Chapter 196: The Most Likely Explanation

Chen Wuji often hunted in this mountain wilderness, which had several names.

Some called it South Mountain, some called it Deer Mountain, and some called it Chicken Mountain.

But today, this place had turned into a small-scale slaughterhouse, a large-scale waiting-by-the-tree-for-rabbits scene.

When Yuan Jinshi and his two brothers brought Chen Luozi and the others, the hunted game, big and small, was piled up like a small hill; the scene could even be described as grand.

Chen Luozi and a few others stared dumbfounded at the sight before them, completely bewildered.

"I'm really curious how he managed to hunt so much game—wolf packs, muntjac herds, wild boars, badgers… and what's that stuck over there? A leopard?! Does this kid have some trick we don't know about?" Chen Luozi shouted in disbelief.

He was almost going crazy.

Chen Luozi racked his brains but couldn't imagine how one person could take down so much game in just half a day.

He suddenly thought of some stories about the mountain's spirits.

It's said that some people receive the spirits' favor and gain opportunities in the mountains…

Could this kid Chen Wuji have actually seen a spirit?

Although that idea is far-fetched, given the scene before us, only something like spirits or monsters could explain it; otherwise it makes no sense.

Even if Chen Wuji's archery were divine, it would still be impossible for him to deal with that much game in half a day.

Even if the game stood right in front of him to be killed, he'd only manage a few before tiring, let alone having to search the vast mountains and drag them all back here.

Chen Wuji slid down from the tree, "You've finally come—if you'd waited any longer, my butt would've given out."

Today's hunt was truly both tiring and enjoyable.

If we ignore the severe wear on his butt, he's practically getting addicted to it.

Waiting by the tree for rabbits really is a fine stratagem.

"What does hunting have to do with your butt? What are you using that thing to hunt with?" Chen Luozi asked teasingly.

Chen Wuji pointed to the tree he had just come down from, "Climb up—I only have a few arrows; once they'reused I have to come down to retrieve them, going back and forth doesn't waste my butt?"

"Don't tell me you're hunting all this game from up in the trees?" Chen Luozi asked in astonishment.

Hunting that much game from up in the trees—how could he not believe it?

"Except for the first few wolves, the rest were indeed taken from the trees—waiting by the tree for rabbits!" Chen Wuji laughed, "How about that? Aren't you amazed by my superb archery?"

Chen Luozi's mouth twitched slightly; he turned to look at Chen Li beside him, "Do you believe it?"

"I don't believe it!" Chen Li shook his head. "How could waiting by the tree for rabbits net that much game? Chen Wuji is just pulling our legs."

"Look! Even our honest folk don't believe it." Chen Luozi spread his hands.

Chen Wuji smiled: "Although it's indeed hard to believe, it's true. The reason we have so much game is that I killed a lot of wolves earlier; the strong smell of blood attracted other animals, and then it naturally became a virtuous cycle."

"The more game there is, the stronger the blood smell, and the more animals it draws. Don't doubt it—this is fact; otherwise how could I have gotten so much game?"

Chen Luozi and the others: …

Why are they so unwilling to believe?

Chen Luozi pulled Chen Wuji aside and whispered, "Wuji, be honest with me—did you encounter some great opportunity, like a boon from the mountain god?"

"Are you talking about those immortal‑fantasy tales? I don't have that kind of ability." Chen Wuji laughed.

"Don't suspect gods and ghosts—this is just from my waiting by the tree for rabbits. Hurry up and get to work; let's bring this game down the mountain quickly so everyone can have a good New Year."

It happened to be the clan's grand sacrifice; with this game, the clansfolk could not only enjoy a fine meal but each household could get a share, giving them days of meat in the pot.

As the heir apparent of the Family Head line, formally taking over the future of the Chen clan, Chen Wuji certainly ought to do something.

But his abilities are still weak; there's not much he can do, so let's first give the clansfolk a taste of meat.

Chen Luozi looked at Chen Wuji with a doubtful face, his mind full of a hundred thousand "whys"—he just couldn't make sense of it, yet he felt Chen Wuji's explanation was utterly impossible.

"Alright, big guy, let's get to work."

Chen Luozi called out, slung two wolf‑badgers onto his shoulders, and strode down the mountain.

Only a few people came: Chen Luozi, Chen Li and his son, and the clan's scarce able‑bodied laborer, Chen Lao Hu.

Four or five people couldn't move all the game down the mountain in one trip; they'd have to make two or three runs.

Chen Wuji didn't go with them to haul the game; instead he kept on waiting by the tree for rabbits.

Getting two more would be nice too.

When Chen Luozi and his party returned for a second time, the pile of game not far away had gained two more lynx and a brown hyena.

Chen Luozi:???

He glanced at the ancient big tree where Chen Wuji was hiding, pulled the arrows stuck in the lynx and hyena, and threw them up to Chen Wuji in the tree, "Kid, your method is pretty impressive—whether it's immortal fantasy or genuine waiting‑by‑the‑tree‑for‑rabbits, I'm convinced now."

They had only been down for half an hour, yet three more game animals appeared.

"You're really stubborn—facts are right before your eyes, and you still don't believe it!" Chen Wuji shook his head helplessly; being that strong is also a hassle.

"It's indeed hard to believe—this muntjac has no arrow or blade wounds; it was bitten to death, and the wound looks like something a tiger or leopard would leave." Chen Li suddenly said.

Chen Luozi grew excited, took two quick steps to Chen Li's side, examined the muntjac's wound closely, and his face turned strange: "Wuji, you couldn't possibly be turning into a tiger or leopard, could you?"

Chen Wuji: ……

This is getting more and more outrageous.

"That's something I snatched from a tiger's mouth—what nonsense are you imagining?" Chen Wuji exclaimed exasperatedly, "I'm an upright person; I don't have such exaggerated abilities."

"How did you snatch it from a tiger's mouth? Is stealing food from a tiger's mouth really that easy?" Chen Luozi shouted.

Chen Wuji leaned against the tree trunk and rubbed his eyes, "Looks like there's no exaggerated explanation—you guys just won't believe it, huh? Fine, actually I have a friend who's the Mountain Lord; this is a gift from him."

"Ah, that explanation makes more sense—if you'd said that earlier, we'd have settled it." Chen Luozi let out a breath of relief.

Chen Wuji:???

Who exactly is being outrageous here?

Can this even be believed?!

"It's said that the mountains have many spirit‑communing things; in the Former Dynasty someone saw a Daoist riding a tiger through the woods, and even earlier there was a nine‑colored deer carrying an immortal down the mountain to heal and save people in exchange for grain." Chen Luozi said, "Being friends with the Mountain Lord makes perfect sense."

Chen Wuji: ……