Chapter 21: Someone Else's Wild Boar

Su Ruan felt a sense of apprehension, and perhaps even a touch of fear. Ever since Lu Chuan dragged a wild boar home yesterday, she had realized that the mountains were not the treasure troves she had imagined them to be; instead, they were fraught with hidden dangers. The wild boar was the least of their worries—there were bears, tigers, and even leopards lurking in the shadows, each a deadly threat.

Throughout the day, between inquiring about potential ways to make a living, she had also gathered information about the mountain. Many hunters had met their ends there, succumbing to all manner of gruesome fates. Some had even vanished entirely, their remains never recovered after being devoured by beasts. Hearing such tales had left Su Ruan deeply shaken. Consequently, she became even more diligent, not only asking questions and observing but also constantly pondering how to increase their household resources so they wouldn't have to rely on daily hunting. Even if they had to hunt, they would need to avoid the most treacherous areas at all costs.

"Hmm," Lu Chuan smiled, sensing her thoughts just by looking at her. He felt a wave of genuine warmth. Though both Su Ruan and Bai Siyu came from prominent backgrounds, they possessed none of the airs of arrogance or luxury. Perhaps it was due to their upbringing, or perhaps the downfall of their families had tempered them, making them content to lead simple, humble lives. Regardless of the reason, Lu Chuan felt he was the one who had truly gained.

It had to be said that Chen Miaomiao’s cooking was quite impressive. In these times, without a wide array of spices or seasonings, she had managed to turn simple stewed pork ribs with cabbage into a remarkably delicious meal. After cooking, she placed the food on the table and stood to the side, her eyes devoid of luster, appearing almost like a robot.

Lu Chuan looked at her, puzzled. "What are you standing there for? Eat. Do you need a formal invitation?"

Only then did Chen Miaomiao come to her senses, looking at Lu Chuan with a dazed expression. Seeing her distress, Bai Siyu quickly pulled her down to sit. "Sit down. We don't have so many rules in this house. It’s livelier when we all eat together!"

Chen Miaomiao seemed unaccustomed to such treatment, sitting awkwardly with her bowl and chopsticks, a whirlwind of emotions in her heart as she struggled for words.

Bai Siyu looked up then. "Master, we don't have enough rooms or bedding. How should we arrange things for Dieyi?"

Lu Chuan pondered this for a moment. There were only two rooms in the house. He and Bai Siyu had already shared intimate moments, but he and Su Ruan had not. "How about she sleeps in your room for the time being?" Lu Chuan looked at Su Ruan and smiled. "You can look out for each other. Tomorrow, I’ll build a simple brick kiln. We’ll need bricks for future house construction and other projects."

"Very well," Su Ruan nodded, understanding that Lu Chuan was likely concerned about Chen Miaomiao attempting to escape.

After dinner, Lu Chuan began working on his second bow. The first one had been simple; while its accuracy and range were decent, it didn't quite suit him. Crafting a truly fine bow required patience and skill. He had only made the first one in a rush to get into the mountains. Since he had given that one to Su Ruan, he needed to forge a new one for himself.

That night, Lu Chuan spent his time twisting rope. This time, he wasn't using straw fibers but proper cordage. There was a technique to it—a bowstring couldn't be too thick or too heavy. It had to be light, elastic, and sufficiently strong. Fortunately, this was no challenge for him.

Su Ruan watched his movements from the side, her eyes filled with astonishment. "Where did you learn such craftsmanship? I doubt even the artisans in the army possess your skills," she remarked. "It is a pity you are a mere hunter. If you were in the military, you would surely shine."

"Let's leave it at that," Lu Chuan chuckled. "I have no interest in killing and fighting." Jokes aside, he had been a mercenary in his past life; in this one, he only wanted a warm home, a wife, and children. Since he had transmigrated, he intended to try and actually enjoy life.

Finally, after soaking the cord in tung oil, Lu Chuan went to bed with Bai Siyu.

The next morning, after waking up, Lu Chuan began his daily routine of practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Afterward, he headed to the riverside to gather sand and yellow clay. Just as he finished his preparations, a figure came sprinting up the mountain, gasping for breath.

"Brother Chuan! Brother Chuan! Something’s happened—something big..." The voice was laced with anxiety.

The man was Li Yanjun, the same age as Lu Chuan and a close friend. Li Yanjun’s family were butchers, so they had a bit of money. They had sent him to a private school for a few years, but he hadn't been cut out for it, eventually infuriating his teacher so much that he never returned. Just a few days ago, he had taken a sturdy, round-faced woman as his wife and had been busy in the marriage bed, which was why he hadn't visited Lu Chuan lately.

"No rush. Tell me slowly," Lu Chuan said, watching Li Yanjun’s breathless state. "What happened?"

Li Yanjun gasped, "The village chief! The chief was beaten by people from the neighboring Zhao Family Village! Now, the men from Zhao Family Village are coming here aggressively to find you! You’d better find a place to hide!"

"Zhao Family Village?" Lu Chuan frowned. "Why are they looking for me?"

Li Yanjun explained, "I only heard bits and pieces from a distance, but it seems you hunted in their territory and caught a wild boar? The hunters from Zhao Family Village claim they had been tracking that boar for days! They say you snatched it from them, and now they aren't willing to let it go. They’ve come to settle the score!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chuan burst into a laugh. "Heh, that’s a rare one."

"Since when did these mountains become their private hunting ground? Does that mean I need their permission every time I want to hunt?" Lu Chuan’s mouth curled into a smirk, and he let out a cold snort.

"Hey, this isn't the time for that!" Li Yanjun urged anxiously. "You know our village is dwindling—we have few men left, let alone hunters. No one has gone mountain hunting here for years. Zhao Family Village, however, has organized a hunting team that roams the mountains daily. Now that you've taken their boar, of course they aren't going to be happy!"