Chapter 16

When Lu Qi and his group of several hundred people returned with a full load, Xitu and Huiniang, along with the village households and the Zenuo who had stayed behind, came out to welcome them, as if they were welcoming a victorious army.

For these village households and Zenuo, every hunting expedition was undoubtedly a heroic deed, because they brought back food and hope for life.

"You're finally back, we were so worried!" Huiniang wiped away her tears. Usually, hunting expeditions would return after about fifteen days, but this time, it took a whole month. It wasn't until the first snow fell that they finally returned through the snow.

While Lu Kang was comforting Huiniang, Xitu looked at Lu Qi with a very expressive face: "Tigerhead, it seems you've done something amazing again. From what I can see, the harvest is three times what it used to be!"

"Old Household Head, the team leader found a way to get water in the dense forest. In the future, everyone will only need to carry a small amount of water and a water bag, which will save a lot of trouble!" Dafeng's face was filled with deep admiration. Ever since he found a sense of belonging, he often thought about Lu Qi's powerful abilities and the fact that Lu Qi had saved his life. Dafeng was undoubtedly in awe of Lu Qi.

And this time, Lu Qi's winter hunt had won the loyalty of not just Dafeng, but also Dashun, Xiaoqiang, and many other Zenuo. They all spoke highly of Lu Qi to Xitu, as if they needed to share his accomplishments.

Xitu's eyes sparkled: "Tigerhead, I was a bit worried that you might encounter some setbacks on this winter hunt. After all, the handover between new and old team leaders has never been smooth. But it seems my worries were unnecessary."

Lu Qi lightly pinched his nose: "Old Household Head, your worries weren't unfounded. What you see is just the result. Did you notice that only Dashun is left among the four squad leaders?"

Xitu suddenly realized: "Then you should tell me what happened in between."

"Those are minor issues, Old Household Head. Look at this..." Lu Qi took out a blood-red crystal from his waist. The irregularly shaped crystal was slightly smaller than a palm, resembling a water plant's fruit like a water chestnut, but also a bit like an abstract bull's head with horns, giving a sense of strong vitality.

The moment Xitu's eyes fell on the crystal, his pupils contracted sharply, and the sound of his sharp intake of breath could be heard from several feet away: "Heaven, what... Tigerhead, what did you kill?"

Lu Qi knew they must have encountered something extraordinary, something that probably didn't exist on Earth. He shrugged: "A 2,300-pound bear. This was taken from its heart when we dismembered it!"

"My goodness, where's the bear!" Xitu's face changed dramatically as he looked around.

Lu Qi replied: "It was too big for anyone to drag. We dismembered it, but I felt that the damn thing was extraordinary, so I brought back even its intestines, though I cleaned out the filth inside!"

"What about the skin?" Xitu was still a bit tense: "You didn't cut the skin, did you?"

Lu Qi rolled his eyes: "Old Household Head, do I look like an ignorant person? Of course, I skinned it whole. Such a large bear skin must be quite valuable, right?"

"That's good, that's good!" Xitu suddenly burst into laughter, the wrinkles on his face seeming to smooth out: "Tigerhead, our Northwest Household is going to prosper. The bear you killed isn't an ordinary fruit-palm bear, but a Violent Bear!"

"It was indeed violent, chasing me through half the dense forest!" Lu Qi lightly pinched his nose: "Old Household Head, don't gasp so much. What's so special about this Violent Bear? What exactly is this thing in my hand, an organ?"

"Violent Bears are specifically mutated bears, they are spirit beasts, meaning they are almost like spirits. The thing in your hand isn't an organ, but a heart core, which gives spirit beasts special abilities beyond ordinary beasts. For example, Violent Bears are said to have a berserk power, which makes their destructive power comparable to that of martial artists in the Blood Boil Realm."

Lu Qi was surprised: "Is it that exaggerated? Although its strength was indeed terrifying, its strongest attack might exceed ten thousand pounds, but you once told me that martial artists in the Blood Boil Realm are like gods."

Xitu said solemnly: "Of course, a spirit beast would be no match for a martial artist in the Blood Boil Realm, but in certain aspects, they are indeed comparable. I've heard that a village in the Fruit-Palm Dense Forest was attacked by a spirit beast, and only two people survived. It's terrifying. Martial artists below the Eighth Bone Resonance level would basically run away upon seeing a spirit beast..."

"Spirit beasts are treasures all over!" Xitu paused, looking at Lu Qi with disbelief: "Heaven, Tigerhead, how did you manage to kill it? You know, tranquilizers have no effect on it!"

Lu Qi thought about it and felt a bit scared: "It fell to its death. I was lucky, or I would have fallen with it!"

Thinking about how he had survived under such a fierce spirit beast, Dafeng straightened his back and excitedly explained the details to Xitu, making the story vivid and thrilling, evoking a strong sense of participation and danger.

"What exactly is the use of this heart core?" Lu Qi gradually acknowledged that this world was indeed different from Earth in many ways. He had to maintain a good attitude and be ready to accept all sorts of incredible new things.

Xitu shook his head: "I'm not entirely sure, but I know the main household collects this thing. When I took the position of Household Head, the main household emphasized its importance multiple times. You know, handing this over can exempt the Northwest Household from three years of material quotas."

This shocked even Lu Qi. Although the Northwest Household's productivity was relatively low, with over a thousand people hunting, gathering herbs, and catching insects, the total output wasn't small. Most of it had to be handed over, and the Zenuo barely had enough to eat. The annual material quota, if measured in RMB, would be close to ten million. Three years of material, that would be about thirty million, all replaced by this one heart core?

In this world, Lu Qi hadn't encountered currency, as Zenuo had no need for money. He could only roughly estimate it based on his previous life's values.

"Once the main household's steward comes, we'll hand over the Violent Bear's heart core, skin, and organs. The steward will definitely be very pleased!" Xitu said, looking forward: "Tigerhead, when that happens, your position as Household Head will be secure, and you'll definitely get the Force Decree. It's even possible that you'll be directly granted a surname and taken out, and then..."

At this point, Xitu suddenly glanced at Dafeng and the others, clearly having some thoughts he didn't want others to hear.

Lu Qi nodded: "When the main household's steward comes, Xitu, you should talk to him and try to maximize the benefits. The Northwest Household deserves a better life!"

Lu Kang's eyes were filled with hope: "Without having to hand over materials for three years, we can store animal skins, dried meat, herbs, and so on. Your mother can finally wear a decent leather armor."

Looking at Huiniang's patched and tattered clothes, Lu Qi, the tough man, felt a pang in his heart. When he had received the clothes of a Household Head, he had wanted to give them to Lu Kang and Huiniang, but was told that it was not allowed. The main household's rules were very strict; only those with the corresponding status could enjoy the corresponding rights, and any overstepping would be punished.

"This is something worth celebrating!" Lu Qi lightly pinched his nose and murmured: "Old Household Head, let's celebrate tonight. Starting today, everyone's food rations will be increased by one level, and they will be well-fed!"

Xitu's eyes lit up: "Great, I'll arrange it right away. We'll have a barbecue tonight, but, Dakuang, Dafeng, don't forget to reinforce the protective barriers. Some wild boars and bears might come out during the winter!"

"Yes, Old Household Head!" Dakuang and Dafeng responded excitedly and went to arrange the work.

Huiniang walked over with a gentle expression, gently stroking Lu Qi's hair and taking his hand, tears of concern rolling down her cheeks: "Are you badly hurt..."

When everyone is concerned about your achievements, only she cares about your well-being. This is what a mother is. Feeling a warmth in his heart, Lu Qi softly replied: "Mother, it's nothing!"

Huiniang sobbed and pulled Lu Qi into her arms: "You're still so young, yet you have to work so hard... Don't blame your father, he had no choice!"

"Mother, I understand!" Lu Qi nodded, rubbing his mother's embrace. At this moment, he suddenly remembered that he was still just a twelve-year-old boy, about to turn thirteen. He clearly remembered that the year he was born, the Northwest Household was covered in heavy snow, just like now.