Chapter 60: Mountains And Forests (III)

Lin Zheyu finished marking the map, put it away, and said with a smile, "Many thanks, brother! Fate has brought us together. I am Lin Zheyu. May I know your honored name? I must treat you to a drink if you ever come to Songyi City."

The man’s strength was considerable. He looked like a seasoned hunter who roamed the mountains year-round and must be deeply familiar with the area. Making friends with someone like this might prove useful in the future.

"I dare not claim a lofty name. I am Ma Wangcheng," said the man.

"Brother Ma, are you from the Ma Family Village?" asked Lin Zheyu.

"Indeed." Ma Wangcheng nodded.

Their Ma Family Village was well known outside the city. Much of the fierce beast meat and medicinal herbs in the city came from the men of their village.

"I have long heard of the prowess of the men from Ma Family Village. Seeing it today, the reputation is truly well deserved," said Lin Zheyu, offering his praise. But his words were not empty flattery. With the strength of the Organ Forging Realm, Ma Wangcheng could already be considered a skilled fighter, even within Songyi City.

"Brother Lin flatters me. It is nothing but an empty name," replied Ma Wangcheng with a smile.

Everyone liked hearing good words, and he was no exception. Especially when the praise came from this mysterious young man before him, who seemed to possess extraordinary strength.

"By the way, Brother Ma, I have a question. Just now, I believed I had hidden myself quite well. How did you discover me?"

Lin Zheyu looked at the man with curiosity. He had gone to great lengths to build rapport, partly to uncover the secret, so that he would not be so easily exposed in future concealments or pursuits.

"This was no difficult matter. I have spent years wandering deep in the mountains and forests, honing a keen sense of smell. I am very familiar with the scents here. I can tell what smells should be present and what smells should not.

"Brother Lin must have passed through a patch of Red Mountain Fragrance ahead. This flower has a peculiar scent, growing only in certain conditions, and once it clings to you, it lingers for a long time.

"While I was fighting that beast, the sudden appearance of Red Mountain Fragrance caught my attention. Since there was no breeze and no other beasts moving nearby, I guessed that someone must have arrived," said Ma Wangcheng in great detail.

"Amazing!" exclaimed Lin Zheyu in admiration. He sniffed at his own clothes but failed to detect anything unusual. There was no trace of Red Mountain Fragrance at all.

Seeing Lin Zheyu sniffing himself repeatedly, Ma Wangcheng spoke up. "It is just a small trick. Many seasoned hunters and herb gatherers can distinguish it easily. You will not smell it this way, Brother Lin. The scent of Red Mountain Fragrance is extremely faint. Only those who have trained and frequently encountered it can recognize it."

"So that is how it is. I have made Brother Ma laugh." Lin Zheyu smiled and said, "Thank you for clearing my doubts. If you ever visit Songyi City, just mention my name at the Jade Pill Teahouse, and you will find me. When that time comes, I will host a banquet to express my gratitude."

Ma Wangcheng waved his hand and replied with a smile, "Brother Lin, you are too polite. It was just a small effort."

"Then I will take my leave here. May we meet again!"

Lin Zheyu clasped his hands in farewell and turned to leap into the dense forest.

"Wait!" Ma Wangcheng hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.

Lin Zheyu turned back, looking curiously at Ma Wangcheng, unsure why he had been stopped.

"Brother Lin, you seem unfamiliar with this area. Let me tell you something. It is already close to the Shen hour[1]. If you head to Lion Valley and return by the same path, it will likely be dark. Once night falls, it is best to take the official road instead of passing through Beast Roar Mountain. The mountains are not safe at night," Ma Wangcheng reminded him.

Though somewhat cautious by nature, he was upright at heart. Once he confirmed Lin Zheyu was no villain, he took the initiative to warn him.

"

Oh?

Have powerful beasts appeared in Beast Roar Mountain?" asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

He pulled out his map and searched for the location of Beast Roar Mountain. Beyond this mountain, the next one was Beast Roar Mountain. Beast Roar Mountain was teeming with vicious creatures and prowling beasts. Roars frequently echoed through its forests, shaking the skies, which gave the mountain its name. However, as far as he knew, the beasts on the outskirts were not very strong. Hunters often chose it as their preferred hunting ground.

"No, the beasts on the outskirts are not strong. The fiercest I have encountered there was no stronger than the Green Fang Bear you just saw. But some time ago, someone unearthed a corpse in Beast Roar Mountain. The corpse came back to life and killed many people. Every nightfall, that living corpse comes out to roam, hunting and feeding," said Ma Wangcheng.

Living corpses only moved about at night, when Yin qi was heavy. During the day, they hid away to rest. So long as they were not provoked, they usually would not attack during daylight hours.

"A living corpse?" Lin Zheyu widened his eyes at the words, his gaze filled with curiosity.

He had previously heard from Jia Yanyong and the others about the strength of living corpses and had deliberately gathered related information. Living corpses were similar to the zombies of his previous life[2], with copper skin and iron bones. They did not bite like zombies, but instead devoured flesh, especially favoring prey with abundant blood qi.

Unlike zombies, their joints were not stiff but moved almost like ordinary people. Their bodies brimmed with sinister Yin qi. Anyone bitten or clawed by them would be afflicted with Yin poison, which was extremely difficult to cure.

"What level of strength does this living corpse have, Brother Ma? Have you ever encountered it?" asked Lin Zheyu.

"No. If I had, I fear I would not have returned alive. The strength of a living corpse is formidable. Only martial artists of the Blood Qi Realm can stand against it, and even they must treat it with caution. If one is careless and suffers a scratch or bite, the Yin poison will invade the body, and it will take a very long time to recover," explained Ma Wangcheng.

"Thank you for the warning, Brother Ma."

Lin Zheyu clasped his hands in salute, then turned and darted into the forest. This time, Ma Wangcheng did not call him back. Watching Lin Zheyu’s departing figure, Ma Wangcheng remained silent. He sniffed the air, and once he confirmed the other had gone far, he finally let out a long breath of relief.

Lin Zheyu did not appear particularly strong, perhaps only at the Bone Forging Realm, yet his words and bearing revealed a quiet confidence. Clearly, he had something to rely on. Ma Wangcheng was in poor condition, and if conflict had broken out, he might not have fared well.

"I did not expect this Green Fang Bear to be so strong. Even after losing so much blood, it still had so much power. I nearly suffered a disaster," muttered Ma Wangcheng to himself.

He pulled out a small vial of medicinal powder and carefully treated the wounds on his body. During his battle with the Green Fang Bear, its sharp claws had struck him several times. Fortunately, they had only grazed him lightly.

"Let’s keep pursuing it. A beast this strong can be sold for a good amount of silver," muttered Ma Wangcheng as he picked up the arrows and crossbow from the ground and followed the blood trail in pursuit.

1. Shēn (申) hour corresponds to roughly 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in modern time. ☜

2. Referring to the life before he was transported to this world. ☜