Hunting Training I

Under the hot sun, Yan Xiu were lining up before the village's gate. Including the head hunter, Xiao Musheng, the two senior hunters, Chen Hanchen and Liu Feng, the two other apprentices were also there with him.

"In a week, the hunter team would be back. To welcome them, we will hunt a special prey for the welcoming feast. The hunt is in five days and will last for two days and one night if we're lucky.

Everyone will participate, that includes you apprentices. You're hunting training will changed a little to prepare you for the hunt. We will venture deeper to the woods, it will be different from the training you have been through.

The danger will significantly rise, while we won't actively search for them, the encounter rate with demon beast will be more aggressive. And the danger isn't just that.

So be vigilant and don't do anything reckless. But don't worry too much, you will not die as we will protect you." (XM)

Yan Xiu and the two hunter apprentices tense up when Xiao Musheng mentioned the increase in danger, only eased a little after Xiao Musheng last line. But they grew more tense after what Xiao Musheng said next.

"But that's only true in training. A hunter raised in green house won't become a good hunter.

In the hunt, all of you are responsible for your own life. We will not render any help more than necessary, but we also won't leave you to die.

You might think that with the head hunter and two senior hunters coming there will be no dangers. If you are, then quickly dump that thinking or you will die the fastest.

Never underestimate anything, be prepared and improve. That's the creed we go by, remember that well. We never know what will happen, even a seemingly simple hunt might be our last.

So, train well and study well, maximise the benefits of this training hunt and you should do well on the hunt and come back alive and in one piece." (XM)

"Thank you for your guidance, head hunter!" (MC and two hunter apprentices)

"Un. Then, it's time. Let's go." (XM)

"Yes!" (all)

The group left the village and onward to the Black forest. The Black forest occupied a large area, living inside the forest were countless numbers of savage beasts and demin beasts. Even the trees and plants inside it could kill, it was a dangerous forest.

But the resources and treasure inside it was as abundant as it dangers. Many cultivators rushed inside in search for riches, some return with it while some were not so lucky.

For the Jadesea village, the Black forest was both a blessing and a curse. It was an important lifeline that provide resources but it was also their biggest threat. Albeit uncommon, there were times where beasts came out of the forest and attacked the village.

The group soon split after entering the forest, the head hunter group head in deeper leaving Yan Xiu and Chen Hanchen in the outskirt of the forest.

Without waiting for Yan Xiu to ask, Chen Hanchen opened his mouth to explain.

"We're stopping here because you need to learn about the basics of hunting and your , it's relatively safe here." (CH)

"I see, please instruct me." (MC)

"Hahaha, just relax and you'll learn better. Oh, here comes the first lesson." (CH)

With a soft rustling sound, a snake suddenly jumped out of the bushes with it's mouth opened to take a bite of Yan Xiu. Taken by surprise, Yan Xiu froze and fell backwards when he intended to dodge.

Right before the snake could bite Yan Xiu, a small throwing knife hit it and nailed it to a tree. The knife stabbed it right at it's neck, the snake struggle a little before drawing it's last breath.

Yan Xiu could barely see what just happened. He could only saw the snake suddenly vanished after being taken by a small black something. He saw the snake still bleeding corpse nailed to the tree, his face pale.

The snake was almost a meter long with bright green scale and yellow dots, drops of clear liquids dripped from it's fang. The ground blackened a little because of the liquids, the snake was poisonous.

"Lesson number one : Never let your guard down. The forest is full of dangers, so keep your guard up at all time if you wanna survive.

Lesson number two : Always prepare. Never leaves on a hunt without ample preparation, it could cost you your life. Potions, antidote, weapons, ration, and so on, you need to prepare everything. Got that?" (CH)

"..... Yes." (MC)

Looking at Chen Hanchen who was smiling in leasure as if the snake attack was never there, Yan Xiu could only replied weakly. Yan Xiu didn't intended to underestimate the danger of the forest.

But thinking he was still in the outskirt and Chen Hanchen was with him, Yan Xiu unknowingly let his guard down. Yan Xiu never expected that he would be taught a lesson so soon.

"Well then, shall we start the hunting training?" (CH)

Yan Xiu nodded and went with Chen Hanchen. This time he didn't let his guard down, but he was too tense and overreact to anything. Chen Hanchen chuckled, he reminded of how he was when he went to his first hunting training.

That was just how all the hunter apprentices were at their first hunting training, they either too relaxed or too tense. Chen Hanchen tried to loosen Yan Xiu up by talking to him. He told him which fruit or plant was okay to eat, how to walk without sound, the trick to sense presence, and so on.

Yan Xiu gradually loosen up but still vigilant, he slowly put what Chen Hanchen said to practice. The duo kept walking and talking before Chen Hanchen suddenly stopped. He pointed at their right, when Yan Xiu followed where he pointed, he saw the behind of a beast.

"That's a Rock-head Boar, it's head is protected by a layer or rock-like armor, that's why they got that name. They got a mean rush but they couldn't turn once they start running, so once you dodge you'll be safe.

Their pretty easy to hunt, you just need to watch out for their rush and keep your distance. The only part that hard is their head, so aim elsewhere." (CH)

"You want me to hunt it alone?" (MC)

"Yeah, it's something all apprentices have to do. Relax, you can do it. It's only a Qi Refining second stage beast. Just remember your training and you'll be fine." (CH)

"... Okay." (MC)

Yan Xiu adjusted his breathing before he slowly closing to the boar. Yan Xiu climbed a tree close to the boar, he took aim with a javelin in his hand. The brown boar with rock-like layer covering his head and face didn't sense Yan Xiu, he threw the javelin with the boar's back as the target.

Before the javelin hit the target, the boar's feral instinct was alarmed. It quickly dodge to the side, the javelin didn't stabbed it's body but it tore a long wound on it's side.

The boar yelped in pain before turning and saw Yan Xiu on top of the tree. It quickly rushed toward the tree Yan Xiu was on. Receiving the boar animosity, Yan Xiu froze a little before he took his whip. He latched it to a nearby tree branch and swung down to the ground.

With booming sound, the boar hit the tree Yan Xiu previously on and felled it. Yan Xiu was shocked, the boar rush was truly strong, even as a Qi Refining third stage Yan Xiu couldn't felled a tree with pure brute strength.

Taking the advantage while the boar wasn't moving, Yan Xiu threw his needles at the boar's legs. Maybe affected by the boar's animosity and it being his first fight, Yan Xiu accurately fell. He threw four needles, one hit the boar's leg, one hit the body, and the other two hit the ground and tree.

The boar yelped in pain before rushing toward Yan Xiu. Affected by the pain, the boar's rush slowed down, Yan Xiu dodge in the last minute and caught the boar's wounded leg with his whip. Yan Xiu was pulled a little because of the boar's powerful rush, Yan Xiu stood his ground and forcefully pulled his whip.

The boar fell down. Without wasting time, Yan Xiu threw his javelin and it stabbed deep into the boar's side. The boar fell to it's side and struggled fiercely, Yan Xiu threw another javelin, this time it hit the boar's neck.

Blood flowed from the wound, dyeing the ground red. After some time, the boar stopped moving and went limp. Confirming the boar's dead, Yan Xiu slumped to the ground. His strength leaving him.

Chen Hanchen came out of the bushes with a smile on his face.

"Good job, little bro. You fought very well, for your first hunt and fight, you did very well. Can you stand?" (CH)

"Yes." (MC)

After helping Yan Xiu get up on his feet, Chen Hanchen collected the thrown javelins and needles. He cleaned it first before returning it to Yan Xiu.

"Let's stop here for today. There's still tomorrow." (CH)

"Un." (MC)

Yan Xiu wanted to stay and hunt something once more, but he knew it was pushing it. Yan Xiu could feel his feet wobbling and the absence of strength in his body. The fight he just experienced took a heavy toll on him, the pressure of being targeted and the heightened sense when fighting drained him.

Chen Hanchen brought the boar in one hand, the duo then went back to the village. Chen Hanchen give the boar to Lu Rianli to process before taking Yan Xiu home.

Yan Xiu randomly took off his clothes before climbing to bed and slept. He didn't check the fields or the livestock, he was too tired. And so, the curtain fell down for Yan Xiu first hunting training.