Dian Jing did not linger. After delivering his message, he left Cloud-Front Village, ready to head into the mountains. He was already planning to join other hunters in the pursuit of the Desolate Beasts. His coming to Su Yan with this news was indeed an act of compensation.
Su Yan watched Dian Jing leave, pondered for a moment, then took two pieces of dried meat from his house and went to find the Village Head at the end of the village. Although Cloud-Front Village wasn't a hunter settlement, it had many mountain-men. If the yamen had any news, the Village Head would surely know.
He found the Village Head, Zheng Daqing, preparing to leave with his pipe.
"Grandpa Lizheng, are you heading out?"
Zheng Daqing smiled kindly when he saw Su Yan and nodded: "Just doing a round of the village. I have something to tell you all."
Su Yan's eyes flickered: 'It must be the same news.' He presented the dried meat: "Grandpa Lizheng, I made dried meat from the rabbit I hunted a few days ago. I've brought some for you and Brother Gang (Zheng Penggang) to try."
Zheng Daqing was taken aback, his eyes crinkling in a smile: "You shouldn't, you shouldn't! How can I take your things?"
"Brother Gang helped me take Uncle Xie to the market to see the doctor. If he can walk that far, why can't he take this?" Su Yan pressed the dried meat into the Village Head's hand, making sure he had a firm grip, and casually added: "Grandpa, a friend of mine said things are uneasy in the mountains lately?"
The Village Head looked at Su Yan in surprise, then nodded: "You don't miss anything, Brother Yan. You're well-informed. The city officials just sent word this morning that there are beasts causing trouble in the mountains and told all mountain-men to be careful and avoid the Inner Mountain boundary."
The news the Village Head had was no more detailed than Dian Jing's, but it confirmed the information. Su Yan was satisfied.
'What Dian Jing said is true. This is an opportunity.' A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the Village Head, he excused himself.
Returning home, he changed into his mountain gear, picking up his broadsword and staff, and slinging his longbow onto his back. He strode into the mountains, completely bypassing the Outer Mountain. He released the Dark Water Centipede and the Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug into the bushes and headed straight for the Inner Mountain.
The dense forest was like an umbrella, covered in vines. The roads were muddy, littered with decaying leaves. With his Stance Skill at Minor Accomplishment, Su Yan's footwork was steady, allowing him to traverse the difficult path as if it were flat ground.
He traveled for an hour, crossing two or three mountain peaks, finally reaching the peaks bordering the Inner Mountain.
"This should be far enough. Time to let the Dark Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug search for Treasure Plants and wild beasts." Su Yan found a large tree with a relatively clear view, held his hardwood bow, and sent the Dark Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug out, one to the left and one to the right, into the undergrowth.
Though small, the two Contracted Bugs commanded considerable deterrence in the forest. As they burrowed into the weeds, roots, and bushes, small animals like rabbits, muntjac deer, and wild pheasants scattered in panic.
Su Yan's gaze was hawk-like. He drew his bow and shot. The dense trees and bushes couldn't obstruct his view. After achieving Great Accomplishment in Basic Archery, his perception and technique in the forest were incredibly sharp. Drawing and shooting felt as natural as raising his hand. In a short while, Su Yan had hunted several wild pheasants and rabbits.
Suddenly, the bushes violently shook, and a roar approached. The Dark Water Centipede seemed to be confronting a fierce beast. Su Yan's eyes lit up. His fighting intent surged, and he quickly rushed toward the sound.
"Roar!"
The roar was immense, like muffled thunder. A massive, black figure rose straight up from the bushes.
'What a large black bear.'
The great black bear bared its fangs, its huge paws exposing curved claws, looking ready to strike. In front of it, the Dark Water Centipede reared up, trembling slightly, releasing its ranked aura. The massive black bear clearly knew the poisonous centipede was trouble. Despite the huge difference in size, it didn't dare risk a fight, instead using its sheer bulk as a threat.
However, Su Yan's arrival broke the balance. The black bear roared in fury, preparing to attack.
"Perfect timing!" Su Yan was eager for combat practice to push his Stance Skill, Fist Art, and Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining further. He was not afraid of a fight.
The Dark Water Centipede retreated two to three meters, clearing the space. Su Yan charged forward swiftly. The black bear lunged, a massive black mass, its foul breath hitting Su Yan.
Su Yan'sStance Skill generated power in his feet, which sank three parts into the earth. Force rose from the ground, his waist firm as pine, and his whole body converged power to brace against the bear's attack. It was the Old Ape Supporting the Peak stance, catching the fierce bear's double paws.
The bear was stunned and fearful. Even fierce tigers in this forest found it difficult to wrestle with it, yet here was a two-legged creature, usually its food, doing just that. Su Yan ignored the clumsy bear's reaction. He exerted force and spun his body, slamming the black bear to the ground. There was a dull thump, crushing countless bushes.
The bear roared in pain and rolled back onto its feet, charging like a heavy truck. Its fat and fur rippled, showing its brute strength and bulk.
"It's certainly tougher than the tiger." Su Yan rushed forward. The bear snapped its jaws and swung its paws. Su Yan's arms swung like whips, transforming into the Golden Ape Striking the Crown move, which heavily impacted the black bear's head. The blow dizzied the bear, staggering its body. Su Yan then used the explosive force in his foot to deliver a knee strike, like the Star Kicking the Dipper, which snapped the bear's lower jaw and forced its head upward.
Before the bear could recover its fury, Su Yan followed up with the White Ape Offering the Peach move. The combined force of his hands, one to two thousand jin, crushed the bear's jaw and neck vertebrae, killing it instantly.
The huge body crashed to the ground. Su Yan exhaled and finished his practice.
"It's still not completely fluid. If it were, using the Golden Ape Striking the Crown on the back of its neck would have killed it instantly, avoiding this prolonged fight. Again!"
Su Yan's enthusiasm was high. He temporarily ignored the bear's carcass and had the Dark Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug continue searching.
About ten minutes later, a wild boar the size of a small cow, with bared tusks, charged through the bushes. Su Yan discarded his longbow and rushed after it, using both hands to tackle and throw it, then smashing its skull with two punches.
Another hour passed, and either the Dark Water Centipede startled a black leopard, or the leopard was stalking Su Yan. The leopard suddenly attacked from the branch of an old tree. Su Yan sensed it and fought back. The leopard was agile, its movements sharp, like lightning in the forest. Su Yan was composed, flipping and twisting like a fierce mountain ape, reacting effortlessly. After fighting for over ten rounds, he finally wrestled the leopard down from the tree and broke its spine.
As night fell, Su Yan paused but had no intention of descending the mountain. He set up the rabbit on a spit over the fire. The Dark Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug devoured the carcasses of the game he had killed.
Su Yan stood in his stance amidst the old forest. The cold mountain wind howled, and the branches and bushes rustled, creating a deep silence.
'Martial arts are skills for killing. Even the cultivation path is a way to fight against others, against the heavens, and against oneself. The saying 'Don't practice the dead stance' means not only moving but also being capable and daring enough to fight.'
He was enlightened. His stance became more natural. His face was calm as water, but his body's blood energy surged like fire, continuously tempering his skin. A layer of blood energy slowly began to condense beneath his skin, forming a second line of defense. The combat practice today had reignited his slowing progress. Though he only fought a bear, a leopard, a boar, and some smaller game, the feeling was profoundly different from simply practicing forms.
"Awoo!"
Suddenly, under the moonlight, a startled wolf howl echoed through the wind. The sound of panic and flight quickly followed.
Su Yan's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint passing through them. The howls, sounding throughout the ravine, were not rallying cries but sounds of terror and flight.
"What could be hunting the wolves?"