Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 5, Part 5: The Mountain Man Arrives, and Good Fortune Strikes
In the firelight, the newcomer could be seen to be a middle-aged, robust man, dressed in short hunter's attire, with a bow on his back, a knife at his waist, and a wary expression.

A large, glossy black dog followed beside him. Upon seeing a stranger, it immediately bared its teeth and barked wildly at Chen Jin:

"Wang Wang Wang!"

While barking, it lowered its forelegs and bent its hind legs, assuming a posture ready to attack at any moment.

They are just waiting for their master's command.

Faced with this ferocious hunting dog, Chen Jin couldn't help but feel a little scared, but suddenly a surge of courage rose in his heart. He glared at it defiantly, determined to suppress the other party with his imposing presence.

"Ouch..."

When he glared at it, the big black dog felt a strange sense of awe, its barking turned into a low growl, and it involuntarily took two steps back.

"You, aren't you Chen Jin, Chen Tongsheng, from the south of the village?"

The middle-aged hunter recognized Chen Jin and quickly shouted at the dog, "A-Tu, step back, don't frighten Chen Tongsheng."

The big black dog closed its mouth and wagged its tail.

Chen Jin also recognized the other party as Liu, a hunter from the west end of the village, an experienced hunter who had once hunted a wild boar weighing 300 jin.

Hunter Liu looked him up and down, asking in surprise, "Chen Tongsheng, what are you doing here?"

Chen Jin replied, "I got bored living in the village, so I moved up the mountain."

Hunter Liu: "..."

I was utterly astonished and speechless.

He was well aware of the reason why Chen Jin was in a bad mood.

In Datang Township, Chen Jin can be considered a "celebrity".

From the high spirits and triumphs of youth to the current middle-aged destitution and lack of skills;
From a child prodigy back then to an old scholar now, a lazy bum who only stays at home reciting classical Chinese texts...

The villagers at most offered some sympathy for this plight, lamenting that it was "bad luck"; while some gossipy people pointed fingers and made sarcastic remarks.

Even if one fails the imperial examination to become a scholar, one should not go to the mountains alone and live in a wild temple. Isn't that ridiculous?
Hunter Liu coughed and advised, "Chen Tongsheng, although this desolate mountain has no tigers or wolves, it is not a safe place. Stop making trouble and hurry down the mountain and go home. A real man, even if he doesn't pass the imperial examinations, as long as he has hands and feet and is willing to work hard, he will always have food to eat."

Chen Jin said, "Thank you for reminding me, Uncle Liu. I know what I'm doing."

Judging from his expression, Liu the hunter knew he hadn't listened, but Chen Jin had his own elders at home, so it wasn't anyone else's business to worry about him.

Shaking his head, he looked at the empty altar, puzzled: "I remember passing by here last month. The mountain god statue was still there, though it was a bit dilapidated. How come it's gone now?"

Chen Jin remained expressionless: "When I moved in, it was empty."

Hunter Liu scratched his head, thinking the statue had been moved by someone else, and changed the subject: "Chen Tongsheng, it's getting late, I'm planning to stay here for the night, is that alright?"

Chen Jin laughed and said, "This is a desolate mountain temple, an unclaimed place. I am just staying here temporarily. Uncle Liu, please make yourself at home."

"it is good."

Hunter Liu unpacked his luggage, gathered a pile of firewood, lit a campfire, and boiled some water to drink.

He was a professional hunter, looking down on ordinary birds and only hunting pheasants and wild animals. This time, he was unlucky and returned empty-handed, which made him quite depressed.

He didn't think he and Chen Jin would have anything in common, and thought he would rest early after drinking some water.

Unexpectedly, Chen Jin came over and took the initiative to ask about hunting techniques and experience.

Hunter Liu found it strange: Could this scholar really be thinking of making a living by hunting in the mountains?

Simply whimsical.

The way of hunting is not child's play.
Martial arts skills, experience, and courage are all indispensable.

Able to wield a knife and draw a bow...

Which of these things could Chen Jin possibly do? He probably wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken.

Moreover, the skills and craftsmanship in this industry are closely guarded secrets, passed down either to sons or apprentices. How could they be casually told to outsiders? Liu the hunter secretly felt contemptuous, and casually made a few perfunctory remarks to dismiss the matter.

Chen Jin listened quietly, the firelight illuminating his earnest expression.

Suddenly, a crackling sound came from the woods outside, which was particularly abrupt in the quiet night.

"what sound?"

Liu the hunter suddenly stood up.

Chen Jin also stood up, saying, "Perhaps some prey has fallen into the trap."

"Prey? Trap?"

Liu the hunter looked completely bewildered.

"I dug a hole in the woods today..."

Chen Jin explained and stepped out.

Liu the hunter, not understanding what was going on, also took his dog to see.

What fell into the pit was a plump roe deer, weighing about thirty or forty pounds.

If it were just Chen Jin alone, it would be really difficult to get it up here; with Liu the hunter there, it would be much easier.

Looking at the roe deer and then at the rudimentary trap, Liu the hunter began to have doubts:
Does this work too?
It was pure luck, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.

Overjoyed at his fruitful harvest, Chen Jin said, "Uncle Liu, please help me clean it up. I'll give you a piece of meat."

Upon hearing this, Hunter Liu beamed with joy: "Of course, of course."

They immediately got to work.

With all his tools at his disposal and his skillful hands, he quickly sliced ​​the meat into distinct pieces.

Chen Jin washed a large earthenware pot, rinsed the rice, chopped the prepared offal, added some meat, and cooked a pot of fresh and delicious porridge.

The two shared the food, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Watching Chen Jin devour his food, Liu the hunter couldn't help but feel a sense of unfamiliarity. He felt that something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

In early summer, the weather is not hot, and the mountains and fields are filled with a chill after nightfall. If you hang the meat up to let it air out, it will not spoil overnight.

The next morning, Liu the hunter was about to go down the mountain. He was given a thick, good piece of meat, while the other two pieces were entrusted to him by Chen Jin to take back for his uncles and other relatives.

As for Chen Jin himself, he kept one piece, about ten pounds, enough for several meals.

Keeping them is useless; without coarse salt to preserve them, they will only spoil and be a complete waste.

"Don't worry, Mr. Chen, I will deliver every last bit of meat to the Chen brothers."

Hunter Liu patted his chest and said.

I thought I would come back empty-handed, but I was lucky to get a good piece of meat for just helping out.

This is a roe deer. Although there is a saying that roe deer are "foolish", he has been hunting for many years and has never caught more than a few.

What about Chen Jin?
They only dug a hole, but ended up getting into one end of it.

Digging pits and setting traps are basic skills for hunters. In Liu the hunter's opinion, Chen Jin's methods were crude and rudimentary, yet he succeeded, which was truly a stroke of luck.

That said, Liu the hunter also felt he was quite lucky.

Having said that, he smiled and strode down the mountain.

Black Dog Atu followed closely behind, and after running a distance, he couldn't help but look back, meeting Chen Jin's bright eyes.

For some reason, the hunting dog was startled, quickly tucked its tail between its legs, and rushed ahead of Liu the hunter.

(End of this chapter)