Chapter 4 of 100

Chapter 4

16 min read3,908 words

A thief who unexpectedly succeeded, along with a lookout accomplice, crossed mountains and ridges, fleeing far from Black Pine Valley to hide in the deep mountains, feeling both terrified and elated. Wei Shizheng recalled distant past events, and this feeling was just like when he cheated on exams back then.

After catching his breath, Wei Shizheng washed the animal skin in the stream, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it. It still had a bit of a stench, but it was tolerable. He maliciously guessed what the old bear used this animal skin for. The blue wolf circled around him, unable to wait, tugging at his clothes one moment and nudging him with its nose the next, completely losing its previous dignity, much like a puppy seeking favor.

Wei Shizheng knew what it wanted. He spread the animal skin on the ground, pointed to the human figures on it, and explained in detail with gestures. The blue wolf, which already had some intelligence, understood by comparing the old bear's actions in Black Pine Valley. It looked up at the sky, eager and impatient.

Having obtained the animal skin for free, Wei Shizheng was no longer in a hurry to go down the mountain. He wanted to see the results of the blue wolf's cultivation. If there were no major issues, he might try it himself. This might not be the best plan, but it was better than hoping for some vague possibility.

As dusk fell and a bright moon pierced through the thin clouds, hanging perfectly in the sky, the blue wolf could no longer hold back. It leaped onto the cliff, mimicking the human figures on the animal skin, sitting cross-legged and facing the moon, mouth wide open.

It looked really silly and innocent.

After a moment of hesitation, the blue wolf swallowed the moonlight with a "ah-woof." After waiting for a long time and seeing no reaction, it opened its mouth again and continued to swallow. Wei Shizheng remembered the legend of the heavenly dog eating the moon and couldn't help but laugh.

After maintaining the pose for a long time, with its mouth wide open, its jaw aching, saliva dripping, and its limbs numb, the blue wolf struggled to its feet, jumped down the cliff, and aimed at a big tree, arching its back and crashing into it. With a "thud," the blue wolf fell to the ground, yelping in pain and unable to get up for a while.

To harness the essence of heaven and earth, absorb the essence of the sun and moon, and cultivate into a spirit was truly not easy. Wei Shizheng thought to himself that when the blue wolf swallowed the moonlight, its body did not swell like the old bear's, meaning the first step had not succeeded.

However, how could one swallow the moonlight into the body? Wei Shizheng examined the animal skin from all angles, front and back, but could not figure out the key.

After resting on the ground for a while, the blue wolf climbed back up the cliff and diligently repeated the process of swallowing the moonlight and crashing into the tree. By dawn, it was lying weakly in the grass, covered in bruises, a pitiful sight. Wei Shizheng knew why it was so determined. He just observed quietly without trying to stop it.

After a long rest, the blue wolf struggled to its feet, nodded to Wei Shizheng, and staggered into the forest.

Wei Shizheng identified the direction and returned to Old Crow Ridge. He ate a hasty meal and fell asleep. After guarding Black Pine Valley for over ten days, even a man of iron would be exhausted. This sleep was particularly sweet, and he woke up in the middle of the night. A full moon hung high in the sky, illuminating everything like a layer of silver.

Wei Shizheng drank a few bowls of salt tea, opened the animal skin, and carefully examined it again, confirming there were no oversights. He found a large rock, sat cross-legged, faced the moonlight, took a deep breath, and slowly opened his mouth. He imagined the moonlight flowing into his mouth, swallowing it, and feeling it travel down his throat to his dantian. After repeating this several times, he felt no changes in his body. He realized something was wrong, and the first step had not succeeded. There was no need to foolishly crash into trees like the blue wolf.

In the following days, Wei Shizheng changed his posture, focused his mind, and repeatedly tried to swallow the moonlight, but no matter how hard he tried, there was no progress. He went into the mountains to find the blue wolf, which was emaciated and listless, clearly facing the same problem.

Was it the wrong method, or was it a lack of talent? Since the old bear in Black Pine Valley could cultivate, Wei Shizheng vaguely felt the reason was likely the latter.

He quickly pushed this discouraging thought out of his mind.

There were three days left until the date set by Deng Zhang. Wei Shizheng put aside his cultivation for the time being, packed his bags, and brought his hunting spear and bow and arrows. He first visited Old Liu and Mulian in Withered Vine Gully. Old Liu's foot had healed enough to walk, though he still limped. Mulian was delighted to see Wei Shizheng. Thanks to his help in Xinyang Town, she had enough money to buy rice and salt and bring ointment home to treat her father's foot.

After a brief chat, Wei Shizheng mentioned a good business opportunity in Xinyang Town, where someone hired him to hunt a black bear and extract its gallbladder. Mulian interjected that the person was the steward, Mr. Deng, from Zhao Yuanwai's residence in Shangguan Bridge. Old Liu was surprised, having heard of Mr. Deng's reputation, and urged Wei Shizheng to set off immediately, saying it was a big deal that couldn't be neglected.

With plenty of time, Wei Shizheng stayed a while longer, then set out calmly. He arrived in Xinyang Town in the evening and found a inn to stay in. The next day, he walked around Shangguan Bridge, visited the blacksmith, and had a dozen arrowheads made, attached to the prepared arrow shafts. He also ordered a cow-ear curved knife, agreeing to pick it up early the next morning. The blacksmith, worried about a lack of business and no food for the month, eagerly agreed and urged his apprentice to stoke the bellows, while he himself hammered away.

After dining at Dongxing Wine House and resting at the inn, Wei Shizheng found his way to Zhao Yuanwai's residence and requested to see Steward Deng Zhang. Deng Zhang was pleased, feeling that Wei Shizheng was considerate. He introduced him to his hunting companions: two local hunters, four guards, and two strong servants. As for his distant nephew who had joined Xiandu Sect, he was said to be meditating in a quiet room and did not appear.

Deng Zhang had the kitchen prepare a feast, and after a few drinks, he left. The group, emboldened by the alcohol, chatted and laughed, getting to know each other better. The four guards, in particular, were full of themselves, boasting about their skills. Wei Shizheng just drank and ate, not saying much. He observed them coldly, noting that except for a strong servant surnamed Yue, the rest were average. But then again, in front of the ferocious old bear, they were all just weaklings with a combat strength of 5...

After a hearty meal, everyone dispersed to rest. Wei Shizheng bid farewell to Deng Zhang and returned to the inn, lost in thought.

He had been in this world for five or six years. On the surface, he was still the son of his adoptive father, a member of Withered Vine Gully, and a valued young man in Old Liu's family. But he had no feelings for the people and things in this world. After handling his father's funeral, he decisively left Withered Vine Gully and lived alone at the foot of Old Crow Ridge. This was an instinctive decision, cutting ties with the past and severing all possible bonds to start anew.

He no longer thought about the past, waiting for certain events to happen. If there was an opportunity, he was willing to take a big gamble, even risking his life.

Through the thin door, a commotion and noise could be heard. In this small inn, everyone carried the toil of the past ten days, stirring in a pot called "the human world." The sounds seemed distant yet clear, striking his eardrums, but he could not discern any meaning. Wei Shizheng closed his eyes and thought, "Living is a cultivation game, and I have a large, hard heart."

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