Chapter 14

Whoosh!

Almost the moment Qin Shu came within a hundred meters of the deer herd.

The five-colored deer seemed to become alert and leapt up from where it stood.

That leap covered about ten meters, and then it stared warily in the direction where Qin Shu was.

Using the cover of the scattered rocks in the valley.

Qin Shu lay motionless on the grass.

The five-colored deer looked for a while, confirmed there was nothing abnormal or dangerous, then lowered its head again to graze.

"Really alert!"

Qin Shu gritted his teeth.

The five-colored deer's alertness is too high; at the slightest rustle, it bolts away at full speed.

Moreover, it seems highly sensitive to malice; once Qin Shu comes within a hundred meters, it will detect him.

"No, this five-colored deer is too alert; it's impossible to get within a hundred meters of it."

He tried several times in a row.

Qin Shu discovered that each time he approached within a hundred meters, it would trigger the deer's vigilance.

With his current archery skill, within sixty meters he can achieve a one-shot kill.

But beyond a hundred meters, his chance is less than thirty percent.

Most importantly, given the deer's cautious nature, if he misses this time, he may not encounter it again in the valley.

Just like the large wild boar and muntjac in Longshu Gully.

Since the first time he encountered them, Qin Shu has never seen them again.

"We can't startle the snake; let's retreat first."

In the end, Qin Shu chose to retreat.

This five-colored deer is too valuable; Qin Shu doesn't want to take the risk.

His iron-fetal bow has now been refined to sixty percent.

If he doesn't go hunting in the mountains, Qin Shu is confident he can fully refine it within three days.

Once he has the 【Hundred-Step Piercing Willow】 and 【Shooting Stone, Drinking Feather】 enhancements, he can accomplish the feat in one go and take down this five-colored deer.

Having made up his mind, Qin Shu headed straight down the mountain home, not wanting to waste a second.

The game he caught each day before was plentiful, more than enough to support him taking the next few days off to practice his bow.

Coincidentally, these days Aunt Zhang moved away; with him at home keeping her company, Qin Lan can also rest easier.

While mulling over his plans in his mind, Qin Shu unknowingly had already returned to the city.

Just as ill luck would have it, when he passed the Locust Tree Plaza, he happened to see Zhang Xiong sitting in a carriage, slowly driving out from Peach Blossom Lane.

"Brother Xiong, where are you headed?" Qin Shu exclaimed in surprise.

From what could be seen inside the carriage, Zhang Xiong seemed to be moving house.

"Lately the outer city has been unsettled; I plan to move into the inner city to stay temporarily."

Zhang Xiong jumped down from the carriage, let the driver go on ahead, and stopped to talk with Qin Shu.

"Is it because of the strange disease spreading from the northern district?" Qin Shu frowned.

He had just seen off Aunt Zhang next door in the morning, never expecting to encounter Zhang Xiong moving in the afternoon.

Could the strange disease in the western district already be this serious?

"Well, several cases have already appeared in the Bei'an Street area; the inner city is now under lockdown, strictly checking everyone entering and exiting."

"Ah Shu, I see your recent harvest has been good; why not join me and take refuge in the inner city for a while?"

Zhang Xiong's tone was grave.

In fact, the situation is worse than he said.

Not only the Bei'an Street area, but even the nearby Chaiyu Workshop has heard of people contracting the strange disease.

However, to keep public morale stable, the authorities have suppressed discussion of it.

And this is the real reason Zhang Xiong is rushing to move away from Peach Blossom Lane.

"Alright, I'll consider it." Qin Shu nodded.

Then he asked again: "Brother Xiong, what exactly is this strange disease? Is it contagious?"

"Not clear; I only know that those infected grow wolf hair all over their bodies, and in severe cases they even howl like wolves…"

Zhang Xiong shook his head, his face full of solemnity.

"In short, leave the outer city as soon as possible; at least so far, no such strange disease has appeared in the inner city."

"Okay."

Qin Shu nodded heavily.

Afterward he brought up to Zhang Xiong the five-colored deer he had encountered today, asking whether it was an anomalous beast.

"Covered in five colors, with a jade horn on its head?"

After hearing Qin Shu's description, Zhang Xiong became wholly excited, his eyes blazing as he said:

"Ah Shu, if you can help me bag this five-colored deer, I'll give you thirty taels of silver—no, fifty taels."

Zhang Xiong's gaze was scorching, his breathing even becoming hurried.

Fifty taels?

Upon hearing that figure, even though Qin Shu had already estimated the value of the five-colored deer, he only felt his head buzzing.

Originally he thought this five-colored deer was worth at least twenty taels of silver.

Who would have thought he still underestimated its worth.

He felt relieved that he had not acted rashly.

Otherwise, he would have scared away that five-colored deer, and now he estimates he would regret it to the point of vomiting blood.

Seeing Qin Shuo not speak, Zhang Xiong thought he disliked his low offer, and thus explained:

"A Shuo, I'm not lying to you; the meat of exotic beasts is indeed a rare commodity in Blackwater City, available but without a market."

According to your description, if that five-colored deer were taken to the Inner City to sell, it could easily fetch thirty or forty taels of silver.

And I am currently at a crucial stage in my martial training, urgently needing exotic beast meat to aid my breakthrough.

If you can help me hunt down that five-colored deer, besides fifty taels of silver, I, Zhang Xiong, will additionally owe you a favor, how about that?

"Good."

Qin Shuo agreed readily.

Zhang Xiong had no need to deceive him, and moreover, the price offered far exceeded his expectations.

Perhaps because he has not yet come into contact with the martial way, he does not fully understand the value of exotic beast meat.

But after experiencing the incident at Old Ginseng Mountain, Qin Shuo's heart grew ever clearer that wealth moves people's hearts.

If he were to take the five-colored deer to the Inner City to sell, he might truly be able to get a price higher than fifty taels.

But can he keep it?

From their interactions over this period, Zhang Xiong is still very fair and reliable.

At least so far in their acquaintance, the other party has not even thought of harming him.

As for that red-furred squirrel from back then.

If the other party had intended to harm him, they could simply have bought it at a price slightly higher than ordinary game.

Even if Qin Shuo later learned the value of the red-furred squirrel, there would be nothing he could say.

After all, it was his own failure to recognize value; who could he blame?

But Zhang Xiong did not do that.

He clearly informed Qin Shuo of the red-furred squirrel's value, and paid five taels of silver to buy it, relieving Qin Shuo's urgent need.

This favor, Qin Shuo must accept.

Furthermore, afterward the other party even lent him the iron tire bow, giving him the possibility to shoot down the five-colored deer.

Both emotionally and logically, Qin Shuo had no reason to take advantage of someone's predicament and demand more.

"Good, A Shuo, I really haven't misjudged you."

Zhang Xiong laughed heartily with delight.

This is the best news he has heard in this period.

"Later I will let my father know; after you hunt down the five-colored deer, you can go straight to the shop to exchange for money."

"Good."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways.

"This West City District seems untenable; I must go into the Inner City."

Qin Shuo secretly pondered.

According to Zhang Xiong, aside from the strange illness, the rivalry between the Flying Bear Gang and the Heavenly Wolf Gang has also become increasingly fierce.

In recent days, the two major gangs have had constant friction, frequent outbreaks of conflict, and even deaths.

When two tigers fight, it is inevitable that the fish in the pond suffer.

Leaving other matters aside, the protection money will likely have to be paid double, and the price will also increase.

If anyone dares not to pay, they will be killed to warn others, becoming a target for the gang to establish its authority.

"This damned world really doesn't let people live properly..."

Qin Shuo silently cursed, but there was nothing he could do.

The only thing he can do is strengthen himself, to protect himself and his sister from being bullied.

"No wonder I haven't seen Qian Biao and his gang of ruffians lately; they must have been deployed to deal with the Heavenly Wolf Gang."

Thinking of Qian Biao, Qin Shuo's heart instantly filled with hatred.

"Eventually I will make these vicious dogs pay the price."

He thought.