Chapter 15: The Wild Boar Hunt

After traveling over thirty miles, the group passed through a narrow mountain valley and entered an even more primal, dense forest. Their pace slowed, for the trails here were nothing more than faint paths trampled by hunters over the years—hardly suitable for galloping horses.

Once they had passed, several figures emerged from behind a hill. Dressed as hunters, each carried bows and arrows on their backs, steel forks in their hands, and crowns woven from branches upon their heads.

“Chief, that woman is Ye Hongxiu, the young mistress of Azure Cloud Fortress, and the beloved daughter of Ye Qingyun,” one whispered to the sturdy man leading them.

“Are you certain? And who is the young man walking beside her?” the chief asked.

“In Azure Cloud Fortress, only Huang Shuhua, the son of Third Chief Huang Yuantao, is of similar age to Ye Hongxiu. I haven’t met him myself, but I believe it must be him,” the subordinate replied after some thought.

“I’ve heard of him as well. Both are second-rate experts, outstanding among the younger generation of Azure Cloud Fortress, and both have the potential to break through as first-rate masters in the future. What could have brought them out here so suddenly, I wonder?” the chief nodded.

“Among the soldiers behind them, those two robust men are brothers and minor leaders in the fortress, likely second-rate experts. The rest are ordinary soldiers. Judging by their attire, they’re probably out hunting. After all, young people can’t stand staying cooped up in the fortress all the time,” the subordinate analyzed.

“The old chief sent many brothers to keep watch over Azure Cloud Fortress, hoping to catch their key figures alone. Who would’ve expected them to be so careless, letting two young chiefs roam freely? Take the others and follow them at a distance. I’ll report to the old chief immediately. Under no circumstances should they be alarmed. If they start heading back, return to the valley—we may set an ambush there,” the chief instructed. With a few agile leaps, he vanished into the woods, himself a second-rate expert.

Fang Xian and his companions had no inkling they were being shadowed. He was still immersed in the thrill of hunting—never before had he hunted, and now the opportunity was too good to pass up.

Whenever they spotted wild rabbits, pheasants, or other game along the way, Fang Xian couldn’t resist drawing his bow and letting arrows fly. With his superb archery, he rarely missed; the arrows were not only swift but deadly accurate. The moment the bowstring twanged, game would fall in the distance, and the fortress soldiers cheered as they collected the bounty.

Night fell. Ye Hongxiu led Fang Xian to a dilapidated stone hut built from scattered rocks, where they spent the night. A fire was lit, wild game roasted and seasoned, filling the air with irresistible aroma. From the distant woods came the faint sounds of beasts roaring.

Early next morning, Er Niu excitedly woke Fang Xian and Ye Hongxiu. While fetching water, they had found fresh, large footprints nearby.

“Take me to see them,” Ye Hongxiu said, instantly intrigued. Though Fang Xian had kept her up late the previous night, her body, honed as a first-rate expert, showed no sign of fatigue as she bounded outside.

“Husband, it’s a big wild boar,” she declared after examining several prints, flipping over a pile of dung with a branch.

“Everyone, eat something, then let’s track it down,” Fang Xian’s eyes lit up. A wild boar was a real prize—at least four or five hundred pounds, perfect for making cured meat for the New Year.

Everyone was invigorated. Usually, hunting yielded deer or badgers, which were considered a good catch. Tigers and leopards were out of the question, and even wild boars were rarely encountered. If they did, the boar often escaped.

They quickly finished breakfast and moved through the forest. Ye Hongxiu led the way, Da Niu and Er Niu flanked her, soldiers spread out, and Fang Xian took the center, bow at the ready to strike in any direction.

Their warhorses had been left several miles away at the foot of the mountain, guarded by five seasoned soldiers, two of whom were third-rate martial artists, with the other three close to achieving that rank.

On a cliff several miles away, the group of hunters shadowing them watched closely. Though only five in number, they dared not approach. They feared alerting their targets and doubted their ability to handle the fortress soldiers, who were clearly elite.

So, they remained at a distance, waiting to rejoin their main group when it returned from the mountain.

“Everyone, pay attention—it’s just ahead,” Ye Hongxiu suddenly called after they’d searched several miles through the deep woods, and the group slowed their movements.

Fang Xian caught a pungent scent in the air and heard muffled grunts ahead. They crept through the trees until the forest opened up.

There, a massive black boar was foraging for tender bamboo shoots among a grove a hundred yards away, grunting as it went. Its body was covered in bristle-like hair, with two long, curved tusks beside its nose. With a casual nudge, it snapped bamboo as thick as a fist.

“Miss, sir, this beast’s hide is tough. Our arrows can’t penetrate it,” Er Niu said. They’d encountered wild boars before, but their weapons barely scratched it, forcing them to engage at close quarters—only for the boar to escape.

“Spread out and guard the flanks. Don’t let it get away,” Fang Xian instructed, his starry eyes focusing. He noticed the boar flicking its tail, occasionally exposing its vulnerable hindquarters.

“Damn, looks like I’ll have to target that spot,” Fang Xian muttered, reluctant but seeing no other way.

He drew his bow, aiming at the distant beast. For others, hitting a boar at a hundred yards would be impressive, let alone striking its weakest spot. But for Fang Xian, it was effortless.

With a sharp twang, he released the arrow just as the boar raised its tail. A cry echoed as the boar leapt, rampaging through the bamboo grove, destroying everything in its path.

The furious roar shook the mountains, sending birds fleeing and beasts scattering. The pain drove the boar mad.

It spotted the group and charged, its massive frame barreling forward like a tank, snapping trees as it went.

“Scatter!” Fang Xian shouted, standing his ground. He drew and fired another arrow, piercing the boar’s mouth and neck.

The boar’s vitality was astonishing—it kept charging despite the fatal injury. When it was barely ten yards away, Fang Xian released two more arrows straight into its eyes, finally killing it. Its enormous body slid to a halt at Fang Xian’s feet.

The group gathered around, watching the boar convulse, its bulk a mere yard from Fang Xian. Their admiration was boundless—not only had he single-handedly slain the beast, he stood before it unfazed. Even Ye Hongxiu felt she could not compare.

“Husband, with your arrows you rival the legendary Li Guang,” Ye Hongxiu marveled.

“Just bold and careful, nothing worth boasting about,” Fang Xian replied modestly. The group searched the area, and Da Niu hoisted the boar with ease—his strength as a second-rate expert made lifting a four or five hundred pound beast seem effortless.