Chapter 563: Winning at the Starting Line

Heavenly thunder rumbled!

Countless iron hooves kicked up dust and smoke, and a gray, surging wave rose outside the forest.

Birds and bats filled the sky, startled from the woods, briefly obscuring the heavens and casting a sprawling, dark shadow like a storm cloud.

A mere half-breath of time.

The leaping, galloping steeds had already left the dust behind.

The onlookers felt the thunder beneath their feet, their hearts shaken as they watched the young man bathe in moonlight, whipping his mount to drive it forward, charging out of the rolling dust waves, gathering into a silver-bright tide that rose and fell with the yellow earth, before scattering into the lush forest under the obstruction of ancient trees.

Young men carrying simple hunting bows tightened their shoelaces and sprinted, their faces flushed crimson with excitement.

Full of vigor, free as the heavens and earth!

"Fire the signal cannons! Fire the signal cannons!"

The steward waved his hand, urging them on.

*Whoosh. *

*Crack! *

Blazing firelight shot into the sky, exploding into orange celestial flowers.

The birds and bats filling the sky scattered abruptly, tearing several large holes in the black curtain that had veiled the moon.

The clouds parted and the moon emerged!

The full moon hung in the firmament, and the vast swathes of "black clouds" rapidly cracked and dissipated, revealing the starry sky.

The sky was filled with clear light.

On the vast and boundless Chishan Ridge, every leaf reflected the cold light of the stars and moon.

The world was frosted with brightness, feeling almost like broad daylight, with dancing tree shadows covering the ground.

The hunting spectators opened their eyes wide, their gazes bright as snow, wishing that the person galloping on horseback was themselves.

The steward shook his sleeves and shouted again.

"Wolf smoke! Raise the wolf smoke!"

Following the firelight, three straight pillars of yellow smoke shot into the sky, rolling and surging.

Deep within Chishan Ridge, the long smoke was sighted.

*Thud! *

The Xu family disciples jumped from the treetops and opened the iron cages. The panicked spirit deer kicked the ground and fled wildly.

*Bang! *

The Chi family disciples picked up wooden branches and struck the large crates; spirit sparrows scrambled to fly out, a few fallen feathers scraped off and drifted into the fallen leaves.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! *

The water tanks were overturned.

Blue-backed dragon carp, wrapped in white foam, turned into waterfalls and plunged into the large lake and streams, surging in all directions.

At the bottom of the pool.

The fat catfish, having waited a long time, opened its large mouth and flicked its tail, eating left and right, storm-sucking in the dizzy, unreactive blue-backed dragon carp, spitting out water, keeping the treasure fish, its belly bulging.

At the other pool openings.

Round-Head and Cannot-Move each displayed their divine abilities, squatting at the fish-release points to fish wantonly, "eating" and seizing the initiative.

Fist did not have the "mouth capacity" of the fat catfish or Cannot-Move, nor did it have as many followers as Round-Head; it only had two large pincers, which gave it a unique advantage, opening a specially made fishing net to shuttle and intercept, catching several at a time.

Otter-Otter-Open was too small in stature; it swam forward and hugged a large treasure fish, refusing to let go, but was whipped dizzy by the fish's tail, its eyes rolling back.

It looked like it was about to faint.

Fist stepped forward, clamped the blue carp, and stuffed it into the fish basket.

The Huo family disciples who opened the wooden crates to release the fish looked at the calm lake surface and scratched their heads.

"Strange... how come there are no fish?"

Thirty treasure fish had been released.

Only sporadic blue light darted about, with very little movement.

The others...

Did they all drill to the bottom of the pool?

Outside Chishan Ridge, the noise was like a tide, with people shoulder to shoulder.

At the three entrances, nearly a hundred tents were set up, selling food, snacks, and chairs for people to rest.

The swords and spears of the shadow puppet show flashed incessantly, and vendors carrying poles selling hot wonton soup as a midnight snack were endless.

There were even martial arts experts performing acrobatics.

A lone man, bare-chested, his dark skin glistening with oily sweat, held a wooden stick in his hand, spinning the ends of two iron boxes filled with burning charcoal, spraying out raging flames, looking like a fire tree in bloom, reaching a height of over three *zhang*.

*Boom! *

The flames rose and surged.

It illuminated the faces of the onlookers orange-red, causing lively exclamations, and a dozen copper coins were tossed down, clinking as they fell.

But when it came to the largest and most boisterous tents, it was still the gambling dens.

Velvet cloths painted with red and green pigments covered the large tables, with tassels hanging from the four corners.

The wide cloth surfaces were marked with the names, portraits, and odds of each contestant according to their ranking, and gleaming copper coins and silver fragments were piled into mountains.

The Xu family, carrying their female relatives, bought some fried cakes and fried dough slices, tossed a few silver fragments to the fire-tree-silver-flower performer, and strolled while eating.

Yang Xu, Yu Dun, and Lu Gang followed quietly.

"Come, come, come, the betting is open! Opportunity knocks but once, don't miss out! Pick your top ten, get rich overnight starting today! Win and you can drink the head courtesan's cup of wine, sing songs in the courtesan house!"

"Small bets for fun, big bets hurt the body. Young masters, young ladies, toss some small money to play!"

"Madam, pick your winner, win big, and if you lose, it's still a show of confidence and support!"

"Big bets or small bets, better not to bet at all, live a happy life! If you don't place a bet, buy a 'Dragon-Tiger List'! Three taels of silver, high-quality silk, produced by a master! The ranking is fair and objective!"

With bets placed and odds calculated, as long as people invested money, the house was guaranteed a profit.

Three entrances, three great families, three gambling dens.

It was clearly no coincidence.

The gambling den clerks bared their arms and did their best to solicit customers; a few shouts brought in thousands of taels of turnover.

The gambling revenue from these three nights and two days alone could probably easily cover the cost of hosting the hunt.

"Give me a 'Dragon-Tiger List', keep the change."

Two small silver ingots tapped on the table.

"Alright!" The clerk subconsciously went to grab the scroll, but raised his eyes to look and nearly dropped it in fright, "Prefect Magistrate?"

The steward raised his head upon hearing the sound.

Xu Wanxing, the Prefect Magistrate of Huangzhou, grabbed the list and said while reading, "There was an imperial decree from the court today, and handling official business was quite busy, so I arrived a bit late and didn't personally light the wolf smoke, missing the grand event, which is a great pity."

The Xu family steward hurriedly replaced the clerk and stepped forward to host, "That the Prefect Magistrate could find time in his busy schedule to come is the greatest honor for the people of Huangzhou, and it is a joy to share with the people. Please, Magistrate, move your steps and ascend Yulan Peak."

"Yulan Peak is located in the center of Chishan Ridge, a hundred *zhang* high, with an open view, making it the easiest place to watch the hunt. Most of the prey is also released from around this area, making it the best viewing point."

"Good! I'll trouble the steward to send someone to lead the way."

Xu Wanxing browsed briefly, closed the list, and followed the clerk as he led the way, with a group of high officials following behind.

The crowd silently parted.

The arrival of the Huangzhou Prefect Magistrate undoubtedly added fuel to the grand event, and more and more people poured into the gambling dens.

Heads bumped against heads, and a large number of Xu family disciples shuttled among them, maintaining order to avoid trampling.

After settling the prefecture officials.

The steward went to invite others to ascend Yulan Peak to watch and enjoy the hunt.

The Xu family was naturally among those invited.

Not to mention that Grandmaster Yang Dongxiong was about to arrive; even without that, the relatives of a top-tier Great Martial Artist should have this treatment.

"Wait!"

Before moving.

Long Li took the silver notes and silver fragments from the hands of the Xu family, Long Eying, and Long Yao.

Yang Xu gave a wink, and the personal guards stepped forward, blocking the crowded crowd in front of the gambling den and forcing out a path.

Long Li rushed into the betting area and dumped everything onto Liang Qu's portrait, shaking the mountain of copper coins until it slid and collapsed.

"Bet on Liang Qu, first place! Two thousand five hundred and sixty taels, and give me another 'Dragon-Tiger List'!"

"Betting on first?"

"Yes!"

"Alright, two thousand five hundred and sixty taels, number five bets on first place, today's odds, one to sixty-two!" The steward sang out, recorded the information with cinnabar, stamped it with a red seal, and presented the receipt and the list together, "Young lady, keep the receipt well and keep it safe. The results will be announced in three days. If you win, remember to come and redeem it. It will be void after ten days!"

Took back the receipt and the Dragon-Tiger List.

Everyone gathered around.

Long Yao urged.

"Open it and see, how is the Dragon-Tiger List ranked?"

Unfolded the scroll.

What came into view were several lines of golden characters.

"First, Zhu Zongwang, Martial Examination Wolf Smoke Twenty-Eight Mansions, ranked sixth in the Eastern Mansion 'Tail Fire Tiger', Hunting Tiger Realm, born with martial bones, age twenty-nine, battle record..."

"Second, Chi Ang, Yunzhou Chi family, Hunting Tiger Realm, half martial bones, age thirty-four, battle record..."

"Third, Xu Jiangming, Huangzhou Xu family, Hunting Tiger Realm, half martial bones, age thirty-five, two months short of thirty-six, battle record..."

The only three Hunting Tiger Great Martial Artists in the entire Great Hunt were also the top three on the Dragon-Tiger List and the favorites to win the championship.

The handwriting was specially enlarged and particularly eye-catching.

Zhu Zongwang was the youngest, but his status as one of the Wolf Smoke Twenty-Eight Mansions clearly added a lot to his prestige, ranking him first.

Long Yao and Long Li were unconvinced, but knowing the realm was there, they looked down with patience.

"Fourth, Huo Hongyuan, Yunzhou Huo family, Martial Examination Twenty-Eight Mansions, ranked seventh in the Eastern Mansion 'Winnowing Basket Ji Shui Bao', Wolf Smoke Heavenly Bridge, born with martial bones, age twenty-six, battle record..."

"Fifth, Liang Qu, Pingyang Prefecture Crossing-River Dragon, disciple of Yang Dongxiong, Wolf Smoke Earthly Bridge, born with martial bones, age nineteen, battle record..."

"Sixth, Chi Hongkun, Yunzhou Chi family, Wolf Smoke Heavenly Bridge, age thirty-five..."

"No, why is the lord below the Night-Fork? Is the gambling den bullying outsiders?"

Long Yao was indignant.

It would be one thing if the ranking was lower than a Hunting Tiger Great Martial Artist.

But it wasn't fourth, it was fifth!

"Young lady, don't be angry." The leading steward smiled, "The Great Hunt is to compare hunting ability, not martial arts level. Otherwise, just set up a ring and fight; why go to the trouble of releasing spirit creatures every year?

Since it is hunting ability, there are many influencing factors.

The Winnowing Basket Ji Shui Bao is a Huo family member, half a Xu family member. First, he is familiar with the environment of Chishan Ridge, and second, this is not his first time participating in the Great Hunt. It's possible that many Huo family disciples will take the initiative to offer prey, so the winning rate is naturally higher; this is all allowed by the rules.

Looking at Lord Liang, he only has a few senior brothers and sisters to help, is not very familiar with the Xu family, and is alone. To be ranked fifth is entirely based on his own ability, which is already very remarkable."

Long Yao and Long Li's expressions cleared slightly.

As expected of a steward.

The words were pleasant to hear.

"Looking at it this way, there are quite a few Hunting Tigers under thirty-five." Yang Xu patted Yu Dun on the shoulder, "Junior brother, you should be encouraged."

"Senior brother is right..."

"It's a lively day, don't always say things that spoil the mood." The Xu family interrupted with dissatisfaction, "You don't even come back to care about your junior brother once every four or five years on weekdays. It's hard to have a happy occasion, why urge him at this time?"

"Yes, yes, yes, my fault, my fault."

Inside Chishan Ridge, the trees were deep and secluded.

Liang Qu galloped for several miles.

Chishan Ridge had almost no high mountains, but it was vast. Along the way, there were few followers.

"Senior brother, senior sister, you really won't come with me?"

"Is junior brother worried?" Zhuo Shaoqin's gaze drifted backward.

"No, small matter, just asking about the hunt."

Guan Congjian looked up and back; it was deep and dark, with nothing there, and he was a bit confused.

"Junior brother, don't joke." Zhuo Shaoqin shook her head, "If we go with you, where is the fun in hunting? Could it be that we won't be able to grab a single piece of prey and will be reduced to spectators?"

"Senior sister is right, the sea is wide for fish to leap, and the sky is high for birds to fly." Hu Qi agreed, "If we travel together, junior brother will have to share opportunities with us, tying our hands and feet.

It's better for everyone to go their separate ways and gather here again after the grand event. If junior brother is short by a few points, maybe our sporadic gains can help."

Liang Qu did not force it upon hearing this.

"Good, let's go, let's go." Xu Zishuai turned his horse's head, "Junior brother, see you the day after tomorrow!"

"See you!"

"I'm leaving too." Guan Congjian was carefree, "You are a water-town person, I am a mountain person, I have lived by hunting since I was a child, don't lose to me!"

"I definitely won't."

In the distance.

Witnessing Liang Qu parting ways with his senior brothers, standing alone in the forest, identifying the direction.

Huo Hongyuan, hiding behind the bushes, was quite restless, gave Zhu Zongwang a wink, and was about to step forward.

"Wait."

Zhu Zongwang reached out to stop him.

"Waiting again?"

Huo Hongyuan frowned deeply.

That's what was said before the Great Hunt, and now the Great Hunt has started, and still waiting?

"You are too hesitant! You weren't like this before!"

Zhu Zongwang had a headache.

A Wolf Smoke Earthly Bridge, indeed, shouldn't be so cautious.

It was really...

The Martial Examination changed fate, how much effort did the court put in? Coming to Huangzhou for a trip, the change was inexplicable...

Fate accompanies a person for a lifetime, not only meaning the present, but also representing the future. Perhaps it was the unseen future that brought about the unprovoked changes.

Especially after finding out that the other party was a Long Dragon Crossing the River.

In the end, will making a move change things, or will not making a move change things?

What Zhu Zongwang feared was not Liang Qu, but that unclear, mysterious, and profound fate!

"Sigh."

Measuring fate in youth.

Elders often say not to believe in it recklessly, but when it really falls on oneself, how can one be calm and let go?

He wasn't a seventy or eighty-year-old man who had seen through everything. At twenty-nine, his prime had just begun; he would be moved by female beauty, and when seeing peers who were better than him, he would want to prove that he was better.

Thinking back and forth.

"Wait one more day and night, hunt first! After that, I'll listen to you!"

"Hunting?"

"Hunt more spirit deer, spirit sparrows, and spirit fish. After one day, bring up the competition again, using each other's prey as a bet, normally making a move to test and snatch, using the hunt as a cover to control the intensity and leave a retreat."

Zhu Zongwang said so.

"I'll listen to you one more time."

The two retreated step by step and left.

Among the treetops.

The blue centipede spread its wings, shuttled through the leaves, landed back on Liang Qu's shoulder, shook its head, and relayed the information one by one.

"Strange."

Liang Qu rubbed his chin, unable to understand why the two were so afraid of him, like a hot potato.

The Patrol Sea Night-Fork had a fiery temper and was competitive. Since coming to the Xu family, he had always heard people mention it, but such a fiery-tempered person didn't make trouble on the spot, causing him to lose three thousand.

Didn't make trouble on the spot.

Thinking that the Great Hunt should be the time, right?

The "Eye-Knowledge Method" was not practiced in vain.

The two went out, and the nine senior brothers knew clearly.

So he sent A-Wei to monitor every move.

Who would have thought that after going around in circles, they still wouldn't make a move.

"Strange..."

Unable to figure it out.

Letting A-Wei fly into the sky to confirm that the two had left, Liang Qu no longer cared, and went to find the fat catfish first to count the treasure fish harvest.

On Yulan Peak.

The entire mountaintop had been cleared, and tents and chairs had been set up.

The high-level officials of the Xu, Huo, and Chi families gathered to welcome the arrival of the Prefect Magistrate.

The Xu family and others arrived one after another and ascended to the top to discover.

Yulan Peak had a unique scenery.

The trees that blocked the view on the mountaintop had been cleared away, and there were no low mountains around, and Chishan Ridge was mostly rocks, with sparse trees.

Occasionally, one could see people shuttling through the forest, chasing prey in the moonlight.

"Look, Cao Shixiong Xu!"

Long Yao reached out and pointed from afar.

Yang Xu and others looked over.

The glistening moonlight illuminated the hillside.

Xu Zishuai was fully focused, holding his breath, and drew three arrows.

Drew his bow and nocked the arrows.

*Bang! *

Three arrows fired at once!

Before the spirit deer could react, one arrow hit the spine, two arrows hit the abdomen, firmly locking the position, and it was easily captured alive.

Grabbed the spirit deer's neck and stuffed it into a leather bag.

Seeming to notice the gaze.

Xu Zishuai looked up at Yulan Peak, tied the bag, and greeted everyone enthusiastically.

Two flowers bloom.

Beside the pool water.

The fat catfish opened a crack, and the fresh blue-backed dragon carp inside struggled incessantly.

Liang Qu reached in and scooped.

One.

Five.

Ten... ===== CHAPTER 564 =====