Chapter 55: Mountains and Forests (Part II)

……

“Many thanks, brother!”

“Meeting is fate. I am Lin Zheyu; may I ask your honorable name?”

“If you ever travel to Songyi City in the future, I shall certainly treat you to a drink.” Lin Zheyu marked the spot, put away his map, and spoke with a smile.

The man possessed decent strength and appeared to be a hunter who traveled the mountains and forests year-round; he was undoubtedly extremely familiar with this region.

Making a friend of such a person might prove useful in the future.

“'Honorable name' is too much flattery. I am Ma Wangcheng,” the man replied.

“Is Brother Ma from the Ma Family Village?” Lin Zheyu asked.

“Indeed.”

Ma Wangcheng nodded.

Their Ma Family Village was quite famous outside the city; many of the beast meats and medicinal herbs found in the city were provided by the men of the Ma Family Village.

“I have long heard of the formidable strength of the Ma Family Village men. Seeing you today, it is clear your reputation is well-deserved.”

Lin Zheyu offered a compliment.

However, he was speaking the truth. Ma Wangcheng’s strength in the Viscera Refining Realm made him a skilled fighter even within Songyi City.

“Brother Lin is too kind; it is merely empty fame.”

Ma Wangcheng smiled.

Everyone enjoys hearing pleasant words, and he was no exception.

It felt especially gratifying to be praised by this seemingly mysterious young man who appeared to possess extraordinary strength.

“By the way, Brother Ma, I have one doubt. I believed I was hiding quite well just now; I wonder how you discovered me?”

Lin Zheyu looked at the man curiously.

He had gone through the trouble of acting friendly because he intended to uncover the mystery behind the man's perception, so that he wouldn't easily expose his tracks when hiding or tracking in the future.

“It is not a difficult matter.”

“I have traveled through deep mountains and wild forests for many years, which has trained a pair of keen noses. I am extremely familiar with the scents of the wilderness. I can distinguish what scent should be in a certain place and what should not.”

“Brother Lin, you must have just passed through an area filled with Red Mountain Incense. The fragrance of this flower is peculiar; it only grows in specific environments, and once it clings to you, it does not dissipate easily.”

“When I was fighting that beast just now, the scent of Red Mountain Incense suddenly appeared. At that moment, there was no breeze blowing, nor was there any movement from other beasts. Thus, I guessed that someone had arrived,” Ma Wangcheng explained in great detail.

“Impressive!”

Lin Zheyu marveled.

He sniffed his own scent but could not detect anything unusual; there was no trace of Red Mountain Incense at all.

“It is just a small trick. Many experienced old hunters and herbalists can easily distinguish it.”

“You won't be able to smell it like this, Brother Lin. The scent of Red Mountain Incense is extremely faint. Only those who have been trained and frequently come into contact with it can perceive it.”

Ma Wangcheng spoke up when he saw Lin Zheyu repeatedly sniffing himself.

“I see. Please excuse my ignorance,” Lin Zheyu said with a smile. “Thank you for clearing my doubt, Brother Ma. In the future, if I go to Songyi City, you can find me by giving my name at the Bidan Teahouse.”

“When you arrive, I shall certainly host a feast for you as a token of my gratitude.”

“Brother Lin is too polite; it was merely a small gesture,” Ma Wangcheng said, waving his hand with a smile.

“Then we shall part ways here. Until we meet again!”

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands, turned, and prepared to dart into the dense forest.

“Wait!”

A look of hesitation crossed Ma Wangcheng's face as he called out to Lin Zheyu.

Lin Zheyu turned back, looking at Ma Wangcheng curiously, wondering why he had stopped him.

“Brother Lin does not seem to come around here often and is unfamiliar with the area. There is something I should tell you.”

“It is already approaching the hour of the Monkey. If you head toward Lion Valley and try to return by the same route, I fear it will already be dark.”

“After dark, it is best to take a detour via the official road. Do not pass through Beast Roar Mountain ahead; the mountains are not peaceful at night,” Ma Wangcheng cautioned.

Though he was somewhat overly cautious, he was a man of good character. After confirming that Lin Zheyu was not a bad person, he took the initiative to warn him of potential dangers.

“Oh?”

“Have powerful beasts appeared in Beast Roar Mountain?” Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

He pulled out his map to locate Beast Roar Mountain.

After crossing this mountain, the next one was Beast Roar Mountain.

Beast Roar Mountain was teeming with ferocious beasts and predators.

The mountains frequently echoed with the thunderous roars of massive beasts, which was how it earned its name.

However, as far as he knew, the beasts on the outskirts of Beast Roar Mountain were not very strong, making it a favorite hunting ground for hunters.

“No, the beasts on the outskirts are not strong. The most powerful beast I have encountered was roughly similar to that Green-Tusked Bear just now.”

“However, not long ago, someone dug up a corpse in Beast Roar Mountain. The corpse came back to life and killed many people.”

“Every time night falls, that living corpse comes out to move about and hunt for food,” Ma Wangcheng said.

The living corpse only became active at night when the Yin energy was heavy; during the day, it would find a place to hide and sleep.

As long as no one actively provoked it, the living corpse generally would not initiate an attack during the day.

“A living corpse!?”

Lin Zheyu’s eyes widened, filled with curiosity.

After learning about the power of living corpses from Jia Yanyong and the others, he had specifically gathered related information.

A living corpse was similar to a Jiangshi from his previous life—possessing skin like copper and bones like iron—but they did not bite; they only ate humans, especially preferring blood-rich prey with vigorous vitality.

Unlike the stiff joints of a Jiangshi, their movements were similar to a normal person's.

Their bodies were filled with Yin-煞 (Yin-煞/Malevolent Yin) energy. If bitten or scratched by their nails, one would be afflicted by Yin-煞 poison, which was extremely difficult to treat.

“What is the strength of this living corpse? Have you encountered one, Brother Ma?” Lin Zheyu asked.

“No. If I had, I fear I wouldn't have come back.”

“The strength of a living corpse is immense; one cannot contend with it unless they are a martial artist of the Blood Qi Realm.”

“Even a Blood Qi Realm martial artist must respond with extreme caution. If one is accidentally scratched or bitten and the Yin-煞 poison enters the body, it requires a very long period of recuperation to recover,” Ma Wangcheng said.

“Thank you for the warning, Brother Ma.”

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands toward Ma Wangcheng and turned to dash into the forest. This time, Ma Wangcheng did not call him back.

Watching Lin Zheyu's retreating figure, Ma Wangcheng remained silent.

He sniffed the air, and only after confirming the other had gone far away did he let out a complete sigh of relief.

Lin Zheyu did not appear to be very strong, perhaps only around the Bone Forging Realm. Yet, his words and actions exuded a sense of confidence, clearly suggesting he had something to rely on.

Ma Wangcheng was currently in poor condition; if a conflict truly broke out, he feared he wouldn't come out on top.

“I didn't expect that Green-Tusked Bear to be so powerful. To still have such strength after losing so much blood... I almost met my end in a ditch,” Ma Wangcheng muttered.

He pulled out a small vial of medicinal powder and began carefully treating his wounds.

During the struggle with the Green-Tusked Bear, he had been scratched several times by its sharp claws, though fortunately, they were only superficial.

“I must keep pursuing. A beast this powerful can be sold for quite a lot of silver.”

Ma Wangcheng picked up the arrows and crossbow from the ground and began tracking the bloodstains.

……

“Do I really smell like Red Mountain Incense?”

Lin Zheyu walked through the forest at a moderate pace.

He occasionally sniffed himself, but he could smell nothing.

Ma Wangcheng did not seem to be lying; on his way here, he had indeed passed through an area filled with bright red flowers.

Because there was no path ahead, he had walked through the flower beds, and the fragrance had clung to him.

The scent of those flowers was very faint, detectable only when one was inside the thicket; once two meters away, it vanished.

For such a faint scent to be detected from that distance, Ma Wangcheng's sense of smell must be truly incredible.

“I need to pay attention to this in the future and find someone to teach me the relevant knowledge when I return,” Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

As Ma Wangcheng had said, many experienced old hunters could smell Red Mountain Incense, which meant it was a skill that could be acquired through training.

This time, he walked much more carefully, trying his best to avoid touching any plants or flowers that might leave a scent.

Following the direction Ma Wangcheng had indicated, Lin Zheyu soon crossed the mountain and arrived at the foot of Beast Roar Mountain.

As soon as he reached the foot of the mountain, he heard the roars of beasts echoing from within.

Beast Roar Mountain was vast, a continuous mountain range that stretched as far as the eye could see.

In the deepest parts of the mountains, hunters and herbalists did not dare to venture randomly; those who were bold often disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Not long after entering the mountains, he encountered a hunting party of five people.

Lin Zheyu watched them from a distance and did not approach.

The five men appeared robust and well-muscled; although they had not reached the Bone Forging Realm, they were still decent fighters.

Beast Roar Mountain lived up to its name, with all sorts of predators appearing incessantly.

Even with the constant hunting by locals, the beast population showed no sign of decreasing; a steady stream of predators emerged from the deep mountains into the outer regions.

“Rumor has it that living corpses look much like living humans. I wonder what the reality is like.”

Lin Zheyu was very curious about the true strength of a living corpse and whether he could defeat one.

However, his bone-deep caution forced him to suppress this curiosity.

Although the Blood Qi Realm was said to be capable of dealing with living corpses, even they were helpless against their iron-like skin and the ability to infect with Yin-煞 poison upon contact.

Lin Zheyu did not want to take risks.

With his abilities, as long as he had enough time and money, he could grow strong quickly. There was no need to put himself in danger just for a bit of curiosity.

The main purpose of this trip was to scout the environment outside the city; the secondary purpose was to lure Xing Jinglong and eliminate him.

If he happened to encounter some mindless bandits, he would kill them to rid the people of harm.

*Rustle. Rustle.*

In the forest, a light breeze blew, creating a rustling sound.

Lin Zheyu moved quickly through the woods, occasionally hearing the roars of beasts.

*Whoosh!*

A colorful snake, about an inch thick and two to three meters long, suddenly lunged from a tree toward Lin Zheyu's neck.

*Hiss~~*

The small snake flicked its tongue, making a hissing sound.

Just as the snake was twenty or thirty centimeters from his face, his right hand shot out with speed and precision, grabbing the area two centimeters behind the snake's head, his fingers clamping tightly around its skull.

The small snake struggled, coiling itself tightly around his arm.

Holding its head, Lin Zheyu forced the snake's mouth against the corner of his clothing and gave a sharp tug, pulling the venomous teeth straight out.

Immediately after, he wrapped the toothless snake a few times, tied it in a knot, and placed it in his pack.

This snake could still be sold for a little money if brought back.

“If I have the skill, I could make quite a bit of money hunting in the mountains,” Lin Zheyu mused.

He had encountered many wild animals along the way.

These animals were all extremely slippery and difficult to catch, requiring some knowledge of hunting.

He estimated that a powerful and veteran hunter like Ma Wangcheng probably earned no less than ten taels of silver per month.

“Didn't they say bandits were rampant here? Why haven't I run into any after walking this long?”

Lin Zheyu muttered, looking around to see if there were any signs of bandits.

He simply wanted to rid the people of harm; it was not for their silver. He was just that kind of man who hated evil.

As he thought it, it happened.

After advancing another few hundred meters and passing through a dense thicket, an arrow shot out from the woods.

*Whiz—*

The arrow was extremely fast, aimed straight for Lin Zheyu's chest.

*Clack!*

A flash of blade light erupted as Lin Zheyu swung his hand casually. With a sharp sound, the arrow snapped in two and fell to the ground.

*Whiz, whiz, whiz!*

The opponents had no intention of leaving survivors; another dozen arrows flew out from the forest.

Lin Zheyu's figure moved; he employed the Golden Goose Technique, his blade whistling with silver light as he sliced all the arrows in half.

“Tough customer! Retreat!”

In the dense forest, the leader of the group saw this and felt his heart tighten, knowing they had encountered an expert.

He made an immediate decision, even discarding his crossbow, and rushed toward a prepared escape route.

The men beside him, also holding crossbows, showed panic in their eyes and scrambled to follow their leader.

When they had first seen someone appearing—looking like a young master from the city—they had decided to fire a few cold arrows to finish him off.

They hadn't expected the newcomer to be such a ruthless fighter, easily slicing through the arrows with his blade.

Such strength definitely reached the Viscera Refining Realm; they were no match for him.

“Ah!”

Having run only a few meters, the brother at the rear was struck by the sharp blade. With a squelch, he was sliced in two, blood spraying everywhere.

The leader's heart tightened with terror; that guy's speed was incredible—he had appeared behind them in the blink of an eye!

*Whoosh!*

The man pulled two cloth bundles from his robes and threw them violently at Lin Zheyu. A white powder dispersed into the air.

At this point, he no longer cared about his brothers behind him; saving his own life was the priority.

“That trick again!”

Lin Zheyu's eyes narrowed as he halted his movement.

Real combat was far more insidious and ruthless than the practical training taught by Master Liang; no one would be foolish enough to trade strength head-on with you.

Using dirty tricks, firing ambush arrows, and throwing poison powder were the most common methods.

But even when using poison, one's strength mattered!

The strongest of these men was only at the Bone Forging Realm. With such weak strength, he could resolve this easily without even getting close.

*Whiz, whiz, whiz!*

Lin Zheyu pulled five flying daggers from his waist pouch and flung them with force. The daggers whistled through the air, piercing through hard skulls and embedding themselves into the back of the five men's heads.

“Aaaagh!”

Several screams rang out as the nameless men collapsed forward, their bodies twitching as the light faded from their eyes.

“First business... cough, no, it's ridding the people of harm.”

Lin Zheyu looked at the six corpses on the ground, his heart unmoved.

These men were vicious outlaws; they had likely stained their hands with the blood of countless innocent, unfortunate people.

He waited until the white powder in the air had dissipated and waited a moment longer before using a piece of linen to wrap his hand, cautiously approaching to loot the bodies.

He felt more and more the necessity of understanding poisons better; if he had known what kind of powder that man had thrown, he wouldn't have had to be so cautious.

“As expected, these guys aren't carrying any silver.”

Lin Zheyu searched carefully but found no money.

For these outlaws, while they were out hunting others, it was common to meet an unexpected end.

Every time they went out, they were prepared to die, having their heads figuratively hanging by a thread; they wouldn't carry money with them.

He found no coins on any of them, only various small vials and small packets of different colored powders—healing, medicinal, and antidotes, all of which were present.

There were also some poisoned hidden weapons and such.

In addition to these, there was a small bag of fresh wild medicinal herbs, likely stolen from some unlucky herbalist.

“These things are decent, though they are hard to sell. If I can find a channel, I could probably get a few taels of silver for them.”

Lin Zheyu looked at the miscellaneous items he had scavenged. To stay alive, these men had made thorough preparations.