Right now, Wang Kui's yellow jacket was caked with dust. His black double-strapped backpack was still slung over his back, and his fingers were still holding on to the flint spear.
Beneath his crewcut, his facial features appeared edged, as if his brows were an eagle's, and his eyes a tiger's.
Cool!
Still, the three black mood markings on his face were most prominent.
It was the blood of that Lingzhou Hong!
With the blood paint that extended from his forehead, marking his eyelids, nose, and a part of his cheek at the tip of his nose, Wang Kui looked just like a primitive tribesman embodying the God of War, charging his very bones!
He was clearly a young man, and yet, he carried the ruggedness of an old hunter.
Imposing!
[Lit! This is so lit, Old Kui!]
[I'm playing Fairy Tail's BGM in my head right now, Ignite!]
[That moment where he painted himself with blood was so cool! I'm falling apart!]
[Dark Pill gifted streamer Bank Card X10—ladies, don't fight me! I'm taking this streamer and making babies with him every day!]
[Three stripes? Adidas? Are you hinting at me that my Nikes won't do?]
[Lol, friggin' Adidas!]
***
After less than three seconds of coolness, the 'lit' comments that filled the screen was immediately blotted out by the conversation about 'three stripes' and 'Adidas ambassador'. Staring at the screen of his camera and almost coughing blood, Wang Kui joked, "Bro, can't you let me show off a little longer?"
Jokes aside, he actually was not trying to act cool—putting on the blood paint was merely caused by a rush of emotion.
Since Wang Kui had equipped the hunter class card and inherited the most orthodox of hunter experiences as well as the hunter's code, he had learned that a hunting dog was a hunter's lifelong comrade.
Moreover, everyone could see what the wolfdog just now was like.
Its body was filled with scars.
Such cruelty toward one's partner was a blatant disregard toward the code. Moreover, the indifference toward living beings and letting it loose to devour humans?! Such a person was a failure of a human!
The title of a hunter was not to be sullied!
That was why this was a hunter's battle in Wang Kui's heart.
Having found the spot where the wolfdog had fallen just now, he looked at the black blood splatter on the wild grass with some sympathy. "I must admit that the hunter who trained that hunting dog is of an extremely high standard and superior to myself. Even so, their training method is exceedingly cruel—the wolfdog is seriously injured, and its left eye was basically swelling with blood."
"If we follow this trail of blood, we just might get to its lair, or even gain some clues about that hunter!"
Rising to his feet, Wang Kui continued his hunt of the wolfdog.
Still, knowing that the other hunter might be deep within these mountains, his movements this time was much more careful.
***
Soon, it was afternoon.
The forest was getting hotter.
Wang Kui had to open his jacket, but small droplets of sweat were still dripping from both cheeks.
The System's mission timer also indicated that there was less than a day left, and the millisecond display that kept passing rapidly added to the pressure.
If he failed today…
He would have a hard time capturing his quarry!
The wolfdog was no idiot. Repetitive pursuit might force it to give up on its water source, and it might venture deeper into the mountains to survive!
Without any tools, a night hunt was equal to suicide for Wang Kui!
Nonetheless, time moved on.
There were more viewers in Wang Kui's channel now, but the blood splatters amidst the bushes were gradually decreasing.
"Animals disinfect their wounds by licking it, and it both achieves the effect of stopping the pain and quickening their regeneration. The less blood splatters there are, the closer we must be to its lair!"
That was when several purple flowers on the bushes ahead caught his attention.
"These are Vicia Amoena, a pea plant common in temperate zones and sub-frigid zones. It's an excellent pasture containing more than ten percent worth of protein and a favorite for livestock. It is also highly fertile, and is planted to strengthen soil and prevent desertification in the Jixi province, not to mention it happens to be its blossoming season."
Plucking one of the pea pods and prying it open, Wang Kui held it up to show the camera the crystalline, jade-green and gemlike peas within.
"Everyone, you must be careful with the beans you find in the wild. Soybeans, lentils, and kidney beans all contain saponin, phytohemagglutinin, and trypsin inhibitors that are poisonous if eaten raw. It would cause serious vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches, so remember to cook it before eating it!"
"These peas I'm holding, however, are an exception and can be eaten raw..."
Wang Kui put the pea into his mouth and started munching on it while adding, "It is July, and the peas are in season. It's especially sweet and juicy when munched on, which is much better than the rat last night!"
Since it was delicious, Wang Kui plucked more pods.
It had been more than half a day since morning, and he had yet to eat a thing. While being hungry did not matter, moving did take its toll—now that there was a chance to fill his stomach and recharge a little, he was certainly not letting it slip by.
[Pea shooter?]
[You will fart a lot after eating so many peas, Old Kui!]
As Wang Kui ate, he kept an eye on his surroundings without letting down his guard.
As he surveyed his environment, he noticed something a little strange at the roots of a pine tree ahead to his left.
He walked over.
There were mud chunks and resin scattered around the tree roots, and the bark on the roots were mostly missing, seemingly grinded away by something.
"Oh no, there are boars nearby!"
Wang Kui's expression changed. "You can tell at once that boars were rubbing themselves on this pine tree. The long bristles on a boar's back tend to be infested with a lot of parasites which causes them to itch, which leads to their habit of scratching itches. They also prefer pine trees since the resin would stick to their fur, keeping it smooth and hard while avoiding mosquito bites."
"It must be mentioned that boars have fixed locations where they scratch their itch, and it would always be inside the range of their habitat. Moreover, there are many peas nearby which happens to be their favorite food. The hoofprints around here are quite deep, meaning that it is a big boar… the Northeastern provinces have a saying that is fitting here: boars, bears, and finally tigers. We can't afford to provoke a boar for now, so we must hurry away from here!"
It was too late!
Even as Wang Kui tried to leave, there was already movement ahead!
He turned to see a massive figure pressing directly over the bushes and approaching him.
The boar was unusually fat, its bristles were pitch-black, and it was as huge as a cow. Its two ears stood vertically, and its snout was very long, with two black and round nostrils resembling two mountain caverns. Beneath it were two large yellow tusks, and there was no doubt that a little prod from those would leave two massive gaping holes!
[Heavens! Why is that boar so huge?]
[Is it a tank?]
[It's probably three or four hundred catties, isn't it?]
Before everyone could comment, a smaller boar had appeared from the bushes behind the larger boar, and it was following it blankly.
It even had a piglet!
Wang Kui promptly held his breath. Clenching on his spear, surprisingly, he did not flee immediately, and instead, he backed off slowly.
The boar was quickly startled when he stepped on the grass.
It turned its huge, black orb eyes, and stared tightly where Wang Kui was, leaving everyone feeling goosebumps!