Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Unexpected Joy The atmosphere was somewhat still. Li Yan let out a breath, staring coldly in the direction Gu Sheng had fled, his gaze sharp and chilling. He said in a low voice: "I need to find a way to kill that brat. Sooner or later, he'll be a troublemaker. Can't believe that idiot Gu Erniu actually has such a skilled marksman by his side." The three immediately responded affirmatively. But deep down, retreat had already crossed their minds. Gu Sheng's archery was terrifyingly formidable. If they went to ambush him, they might lose their lives. These men simply wanted to curry favor with Li Yan but had no true intention of laying down their lives for him. Following Li Yan to handle easier targets was one thing, but facing genuine danger? They certainly wouldn't rush in blindly. However, their petty calculations wouldn't show on the surface. One short and stocky hunter cautiously asked: "Brother Yan, what should we do now?" Li Yan replied coldly: "Of course, we keep searching for the silver fox. My brother-in-law recently enhanced his abilities, his status soaring within the fort. If I manage to hunt that fox and gift its pelt to my brother-in-law, with his protection, wouldn't we be walking tall in the Li family fort?" "After these days of tracking in the mountains, the beast's trail has become increasingly apparent. We can't afford to waste our previous efforts. Damned news spreading everywhere; otherwise, this operation would've been foolproof." The three hunters exchanged glances, immediately showing flattering smiles and said: "Yes, yes! We'll follow Brother Yan's commands!" "When the time comes, if my son decides to learn martial arts, I'd hope Brother Yan could say a kind word and ask Lord Du Jiangbo to look after him." Du Jiangbo was Li Yan's brother-in-law. Li Yan nodded arrogantly and said: "Naturally, I'll find an opportunity to speak with my brother-in-law." He was well aware that these men were willing to follow him into the mountains to hunt the silver fox and endure hardships because they sought favorable ties with him. Li Yan understood the art of making promises but also knew not to fulfill these favors too easily. Otherwise, how could he command them in the future? Occasionally, tossing them a small incentive would suffice. Upon receiving his assurance, the men were overjoyed and continued with their flattery. "Lord Du Jiangbo has grown increasingly powerful in recent years, his influence at the Li family fort shining bright like the sun. With such a backing, Brother Yan, you're ten times better than Gu Erniu! Too bad that woman, Li Lian, is short-sighted. If she'd chosen you, she would've been living richly by now!" A younger hunter praised. However, Li Yan's expression immediately darkened. He raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap. The crisp sound rang out as Li Yan shouted angrily: "And just who do you think you are? Li Lian isn't someone you can talk about!" "After I kill Gu Erniu, I'll find an opportunity to bring Li Lian back to the Li family fort. If any of you dare gossip, don't blame me for being ruthless!" The scar at the corner of Li Yan's eye twitched, a burst of killing intent surging forth. The misplaced flattery hit a nerve. The young hunter froze, bewildered and at a loss. Another hunter quickly tried to smooth things over, saying: "Brother Yan, please don't be angry. Shunzi is just young and doesn't know any better. He didn't mean it. Who among us doesn't know of your steadfast affection for Sister-in-law Lian? It's just unfortunate that fate played such an unkind trick. Brother Yan, don't worry; we'll help you kill that dog Gu Erniu!" As he spoke, he nudged Shunzi with his right hand. The younger hunter named Shunzi immediately stammered out an apology. Only then did the fury in Li Yan's eyes slowly fade. "Do not let it happen again!" The men hurriedly responded affirmatively. Li Yan glanced around the terrain nearby and spoke in a low voice: "We'll hide here first. That kid displayed exceptional archery but constantly kept himself concealed. His cunning runs deep; he may circle back for an ambush. While his archery skills are formidable, his experience may not be seasoned. With some luck, we might be able to set a successful trap!" Li Yan was a skilled hunter. This approach often worked well against those who bore grudges. He had used it before. ... On the other side. Gu Sheng sprinted through the forest with a wild deer slung over his back. After running for a long while and detecting no movements behind him, he realized the hunters from the Li family fort hadn't pursued him. He let out a breath of relief. Still, he didn't stop, instead slowing his pace to continue moving steadily forward. After covering a significant distance and confirming his safety, Gu Sheng finally halted to rest. He pried open the wooden lid of his water flask and took deep gulps. The relentless running had drained him of stamina. Leaning against a tree. Gu Sheng's eyes turned cold. Being ambushed out of the blue—it was impossible not to feel anger. A desire for vengeance stirred within him. Moments ago, he had even contemplated turning back to exact revenge. Yet, after a brief reflection, he abandoned the thought. Firstly, he had the deer with him. If left behind, it might be completely gone upon his return. Foresaking this hard-earned few taels of silver to seek revenge would cost too much. Secondly, Li Yan and his group would undoubtedly be on high alert, shaken by his earlier shot. Their watchfulness would be at its peak. If he returned, there might not be any opportunity for retaliation. Instead, he risked falling into their trap again. Fundamentally. Gu Sheng lacked absolute confidence. His archery skills were indeed at the Great Achievement Realm, nearing perfection, but his body was just like any other man's. If someone shot an arrow at him, he wouldn't be able to withstand it either. If he wielded a two-stone bow, capable of targeting enemies from 150 meters away and fully unleashing the potential of his archery, he would undoubtedly advantageously dominate his adversaries. He wouldn't hesitate to turn back and kill them. Sadly, his current one-stone bow was too weak. "I'll remember this grudge." Gu Sheng pulled up his stats panel, noting that his archery skill was only about 10% away from the Perfect Realm. He made up his mind. "After this, I'll save up enough money to buy a strong two-stone bow. Once my archery enters the Perfect Realm, I'll seize an opportunity to kill Li Yan!" To let such a venomous wolf watch him endlessly wasn't a long-term solution. His display of archery prowess today meant Gu Sheng needed to prepare even more thoroughly. The enemy he faced wasn't just some fool. No matter how careful Li Yan was, he wouldn't anticipate the rapid progression of Gu Sheng's archery skills in such a short time. The difference between Perfect and Great Achievement levels would be transformative. Composing himself, Gu Sheng remained vigilant of his surroundings while recovering his physical stamina. After a long while. Feeling largely restored, Gu Sheng stood again. He chose a different direction and headed down the mountain. With the prey in tow, Gu Sheng proceeded at a steady pace, keeping a close eye on the environment around him. Suddenly. He froze in place. Far ahead, a silver-white silhouette flashed fleetingly, elegant and composed, almost unearthly. Gu Sheng's breathing grew rapid in an instant. Truly, what one seeks can appear by the stroke of fate! The silver fox! Unexpectedly, the silver fox had appeared right before him. Gu Sheng glanced at the deer carcass slung over his shoulder, understanding at once—the fresh blood was the lure. This method had been tried before: hunt a deer first, then use its blood to coax the silver fox. It seemed the fox hadn't been nearby earlier, so the method hadn't worked. His heart burned with excitement; luck had finally favored him. But this wasn't the time for such thoughts. The silver fox was astonishingly quick—at least two or three times faster than Gu Sheng. If he didn't seize this chance, letting the fox escape would be a regret beyond repair. With a shake of his shoulders, the deer carcass dropped heavily onto the ground. Gu Sheng's bow slid smoothly into his hand, arrows nocked—the entire sequence fluid and practiced thousands of times. His gaze turned severe and focused as the silver-white figure gradually slowed within his view. He saw the silky fur, smooth as satin, rippling in the air and leaving traces of elegance. He saw the fox's nimble legs, capable of effortlessly vaulting several meters in a single bound. He saw the human-like teasing glint in its eyes, as though mocking him. Confidence flickered in Gu Sheng's eyes. Swoosh! The bowstring snapped, releasing the arrow like lightning! Like a thunderbolt, like a shooting star! Squeak-squeak!! The silver fox let out a piercing, agonized howl. The arrow had flown over 100 meters in the blink of an eye, precisely predicting the fox's movement and fiercely piercing through its hind leg, lodging itself into the bone. Instantly, the fox's speed plummeted!