Free Web NovelChapter 13: Chapter 13: Striking it Rich
Zhou Feng, having just been saved from the tiger’s jaws by Xie Yuan, was still shaken.
He sat on the ground, staring blankly at the motionless tiger carcass for a long moment before a shudder ran through him. He turned his head and said with immense gratitude:
"Thank you, thank you so much..."
’To think that it was Xie Yuan who saved me in the end!’
’It’s a good thing Brother Zhu brought him along. I never would have guessed he was so skilled.’
’His axe was as fast as a lightning strike and terrifyingly powerful. It nearly split the tiger in two...’
Zhu Dongming rushed forward. Seeing that both of them were okay, he let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness you’re alright. Yuanzi, we really have you to thank for this."
The shock in his eyes had yet to fade as he couldn’t help but look Xie Yuan up and down.
’I had a feeling this kid was ruthless and bold, and pretty handy with an axe, which is why I asked him to help in the first place...’
’But I never expected this! He wasn’t just ’handy’—he was downright ferocious!’
’To nearly cleave a tiger in two with a single blow... Where did he get that kind of strength?’
Zhu Dongming couldn’t figure it out, but he was glad he’d brought Xie Yuan along. Otherwise, they all might have met their end here today.
Zhou Feng nodded repeatedly.
"That’s right! Brother Yuan saved my life!"
Even though he was several years older than Xie Yuan, his use of "Brother Yuan" was filled with genuine and heartfelt sincerity.
Xie Yuan shook his head.
"Since we came together, we’re all in this together. It was only right that I did my part."
’Although, my initial thought was that it’d be best not to get involved at all...’ But he couldn’t just stand by and watch a companion be killed by a tiger.
The tiger had conveniently presented its side to him, so Xie Yuan had acted decisively.
With his newfound confidence and having now drawn blood, Xie Yuan felt he had become much more resolute.
Just then, Chen Yun came over, supporting Wu the Fourth.
"Wu the Fourth has a broken bone, but he can still walk."
Wu the Fourth gave a wry smile.
"My life’s cheap... COUGH. I won’t die."
He had a sturdy build; it was just a broken arm and some internal bruising from the impact, nothing fatal.
Of course, given the medical conditions in a mountain village, an injury like this could be considered half a death sentence.
Chen Yun sighed.
"If it weren’t for Xiaoxie, I’m afraid things would’ve turned out much differently."
Wu the Fourth nodded in deep agreement, and he and Chen Yun both turned their appraising gazes on Xie Yuan.
’The kid looks so skinny and pale, just a pretty face. How can he be so ferocious with an axe? Is this some kind of reverse-psychology thing with handsome guys?’
The hunters all gathered around Xie Yuan, staring intently. Any doubts they’d had about Zhu Dongming bringing him along had vanished, replaced by sheer relief.
After splinting Wu the Fourth’s broken arm with a few branches, the men gathered around the tiger, their eyes gleaming.
What a massive tiger!
They were rich!
Although the most valuable part—the pelt—was damaged by the axe blow, it could still be stitched up. There were plenty of wealthy patrons who would want it. Besides, their attempt to get a perfect pelt was what nearly got them all wiped out. Having narrowly escaped with their lives, no one was about to complain.
Even if the pelt wasn’t in perfect condition, there was still the meat, the paws, the Tiger Bones... and, wait... it was a male!
A wave of excitement washed over the men. This particular treasure, when steeped in wine, was rumored to restore a man’s virility. The wealthy masters in the city, whose bodies were spent, would surely not be stingy with their silver!
Xie Yuan’s heart pounded with excitement as well—not for the tiger’s penis, of course, but because selling this tiger would surely fetch several dozen taels of silver.
’Would his share be ten taels?’
The hunters fashioned a carrying pole from a tree trunk, hoisted the tiger, and excitedly carried it down the mountain.
Xie Yuan couldn’t help but sidle up to Zhu Dongming and ask in a low voice:
"Brother Zhu, how much silver do you think this tiger will sell for?"
Zhu Dongming pondered for a moment before replying:
"The penis and the pelt should each fetch over ten taels. The rest is harder to say, but maybe another ten or twenty taels all together. In total, perhaps just under fifty taels? I’ve only ever seen others sell one, so it’s just a rough estimate."
Fifty taels!
In this mountain village, fifty taels was an absolute fortune, an astronomical sum! It was enough for many people to live on for a lifetime.
The crucial thing was, fifty taels split five ways meant exactly ten taels for him. He just didn’t know if Zhu Dongming would give him a bigger cut, considering he hadn’t done much until the very end...
Just then, Zhu Dongming spoke.
"Yuanzi, half the credit for this goes to you. I’ve already asked the others, and they all think you should get a larger share of the Silver Coins."
"Really? I... How could I accept that?"
Hearing this, Xie Yuan could barely suppress a smile, but he still rubbed his hands together in a show of false modesty.
Zhou Feng came up and said:
"Brother Yuan, you saved my life! What’s there to be embarrassed about? I don’t want any other part of the share, just give me the big bones. I’ll have my dad forge you a new axe as a thank-you gift!"
The tiger’s bones were tough, and Xie Yuan’s powerful swings had chipped his old logging axe. He’d been feeling a bit pained about that. As it turned out, Zhou Feng was quite perceptive—offering to get him a new axe! freewebnσvel.cѳm
"Well, in that case, thank you so much."
’These guys really get it!’
Zhu Dongming took the opportunity to speak with Xie Yuan again in a low voice.
"Yuanzi, you’re a tiger-slaying hero now. Even if people find out about... you know... you were also getting rid of a menace for the people. Of course, I’ll take this secret to my grave and never speak of it. I just want to put your mind at ease. From now on, we’re all on the same side."
Xie Yuan nodded slightly. ’That makes sense,’ he thought.
’Is Zhu Dongming trying to show his goodwill?’
But he said aloud:
"We killed the tiger together. Brother Zhu, you and the others were the leaders."
Zhu Dongming nodded slightly. He understood Xie Yuan’s meaning.
’This kid... so young, yet he doesn’t like to show off.’
’He’s got tough skills and a sharp mind. It looks like our Little Stone Village is about to produce a real character.’
’Good thing I’ve been on good terms with him...’
As the sun was setting, the men carried the tiger into the village.
"Heavens, what are they carrying!"
The villagers’ excitement instantly exploded. In those days, killing a tiger was a major event!
Moreover, many of the villagers lived off the mountain and had been living in fear for a long time. Now, they were all overcome with excitement.
The village chief immediately had people beat gongs and drums and play suonas, instructing the men to parade the tiger on a tour around the village.
Aside from Wu the Fourth, who had gone home to recuperate, the entire village turned out to watch the spectacle, getting a good look at each of the village’s tiger-slaying heroes.
However, there was clearly one person in the group who took them by surprise.
"Is that... Xie Yuan, the boy from the Xie family?"
"It is Yuanzi! Wasn’t everyone saying he was about to starve to death? How is he hunting tigers?"
"After Xie Lun left, Xiaoxie was getting bullied every day. Now he’s with Zhu Dongming’s crew and has finally gotten his backbone! He’s even hunting tigers!"
"Actually, I heard that Li Mazi and Zheng Laitou were recently dealt with by Xie Yuan..."
"No kidding. If he can kill a tiger, what’s dealing with a few toads? That’s a piece of cake, right?"
Zhang the Second stood with his cronies at the edge of the crowd, his expression shifting.
’How did this kid end up killing a tiger with Zhu Dongming?’
’Is he that good at playing the situation to his advantage?’
Watching as the villagers chanted Xie Yuan’s name, his reputation soaring as he transformed from a poor woodcutter into a tiger-slaying hero, Zhang the Second was suddenly filled with regret.
"I should’ve had my big brother come back and take care of that tiger. Now this has gotten complicated..."
Li Lan saw Xie Yuan’s disheveled state and was both excited and filled with lingering fear.
"Yuanzi! So you really went to hunt a tiger! You’ve really made something of yourself! If Brother Lun knew, he’d be so happy...
"Sigh, but why would you do something so dangerous? Don’t do it again. If something happened to you, how could I ever face your brother?"
Xie Yuan just chuckled. He never would have gone if he wasn’t confident he could handle it.
’Thankfully, the power of my axe strikes was even greater than I imagined...’
With this, he should have enough money for his martial arts training. He just had to wait for Zhu Dongming and the others to sell the tiger.
Xie Yuan felt this trip had been well worth it.
But now that he had a moment of leisure, he replayed the tiger hunt in his mind and recalled the scene of the tiger lying beneath the tree.
’It really seemed to be full of Spiritual Qi. There are quite a few good trees in that area. I should find some time to go back and check it out.’
A few days later, while Xie Yuan was resting at home, a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK sounded at his door.
"Yuanzi, the tiger’s been sold! I’ve brought your silver!"
