Qin Fang’s eyes flickered. ’How did that Wild Boar King fall from up there?’

Though he thought this, he didn’t say anything aloud.

The path was difficult, but only for Ordinary People. Needless to say, with Qin Fang’s skills, a slope like this was no challenge for him now.

Xiao Qi was surprisingly agile as well... He looked like he had formally trained in martial arts.

After watching for a moment, Qin Fang asked curiously, "Xiao Qi, have you trained in martial arts?"

Xiao Qi, walking ahead, immediately nodded. "Yes, I trained at the True Martial Boxing Hall for a year."

"What’s your Cultivation level?" Qin Fang raised an eyebrow.

"I don’t have a Cultivation level," Xiao Qi said, shaking his head. "I only trained for a year and just reached the entry-level for the Pile Method. To continue training, I would have had to keep paying. My family ran out of money, so I stopped."

Only then did Qin Fang understand.

He recalled that when he had first entered the city and was eating congee, the True Martial Boxing Hall had been recruiting students there.

"How much does it cost for you to train?" Qin Fang asked, a little curious.

"Before reaching the entry-level, it’s ten taels of silver a year. After entry-level, it’s fifty taels a year. Once you reach Mingjin, you don’t have to pay anymore. In fact, the boxing hall even provides resources every month... Those are called Inner Sect Disciples. Only then are you considered a true member of the hall and can use its name when you’re out and about."

Xiao Qi gave a brief but clear explanation.

Qin Fang understood.

Then he felt a twinge of annoyance... He hadn’t forgotten that on the day he entered the city, the True Martial Boxing Hall had quoted him a hundred taels of silver...

However, they had also promised to take care of his Identity papers.

Out of the hundred silver taels, eighty or ninety were probably for providing a place to stay...

Thinking of this, another matter suddenly occurred to him. He asked, "The head of the True Martial Boxing Hall... is his surname Chen?"

"Yes, the master’s surname is Chen."

"What... is his Cultivation?"

"The people at the hall say he’s a Huajin expert."

Huajin?!

Qin Fang’s heart leaped in surprise.

"Huajin?"

"Yes, that’s the rumor at the hall," Xiao Qi nodded. "But disciples like us never get to see him. Only Inner Sect Disciples have that chance. So I don’t know if it’s true."

"I heard he’s entered the Martial Arts Records?"

"Yes, that’s what everyone at the hall says too. But as for the specifics... I don’t know either."

Qin Fang’s gaze flickered.

A Huajin Martial Artist!

’Entered the Martial Arts Records...’

’So...’

’How exactly does one enter the Martial Arts Records?’

He was lost in thought.

"Master Qin, we’re here."

Qin Fang looked up at his words, and the view before him suddenly opened up.

Without realizing it, they had already climbed to the very summit of Old Ox Back!

Old Ox Back was extremely high, towering over the surrounding mountains. Looking out, the view was unobstructed. Green mountains stretched into the distance, and hawks soared amidst the blue sky and white clouds. Just standing here and taking in the sight made Qin Fang let out a long breath...

His spirit soared, and his mood brightened immensely!

’Even if I gain nothing else from this trip, just seeing this scenery makes the journey worthwhile.’

After admiring the landscape for a good while, Qin Fang let out another long breath... The air here was incredibly fresh, too.

Hearing faint panting behind him, Qin Fang turned to see that Xiao Qi’s forehead was beaded with sweat. He was clearly tired.

"Alright, you’ve worked hard. Take a rest."

Hearing this, Xiao Qi nodded and found a place to sit down.

Only then did Qin Fang begin to survey Old Ox Back...

Just as Xiao Qi had said, the summit was completely bare. There were no trees, only rocks—truly unsuitable for animals to inhabit.

’Then where did that Wild Boar King fall from to end up below Old Ox Back?’

Filled with curiosity, Qin Fang walked toward the cliff edge as he looked around.

The summit of Old Ox Back was actually quite large. He was still some distance from the cliff edge, but the ground in between was very flat.

He walked on and, before he knew it, arrived at the edge of the cliff.

Qin Fang peered down, and even he felt a little dizzy... The vertical drop was at least five or six hundred meters. Below, the dense forest looked somewhat intimidating.

He searched for a long time but found no clues. Shaking his head, he was about to turn back.

But suddenly, a gust of wind blew past, carrying a cloyingly sweet fragrance.

The sudden, strange scent made Qin Fang’s gaze sharpen. He quickly looked in the direction the fragrance was coming from.

The scent was wafting up from the edge of the cliff.

Qin Fang crouched down and searched carefully. A moment later, his eyes narrowed, focusing on a spot on the cliff face about forty or fifty meters below... There was a small cave there.

The cave was hidden by dense vegetation; you wouldn’t notice it without looking closely.

He crouched down and sniffed intently, trying to determine if the scent was coming from there.

But after sniffing for a long time, he couldn’t smell it.

’I don’t have a dog’s nose, after all.’

Just as he was frowning in thought, another gust of mountain wind blew past.

’This time, I smell it...’

’It’s definitely coming from there!’

’This fragrance...’

’It’s so cloying...’

’This is definitely not normal!’

’Could it really be some kind of Exotic Treasure?’

His eyes flickered.

’But that’s not right... If that thing is related to the Wild Boar King... how did the Wild Boar King get there?’

’It would be understandable if it were a mountain goat or something similar.’

’Can a creature like a wild boar walk on such a steep cliff?’

...Qin Fang frowned.

He thought for a long time but couldn’t recall any relevant knowledge.

’Fine, let’s assume a normal wild boar could do it.’

’But that Pig King weighed over a thousand jin!’

’Could something with that massive body manage it?’

Qin Fang’s eyes glinted as he narrowed them.

’...Could there be another path that leads there?’

But he soon let out a soft breath and stood up.

He glanced one more time at the cave from which the cloying scent emanated...

’No one is likely to discover this place anytime soon.’

’I only caught the scent by chance on the mountain wind.’

’I didn’t prepare properly today; I just came to scout the path.’

’Besides, Xiao Qi is still here.’

’It’s not a good time to reveal anything.’

’I’ll go back, prepare, and then come back to investigate properly.’

With these thoughts in mind, he turned to leave. Seeing Xiao Qi still resting on the large rock, he said to him, "Alright, let’s go."

At his words, Xiao Qi nimbly got to his feet. He didn’t ask what Qin Fang was doing here, simply replying, "Yes."

The two of them began to descend the mountain.

...Climbing a mountain is easy; descending is hard.

Qin Fang had never truly understood this saying before. He used to think, ’Climbing up is so strenuous, isn’t going down much easier? Aren’t they saying it backward?’

But at this moment, he finally understood... the ancients truly did not lie.

The mountains he had found easy to descend were ones with paths, or even stairs.

But a true, wild mountain was steep everywhere and had no paths.

When climbing up, it was easier to exert force, stay close to the mountain face, and maintain your center of gravity.

Descending, however, was not so easy. It was easy to lose your balance and fall.

Fortunately, no matter how difficult, it wasn’t a major problem for the current Qin Fang.

Xiao Qi was also clearly used to moving through the wilderness, his movements nimble.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they safely reached the bottom of the mountain.

Then, they set off on their return journey.

In the afternoon, the two of them returned safely to Fishermen’s.

Xiao Qi took his leave, and Qin Fang went home to begin his preparations.

He readied his Mountain-Cutting Saber, Iron Nails, Darts, and other supplies.

After careful consideration, he even took out the vial of Poison and added it to his preparations...

’A Wild Boar King appeared... who knows what else might show up?’

Early the next morning, Qin Fang entered the mountains alone.

’He had to see what was really in there.’