novellaaa Chapter 234 Hunting Matsutake Pigs
Chapter 234 Hunting Matsutake Pigs
Chapter 234 Hunting Matsutake Pigs
He first scooped a large lump of thick, earthy, dark brown paste from the jar with his hands, then mixed it with several powders and carefully applied it to Li Ang's exposed skin.
The ointment dried quickly, forming a film on his body with a rough, leather-like texture. Then, old Zeno took out some fluffy animal hair and a small jar of special glue and began to treat Li Ang's hair and face.
The whole process was a bit itchy, but Li Ang endured the discomfort and tried to remain still. Finally, old Zeno gestured for Li Ang to change into an old set of leather armor and a hooded cloak next to him.
After dressing up, Old Zeno took out an inconspicuous small ceramic bottle and handed it to Li Ang.
Li Ang opened the stopper, revealing a clear liquid inside that smelled of earth, the odor of some wild animal, and a spicy aroma.
Old Zeno gestured for Li Ang to apply the special liquid to his wrists, the back of his neck, and other areas. Li Ang did not say anything and simply did as instructed.
"Alright," Mia circled around the disguised Li Ang twice, sniffing carefully before nodding.
"Your appearance is almost there, and your scent is about 70-80% masked. As long as you don't get too close, or encounter werewolves or canine beastmen with exceptionally keen senses of smell, you should be able to fool them. Remember, to outsiders you're Ah Huang the dog-headed man, so talk less and do more."
Li Ang, disguised as a kobold, felt a bit of novelty. He stretched his body, tested the range of motion of the leather armor, and then replied, "Understood, Mia."
After leaving the house, Mia led Li Ang away from the complicated tunnel they had come through, and instead chose another narrow passage.
The path wound its way uphill, and after walking for about half an hour, we heard a faint sound of wind and the fresh scent of plants ahead.
Mia gestured for Leon to walk quietly, while she, like a real cat, almost silently crept to the exit, cautiously observing the outside for a moment before beckoning him over.
The exit was disguised as an inconspicuous crevice in the tree roots, outside of which lay a forest slightly different from what Li Ang had imagined.
Light filters through the exceptionally dense, shimmering, enormous leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow.
The air here is humid, and the concentration of magic is higher than outside. The creatures that roam the forest also feel somewhat unfamiliar to him.
In the distance, there were some animals that looked like wild boars, but with huge mushrooms growing on their backs.
The brightly colored birds in the trees have three heads and can sing together on their own.
He even caught a glimpse of a winged, deer-like creature flying away from above him into the distance.
"The magical beasts here seem different from those outside?" Li Ang asked in a low voice.
Mia crouched behind a clump of giant ferns, her ears twitching warily. She pursed her lips at the words, "Of course it's different. After all, the ecosystem here is completely self-contained. Legend has it that many creatures here were nurtured or guided to evolve by elves using magic. Be careful; some seemingly harmless things might be more troublesome than the ferocious beasts outside."
She paused, her tone becoming serious.
"And remember the most important thing: when hunting, you must be vigilant and attentive! Everything in this world is, in theory, the property of the elves," just like the wild beasts and magical creatures here—they are all part of the "ecological balance" they maintain. We poachers, once discovered by the elven patrols, will be driven away and whipped at best, and killed on the spot at worst! They won't listen to your explanations about being hungry."
Li Ang's heart skipped a beat. He nodded and quietly activated the [Precognition Ring], while also projecting his mental energy outward to guard against any potential dangers.
After all, here, the danger comes not only from potential beasts, but also from those high above who regard them as ants.
"Stay close to me," Mia whispered, crouching low and silently disappearing into the depths of the forest like a real big cat.
She chose an extremely treacherous route, making full use of the terrain and vegetation for cover, sometimes standing still to observe, and sometimes quickly crossing open areas.
Li Ang tried his best to keep up. His physical fitness and mental perception far exceeded those of ordinary people, but compared to Mia, a cat-person who was a natural hunter and whose reaction speed was seven times that of ordinary people, his movements were obviously not good enough in the eyes of the other party.
Before they had gone far, Mia couldn't help but turn back, glaring at him with a look of utter disappointment. Then, with a hint of disdain, she said, "Take it easy, watch your step before you land on the bare branches, and watch your shadow. Be mindful of the sun's angle, don't cast your dog-head shadow onto the bare ground ahead. Ugh, you're so clumsy!"
Li Ang could only smile wryly to himself and adjust as instructed. He thought he was being careful enough, but in front of Mia, he still seemed a bit clumsy.
He had to concentrate more and pour more mental energy into the [Precognition Ring], thus extending the precognition time from one second to two seconds.
He immediately pictured the loose fallen leaves he might step on and the thorny vines he might brush against in the next few steps, and adjusted his footing and posture accordingly, which indeed made much less noise.
After walking for a while, Mia glanced back at Li Ang. Her furry ears twitched slightly. She didn't say anything more, but her tense shoulders seemed to have relaxed a lot, indicating that she had initially accepted Li Ang.
After sneaking along for about fifteen minutes, they heard rustling sounds coming from the bushes ahead. Mia immediately crouched down, signaling Li Ang to stop. She peered through the leaves for a moment, a glint of excitement in her eyes, and whispered to Li Ang, "Good luck, it's a matsutake pig. These things are fierce; their tusks can easily pierce through leather armor, but the matsutake mushrooms on their backs and their own meat—tsk, a rare delicacy."
She licked her lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Don't move yet, watch carefully how I hunt."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mia darted out like lightning, her movements so fast they almost left a blur, and pounced on the wild boar, which was as big as a calf and was rooting around for fungi.
Mia lunged from the side and rear, preparing to use her weight and momentum to lock her throat. However, the matsutake pig's reaction was far beyond expectations. Just as Mia was about to touch its neck, it suddenly swung its head, and its thick tusks swept towards Mia's waist and abdomen with a whooshing sound!
Mia twisted her body in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack, but her steps faltered upon landing. Startled, the matsutake pig let out a muffled roar and kicked off the ground, trying to escape into the depths of the dense forest.
Seeing that his prey was about to escape, Li Ang didn't have time to think. His wand slid out from his sleeve and pointed at the air.
Water Binding Technique!
Several streams of azure water, like living ropes, suddenly condensed from the moisture seeping from the ground and precisely wrapped around the four hooves and torso of the matsutake pig.