Yang Gan was overjoyed upon hearing this. He immediately knelt and bowed, saying, "I will certainly fulfill the General's orders."
A hint of sarcasm crossed Zhang Shuyang's face, and he said coldly, "If you fail to bring it back, you will be subject to military law and executed!"
Yang Gan's heart sank, but he had no choice but to agree, "Yes!"
—
"Use the terrain and surrounding environment to conceal your movements. For example, you can approach prey along the back of a hillside, at the bottom of a valley, or through dense woods to avoid being exposed in open areas.
Different prey tracks, including their shape, size, depth, and time of creation, can be observed. By observing the direction and spacing of the tracks, you can determine the prey's speed and general direction."
At this point, Fang Mushan, who had been half-kneeling on the ground observing the tracks, stood up and exhaled. He looked at Xu Yunfan's serious expression and nodded slightly.
Xu Yunfan had been learning very quickly these days, even applying what he had learned to other situations. Fang Mushan felt a little frustrated.
Xu Yunfan nodded, glancing at a system prompt that popped up on his screen.
"You've heard Fang Mushan explain hunting techniques, and you've gained some experience. You seem to have glimpsed the threshold of hunting."
Xu Yunfan said, "Shall we try hunting separately?"
Fang Mushan nodded. "Although the 800-li Arakawa Glacier appears desolate and desolate at first glance, with endless glaciers and snow-capped mountains, there are still animals living underground. Splitting up will give us a better chance of catching prey."
That being said, the 800-li Arakawa Glacier was too desolate. Over the past few days, Fang Mushan had only managed to catch a few prey, his only significant catch being two snow rabbits.
Unfortunately, for the martial artists, that wasn't even enough to fill their stomachs.
After separating from Fang Mushan, Xu Yunfan clutched a homemade bow. Although he didn't know the name of the tree, Fang Mushan had crafted it with great care, making it strong yet resilient.
The bowstring was made from tanned fiber from a plant called alpine willow.
"You tracked down an animal's footprints and preliminarily determined its direction of travel. Your hunting proficiency has improved."
"You..."
Glancing at the several messages on his horizon,
Xu Yunfan naturally knew he was on the right track.
His eyes flickered, taking in every detail.
A chilling wind whipped across the Arakawa Glacier, carrying coarse sand and gravel that whipped his face, whipping his tattered clothes and causing him to shiver.
Xu Yunfan rubbed his hands, his steps agile and nimble as he traversed the rugged mountain path, his steps light and swift, making no sound at all.
After nearly two hours, Xu Yunfan finally spotted a resting mountain goat beside a discreet patch of brown earth and rocks that blended seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.
Specifically, it was a plateau mountain goat, its fur gleaming with a unique sheen in the sunlight.
Despite its perched position, the animal remained agile and alert. Even there, its ears twitched slightly, as if it could sense danger and bolt at any moment.
Xu Yunfan's heart surged with joy, the sight of his prey quickly dispelling all the fatigue from the journey.
His hand slowly reached for the bow and arrow on his back, feeling the slight prickling sensation, every nerve tensing as he watched the mountain goat's every move with rapt attention.
The arrow, lightly lashed with wool, had been crafted by Fang Mushan.
He carefully nocked the arrow and drew the bow. The vegetable-tanned, yet still relatively strong, string was gradually unwound, a subtle creaking sound.
As his arm muscles tensed, the bow resembled a full moon, the arrow's tip firmly aimed at the mountain goat's vital point.
Xu Yunfan's eyes flashed, his fingers suddenly loosened, and with a whoosh, the arrow shot out like lightning, piercing the air with unstoppable momentum, swooping towards the mountain goat.
The mountain goat seemed to sense something and leaped up, but it was a beat too late.
The arrow sank precisely into its neck, blood gushing out. The goat bleated mournfully, staggered a few steps, and collapsed to the ground.
lXu Yunfan scurried forward, his eyes filled with joy as he gazed upon his catch.
"You've successfully shot a mountain goat. You've gained a new appreciation for hunting skills. You feel your bow is becoming more and more effective. Beginner's Hunting Skills."
"Hunting 0/500 (Beginner's)
Special Effects: Sharp Eyes and Ears, Tracking Like a Wolf, Silent Footsteps, Beginning Archery, and Mastery of Trapping."
Suddenly, memories of his endless hunting adventures in the mountains flooded his mind.
He recalled daily journeys into the mountains to track prey, set traps, and practice his bowmanship.
Initially, he returned empty-handed nine times out of ten. But with daily practice and refinement, he finally mastered the art of trapping and stalking prey, achieving a hit five or six times out of ten.
A faint, imperceptible warmth slowly coursed through his body, but it quickly dissipated. Aside from a slight swelling, there was no other discomfort.
Xu Yunfan exhaled, realizing that his physique had already reached a formidable level. Ordinary skills like hunting had limited potential for strengthening.
But now that he had acquired hunting skills...
Xu Yunfan looked up, his gaze gazing at a vast expanse of white stretching to the horizon. The mountain ridges were blanketed in a thick blanket of snow and ice, without a trace of green.
A fierce wind howled across the icy plains, carrying a bone-chilling chill and a sharp whistling sound.
The surrounding mountains rose and fell, and beneath them lay barren, withered shrubs and grasslands, not even a single branch visible. Jagged rocks, eroded by ice and snow, stood abruptly from this desolate landscape.
For days, the sky had been gloomy, thick, leaden clouds hanging heavy, adding to the already cold and desolate icefield's oppressive feeling.
But now, even alone, he should be able to survive in this desolate land.
The fur of this mountain goat could be tanned into clothing to protect him from the cold.
Xu Yunfan carried the mountain goat, weighing over 150 kilograms, and with brisk steps, he quickly returned to his temporary shelter in a mountain valley in less than half an hour.
Li Haomiao asked in shock, "You shot it?"
"Yes, I did."
"Impossible."
Xu Yunfan lifted the mountain goat and said, "It's true."
"..."
Li Haomiao felt a pang of frustration, thinking back to his days hunting in the Royal Forest, when he had single-handedly taken down ferocious tigers and easily dispatched bears.
But he had never managed a serious hunt, relying mostly on his superior martial arts.
Then, under Li Haomiao's astonished gaze, Xu Yunfan expertly used the fragments of his purple gold earth-shattering hammer to skin and remove the goat's organs.
He looked very skilled.
"Where did you learn this technique?"
"Fang Mushan taught me."
Li Haomiao said with disbelief, "I won't believe it unless I've shaved a hundred sheep with this technique."
"Believe it or not."
Xu Yunfan didn't even raise his head, concentrating on handling the blue sheep carcass.
(End of this chapter)