Chapter 14: Today, I Break Through to Martial Artist and Allocate My Points! (Please Support and Follow)
The village grew lively.
Wild boars were fierce and quick-tempered, usually traveling in groups, making them difficult to hunt. Catching even one was considered lucky. Catching two at once was truly impressive.
By now, it was afternoon, and many fishermen had returned, gathering around to watch the commotion.
“Brother Chen is amazing!”
“Yeah, he carried back such a huge wild boar all by himself! That physique is incredibly strong!”
“Exactly! Look at Lady Zhou’s rosy complexion every day; Brother Chen’s strength is evident!”
“Wild Dog and Er Mazi both struggled to carry one female boar, their faces flushed with exertion. The contrast is striking!”
“Not only that, look at the wounds on the two wild boars—only the eyes were hit. That means Brother Chen’s four arrows all struck the eyes without missing a single shot. His archery is truly divine!”
“The phrase ‘hitting the bull’s-eye from a hundred paces’ perfectly describes Brother Chen’s archery skills!”
“Lady Zhou is truly fortunate!”
“Look, Lady Zhou is coming!”
Qin Hongyu hurried over, her eyes wide with surprise and joy upon seeing Zhou Chen carrying a large wild boar. She hadn’t expected him to actually catch wild boars—two of them, no less.
Especially seeing Zhou Chen hoist one boar alone, his imposing figure as immovable as a mountain made Qin Hongyu’s legs tremble, and a sweet warmth flowed through her heart.
Women are naturally drawn to strength.
Who wouldn’t want their man to be formidable?
A strong man means no one dares to bully you!
“Brother Chen!”
Qin Hongyu quickly approached Zhou Chen, her eyes glistening with admiration and affection.
“Hello, sister-in-law!”
Wild Dog and Er Mazi greeted him politely.
“Hongyu, I’ll go sell these two wild boars first!”
Zhou Chen, with Wild Dog and Er Mazi carrying the boars, strode straight to the grain shop, which was a branch of the merchants’ guild. It dealt not only in grain but also in other goods.
The shopkeeper, hearing the commotion outside, came out with two assistants. Upon seeing Zhou Chen carrying the massive wild boar, he was secretly stunned—not by the boar itself, but by Zhou Chen’s strength.
“Brother Chen, you’re truly capable!”
The shopkeeper knew Zhou Chen well; in the past, Elder Cao often brought Zhou Chen here to sell game or buy daily necessities.
“Shopkeeper Zhao, I’m selling these two wild boars.”
Zhou Chen set down the boar he was carrying, then lifted the female boar that Wild Dog and Er Mazi had brought and placed it alongside, addressing Zhao Yuan.
“Brother Chen, you’re a regular customer now. These two wild boars weigh about six hundred jin combined. I’ll give you a fair price: ten taels of silver for both. How does that sound?”
Zhao Yuan examined the wild boars and their wounds. Zhou Chen’s archery skills clearly surpassed Elder Cao’s.
Also, Zhou Chen’s strength was impressive—perhaps innate divine power or the result of some training—making him a notable figure in the village. He would surely bring in plenty of game in the future.
“Great, Shopkeeper Zhao, that’s very generous!”
Zhou Chen smiled without bargaining. The price was reasonable.
Ordinary pork went for twenty wen per jin, so six hundred jin of pork would be about twelve taels of silver. His wild boars were not yet processed, but wild boar meat was more valuable than ordinary pork, and if the wild boar was a magical beast, the price would be even higher.
For instance, the tiger Zhang Long killed yesterday, a magical beast, would fetch at least one hundred taels of silver on the market.
After selling the wild boars, Zhou Chen bought twenty jin of salt and other daily necessities.
Salt was inexpensive, ten wen per jin.
Including other items, it cost less than one tael of silver, though one tael was not a small sum.
Qin Hongyu, feeling both worried and happy, carried the purchased goods as they returned home.
Wild Dog and Er Mazi followed behind, carrying wild chickens and rabbits.
Back home.
Zhou Chen distributed two dead piglets, two wild rabbits, and two wild chickens to Wild Dog and Er Mazi.
“You worked hard today!”
“Brother Chen, it’s nothing. If you ever need anything, just say the word—we’ll be there immediately!”
Wild Dog and Er Mazi beat their chests earnestly.
“Alright, you two can go rest now!”
Zhou Chen dismissed them.
The two understood and happily left with their game.
Outside, they deliberately took a detour around the village, drawing envious glances.
“Feels good!”
Under the admiring gazes, the two, already exhausted, finally returned home to process their catch.
Zhou Chen and Qin Hongyu also began preparing their haul.
He kept the four live piglets for now, raising them on fresh food.
“Tonight, we’ll have braised suckling pig!”
He handed the dead piglet to Qin Hongyu to prepare in the kitchen, then continued working on the rabbits and chickens.
He skinned and gutted the rabbits, plucked and cleaned the chickens, sprinkled salt, and hung them up to dry.
Afterward, Zhou Chen gently stroked the little fox, which seemed tame now.
The fox lay on his lap, looking content.
Zhou Chen smiled, rubbing its fluffy head.
“Since you’re so good, I won’t lock you in the cage tonight!”
He wanted to see if the little fellow would try to escape.
Even if it ran off, it didn’t matter.
[Romance Points +1]
After a while, Qin Hongyu finished cooking.
There was a basin of braised suckling pig and a large bowl of stir-fried chicken giblets.
She filled Zhou Chen’s bowl to the brim with rice.
“Brother Chen, you’re becoming more and more of a glutton!” Qin Hongyu teased.
“If I don’t eat more, how will I build strength?”
Zhou Chen chuckled, his gaze lingering on Qin Hongyu.
“No strength means I can’t feed you properly.”
Qin Hongyu blushed and stuffed a large chunk of fatty meat into Zhou Chen’s mouth.
“All this meat still can’t shut you up!”
“You’re the only one who can!”
“You wish!”
They ate their fill, hearts content.
Especially Qin Hongyu, who was nearly overwhelmed with happiness seeing Zhou Chen bring home two wild boars today and earn ten taels of silver.
“After dinner, you need to be more active!”
Zhou Chen scooped Qin Hongyu up in his arms and strode toward the bedroom.
“Oh! The little fox isn’t locked up yet!”
“Forget it!”
“Turn off the lights!”
“No need—we’re not short on oil money!”
“You bad man!”
“Ah, don’t… stop…!”
...
For ten consecutive days, Zhou Chen did not leave the house.
The little fox was well-fed and did not run away.
Wild Dog, Er Mazi, and other hunters wanted to join him on hunts, but he refused, choosing instead to stay home and indulge in his domestic life.
The villagers soon realized that Zhou Chen was capable but lazy.
Every time he finished hunting, he would go home to enjoy time with his wife, only venturing out again when their supplies ran low.
Two days later, as Zhou Chen’s appetite grew and their meat ran low, he had no choice but to go hunting.
This time he took Wild Dog, Er Mazi, and two other hunters.
He found a herd of sika deer and shot four of the largest, each weighing around two hundred jin.
He carried two himself, while the other four men carried the remaining two.
Upon returning to the village, Zhou Chen removed the antlers, gave one to Wild Dog and his group, and sold two along with all the antlers, keeping one deer for himself.
Deer were more valuable than wild boars, especially the antlers; he earned another fifteen taels of silver.
Back home, Zhou Chen continued to stay in, enjoying his domestic life.
Qin Hongyu was pleased, though somewhat overwhelmed.
She felt that not only had Zhou Chen grown stronger, but in other ways he had matured even more.
Though he was only eighteen, she felt he seemed like a man of twenty-two.
“Brother Chen, have you been secretly using the Thunderlight Ruyi Hand to massage yourself?”
“Nonsense! I’m only eighteen, in the prime of growing. This is just normal secondary development!”
Zhou Chen spoke firmly—and truthfully.
Though he only hunted once every ten days or so, each time he returned fully laden.
Their savings had now surpassed twenty taels of silver—actually twenty-four.
They were considered wealthy in the village.
Zhou Chen was waiting—waiting until he broke through his current level to visit Qinghe City.
First, because the city had better bows.
Second, to learn more about the world.
He had to go to the city.
The rural folk lived in information isolation; they barely knew what was happening outside, and often died without knowing the cause.
Twenty days passed in a flash.
During that time, Zhou Chen went hunting once more, again targeting sika deer, earning another fifteen taels of silver.
The weather grew colder; frost formed on the grass and leaves by the roadside.
In the warmth of their home, Zhou Chen looked down at Qin Hongyu, who slept soundly in his arms, her rosy face streaked with tears of happiness.
He didn’t disturb her, quietly withdrawing with eyes full of excitement and anticipation.
[Romance Treasure Mirror]
[Owner: Zhou Chen]
[Technique: Yi Archery]
[Realm: Body Refinement, Level One—Refined Skin (993/1000)]
[Divine Power: Thunderlight Ruyi Hand]
[Skills: Archery (Mastery), Tracking (Advanced 40/160), Throwing (Advanced 8/160), Traps (Proficient 2/20), Fishing (Beginner 6/10)...]
[Romance Points: 14]
“One month has passed—I can finally truly enter the ranks of warriors!”
Suppressing his excitement, Zhou Chen shouted within his heart:
“Add points!”
...