Chapter 17 Grant Me A Buff Man, Heaven!

Frostwood Village wasn't large, and the two quickly arrived at the longhouse in the village center, where they met the village chief of Frostwood Village.

The village chief was a middle-aged man, with graying temples and wrinkles all over his face. His hands were covered in calluses from years of using farm tools. He was slightly hunched over and very down-to-earth.

Griff explained Zhou Jing's intentions, and the village chief agreed without hesitation on the spot.

"I've heard about Will's matter from Barron and Griff. Your brother was a brave man and has done a great service to our village... If all the hunters were to sacrifice themselves, then the village would lose its protection."

Across the table, the village chief stroked the back of his hand, his tone filled with emotion.

"How many hunters are there in the village now?" Zhou Jing asked calmly.

Hearing this, Griff interjected to explain:

"There are only five left. You've already met me and two other hunters. Captain Barron and another injured hunter are still recovering, so we haven't been hunting for a while."

Zhou Jing nodded, pondering in his mind.

There were five hunters left... He remembered that a total of six people escaped, three of whom were poisoned, but only his previous Apostle died from serious injuries.

A bit strange... Zhou Jing narrowed his eyes.

It wasn't that he was being cynical, but based on a rational judgment, given the physical fitness of his previous Apostle, it shouldn't be that ordinary hunters survived while his Apostle kicked the bucket. If ordinary hunters could survive, the Apostle should have been able to as well.

As for Barron surviving, it wasn't strange. This man possessed extraordinary resistance, and even if his injuries were more severe, he could pull through.

He couldn't help but recall the scene in the [Death Replay] where the old man said the potion was used up, and he instinctively felt that something was wrong.

At this moment, the village chief sighed and shook his head:

"Barron said your brother had excellent talent. He regretted it, otherwise, our village might have had another official Exotic Beast Hunter... It's a pity Will was too seriously injured, and the witch doctor couldn't save him."

Zhou Jing's heart skipped a beat.

"Is the witch doctor the village doctor?"

"Yes, he was originally a wandering apothecary. We invited him to stay a few years ago, and he agreed to stay in the village to make potions, with the requirement that our hunter team enter the forest to collect herbs for him."

This person is probably the doctor who cured me with "shamanistic dances"...

Zhou Jing narrowed his eyes and kept it in mind.

His plan was to stay in the village, so he would have time to investigate slowly in the future. As a newcomer, it wasn't appropriate to question a person who had been a doctor in the village for several years.

At this time, the village chief shook his head and returned to the main topic:

"Jason, Frostwood Village welcomes you to stay. We are indeed short of manpower in many areas, farmers, blacksmiths, hunters... What exactly do you want to do?"

Zhou Jing didn't hesitate and said straightforwardly: "Being a hunter suits me better."

The only Exotic Beast Hunter he knew now was Barron. If he wanted to obtain extraordinary power, he had to become a hunter to get close to Barron. This was the plan he had decided on long ago.

Hearing Zhou Jing's choice, the village chief immediately became happy. The hunter team in Frostwood Village had suffered heavy losses, and they needed manpower the most.

Although the Terra Empire had been established for about forty years, Exotic Beasts were still the main threat, especially in villages like Frostwood Village, located in the wilderness. Every hunter was precious.

Not only because of the favor from Zhou Jing's "brother", but the outsider himself was also a much-needed labor force for the village.

But Griff wasn't so happy. Although their contact was short, he quite respected Zhou Jing's character and couldn't help but remind him:

"Hunters require years of training. It's not something you can just decide to be. I advise you to reconsider. Not everyone is as naturally strong as your brother."

Zhou Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled:

"You might not believe it when I say this... I'm even stronger than my brother!"

Griff was immediately stunned, and then he looked Zhou Jing up and down with a face full of suspicion.

It wasn't that he looked down on people, but 'Will Wood' was the strongest ordinary person he had ever seen. Even Captain Barron, who had seen a lot, said he was extremely rare, one in ten thousand.

Although you are Will's brother, it doesn't mean you are also this strong. The probability is too low...

Are you bragging? Don't think I'm a country bumpkin who's easy to fool!

Seeing Griff's disbelieving expression, Zhou Jing didn't explain. He stood up, came behind Griff, grabbed the chair with both hands, and exerted force.

Amidst a burst of screams, Zhou Jing directly lifted him up, chair and all, looking very relaxed. He even casually did a few curls, jostling Griff a few times.

——The "Jason Wood" body had a physique of 10 points, higher than the previous Apostle. Lifting someone was as easy as lifting a feather, and his body was filled with a sense of power. His energy seemed inexhaustible.

"Stop, stop, stop! I believe you!"

Griff quickly landed, his face full of astonishment. He couldn't help but reach out and pinch Zhou Jing's arm, the touch was like refined steel.

So strong! What did these two brothers eat to grow up?

Griff was extremely surprised.

"Why are you like this too?"

"There's no way around it. Our Wood family has strong abilities, genes... cough, good bloodline!"

Griff was a little dazed: "Ah? Is everyone in your family like this?"

"That's right, our Wood family is born with divine strength, every single one of us is a powerhouse!"

Zhou Jing laughed and slapped Griff hard on the back, making a muffled sound.

Ah! My bones are about to break!

Griff almost staggered from the slap, his teeth clenched in pain.

But this didn't stop him from getting excited.

The stronger this Jason Wood is, the better it will be for the village. It's like the hunter team has welcomed a powerful companion!

Moreover, ever since 'Will Wood' died, Captain Barron hadn't been eating or sleeping well, constantly lamenting the loss of such a good seedling. Now, seeing a similarly strong powerhouse, he would definitely be very excited!

Griff rubbed his shoulder, unable to wait any longer:

"You are indeed very suitable to be a hunter. I'll take you to see Captain Barron now!"

"Sure." Zhou Jing naturally had no objections.

The village chief on the side watched with a happy smile, glad that the village had gained a strong hand, and said cheerfully:

"Then on behalf of Frostwood Village, I welcome you to stay."

As he said this, the village chief turned his head to look at Ross, who hadn't said a word, and asked curiously, "What about your companion? Does he want to be a hunter too?"

"Well, we'll talk about that later."

Zhou Jing was noncommittal.

He hadn't fully considered how to arrange Ross. His current idea was to let Ross develop first, perhaps learn some secondary professions, such as blacksmithing or apothecary, to provide logistical support.

After all, in terms of combat, Ross, as a blank slate, shouldn't be able to help much in the short term. He still needed to train first.

...

On the other side of Frostwood Village, at Barron's residence.

Barron sat at the entrance of the house, lazily basking in the sun, with some linen bandages still wrapped around his body.

From time to time, villagers passed by and greeted him friendly, and he nodded in response.

"Another sunny day... The injury should recover faster."

Barron muttered to himself, touching the wound, which was almost healed.

He had been recovering from the serious injuries he suffered in the last ambush by the Earth Bone People.

He was the Exotic Beast Hunter stationed in Frostwood Village. Unlike the local hunters, he had no family here, a lone wolf. His mission was to train the hunters, lead hunting teams, and occasionally, when he discovered traces of Exotic Beasts, he would pick up his axe and fight desperately. His life was lonely, difficult, and full of danger.

Although many farmers' daughters were curious about Exotic Beast Hunters and had more than once hinted that they wanted to sneak into the barn with him, Barron generally rejected them without hesitation, mostly using exercise to vent his energy.

In his eyes, true Exotic Beast Hunters should never pursue power, wealth, or priority mating rights. They should either be on the road hunting Exotic Beasts or pumping iron.

It's just that since the establishment of the Terra Empire, the ancient profession of Exotic Beast Hunter had become less and less pure...

Barron sighed inwardly.

People who had obtained Exotic Blood enhancements were only called Exotic Blood Warriors, not Exotic Beast Hunters. The former was only the entry requirement for the latter.

Exotic Beast Hunters needed to be proficient in combat skills, learn how to fight Exotic Beasts, undergo long-term training, and finally participate in a successful hunt before they could be considered graduates and be qualified to call themselves "Exotic Beast Hunters."

In the barbaric era, every tribe had a set of methods for training Exotic Beast Hunters, basically only fighting for their own tribe.

After the Terra Empire was established, it integrated some of these training methods to cultivate more Exotic Beast Hunters, and then assigned them to solve Exotic Beast threats in various jurisdictions or stationed them permanently in certain territories.

However, Barron wasn't this kind of "Empire Hunter." He was another type.

In his youth, he happened to meet an Exotic Beast Hunter wandering outside, who took a fancy to him, took him by his side to teach him, and finally survived the Exotic Blood potion enhancement, becoming a free hunter—this was also a common situation, and like Empire Hunters, they were one of the mainstream Exotic Beast Hunter groups.

Free Hunters or dispatched Empire Hunters would occasionally encounter some ordinary people worth cultivating, and they basically wouldn't be stingy with teaching them—this was the tradition of this ancient profession.

Exotic Beasts were still the main threat to survival. For the sake of the entire human race, the vast majority of Exotic Beast Hunters were willing to cultivate newcomers, which was also cultivating future partners who might fight side by side.

Barron couldn't help but think of 'Will Wood' again, and he sighed in his heart.

Even after several weeks, he still felt regret every time he thought about it.

What a good seedling he was!

He was the most talented person he had ever seen, definitely a genius, one in ten thousand, and his character was also to his liking.

He had been thinking that once he left the Black Shirt Forest, he would invite Will to stay in the village, train him to become an Exotic Beast Hunter, and impart his experience to him.

It was a pity that fate was fickle. This genius was just discovered by him, and before he had a chance to bloom in the world, he died so silently.

Such an excellent seedling, just gone like that!

Where can I find another one like that!

Please, heaven, grant me another strong powerhouse!

Barron sighed inwardly.

Just as he was secretly saddened, three people walked down the street and stopped in front of his house.

Griff was an old acquaintance, but the two behind him were unfamiliar faces he had never seen in the village.

"Captain Barron, how's the recovery going?" Griff greeted with a smile.

"Not bad. In a few more days, I'll be able to enter the forest to hunt."

Barron responded casually, curiously looking at the two strangers behind Griff.

One had thick eyebrows and big eyes, with a masculine appearance.

The other was unremarkable, like a simpleton.

Before he could ask, Griff introduced them:

"This is Jason Wood. He plans to stay in the village and join our hunter team, and this Ross is his friend."

Barron was stunned: "Wood? Could it be..."

"He's Will's brother."

Griff nodded.

Barron's eyes widened suddenly, his shocked expression the same as Griff's when he first heard the news.

He couldn't help but carefully examine Zhou Jing, comparing him to Will's appearance in his memory.

He didn't know if it was psychological, but he felt that the contours of their faces were becoming more and more similar.

At this moment, Barron suddenly thought of something and quickly stood up, feeling a little awkward.

Zhou Jing knew that he might have misunderstood his intentions, so he deliberately smiled heartily and said:

"You must be Barron. I've heard about what happened to you. You once saved my brother's life. Although he didn't make it through, it's not your fault. You don't need to feel guilty. I'm not here to blame you."

"...In fact, it was your brother who saved our lives."

Barron was no longer awkward, filled with emotion.

He then thought of what Griff had just said and asked curiously:

"You want to join the Frostwood Village hunter team. Why is that?"

Hearing this, Zhou Jing's face sank, and he slowly said:

"I won't hide it from you. I'm staying here, first to accompany my brother, and second, for revenge. Will saved you, and his death was valuable. I'm proud. But those Earth Bone People killed my brother. If I don't kill them all, what kind of brother am I!"

"That's right!"

Barron immediately felt a sense of shared hatred and developed a good impression.

This was what he wanted to hear!

He appreciated someone so strong!

He was the same kind of person who was used to brute force!

Barron slapped his thigh, his beard trembling with excitement:

"Will was the most talented person I've ever seen, definitely suitable to be an Exotic Beast Hunter. It's such a pity that he died... You're right, it's not over until we kill all those Earth Bone People!"

"Speaking of which..." Griff suddenly said, "Captain, Jason is even stronger than Will. I've already tried it."

"Stronger than Will!"

Barron paused, looking Zhou Jing up and down.

Really? Will's talent was one in ten thousand, but his brother was even more powerful?

Seeing that Barron didn't quite believe it, Zhou Jing wasn't surprised.

He thought for a moment, grabbed Griff by the back of his collar with one hand, and lifted him up.

""

Griff, with his feet off the ground, was full of question marks.

Barron was stunned, rushed forward two steps, grabbed Zhou Jing's arm with his big hand, and kneaded his muscles, feeling something.

The more he touched the muscles, the brighter his eyes became.

Wow, what a strong body!

What kind of feed did these brothers eat to grow up?

Will is gone, but Jason has come... Could it be that heaven really heard my wish and sent down a powerhouse!

Barron took two steps back, looking at Zhou Jing with delight, as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

"How is it?" Zhou Jing raised an eyebrow and put Griff down.

"I believe it." Barron couldn't help but ask curiously: "You and your brother are so strong... Do you have other siblings? Are they all like this too?"

I know this answer!

Griff immediately raised his hand to answer: "The Wood family is born with divine strength!"

Barron marveled and muttered to himself: "It's really amazing... It's clearly a surname I've never heard of. Could it be a blood relative from a small branch of a tribe?"

After muttering to himself for a while, he suddenly made up his mind, looked at Zhou Jing, his tone hesitant and expectant:

"Are you willing... to be an Exotic Beast Hunter?"

Zhou Jing smiled. This was precisely his purpose for staying in the village.

"Of course!"

...

(Thanks to Feng Ling Xiao Yi for the Alliance Leader!)