Volume One, Chapter Six: Innate Sights for Precision

Lin Hu watched as Black Egg ran off into the distance, finally feeling a weight lift from his heart. Earlier, when setting traps and restoring his strength, he’d needed Black Egg’s help. But now, he didn’t need it anymore. Black Egg had a blind grandmother at home, and he was only fourteen—he couldn’t let the boy take such risks. Besides, this was his own vendetta; how could he drag Black Egg into it?

This was his great grudge.

He had to avenge it with his own hands.

Soon, five figures appeared on the riverbank: Li Ermaitai, Ma Dalv, Erguaizi, and two others.

From afar, they spotted the campfire’s smoke but saw no sign of Lin Hu, and immediately unleashed a torrent of curses.

“Lin Dahu, you cowardly turtle! Where are you hiding? Come out and face your father if you have the guts! Don’t cower like some rat in a hole—show yourself and I’ll stick you through with this fork!”

“Lin Laojiu, look at you, scared out of your wits and hiding? What a joke!”

“Lin Hu, you spineless wretch! I know you’re lurking nearby. Don’t think you’re safe just because you’re hiding. Once I find you, I’ll smash your skull open with this pick handle.”

“Didn’t you think you were tough? Why are you hiding now? Wait till I catch you—I’ll break your legs and make sure you crawl for the rest of your life!”

…

At that moment, Lin Hu crouched low, eyes fixed on the approaching figures, his hands gripping the slingshot tightly as he tried to aim.

The first shot had to be perfect.

“Ten meters…”

“I’ll blow Li Ermaitai’s dog head apart.”

Li Ermaitai, holding a fishing spear, was the greatest threat—he had to go first. Next would be Li Da Ermaitai with the hoe. The rest would be easy.

“Fifteen meters.”

Lin Hu drew the slingshot taut, aiming straight at Li Ermaitai’s head, ready to fire at any moment.

They drew closer.

Li Ermaitai swung his spear, cursing, “Lin Dahu, get out here! Hiding in a corner—what’s that worth? If you dare lay a hand on my cousin, I swear if I don’t cripple you today, I’ll take your surname!”

Li Da Ermaitai, carrying a hoe, followed close behind, “You hit my brother! Today I’ll show you why the flowers are so red!”

Ma Erlv swung his pick handle menacingly. “Just wait, Lin Hu! If anything happens to my brother, your whole family pays!”

Ma Sanlv, not to be outdone, raised his heavy club. “He’s just a cowardly turtle! When I find him, I’ll smash his head open for sure!”

Erguaizi, limping and holding a brick, snarled, “Hit my boss, will you? Once I catch him, I’ll smash him to death with this brick!”

…

Not good!

Lin Hu, hidden among the willows, saw that they were about to stray off course like headless flies. He quickly made a sound to draw them back.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Ma Dalv’s pack of lapdogs!”

Then he instantly loaded his slingshot, ready to shoot.

…

Li Ermaitai, hearing this, turned purple with rage but couldn’t spot the source. He scanned the direction of the voice.

“Seems to be over here!”

“You bastard, don’t let us catch you or I’ll spear your head straight through!”

“Come out!”

“Stop hiding like a woman—makes me look down on you!”

…

At that instant, the group finally wandered into his range.

“You want to act tough?”

Lin Hu grinned inwardly.

Whoosh—

A mudball wrapped around a stone, its trajectory precise, struck Li Ermaitai squarely on the forehead.

Bang!

A blood-curdling scream. His vision went black, stars exploding before his eyes.

He clutched his head and sank to his knees, howling, “Damn it, you actually shot me…”

“They have slingshots!”

The others, realizing something was wrong, hurried to shield Li Ermaitai, who lay sprawled on the ground.

“Hurry, find out where he’s hiding!”

“Ah… I think I’m blind…”

“Second brother, are you okay?”

“Second brother!”

“I’m bleeding!”

“You bastard, you’re no man—attacking from the shadows like a coward!”

“If you’ve got guts, come out and fight me one-on-one!”

…

But their bravado seemed rather pathetic at this moment.

Because, just then, a hint sounded in Lin Hu’s mind.

[Your shot struck the enemy’s vital head area. Talent awakened: Precision.]

A notification window appeared before his eyes.

[Skill: Precision (Novice)]
[Proficiency: 5/100]
[Effect: None]

“This is possible?”

He barely had time to savor the moment when—

“There he is!”

Erguaizi shouted, pointing in Lin Hu’s direction.

“I see Huzi’s head!”

In a flash, the wounded Li Ermaitai, clutching his forehead, roared with fury, “Everyone, get him! There’s more of us, at worst we’ll take a couple more hits—kill him!”

With that, he charged forward recklessly.

“Tsk tsk tsk…”

“A bunch of idiots—come get your daddy!”

Lin Hu didn’t flinch; instead, he stood up, mocking them with a taunting smile.

“Screw you!”

Li Ermaitai, completely blinded by rage, charged with his spear—only to plant his foot squarely on a tall patch of foxtail grass.

In that instant, Lin Hu’s lips curled, shoulders shrugged, unable to watch.

Sure enough.

A loud snap—the steel trap clamped down hard on Ermaitai’s foot.

A scream tore through the air as he crashed to the ground, clutching his leg and wailing in agony.

…

[Your trap successfully caught an enemy. Hunting Trap skill proficiency +5!]

This scene made Lin Hu pause in surprise.

Huh?

An unexpected bonus—so proficiency could rise not only by catching animals, but people counted too.

Yes, humans were advanced animals, after all.

It seemed today’s haul would be more than he expected.

He loaded another shot into his slingshot, mouth twisted in scorn.

“Precision skill only needs 100 proficiency.”

“With these five living targets, I should be able to level it up.”

He couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“Ermaitai, look at you now, limping and lame! Still think you can take me on? You ought to take a look at yourself in a puddle—if you’ve got the guts, come at me!”

With his jeers, he raised his slingshot once more.

…

“Hang in there, brother!”

Li Da Ermaitai, frantic at his brother’s injury, joined forces with Ma Erlv to force open the trap.

By now, Li Ermaitai’s leg looked ghastly; the serrated jaws had torn the flesh of his calf, making it seem broken.

“Don’t worry about me, kill him!” he roared.

“Lin Hu, I’ll finish you today!”

Li Da Ermaitai charged at Lin Hu, hoe swinging.

Lin Hu, unhurried, aimed at the leader.

To his amazement, a crosshair appeared before his eyes, just like in a shooting game.

“My heavens!”

“You’ve finally opened your eyes!”

“With this miraculous talent, won’t hunting be like having a cheat code?”

“A built-in targeting reticle?”

“I can’t wait to see what happens when it levels up—this Spiritual Purification gave me two special effects.”

“Will Precision eventually give me a headshot lock?”