Chapter 11: Minor Mastery of Saber Techniques

"Not bad, Su Mu. A couple of days ago, I thought you were just lucky, but I never expected you to bag such a large deer today."

Sun Dazhao, the manager of the Hunter’s Guild, clicked his tongue in wonder. "At this rate, won't you be bringing back a wild boar next time?"

"You flatter me, Master Sun."

Su Mu said shyly, "Only the top-tier hunters can take down a wild boar. I’m still far from that level."

"How old are you, anyway?"

Sun Dazhao chuckled. "In my opinion, you’ll be the best hunter in Wuling City sooner or later. Actually, there aren't many hunters in Wuling City who are better than you right now."

He didn't feel a shred of jealousy; the more game Su Mu brought in, the more he earned.

He was more than happy for Su Mu to bag even more prey.

Sun Dazhao’s management style was different from Zhang Chong of the Woodcutter’s Guild. While both were exploitative, Sun never skimped on kind words.

Besides, it cost him nothing to say a few nice things.

"I truly didn't expect this. A month ago, you didn't even have a bow. I thought you were just daydreaming about hunting. But in just one month—I won't speak for all of Wuling City, but among all the hunters in the South District, you are definitely this!"

Sun Dazhao held up his thumb.

There were many hunters who went out of the city every day, but few had consistent results like Su Mu, and his hauls had only been growing larger these past few days.

Today, Su Mu had actually carried a deer back on his back.

A deer this size would sell for at least seven or eight taels of silver, and Sun Dazhao could make at least three or four taels off it. How could he not be happy?

Sun Dazhao had never seen Su Mu hunt, but judging by the prey, Su Mu was undoubtedly one of the top hunters in the South District.

"My father was a hunter, too. I learned to hunt when I was young; I’m just picking up the old skills again," Su Mu said, making up an excuse.

"A family tradition, eh? Good lad, I believe in you. Keep at it, and the title of Wuling City’s number one hunter will be yours sooner or later."

Sun Dazhao gave Su Mu three taels of silver, patted him on the shoulder, and showered him with a basketful of compliments.

Su Mu calmly tucked the silver away, cupped his hands to Sun Dazhao, and headed toward his home.

A gaze filled with envy and jealousy followed him, and only when he disappeared into the alley did those people look away.

"Brother Sun."

No sooner had Su Mu left than a man approached the Hunter’s Guild and greeted Sun Dazhao.

"Ah, Liu Hai, you’ve come at just the right time. I just took in a wild deer. Does your restaurant want it?"

"Yes, of course. Some of the high-ranking officials love this kind of game," Liu Hai said quickly. He had come specifically because he had seen the deer.

"Since we’re old acquaintances, I’ll let you have it for nine taels of silver," Sun Dazhao said.

Liu Hai agreed readily. A deer this large could be turned into quite a few dishes.

The wealthy officials who enjoyed such delicacies didn't care about the cost.

"Speaking of which, Liu Hai, you have a connection to this deer. Do you know who caught it?"

After taking the silver and generously arranging for a few subordinates to help Liu Hai deliver the deer to his restaurant, Sun Dazhao said casually, "That kid who’s renting your house. He’s got some decent ancestral skills; he brings in game every day. At this rate, I’m afraid it won't be long before he saves up a tidy fortune. Remarkable, really."

...

That evening.

At the Liu family’s dinner table, Liu Hai, his wife, and Liu Hongyu chatted while they ate.

"Su Mu, the one renting our house—" Liu Hai began.

"What about him?" Mrs. Liu asked curiously.

"It’s hard to believe, but even though the lad looks frail, he actually has a real knack for hunting," Liu Hai said, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Wasn't he a hunter to begin with? Isn't it normal for him to know how to hunt?" Liu Hongyu said. "So what if he’s good at hunting? He can't compare to Brother Feng at all. Brother Feng passed the South City Guard selection and is already wearing the black uniform; his future is nothing a hunter could compare to."

She wasn't trying to belittle Su Mu on purpose.

It was simply the truth.

A hunter and a government official were in completely different leagues, both in terms of social status and future prospects.

"Of course he can't compare to Feng'er." Liu Hai felt comforted, his face crinkling into a smile. "But it’s not bad, either. He caught a wild deer today and sold it for three taels of silver. With that skill, I’m afraid it won't be many years before he can settle down and buy property in Wuling City."

"Hunting isn't something you can guarantee every time," Mrs. Liu said. "It’s not that easy to settle down and buy property in Wuling City. How much silver have we saved up over these years? It’s not even enough to buy a bigger house for Feng'er."

"Auntie, don't you worry. Brother Feng is already an official; he’ll definitely have a house, and he’ll definitely have a wife, too," Liu Hongyu comforted her.

"Now that he has a job, it is time to find him a match," Mrs. Liu said with a smile. "And you, Hongyu, I’ve already told Feng'er to keep an eye out among the other guards for you. We have to pick someone good; otherwise, he won't be worthy of our Hongyu."

Liu Hongyu lowered her head, her face slightly flushed, looking demure.

...

"The points keep increasing, but the silver keeps decreasing."

In his dilapidated little courtyard, Su Mu hid the silver in a clay pot under his bed. The silver clinked crisply against the bottom of the pot.

He hadn't heard what Liu Feng’s mother said, but if he had, he would have certainly agreed.

Living in Wuling is not easy.

He hunted every day and had a bountiful harvest, earning more than the average person.

Even so, his savings weren't growing; they were dwindling.

The main reason was that he ate too much!

Hunting was physical labor, and Su Mu also had to practice his blade and archery, which consumed even more energy, so naturally, he had to eat more.

"No wonder everyone knows that martial arts can lead to success, yet so few poor people practice it. 'Literature is for the poor, martial arts are for the rich.' Not to mention the tuition for martial arts schools, just the food alone is enough to eat a person into poverty." Su Mu sighed inwardly. "It’s a good thing I can practice martial arts on my own without paying tuition."

With a thought, Su Mu summoned his panel.

【Name: Su Mu】 【Identity: Hunter (Commoner)】 【Points: 100】 【Martial Arts: Fubo Blade Technique (Entry/+), Archery (Entry/+)】

For over a month, he had diligently performed his duties as a hunter and finally saved up 100 points.

A "+" had appeared next to both Fubo Blade Technique and Archery.

"One really shouldn't be complacent. If I hadn't achieved success in my profession as a hunter, it probably would have taken another month or two to save up 100 points," Su Mu thought to himself.

After his archery reached the entry level, he could gain two points every day he hunted.

If he hadn't chosen to become a better hunter, he would still be grinding away at one point a day.

"Should I upgrade the blade technique or the archery?"

Su Mu focused his attention on the panel, thinking carefully.

"My archery is already among the best of the hunters; what I lack is experience in tracking beasts and setting traps."

"The ceiling for a hunter isn't high. I’m already in the top tier of hunters. Even if my archery improves further, the benefit to my career as a hunter is limited."

"Besides, I can't be a hunter forever. Unless I become an archer in the army, practicing the blade is more appropriate."

"The blade is a common weapon, and blade techniques are easier to acquire. By comparison, there are far fewer martial arts for archery."

After weighing his options, Su Mu quickly made his decision.

He took a deep breath.

With a thought, Su Mu spent all 100 of his accumulated points.

*Hum!*

In an instant, a new memory flooded Su Mu’s mind.

It was the skill of two years of hard practice in the Fubo Blade Technique.

Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, regardless of the heat or cold, he had practiced day after day, month after month.

When Su Mu regained his senses, his clothes were soaked with sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of water.

But when he gripped his wood-chopping knife again, a feeling of perfect control surged through him.

His blade technique had reached the "Minor Success" stage. He had mastered all the moves and variations, allowing him to adapt to any situation in combat and execute various techniques at will. He had truly stepped over the threshold of a swordsman and could be considered a practitioner.

(End of chapter)