Chapter 28

While it was still dark and the others were still asleep, Hua Sihai, Wang Lishou, and Lu Buqi left the northwest household.

Wang Lishou easily lifted a thousand-pound, thick and sharp拒马桩 (pike), and said, "I don't like farewells either, especially with women around, crying and making a fuss. I didn't expect you to be so insightful at such a young age."

Lu Buqi looked back and said softly, "Everything that needed to be said has been said. We'll be back anyway, so it's nothing to worry about."

"Ha... You've got spirit." Wang Lishou turned around and put down the pike, "When you come back, I suggest you bring more chains to connect these wooden frames. That will strengthen the defense."

Lu Buqi nodded, "Yes, otherwise, if we encounter a violent bear or other terrifying spirit beasts, the entire northwest household will have no peace."

"Alright, let's talk about these things after we leave the Guokan Forest!" Wang Lishou looked at the dark, deep forest and shrugged, "Your northwest household is really poor. You only have one decapitation knife as a metal weapon. If I had known I would be entering the Guokan Forest, I would have brought my Yunyue Axe!"

Lu Buqi smiled bitterly, "Master Wang, speak from the heart. We Zenu can be content with just enough food and clothing. What more can we ask for in terms of armament?"

Wang Lishou laughed awkwardly, "Buqi, once you break through to the Bone Resonance realm, I'll give you fifty steel forks for the northwest household. They may not be as good as your decapitation knife, but they are definitely made of high-quality steel."

"Deal, but remember, I need the kind of fork with blood grooves that you carry on your back. You said you can definitely forge them." Ever since Lu Buqi taught Wang Lishou the Five Animal Imitation Fist, and with the recent exchanges, their relationship had become closer, becoming both teacher and friend. Lu Buqi also learned more about Wang Lishou.

Wang Lishou, originally a mountain slave, used to be just a miner. But now he not only has a name, but was also given a surname by the Wang family, and is one of the four bodyguards of Wang Yingfu. He is also the famous blacksmith of Guokan Town, where almost all the weapons and daily tools needed in the town come from his shop.

"You have a keen eye, but these forks are not easy to make!" Wang Lishou looked aggrieved, "Steel is not wood. But if these forks are as good as you say, I'll risk reduced production to study and make them."

Lu Buqi pinched his nose, "You'll see once you use them!"

As they spoke, their figures disappeared into the thick darkness, and the endless dangers of the Guokan Forest began to welcome them.

It's worth noting that to enter the Guokan Forest, Wang Lishou, who had just broken through to the sixth level of the Bone Resonance realm, did not dare to be the least bit careless and insisted on being fully armed.

However, the resources of the northwest household were too scarce. In the end, Wang Lishou had to carry five forks on his back, a large bow, and a hundred wooden arrows.

And Lu Buqi, at Xitu's strong insistence, brought the decapitation knife, three forks on his back, and helped Wang Lishou carry two hundred wooden arrows. The rest were the two sets of violent bear skin armor that even Wang Lishou envied.

Of course, they also brought plenty of ropes, Zai'ai, ointments, and yellow salt. The only thing they brought less of was food and water. Both Lu Buqi and Wang Lishou knew that relying on the water and food they brought would not allow them to leave the Guokan Forest, so they only brought two medium-sized water skins of spring water and about a hundred pounds of dried meat as backup.

The northwest household was named so because it was located in the northwest direction of the Guokan Forest. Further northwest was a more remote mountainous area, and it was said that the territory of the former Song Kingdom lay beyond.

As for the Guokan Town, which borders the Guokan Forest within the Yangze County of Longyuan Prefecture, it is located in the southeast direction of the Guokan Forest, which is also the direction the two of them were heading.

It's hard to say whether their luck was good or bad, but from dawn to nightfall, they did not encounter a single large wild animal as they headed southeast. It was already late winter, and spring was about to arrive, so these wild animals should have been coming out to move around. Moreover, Lu Buqi had been in this world for thirteen years.

While gnawing on a wild bird roasted by Lu Buqi, Wang Lishou cursed, "This is really fucking ridiculous. From morning until now, we've only caught one wild rabbit and three wild birds, not even enough to fill our teeth!"

Indeed, Lu Buqi was also frustrated. At noon, the two of them only ate one wild rabbit, which was not small, probably weighing a few pounds. But neither Lu Buqi nor Wang Lishou were light eaters; they could eat over ten pounds of food in one meal without burping.

But compared to noon, the evening was even worse, with only three wild birds weighing a few pounds each. This was only possible because of Wang Lishou's excellent archery skills; otherwise, they wouldn't have caught even these three birds.

After chewing and swallowing the bird bones, Lu Buqi smiled, "Stop cursing. This area was cleared out by us two months ago. It's already good that we have this much."

Wang Lishou nodded, "Yeah, not just you Zenu, but even we mountain slaves, during hunting season, would sweep through like locusts, taking everything that could be eaten or used."

"Here, have some dried meat to fill your stomach!" Lu Buqi opened the package and threw about eight pounds of dried meat to Wang Lishou, while he himself cleaned the innards and feathers of the three dead birds and placed them in a suitable spot.

Meeting Wang Lishou's somewhat surprised gaze, Lu Buqi pointed to a higher ground covered with shrubs behind him, "We'll rest there tonight. You take the first watch, and I'll take the second. Keep an eye on these birds. There's a good chance that badgers and Zai rats will come to steal food, and then we'll have breakfast."

"Damn, you're more experienced than our old hunters!" Wang Lishou took a big bite of the dried meat, "But do you want me to take the second watch? I think those timid creatures will only come out in the second half of the night, and your archery skills are pretty bad."

Lu Buqi shook his head, "No need. I've caught many Zai rats and badgers since I was a child. They won't escape my hands."

Knowing that Lu Buqi was not one to speak lightly, Wang Lishou said nothing, "Alright, after we eat, I'll go gather some firewood..."

When Wang Lishou returned, Lu Buqi had already hung up their water skins and found several green vines, "Starting tomorrow, we'll need to be a bit more frugal with water, but it should be enough. Spring is coming, and Zai'ai vines and mint vines will start growing. Their sap can quench our thirst and resist bog toxins."

After speaking, Lu Buqi cut off a thick green vine, raised it over his head, and twisted it forcefully. The vine quickly twisted, and a clear sap flowed into his mouth, about several milliliters.

"I know this, the sap tastes good," Wang Lishou smiled and pointed to the water skins hanging on the palm trees, "Is this how you Zenu get water in the wild?"

"Palm sap, dew, and rain, as long as it's not poisonous!" Lu Buqi pinched his nose, "Your old hunters should also know some methods for getting water in the mountains, right?"

Wang Lishou nodded, "Of course, they dig tree roots and cut bamboo joints, but it's not as fancy as your method."

Lu Buqi smiled, "Fancy or not, as long as it works. I'm going to sleep now. Don't make the fire too big, or the badgers and Zai rats won't dare come over."

Wang Lishou laughed and scolded, "Go to sleep, I'll wake you up at the beginning of the hour of the Pig! Brat, do you really think I know nothing? I was just a miner before, but I still know these basics."

Lu Buqi waved his hand and nestled into the dry shrubs, hugging the two sets of bear skin armor and quickly fell asleep. At this time, he couldn't afford to waste a moment of rest.

The next morning, around the hour of the Dragon, Wang Lishou woke up to the smell of meat, "Hey, you're pretty quick, already roasting it. Did you catch the two... Oh, it's a badger?"

Lu Buqi pinched his nose, leaving a streak of black ash, "As you said, it's timid and only comes out in the second half of the night, and then it was caught!"

Wang Lishou rubbed his hands, "That's great. This guy probably weighs twenty to thirty pounds, enough to fill our bellies. And it's been a long time since I've had badger meat! By the way, how did you catch it? These timid creatures are not slow."

"This is my secret technique!" Lu Buqi handed half of the badger to Wang Lishou, "It's already roasted, so eat quickly!"

"Hey, you're quite something!" Wang Lishou, seeing Lu Buqi's reluctance to reveal his secret, took it as a moment of childish innocence, which felt a bit out of place because he often forgot that Lu Buqi was just a thirteen-year-old boy.