Chapter 5: The Power to Wrestles with a Tiger.
Black Cliff Forest.
The forest was shaded, filled with the constant melody of twittering birds.
Farmers, armed with various kinds of weapons for self-defense and carrying baskets on their back, left the camp after receiving their respective tasks once they arrived at the forest.
Wang Da Niu, with a bow strapped on his back, curiously inquired after seeing Han Ye unmoving, "Brother Han, aren't you leaving yet?"
"I've informed the person in charge, you go ahead first."
Han Ye waved a hand casually.
"Alright then."
As Han Ye gazed at the retreating figure, his eyes gradually turned thoughtful.
He unclipped the hatchet from his waist, glanced at the sleeping camp manager, Liu, and looked into the depth of the Black Cliff Forest.
He was entrusted by Liu to guard the camp.
However, in reality, this task was completely dispensable.
He exchanged a copper plate for this brief period of freedom with the intention of hunting game in the mountains.
You must know, Black Cliff Forest is home to Spirit Deer and Wild Boar. If he could slaughter a few and bring back meat, it would be wonderful nourishment for his body.
Moreover, deer skin and pigskin could be sold at a significant price, supplementing his income for household expenses.
With this in mind, Han Ye ventured deep into the forest. The warm sunlight trickled through the overlaying foliage, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of vegetation and moist earth.
"Rustle!"
There were subtle sounds from the surroundings.
Han Ye dared not breathe loudly. Through the green leaves, he saw a gray rabbit nibbling on fresh, juicy leaves at the base of a big tree, its dark eyes round and shiny.
Seeing this, he felt joy in his heart.
"Seems like there will be food for today's lunch."
Just as he was planning to sneak up to it...
"Grunt!"
Suddenly, a stout Wild Boar burst from the bushes. With its piercing squeal, it charged toward him.
The rabbit was startled and dashed into its burrow.
Seeing the wild boar rushing towards him, Han Ye was calm, not worried at all that it would injure him. His confidence not only stemmed from the Tiger Arm Fist he had practiced last night but mainly from the 'Strength of a Bull' attribute.
In other words, he felt quite powerful now.
His grip tightened around the hatchet, itching to go ahead and directly punch it, followed by slashing down onto the boar's head with his weapon.
As the distance decreased, he noticed an arrow shaft embedded in the boar's back.
An understanding dawned on him. Someone was chasing the wild boar.
Wild Boars were not as stupid as domestic pigs. If they were faced with an irresolvable enemy, they would surely head for the bushes.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Just as he was waiting for the right opportunity, a tall and sturdy figure rushed out from the forest, pulling his bowstring until it was shaped like a full moon.
"Da Niu?"
Han Ye was surprised too. He had not expected to meet him here.
"Swish!"
The bowstring resonated and the arrow darted out like a shooting star.
It lodged into the eye socket of the wild boar, causing it to shriek and its head to skew.
It crashed into a tree nearby, its sharp tusks embedded in the trunk and failed to pull out.
"Brother Han, are you alright?"
Wang Da Niu, holding his hunting bow, walked up with a concerned look on his face.
"I was just gathering some herbs when I noticed a beast nearby. I tried to drive it away with my arrows, but I didn't expect it to almost hurt you, Brother Han."
"No matter." Han Ye shook his head, signaling he was unharmed, and asked curiously:
"Da Niu, where did you learn this archery, I've never seen you use it before."
Wang Da Niu laughed heartily, "I learned it from my father. He used to be a hunter, but after my uncle cheated him of a sum of money, he started working on other people's fields."
Han Ye nodded, saying gravely, "Don't always believe the lies of relatives."
"I know that."
Wang Da Niu picked up his hatchet and approached the boar. Just a few squeals later and there was silence. He hefted the hefty dead boar onto his shoulder and steadfastly made his way out. He then toppled the boar's head off and placed it in the basket.
An orb of light fell.
'Pick-Up Attribute: Strength of a Bull+3'
Han Ye couldn't help but remarked in admiration, this wild boar must weigh 300-400 pounds and he was hauling it like it was nothing, utterly domineering.
He was the most impressed with the 'Strength of a Bull' effect.
Now that his attribute wasn't even at its maximum, he already felt as powerful as 3-4 ordinary men.
And as for Wang Da Niu...
"Brother Han, didn't you stay at the camp? How did you end up deep in the forest?"
Han Ye explained with a smile, "It's not often we come to Black Cliff Forest, so I want to take something back with me. I can't waste time gathering herbs. I need to make some profit and I felt hungry as I usually eat simple meals. So, I thought why not see what meat I could find."
Wang Da Niu nodded in understanding, "This pig skin might be worth quite a sum of money. Brother Han, have it. I felt like the herbs in the forest were more as less people were harvesting them. Might even find some rare medicinal herbs and they can be used to nourish my mother's health."
"It's your kill, I can't take from you."
Han Ye shook his head and refused.
For some reason, he saw potential in Wang Da Niu.
He felt like everything Wang Da Niu would undertake would be successful.
He had been searching for a long time and hadn't seen any game.
Yet Wang Da Niu had just made a quick circle around the area and had managed to kill a wild boar.
Could this be a case of "fortune favors fools"?
But, Han Ye knew, Wang Da Niu was no fool.
Quite the contrary, he was fine-minded beneath his coarse exterior.
When the wild boar was barely breathing, he didn't rush to check whether the priceless hide was damaged. He was more concerned about his own state.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a massive roar came from the depths of the jungle.
The animals in the forest scattered in a panic.
"No good, there's the smell of blood everywhere. A predator is on our trail!" Wang Da Niu anxiously said.
He notched an arrow and cast a vigilant gaze around him.
At his prompting, Han Ye quickly drew his machete. Crash! An impressive figure sprang from the bushes next to him.
Such a gigantic creature moved so silently!
A foul smell of blood hit him, as Han Ye awkwardly twisted his neck, staring dumbfoundedly as a huge creature with drooping eyes and a white forehead charged at him.
In other words, a rather large tiger.
This was the first time Han Ye had come face-to-face with a fearsome tiger.
The awe was inescapable.
Is this the might of a Tiger?
The tiger let out a roar akin to thunder, bounding towards Han Ye.
Suddenly, a thud of an arrow string sounded nearby, and a long arrow, swift as lightning, embedded into the tiger's back.
It faltered mid-air.
In that split second, Han Ye snapped into action.
His sturdy arms blocked his chest, grabbing onto the tiger's paw.
Protecting his core.
Yet, he was knocked backward by the weight of the tiger.
His arm now bore three shocking, bloody claw marks.
"Roar!"
The tiger roared at Han Ye.
A foul breath spilled from its gaping mouth.
Its blood-red mouth appeared ready to tear into him.
"Thud."
At that moment, a stone struck the tiger on the head.
Inciting its rage.
"Hey, come take a bite of me!"
Wang Da Niu had picked up a stone and was throwing it while shouting and gesturing provocatively - obviously, trying to draw the tiger's attention to himself.
His quiver was empty.
Clear sign it was used up during the chase of the wild boar.
The tiger's luminescent green eyes locked onto him, and seemed about to change direction.
Had Wang Da Niu gone mad?
Han Ye was taken aback, he didn't expect his counterpart to act so recklessly!
Immediately, he snapped into action.
He drew the machete at his waist and aimed for the tiger's neck.
"Swish!"
With the swing of his blade, fresh blood erupted like a gushing stream.
The tiger moved back in pain.
Han Ye, fueled by adrenaline, drew strength from the 'Strength of a Bull' and pushed the tiger off with a jerk of his arm.
Before it could get up, Han Ye and Wang Da Niu both threw themselves atop of the tiger.
The duo moved in perfect sync.
But Han Ye was closer and therefore faster.
He swiftly threw a Tiger Arm Fist, not allowing any room for chance.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Han Ye straddled the tiger, each of his fists striking like thunder.
Throughout, he treated the mighty beast like a sandbag tied to a trunk.
When he finished his series of Tiger Arm Fists.
The once mighty beast lay whimpering on the ground, its head covered in blood.
Han Ye, ruthless as ever, pulled out his machete lodged into the ground, aiming for its head with a kill shot.
With that final blow, the struggle underneath him ceased.
The once unbeatable beast met its end at the hands of Han Ye.
Wang Da Niu, observing from the sideline, marveled at Han Ye's skillful boxing.
Seeing the tiger dead, he scratched the back of his head and said, "Brother Han's strength is on par with a tiger, your fame will certainly spread across the County of Skyfire."
Han Ye flashed a wane smile of relief upon surviving, then collapsed onto the ground from exhaustion.
...