Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Annual Tribute

Cang Mountain is vast, very vast.

In fact, the areas touched by the nearby village forts are only a small portion. The hunters from these village forts usually only venture slightly deeper when hunting, while martial artists without family property or other sources of income occasionally enter the mountain to hunt and earn some silver coins.

It’s just that they venture deeper.

Moreover, their targets are usually large fierce beasts like tigers and bears.

These two beasts are forest overlords, possessing incredible strength, agile movements, and tough hides, making them hard to deal with. Even martial artists specializing in skin refinement have little confidence when facing them one-on-one.

Although Gu Sheng is currently stronger than a Stone Skin Martial Artist in close combat, his skin membrane is not yet formed, so he does not wish to risk venturing too deep into Cang Mountain.

To be prudent, it’s best to wait until he truly becomes a Stone Skin Martial Artist, ensuring absolute confidence.

For him, hunting prey like wild boar is the best choice.

While a wild boar’s charge is forceful, it is somewhat clumsy and lacks the ability to strike and bite.

With the first-level penetrating archery, Gu Sheng can handle it alone, and a wild boar weighing two to three hundred pounds is something he can carry on his own.

The only difficulty is that wild boars are not easy to track.

This, however, poses no challenge to Gu Sheng.

He spread the word among hunters and herbalists, stating that anyone who could provide detailed traces of wild boar would receive a portion of the harvest once the boar is hunted.

His reputation as a master archer had already spread within the manor after the last incident, so there was little difference in hiding or not hiding his skills. He decided to maximize the use of his already exposed archery skills.

As soon as the word got out.

Hunters were all right; while tempting, it wasn’t particularly enticing, as many of them could cooperatively hunt wild boar and earn more. They simply agreed with Gu Sheng with smiles.

But the herbalists were excited; they often ventured into the mountains to gather herbs for money and had to detour if they encountered traces of wild beasts. Now, merely providing traces of wild boar could earn them ten or twenty pounds of meat, a delightful prospect.

Even if it required a bit more risk, they were willing to take it.

With great rewards come brave men.

Soon.

Gu Sheng received news that a herbalist had discovered traces of wild boar.

Early the next morning, Gu Sheng headed into the mountain, tracing the location provided by the herbalist. He was patient, knowing that once he found the wild boar, piercing its heart with his current archery was no difficult task.

...

The head of the Gu’s Manor stood.

The graying herbalist occasionally glanced into the distance, his left leg seeming somewhat impaired, and he appeared anxious.

”If Gu Sheng fails to hunt the wild boar and you’ve hurt your leg again, how are we going to live in the coming days? I told you not to be greedy, but you wouldn’t listen...”

A woman muttered beside him, making the herbalist increasingly irritable.

He had three children at home, and winter had nearly exhausted the family’s resources. As soon as Gu Sheng released the news, he became intrigued.

He was fortunate to spot traces of a wild boar yesterday, but in his careful investigation, he injured his leg.

Even though Gu Sheng was renowned as a sharpshooter, what if he couldn’t hunt the wild boar?

Regret filled his heart, blaming his own impatience. He should have waited for others to confirm first, but now he could only hope that Gu Sheng’s archery was truly formidable.

The couple worried deeply.

The woman added a few more words, and the herbalist couldn’t help but retort, leading to a quarrel. Their faces flushed as villagers passing by quickly intervened to separate them.

Just then.

A young figure slowly emerged in the distance, tall and straight, carrying a longbow, but what drew the most attention was the boar weighing two hundred pounds slung over his shoulder.

”Is that... Is that Gu Sheng?”

The quarreling herbalist couple stood frozen, their eyes soon filled with joy.

”Asheng, you... you hunted a wild boar?”

As Gu Sheng approached, the villagers felt a bit uneasy, while the middle-aged herbalist stammered, hands perpetually restless.

Seeing the massive boar carried by Gu Sheng up close was a powerful sight, especially the blood-stained arrowhead piercing through the boar’s abdomen, adding a chilling sense of intimidation.

Gu Sheng smiled slightly and greeted:

”Thanks to Uncle Tian’s information, otherwise I wouldn’t have found this beast.”

The woman beside the herbalist brightened up and quickly nudged her husband with her elbow.

The herbalist’s breath grew more rapid in excitement, his palms rubbing against each other repeatedly.

”What... what about the earlier agreement...”

He stammered a bit, wiping the sweat from his forehead several times.

Gu Sheng, seeing this, chuckled:

”Don’t worry. After dealing with this boar, I’ll deliver it. Uncle Tian, if you’re not assured, come along with me.”

”Oh, no need, no need!”

The herbalist, glared at by his wife, changed his tune and said:

”That’s too much trouble for you, Asheng. I’ll come along to lend a hand, to lend a hand!”

Gu Sheng shook his head slightly at heart, but didn’t mind the small ploy. Having successfully hunted a wild boar, he was in a jovial mood. Even if he had to give away a portion, the rewards were bountiful.

If he could hunt one or two boars every month, Gu Sheng would truly be delighted.

He understood the logic of ”buying the goodwill at a high price”. Although it seemed like a 10% sacrifice, it would ultimately enhance his hunting efficiency.

The remaining villagers exchanged looks, watching Gu Sheng and the herbalist couple leave.

”Gu Sheng actually managed to hunt a wild boar! From now on, if we venture into the mountain, it’ll be wise to keep an eye out. There’s no reason to miss out on the free dozen pounds of boar meat!”

Everyone marveled at Gu Sheng’s reputed skills and began to harbor their own thoughts.

...

Gu Sheng’s small courtyard, once dilapidated, no longer bears its former shabby appearance.

Since he began practicing martial arts.

Accumulating some wealth, Gu Sheng decided to renovate his house, even constructing a covered courtyard at the back to prevent prying eyes.

At this moment.

Gu Sheng and Gu Xiaojiang sat across from one another, enjoying a simplified hot pot. Gu Xiaojiang had brought some spices and fine salt, enhancing the flavor of the hot pot.

”Asheng, your hunting skills are truly getting sharper; you can hunt wild boar on your own now!”

Gu Xiaojiang complimented, unable to hold back the praise as he ate.

He had also heard about Gu Sheng’s exploits.

Gu Sheng shook his head with a smile:

”Hunting wild boar isn’t that hard. Once you aim precisely at the eyes, head, or heart, many hunters in the manor can handle it. It’s just dangerous if you’re hit, leading to broken bones and instant death.”

”I had no choice but to take the risk. You know my aptitude is not good, and without the support of Body Refining Ointment, who knows when I could become a Stone Skin Martial Artist.”

He sighed.

This was half true; for him, hunting wild boar only cost an arrow, without any danger.

Wild boars are clumsy, and with first-level penetration, it’s easy to pierce through the tough blend of mud and bristles on a boar’s body, although the arrow can’t be reused afterward.

Gu Xiaojiang couldn’t help but sigh.

”It sounds easy, but I know the difficulty involved. If you become a Blood Refining Realm martial artist and pair it with such archery, the Gu family’s influence would surely double! I really don’t know what the clan elders are thinking.”

Gu Sheng looked into the distance and said:

”Du Jiangbo’s example is still fresh. It’s good enough that the clan elders didn’t retract the promised share of Body Refining Ointment.”

”I know, Asheng, you’re not that kind of person.”

Gu Xiaojiang looked at Gu Sheng sincerely.

Gu Sheng just smiled.

Gu Xiaojiang wanted to say more, but just then, urgent shouts came from outside.

”Xiao Jiang, Xiao Jiang, come out quickly, people from the Black Sand Gang are here!”

Gu Sheng and Gu Xiaojiang exchanged glances, both seeing the solemnity in each other’s eyes.

The tax collectors have arrived!