"Brother Chen, what do you think?"
Er Ma approached Zhou Chen and asked.
Upon hearing this, Wild Dog and the others all looked at Zhou Chen.
"What else can I think? I'll stand and watch!"
Zhou Chen spread his hands and said directly, "I'm just a hunter, not a Divine Capture. Of course, this kind of thing should be reported to the authorities!"
He knew the culprit was likely not human and had no intention of meddling. Now, his nightly earnings amounted to a thousand Wind and Moon Points.
Even if First blood offers a bonus, earning a few hundred points afterward shouldn't be an issue, right?
He only needs to lie low for a while, and his cultivation will soar, greatly enhancing his strength.
Why bother seeking trouble?
After speaking, Zhou Chen walked away directly.
Wild Dog and Er Ma hurriedly followed, like lackeys.
"Brother Chen, I heard Zhang the Second went up the mountain to hunt yesterday and seems to have encountered something unsavory, and with what happened last night, he probably really did..."
Wild Dog's eyes showed fear. These things are terrifying not only to ordinary people but even to Zhou Chen, who now practices martial arts, doesn't want to provoke them.
"Then I won't go up the mountain recently!"
After dismissing the two, Zhou Chen frowned and went home.
He now has ten taels of silver left, enough for him to live for a while, but what about after that?
Walking by the river often enough, one is bound to get wet.
Going hunting often means encountering those things eventually.
"This village isn't very safe either, the city is relatively more secure, and hunting isn't a long-term occupation..."
Zhou Chen's thoughts of moving to the city grew stronger.
Large prey take a long time to grow, and as Zhou Chen kills more, the nearby animals will become fewer, not to mention they aren't stupid.
They are very perceptive; once they sense danger in the area, they'll relocate, and future hunts will take Zhou Chen even deeper.
The deeper he goes, the greater the danger.
"Heading to the city, I could sell Yang Dingtian, but doing so on my own would draw too much attention, and others would covet it, so I need to find some backing..."
The thought of Zhang Long came to Zhou Chen's mind; perhaps he could earn a living from the state.
Not everyone can draw the state wage, but he could show some strength, like the Body Refining First Layer.
This wouldn't be too conspicuous, yet it would earn him some rights and status, reducing a lot of trouble.
"But I shouldn't rush; it's best to let others take the initiative to invite..."
Zhou Chen pondered his future path.
The Great Qian Dynasty has ruled the world for eight hundred years; currently, it's still relatively stable, even if on a decline, it's not something other factions or families can overthrow.
Therefore.
For now, securing a position to live off, lying low and growing stronger is the best strategy.
As for becoming a lone ranger?
Heh.
This era is full of anomalies in deserted and remote places; dying without knowing how.
While crowded places have fewer anomalies, hence safer, where there are people, there's conflict. To avoid trouble, it's best to find a substantial backing.
Though this will definitely entail some issues, it's relatively better than being a lone ranger, especially since he's not pursuing an official ranking, minimizing many power struggles.
"Brother Chen, what's wrong?"
Qin Hongyu awoke and seeing Zhou Chen deep in thought with a furrowed brow, asked worriedly.
"It's nothing, just Zhang the Second's entire family was killed last night, all six of them were decapitated!"
"Ah!"
Qin Hongyu was shocked, waking up to find the world outside had changed.
A massacre.
Thinking about how some were laughing and talking earlier and are now separated by yin and yang fills Qin Hongyu with discomfort and fear, prompting her to hug Zhou Chen tightly.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you!"
Zhou Chen gently patted her smooth jade back, tightening his arms around her.
"Brother Chen, you must be hungry, I'll go cook!"
Qin Hongyu suddenly trembled, blushed, hurriedly pushed Zhou Chen away, and ran to the kitchen to cook.
Zhou Chen lowered his head and smiled.
That was his greatest affirmation of a woman.
Of course.
He wouldn't tell Qin Hongyu that his soul had also ventured into the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, earning Wind and Moon Points from Ji Fengxia!
"Squeak squeak..."
Little Fox came running and jumped onto Zhou Chen's lap, nuzzling its small head against Zhou Chen's chest, showing affection.
Clearly trained.
Like a cat or dog.
He rubbed the Little Fox's furry body, stroking it for a while before putting it down.
Zhou Chen picked up the Luoxia Bow.
Now he's at the Body Refining Second Layer - Muscle Refining Realm, though he hadn't truly cultivated himself yet.
Grasping the Luoxia Bow, an intensely familiar sensation surged through his heart. Zhou Chen skillfully stood firm, drew the bowstring, merging man and arrow, gently pushing the refining body posture.
His muscles vibrated in harmony with the bow and arrows, tempering his flesh.
His blood flowed rapidly within.
Before long, Zhou Chen, already hungry, felt even more famished.
Martial arts practice consumes most energy.
Furthermore, the Yi Arrow Skill is a superior martial skill, faster in cultivation compared to ordinary techniques, and consumes more.
"It's quicker to add points; cultivating on my own will take forever and uses up a lot of energy!"
Zhou Chen put away the bow, adding the newly acquired dozen Wind and Moon Points.
In an instant.
Zhou Chen felt as if he had been training hard for a month, able to clearly notice a small increase in his own strength.
His physical body was becoming stronger.
Whether refining skin or refining flesh, the training would always strengthen the whole body, although each realm had different focal points.
"Brother Chen, it's time to eat!"
"Coming!"
Zhou Chen put down the bow and ate together with Qin Hongyu.
The Little Fox lay nearby, Zhou Chen eating while feeding it.
After eating.
Qin Hongyu tidied up and washed the dishes, while Zhou Chen did not go into the kitchen to cause trouble this time.
It had been tough enough before.
After all, when using someone else's things, you don't feel bad when they're broken, but with your own wife, you definitely care.
Miaotong: "..."
Zhou Chen returned to his room for a nap, his soul teaching Ji Fengxia in the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror.
Ji Fengxia's cultivation broke through, filled with motivation.
It was like switching from manual to automatic transmission.
Zhou Chen no longer needed to manually shift gears, only to firmly grip the steering wheel and control the gas pedal and brake.
After tidying up the kitchen, Qin Hongyu then tidied up the room, and finally happily took the fabric that Zhou Chen bought yesterday to make clothes!
Zhou Chen lay on the bed like a landlord, watching, just lacking two maidservants beside him to massage his shoulders and back, and serve tea and water.
While Zhou Chen enjoyed a leisurely time at home, Zhang Long brought his men back to Dahe Village.
"Boss, Zhou Chen's information has been cleared up, but it can only trace back ten years. They settled in Dahe Village ten years ago!"
Zhao Hu followed beside Zhang Long, saying:
"Zhou Chen used to be quite unremarkable, his master Old Man Cao had decent archery skills and a few tricks for massage and bone alignment."
"After Old Man Cao was eaten by a wild tiger, the villagers used the excuse of burial to eat up the preserved food at Zhou Chen's home. After that, Zhou Chen went hunting alone and found Elder Qin!"
"Elder Qin originally took ten taels of Silver to betroth Qin Hongyu to Old Man Cao as his wife. They were going to marry, but then Old Man Cao had an accident."
"Typically, Elder Qin would either refund the money or marry Qin Hongyu to Zhou Chen, but Elder Qin wanted to default, so Zhou Chen pressed a knife to his neck and brought his master's wife back home!"
"The next day, he met Wild Dog Er Ma and sorted out both of them, later demonstrating impressive hunting skills..."
Zhao Hu detailed Zhou Chen's story, marveling:
"Seems like Zhou Chen grew quite a bit after Old Man Cao's death!"
"With all his food eaten up by others, the woman he was meant to inherit—with people trying to swindle him—anyone would have to grow!"
Another constable, Yang Dageng, laughed.
Zhang Long nodded: "In the past, Zhou Chen was sheltered under Old Man Cao's wings, so his talents weren't apparent. After Old Man Cao's death, he could only face things alone, either bursting out of silence or dying in silence!"
"With his skills, if he were to still die in silence, he'd really be a useless piece of mud that couldn't be helped!"
Zhang Long was very satisfied with Zhou Chen's subsequent display.
Zhou Chen most likely practiced martial arts, and even grasped the basics, his archery was extraordinary, such a person if still bullied by ordinary villagers would truly be the pinnacle of uselessness.
While speaking.
Zhang Long brought Zhao Hu, Yang Dageng, and Yang Dali to the crime scene, they no longer discussed Zhou Chen.
"Hiss!"
On seeing the scene, Zhao Hu's mouth twitched, and his eyelids jumped wildly.
Zhang Long frowned, this didn't seem to be done by humans.
Normal people wouldn't kill someone and then kick the head around like a ball, unless they were particularly perverse.
After a round of investigation, he found many bloodstains at the scene, yet no traces of other people, which deepened his suspicion.
With no other clues and the evening coming on, Zhang Long decided to stay overnight in Dahe Village.
He and his three men stayed at village chief Qin Jianghe's house.
At the same time.
He either intentionally or unintentionally inquired about Zhou Chen's news and Qin Jianghe's opinion on Zhou Chen.
Upon hearing of Zhang Long's arrival, Zhou Chen, together with other villagers, gave a brief welcome and then returned home.
As night fell.
Zhou Chen picked up Qin Hongyu, entered the room, pulled back the covers, and slipped inside.
"Brother Chen..."
The night grew fiery.
Nobody knows how much time had passed when Ji Fengxia, indistinguishable from Zhou Chen within the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, suddenly spoke:
"Master, there's a ghostly creature approaching!"
"Hmm?"
Zhou Chen abruptly lifted his head, eyes sparkling brilliantly, his soul immediately returned, and he got up swiftly.
"Ah, Brother Chen, what's the matter..."
Qin Hongyu was full of confusion and entirely puzzled.
"There's something!"
Zhou Chen didn't linger, promptly dressing.
Upon hearing, Qin Hongyu's delicate body trembled, and her eyes, filled with spring passion, were instantly replaced by fear as she hurriedly dressed.
"Hee hee..."
"Hee hee hee..."
"Big brother, let's play ball together..."
Along with a terrifying chill, innocent children's laughter sounded outside the door.
Qin Hongyu's body trembled, goosebumps raised, her legs shaking.
"Big brother, let's play ball together..."
"I'll play with your damn ass!"
…