LIGHTNOVELONLINE 11. Hunting Ground
Chapter 11: Hunting Ground
Gatekeeper Daluo’s warning was still fresh in his mind when Luo Ling neared the edges of the Hundred Beast Forest.
After hunting for more than half a year, he had already noticed the difference between the animals of this world and Murim. The beasts in the Hundred Beast Forest were way stronger. Even a rabbit you would randomly see jumping around in the forest could rival the strength of a well-fed hunting dog from Murim. Luo Ling was taken aback when he discovered this. If a small critter was already this powerful, what about those bigger ones, like wolves or tigers? Wouldn’t they be able to rival martial masters or grandmasters?
A shiver ran down Luo Ling’s spine when he thought about this possibility. He vowed not to mess around with those bigger animals until he was a second-stage martial master.
-~X~-
Luo Ling expertly navigated the dense foliage, sneaking toward a new hunting spot—a clearing dotted with rabbit burrows. He had discovered that place a few days ago by accident while tailing that red-eared rabbit.
Hundred Beast Forest was a dangerous place. It was said that even cultivators with godlike abilities had lost their lives in these ominous woods. If those who could soar through the sky had met their end here, what chance did he, a weak and small child, have? For this reason, Luo Ling had been sticking to the edges of the forest, hunting only the critters.
Finding small animals weak enough for him to hunt in such a big forest was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Many roamed in groups of ten or more, but Luo Ling would never mess with them. With this strength, he could deal with five animals at most. Any more and it was no different from asking for trouble. Adding to these difficulties, the constant fear of meeting bigger beasts further impeded his efficiency at catching meaningful prey.
But the discovery of this rabbit habitat came right on time. It was like someone giving him a pillow just when he was feeling sleepy. He would no longer have to scour the forest like a mouse, hiding in the dark while fearing stronger beasts. From now on, he could camp near these burrows and hunt the rabbits who came too far from their habitat.
He’d no longer have to waste an entire day to catch a single prey.
With his improved eyes, Luo Ling found his hunting place while he was still quite far from the clearing. The hidden benefits that came with Archery’s level-up were quite few and until now he only found about three. Sharpened eyes, defined back strength, and improved lungs. He could now hold his breath for several minutes.
Coincidentally, it complimented his Martial arts progress. Three stages before the martial master, namely from third-rate martial warrior to first-rate martial warrior, each focussed on an aspect. A third-rate martial warrior builds up his strength, while a second-rate martial warrior trains his stamina. And finally, a first-rate martial warrior works on his speed.
Luo Ling was presently a second-rate martial warrior, meaning he should be training to build his stamina. When Archery level-upped, the [Records of Toil] modified his body to properly use bows and arrows. As a side effect, his stamina received a huge spike. He could now perform Iron Muscles Steel Veins at least ten times per day without stunting his body.
If he could earn ten points per day, he would become a 1st-rate martial warrior way sooner than his previous estimations.
~-X-~
Luo Ling took out his bow and nocked an arrow. He had already found his prey— a fat white rabbit jumping away from one of the burrows near the edge of the clearing.
Since they were not red-eared rabbits that he hunted the day before, he did not need to be so cautious. With a dense bush masking his figure, Luo Ling made his preparations. The taut string was pulled to its limit and the bow curved into a semi-circular shape. Due to his improved shoulder and arm muscles, the former transcendent found it much easier to operate the bow.
He waited patiently as the critter hopped further away from the clearing. These rabbits were strong enough to match an adult hunting dog from his previous life. He could handle a few rabbits at a time with his current abilities, but any more than that would be impossible. If he barged in like a fool and got himself surrounded by a few dozen animals, he would have no one to blame for his miserable death.
Hunting like a proper hunter was the way to go.
The metal tip of the arrow shined under the dim light filtered through the dense leaves of the towering trees. Luo Ling’s eyes narrowed with concentration, watching every move of the rabbit while waiting for the right opportunity to shoot.
The opportunity came when the rabbit stopped by at a tree’s foot. Then, Luo Ling’s arrow tore through the air, and its speed was much faster than he expected. Before he could blink, the arrow had reached its target and finished pinning the rabbit into the tree. Moreover, it penetrated to its tail end.
Luo Ling was startled. He had not expected the arrow to carry so much force. But after thinking about it, he realized why it happened. It was a result of the combination of Penetration and his natural arm strength. He was no longer the same person he was two days ago. He had grown stronger.
Luo Ling calmly put away the bow and inched towards his prize. He made sure no other rabbits or animals were around before coming out of the bush. The distance between his hiding spot and his prize was a little far and he had to make a detour to reach there.
Several minutes later, Luo Ling wrapped the rabbit in a thick layer of leaf and proceeded to walk away. He would have to find a safer place to skin it.
~-X-~
“That’s a big rabbit you hunted, Ling.” Gatekeeper Daluo exclaimed when Luo Ling showed him the pelt. “Your bullshit luck makes one green with envy.” The bald guard shook his head, throwing an envious look at the nine-year-old kid before him.
“It's not that I am lucky, you are just too unlucky. I think all your luck had vanished together with your hair, gatekeeper Daluo.” Luo Ling retorted with a grin, combing a few fingers through his hair provocatively.
“Brat, what do you know? A bald head is a sign of strength.” Daluo puffed his chest with pride. Then, he coughed into his hands and rummaged through his money pouch. Taking out a bunch of iron rings, he handed them over to Luo Ling. “Here, seven iron rings. Not a penny less. As promised, I paid you one ring higher than the market price. Now, scram!”
“Thank you.” Luo Ling stored the handful of iron rings in the cloth pouch attached to his waist. He didn’t count them, having full trust in the bald man in front of him.
“By the way, do tell me if you hear anything more about this man-eater.” Luo Ling requested. Although he didn’t find any traces of any ferocious animal while he was hunting, it didn’t mean there was none. Since a rumor was spreading among the community of hunters, Luo Ling believed in the existence of this ferocious beast.
After all, hunters were not a gossipy bunch. They would not lie about something this serious.