161: Chapter 161 Fearless Fangs

Tang Yao and Xiao Niao took a look, and this [fearless tusk] was indeed a weapon.

It even came with an active skill.

Although they didn't know exactly what effect the 60-second Fearless status had, as the equipment description didn't specify it in detail, they could roughly guess that it was likely similar to the state shown by the [Fearless Black Wild Boar] during battle—not fearing pain, not feeling pain, and not knowing how to retreat.

Perhaps this status wouldn't increase character attributes, but its boost to combat power was undoubtedly real. Because once used, the user would lose the sensation of pain for 60 seconds; as long as their Health Points weren't depleted, they could keep attacking mindlessly—it was terrifying just to think about.

But how should this item be distributed to maximize its value?

Hu Gualing, Tang Yao, and Xiao Niao looked at each other.

Hu Gualing's gaze locked onto Xiao Niao: "How about Xiao Niao takes this weapon? I see you only have a wooden bow, and if a monster gets close, you have no means of resistance. With these fearless fangs, you'll at least have a bit of close-combat ability."

Tang Yao nodded in agreement: "I think so too, and the active skill attached to the fearless fangs is very suitable for Xiao Niao."

Xiao Niao took the tusk from Hu Gualing's hand. He almost couldn't hold it with one hand and almost dropped it, so he had to use both hands to grip it. He tried swinging it a few times, but found it awkward no matter how he held it; even Hu Gualing and Tang Yao felt awkward watching him.

This was because although this tusk had been recognized as a weapon by the game System, it looked exactly the same as when it was growing on the wild boar's jaw: several dozen centimeters long, with one end as thick as a large bowl's mouth, and the other end as thin as a pig's tail.

If he held the thick end, Xiao Niao needed both hands to hold it steady, but even if he held it steady, the center of gravity was all in his hands, and the force couldn't be transmitted to the sharp end at the front.

If he held the thin end, the center of gravity would shift entirely to the front, and he could swing it like a hammer, which was actually quite handy. However, the surface of the tusk was somewhat slippery, and if he exerted even a little too much force, he couldn't hold onto it and it would slip out of his hand. Either way, holding it forward or backward was very awkward.

Xiao Niao shook his head and handed the tusk back to Hu Gualing: "Not only can I not unleash any lethality with this, but I also look like an acrobat. Forget it."

Hu Gualing watched the movements Xiao Niao had just tried and knew that Xiao Niao really had no affinity with this item. He took it back helplessly and looked at Tang Yao, but didn't even bother asking for her opinion. She would likely not want something pulled out of a wild boar's mouth, and besides, Tang Yao already had a blue, fine-quality longsword, so she really had no use for these fearless fangs.

"Then who should use this? It won't just have to be thrown into the Trading House to wait and be sold for money, right?" Hu Gualing looked at the green-quality fearless fangs in his hand, feeling somewhat reluctant to let it go.

Xiao Niao: "You keep it and use it yourself."

Hu Gualing: "I use fist techniques; how could I possibly use this thing... Sigh, never mind, I'll just put it in my bag for now." At any rate, this was the first weapon dropped from a monster. Although it was only of green, excellent quality and its attributes were much lower than the blue equipment he forged himself, these fearless fangs rarely came with an active skill. Not being able to utilize its function left Hu Gualing feeling somewhat disappointed, so he could only put it in his backpack for now.

After packing up the two pieces of loot, Hu Gualing flipped the carcass of the Black Wild Boar over several times but couldn't find a third piece of loot. It seemed that only two items had indeed dropped, and there was no third. By this time, his and Tang Yao's Health Points had fully recovered, so they prepared to set off again.

Xiao Niao suddenly remembered something and pointed in a direction: "Let's go that way; I think one of my arrows flew in that direction just now, and I need to go pick it up."

He was referring to the arrow he had shot when he first faced the Black Wild Boar charging from a distance; after applying the Bleeding status to the wild boar, it had flown quite a distance forward.

"Okay." Hu Gualing and Tang Yao agreed, followed Xiao Niao forward for quite a distance, and finally found that wooden shaft steel arrow next to that large black rock.

Xiao Niao picked up the arrow and blew on it, took a bundle of arrows out of his backpack, inserted this one, and put it back into his backpack. "Luckily I found it; it didn't go missing like the arrow I shot at the Ostrich earlier, otherwise my bundle of arrows would keep getting smaller and smaller until there were only a few left."

Hu Gualing smiled: "What's the big deal? At worst, after we go back to the village, we can just have Wang Dachui forge more for you. Anyway, I've already shown him the method for refining steel, so he's probably busy working away in the Forging room right now... But speaking of that Ostrich earlier, it really is quite capable, huh? It could still run so fast and so far even after being hit by an arrow. We chased it all the way and couldn't even catch a whiff of its rear."

Tang Yao suddenly pointed to the ground in front: "Look there, is that an Ostrich footprint?"

"Hmm?" Xiao Niao and Hu Gualing both looked in the direction Tang Yao pointed. At first, they frowned and were somewhat confused and uncertain, but after walking a little closer and taking a look, they recognized it instantly. What else could it be if not the footprint of the Ostrich they had been chasing the whole way?

"What do you say?" Hu Gualing asked for their opinions.

Xiao Niao gritted his teeth and said hatefully: "Chase it!"

The three of them once again embarked on the journey to chase the Ostrich.

However, this time they couldn't track it for long before they lost the Ostrich's tracks again.

This was because they had already arrived at the foot of the mountain range.

When they were in the wasteland area, they were mostly stepping on loess and sandy soil, which was relatively soft. Naturally, the Ostrich left a depression with every step; as long as there was no strong wind, the footprints left along the way were clearly visible.

But now that they were at the bottom of the mountain range, the terrain under their feet was changing, transitioning gradually from yellow sand and mud to a rocky surface. Stepping on it wouldn't leave any footprints, so naturally, the Ostrich's footprints could no longer be seen.

Seeing that the Ostrich they had chased for so long had lost its trail again, a sense of helplessness arose in the hearts of the three...

Heavens, three grown adults were actually played for fools by an Ostrich!

The three rested against the mountain wall for a while. While waiting for their stamina to fully recover, they discussed where to go from there. If they wanted to go up the mountain to take a look, the mountain range in front of them was too steep, with absolutely no place to get a foothold. They could only go around the mountain range to look for a small path that might lead up.

And if they didn't go up the mountain but continued to explore the edge of the wasteland area, that would also work. Before, they had thought that the only monsters in such a large wasteland were Wild Dogs, which was why Hu Gualing and Tang Yao wanted to go up the mountain to take a look. However, now it seemed that there were monsters like wild boars on the edge of the wasteland, and the item drop rate was actually quite good. Therefore, wandering around the edge of the wasteland to find and kill more wild boars could both train their combat experience and give them a chance to have items or props that enhance their strength dropped.

After discussing, the three walked forward along the foot of the mountain, searching for a small path to go up the mountain while also looking for traces of monsters.

After walking for a while, movement was vaguely heard from ahead. The three stopped immediately and cautiously examined the area in front.

They saw that there was more than one monster a few dozen zhang away—at least three or four—and they were all wild boars.

Hu Gualing whispered to Xiao Niao: "What are they doing?"

Xiao Niao watched for a while and said uncertainly: "I don't know, it looks like they are keeping watch?"

Hu Gualing whispered: "Keeping watch? Could these wild boars be doing something shady?"

Xiao Niao carefully peered and examined for a long time. Relying on his good eyesight, he finally saw the scene clearly: "They are indeed keeping watch. It should be four ordinary wild boars keeping watch, while a red wild boar is soaking in a small mud puddle."

Hu Gualing's eyes lit up: "Red wild boar? Could it be another elite wild boar?"

Tang Yao: "It should be a leader among the wild boars; otherwise, it makes no sense for it to have four lackeys guarding it while it takes a bath."

Hu Gualing nodded: "Yeah, with so many lackeys, it really might be a small BOSS."