Chapter Thirty-Eight: Returning Home

He was gone for more than twenty days. Perhaps it was due to the great battle earlier, or perhaps it was simply a matter of time, but during this period, the strength that had long been stuck between the power of four men and five men finally made great strides forward for Hu San, fully reaching the level of five men’s strength.

Attaining such physical prowess brought a remarkable increase to Hu San’s abilities—not quite double, but at least a good thirty percent stronger than before. It seemed that reaching from the power of four men to that of five was a true threshold; once crossed, the entire body underwent a kind of transformation in its very essence.

Hu San, however, was unaware that the strength of four men marked the limit for ordinary folk, and five signaled entry into a new realm. With such power, a mortal was no longer merely mortal, and could actually contend with a martial artist—albeit only an entry-level one.

Compared to the surge in physical strength, the growth in his inner energy was also apparent, yet it was still a long way from breaking through the first threshold to reach the second. For the time being, there was no sign of that happening.

At this time, Lin Hu and Tan Yue were chatting idly, discussing their ages and the topic of marriage in the village. Only then did Hu San realize, quite suddenly, that he was already twelve, thirteen by traditional reckoning. Though many would still consider him little more than a child, in a mountain village he was nearly of age to marry.

With a faint sigh, thoughts of home grew more tangled in Hu San's mind; he had no idea what things were like there now, and his heart seemed to fly back over the distance to that remote little village.

He had no heart to admire the scenery anymore. Moreover, they were already quite close to Wolfname Village, and Lin Hu and Tan Yue were thoroughly familiar with the terrain here, so the group’s pace quickened sharply. By afternoon, they had arrived at the place where Hu San had experienced his true transformation—the dried-up deep pool.

But now, the deep pool had filled anew, its surface sparkling, with little fish leaping now and then, as if all traces of the past had been erased.

After their long trek, the group was not weary, but their throats were parched. Some of the bandits went down to the pool to catch fish, planning to rest a while.

Hu San leaned against a large stone by the pool, gazing into the seemingly restored waters, lost in thought.

Just then, Lin Hu darted from the woods and sat close beside him, whispering mysteriously, “Third Brother, it seems the village is celebrating a wedding. There’s drumming and gongs—Tan Yue and I heard it clearly when we checked the traps by the mountainside.”

“Oh, a wedding?” Hu San came back to himself, stroked his chin, and smiled. “That’s nothing unusual—weddings and funerals are common enough. I just wonder which family it is. I suppose our whole troop showing up would frighten them out of their wits.”

“Heh, what are they afraid of? We’re not here to steal anyone’s bride. We’ve got lucky this time—maybe we can at least beg a drink or two. Let’s see who dares chase me out this time.” Lin Hu’s lips curled into a fierce grin, clearly recalling some unpleasant memories.

Hu San could understand. Food was scarce in the village, and weddings and funerals were the only times to feast, especially weddings. The wild children of the mountains naturally longed for such occasions. But greedy as children were, they never stopped at what was in their bowls, always eyeing the pot besides. So, they were always the least welcome guests at such celebrations.

In the past, Hu San, Lin Hu, and the others had been chased away countless times, left to watch the adults feast, and in the end only managed to snatch a few scraps—hardly any real food for them.

It was no wonder resentment had built up in all their hearts, and they longed to grow up quickly.

Thinking of those days and comparing them to the recent life of bloodshed, Hu San couldn’t help but shake his head with a sigh—truly, children know no sorrow.

Before long, Tan Yue returned, holding a plump grey hare. From the distinctive marks on its leg, Hu San could tell it had been snared in a villager’s trap.

No one knew the locations of the village traps or what hunted game in which spot better than these mountain brats. In the past, they wouldn’t have dared touch such prey, for the survival of the villagers depended on these catches. They might have stolen a chicken, but never dared steal game from the traps—being caught could mean a fatal beating. Such game was precious; even the villagers seldom ate it, reserving it for trade with caravans.

But things had changed now. Hu San had become a squad leader, and both Tan Yue and Lin Hu led their own squads of fierce bandits. With nine men each under their command, they no longer feared such matters.

Taking the hare was also a kind of childish revenge; after all, in the past, they’d been scolded and beaten for even loitering nearby.

“This must be Old Zhang the Rabbit-catcher’s trap. Tan Yue, after this, I doubt he’ll get a good night’s sleep all year. Grey hares are rare enough, let alone one so pure in color,” Hu San chuckled. He himself had been among those scolded and beaten in years past.

“Heh, I’ve had my eye on Old Zhang’s rabbits for ages. Today, thanks to you, Third Brother, we finally get one—a dream come true,” Tan Yue said.

Hearing this, Lin Hu, who was fishing in the pool, jumped out at once, exclaiming, “What? Old Zhang’s rabbit? Tan Yue, don’t you lie to me!”

When he saw the grey hare, Lin Hu swallowed hard. “Well, I’ll be damned. It really is that kind of rabbit. Today’s the day I get my revenge!”

“Here, give me that rabbit. Let me show you the dragon-slaying skills I practiced all these years!” Lin Hu had been scolded so harshly by Old Zhang that he’d sworn someday to kill and eat one of his rabbits, and had long studied where to cut and how to skin and roast it.

But it had always been wishful thinking. After being carried off by the bandits, he’d never had the chance, so no wonder he was so excited now.

“Dragon-slaying, my ass! If Third Brother said it, maybe I’d believe him. But you? Step aside—don’t you dare burn the rabbit.”

Lin Hu had his grudges, and Tan Yue was no less keen. Neither would back down.

As they bickered, four bandits suddenly rushed from the woods, seemingly escorting a captive.

“Third Brother, this fellow was sneaking around, spying on us. My brothers caught him—whether to kill or spare him is up to you.”

These four were all from Lin Hu’s squad. One stepped forward to report.

“Chief, Chief, I swear I wasn’t spying on purpose! Please, Chief, spare me! Spare my life!” The captive immediately fell to his knees, begging for mercy, trembling all over.

“Hey, Third Brother, this fellow looks familiar,” Tan Yue said, about to deal with the rabbit, when a face flashed through his mind. Looking closer at the captive, realization dawned.

“Isn’t that Old Zhang the Rabbit-catcher? No wonder he looked so familiar!”

“It really is!” Lin Hu confirmed after a glance, waving the four bandits away and letting Old Zhang stand. “Old Zhang, do you still recognize your Uncle Tiger?”

“Ah!” The captive finally dared to look up. There on a large rock sat a youth with a faint smile, dressed in fine clothes and unknown animal-hide boots—clearly no ordinary boy.

Beside him stood a sturdy young man in coarse garb, holding a long spear with a silver fish skewered upon it.

It was this youth who had spoken.

“You—you’re Lin Hu?” Old Zhang’s eyes widened. With his three-part lips and rabbit-like features, the mountain villager stretched out his hand in astonishment, pointing at the sturdy youth, unable to hide his surprise.

“Indeed!” Tan Yue came forward with a shout, “So, Old Zhang, did you ever imagine, when you used to whip my backside, that this day would come?”

“You’re Tan Yue?” Old Zhang rubbed his eyes hard, feeling that nothing in his life had ever been so surprising.

“Heh, that’s right—your little tyrant Tan,” Tan Yue replied, proudly brandishing the grey hare.

Only now did Old Zhang notice the hare in Tan Yue’s hand. Of course, he immediately recognized it, but surrounded by such fierce bandits, how could he dare utter a word in protest? He merely grinned obsequiously, thoughts racing.

When the villagers had been taken by the bandits, everyone had assumed the worst. Families who lost grown men still held out some hope, but those who lost children quickly held hasty funerals and counted them gone.

Yet here were two of those lost children, alive and seemingly thriving among the bandits.

To rise from a village brat to a bandit chief—Old Zhang found it hard to take in.

“Enough, Tan Yue, go see to the rabbit. Huzi, roast your fish. Zhao Feng, order the men to eat quickly—if we linger, the mountain paths will be too treacherous at night.”

“Yes, sir!” the bandits chorused.

“Uncle Zhang, have a seat,” Hu San said with a smile, gesturing to the spot beside him. In mountain villages, everyone was connected by kin or clan, and by strict reckoning, Old Zhang truly was his uncle’s generation.

“Thank you, thank you,” Old Zhang said nervously, barely daring to sit.

He hadn’t recognized Hu San at all. For one, the youth’s bearing was unmistakably noble, and he dared not look at him too closely. For another, Hu San had changed almost beyond recognition.

With the strength of five men, his frame wasn’t bulky but radiated a keen, formidable energy that no ordinary man could possess. His inner energy had reached the first level, giving him a composed and unfathomable presence. Months of killing and danger had further forged his spirit—if a thousand hadn’t died by his hand, then at least eight hundred had. All this had reshaped the very core of the youth.

Lin Hu and Tan Yue, being with him daily, didn’t notice the difference, but to an outsider, Hu San’s transformation was astonishing.

That Old Zhang failed to recognize him was hardly surprising.