Chapter 4: Bait

Deep within Rooster’s Cry Mountain, shadows and dampness reigned. Occasionally, some creature would scuttle across the dead leaves, their rustling sounds tense enough to make one’s nerves taut. It was at this moment that a figure appeared silently—Jiang Chen. Unlike his previous indifference, now a faint aura of killing intent clung to him. Though barely perceptible to the naked eye, it was undeniably real.

With this aura as a deterrent, even the fiercest beasts dared not approach. In most cases, displaying a measure of strength was an excellent way to avoid unnecessary trouble. This applied to people and animals alike—a truth Jiang Chen had come to understand in the apocalypse: the fiercer you were, the more obedient others became.

Relying on this method, Jiang Chen made his way deep into Rooster’s Cry Mountain without hindrance.

“Come out,” he said, his gaze sweeping across the area, fixing on a particular spot.

A moment later, a shadow slid down from a tree not far away—a thin, dark-skinned man with a pair of small, lively eyes and extraordinarily long arms. He looked for all the world like a hairless monkey.

At the sight of this figure, memories about him surfaced in Jiang Chen’s mind.

Skinny Monkey—Li Buchi—was weak since childhood and abandoned, raised on meals from many households. Later, he joined the River-Roving Bandits and was taken in by Jiang Wang, who saw his potential. He practiced the Spirit Monkey Fist, making him remarkably agile in the deep forests and highly skilled at tracking. The task of hunting the White Deer always fell to him.

Of course, only a few close associates called him Skinny Monkey; to outsiders, he was better known as the Long-Armed Gibbon.

“Greetings, Chief,” he said, leaping over and clasping his fists in salute before Jiang Chen.

“Have you confirmed the White Deer’s whereabouts?” Jiang Chen asked, his gaze resting on Skinny Monkey’s unusually long arms, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

Without hesitation, Skinny Monkey gave a definite answer. “Chief, the White Deer’s trail has been roughly locked down. It seems to have been startled and came from the southern slopes, now settled in this area. It shouldn’t leave anytime soon. Because it’s naturally wary, I didn’t dare to pursue closely and haven’t found its lair, but it often comes to drink and rest in the nearby ravine.”

His voice was hoarse, and his gaze lowered in silence. After some time apart, Jiang Chen seemed even more unfathomable to him—the faint killing aura that wrapped around him made Skinny Monkey’s heart pound with instinctive fear.

He had roamed the mountains for years and could sense danger keenly. Now, Jiang Chen felt like a tiger in human skin, ready to pounce.

After listening, Jiang Chen turned his gaze toward the ravine beyond the dense forest, remaining silent for a long while.

Skinny Monkey dared not disturb him in the slightest.

“Do you think this is coincidence or design? The White Deer was elusive for so long and suddenly arrives from elsewhere, only to be discovered by you—at such a critical time,” Jiang Chen finally spoke.

At these words, Skinny Monkey’s expression changed dramatically. Suddenly, he recalled something. Though his tracking skills were good, he wasn’t the best among the River-Roving Bandits. More importantly, the Big Boss was planning to promote a fourth chief, and both Jiang Chen and that old hound were strong contenders.

“Chief, are you suggesting the old hound?” Skinny Monkey stammered. “Chief, I swear I had nothing to do with this—I’d never betray you!”

He dropped to his knees, trembling. He’d followed Jiang Wang for a long time and knew that though Jiang Chen was usually gentle and avoided conflict, when it came to killing, he showed no mercy.

Jiang Chen’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at him. “Get up. I was only speaking offhand; whether it’s a plot or not is uncertain. In the end, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that the White Deer is real.”

He shook his head and motioned for Skinny Monkey to rise.

Seeing Jiang Chen’s calm, steady demeanor, Skinny Monkey hesitated, then slowly got to his feet.

“Chief, if there’s a chance this is a trap, perhaps we should retreat for now—gather our men and make plans...” Skinny Monkey suggested, lowering his voice.

Jiang Chen shook his head again. He was determined to get the White Deer. Even if it was bait for a trap, it didn’t matter—the fisherman was too unskilled. He could swallow the bait whole and drag the fisherman into the water as well.

“Go back and contact Xiong Li. Gather the men and be ready to respond. Leave this matter to me,” Jiang Chen said decisively. All plans, after all, depended on strength.

Hearing this, Skinny Monkey couldn’t help glancing at Jiang Chen. Seeing that calm, unruffled face, his heart settled, and he quickly lowered his head. “Understood, Chief. I’ll contact Xiong Li at once.”

He bit his lip, then answered without further hesitation.

Jiang Chen nodded and said no more, drifting away toward the ravine.

As he watched Jiang Chen’s departing figure, Skinny Monkey’s eyes flickered with thought.

“That terrifying killing aura must have been forged through countless slaughters. Seems the Chief has been hiding his strength all along. Now that he’s showing it, he must be confident of victory.”

“For me, that’s a good thing. If the Chief ever becomes the Big Boss, maybe I, Skinny Monkey, could become a chief myself. Heh.”

His thoughts turned quickly, and after a brief moment of fear, Skinny Monkey began to see new possibilities.

A moment later, with a hint of ferocity and secret joy, he vanished into the forest. If someone was fishing, he’d need to be extra cautious on his way back—but he felt quite confident in his own abilities.

As for Skinny Monkey’s various thoughts, Jiang Chen knew nothing, nor did he care. He passed through the forest, overcoming several obstacles, and finally reached the edge of the ravine, where he hid himself downwind.

“Let’s see when that White Deer will appear,” he murmured.

He covered himself in animal scent, gripped his iron-banded bow, and restrained his aura completely. Motionless as a statue, he watched the ravine.

The White Deer was watchful by nature, swift as the wind, and acutely sensitive to both man and beast’s presence. Hunting it in the mountains was nearly impossible—only the finest hunters had a chance. That was why Jiang Chen hadn’t asked Skinny Monkey for assistance.

Time passed slowly. When the sun turned golden, bathing the ravine in dusk, a figure finally emerged, stepping leisurely into the open. Its fur was pure white, without a single blemish, flowing in the breeze—this was the White Deer Jiang Chen had been waiting for all along.