Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Conflict The forest was so quiet that only the sound of insects chirping could be heard. From the moment Gu Sheng spoke to the others reacting, it was merely a few breaths' time; four figures drew their bows and nocked their arrows, the taut sound of bowstrings clearly audible. Cold sweat seeped down the backs of Gu Erniu and the others. This hunting trip had been bountiful, but they had relaxed their vigilance. By now, they, too, heard movement from the opposite side. If not for Gu Sheng noticing first, and if the other side had initiated an ambush, the results could have been dire. The other side seemed a bit rattled, apparently not expecting such a swift reaction from this group. Gu Erniu shouted loudly: "Friends on the other side, we are hunters from Gu's Manor. If there's no issue, please retreat to avoid any misunderstandings." In this deep forest, if the other side harbored malicious intent at the sight of a wild boar, a fierce struggle was not out of the question. Hearing Gu Erniu's shout, the opposite side fell silent for a moment. Then, a somewhat rough and bold voice rang out, with a faint thread of malice detected by Gu Sheng. "Tsk tsk, so it's an old acquaintance. Gu Erniu, long time no see." Gu Erniu's expression shifted dramatically. "Li Yan, it's you!" Zhang Ze and Gu Youfu exchanged knowing looks, clearly familiar with the man called Li Yan. The leaves across the way stirred, and a group of people appeared before Gu Sheng's eyes. At their forefront stood a man about the same age as Gu Erniu but more handsome, a faint knife scar running across his right eye. Behind him followed four hunters wielding longbows. There were five on the other side. But these five were cautious, not recklessly exposing themselves to the arrows of Gu Sheng and his group. They positioned themselves near cover, ready to take shelter at any moment. The scar-eyed youth, Li Yan, glanced at the wild boar on the ground, a flash of fervor in his eyes, and sneered: "Quite the haul. I guess you've got some skills, Gu Erniu. At least Li Lian didn't go hungry." Gu Erniu flared up in anger: "Lian'er is my wife! Following me, Gu Erniu, she won't go hungry! What's any of this to you, Li Yan? Are you looking for a fight?" Hearing their dialogue, Gu Sheng frowned as an old memory suddenly surfaced. It was around the time of Gu Erniu's wedding. Li Lian had been a young woman of some renown in the Li Family Fort, coveted by many suitors. Both Gu Erniu and Li Yan had pursued her, but Li Lian eventually chose Gu Erniu, marrying into Gu's Manor. Judging by their tense demeanor, it was clear the two had crossed swords multiple times. After all, they were hunters and would occasionally run into each other. Cang Mountain wasn't exactly small, but it wasn't too large either. "This Li Yan... does he still hold a torch for Brother Erniu's wife?" Gu Sheng found the thought odd. While it was true Li Lian was charming, it was hard to imagine she'd linger in someone's mind for so many years. Or perhaps this man harbored peculiar tendencies? Just as his thoughts were spinning, Li Yan spoke again. "This time, you're lucky. Gu Erniu, aside from your barely passable archery skills, what do you have to measure up to me, Li Yan? In family status, in looks, in what way are you better? Li Lian must have been out of her mind back then to choose you. Take good care of her; otherwise, if you die by accident in the mountains one day, she'll be stuck as your widow!" His eyes carried a chill, and alongside that subtle knife scar, there was a faint aura of menace. "Though honestly, I wouldn't mind if she remarried me." Gu Erniu was enraged beyond measure. An arrow shot out like a comet, traversing dozens of meters in an instant. Experience-rich hunters were naturally not so easily struck. The other side's men swiftly dodged, the arrow slicing through the air and pinning itself into a tree hundreds of meters away. "Such murderous intent!" Li Yan's eyes widened. Just as he was about to speak, yet another arrow came flying straight at his head, forcing him to duck back immediately. The shooter was Gu Sheng. The other side was clearly trying to provoke Gu Erniu, but Gu Sheng wasn't going to let that happen. This arrow was incredibly fast, embedding itself dead center into the tree Li Yan was using as cover. The impact force made leaves flutter down, and Li Yan's expression behind the tree shifted. When an expert takes action, their skill becomes apparent immediately. "It appears Gu's Manor has produced another archery master," Li Yan remarked, casting a cold glare toward the direction of Gu Sheng's position. With Gu Sheng's intervention, Gu Erniu gradually regained his composure and said in a frosty tone: "Li Yan, if you're looking for trouble, bring it on. But if you don't want to die, then scram!" Gu Youfu and Zhang Ze's muscles instantly tensed. The hunters from Li Family Fort were no amateurs; humans were far more dangerous than beasts. But at this moment, retreating wasn't an option! To lose their nerve would be to turn the other side into wolves! Li Yan's gaze flickered. At the moment, he had lost the initiative. Though the Gu group was short one person, there was a second skilled archer on their side. A head-on fight wouldn't yield favorable results. After some consideration, Li Yan let out a cold snort and said: "Remember this, Gu. This isn't over between us!" He cast a lingering look in the direction of Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu before waving his hand. The hunters from Li Family Fort cautiously retreated. They had come mainly to test the waters, and while Li Yan wouldn't have minded taking a cheap shot if the chance arose, there was no point in forcing a deadly confrontation now. Once the group on the other side was gone, Zhang Ze and Gu Youfu both let out relieved sighs. Gu Erniu's face, however, remained dark. To be provoked to such a degree would anger anyone. "That bastard Li Yan! Next time I see him, I'll shoot him through with an arrow!" Gu Erniu spat fiercely and cursed outright. Zhang Ze quickly advised: "Erniu, don't let him get to you. That foul Li Yan is just a loudmouth. Last year you scared him so bad, he ran off without his prey." Gu Erniu's expression softened slightly. Over the years, he had run into Li Yan more times than he could count on one hand. While their encounters were rarely pleasant, he hadn't suffered many losses. This constant tension was precisely why Li Yan harbored lingering resentment, often resorting to taunts and jeers. After waiting a while longer, ensuring there were no further movements from the other side, Gu Sheng relaxed slightly. He walked forward, retrieving his spent arrows, and handed them back to Gu Erniu as he cautioned: "Brother Erniu, it's very likely Li Yan recognized us from the start. I suspect they were deliberately lying in wait near the outskirts for hunters descending the mountain. We'll need to be more vigilant next time we go hunting." Li Yan had made an effort to act as though he had only just recognized them, but Gu Sheng deeply sensed that the man's words were not entirely truthful. Given the timing and location, it was telling that they weren't hunting deep in the mountains but appeared ready to ambush, with no prey of their own in sight. That their intentions were suspect was clear as day. Gu Youfu's expression darkened. "Perhaps we should steer clear of the mountains for a while. It's impossible to guard against thieves forever." Zhang Ze scoffed coldly and said: "If you're scared, then don't come along. Li Yan's not targeting us specifically. He's just a snake waiting to take down fat prey. Running into us this time was probably just bad luck. Cang Mountain is vast; we won't bump into them every trip." Gu Sheng couldn't help but revise his opinion of Zhang Ze slightly. Though somewhat brash, the man wasn't one to back down from a challenge. "You!" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶 Gu Youfu bridled, about to argue back. Gu Erniu bellowed: "Enough! No more talking—back to the manor!" Zhang Ze and Gu Youfu both let out a cold snort and turned away, avoiding each other's gaze. After that unpleasant incident, the group's earlier cheerful mood was gone. Gu Erniu and Gu Youfu once again hefted the wild boar onto their shoulders, while the others cleared the path and brought up the rear, instinctively quickening their pace to avoid further issues. Fortunately, nothing else transpired this time. Soon, the four exited Cang Mountain. Emerging from the forest, a vast swath of sunlight spilled down, dazzlingly bright. Yet, to Gu Sheng, it felt warm and comforting instead.