Chapter 21

The deer cry, feeding on the wild apples!

The name of Deer Cry Mountain has nothing much to do with these two lines of poetry. It is called Deer Cry Mountain because the entire mountain looks like a deer bowing its head to eat grass.

The mountain is not very high, but the twenty-six peaks are each steep. Especially in some dangerous areas, it is truly breathtaking.

Deer Cry Mountain does not produce much and is not a famous scenic spot. Therefore, apart from a dozen small villages that rely on the mountain for their livelihood, not many people pay attention to this place.

On this day, a young figure appeared on the main road leading to Deer Cry Mountain!

It was noon, the hottest time of the day, but the scorching sunlight had no effect on the young man.

The young man had fair skin, without any dust or sweat.

Walking to a large tree, the young man looked at Deer Cry Mountain ahead, picked up the water bag at his waist, and took a couple of sips of water.

The water was sweet, with a faint honey flavor, making Fang Ling savor it.

However, what he savored even more was the expression on Hua Shuying's face when she tied the water bag for him.

It had been half a month since the slaying of Yu Zeren. During this time, Fang Ling focused on cultivation and handling the affairs of the Fang family.

With the slaying of Yu Zeren, the Fang family once again became a topic of conversation in Dinging City. People who were originally hesitant about the Fang family began to gradually approach them, with Guan Wushang being the most obvious.

Ten days ago, the city lord of Dinging City, Jin Shangming, brought all the prominent figures of the city to the Fang family. Not only did he present the 5,000 taels of gold as the reward for Yu Zeren, but he also gave the Fang family a "Hundred Li" plaque!

The "Hundred Li" plaque represents not only benefits but also status.

In the state of Lu, there is a strict classification system for the major families. The "Hundred Li" plaque signifies that the family holding it is a prominent family within a hundred li, enjoying a 50% reduction in taxes.

In Dinging City, only ten families possess the "Hundred Li" plaque.

When this "Hundred Li" plaque was hung on the Fang family's gate, Hua Shuying was so moved that she almost cried. Although Fang Ling did not care much about such a plaque, seeing how much Hua Shuying cared, he decided to hold a grand gathering to celebrate.

To announce to the entire Dinging City: the fallen Fang family has once again returned to the top tier of families in Dinging City.

In these past few days, Fang Ling's cultivation did not make much progress, except for the completion of the Blood Burning Technique, the rest could only be described as slightly improved.

Although Fang Ling was eager to retrieve the twelve corpses from Deer Cry Mountain, for prudence, he still suppressed his impatience and secretly left Dinging City late last night.

After all, the corpses should not be seen by many people, the fewer people who know, the better!

According to the map, the twelve corpses are hidden in a cave in the Dingjun Valley of Deer Cry Mountain. Fang Ling originally thought that once he arrived at Deer Cry Mountain, he could directly enter the Dingjun Valley. It was only now that he realized things were not as simple as he had imagined.

Deer Cry Mountain stretches for a hundred li, which valley is the Dingjun Valley?

When in doubt, ask a good guide.

Therefore, a quarter of an hour later, a young herbalist appeared in a small village at the foot of Deer Cry Mountain.

This young man was graceful and had a radiant smile, and he even presented the most needed salt to the host, a hunter in his forties, who quickly treated the young man as one of his own.

Not only did he offer the mountain wine, but he also had his wife cut a piece of the cured meat hanging from the eaves to serve with the wine.

The hunter's daughter, who was about the same age as the young man, had a rosy face that became even more flushed.

When Fang Ling skillfully asked about the Dingjun Valley from a herb, the hunter's head shook like a rattle: "Dingjun Valley? What Dingjun Valley? I've hunted on Deer Cry Mountain all my life and have never heard of such a place."

"Xiao Ling, did your master get the place wrong?"

Fang Ling put on a confident look and said, "Uncle Lu, my master should not have made a mistake. Before I left, he specifically instructed me to go to the Dingjun Valley, saying that the herbs he found there a few years ago were not mature enough, and this time I must collect them!"

The hunter scratched his head and said, "If that's the case, I'll help you ask around."

The hunter was simple and honest, and he immediately went out to ask about the Dingjun Valley for Fang Ling.

Unfortunately, half an hour later, the hunter gave Fang Ling a negative answer: there is no such place as the Dingjun Valley on Deer Cry Mountain.

Could Yu Zeren have found the wrong place?!

Fang Ling pondered the map, and ultimately decided to search the mountain himself. The twelve corpses were crucial for enhancing his strength, and as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he did not want to give up.

When the hunter heard that Fang Ling planned to enter the mountain to collect herbs, he patted his chest and invited Fang Ling to join them, as the village was preparing for a collective hunt.

Fang Ling did not object to this invitation.

In this matter, Fang Ling did not expect immediate success. The hunter was familiar with the entire mountain, and following them would increase the chances of finding the Dingjun Valley. Moreover, hiding in the hunting group would make him less conspicuous.

After resting in the village for a night, the hunting group began to gather in the village's threshing field. For the small village of Lujia, the men going out to hunt was a big event.

The entire village gathered there, and with solemn faces, they all knelt down. An incense burner was placed on the ground, and an elder stepped forward, lit three sticks of incense, and bowed respectfully in the four directions, then devoutly kowtowed.

As a passerby, Fang Ling observed this sacrificial ceremony with curious eyes.

The Lujia village sent out over thirty men for this hunt, all of them strong and robust. According to Fang Ling's evaluation, although they had not undergone systematic cultivation, each of them had the cultivation of the second level of Qi practice.

"Xiao Ling, be careful with everything!" Just as Fang Ling was about to set out with the group, Lu Dahu's daughter, Lu Yueying, suddenly ran to Fang Ling's side and secretly slipped a roasted sweet potato into his arms. The sweet potato, freshly dug from the hot stove, had a pleasant aroma of wood smoke and was warm to the touch. "If you see any fierce beasts, don't get too close!"

This gentle and shy girl's words caused a burst of laughter. Some of the coarse men laughed with deep meaning, leaning back and forth.

Although Fang Ling had experienced a couple of romantic entanglements in his university days, in the presence of so many people, the girl's affectionate gesture made him feel somewhat embarrassed, but he could not bear to disappoint the girl's good intentions, so he quickly nodded.

At this moment, someone said, "Uncle Lu, we're not here to take a tour. I think it's better to let this boy, who can't even hold a hunting knife, stay at home!"

This person's words immediately drew agreement: "Brother Hu is right, Uncle Lu, hunting is not a game, who will take care of him when the time comes?"

Such sarcastic remarks, if in the past, Fang Ling might have argued a bit, but with the improvement of his cultivation, or the elevation of his mindset, he no longer took such sharp words to heart.

Just as he was about to show a couple of moves to prove his self-defense capabilities, Lu Yueying, with her hands on her hips, fiercely rebutted the first speaker: "Wang Hu, we mountain people value kindness, and Xiao Ling is even a pharmacist! What are you talking nonsense for!"

"Pharmacist? Humph, calling him a herb collector is more appropriate!" Wang Hu, a tall man over eight feet tall, exuded a wild animal-like aura. Although he was still at the second level of Qi practice, Fang Ling could sense that his strength was at least 30% stronger than the other men.

"You... " Lu Yueying's face turned red with anger, her well-developed chest heaving and trembling.

"Alright, both of you stop arguing!" Lu Dahu waved his hand and said, "Helping the pharmacist collect herbs is a rule for us hunters. Get ready, let's go into the mountain."

This Uncle Lu had considerable authority among the hunters. Once he spoke, even the rebellious Wang Hu did not dare to say more.

The group followed the rugged path into the mountain. The hunters were accustomed to entering the mountain, so most of them were quite relaxed. The young men, including Wang Hu, talked and laughed loudly, and some even sang as they walked!

Among these people, few paid attention to Fang Ling, who was walking at the back of the group, especially the young men. Their words often contained sarcastic remarks: "So skinny, he doesn't have much meat. Forget about tigers and wolves, even a fox would chase him around the mountain..."

Fang Ling smiled bitterly. These young men were targeting him because of Lu Yueying, the pretty girl. This was truly a misunderstanding.

Fortunately, Fang Ling did not want to interact much with these hunters, and their attitude allowed him to remain silent. Along the way, Fang Ling pretended to look for a few herbs.

The leader was Uncle Lu, who was