"It's a Black Wind Wolf!"
"A low-tier Spiritual Beast, extremely fast, with sharp claws and teeth."
If it were the old Xu Fan, seeing these paw prints, he would have probably turned and run.
But now… he tightened his grip on the wood-chopping knife in his hand.
After mastering the staff techniques, his control over his body was no longer what it used to be.
Although a wood-chopping knife was not a wooden staff, a single method applied to all; the essentials of chopping, hacking, and stabbing were interconnected.
What's more, he could also do Trap Making.
Xu Fan's eyes sharpened.
If this thing were taken to the town, the money it would fetch would be enough for his whole family to eat their fill for several months, and even allow his grandparents' illnesses to be better managed.
Fortune favors the bold!
He was determined to get this Iron Bone Root!
He did not rashly go to dig up the medicinal herb; that would be a suicidal act.
Instead, he retreated to the downwind side and gathered materials on the spot.
Using vines and branches, he quickly set up two traps on the Black Wind Wolf's inevitable return path.
One was a snare trap, used to restrict its movement.
The other was an elastic trap utilizing the principle of leverage, with sharpened wooden stakes tied to it—this was new knowledge in his mind after his Trap Making proficiency improved.
Having set up everything, he found a large tree to hide behind and waited quietly.
Time passed minute by minute; the forest was eerily silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Suddenly, a strong, fishy smell drifted over with the wind.
"It's here!"
Xu Fan's pupils suddenly contracted, and fine beads of sweat seeped from the palms of his hands clutching the wood-chopping knife.
A black shadow, like a ghost, appeared silently in the forest. Its physique was agile, even sturdier than the large yellow dog in the village, with sleek, glossy black fur that flowed with dark light under the dappled sunlight in the woods.
It was indeed that Black Wind Wolf.
It patrolled its territory with elegant strides.
As it approached the Iron Bone Root, it even paused to sniff with its nose, letting out a satisfied low growl from its throat.
It circled the swamp, beginning its daily patrol, slowly approaching the first trap Xu Fan had set.
The Black Wind Wolf was extremely vigilant; it seemed to sense something was wrong, its steps paused, and its pair of green eyes scanned ahead.
However, Xu Fan's trap was too well camouflaged. The thin vine looked just like an ordinary tree root.
The Black Wind Wolf did not detect any abnormality, lifted its front paw, and stepped over.
"Now!"
Snap!
The vine rope was tripped, and the Black Wind Wolf stumbled, almost falling.
"Awooo?!"
It let out an angry roar, sharply turning its head to stare at the vine that had tripped it.
It opened its mouth, using its sharp teeth to tear at the vine.
However, the nearby second trap was triggered.
A taut branch sprang back, and with a "thwack," a string of fruits covered in mud and burrs, which had been hanging there, smacked the Black Wind Wolf on its side face.
This strike was not fatal, but it was highly insulting.
"Awooo——!!!"
The Black Wind Wolf completely went berserk.
It felt its dignity had been challenged like never before.
It abandoned its patrol, charging wildly through the woods, searching for whatever dared to offend it.
Its rationality was being replaced by rage.
And this was precisely the outcome Xu Fan desired.
While the Black Wind Wolf was venting its anger, Xu Fan silently slipped out of the bushes, rushing towards the Iron Bone Root at top speed!
"You attempted to sprint, unlocking a new skill: Running (Beginner 0/100)."
"Running proficiency +1."
An unexpected surprise!
While running, he actually unlocked a new skill!
He felt as if new strength had been injected into his legs, and his speed increased by several points.
Within three breaths, he had rushed to the Iron Bone Root.
The wood-chopping knife in his hand was already prepared, plunging into the soil next to the Iron Bone Root.
"You attempted to gather, unlocking a new skill: Gathering (Beginner 0/100)."
"Gathering proficiency +1."
He knew from which angle to strike so as to pry it up the fastest without damaging the main root.
That dark red Iron Bone Root, as thick as an adult's forearm, was brought out whole!
A rich medicinal fragrance instantly erupted.
"Awooo!!!"
The Black Wind Wolf in the distance smelled this scent, immediately reacted, and let out an earth-shattering roar of fury.
It abandoned its struggle with the branches and vines, charging madly towards Xu Fan.
Its green eyes were bloodshot!
"It's too late!"
Xu Fan grabbed the Iron Bone Root and turned to run!
But the Black Wind Wolf was too fast; the fishy wind was already reaching the back of his neck.
At the brink of life and death, Xu Fan's mind was unprecedentedly calm.
He did not choose to run into open ground but plunged into the low thorny bushes nearby!
This was a retreat route he had already planned.
The Black Wind Wolf was too large, hindered by the thorns for a moment.
In just this brief delay, Xu Fan had already scrambled over ten meters, rolling and crawling.
He dared not look back, frantically weaving through the complex forest terrain.
The roars and sounds of trees being broken behind him were incessant.
He took a moment to stuff the Iron Bone Root, still covered in soil, into his embrace; the medicinal scent was muffled by his clothes, its aroma much fainter.
The Black Wind Wolf pursued relentlessly, but Xu Fan, relying on his smaller stature, deliberately chose difficult paths, temporarily preventing it from catching up.
He ran for an unknown distance until the roars behind him gradually faded away, then Xu Fan collapsed into a pile of soft fallen leaves, his chest heaving violently, gasping for breath.
The feeling of relief after surviving a calamity left him weak all over.
He lay on the ground, looking at the dappled tree shadows above him, and couldn't help but laugh; as he laughed, he started coughing violently.
"Exciting!"
...In the evening, in the Xu Family courtyard.
Yan Aini paced back and forth at the courtyard gate, occasionally looking towards the village path, her face etched with anxiety.
"Why isn't this child back yet…"
Xu Chang squatted on the doorstep, silent, but his tightly furrowed brows also revealed his inner unease.
Just as the whole family was anxiously waiting, Xu Fan's figure finally appeared at the village entrance.
"Big Brother is back!" The sharp-eyed Xu Jielang was the first to exclaim.
The family quickly went to meet him.
"Fan'er, you're finally back! Are you alright?" Yan Aini pulled Xu Fan, examining him from head to toe.
Seeing her son covered in mud and scratches, his clothes torn in several places, her heart ached so much that tears almost fell.
"You child! I told you to be careful, how did you get like this?!"
"Mother, I'm fine, I just accidentally fell a few times." Xu Fan smiled reassuringly, putting down his back basket, "Mother, Second Brother, help me take out the medicinal herbs to dry."
When the thick Iron Bone Root was taken out, everyone was stunned.
"Big Brother, what… what is this?" Xu Chengbo stammered.
"This is our family's… first step to prosperity." Xu Fan smiled mysteriously.
The next day, at the first hint of dawn.
Xu Fan and Xu Chengbo once again set off on the road to Qingyang Town.
This time, their luggage was exceptionally heavy.
In Xu Fan's back basket was the priceless Iron Bone Root and other herbs.
Xu Chengbo, on the other hand, carried the family's remaining mountain produce.
"Big Brother, walk slower…" Not long after they started, Xu Chengbo began to pant.
He noticed that his Big Brother's pace today was faster and steadier than last time.
Despite carrying the heaviest items, he walked as if he were strolling leisurely.
"Chengbo, try to adjust your breathing, three steps in, three steps out, and use your strength in the push-off from your feet." Xu Fan slowed his pace, guiding his younger brother.