All Heavens Strategy Game

After finishing the meal, I still felt warm all over, but my fatigue only intensified.

Su Ming did not rest. He carefully wrapped up the longest and stiffest feathers plucked from the pheasant's tail and wings, put them in his pocket, and went out again.

The snow was still falling, but the intensity had decreased, turning from a violent downpour into a fine, misty flake.

He walked through the crunching snow to Su Shunfa's house.

Su Shunfa had just finished clearing the dishes when he saw him coming at this time. He was a little surprised and quickly invited him into the house.

"Uncle Shunfa, I'm troubling you again." Su Ming opened the cloth bag, revealing the colorful and tough pheasant feathers inside.

"Could you help me make these into arrow fletchings? Also, I'd like to learn the craft of arrow making from you."

"Oh, this is top-quality pheasant feather, much better than ordinary chicken feathers, perfect for making arrow fletching!" Su Shunfa picked up a feather, looked at it under the oil lamp, and praised it.

He didn't hold back either, rummaging through the house to find some half-finished arrow shafts, fish glue, thin thread, and other items, while explaining to Su Ming:

"When making arrow fletching, the key is to be 'stable' and 'even'."

"Choose these three longest and straightest ones, and glue them to the groove at the end of the arrow shaft with fish glue. Make sure they are glued straight, not crooked, otherwise the arrow will spin when it flies out."

"Once it's glued on, you need to wrap it tightly with thin thread and wait for the glue to dry completely before it's considered secure."

"The length and width of the arrow fletching also affect the arrow's range and accuracy. You have to experiment to find the one that suits you best..."

Su Ming listened intently, memorizing the key points one by one.

After Su Shunfa finished demonstrating one arrow, and he understood the general situation, he slowly spoke, his tone becoming serious: "Uncle Shunfa, there's no rush to make arrows. I've come here this time because there's something more important, and I need you and the village to keep a close eye on it."

"Oh? What's wrong?" Su Shunfa put down his work when he saw his serious expression.

"I encountered wolves in the mountains." Su Ming's voice was steady, but each word was clear. "Not one, but three. The leader was a silver-white wolf king, as big as a calf."

Su Ming gave a brief description of the wolf king's appearance.

Su Shunfa's smile froze instantly, and he almost dropped the feather in his hand.

Wolf King?

Is there really a wolf king?

A wolf king over three meters tall?!

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He just stared intently at Su Ming, as if trying to see any trace of a joke on his face.

"The Wolf King? He really came? And you ran into him?" His voice was a little dry. "Three...you...how could you..."

"By sheer luck, we managed to scare them away using the terrain and our bows and arrows." Su Ming glossed over the details of the hunt and the fight, but focused on describing the wolf king's terrifying size, the wolf pack's cunning, and that their likely range had already approached the southern part of Xiaochongshan.

"Uncle Shunfa, we need to let the village know about this as soon as possible."

"Especially, we must keep a close eye on each family's children, and prevent them from playing in the woods near the mountains on snowy days."

"Ideally... we could set up some simple barricades at the village entrance and several key intersections, and have more people patrol and beat gongs at night."

"A starving wolf will do anything. Don't let the villagers get carried away."

Su Shunfa was terrified, and a fine layer of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Looking at the boy who was only thirteen years old, and listening to him recount his experiences in such a calm tone that they would make any old hunter's legs go weak, he was deeply shocked.

One man, with only a bow and a sword, faced three vicious wolves, including the terrifying wolf king. Not only was he not torn to pieces, but he even forced them back and returned safely... What courage, skill, and luck that requires!

"Saburo..."

Su Shunfa let out a heavy sigh.

He patted Su Ming's shoulder hard.

My hands were trembling slightly.

"You...you really...I don't know what to say!"

"Normally, if four or five of us old buddies were to suddenly run into the wolf king in a place like that, it would be a miracle if one or two of us escaped!"

"You actually... Sigh, I'm impressed, I'm truly impressed! I'm ashamed of myself!"

Putting aside the wolf king incident, even hunting sheep was something none of them could do, yet Su Ming managed to do it, leaving Su Shunfa completely convinced.

Su Ming shook his head, his expression still calm: "It's nothing, just luck. It's a pity that we still didn't find the hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum this time we went into the mountains." There was a hint of regret in his tone.

After giving him a detailed explanation of the precautions against being attacked by wolves, Su Ming took his leave.

Su Shun escorted him to the door.

I stood there for a long time, watching the boy's steady figure disappear into the snowy night.

The last trace of doubt that had lingered in my mind because of the other person's youth completely vanished, leaving only deep admiration and lingering fear.

It passed away overnight.

The next day,

The raging snowstorm, which had lasted for many days, finally showed signs of fatigue.

Although the sky remained overcast, the snow had turned into scattered flakes, and the wind had calmed down considerably.

The snow on the ground was deep, but it no longer hindered the journey.

Su Ming got up early and loaded the two frozen goats onto the donkey cart he had borrowed from the village chief.

Some dry straw was laid in the carriage to prevent the sheepskin from being damaged.

He drove his cart, crunching over the still-unswept snow in the village, and creaked and groaned as he drove onto the official road leading to Linjiang County.

The wheels left two deep ruts in the snow, winding their way out of the mountains.

...

...

Linjiang County Town.

Wang's Ironwood Shop.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, dispelling the chill that seeped in through the cracks in the door, but it couldn't dispel the worry etched on the brow of the landlord, Wang Fugui.

He sat in the armchair behind the counter, holding a list in his hand, which listed the names and brief details of the hunters he had commissioned in the past few days, all of whom had returned in failure.

"Sigh..." He sighed, tossed the list onto the table, and rubbed his temples.

Shop assistant Wang Tielei was sweeping the shelves with a feather duster when he saw this and came over and whispered:

"Master, please don't worry too much."

"That old goat is already hard to catch, and with this kind of snow-covered mountain weather, let alone the hunters, even the mountain spirits would probably be too lazy to move."

"Failure is to be expected."

Wang Fugui picked up the half-cooled tea and took a sip, the bitterness spreading on his tongue: "That makes sense, but they're pushing so hard over there..."

"This 'goat treasure' is elusive and depends entirely on luck. I've cast a wide net for so long, but I haven't even seen a decent piece of old goat hair, let alone any treasure. If this drags on any longer, this deal might fall through."

He rubbed his temples, pondering whether he should raise the reward further or seek out more experienced old hunters in the deep mountains from more distant prefectures and counties, when he heard the familiar creaking sound of donkey cart wheels crushing the snow outside the shop.

Wang Tielei, with his keen ears, immediately put down the duster, put on a professional smile, and went to the door to greet them.

Seeing that it was Su Ming, he wondered to himself, "Could it be that this young man Su has come to buy some new stuff again? Is the bowstring broken? Or is the blade dull?"

The curtain was lifted, and Su Ming walked in, exuding a chill, with unmelted snowflakes still clinging to his shoulders.

"Brother Su, you've arrived? But..." Wang Tielei stopped mid-sentence.

His eyes widened as he stared intently at Su Ming's back—in the back of the simple donkey cart parked in front of the shop, there lay two large, grayish-brown lumps!

That shape, those curves...

Wang Tielei suddenly turned to look at Su Ming, stammering, "Brother Su... what's behind your car...?"

Su Ming didn't answer. He just turned around, walked to the back of the car, grabbed the frozen goat horns with both hands, and with a forceful pull, dragged the two heavy old goats off one after the other and threw them heavily onto the clean stone slab ground in front of the shop.

"Thump! Thump!"

The dull thud of the impact seemed to strike Wang Tielei's heart.

He stared blankly at the two goats on the ground, their bodies still recognizable as strong and muscular even in their frozen state.

An old goat?!

He really caught them?! And two of them?!

Wang Fugui, who was behind the counter, was also startled by the commotion. He frowned, got up, and walked over.

When his gaze fell on the two gray but distinctly shaped goat carcasses on the ground, he stopped abruptly, and the worry on his face was instantly replaced by astonishment.

He strode forward, disregarding even his manners, squatted down, and carefully touched the cold sheepskin. He pried open the sheep's mouth to check the wear on its teeth and repeatedly examined its curved horns.

The more he examined the object, the more astonished he became, eventually turning into undisguised shock.

This is truly an old goat! In excellent condition!

He raised his head and looked at Su Ming, who was standing quietly to the side. The young man's face was expressionless, with only a hint of weariness from the long journey.

Only a few days? I've been casting a wide net for over a month, looking for so many self-proclaimed experienced hunters, and they've all come away empty-handed.

This young man had just bought a bow a few days ago, and in the blink of an eye, on this snowy day, he had brought back two old goats that met his requirements, all by himself.

Wang Fugui suppressed the turmoil in his heart and forced his voice to sound calm: "Brother Su... this... is this really what you hunted?"

"Just lucky," Su Ming said succinctly.

"I wonder... if it's convenient to disclose, how did you hunt it? That cliff at Eagle's Beak is notoriously dangerous." Wang Fugui couldn't contain his curiosity and asked.

After asking, he regretted it a little. How could he easily reveal a hunter's best skills?

Unexpectedly, Su Ming glanced at him and calmly replied, "Use salt."

"Salt?" Wang Fugui was taken aback.

"Yes, shoot the salt packs up the ice cliffs that are sixty or seventy meters high to scare away the sheep, then hide and wait."

"Sheep love salt and will come back to lick it. Wait until they relax their guard, choose the right angle, and shoot an arrow at the lead sheep on the high place, so that it will fall down and knock down the sheep below." Su Ming said it simply, as if it were a glass of plain water.

Wang Fugui and Wang Tielei were dumbfounded.

Using salt to lure the enemy?

First, they shot salt up a cliff sixty or seventy meters high?

Then, in the heavy snow, they lay in ambush and waited for nearly an hour.

Do we also need to calculate the angle to trigger a chain reaction of falls with a single arrow?

Each of these steps sounds so simple, but upon closer inspection, they are all incredibly difficult!

Especially the "salting salt up a cliff sixty or seventy meters high," where the salt packs had to be made to break at the designated spot...

What terrifying arm strength, accuracy, and bow power that would require?

For an ordinary hunter, a single stone bow is already at its limit when fired horizontally at a distance of 60 or 70 meters, let alone when fired upwards. Moreover, it requires precise control of the landing point.

Wang Fugui suddenly remembered that Wang Tielei had reported that the boy had bought a black horn bow with a price of three shi (a unit of weight).

That's it!

He looked at Su Ming's calm and composed face, and a huge wave of emotions surged within him.

This young man not only possesses the strength to draw a three-stone bow, but also the patience to execute complex plans in harsh environments, precise archery skills, and a calm mind!

Those seemingly simple conditions—"three-stone bow", "precise high-angle shooting", and "long-term lurking in the snow"—became insurmountable barriers that eliminated almost all hunters!

Especially in snowy and icy weather, which affects performance, the hunter's strength is reduced by more than half. Even so, the boy still managed to do it!

What a remarkable young man who keeps his talents hidden!

Wang Fugui had no more doubts; all that remained was deep amazement and a sense of relief—relief that he hadn't misjudged the situation and had extended an olive branch in time.

He also understood that the reason the other party was willing to tell him the method of hunting sheep, but was not afraid of others knowing it, was because even if others knew it, they would not be able to do it at all!

His face instantly broke into an extremely warm smile, and he stepped aside to gesture, "Young Brother Su, please come inside! It's freezing outside! Tie Lei, quickly carry these two sheep to the backyard, be careful!"

The two carried the sheep into the backyard.

Wang Fugui led Su Ming into the inner room and personally poured him a cup of hot tea.

"Manager Wang, does our agreement stand?"

"The agreement you made earlier, young man, will naturally stand." Wang Fugui sat down with a beaming smile. "After I verify it, I will pay you as agreed."

After receiving Su Ming's approval, Wang Fugui personally took charge of the procedure.

With practiced skill, he cut open the sheep's belly while saying something that seemed to ease the tension and also served as a heads-up for himself:

"This 'goat treasure' is extremely rare."

"First, the goat must live long enough to graze on all kinds of grasses;"

"Secondly, it requires a coincidence that the medicinal properties become stagnant and do not dissipate within the body."

Ultimately, it all depends on whether God is on your side.

"Young man, you've been incredibly lucky to hunt two old sheep that meet the requirements. Even without that 'treasure,' the medicinal properties of these two old sheep are far greater than those of ordinary sheep. Five taels of silver per sheep, I, Wang, will not skimp on the price."

Su Ming nodded to indicate that he understood, his expression remaining largely unchanged as he simply watched quietly.

There was nothing unusual inside the first sheep's abdomen.

Wang Fugui remained calm and continued processing the second one.

When his blade sliced ​​through a certain area, his movements suddenly stopped, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

He carefully used the tip of his knife to pry open the fat and internal organs, and took out a piece the size of a pigeon egg, irregularly oval, covered with a waxy substance, and yellowish-brown in color.

It feels slightly heavy in the hand, and has a faint, indescribable herbal scent.

Wang Fugui's hands were trembling slightly. He carefully held the object in his palm, examined it closely in the light from the window, gently scratched the surface with his fingernail, and then brought it close to his nose to smell it.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh of relief, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy!

"A goat's baby...it really is a goat's baby!"

"Although it's not the largest, and its quality is only average, it's undoubtedly genuine!"

He turned to Su Ming, his voice trembling with excitement, "Young man, you truly... truly my lucky star!"

He suppressed his excitement and began to calculate: "As agreed, two old goats, five taels of meat per goat, for a total of ten taels of silver."

"This goat gem is valued at fifty taels."

"A total of sixty taels of silver. Tie Lei, go and collect it..."

"Manager Wang," Su Ming suddenly spoke, interrupting Wang Fugui.

Wang Fugui looked at him.

Su Ming pondered for a moment, then looked at Wang Fugui with clear eyes: "If I'm not mistaken, the shopkeeper's urgent need for this 'Goat Treasure' must be related to something that's best left unsaid in the medicinal herb business, right?"

Wang Fugui's smile faded slightly, and he gave Su Ming a deep look.

If it were anyone else prying into this, he would have already given them a cold look and sent them away.

But faced with this boy who repeatedly surprised him, he hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said frankly:

"Young man, you are wise. I do have some connections in the medicinal herb business. This 'Goat Treasure' is indeed of great use to me, but I cannot go into the details."

Su Ming nodded, indicating his understanding.

The gray area exists both in ancient and modern times.

This shopkeeper isn't running a legitimate pharmacy!

"Since the shopkeeper urgently needs this item, and I," Su Ming paused, looking directly at Wang Fugui, "also urgently need a hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum. I wonder if Wang Fugui could help me find one?"

Wang Fugui frowned and immediately shook his head: "Young brother, it's not that I'm making excuses, but a hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum is a rare and precious item, and it's in high demand."

"With your sixty taels of silver, you might have a chance to buy even the lowest quality plant under normal circumstances, but right now... you probably won't even get a glimpse of it."

"The cheapest... might not even be seventy or eighty taels!"

"I know." Su Ming's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Therefore, I'm not going to use these sixty taels to buy it."

He looked at Wang Fugui and said slowly, "Shopkeeper, you were in a hurry for the goat's treasure. As soon as I received the news, I immediately went into the mountains, braving the risks of heavy snow blocking the mountain and being surrounded by wolves. I hunted it for you without any delay or going to other shops to inquire about prices."

"Because I think you are a trustworthy and reliable person who can do business with me, I consider you a potential friend, so I will naturally be more efficient in doing things with you."

He then changed the subject: "Now, I also urgently need century-old Ganoderma lucidum. Since you, the shopkeeper, have connections, shouldn't you help me find a way? Isn't the essence of friendship mutual support and reciprocity?"

Wang Fugui was stunned.

He never expected the boy to say such a thing.

It wasn't pleading or threatening, but presenting the facts, reasoning, and considering personal relationships.

His words were earnest, yet subtly pointed—I understand your urgent needs, how can you ignore them?

He scrutinized Su Ming closely.

The boy's gaze was open and his expression serious. He wasn't making excuses, but genuinely stating what he believed to be a fair "transaction logic."

Wang Fugui's mind raced.

The potential this young man has shown far surpasses that of ordinary hunters.

His strength, archery skills, courage, and intellect were all top-notch.

What's even more remarkable is this clarity and courage.

If we grant his wish today, this favor will be worth far more than sixty taels of silver.

Making friends with such a young person with immense potential is definitely a worthwhile investment.

As for the century-old Ganoderma lucidum... he did indeed have two spares in his storeroom, one of superior quality and one of inferior quality.

The inferior one, though old enough, is of poorer shape and quality, and its medicinal effects are also slightly weaker. Normally it would sell for fifty or sixty taels at most, but it can only be sold for seventy or eighty taels by speculating on the price and waiting for someone with the right affinity. Generally, you can find someone, but it will waste a lot of time.

Using this method allows you to repay favors without incurring serious consequences.

Having made up his mind, Wang Fugui smiled again, this time with more sincerity and appreciation in his smile.

"Young man, you speak frankly and make sense! It was I who failed to consider things thoroughly." He clapped his hands and laughed, "That's certainly how it should be between friends."

"Well then, in my storeroom, there happens to be a hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum. It's old enough, but its shape isn't the best, and its medicinal power is slightly inferior to the top-quality ones."

"If you don't mind, young brother, let's use this plant to offset the sixty taels. How about that?"

Su Ming's eyes lit up slightly.

His original intention was simply to seize the opportunity, but he didn't expect Wang Fugui to be so agreeable.

Even a low-grade century-old Ganoderma lucidum is still a century-old Ganoderma lucidum. For him to make deer blood wine, the key to the main ingredient is the accumulation of medicinal properties brought about by the "century" of age. If the quality is worse, it is just a matter of using more auxiliary materials or adjusting the dosage less, which does not affect the overall result.

"Thank you very much, Manager Wang!" Su Ming said solemnly, cupping his hands in thanks.

"Haha, no need to be so polite! Tie Lei, go to the storeroom and fetch that sandalwood box from cabinet number three!"

Before long, Wang Tielei returned carrying a sandalwood box about a foot long.

Upon opening the box, a refreshing aroma of herbs and trees, mixed with a faint earthy scent, wafted out.

The box was lined with red silk, and a Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) lay quietly on it.

The cap is umbrella-shaped, about the size of a bowl, and is a deep purplish-brown with a faint golden edge. However, the surface of the cap is not smooth, with some wrinkles and blemishes, and the stem is also a bit short and thick.

But that rich, time-tested aura cannot be faked.

A century-old Ganoderma lucidum.

Su Ming carefully took the wooden box, examined it closely, and after confirming that everything was correct, a huge weight was finally lifted from his heart.

The last, most crucial, and hardest-to-find ingredient needed for deer blood wine has been obtained.

"Pleasant transaction, Manager Wang." Su Ming closed the lid of the box and carefully held the wooden box in his arms.

"A pleasant transaction, Brother Su!" Wang Fugui said with a beaming smile. "If you ever come across similar good goods again, or need any equipment or medicines, feel free to come to me! You can also contact me if you have any leather goods to sell!"

Su Ming nodded, said no more, and carrying the wooden box containing the century-old Ganoderma lucidum, turned and left Wang's Ironwood Shop.

Outside the door, a light snow was falling.

The wooden box in his arms seemed to carry a heavy warmth.

The medicinal herbs are all ready.