Chapter 38: Eyes Like a Mountain! The Whole Village Watches as the Hunting King Returns!

Everyone's spirits were instantly lifted.

They quickened their pace.

As they followed Lu Qingshan into the gully, clearing away thick snow and deadwood, the three massive beasts loomed into view; despite their preparations, everyone was deeply shaken by the sight.

The air seemed to freeze!

"My goodness!"

"This… this is a wild boar?! Fatter than the old sow we've raised for three years!" someone blurted, voice cracking.

"Look at those tusks! My goodness! They could split a thigh in one bite!"

"This one… good lord! It must weigh at least three hundred catties—heavier than two of me!" a man couldn't help gesturing, his voice trembling.

"How much could this sell for!"

Exclamations and gasps rose and fell, nearly overturning the quiet valley.

The villagers surrounded the three enormous wild boar carcasses, reeking of fierce wildness.

Their eyes widened like brass bells.

Their faces were filled with incredulous shock and an almost frenzied light.

This visual impact was a hundred times stronger than seeing those three "small" wild boars yesterday!

Zhao Dazhi quickly stepped up to the largest, mighty male wild boar.

He stretched out his rough hand, gesturing, his voice trembling with excitement, almost breaking: "Brother Qing Shan! Is… this the one you said you'd give to the team?!"

Lu Qingshan nodded calmly.

"Yes, that's the one."

"It's the biggest, fattest, and surely the meatiest."

"Good! Good! Good!" Zhao Dazhi said "good" three times, the creases on his face blooming like a chrysanthemum.

"Brother Qing Shan, you're straightforward! Enough said!"

"Did everyone hear that?" he faced the crowd, voice booming, "This biggest one is Brother Qing Shan's gift to our team!"

"Once we bring it back, we'll handle it as a team, ensuring every household can smell the meat and enjoy several good meals this year!"

His words were like pouring oil on fire.

The villagers who had followed along burst into earth‑shaking cheers.

They rolled up their sleeves, raring to go.

These are genuine benefits!

Who wouldn't be jealous?

Who wouldn't be excited?!

"Alright! Stop standing around—get moving!" Zhao Dazhi shouted at the top of his lungs.

"First, get this team boar onto the sled!"

"Then tie down Brother Qing Shan's two as well!"

"Put in all your strength—get it back soon, settle down sooner!"

The crowd responded in unison, enthusiasm high.

Hauling these three beasts, together nearly eight hundred catties, onto the sled is definitely a grueling labor.

Seven or eight of the strongest men went to work.

They shouted a rousing chant.

They carefully looped the coarse hemp rope they'd brought around the boars' limbs and hard tusks.

Lu Qingshan directed calmly from the side.

Drawing on his precise control of force and some experience from his past life, he continually adjusted everyone's direction and rhythm.

"One! Two! Three! Lift!"

At his command, they all pitched in together.

All that was heard was a creak—the sled's wood seemed unable to bear the weight.

But after tremendous effort, they finally dragged and lifted the first—and largest—wild boar king onto the sturdy sled.

Then, using all the coarse hemp rope they'd brought, they lashed it down tight, fearing it might slip.

Next came the other two, requiring equal effort.

Lu Qingshan and Zhao Tiezhu naturally became the main force.

Zhao Tiezhu's astonishing strength played a huge role.

One man could almost match two or three, low‑growling as he exerted himself, veins bulging.

Lu Qingshan, with precise judgment and clear commands, directed everyone's strength to a single point, making their cooperation more efficient.

"Pull the rope a bit left! Yes, all together!"

He directed while also gritting his teeth and exerting force.

His sole thought: we must get this wealth back safely as soon as possible!

This is his capital to change his fate!

Bean‑size sweat droplets soon soaked everyone's inner garments.

They trickled down cheeks and necks, steaming in the cold mountain wind.

Yet every face glowed with excitement and satisfaction.

It felt as if they were dragging not dead pigs, but mountains of gold and silver.

The way back was several times harder than the way in.

Dragging two sleds with a combined weight of nearly a thousand catties, they trudged step by step over the rutted, deep‑snow mountain path.

Each step was extraordinarily heavy, sinking deep into the snow.

The sled plow made a muffled shush sound on the snow.

Accompanied by the men's heavy breathing and hoarse chant.

When encountering steep slopes or impassable piles of rubble, it required everyone to work together.

Those in front pulled hard, those behind pushed hard.

The rope was pulled straight, making a creak-creak sound.

Lu Qingshan remained constantly vigilant.

Mountain Wild Heart continuously sensed movements within tens of meters around.

Although no signs of large beasts approaching were found, the distant, long, mournful wolf howls from deep in the forest still lashed at everyone's nerves like whips.

This left no one daring to slacken the slightest, and their steps quickened a bit.

Finally, as the sun began to tilt westward, the orange-red afterglow stretched the forest's shadows long, and the light gradually dimmed.

This exhausted yet excited troop dragged three huge spoils.

Like triumphant warriors, they appeared at the village entrance of Shanwan Village.

This time, the commotion caused surpassed yesterday's by far!

It was practically a mountain flood bursting forth!

Almost all the village's elders, women, and older children, except those truly unable to walk, came pouring out!

A sea of people packed the short dirt road from the village entrance to Lu Qingshan's doorstep, leaving no gap.

Three layers inside, three layers outside.

Even the neighboring houses' walls were crowded with children craning their necks to watch the spectacle!

When the villagers saw with their own eyes the three wild boars tightly bound to the sled plows and dragged back, each far larger and fatter than the fattest domestic pig in their own pens, the entire Shanwan Village erupted!

Like boiling water, it instantly exploded the pot!

"Heavens! Really! Really there are three! And this big!!"

"My goodness! Look at that build! That sleek, glossy hide! How much meat is that!!"

"Did Lu Qingshan invite the wild boar god from the dry rice bowl back home?!"

"We've struck it rich! This time we really made a fortune! Completely turned our lives around!"

"Who dares call him Lu the Leper from now on?!"

Exclamations, screams, envious chatter almost dripping with blood, and gasps of cold air blended into a deafening roar!

Countless gazes, like searchlights, focused in unison on the foremost of the troop—Lu Qingshan, his body smeared with blood and sweat, his face weary yet his eyes sharp as an eagle's!

In those gazes lay awe, curiosity, and inquiry.

As well as uncontainable fervor and disbelief!

Those who yesterday still dared to speak sarcastically and make snide remarks now either wisely kept silent or squeezed out obsequious, fawning smiles, trying to edge forward.

"Brother Qing Shan, you must be exhausted! Go home and rest!" A villager who always liked to take small advantages now bowed and scraped, grinning ear to ear.

Qian Guapu also squeezed tightly into the crowd.

She stared at the three huge wild boars that dazzled the eyes.

Then she looked at Lu Qingshan, surrounded by many strong men like stars holding up the moon.

She felt waves of darkness before her eyes.

Her heart felt as if clenched by an invisible giant hand, aching fiercely.

Her jealousy nearly twisted her features out of shape!

Why?!

Why should that Lu the Leper, whom she has always trodden underfoot and despised, have such astronomical luck?!

She hated so much her teeth were about to break.

Her nails dug deep into her palms, almost drawing blood.

Amidst the villagers' tsunami-like stare and chatter, the troop laboriously dragged the two heavy sled plows, step by step, to the gate of Lu Qingshan's courtyard.