"Yesterday when I went to do laundry, I ran into Aunt Li. She said two hunters from the neighboring Niu Tou Village went missing a few days ago, and they haven't returned for several days."
As she spoke,
a pair of phoenix eyes stared intently at Chen Xuan across from her.
It seemed she wanted to see if there was any change in his expression.
However,
to her disappointment,
Chen Xuan's face first showed surprise, then regret.
However, Su Yun's face was full of shock, and her chopsticks fell onto the table. She looked at him with a face full of concern and also advised, "How about not going into the mountain today? It's too dangerous!"
"Hehe!"
At this moment, Chen Xuan let out a light laugh.
He didn't offer much explanation, but bent down to pick up a stone placed under the table leg.
The two women didn't know what he meant by this.
The next moment,
they saw Chen Xuan exert a slight force with his hand.
Instantly,
the stone split in two!
"Ah!"
Su Yun let out a scream upon witnessing this scene.
Even the usually composed Su Wanqiu was also in disbelief.
As if remembering something, she quickly asked, "Did you... reach a new level?"
"Yes!"
Chen Xuan slightly nodded and said, "I am now a Ninth-Grade Martial Artist! You can rest assured now!"
Sometimes, saying a lot is not as effective as showing off some muscle in front of these two women!
Strength on display,
is more effective than a thousand words.
However,
for Su Wanqiu, she might have just doubted earlier, but now she had inexplicably begun to believe that the deaths of those two people from Niu Tou Village were definitely related to Chen Xuan.
However,
she also believed in her heart,
that with his character, he wouldn't hurt people without reason. Surely, those two must have done something to force his hand.
On this point, she was very certain!
Since that was the case, those two deserved their fate!
....
Chen Xuan went into the mountain.
At home, only the two women were left.
Su Yun still couldn't believe her husband was a martial artist now.
She went next to her sister Su Wanqiu, hugged her from behind, and asked, "Sister, am I dreaming?"
"Didn't you see it yourself? Dreaming, huh!"
She stopped her needlework, tilted her head to look at her, and said seriously, "This matter is a secret, don't tell anyone, understood?"
"Why?"
Su Yun was very puzzled, wondering why her sister said that.
Martial Artist!
That indeed is a Martial Artist!
If her husband is a Martial Artist, who would dare bully them in the future?
At least in this village,
they could live without fear.
"Splat!"
Su Wanqiu slapped her little head.
She said sternly, "Tall trees catch more wind! Be modest! Even as a Ninth Grade, you're only a notch above ordinary people, but if someone uses sly tricks, it still won't hold up, so be modest! Got it?"
"Oh!"
Su Yun nodded somewhat understandingly.
She was too young.
And growing up with Su Wanqiu, she was simply too simple-minded, not much different from a child.
However,
now Su Wanqiu was truly happy inside,
even though she was teaching Su Yun like this,
but,
having a Ninth-Grade Martial Artist at home was a big deal.
At least,
there hadn't been anyone who reached a new level in Shuanggang Village for many years.
....
In the mountains.
As the temperature rose, the accumulated snow began to melt.
However,
the mountain paths became harder to navigate.
But with Chen Xuan now being an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, both his strength and speed had advanced by several levels compared to before.
In just one hour,
he reached the deeper parts of the mountain.
"The snow has started to melt, the temperature is rising, yet how come there's still not a living creature in sight."
Chen Xuan's brows furrowed into a frown.
He gazed towards the deeper parts of the mountain.
"Do I have to go deeper?"
He murmured softly.
However, his eyes revealed a hint of fear.
Going deeper meant entering the back mountain.
In Shuanggang Village, there's a legend among hunters—not to enter the back mountain.
Otherwise,
it's a life or death situation!
This was confirmed in his older brother's case.
He went into the back mountain,
was gravely injured, and lost his life.
"I'm already at Eighth Grade, it shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Breaking through to Eighth-Grade Martial Artist brought him immense confidence.
Compared to his brother, he's much stronger now.
"As long as I'm careful, it should be fine!"
He nodded firmly.
Then he stepped forward, heading towards the back mountain.
Entering the back mountain,
Chen Xuan was on high alert, constantly vigilant of his surroundings.
In the back mountain,
there was an inexplicable chill.
A bone-piercing cold even he could feel, despite being at Eighth Grade now.
However,
after traveling nearly dozens of miles within the back mountain, there was still no discovery.
As he looked up at the sun beginning to set in the west,
he estimated the time it would take to return,
thinking he might as well go back for now.
He could search in a different direction tomorrow.
Just as he was feeling conflicted, suddenly,
he heard a 'crunch crunch' sound in his ears.
Instantly,
a sense of joy filled his heart.
So he quickly headed towards the sound.
After searching for a long time,
he finally saw the source in a snow pit.
A small white fox.
Very small!
It was probably only the size of two palms.
Instantly, Chen Xuan's face showed disappointment.
This tiny white fox wasn't even enough for a few bites.
At this moment,
the little white fox hadn't realized there was a hunter watching it from not far off and was merrily munching on pine nuts that had fallen from the tree.
"Forget it, I'll catch it and let Su Yun play with this little rascal!"
After all, there wasn't much meat on it.
Consider it a gift for her.
They had been married for some time, and he hadn't given her anything.
This could make up for it.
He then pulled a stone out of his pocket.
This small fox—using an arrow would surely kill it.
He aimed at the little white fox.
He neither used all his strength,
with a "whoosh" sound,
the stone turned into a dark shadow, hitting the little white fox squarely.
Chen Xuan rushed over quickly,
seeing the little white fox lying motionless on the ground, he quickly checked it and, after confirming it was not dead, sighed in relief.
This little thing, he was really afraid one careless move would have killed it.
Just as he carefully put this little thing into his pocket,
suddenly, a voice came from behind him.
"Interesting, I didn't expect a hunter to be an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, interesting!"
Startled, Chen Xuan shivered and swiftly turned his body.
He saw,
a man in a long white robe standing ten meters away,
estimated to be about 1.8 meters tall, with a faint smile on his face.
He was scrutinizing him.
"In such low temperatures, this person was only wearing a robe, and a very thin one at that, plus he recognized Chen Xuan's strength with just a glance!"
His brain quickly processed,
and instantly came to a conclusion.
"Can't be challenged!"
So he put down the bag in his hand, cupped his fists, and respectfully asked, "May I ask who you are?"
"No need to be tense, I mean you no harm. I just have my eyes on the White Spirit Fox in your hand. Would you consider letting me have it? Name your price!"
Although the man appeared calm and spoke gently, for some reason,
he exuded a feeling that he could not be challenged.
However, upon hearing that the man was only interested in this White Spirit Fox, Chen Xuan let out a big sigh of relief.
Without hesitation, he lowered the bag from his shoulders and, turning, spoke respectfully, "If you would like the White Spirit Fox, I would be willing to offer it to you."
He was just deliberating whether to transfer the White Spirit Fox directly over or throw it to him,
when suddenly a force was exerted on his hands,
the next moment,
the White Spirit Fox flew on its own toward the man.
"Could this be...?"