Hero's Q&A (3): The Grand Hunt Begins
As the hunting tournament kicked off, everyone scattered to hunt their prey. Sticking together would just scare everything away, after all.
And... this banquet had the air of a grand competition to it.
"The hero who brings back the finest game from these woods will receive praise straight from His Majesty himself!!"
Cao Cao bellowed, thrusting the jade seal he'd received from the emperor high into the air.
"Ooooh!!!"
"Ooooh!!!"
That was exactly what the other ambitious warriors were gunning for—the emperor's commendation. For glory-hungry generals, what else was there to chase?
'Surprisingly, this forest has a ton of game.'
Yeah. No cap—tigers even showed up. There were stats on players dying to tiger bites, too.
My target was the golden-antlered deer... the rarest catch here by far. Nabbing it would make winning a breeze. Honestly, part of me wanted to snag it, strut back victorious, and rack up that fame achievement.
"Mok Lan. Let's go."
I called for Mok Lan and bolted toward where the golden-antlered deer might be lurking.
That was when it happened.
"Hold it!! Kim!! Stay right there!"
Xiahou Dun suddenly chased after me.
"S-Sis... slow down a bit..."
Xiahou Yuan trailed behind her.
"Heh heh. Crowding together scares off the game. Scatter."
I waved them off dismissively.
"Kim!!! We still haven't settled our score!!"
Xiahou Dun jabbed a finger at me, blunt as ever. That slender, delicate finger... How did such womanly hands swing a spear? Genderbent Three Kingdoms generals were a real head-scratcher sometimes.
"What score?"
God, what a hassle. We'd crossed paths plenty working against each other, but she was seriously hung up on the tie?
"This time, we'll win for sure and prove we're better than you!"
Xiahou Dun shook her twin-tails and shouted.
"Sure, whatever."
I brushed it off casually.
"D-Don't get so cocky! Let's go!! Yuan!!!"
Xiahou Dun declared boldly and charged into the woods.
"She seems pretty competitive."
Mok Lan glanced at me and said.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
Probably just a general's thirst for victory.
"Word around Cao Cao's camp is he's got his eye on you," Mok Lan added.
"Word?"
"Seems he likes what he sees."
"..."
So that's why the gift barrage? 'He wouldn't be after my wife, would he?' The thought made me uneasy. You couldn't trust that Cao Cao guy.
"...Heh. So your heart's unshaken, huh."
Mok Lan smiled at me.
"Well..."
Joining Cao Cao's side would be stable, but it'd probably come with headaches.
"Deep down, you prefer Liu Bei, don't you."
Mok Lan said it like she knew everything.
"No way!!"
Liu Bei's army was just a pit stop for me! Ever since Mok Lan and I got physical lately, she'd been acting like she had me all figured out!
The golden-antlered deer's spawn was random, but I'd figured out the mechanic. It roamed areas with few humans and fled from people. Head opposite the crowds, and you'd find it.
'There are other tricks, though.'
This deer loved virgins. Bring one along, or if a female player was still a virgin, it'd approach on its own. But Mok Lan wasn't anymore. No dice there.
'Gotta dismount and creep up slow.'
Its perception was high—even hoofbeats sent it running. We'd have to sneak on foot.
Mok Lan would shoot an arrow on my signal, and when the deer staggered, I'd finish it with my sword. Simple strat.
This thing's body was like stone—arrows wouldn't one-shot it. Had to close in for the kill, which made it a pain.
Meanwhile, as Kim and Mok Lan headed into a secluded part of the woods...
"Sis... is tailing Kim really the plan?"
Xiahou Yuan asked Xiahou Dun.
"Grr... Bruises the pride, but that Kim guy's got killer instincts. He took down Zhang Jiao during the Yellow Turban mess, remember? Bet he'll sniff out some epic game again. We snatch it—that's the play."
Xiahou Dun grinned like a mischievous kid.
"..."
She hadn't changed a bit from her bandit days to general life—blissfully clueless. Xiahou Yuan sighed at her big sis but nocked an arrow to back her up.
The sisters planned to shadow Kim.
"Hah!! Got a boar!!!"
"Deer that way!!"
Victory cries echoed through the forest as hunters scored their kills.
But no rush. I'd stick to my duo hunt. Those common catches barely scored points anyway. I was after one big prize.
Beyond the thinning crowds, a clear stream cut through the woods. On the far bank, deer grazed peacefully, quenching their thirst.
Golden-antlered one in there maybe? As the thought crossed my mind...
"Haa..."
A sigh drifted from afar.
Across the stream, a beauty stared into the water, sighing.
A beauty in the woods? Wait, I recognized her—Lady Du, wife of Jin Yi Lu from Lu Bu's army. Didn't know her given name.
'In the original game, Guan Yu had a thing for her.' Cao Cao snatched her up too, and some said that's why Guan Yu never joined him.
She was a looker, alright. Her husband Jin Yi Lu was always grinning ear-to-ear with her at his side.
'Not my type, though.' That perpetual frown screamed baggage. I liked smiling beauties—like Yong Hwa or Guan Yu.
Anyway.
'Jin Yi Lu in the hunt too, huh. Brought his wife along. So where is she alone?'
Lost maybe? Should I guide her? As I started to approach...
"Hiiing."
A deer slowly approached Lady Du.
It was our golden-antlered deer—its antlers gleamed gold, unlike the others.
The deer bowed its head amiably and stood by her side.
"Oh... what a pretty deer."
Lady Du stroked it, startled but calm. It didn't flee at all.
'No way...'
That was the virgin behavior. It didn't even see them as threats.
Was Lady Du a virgin? With a husband like Jin Yi Lu? He'd definitely... Wild.
Anyway, her pulling aggro gave us the perfect opening.
Golden antlers incoming!!
I signaled Mok Lan and lunged—
"Grrrrr."
A chilling killing intent prickled from afar.
From the woods behind, a crouched beast emerged.
A tiger.
"GRRRRR!!"
It coiled and sprang at the golden-antlered deer and Lady Du.
"Kyaa?!"
Lady Du stared in panic.
From the tiger's view, two easy meals. Muscles rippled with power.
Crunch!!!
The tiger pounced from above, pinning the deer. Then it tore into its throat, silencing it.
"Grrr!!"
Next, it turned on Lady Du.
"Mok Lan!!!"
No choice—tiger first.
"Ngh..."
Mok Lan's arrow was already loosed.
Thwuck!!
It sank into the tiger's shoulder.
"GRRAAAH!!!"
The tiger shuddered and backed off from the pain.
"Over here!!!"
I yelled, drew my sword, and charged.
'Fuck. A tiger.' Tougher than grunts by miles, but doable.
"Milady!! Over here!! If you don't wanna die!!"
I shouted at the stunned Lady Du.
"Ah... Y-Yes!!"
Maybe from dodging Xiliang troops, she snapped into action despite her fear and darted behind me.
Shing.
I raised my Namun Sword, reinforced with True Flame Sword fragments, and took stance.
'Let's test Dao Ran's upgrade.' Stats showed raw damage up tens—curious how it'd feel in combat. Untested so far.
"GRRAAAH!!!"
I read the tiger's forepaw swipe and slashed upward from below.
Shiiing.
The glowing blue blade sliced cleanly toward its jaw.
Spluuurt!!!!
It sheared the tiger's jaw effortlessly.
"Gurk."
Jaw and neck severed, it veered past me and flopped hard.
"Grrk..."
Even mortally wounded, it thrashed for a counter—true beast.
Thrust!!
I jammed the blade into its skull to finish.
"Grrk...!!!"
The crunch of bone and brain was brief; it twitched and collapsed.
"Whew..."
Two corpses lay sprawled: tiger and golden-antlered deer.
Thanks to Lady Du's aggro, I'd bagged both.
'This seals the win.' Rarest deer and a tiger.
Anyway.
"Lady Du. You alright?"
I checked her shocked face.
"Ah... Yes. I'm fine. General Kim."
Her face flushed crimson as she bowed repeatedly in thanks. No injuries visible.
Time to haul the prizes and regroup. I slung the deer over my shoulder and had Mok Lan drag the tiger.
"Follow me, milady. I'll get you back to General Jin."
No clue how she got separated, but I'd escort her properly.
Especially since...
Terrified, Lady Du clutched my sleeve lightly and trailed close behind.