Chu Feng looked at the yellow ox, his eyes oddly strange. He originally thought this guy would use some weird method; he was ready to broaden his horizons. Who knew it would be like this!
"Are you sure it's this simple?" He doubted a bit, finding such brutality and lack of technical skill questionable. Could the yellow ox really be trusted?
The yellow ox was quite calm and slow, writing several ugly words on the ground: "The great way is simple."
Chu Feng was speechless, utterly stunned, finally wanting to curse out loud!
With two stomps, so brutally simple, indeed straightforward... but could it truly be called embodying simplicity in greatness!?
"I... My head is crushed by a mountain, I... I'm dying," Zuo Jun mumbled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
It was evident how deeply those two stomps had hurt him. His mind was confused, even shouting in pain in his daze, feeling as if his skull was shattered.
"Is he okay? Will there be any aftereffects? If he doesn't wake up, that'll be troublesome," Chu Feng worried slightly.
Earlier, he questioned the yellow ox's methods, but now, he should worry more about the extent of Zuo Jun's injuries.
Because the yellow ox didn't know its own strength, and worst of all, it wasn't exactly trustworthy. Truly unknown what consequences those two stomps might bring.
Just looking at Zuo Jun, Chu Feng felt immense pain.
Though unconscious, Zuo Jun lay convulsing on the ground, unable to stop shivering.
"Is this the legendary 'evil people have evil oxen to grind them down'?" Chu Feng muttered, searching through Zuo Jun's belongings for any peculiar items.
Daggers, swords, all made from alloys, though extraordinary, couldn't compare to the black short sword. There were also foods and other miscellaneous items.
Finally, Chu Feng found a piece of beast skin map from Zuo Jun's chest. It seemed newly drawn.
Considering paper maps are easily damaged, leather ones preserve better.
Especially for Zuo Jun, whose body could instantly mutate into a three-meter-tall giant surrounded by earth-yellow mist, making it easy to damage items on his person.
After special treatment, the leather was very soft, neatly folded. When unfolded, it covered a large area of the ground.
This was a partial map of Taihang Mountain, with detailed annotations within hundreds of miles around, clearly marking each peak.
"Some peaks I've never seen before."
Chu Feng's home was here, naturally familiar with Taihang Mountain. He speculated it was recently drawn, including the sudden appearance of these primeval mountains.
He showed delight, finding the map very useful.
Carefully examining it, he noticed special markings on the beast skin map. Some areas had black skulls drawn, while others had "harvesting" written on the mountainsides.
Additionally, certain regions were circled in red ink.
The markings weren't many but were strikingly noticeable. Without much thought, those places surely held something unusual.
Should he keep the beast skin map? After some thought, Chu Feng decided against it. He took paper, copied the map himself, quickly sketching a replica.
"Better get rid of this trouble sooner." Chu Feng picked up Zuo Jun, heading towards the nearby orchard on the easternmost edge of town, rarely passed by, convenient for disposal.
With Chu Feng's current physical strength and speed, carrying someone was effortless. He ran over twenty miles in one breath, crossing the forest, tossing Zuo Jun onto a broken asphalt road.
Zuo Jun remained unconscious.
Chu Feng observed carefully; the road flanked by wheat fields far from the woods, unlikely for wild beasts. He turned to leave.
The town was peaceful, people no longer panicking.
Recently, some young men started exploring routes, armed with knives, attempting to reach the county seat.
They believed densely populated areas like the county or provincial capital might be safer.
However, some who reached the county changed their minds upon seeing two towering primeval mountains right next to it, filled with fearsome creatures.
Giant silver centipedes two meters long, white snake-like creatures, all avoided. Fire-red birds snatching tigers and leopards, bloody scenes everywhere.
Some saw house-sized spiders weaving webs between mountains, suddenly pulling down ten-meter-long birds mid-air, gruesome and brutal.
Creatures unseen before appeared outside the county, causing fear.
Many fled the county, fearing monsters might descend.
As for cities and provincial capitals, rumors suggested conditions were worse, ancient times seemingly returning, vast forests teeming with fierce beasts covering the land.
Exploring and returning disheartened, the young men from Qingyang Town retreated.
During this period, many older folks began planting crops outside town, hoping for self-sufficiency.
Originally having fields, now expanded tenfold, even amidst forests, cultivation areas grew wider.
Deep autumn, yet leaves stayed green, plants vibrant, weather warming, akin to early summer.
A unique sight: some fruit trees still bore ripe fruits, while others bloomed anew.
Fruit and flower scents mixed, branches laden with fruits or blossoms, beautiful scenery.
Autumn held special significance for this world.
Because a war nearly destroyed the earth, barren lands, scarce food, people struggling.
In post-civilization times, everyone participated in harvesting crops during autumn.
Later, despite improved conditions and prosperity, autumn became a significant holiday.
Thus, many people returned to town, students on break, workers on vacation, joining in farming, ample labor available.
Chu Feng glanced at the cold storage room, once full of food, now almost empty, mainly due to the yellow ox's voracious appetite.
"Now all stores are emptied, supplies scarce, I need to think of solutions." Chu Feng decided to practice boxing first, ensuring safety when entering the mountains.
Because he wanted to hunt game; in an era where food security might become critical, nothing supplemented nutrition better than meat.
Practicing boxing vigorously in the yard, gradually mastering the first form of the Bull Demon Fist, occasionally emitting thunderous sounds.
A mysterious force enveloped his fists, releasing terrifying power.
Bang!
Chu Feng tried, smashing a large bluestone outside the courtyard gate.
"Is this still a human hand?" Stunned, half-meter-high bluestone cracked, shattered pieces everywhere, how frightening was this punch mark?
He carefully pondered, realizing this power wasn't like inner energy from novels but rather a thin layer covering his fists.
Simultaneously, he discovered combining it with a peculiar breathing technique doubled its potency, even more terrifying.
Chu Feng vaguely guessed this breathing technique must be extraordinary, enhancing the already powerful Bull Demon Fist.
No wonder the yellow ox practiced it daily, even more diligently than its own species' techniques.
Morning, golden sun rising, shining brightly.
Zuo Jun woke up with a splitting headache, slowly regaining consciousness, shaking his head, feeling brain fluid about to spill.
"Where am I?"
Staggering up, pale-faced, eyes lifeless, utterly confused, unsure of the situation.
Looking down at his tattered clothes, did he experience a battle?
Long after, memories gradually returned, muttering, "Mu family hinted me to teach that ordinary person a lesson if passing through Qingyang Town."
Recalling he should've gone to Qingyang Town, why was he unconscious here, remembering nothing?
Feeling his thoughts interrupted, memory blurry, unable to recall later events.
"Was I ambushed along the way?" Doubting.
Ultimately, staggering towards Qingyang Town, sneering, "Just an ordinary person, even in my current state, can easily crush him."
Sun warm, Chu Feng practicing the peculiar breathing technique until completing today's session.
Standing up, he saw Zuo Jun stumbling in, supporting himself against the courtyard gate.
Chu Feng was shocked, why was he back?
First thought, the unreliable yellow ox hadn't wiped his memory, now coming back for revenge.
"Bull Demon King, your good deed!" Chu Feng shouted.
"Just an ordinary person, don't shout in front of me, annoying!" Zuo Jun despised, impatiently saying.
More direct than yesterday, not hiding hostility, too painful to tolerate.
Chu Feng surprised, "Still unrepentant, forgot the lesson?"
"Do I know you?" Zuo Jun suspicious, then frowned, "Regardless, you'll suffer, tormented, some people you can never reach, even their subordinates can easily crush you."
Chu Feng found it odd, confirming Zuo Jun indeed lost memory but remembered earlier intentions to cause trouble.
Truly troublesome, laughing bitterly.
"My head hurts, what happened, who attacked me on the road?" Zuo Jun rubbing his forehead, puzzled and angry, explaining his heightened irritability today.
"Feels like being kicked by a donkey, head throbbing." He muttered.
Chu Feng amused, "You were indeed kicked by a donkey."
At that moment, the yellow ox walked out, hearing and seeing everything, turning solemn.
Zuo Jun unaware, sneering, staggering towards Chu Feng, preparing to attack.
Bang!
Chu Feng side-kicked him flying, crashing into the courtyard wall. Turning to ask the yellow ox, "What now? He remembers coming here."
The yellow ox slowly pointed a hoof at the ground, still showing the word "simple".
Then walking towards Zuo Jun.
Confused, dizzy, Zuo Jun wondered how he got kicked by an ordinary person. Seeing a small golden ox approaching, mocking him, felt surreal.
What's happening? Hallucinating? A cow mocking him? Dreaming?
Clang clang clang clang!
Again, simply brutal, stomping four times on Zuo Jun's head, two more than last time.
Then, acting wise, calmly turning away, slowly leaving.
Zuo Jun frozen, staring wide-eyed, unable to believe what he saw, rolling his eyes, collapsing, twitching, fainting.
"Solved again, reliable this time?" Chu Feng worried, wondering if discarding Zuo Jun again would prevent further trouble.
The yellow ox gestured twice, implying the extra stomp guaranteed success!
Chu Feng silent for a long time, finally bursting out, "Can't you change your method?"
The yellow ox silently pointed at another four characters on the ground, "The great way is simple", written poorly yesterday.
Chu Feng, about to drink water, choked, spitting it all out.