4: Throw

To accommodate his weak sister-in-law, Chen Linsheng moved the small table next to the bed, and the two quietly ate the watery porridge that was thin enough to reflect their faces.

After finishing a bowl of porridge, Chen Linsheng felt even hungrier.

He raised his head and looked at his sister-in-law swallowing in small sips, feeling a sense of heaviness in his heart.

"I must earn money, I must eat meat! My sister-in-law needs nutrition, and I also need to eat meat to become stronger!"

This thought was incredibly strong.

Since learning about the existence of Martial Artists from his memories, Chen Linsheng's goal had been to become one and control his own destiny!

But becoming a Martial Artist was not that easy.

His predecessor also had the dream of becoming a Martial Artist. He had previously gone to Qinghe County to inquire, and the cheapest Martial Arts Hall in the city required a payment of a full ten taels of silver!

Ten taels?

He only had a dozen copper coins on him!

"The poor study, the rich practice martial arts; the ancients truly did not deceive me."

Whether it was for food or martial arts practice, money was needed. Chen Linsheng naturally thought of the Spiritual Plant fruit that was about to ripen.

"Based on my previous observations, the fruit will be fully ripe in at most three days."

Chen Linsheng's eyes brightened as he thought of the boost brought by the Minor Achievement Cleaver Technique.

"If I can raise all my skills to Minor Achievement, I might not be without the power to fight... However, I need to learn about those wild beasts... and practice another skill, a long-range attack skill!"

Thinking of Hunter Zhang next door, Chen Linsheng came up with an idea.

After eating, Chen Linsheng helped his sister-in-law settle down to rest, then picked up the bundle of chopped firewood and went next door.

The wooden gate was slightly ajar. Chen Linsheng pushed it open and called out loudly, “Uncle Zhang, Aunt Zhang, are you home?”

In the courtyard, Hunter Zhang was sitting on a small stool, meticulously wiping his treasured Hunting Bow.

Hearing the call, he looked up, revealing his dark and rough face.

"It's Linsheng, come in quickly."

Hunter Zhang's voice was loud, carrying the straightforwardness typical of mountain people.

Aunt Zhang also poked her head out from the kitchen, greeting him with a smile, “Linsheng is here, have you eaten?”

"I have, Aunt Zhang."

Chen Linsheng walked into the courtyard and placed the bundle of firewood he was carrying against the wall.

"Uncle Zhang, Aunt Zhang, thank you to Brother Da Niu and Aunt Zhang for looking after my sister-in-law this morning. We don't have anything else good at home, please don't mind this bit of firewood."

"Oh, you're already here, why bring a gift? Linsheng, you're treating us like strangers!"

Seeing him bring firewood again, Aunt Zhang was delighted, unable to stop smiling. While politely refusing, she quickly walked over and picked up the firewood.

Hunter Zhang shook his head helplessly and then said, “You brat, that was thoughtful of you. How is Wan girl?”

"She took the medicine, the high fever has subsided, and she is sleeping more soundly."

Chen Linsheng replied, his gaze involuntarily falling upon the Hunting Bow in Hunter Zhang's hand.

Hunter Zhang noticed his gaze and smiled, “What? Are you interested in this thing?”

"A little, but mainly I wanted to ask you about things in the mountains."

Chen Linsheng didn't hide anything and asked straightforwardly, “Uncle Zhang, how big is the difference between the powerful beasts in the mountains?”

Hunter Zhang frowned upon hearing this: “Don't you dare act recklessly, young man! You can't go into the Deep Mountains! Just hunt pheasants and rabbits on the periphery.”

Seeing Chen Linsheng's serious expression, he sighed again.

"The ordinary wild beasts in these mountains are fine, but those that are about to become Strange Beasts are troublesome."

Strange Beasts?

Chen Linsheng was a little excited, and that look immediately fell into Hunter Zhang's eyes. He said with a smile, “I only heard about these Strange Beasts from Old Hunters. They once traveled together in the mountains and encountered a wild boar with tough skin and thick flesh.”

“Three or four hunters couldn't handle it. Later, it was an old soldier who had served in the army, relying on an Armor-Piercing Arrow, who managed to shoot the wild boar dead.”

“For ordinary people like us, the first thing to do when encountering a Strange Beast is to run. Never think about fighting it head-on.”

Hunter Zhang gave a warning, then thought for a moment and said, “However, I heard that Strange Beasts were all ordinary wild beasts before, but they changed only after eating something unusual.”

The Spiritual Fruit immediately flashed through Chen Linsheng's mind.

“So that Python wanted to consume the Spiritual Fruit and become a Strange Beast!”

Having figured this out, Chen Linsheng glanced at the bow and arrow and asked again, “Uncle Zhang, you suggested I hunt pheasants and rabbits on the periphery, but those guys jump around. Is there any... method to deal with them from a distance?”

Hunter Zhang stood up and pondered for a few seconds: “You don't have a bow and arrow, and it's difficult to practice. Why don't you try this instead.”

He walked to the corner, picked up a few medium-sized pebbles, and weighed them in his hand.

“Watch closely. This is called the Flying Locust Stone. It's not meant for killing, but for catching them off guard.”

He took a simple stance, exerted slight force from his waist and abdomen, and swung his arm sharply.

"Whoosh!"

The stone cut through the air and accurately struck a clothesline pole ten paces away, making a sharp 'crack' sound.

“The key is the strength of your waist! Don't just rely on swinging your arm. Your wrist must be taut, and that final movement needs to shake the force out, so the stone flies straight and fast!”

Chen Linsheng watched intently, then picked up a stone and imitated the movement as instructed.

The first few attempts were weak and ineffective.

Hunter Zhang stepped forward and patted his lower back and arm with his rough hand: “Exert force here! Yes, twist! Wrist, keep it taut!”

Under Hunter Zhang's close guidance, Chen Linsheng adjusted how he exerted force.

Finally, at a certain moment, inspiration struck him. His waist, arm, and wrist unified, and the stone in his hand shot out with a 'whoosh'. Although the accuracy was still lacking, it already produced the sound of cutting through the wind!

The instant the stone left his hand, the spirit book in his mind glowed and circulated, and new characters appeared:

[Skill: Throwing (Initiate)]

[Progress: (1/100)]

[Divine Effect: Accurate Throwing, initial understanding of force exertion. Within ten paces, targets that are stationary or moving slowly, such as tree trunks or rabbits, can be accurately hit. When facing enemies, it can serve to distract or provoke.]