entering the woods, Chen Sanshi had noticed the eerie silence, so he hadn't dared approach too closely.
When Wu Da and the others saw the empty tree hollow, they thought the black bear had gone to hunt elsewhere and lowered their guard. They never imagined that this man-eating beast had learned to hunt humans instead!
No wonder the bait hadn't worked.
Boom!
This black bear was enormous—its body length about 2.5 meters, easily weighing seven to eight hundred jin. One hit from it could cripple or kill outright.
Wu Da didn't even have time to draw his arrow before the bear's massive paw smashed his bow clean in two. The next instant, that heavy paw was already swinging toward his face.
In that split second, a Wolf Fang Arrow pierced through the air and sank directly into the bear's left eye.
"ROAR—!"
A terrible roar shook the forest.
Only then did Zhao Qiao and Zhuang Yi react, quickly firing their bows.
But their four-strength bows, shot in panic, weren't fully drawn. Their arrows barely pierced the skin, lodging shallowly in the bear's thick fat. It wasn't enough to hurt it—only to enrage it further.
The black bear went berserk, roaring madly and charging straight at them.
Zhao Qiao and Zhuang Yi were too close. They didn't even have time to nock another arrow—they just turned and ran for their lives.
The hound barked furiously from the side but didn't dare get near.
"Beast! Come chase me!"
Chen Sanshi shouted and loosed another arrow.
The bear's back was to him, so he couldn't hit a vital spot. The arrow sank deep into its thick hide, half of the shaft still visible.
"ROAR!!!"
The beast turned its fury toward him, sprinting at frightening speed.
Despite its size, it moved shockingly fast, tearing through the undergrowth like a dark mountain.
"Run!" the others shouted, terrified.
But soon, their fear turned to awe.
Chen Sanshi was faster—darting through the forest like an ape, twisting and turning among the trees. The bear lunged again and again, but never managed to touch him.
The sharp edges of the Wolf Fang Arrow kept grinding into the creature's flesh, and its dark-red blood drenched its fur. Its pace began to slow.
Once Chen Sanshi had widened the distance, he drew his bow again.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Arrow after arrow flew—each perfectly timed, never breaking rhythm.
The two-stone bow was fully drawn again and again, each shot a burst of raw power.
Zhao Qiao and the others stood dumbfounded, but they quickly joined in with their lighter bows, offering cover fire.
After a short while, the black bear had several arrows stuck in its body. Its movements turned sluggish.
Seeing that he could finish it off safely, Chen Sanshi stopped aiming for vital points. Instead, he led the bear out of the dense woods.
Once it was weakened enough, he grabbed his plum-blossom spear and charged forward.
Such a perfect live target—how could he not make the most of it?