The Almighty Martial Arts System - Chapter 288

Learning the art of Qimen Dunjia and grasping a part of the “Tui Bei Tu” had granted Jiang Fei the ability of foresight. But that didn’t mean he could predict the future at any given moment or know everything that was going to happen.

To deduce events, he had to enter an elusive, almost ethereal state, concentrate all his mental energy, and meditate deeply just to catch a glimpse of the outcome.

So, genuine fortune-telling wasn’t simple—it was mentally draining. Fortunately, Jiang Fei’s mental stats were boosted, thanks to his earlier efforts to master acupuncture and improve his medical skills. He’d multiplied his basic mental attributes several times over.

Even so, Jiang Fei couldn’t just use his foresight casually. After all, fortune-telling was far more taxing than performing acupuncture.

In fact, if he overused it—especially for significant predictions—it wouldn’t just drain his mental energy; it could cost him his vitality!

The secrets of heaven weren’t meant to be revealed. Disclosing too much would invite divine retribution. It was why, back in the day, when Yuan Tiangang deduced the “Tui Bei Tu,” he told Emperor Taizong of Tang to just go home and rest.

But this time, Jiang Fei had come prepared and was extra cautious.

However, things seemed to be unfolding differently than he had anticipated…

“Could it be that this ‘Blind Bear’ Pang Xiong is the one who’ll cause trouble during this hunting trip?” Jiang Fei wondered to himself.

He felt like he might have overestimated the situation, or perhaps his foresight wasn’t entirely accurate. This gold-rimmed glasses-wearing guy might be rumored to be the top fighter in the Jinling Military District, but in Jiang Fei’s eyes, he was nothing special—hardly a threat. Jiang Fei felt he could take on ten of him without breaking a sweat!

Besides, even though the guy seemed a bit odd—with his peculiar image and aura—there was no bad blood between them. Pang Xiong didn’t have any reason to cause him real trouble. At most, he might just want to compete in hunting, like he said.

Was he jealous of Jiang Fei’s fame? If that was the case, it’d be easy to handle.

If that was all there was to it, then things would be straightforward. Jiang Fei could just enjoy the hunt tomorrow. It wasn’t like he was itching for someone to come after him or try to assassinate him.

“It’s best if there’s no major trouble,” Jiang Fei thought to himself, deciding not to dig further for now.

The next morning.

Jiang Fei and the others didn’t waste time. After a full night’s rest, they were recharged and ready. As soon as the sun rose, they entered the hunting grounds.

First, they went through the procedures: real-name registration and gearing up. Everyone, including Jiang Fei, changed into camouflage outfits. Since most of Ye Yuanyuan’s group had military backgrounds, they did the same.

Next was choosing weapons.

Most hunting grounds offered two types of weapons: hunting rifles and bows. Rifles cost 200 yuan to rent, with each bullet costing 15 yuan—not expensive, affordable even for the middle class, let alone these well-off youngsters.

The other option, which felt more rugged and thrilling, was bow hunting. Of course, modern bow hunting was nothing like ancient times—instead of traditional horns and arrows, they used sophisticated compound bows, As precise as a precision instrument.

Newcomers usually opted for rifles because they were straightforward and made it easy to take down game. But experienced hunters often preferred compound bows.

Bow hunting was more challenging. It required good archery skills and strong nerves to stay calm under pressure. Hunting in the mountains was no joke—it wasn’t just about pheasants or rabbits. There were real risks, and a moment’s carelessness could cost you your life.

Of course, these were the two most common methods. There was a third approach, rarely seen in modern times, even among seasoned hunters: knife hunting.

Knife hunting involved using specialized hunting or combat knives, typically between 20 to 30 centimeters long, depending on the user’s build.

If bow hunting required skill, knife hunting was something only a select few could pull off—like trained martial artists or elite soldiers. For the average person, it was practically impossible to hunt game with just a knife. In fact, most people didn’t even consider it an option.

In Jiang Fei’s group, neither Ye Yuanyuan, Wu Ke, Yang Zaixing, nor Han Xu dared to try knife hunting. They all went with compound bows.

Even the frail-looking Pang Xiong, hailed as the top fighter in the Jinling Military District, chose a compound bow.

“Jiang Fei, are you going with a rifle or a compound bow? You said you’ve never hunted before, so you probably haven’t practiced archery either, right?” Wu Ke asked.

Jiang Fei had been holding a hunting rifle earlier and had test-fired it. But he was disappointed—the guns were old and weak, using shotgun shells that were less effective than compound bows. According to the guide, the hunting ground had just opened, and proper firearms hadn’t arrived yet. In a month or so, these outdated guns would be replaced, even including assault rifles!

For now, they had to make do.

Jiang Fei shook his head and put down the shotgun, which had an effective range of only about 80 meters. He turned to the guide and asked, “Do you have proper hunting knives here?”

“Hunting knives?” The guide was surprised but nodded. “Yes, we do. Are you planning to use one to clear paths? Actually, since it’s winter, the thorny vegetation isn’t too thick. You won’t need to clear paths.”

Jiang Fei smiled and shook his head. “I’m not using it for clearing paths. I’m going to hunt with it.”

“What?!”

Everyone was stunned.

Hunting with a 20-30 centimeter knife? That was practically the same as hunting barehanded! Without a compound bow or rifle, you’d be lucky to catch even a pheasant or rabbit.

On rugged mountain terrain, prey moved fast. Even if you were highly skilled, catching up to them was tough.

Ye Yuanyuan glanced at Jiang Fei. “You’re really not taking a gun?”

“Do you think I need one?” Jiang Fei countered.

Ye Yuanyuan fell silent.

He really didn’t. After witnessing Jiang Fei’s battle with Miyamoto Kazuma—seeing him leap between rooftops and fight mid-air—she knew he was no ordinary person. Even with a cold weapon, his combat prowess was immense. In fact, she suspected that against someone of Jiang Fei’s caliber, even firearms might be useless!

Besides, Jiang Fei had brought Simba and the eagle along. With those two fierce creatures by his side, most prey wouldn’t even require his direct involvement.

Pang Xiong frowned but ultimately kept his compound bow. He just asked the guide to prepare a hunting knife for him too, sheathed in leather and hung at his waist.

Once everyone was geared up, they quickly set out for the mountains.

All the men in the group—except Yang Zaixing, who had brought his female companion—were assigned attractive female hunting guides. These guides ranged from their twenties to thirties, all with excellent figures and striking temperament, making one wonder why they weren’t working as models or something similar.

In truth, these guides weren’t exactly from “respectable” backgrounds. If they met a wealthy client who was willing to spend, they might even agree to a “wild encounter” in the mountains—their role wasn’t too different from hostesses at certain nightclubs.

So, Yang Zaixing, who already had a companion, didn’t dare request a guide.

Ye Yuanyuan was used to this sort of thing and didn’t comment. But when she saw Jiang Fei happily accepting a guide, she couldn’t help but say, “Why do you need a guide?”

Jiang Fei glanced at the guide assigned to him—a woman in her early twenties, likely just out of college, with a curvaceous figure—and grinned. “With a beauty by my side, even if she’s not much help, the hunt will be more enjoyable.”

Ye Yuanyuan said indignantly, “All men are the same!”

Jiang Fei just chuckled again, offering no defense.

However, as he smiled, his eyes held a strange glint when he glanced at the young, scholarly-looking guide beside him.

It wasn’t a lustful look men often gave beautiful women—it was something deeper, more inscrutable…

None of the hunters had chosen rifles, but each female guide was equipped with one, just for show, to appear more professional.

Before entering the mountains, the delicate-looking women stood at the front and fired a few shots into the sky—a hunting tradition meant to kick off the expedition and build excitement.

Screech!

As the gunshots echoed, the eagle circled overhead and soared into the mountains.

Roar!

Simba let out a low growl, his expressive eyes gleaming with excitement. His wild instincts were stirring, eager for his first real hunt.

As for the hunting dogs brought by Han Xu and the others from the grounds, they cowered with their tails between their legs, too afraid to challenge Simba…

Jiang Fei narrowed his eyes slightly as he gazed at the mountains.

The hunt had begun.