Chapter 23: Blocking Arrows with Arrows

Seeing this, Zhao Qiao and Zhuang Yi quickly collected their arrows.

Chen Sansi methodically initiated his Pile Work, coordinating with the Breathing Skill. He thrust the Mei Hua Iron Spear towards the Black Bear, using the force of its resistance to simulate a battle.

It must be said, the strength of such fierce creatures like bears is astounding.

Even with severe injuries, the power of its swipes exceeded a thousand pounds, and its collisions even heavier, reaching several thousands of pounds.

Though Chen Sansi's strength had significantly increased after practicing martial arts, direct contact still forced him to continuously retreat under the tremendous power. Furthermore, the consumption of physical strength by his spear technique caused him to quickly break out into a heavy sweat.

However, at the same time, his proficiency was improving at an extremely fast rate.

As one bloody hole after another appeared on its body, the bear's attacks became so sluggish that there was no need to even dodge them, clearly on the brink of death from excessive blood loss.

It was only then that Chen Sansi delivered a spear thrust from the eyeball to the back of the skull, piercing through, and ending its life.

"Boom—"

The heavy body fell to the ground, completely lifeless.

[Cultivation Technique: Basic Soldier Spear Technique (Entry-Level)]

[Progress: (47/100)]

[Utility: None]

In just a short while, the progress increased by nearly ten points; the effectiveness was indeed very good.

Unfortunately, such ideal live targets weren't always available.

"Sigh..."

Chen Sansi planted the iron spear into the ground, taking deep breaths to stabilize his physical condition.

After a while, Wu Da and the others came over, their eyes wide in disbelief.

Even though the Black Bear was sluggish from excessive blood loss, it was definitely not an opponent just any ordinary person could contend with.

Is this the difference between a martial artist and an ordinary person?

Especially Zhao Qiao, he couldn't imagine that the boy who had approached him not long ago to join him in going to Second Layer Mountain had become much stronger than any of them in just over half a month.

"Uncle Zhao, Wu Da,"

said Chen Sansi, "It would be great if you could chop some sturdy wood to make a stretcher, let's carry the bear back together."

Zhao Qiao and the others didn't move immediately, standing and looking at him, with an awkward expression on their faces.

"Little... Little Shi."

At last, it was Zhao Qiao who spoke: "Can we take half of the share?"

In cooperative hunting, the earned benefits naturally needed to be shared among the participants.

But they were admittedly a bit... useless!

From the beginning, it had been Chen Sansi who found the Black Bear's habitat.

Then, they had even been saved from a life-threatening situation.

If it hadn't been for Chen Sansi being there today, the three of them might have ended up dead or severely injured.

Conversely, even if they hadn't been there, given some more time, Chen Sansi could have worn the Black Bear down alive with his speed and heavy bow.

But they had just paid their taxes and were so broke that they couldn't scrape two coins together; they had also spent quite a bit on bait for the trip, and to return empty-handed would be somewhat...

Of course, if Chen Sansi really didn't agree, they could only accept it.

Under the anxious gazes of everyone, the young man holding the spear in the sunset showed a brilliant smile: "Uncle Zhao, what are you talking about? Half a share is too little, at least two portions per person, right?"

"Ah?"

"No, no, no, no, no!"

Zhao Qiao and the others almost thought they had heard wrong.

They didn't deserve to take so much.

They didn't even have the face to ask for it since he was willing to give!

After much insistence, Zhao Qiao and Zhuang Yi firmly stuck to taking only half a share, whereas Wu Da had thought about a whole share but, after getting a stern look from Zhao Qiao, also meekly agreed to half a share.

Chen Sansi didn't press further.

He knew they felt embarrassed; getting more when you work more was only natural.

Moreover, a seven hundred-pound bear, including its expensive bear paws, could easily sell for fifty taels, so half a share amounted to more than two taels of silver.

In usual times, this was equivalent to hunting twenty or so rabbits, so it wasn't like they had run around for nothing.

Chen Sansi didn't feel pained about it.

After all, before coming, he wasn't certain whether he could handle a Black Bear on his own, so for safety's sake, he had partnered with others.

Having made such a choice, there was no point in regrets.

It was just a matter of understanding his own strength, and in the future, he could simply hunt alone if necessary.

"Brother Shi, from now on, you're like my real brother!"

Wu Da smiled, his facial scar making him look ferocious.

The group quickly cut sticks and tied them with ropes, carrying the massive Black Bear and heading home.

As they passed by a small creek in the valley,

the hunting dog began barking at the opposite bank "woof woof woof."

He fixed his gaze, noticing two young men in long robes, looking discontentedly at the Black Bear on their shoulders from afar.

Chen Sansi recognized them immediately.

It was these two who had tricked Shunzi into repairing the Canal more than half a month before!

After the incident, he had secretly gathered information about these two.

One was named Li Hao, and the other Zhang Chao, both from Tai Lei Martial Arts Academy, but they were merely servant disciples, not even as qualified as the outer disciples.

After years of training, they might not even have mastered the Breathing Skill or developed their Qi-Blood.

Unexpectedly, they would meet again.

"Woof Woof Woof—"

As if sensing the men's ill intentions, the hunting dog's barking grew louder.

"Little Blackie, stop barking!"

Zhuang Yi quickly rushed to cover the dog's mouth, "Don't provoke them."

"What are you afraid of? We're not fighting them directly..."

Wu Da had not finished speaking when,

one of the young men promptly drew his bow and released an arrow, "Good beast, dare to bark at Grandpa?!"

Although he claimed to be shooting at the dog, his arrow was clearly aimed at a person.

A willow leaf arrow whistled straight towards Zhuang Yi.

The two sides were only about forty to fifty steps apart, and a Four-Force Bow was more than enough to kill a man easily!

Zhuang Yi's pupils dilated as the arrow rapidly enlarged in his view, his legs went weak and his heart chilled.

In the blink of an eye, another Wolf Teeth Arrow flew from the side, precisely and impeccably severing the willow leaf arrow mid-air!

Using an arrow to block another arrow!

"What?!"

Zhang Chao's eyes nearly popped out.

A moving target, so small, and in such a short time.

How...How could that be?!

"The military officer's Second Stone Heavy Bow?"

Li Hao's face turned unpleasant, "Is...is it you?"

They both had recognized Chen Sansi as well.

"How has this guy become a military man?"

"Let's go!"

Li and Zhang exchanged a glance and fled in panic, not even leaving a chance for Chen Sansi to speak. Only when they had gotten far away did they shout a threat: "You wait!"

"A bunch of cowards."

As for Chen Sansi now, he didn't need to fear them anymore.

After all, these were men even Qin Feng wouldn't bother with.

The whole process, from the other party shooting an arrow to being scared off by Chen Sansi, took just a few seconds.

So much so that Wu Da and the others took a long time to realize what had just happened.

"Brother Chen..."

Zhuang Yi's voice still trembled, "You saved my life, I…I..."

He was at a loss for words, unsure how to express his gratitude.

"It's nothing."

Chen Sansi said calmly, "If I hadn't retaliated, their next arrow would have been aimed at me."

Even servant disciples from the martial arts academy dared to bully like this.

It seemed he had to vie for the position of military officer!

With the status of a military officer for protection, the arrow he shot just now wouldn't have been to block the arrow but to take a life!

"Let's head down the mountain."

After a close shave, the party, carrying the Black Bear, headed back home.

The county was still under martial law, and it was not known where that barbarian was hiding since he hadn't been found yet.

It was almost as Chen Sansi had calculated.

The Black Bear totaled fifty-one taels.

The rest each received a little over two taels and five maces of silver.

Chen Sansi kept the bear heart valued at twenty taels, undold, and also kept thirty pounds of bear meat. In the end, he pocketed twenty taels of snowflake silver.

"It should last for a while."

Cradling the still warm bear heart wrapped in lotus leaves, Chen Sansi hurried home eagerly.

The bear heart was a great tonic, particularly beneficial for his recent deficiency in Qi-Blood.