Chapter Eight: The Mountain Spirit

Dark clouds churned endlessly across the overcast sky. With a roll of thunder, a raindrop finally leapt from the heavy clouds, teetering in the howling wind before falling before Yu Ge.

At that moment, Yu Ge lay hidden in a thick patch of grass, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on a sika deer drinking from a puddle not far away, every bit the predator stalking its prey.

He had been watching this particular animal for quite some time and had no intention of letting it escape now.

Yet the weather was making him uneasy. If rain began to fall and the ground turned slick, his movements would be limited—one careless step and his quarry might slip away. Worse still, in this world rife with danger, the thickening clouds hastened the arrival of night, and the perils that lurked in darkness were something no hunter wished to face.

The deer continued to drink, lowering its head while keeping both ears pricked, alert to the slightest hint of danger, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.

Yu Ge knew he could never outrun it, so he had chosen a spot along the deer’s likely path, waiting for it to walk right into his trap.

In the past, he might not have dared to hunt such swift prey openly. He would have set a trap and waited patiently for the animal to fall in. But now, with a black-iron dagger in hand, he was emboldened to take a risk.

More raindrops fell. The deer, apparently satisfied, lifted its head, tore off a mouthful of fresh green grass, and began to stroll back along the water’s edge—directly toward Yu Ge’s hiding place.

As his prey approached, Yu Ge slowed his breathing, the sound of each breath growing fainter, until, when the deer was only a few paces away, he held his breath entirely.

Closer.

One step.

Two steps.

Now!

In a flash, Yu Ge sprang from the grass like an arrow loosed from a bow, his blade glinting coldly as he lunged, striking between the deer’s legs with deadly precision.

The assault was swift and merciless.

Startled by the sudden appearance of a human, the deer tried to flee, only to run straight into Yu Ge’s dagger. In that instant, terror filled its eyes; a chill and searing pain shot through its body, and it collapsed, legs thrashing, froth bubbling at its lips.

Yu Ge stepped forward and finished the job with another stroke. In a matter of moments, the creature was dead.

He eyed the bloodied black-iron dagger with some distaste, washing it over and over in the puddle until not a trace of blood remained before sliding it back into its sheath.

A deer with such an unblemished hide would fetch a handsome price.

Yu Ge walked back to the deer, nodding in satisfaction, when suddenly a chill crept up his spine—a sense of dread, as if something sinister were creeping closer.

He turned and gazed into the depths of the forest, where, in the shadowy gloom beneath the clouds, a strange, man-high mist was drifting silently among the trees.

Within that mist, it seemed, a pair of invisible eyes was fixed upon him.

Mountain wraith!

The word flashed through his mind.

A shiver ran down Yu Ge’s back.

Of all the monsters and ghosts, mountain wraiths were the most lowly—said to be formed from corpses steeped in yin energy for years. Even so, they were not something he could hope to withstand.

Normally, these creatures almost never appeared in daylight, and if they did, it was in the shadowed, misty mountains heavy with death. The townsfolk had grown familiar with this stretch of forest—apart from the occasional beast, it was considered safe. He had never expected to encounter such a thing here.

Zhao Zhiming had once told him, “If you ever run into a mountain wraith in the wild, don’t hesitate—just run!”

Yu Ge didn’t think twice. Snatching up the deer's carcass, he bolted, glancing back out of the corner of his eye to watch for movement.

The edge of the woods was not far from the open plain, and in moments Yu Ge broke from the trees. He glanced back again—no sign of the wraith.

But now was not the time to relax. He gasped for breath, hefted the deer onto his shoulder, and ran for the town.

Soon, the bloodstained, grime-streaked low wall came into view, and when he saw the massive stone stele standing two stories high at the town’s entrance, Yu Ge finally exhaled in relief.

The town’s defenses were reliable enough; the wraith would not pursue him here. Still, the memory of what had just happened sent a chill through his heart.

An ordinary man faced with a mountain wraith would have no chance of resistance.

A heavy spring rain began to pour, the rolling clouds smothering the sky in darkness, and a boundless cold swept in from the misty, blood-red mountains on the horizon.

Yu Ge hurried into the town, where the houses formed a barrier between him and the outside world. Only then did he notice a flicker of change within the constellation in his mind—an achievement had apparently been completed.

He didn’t claim the reward immediately, wary of any strange occurrence. He decided to take care of the deer first.

“Good catch today, Yu!” Old Luo, the bearded shopkeeper, greeted him with a grin. “A whole sika deer—now that’s something.”

He motioned for Yu Ge to lay the deer on the ground and squatted down to inspect it. After a brief look, he exclaimed, “Well now, this hide is in perfect condition! Your hunting skills have improved.”

Old Luo was genuinely surprised. Such a flawless hide was rare—these animals were fast and hard to catch, usually only trapped, and even then they often sustained injuries. To keep one so unblemished was quite a feat.

Either way, Yu Ge would be able to sell it to the merchants from Shanglin City for a good price.

As he examined the carcass, Old Luo nodded with satisfaction, but when his gaze drifted over the back half of the deer, he paused, his expression turning odd.

“This spot here?”

Yu Ge followed Luo’s gaze and immediately understood. “What’s wrong? Does it affect the sale?”

“It won’t be a problem.”

They agreed on a price, and Yu Ge left, feeling Old Luo’s strange gaze lingering on him.

Achievement: [A Ruthless Man]
Requirement: Recklessly tempt fate three times. Progress: 3/3.
Reward: Unknown. Can be claimed.
[Claim Reward]: Agility +5%.

Back home, Yu Ge wasted no time in claiming his reward, only to find that, unlike last time, this one seemed to enhance his physical constitution.

Agility—presumably, it increased his speed and reflexes, though he wasn’t sure exactly what a 5% boost would mean.

Still, it was a good reward. After all, true strength came from within; everything else was just an external aid.

As he pondered this, Yu Ge suddenly felt his blood surge and heat flow through his body. His muscles ached, as if from exhaustion after strenuous exercise.

But the sensation passed as quickly as it came, vanishing without a trace.

Yu Ge rolled up his sleeve and examined his arm. There was no obvious change, but when he squeezed his arm and thigh, he thought they felt a bit more solid.

Just then, a fly landed on the wooden table. Yu Ge reached out—swift as lightning—and caught it in his palm. He couldn’t recall ever snatching a fly with his bare hands so easily before; clearly, there had been some change.

Was this meant to make him run faster, so he could get into even more trouble?

Unbidden, Yu Ge thought of the gleaming boning knife in Big Zhao’s hand.

But then, why had he thought of Big Zhao again?