Chapter 493: Chapter 310: Hunting Three Beasts Alone, Crushing the Geniuses, White-faced Red Bow’s Fame Spreads through Feilong (3)

"We missed a great opportunity to hunt. If it were me, I would have already killed this snow bear!"

Gu Nianjun examined the tracks in the snow, pointed to a spot, and said, "The snow bear ran towards this place, let’s follow and see." Little Sister Mu said gloomily, "It’s useless. Once the snow bear is alerted, it’s hard to kill it. This bear beast is cunning and agile, it can even dodge arrows. When it runs close to the ground, its fur blends with the snow. At first, you can follow it with your eyes, but over time, it’s hard to focus, you get dizzy. The vastness of the snow stings your eyes and harms your vision!"

"That bastard is truly hateful. If he hadn’t interfered, the snow bear would have been killed by me! If I had hunted the snow beast, hmm, they would have been too shocked to speak!"

Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "Let’s keep following, maybe there will be a chance?" Little Sister Mu, ultimately unwilling to give up, knew the chances were slim, yet still followed the chaotic footprints. Along the way, she occasionally saw arrow marks, some on the snow, some embedded in tree trunks, and couldn’t help but feel quite strange.

Little Sister Mu said, "This person is peculiar. These few arrows are way off, not even touching the snow bear’s fur."

Gu Nianjun said, "There are only arrow marks, no arrows. This person even had the leisure to retrieve the arrows?"

After following the trail for a while, every time Gu Nianjun found an arrow mark, she saw the snow bear’s escape direction changing. It didn’t seem like a miss, but more like herding? She furrowed her brow, feeling amazed and incredulous, "No... could this person be driving the snow bear?"

Little Sister Mu shook her head and said, "Sister Gu, that’s absolutely impossible. The snow bear is very cunning; it’s hard enough to track, let alone drive it."

"And if this person really has the ability to drive it, it means he can kill the snow bear any time with confidence. If it’s an old monster with Martial Arts skills, it’s possible. But if that were the case, we would have noticed from the arrow marks. Although we’re young, we dare not claim to know all the moves and Martial Arts in the world, but we can somewhat tell if Martial Arts was used."

Gu Nianjun nodded slightly, just about to agree, when suddenly her throat tightened, words stuck in her throat. They saw the footprints stop abruptly, turning into a large pit imprint. About two zhang long, the shape resembling a snow bear, fallen in the snow. The two women exchanged glances, immediately went to check, and saw white fur remnants in the pit, confirming the snow bear was dead.

Little Sister Mu, well aware of the snow bear’s prowess, was speechless with disbelief at seeing the snow bear dead here. She said, "How... how is this possible? How did this snow bear, in good condition, suddenly die? What method was used?"

Gu Nianjun thought deeply, saying, "It seems that person was indeed driving the snow bear, drove it to this spot, and then killed it with a straightforward, clean arrow."

Little Sister Mu said, "Who... who has such Archery skills? Could it be someone traveling with us?" Her eyes shimmered with surprise and uncertainty.

Gu Nianjun curiously said, "Perhaps. After all, we’re newly acquainted, there’s no lack of those proficient in Archery. If such a person truly exists, maybe..." Thinking of the previous day’s events, her heart suddenly skipped a beat:

"The one who helped Xiaofan yesterday, could it be the same person who shot the bear today? It’s quite possible; the one who shot the bear covered it seamlessly. The one last night was like that too. I rarely travel to meet friends, if I could strike a friendship, it would be a great joy!"

Little Sister Mu said, "Sister Gu, let’s quickly return. I want to see who beat us to it. See if I don’t trouble him!"

Gu Nianjun laughed, "The snow bear wasn’t specifically yours. You have no grounds to cause trouble."

Little Sister Mu said, "I’ll quarrel if I must." Her eyes suddenly brightened: "If his Archery truly impresses me, I’ll certainly ask him for guidance. If he’s using other tricks, I won’t let him off."

The two women returned defeated, leaving Snow Dragon Mountain, traveling the mountain paths all day. They were sweating at the hair tips, foreheads, backs, and boot linings. As they left the mountainous area, they both exhaled deeply, feeling exhausted. Both were very enthusiastic when they came, but after the strange event just now, they were not inclined to talk and were overwhelmingly curious.

Gu Nianjun said, "Little Sister Mu, let’s quickly return to the inn." Little Sister Mu nodded without delay, galloped the horse back, speaking little along the way, only the sound of the wind and snow howling and the horse’s hooves clattering.

Outside the east of the city, there is a ’Back to Dream Inn’, a meeting place for many prodigies.

At night, the wind and snow grew stronger, the candlelight inside the inn was bright, and dozens of prodigies had gathered, tending the hot charcoal fire, brewing fine wine, chatting about interesting affairs. Gu Nianjun and Little Sister Mu pushed the door open and entered, and everyone brightened up upon seeing the two beauties return.

Zhou Shijie said, "Nianjun, Hongchou, come and sit." He pointed to a few empty seats nearby. Little Sister Mu ’hmphed’ lightly and said, "Sister Gu, come sit with me over there." She pulled Gu Nianjun towards the women of the Lake Mountain Sword Sect.

The women laughed and joked. The atmosphere was very harmonious, and as it got later, more prodigies returned. By the end of the evening, all prodigies had gathered, drinking and having a merry, harmonious time. Little Sister Mu thought, "I’ll soon find out who among you hunted that snow bear." She looked around at everyone.

The prodigies found it curious but none were angry. They discreetly tidied their clothes and adjusted their long hair.

Zhou Shijie called over the waiter, asked for three pots of clear water, and placed them on the charcoal fire. He said, "We hunt and eat what we hunt; that’s how we have fun. Let’s have everyone show their animal gains. Let’s cook it fresh and quick."

Everyone responded by displaying their catches. Yang Wentian had the most, having hunted three tiger beasts and two bear beasts... When he took out his trophies, the prodigies around him gasped in amazement, showering him with praise.

They remarked on Yang Wentian’s exceptional strength and valor.

In terms of Martial Artists, strength is indeed formidable, making tiger and bear hunting not difficult. But shooting and hunting are unrelated to physical combat; it doesn’t require close combat, needing only an arrow to hit the beast’s body. Moreover, as beasts age, accumulate food intake, nurture by air and water... they gain strength gradually. Their wit, strength, and speed... are not ordinary.