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Sweeping Through Demons with the System Chapter 005: Encounter with a Vicious Wolf
🕑 Added 2023-09-28 22:28:54 +0000 UTC
"Thank you for letting me know!" With a smile, Lu Shaolin expressed his gratitude to the shop assistant.
"Little brother, you're too polite. With your physique, joining a gang next year and securing an excellent background is a given," replied the shop assistant, dismissively waving his hands in a flattering manner.
Indeed, Lu Shaolin now boasted an impressive physique. Standing taller than 1.7 meters, he had achieved Great Success with the Three Extremities Spear, making his muscle definition even more prominent.
If not for his youthful face, it would be hard to believe he was under twenty years old.
Cupping his hands in a thankful gesture, Lu Shaolin smiled and said, "I accept your good wishes!"
Soon after, Lu Shaolin found himself deep in thought.
Joining a gang was one option, but there was also the imperial court to consider. True, the court offered internal cultivation techniques, yet in any world, securing a civil servant position was extremely challenging. Who wouldn't desire such a stable job?
Realizing he had neither power nor influence, Lu Shaolin dismissed the idea of the imperial court. He needed to focus on figuring out how to join a gang!
After half an hour of leisurely travel, basking in the early autumn sun, Lu Shaolin felt a warm contentment wash over him.
His eyelids grew heavier by the moment. Just as he was on the brink of dozing off, the big gray donkey suddenly emitted a mournful "aww," stopping in its tracks.
"A wolf... a wolf!" The shop assistant yelled in terror, pointing ahead.
In an instant, Lu Shaolin's drowsiness disappeared. Focusing his gaze, he spotted a gray wolf, about the size of a small calf, standing fifty meters ahead.
The gray wolf, its body marred by scars, stared intently at the big gray donkey, clearly sizing it up as prey.
The big gray donkey, in turn, was neighing and trying to make an about-face to flee. However, weighed down by a large cart, how could it possibly outpace the gray wolf?
"Li...little brother... what... what should we do?" stammered the shop assistant, clearly in a state of panic and at a loss for action.
"What else is there to do? We face it head-on! Drive the cart back half a mile; I'll handle this beast. I'll catch up with you later," Lu Shaolin said, his pearly white teeth revealed in a smile. He jumped off the cart and began to advance toward the gray wolf, step by step.
Urging a speedy escape, the shop assistant hastily whipped the donkey.
Lu Shaolin remembered that in his past memories, Lu Zhong had also hunted wolves, although none quite this large. At that time, Lu Zhong's spear technique had only reached the Small Success stage. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity to test the capabilities of his own spear technique, which had reached the Great Success stage!
Given the gray wolf's size and the scars marring its body, Lu Shaolin surmised it might be a defeated alpha wolf. Why it had ventured out of the forest and into this area was unclear.
With his long spear slanted toward the ground on his right, Lu Shaolin approached the gray wolf in an unhurried manner.
The gray wolf locked eyes with the advancing Lu Shaolin, then glanced back at the receding big gray donkey. With a sidelong leap, it aimed to bypass Lu Shaolin and pursue the donkey instead.
Its animal instincts warned it: this human was not to be trifled with!
As the gray wolf lunged to one side, attempting to bypass him, Lu Shaolin neatly sidestepped, once more blocking its path.
A momentary standoff between man and wolf ensued.
With one foot placed in front of the other, his knees slightly bent, Lu Shaolin maintained his posture. His long spear remained slanted to his right.
With its gaze fixed bloodthirstily on Lu Shaolin, the gray wolf started to snarl, unveiling its sharp fangs.
Then, propelling itself forward with a powerful push from its hind legs, it lunged through the air toward him!
Lu Shaolin's eyes narrowed. Summoning a sudden burst of strength in his arms, he swung down his spear with a "whoosh," executing the 'Falling Star' move.
Demonstrating its former alpha status, the gray wolf twisted its body in mid-air to evade the overhead strike. It landed to Lu Shaolin's right and began to circle him slowly.
Gently turning, Lu Shaolin made sure to always keep his face toward the gray wolf.
After completing two circles, Lu Shaolin abruptly lunged forward. "Water Severing!" he shouted, sweeping his long spear horizontally.
Crouching on all fours, the gray wolf leapt backward to evade the sweeping attack. Seizing the moment while it was still airborne, Lu Shaolin swiftly changed his technique.
Taking a large stride forward, he drew back his spear.
"Piercing Sky!" His spear tore through the air, impaling the gray wolf's neck in a split second. Blood immediately flowed down the spear's shaft.
The gray wolf hit the ground with a "thud," its panting heavy and its breath increasingly feeble.
With a "splat," Lu Shaolin withdrew his long spear.
Blood from the wolf spurted forth.
The light in the gray wolf's eyes gradually faded. After a few twitches, it lay motionless.
"Phew~," Lu Shaolin slowly exhaled.
Though he had faced life-and-death situations in his previous life, this marked his first time in hand-to-hand combat with a wild beast. While it may have appeared straightforward, it had been both mentally and physically taxing.
Crouching down, he touched the wolf's lifeless body. No alerts came from the system, leaving Lu Shaolin somewhat disappointed. It appeared that only demons and similar beings could increase his Origin Points.
Swinging his long spear twice to shake off the blood, Lu Shaolin quickly turned and retraced his steps.
He had to traverse a full mile before he could catch up with the donkey cart.
The shop assistant had managed to cover an impressive distance in such a brief time—quite surprising!
"Little brother? Are you alright?" the shop assistant exclaimed when he saw Lu Shaolin.
His expression quickly turned fearful as he glanced behind Lu Shaolin.
"Don't worry, I've slain the wolf," Lu Shaolin assured him, wearing a slight smile.
"You killed it? A gray wolf that large? Little brother, you're truly incredible!" The shop assistant was awestruck and dumbfounded.
"I'm a hunter by trade and had the right weapon with me. It's really not that big of a deal," Lu Shaolin said, waving his hand dismissively as he sat next to the shop assistant.
"Let's move on; it's time to head back."
"Alright, little brother, hold on tight! Go!" Filled with excitement, the shop assistant whipped the donkey, and the large gray donkey resumed its forward movement.
Soon enough, the donkey cart reached the location where the gray wolf's body lay.
Jumping off the cart, the shop assistant circled the wolf's lifeless form, clicking his tongue in astonishment. Though he resided in the county town and had often heard stories about monsters and spirits, he had never actually encountered one himself.
This marked the first time he had seen a wolf of such considerable size.
"Let me help you lift the wolf onto the cart, little brother," the shop assistant offered with enthusiasm.
With a smile, Lu Shaolin and the shop assistant collaborated to hoist the fifty-kilogram wolf onto the donkey cart.
"With skills like yours, little brother, you're sure to be among the top candidates when the gang recruits new members next year," the shop assistant declared, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Mm, let's concentrate on reaching our destination for now," Lu Shaolin nodded, reminding him.
"Alright," the shop assistant said as he climbed back onto the donkey cart.
With a single stride, Lu Shaolin also ascended.
The donkey cart resumed its journey, making its way toward Panshan Village.
"Little brother, I still don't know your name. I'm Li Cai," the shop assistant offered his own name.
"I'm Lu Shaolin!"
"That's a fine name. From now on, you'll be Little Brother Lu to me."
"Either name is fine."
...
As they journeyed, the two engaged in casual conversation. Another half-hour later, the donkey cart reached the village entrance.
By that time, it was already noon. Villagers were either eating their meals or taking the chance to rest.
The donkey cart proceeded slowly, heading towards Lu Shaolin's home, which was just around the corner from the upcoming fork in the road.
"Yo~ Isn't this Li Family's little miss? Haven't seen you for a while; you've filled out quite a bit! Look at that rear! Come here and let your big brother show you some love!" A lewd voice sounded just as they arrived at the fork in the road.
Lu Shaolin looked up to see two men sitting at the entrance to his home.
One had a pointy mouth and cheeks resembling a monkey, with a lanky and tall build.
The other was burly, with a face marked by fierce lines.
Upon reflection, Lu Shaolin identified them as local ruffians: Li Sanbao and Wu Cheng.
Wu Cheng was the nephew of the village chief's wife, and had been idling around in Panshan Village for the past three years.
Li Sanbao was no different; he was a loner who idled his days away.
The pair had joined forces, mostly harassing young women or partaking in minor thefts and mischief.
Regrettably, Wu Cheng had some combat abilities, making him a formidable opponent for the average villagers. In deference to the village chief's standing and due to Wu Cheng's persistent harassment, most residents chose to maintain a cautious peace.
His own household was the exception—the only one these two had not dared to disturb. Lu Zhong, after all, was a skilled hunter who exceeded Wu Cheng in abilities, so both parties had steered clear of each other.
With a resounding "bang," the young lady from the Li Family, previously hassled by the duo, quickly shut the courtyard door as she clutched a wooden basin.
"Hahahaha!" The two men erupted into uproarious laughter.
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