Chapter 127
At noon, the cicadas chirped incessantly, and the sun shone through the gaps in the leaves into the dense forest. Shen Xuanqing climbed a tall tree with extreme caution, holding his breath and moving with such lightness that his actions made almost no sound.
He carried a longbow and a quiver on his back, while his long knife and hemp rope were hidden in a pile of branches and grass. He climbed very high, his figure concealed among the leaves. After finding a sturdy branch to perch on, he sat motionless, not even needing to hug the tree trunk. Only when the wind blew could the slight sway of his clothes be glimpsed.
The midday sun was intense, and the wild boar had retreated into the dense forest. He had spent two full days searching with the dogs, and it was only today in the southeast that he discovered traces of this male wild boar.
The south was the direction he took to go home down the mountain. The wild boars in this area had long been killed or driven away by the old hunter, so he was certain this was the same wild boar that had attacked Lu Gu.
The leaves swayed slightly as Shen Xuanqing gently pushed aside the foliage in front of him, looking toward a patch of low shrubs in the distance where the wild boar was resting.
With Da Hui as the lead dog by his side, the other two dogs would only act when it moved during a hunt. At this moment, they were crouched behind a low slope, waiting silently without making a sound.
Guaizi was clever and quick to learn by example. After two days of training, he already knew what to do, though he wasn’t as steady as the older dogs. Shen Xuanqing, perched high in the tree, had a clear view and could see Guaizi’s tail wagging incessantly through the gaps in the forest.
Having confirmed the wild boar’s location, there was no time to dig a trap nearby today. A small trap wouldn’t be effective against such a large boar. Moreover, wild boars have an exceptionally keen sense of smell, and digging would inevitably cause him to sweat, increasing his human scent. Even the dogs whose bodies he had smeared with grass juice, could only circle around and hide downwind about a mile away, not daring to get too close.
The dense forest was deep and quiet. Suddenly, a sharp and piercing whistle resembled the cry of a bird or falcon, echoed through the woods, startling the birds into flight and causing the treetops to tremble.
The hunting dogs leaped up and dashed forward.
At the same time, a massive and dark figure burst out from beneath the shrubs.
From his perch in the tree, Shen Xuanqing saw that the boar was indeed enormous, with thick, long tusks protruding outward. In a few more years, it could easily become the king of the wild boars. His heart grew colder at the thought, if Lu Gu hadn’t run away in time that day, he truly could have lost his life.
He swiftly took the longbow from his back and nocked an arrow, his movements lightning-fast. The startled boar charged recklessly, seemingly recognizing Guaizi and heading straight for him.
Even one dog, let alone three hunting dogs, wouldn’t be able to kill such a large boar. Its thick hide and tough flesh made it nearly impervious to bites.
Shen Xuanqing calmed himself, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the boar as he adjusted the arrow’s aim, tracking its movements. Only by aiming precisely could he ensure a single fatal shot.
The boar’s only weak spot was the center of its forehead. However, with the three dogs biting and dodging, and the boar thrashing about, it was difficult for him to release the arrow.
Guaizi who was usually good-natured, now bared his fangs and growled menacingly, transforming into a ferocious beast. Da Hei who was naturally fierce, would even turn on his owner when enraged. Though his body appeared lean, he was cunning and vicious.
The three dogs attacked from three directions, led by Da Hui, the lead dog, gradually driving the boar toward Shen Xuanqing.
Being chased, Guaizi ran ahead at full speed, trying to lure the boar closer. The boar’s charge was powerful, and it was surprisingly fast.
The opportunity had come.
From his perch, Shen Xuanqing silently aimed at the center of the boar’s forehead. The heavy arrow shot out in an instant, and all that remained was to wait for the result.
However, the boar was sharp. Having grown to such a size amidst natural predators like wolves and tigers, it had its own survival skills. Animals are naturally more attuned to danger than humans.
In the blink of an eye, the heavy arrow flew toward it. The sound of the arrow cutting through the air alerted the boar to the danger, and it twisted its body at the last moment. The arrow pierced its neck instead of its forehead.
Guaizi who was nearly bitten, darted away and then turned back to look.
Blood flowed from the boar’s neck, and its body swayed. Surprisingly, it didn’t fall. The numbing poison, which would paralyze a human even without breaking the skin, hadn’t fully taken effect.
Shen Xuanqing wasn’t afraid. He slid down from the tree and locked eyes with the boar, which had regained its vigor.
Even though people often said pigs were stupid, this wasn’t the case. The boar was massive, and upon seeing him, it charged.
Shen Xuanqing stood his ground, nocking another arrow and drawing the bowstring. Ordinary arrows wouldn’t work on a boar, but this heavy arrowhead was different.
Before he could release the arrow, the boar collapsed just a few steps away from him, its ugly snout and tusks landing within striking distance.
Dust flew up, and Shen Xuanqing put away his bow, waving a hand to clear the air.
Had he not known how potent the numbing poison was, acting like a venom that killed upon contact, he wouldn’t have remained so calm. The boar was simply too large, and the poison took time to take full effect. Otherwise, it would have dropped immediately after being hit.
To be safe, he turned and pulled out his long knife from under the branches, driving it deep into the center of the boar’s forehead.
The boar was dead, with no chance of getting up again. Shen Xuanqing whistled, and the hunting dogs retracted their fangs, ceasing their growls and returning to their normal state.
The ground was churned up with wet mud, and the vegetation was a mess. Looking at the massive boar lying before him, he finally relaxed.
The dogs gathered around to sniff, but fearing they might come into contact with the blood on the boar’s neck, he sternly shooed them away. He grabbed one of the boar’s hind legs and began dragging it toward the river.
Blood stained the grass and leaves along the way. The boar was heavy, weighing at least 350 catties, a true giant.
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