All Heavens Strategy Game

Chapter 46. Dissection: He is Su Sanlang!

Let's begin!

Zheng Zhenshan rubbed his rough, red hands together, breathed out white breath into his palms, steadied himself, picked up the skinning knife he was used to, and squatted down beside the carcass of the first ordinary gray wolf.

He first carefully examined the wounds on the wolf carcass.

There was an arrow wound on his neck, which penetrated very deep into the flesh, almost through his body. The flesh around the wound was torn apart by some special structure, and the bleeding was very rapid.

The arrow had already been removed, but Zheng Zhenshan recognized the shape of the wound at a glance. It was the kind of "bleeding arrow" or "heart-piercing arrow" that only military or top hunters would be willing to use.

Looking at the other wolf next to it, it had been killed by a knife. The blade was in its throat, cutting in through the jaw cleanly and swiftly, killing it instantly without any unnecessary slashing marks.

The knife skills were ruthless and the angles were tricky.

The third head, the fourth head —

The fatal wounds were all similar: either a precise arrow piercing a vital organ, or a vicious blade slicing open the neck, chest, or abdomen.

Occasionally, a few wolves would have other minor wounds, as if they had been hit by pebbles or something, but none of them affected the overall situation.

Judging from the technique, it was crisp, efficient, and without any hesitation, displaying an almost ruthless efficiency.

More importantly, these wounds are almost identical in age and condition, and the way they exert force and the angles of attack also subtly reveal the style of the same person.

If Zheng Zhenshan initially harbored some doubts when Shanzi said "one person slaughtered the wolf pack," thinking "perhaps it was a group of villagers exaggerating and exaggerating to glorify someone," then at this moment, faced with the identical fatal wounds on these dozen or so corpses, each bearing a personal mark, those doubts vanished instantly like snowflakes in the sunlight.

Really!

It really was the same person who did it!

One man, with a knife and a bow, slaughtered more than a dozen hungry wolves, along with their king, in this icy and snowy land!

"Hiss—" Zheng Zhenshan gasped again, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

He'd spent half his life butchering pigs and sheep, and considered himself quite bold, but he couldn't help but imagine what it would be like in that situation:

A blizzard howled, wolves howled, and a dozen pairs of green eyes surrounded him from all directions—his legs probably went weak!

But now, these ferocious beasts have all become inanimate objects waiting to be disposed of by him!

An indescribable sense of awe, mixed with an instinctive fear of the unknown and powerful, quietly crept into Zheng Zhenshan's heart.

He glanced subconsciously at the low, quiet mud-brick house. The faint arrogance he had previously displayed as a city dweller looking down on poor rural families had vanished completely, replaced by a cautiousness that made him afraid that any rough movement or loud breathing might offend the unknown "demon" inside.

"Father?" Zheng Hanshan called out softly when he saw his father in a daze.

Zheng Zhenshan snapped out of his daze, took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and said to his son with utmost solemnity, "Hanshan, did you see that? That's real skill! We've really met our match today!"

"Pay close attention to your work! Skinning, deboning, and separating the meat—not a single detail can be overlooked!"

""

"The skin must be intact, the meat must be separated cleanly, and the tendons and bones must not be injured! Do you understand?"

"Yes! I heard you, Father!" Zheng Hanshan nodded quickly.

Although he wasn't as perceptive as his father, he still felt the invisible pressure and developed an intense, almost overwhelming, curiosity and admiration for the "master" he had never met.

Yes, it's worship.

Zheng Hanshan was born with superhuman strength and had a straightforward personality. He admired heroes with real skills the most.

He always looked down on those wandering knights-errant in the city who boasted and raved.

But the real wolf carcass before them, and the horrific wounds, all spoke volumes about the terrifying power of that "master."

Seeing it with my own eyes, this is much more exciting than any martial arts legend or chivalrous tale!

"If only I could see this hero in person, how wonderful that would be!"

Zheng Hanshan felt like a kitten was scratching at his heart, making him extremely itchy.

The father and son each had their own thoughts, but they dared not slack off in their work.

Zheng Zhenshan took the lead in the operation, with Zheng Hanshan assisting, and they began to formally process the ordinary wolf carcasses.

The sharp knife sliced ​​through the frozen wolf pelt, making a faint hissing sound.

The blade moved along the fascia between the skin and flesh, precisely avoiding areas prone to damage.

Skinning, gutting, deboning, dismembering —

The process was seamless; the grotesque wolf carcasses were quickly transformed in their hands into relatively intact hides, piles of lean meat, and cleanly removed bones.

Shanzi had somehow moved a small stool over and sat under the eaves, rubbing his hands together and breathing on them to warm them, all while watching with a cheerful expression.

Seeing the cautious and focused expressions of the Zheng father and son, he felt a sense of pride and satisfaction.

Sanlang was so impressive that even his fellow villagers seemed to stand up straighter in front of these "craftsmen" from the city.

At first, he was a little skeptical of the other party's skills, but seeing the father and son's skillful and experienced technique, their steady and precise cuts, hardly wasting any good meat, and keeping the skin intact as much as possible, he couldn't help but sincerely praise them: "Uncle Zheng, Brother Hanshan, excellent skills! This job is done beautifully!"

Zheng Zhenshan chuckled, secretly pleased, but said aloud, "Shanzi, you flatter me. It's just a skill I use to make a living; it's not worth praising. The main thing is—the food is good, and I wouldn't dare waste it."

"7

When he said "good stuff," he meant not only the wolf skin and meat, but also the "hunter" represented by the wolf carcass.

:

Several hours passed quietly in the cold air.

As the sun gradually set in the west, the chill returned.

In the yard, the ordinary wolf carcasses had been disposed of, with the wolf skin, meat, internal organs, and bones sorted and piled in clean straw mats or wooden basins.

Only the last, largest, and most eye-catching silver-white wolf king remained.

The father and son washed their hands, stretched their fingers which were stiff from the cold, and walked solemnly toward the giant beast that was half-hidden by a straw mat.

Just watching from afar, I already felt a sense of oppression.

Standing beside the corpse now, the invisible, ferocious aura of a top predator still seemed not to have completely dissipated.

Its body, which is more than three meters long, looks like a small hill covered with silver snow even when it is lying on its side.

Even in the dim winter light, its thick, silvery-white fur still gleamed with a cold, luxurious sheen, a stark contrast to the fur of ordinary gray wolves.

Its limbs were as thick as an adult's calves, and even after it stiffened after death, the tips of its claws still gleamed with a dark and sharp light.

With its enormous head and protruding snout, even with its mouth tightly closed, its ferocious outline is enough to make one imagine its power and might in life.

"My God—"

Zheng Hanshan subconsciously took half a step back, looked up at the behemoth, and his voice trembled slightly.

"This...this beast is huge! If it were alive, how terrifying would it be?"

He prided himself on his strength and that even ordinary thugs in the city wouldn't dare mess with him, but standing next to the wolf king's corpse, he felt as insignificant as a chick.

This was just a corpse, its power far less than it had been in life; if it were alive—he simply couldn't imagine.

Zheng Hanshan couldn't help but exclaim, "What a beast! This is the first time I've ever seen such a big wolf. It's probably going to become a monster!"

'

"Someone actually managed to kill that huge creature and wipe out the entire wolf pack in the process? Is that even human? Definitely not!"

Upon hearing his son's words, Zheng Zhenhu was startled and broke out in a cold sweat. Fearing he might offend his master, he quickly added, "Such abilities are truly not human, but divine! A mountain god descended to earth!"

On the one hand, they were afraid of offending the host, so they flattered him.

On the other hand, it is also genuine.

After all, even the mighty Wolf King was killed by Su Sanlang.

Wolf King Bull?

Su Sanlang is even more amazing!

"If only we could pay our respects to this mountain god!" the father and son exclaimed.

"Dad, tell me—what does that mountain god look like?"

Zheng Hanshan, his curiosity itching to pique his interest, lowered his voice and asked, "He must be taller and stronger than us, right? Maybe like the Vajra in the temple, with three heads and six arms?"

Zheng Zhenshan glared at him: "Stop talking nonsense! A master naturally has a master's appearance; how can we presume to know him? Focus on your work!"

Even so, he couldn't help but ponder it himself.

Is Su Sanlang good-looking and about ten feet tall?

The two said no more and began to deal with the most precious wolf king's corpse.

The process was handled with far more care than dealing with a regular wolf carcass, as if it were a fragile treasure.

The wolf king's hide is too thick and too tough, so you have to be extra careful with the angle and force when you cut it.

Zheng Zhenshan was completely focused, and even a fine sweat appeared on his forehead.

When they reached the most crucial step of extracting the main tendons from the spine and limbs, Zheng Zhenshan's eyes lit up.

He held the pulled-out tendon, about the thickness of his little finger, pale yellow in color, and remarkably tough and elastic, in both hands, and couldn't help but marvel: "What a fine tendon! It's truly a wonderful tendon!"

"I, Old Zheng, have cut up at least eight hundred or a thousand beef tendons, and even the best one... but now, compared to this wolf tendon—hey, that one can only be considered inferior!"

This wolf king's main tendon is not only thick and strong, but also has clearly defined veins and is extremely resilient, exuding a unique and fierce aura that is far superior to that of ordinary livestock.

"Oh? Could this sinew be made into a good bow?"

A clear, youthful voice suddenly rang out from the side.

Zheng Zhenshan was startled; he had been so engrossed in his work that he hadn't noticed anyone approaching.

Looking up, he saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing a worn-out cotton-padded jacket, with a small brown plaster on his temple. His face was a little pale, but his eyes were bright, and he was calmly looking at the wolf tendon in his hand.

Zheng Zhenshan was taken aback at first, then realized that judging from the boy's age and attire, he must be a nephew or niece of this family, or perhaps the younger brother or nephew of that "Mountain God".

He dared not be negligent: "Young man, I've been in this business for decades, and I've handled at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, beef tendons."

"Most of those customers who bought them had bowstrings made by craftsmen."

"The best piece of beef tendon, according to the customer, was used by a master craftsman to make a three-stone bow, which was already quite remarkable."

He gently ran his fingers across the surface of the wolf tendon, feeling its cool, resilient, and incredibly elastic texture. His eyes gleamed, and he said with certainty, "But this wolf king tendon—hey, I'm not bragging, but it's far superior to the best beef tendon!"

"It's tough, elastic, and long enough! Using it to make a three-stone bow? That's a waste of its potential! It can at least reliably make a four-stone bow!"

The boy was none other than Su Ming. He nodded slightly upon hearing this, seemingly unsurprised by the assessment.

He raised his eyes, looked at Zheng Zhenshan, and calmly asked, "What if you want to make a five-stone bow? Is this tendon suitable?"

"A five-stone bow?!"

Zheng Zhenshan was slightly startled, but then nodded without hesitation, saying decisively, "Absolutely feasible! More than enough!"

"The foundation is there; as long as we find a truly skilled craftsman and the craftsmanship is up to par, we can definitely make a five-stone bow!"

His mind raced with thoughts:

Five-stone bow?

That thing requires a full 300 kilograms of force to pull apart!

In ordinary armies, a sharpshooter who can wield a three-stone bow already possesses astonishing arm strength.

This family actually wants to make a five-stone bow?

It seems that the strength of that "Mountain God" is probably even more terrifying than imagined.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Su Ming's eyes.

His black horn bow is destroyed, and he needs a new one.

After breaking through to the "Mastery" level in Xingyi Gong, his arm strength exceeded 500 jin, and it is still growing rapidly.

One stone is sixty kilograms, and three-stone bows would soon be insufficient, while four-stone bows could only be considered a transitional measure.

If a five-stone bow could be forged directly, it would perfectly match his future growth and maximize the effectiveness of this top-grade wolf tendon, avoiding any waste.

"I think Master Zheng is knowledgeable in this field; he seems to have some experience in it?"

Su Ming asked, "Could you perhaps recommend a craftsman in the city who can make a reliable five-stone bow using this wolf sinew?"

Seeing that the young man spoke clearly and asked the right questions, Zheng Zhenshan realized that although he was young, he was not to be underestimated, so he became even more respectful: "Young man, you have a good eye. In the north of Linjiang County, there is a craftsman named Ouyang Ziming. He can figure out how to make almost anything available on the market, and he is especially good at bows, crossbows, swords and knives."

"The five-stone bow is difficult to make, and even if an ordinary person makes it, it is easy to make a mistake or it will not be powerful enough."

"But if you give it to Master Ouyang, with his skill, even with the best materials, he can make it with twelve times the strength! It'll be a fine bow, guaranteed!"

At this moment, Zheng Hanshan couldn't help but interject, "My father has connections with that Master Ouyang!"

"A few days ago, there was a disaster in the south, and there were countless rebels. He was a refugee from the south. When he first arrived, he was ostracized by the local craftsmen in the city and almost starved to death. My father was kind-hearted and gave him some pig offal scraps to eat."

"Later, whenever there was work related to making bows from tendons and horns, my father would recommend him to do it."

"Young man, if you really want to make a five-stone bow, ask my father for an introduction. Just mention my father's name, and Master Ouyang will definitely do his best!"

Su Ming nodded, this was an unexpected delight: "In that case, thank you both very much."

Zheng Hanshan looked at Su Ming, then cautiously glanced towards the main house. Lowering his voice, he asked with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, "Young man, this bow—was it made for your family's—'Mountain God'?"

He didn't dare to say "your brother" or "your father" directly, and used the terms that were commonly used in the village.

Mountain God?

Su Ming remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

The more the name is spread, the more believable it becomes.

He couldn't directly refute it, so he only vaguely said, "He—should be able to use it, right?"

"Of course it will work!"

Zheng Hanshan suddenly became excited, his face turned red, as if his idol had been underestimated, and his voice unconsciously rose a little.

"You didn't see how ferocious that wolf king was! Anyone who could kill it single-handedly must be someone extraordinary!"

"Don't even mention a five-stone bow, I bet he could draw an eight-stone or ten-stone bow!"

After saying that, he probably realized his reaction was too strong, and then laughed awkwardly.

Su Ming coughed lightly, not responding to the conversation.

Am I that amazing?

How come I didn't know that myself?

Zheng Hanshan leaned closer, his voice full of earnestness: "Young man, you—you are the younger brother of that mountain god, aren't you?"

"I—I have a favor to ask, could you—please introduce me? I'd like to pay my respects to this—hero!"

He temporarily changed "Mountain God" to "Hero," thinking it might be more appropriate.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had spoken rashly and quickly waved his hand, saying, "No, no, no, I was confused!"

"He fought for a whole day and night, he must be exhausted and deserves a good rest. How could I disturb him!"

"Young man, all you need to do is pass on a message for me: Zheng Hanshan, the son of Butcher Zheng in the east of the city, admires him immensely and would never dare to disturb him should he have the chance to visit. Just this message will suffice!"

Seeing the towering man's cautious and expectant look, he said, "Okay, I understand."

Su Ming nodded, then explained, "He's not called the Mountain God. He doesn't have that kind of status. He's just the son of a farmer in the countryside. Just call him Su Ming, or you can call him Su Sanlang. That's what everyone calls him."

After saying that, Su Ming took the wolf king tendon, which was partially wrapped in oiled paper, from Zheng Zhenshan, nodded to the father and son, and turned to go back into the house.

He needs to think carefully about the specific requirements for the Five Stone Bow, as well as the uses of the other materials on the Wolf King.

"This kid is quite easy to talk to."

Zheng Hanshan watched Su Ming's retreating figure and muttered, "I just wonder if that Su Sanlang is easy to talk to. Father, do you think he'll be willing to see me?"

Zheng Zhenshan lowered his voice and earnestly warned, "You fool! People with such extraordinary abilities are mostly aloof and proud. Do you think we can just meet them whenever we want?"

"We're lucky to have gotten even a straight answer from his younger brother today!"

"Remember, don't cause trouble in the future, and don't spread it around. As long as we do our job well, he'll naturally come back to us when he catches something. It's a long-term relationship, understand?"

"Oh, I understand, Dad." Zheng Hanshan hung his head, looking somewhat dejected.

He truly admired the hero who could slay wolves and kill kings, and wished he could get to know him immediately.

Just then, Shanzi, who had just returned from relieving himself, came over. Seeing the Zheng father and son huddled together talking in hushed tones with somewhat strange expressions, he smiled and asked, "Uncle Zheng, Brother Hanshan, what are you talking about? Why are you being so careful?"

Zheng Hanshan, being honest, said in a low voice, "It's nothing, it's just that I want to pay my respects to that mountain god. I told that young man earlier and asked him to pass on a message."

"Oh, by the way, that young man took the wolf tendon back to his house. Brother Shanzi, you saw it, we didn't steal it."

Shanzi was taken aback: "What does that young man look like?"

Zheng Hanshan, puzzled, honestly replied, "Just average, seems to have a scar on his temple, but is easy to talk to."

"Brother Hanshan, what else do you want to pay respects to?" Shanzi chuckled and explained, "The young man who was talking to you just now and took the wolf tendon is the Mountain God you're talking about!"

"ah?!!!"

The Zheng father and son were struck dumb. They turned around abruptly and stared at the low doorway. Then they looked at Shanzi, their mouths agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

"You—you're not lying to me, are you?"

Zheng Hanshan stammered, his eyes wide open.

"Why would I lie to you?" Shanzi's smile faded, and he said seriously, "See the plaster on his sideburns? That's from the wolf king's claws!"

"See the strips of cloth tied around your hands?"

"I was bitten by a wolf. Luckily, I wore homemade hardwood wrist guards, otherwise my hand would be ruined!"

"If he's not the mountain god, then who is?"

"He single-handedly dealt with all the wolves in this yard!"

Zheng Zhenshan and Zheng Hanshan stood there dumbfounded, their minds replaying every detail of their conversation with the boy.

That calm gaze, that clear speech, that seemingly casual yet incisive question to the Five Stone Bow—

And there was his pale face, which couldn't hide his exhaustion, and the tiny, now shocking, scars on his body.

It turned out that he was neither the giant of steel they had imagined, nor the arrogant and profound senior master.

It turned out to be a rather thin, youthful-looking teenager!

Yet he managed to do something so earth-shattering, almost mythical!

The father and son exchanged a glance, both seeing unparalleled shock and a deeper, indescribable awe in each other's eyes.

This is not merely a matter of respect for force, but also a respect for the concept of "not judging a book by its cover" and "keeping one's true abilities hidden."

The other person stood right in front of them, talking calmly, yet they made no connection whatsoever with the "Wolf Slayer."

This simple, unpretentious charm is more captivating than any outward display of ferocity.

This isn't because the other person is ordinary; on the contrary, it shows that they are hiding their true abilities!

At this moment, the father and son couldn't help but exclaim, "What a shrewd Su Sanlang!"

Zheng Zhenshan's face twitched. He suddenly realized that he hadn't shown the boy enough courtesy earlier. Feeling a wave of fear, he quickly straightened his greasy leather apron and bowed respectfully towards the mud-brick house where Su Ming was.

Zheng Hanshan followed suit and awkwardly bowed as well, his head still buzzing with chaotic thoughts such as "He is Su Sanlang," "He is so young," and "I just talked to him so much."

Su Sanlang is actually like this?

This is Su Sanlang!