Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 70: Strange Occurrence

The two were overwhelmed with excitement—getting a response was the absolute best news.

If there had only been dead silence, that would’ve been hopeless.

"Nangua’s no pushover. If she’s been stuck for a whole day and night, then she’s definitely in danger. Pay attention—if it’s mountain wolves, climb a tree first!"

Lu Chang’sheng instructed Niu Dazhuang.

The two of them both grew up in the village; whether it was climbing trees or swimming rivers, they were nimble as could be, and now that they were stronger, it was no longer a big deal at all.

Sure enough, after running toward the spot where the fire sparks had flickered for about half an hour, wolf silhouettes suddenly appeared ahead.

There weren’t many, scattered around like sentries.

Niu Dazhuang immediately went on guard.

Mountain wolves had a far keener sense of smell than humans. As soon as the two got close, the wolves picked up on them and charged straight in.

But before they’d made it halfway, two arrows came whistling out—one nailing a wolf in the side, the other burying itself in another wolf’s eye.

"Up the tree!"

Lu Chang’sheng barked out, and the next moment, the wounded wolf threw its head back and let out a spine-chilling howl.

They’d barely scrambled a few meters up the tree when the air below filled with the sound of snarling, snapping beasts. Wolf shapes prowled under the branches, pacing back and forth, baring their fangs and occasionally lifting their heads to howl out a vicious killing cry.

This time, both men had come armed with bows and broadswords, so they didn’t panic, taking turns shooting arrows down.

Soon, five or six mountain wolves were lying dead in their own blood.

Realizing they couldn’t get to the ones in the trees, the pack began to back off, retreating further and further.

"Chang’sheng, I’ll go down and draw them away, leave the rest to you!"

Right then, Niu Dazhuang tossed his quiver and bow up to Lu Chang’sheng, then dropped straight off the tree.

"Dazhuang, get back here!" Lu Chang’sheng shouted.

He hadn’t expected Niu Dazhuang to go all out like that—willing to put himself on the line to lure the wolves away.

"Don’t worry, I can handle it!" Niu Dazhuang grinned up at him. "Let’s save Nangua first!"

Before he’d finished speaking, he’d already drawn the blade tucked at his waist and was hacking straight toward a mountain wolf rushing in at him.

As soon as the wolves saw someone come down, all the ones that had been backing away surged in like a flood. Lu Chang’sheng didn’t have time for more words—he narrowed his gaze and kept letting arrows fly.

"Thunk!"

"Thunk!"

"Thunk!"

······

Arrow after arrow tore through the air—barely a shot missed its mark. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Two quivers, almost thirty arrows, were fired off in no time, each one landing squarely in the wolves lunging for Niu Dazhuang.

"Snap!"

As he fired the last arrow, the bowstring snapped clean in his hands, cutting into his palm.

A splash of blood sprayed out from his hand.

And right then, a mountain wolf, bigger than any of the others, pounced and brought a completely spent Niu Dazhuang tumbling to the ground. Without hesitating, Lu Chang’sheng leapt straight down from the tree, driving his steel blade into the wolf’s back.

The giant wolf let out a horrid scream, and, driven wild by the threat of death, twisted frantically, trying to hurl Lu Chang’sheng off its back.

But just then, Lu Chang’sheng suddenly felt a faint heat surge through his body—his stamina seemed to rebound out of nowhere. Clenching his grip, he jammed the blade in hard. The next instant, he heard a burst of breaking bones—instantly, the wolf’s struggles died. It dropped limply to the ground, all strength gone.

His instincts told him to glance at the Light Curtain Panel, and to his shock, what should’ve taken days—the Flood Stake—had broken through to entry level.

"So life-and-death battle can trigger a cultivation breakthrough too?"

Lu Chang’sheng suddenly realized.

No wonder martial artists love to fight—it turns out, there’s incredible opportunity between life and death.

"Still, life-and-death fights are way too risky. Friendly duels, though—maybe I can use those." he thought to himself.

After all that fighting, both of them had taken some hits—especially Niu Dazhuang, whose clothes were nearly shredded. He’d almost been gutted by wolf claws several times—honestly, it was a damn close call.

Lu Chang’sheng felt both worried and helpless. He took out some wound medicine from the supplies, treating Dazhuang’s wounds to stop the bleeding, and helped him recover some strength.

Ten minutes later, the two got back on their feet and headed onward. Not long after, they found Li Nangua leaning in a rock crevice.

"Chang... sheng..." Li Nangua’s face was pale and exhausted, a spent firestarter still clutched in one hand; dead wolves lay on the ground nearby, feathered with arrows.

When she saw Lu Chang’sheng, her whole expression brightened. She tried to stand, but Lu Chang’sheng had already scooped her up, murmuring, "Anything you want to say, wait till we’re home."

"Mmm~"

Li Nangua answered softly, arms wrapping tight around Lu Chang’sheng’s neck. Even as tired as she was, she couldn’t help but smile sweetly.

······

One day later, at Lu Chang’sheng’s house.

Listening as Li Nangua described what had happened.

"At the time, I was thinking—if I found that mountain wolf, I’d just give them a few silver coins and be done with it. I wouldn’t owe them anything after that!"

"Why didn’t you tell us about this stuff?" Lu Chang’sheng glared at her, half frustrated, half concerned.

"I... I didn’t want you to know about my family’s situation. Figured once we left, I’d never have to come back again." Li Nangua said in a small voice, suddenly like a kid being scolded.

"Besides, my skills really are good enough!"

Lu Chang’sheng scolded, "Good enough? Bullshit! You know anything can go wrong out there, right? Don’t you ever do this again—got it?"

Li Nangua nodded hard.

Strange... why does seeing him get mad make me feel a little happy?

Ahhh...

When Lu Chang’sheng looked over in confusion, Li Nangua thought he’d figured out what she was thinking, and immediately yanked the blanket up to hide her blushing face.

"What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?" Lu Chang’sheng’s tone instantly turned anxious. He took her small hand, ready to feel her pulse.

But that soft little hand was surprisingly mischievous—any time he relaxed his grip, she squirmed it back under the covers.

Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but give the back of her hand a gentle smack before she finally stayed put.

"Doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong."

After checking her pulse, Lu Chang’sheng frowned.

His medical technique was beyond minor achievement; common illnesses were easy to diagnose for him. Nangua’s pulse was a little quick, but overall she was just fine.

"After this, I need to make medical training a priority too!"

Lu Chang’sheng was still worried—this ordeal really drove home how much he still lacked in strength.

"If something like this happens again, I won’t be able to rely on who I am. Only my own abilities will matter."

But there was one more thing that seemed off to Lu Chang’sheng.

Nangua was basically the strongest among them and had both bow and blade with her. She shouldn’t have been trapped in that rock crevice so easily.

Sure enough, Li Nangua then said, "I know how dangerous the mountains are. I wasn’t planning to go in deep. But just as I was about to leave, I saw you!"

Instantly, surprise flashed across Lu Chang’sheng’s face.