Chapter 8: Hunter

“You want to buy some meat to mask the scent of Da Bao, so you can kill the last surviving offspring of the White Dragon Fish.” Jiang Tu listened to Chu Danqing’s purpose and wasn’t surprised at all.

Da Bao brought the White Dragon Fish’s offspring to his shop and asked him to process it.

“Yes, Da Bao said there were only three offspring of the White Dragon Fish—we might as well eliminate them all together.” Chu Danqing spoke honestly.

“Your method works, but pork can’t fully mask the scent.” Jiang Tu smiled confidently as he said: “You need to use this instead.”

As Jiang Tu spoke, he pulled out a stack of hides.

From their appearance and texture, Chu Danqing immediately recognized them as the skin of the White Dragon Fish’s offspring.

Not just one—there were several, clearly indicating that many of the White Dragon Fish’s offspring had died at Da Bao’s hands, and some of their skins remained in Jiang Tu’s shop.

“Have Da Bao wear them, then hide in the grass—only the White Dragon Fish itself can smell it; its offspring hasn’t grown strong enough yet,” Jiang Tu said.

Chu Danqing took them; the number of hides was just right to cover Da Bao.

It was obvious these had been prepared specifically for Da Bao.

He wasn’t the only one who observed and summarized—Xianghua Village had been entangled with the White Dragon Fish for so long; how could they have no countermeasures at all?

So when facing the White Dragon Fish, Xianghua Village’s methods far surpassed Chu Danqing’s.

“By the way, Young Master Chu, if you plan to act as bait for the hunt, Da Bao alone isn’t enough.”

“I’ll go fetch Wu Lao Liu from the village—he’s a famous hunter here,” Jiang Tu said cheerfully.

Chu Danqing immediately agreed: “Then I’m in your debt, Jiang Tu.”

“Don’t mention thanks—he owes you. His third daughter-in-law was dragged into the water and eaten by this demon,” Jiang Tu kicked the White Dragon Fish offspring and left his meat shop.

Less than half a bell’s time later, he returned with a middle-aged man; the man wasn’t as burly as Jiang Tu, but he was well-fed.

“It’s this beast,” the man—Wu Lao Liu—examined the offspring and spat bitterly: “There’s an arrow wound on its back—I left it there. That much can’t be faked.”

“Jiang Tu told me your idea on the way. Tell me when you’re ready to move—I’ll be at your service,” Wu Lao Liu said without hesitation, offering his help outright.

“This matter shouldn’t be delayed—we strike tonight. We still have half the afternoon to plan,” Chu Danqing was surprised at how easily this ally had appeared—he could only say it was no surprise given the easy difficulty of this trial.

But he also owed his advantage to the snowballing momentum he’d built from the start.

Wu Lao Liu immediately said: “Fine, we can do it.”

Before Chu Danqing could speak, Wu Lao Liu launched into a detailed plan.

From his fluent explanation, it was clear he’d long planned this hunt—he simply lacked the conditions to carry it out.

The plan was simple: bait and trap.

Chu Danqing as bait, Wu Lao Liu setting the trap, Da Bao charging head-on.

It could even be modified further to serve as a full-scale hunting strategy against the White Dragon Fish itself.

“Cough, Wu Lao Liu—Young Master Chu can’t outrun that little demon.”

“Your plan’s flaws will get Young Master Chu killed,” Jiang Tu interrupted, seeing Wu Lao Liu growing more enthusiastic.

Hearing this, Wu Lao Liu looked embarrassed—he hadn’t considered that.

“Then what do we do?” Wu Lao Liu had no immediate solution.

“There is—a metal cage. Don’t use it for the little demon. Use it for me. Just reinforce it so the demon can’t flip it open,” Chu Danqing proposed a new idea.

Who used it didn’t matter—as long as he didn’t die.

“As long as I hold out until Da Bao arrives,” Chu Danqing knew there was risk—but he had to take it.

“Without that cage, the rest of the setup becomes useless,” Wu Lao Liu sighed. Chu Danqing’s plan was crude, but it worked—guaranteed survival.

He couldn’t risk Chu Danqing’s life just for efficiency.

“Then scrap it. Why are you being so timid?” Jiang Tu scolded Wu Lao Liu upon hearing his words.

Wu Lao Liu had no intention of arguing further with Jiang Tu: “We’ll follow Young Master Chu’s plan. I’ll go prepare now—I’ll find you at dusk to set out together.”

Saying this, Wu Lao Liu turned and left the meat shop, already thinking how to refine the hunting plan further.

“That Wu Lao Liu,” Jiang Tu shook his head. “He’s just like that, Young Master Chu—don’t take it to heart.”

“It’s my own issue,” Chu Danqing knew his agility was certainly inferior to Wu Lao Liu’s as a hunter: “By the way, Jiang Tu, I’d like to get something for self-defense.”

“Where should I go to buy it?”

Since danger loomed tonight, this was a good chance to acquire some weapons.

Armor was out of the question—iron armor was certainly unavailable; perhaps leather armor existed.

He wanted something like a knife or spear.

“No need to buy—I’ve got a broadsword here. See if you can use it,” Jiang Tu rummaged from a corner and pulled out a broadsword.

The broadsword wasn’t really a weapon—it was more like a farming tool.

Roughly, a chopping knife with a hoe handle attached.

Chu Danqing took it, swung it once—it felt natural in his hand, though the blade was slightly rusted.

“Don’t rely on it too much—I used it to cut pigweed,” Jiang Tu said, taking the broadsword back from Chu Danqing and beginning to sharpen it.

“This thing won’t do much against those beasts—if you misuse it, you’ll hurt yourself.”

“So if you can run, better stay far away.”

Jiang Tu grunted as he scraped off the rust, giving Chu Danqing further advice.

“Even with my bulk, I couldn’t survive one bite from that demon—let alone you, a pampered young master.”

Chu Danqing fully agreed with these words.

“Actually… I’d like to learn archery,” Chu Danqing said.

Since he already had two summoning-based skills, he preferred a ranged option.

Archery or firearms would suit him well.

“Young Master Chu, don’t take this the wrong way,” Jiang Tu didn’t even look up: “Archery isn’t easy—even soldiers need three years of hard training.”

“When Wu Lao Liu comes back, I’ll ask him properly—see if he has any solutions.”

“He’s a hunter—he knows some archery, but only rudimentary skill.”

Jiang Tu didn’t outright refuse—he was willing to help Chu Danqing inquire.

“Thank you,” Chu Danqing was pleased—too bad crossbows were banned among civilians, or it would’ve been simpler.

(End of Chapter)