Chapter 8: Small Success in Hunting Skills

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The ink in his vision spread like mist.

Under Shen Qing's watchful gaze, it transformed into lines of text.

[Skill: Bow Technique (Skillfully)]

[Progress: 11/200 points]

[Status: Cannot be improved]

[Note: The heavens move unceasingly, and a gentleman should strive for self-improvement! Continuous practice can break through skill progress.]

...

[Skill: Hunting (Skillfully)]

[Progress: 103/100 points]

[Status: Can be improved]

[Note: The art of hunting is broad and profound, including tracking, pursuit, concealment, traps, baiting, slaughtering, and other minor skills. Continuous practice can achieve breakthroughs.]

Recently, Shen Qing had been hunting frequently, and his hunting skills had improved significantly. Unknowingly, he had met the conditions for a breakthrough.

Shen Qing did not hesitate: "Breakthrough!"

A familiar sensation suddenly surged in.

Countless hunting techniques flooded mercilessly into his mind, rushing like turbulent waves.

His head felt as if struck by a heavy blow, subtly swelling.

Pit, lasso trap, capture net, Quench Poison, tracking, concealment...

Many key aspects of hunting flickered in his mind like a slideshow.

Such complex information made him somewhat dizzy, and he took several breaths before regaining composure.

After calming himself, Shen Qing instinctively glanced at the ink text in his vision.

[Skill: Hunting (Small Success)]

[Progress: 3/200 points]

[Status: Cannot be improved]

[Note: Continuous practice can lead to comprehensive breakthroughs. There is a certain probability that some hunting techniques will transform.]

Shen Qing felt a bit surprised at the note.

It was important to know that the experiences stored in his mind were rare, known only to those with a mentor.

With such abilities, he could navigate the mountains freely.

To his surprise, his hunting skills could further evolve.

At this rate, even if fortune did not favor him, he feared he could extract all the wealth from this mountain.

Shen Qing's spirit became quite invigorated.

He glanced down at the footprints beneath him, his gaze becoming more composed.

Shen Qing pondered for a moment, and several tracking methods surfaced in his mind.

He wasted no time, confidently following the footprints.

Whether it was due to the breakthrough or not, Shen Qing noticed subtle changes in his body as he moved.

Although he was moving swiftly in the snow, he made no noise, his silhouette effortlessly light.

Moreover, he could clearly hear every sound around him, his senses sharpened immensely.

The hunting techniques at Small Success truly had some nuances.

Hard work did not disappoint the dedicated.

After a period of tracking and concealment, Shen Qing spotted a shadow in the forest from a distance.

It was a robust roe deer, its brown fur glistening with an alluring sheen.

Shen Qing was overjoyed.

Wild roe deer, creatures living in sparse woods atop small hills, not only had tender, nutrient-rich meat but also fetched a good price in the county town.

Their fur was also a high-quality material for luxury leather goods.

A wild roe deer without external injuries could sell for 1,200 wen.

Even with injuries, despite a decrease in fur value, it could still fetch over 800 coins.

For hunters making a living in the mountains, such a catch was undoubtedly a valuable prize.

Shen Qing dared not be careless.

He knew that animals living in the wild were extremely alert; any carelessness at this moment might startle the roe deer into fleeing.

Shen Qing composed himself, held his breath, and silently approached.

The stag was focused on foraging, oblivious to the imminent danger.

Without alarming the roe deer, Shen Qing closed the distance to within a hundred paces, within the effective range of his bow and arrow.

Shen Qing sniffed the air, felt the wind with his hand, then slowly drew his bow from behind, gently nocking a feathered arrow, and silently tightened the bowstring.

His gaze, breath, and heartbeat became one. At the right moment, he suddenly relaxed his hand.

Swish!

The bowstring vibrated.

The arrow flew like a meteor across the sky, aiming straight for the roe deer.

After releasing an arrow, Shen Qing did not hesitate for a moment. He quickly touched his arrow quiver, hooked an arrow with his little finger, nocked it, and immediately shot another arrow.

After swiftly shooting two arrows, Shen Qing began to sprint.

While running, he continued to nock arrows and tighten the string.

The roe deer seemed to sense something, but it was already too late to react.

The arrow covered an immense distance in an instant.

Under Shen Qing's watchful eyes, it pierced precisely through the roe deer's body.

The powerful recoil caused its body to stagger and fall to the ground.

The instinct to survive made it scramble to rise.

But it had not yet managed to get up.

Swish swish.

The subsequent arrows followed closely, piercing its chest and thigh.

Bright, warm blood splattered all around.

The roe deer that had just managed to stand was once again pinned to the ground by the arrows.

It struggled with its limbs, trying to get up, but it was already at the end of its strength.

A hundred paces' distance, an all-out sprint took only a dozen breaths.

Shen Qing caught up, excitedly pulling a dagger from his waist, and pressed down on the roe deer's neck, skillfully starting to slaughter it.

"Squelch!"

The roe deer's tough skin was sliced open, dark red flesh turned outward, revealing a hole.

Hot, bloody gore sprayed out from the hole, splattering all over Shen Qing.

Watching the hot blood spew out, Shen Qing hurriedly grabbed the arrow quiver, emptied the arrows, and used it to catch the roe deer's blood.

Roe deer blood could be consumed or sold to city pharmacies for some money.

For a bottom-tier hunter like him, not a single drop could be wasted.

Realizing it was doomed, the roe deer struggled even harder.

But having already secured his prize, Shen Qing would not let it slip away.

Shen Qing used his whole body weight to pin down this inexperienced roe deer until it stopped moving entirely.

After a while, Shen Qing released his sore arms, a joyful expression spreading across his face.

Such a large roe deer was rare, even for experienced hunters in the village.

Today, unexpectedly lucky, he managed to catch one.

Although the fur was damaged and lowered the price, he was content with this harvest.

Shen Qing estimated in his mind that as long as he continued to harvest like this, his life would visibly improve in no time.

When he saved enough money, he would move to the county town with his elder sister.

Far from this rural place of strife and conflict.

While Shen Qing was handling the roe deer, elated, two figures appeared in the nearby forest.

"Brother, look, it's Shen Qing."

Chen An had sharp eyes, recognizing him at a glance.

They had been following footprints in the vicinity, not expecting to find Shen Qing.

Chen Tai exclaimed: "It's actually a roe deer. That kid really hit the jackpot."

At that moment, Chen An looked at Shen Qing ahead, falling silent, without responding.

After a while, he suddenly said coldly, "Second brother, I heard his sister is indecisive. Big brother hasn't convinced her yet because this kid is in the way. If he were to die in the mountains, would his sister agree to big brother's proposal?"

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